The Democracy Project

The Democracy Project

News Briefing

News Briefing: 28 May 2026

Bryce Edwards's avatar
Bryce Edwards
May 27, 2026
∙ Paid

PARLIAMENT, ELECTION AND GOVERNMENT
Gordon Campbell (Scoop): On Labour’s vanishing act
Jamie Ensor (Herald): When will Labour release policy? It may not be when you expect (paywalled)
Jonathan Ayling (Herald): Is Labour repeating Sir Keir Starmer’s mistakes? (paywalled)
Stewart Sowman-Lund (Post): Questions over taxpayer support for Post Malone concert as some tickets near $800 (paywalled)
RNZ: Government seeks advice on recovering $2.75m Moana Pasifika loan
Brent Edwards (NBR): Stuart Nash’s political comeback could embarrass National and Act (paywalled)
Brad Olsen (Infometrics): Winston Words versus the immigration facts
Mike Tweed (Herald): Whanganui Green Party candidate Awhi Haenga withdraws
Kaya Selby (RNZ): ACT backtracks after Seymour floated nearly $1300 per year charge on RSE workers
Vaimoana Mase (Herald): Pacific Business Trust CEO Mary Los’e resigns after ongoing turmoil

BUDGET 2026
Corin Dann (RNZ): Nicola Willis walks a tightrope with Budget 2026
Dan Brunskill (Spinoff): How will Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis sell a ‘tough love’ budget?
RNZ: ‘The right Budget for the times’, Nicola Willis says on eve of big reveal
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Budget 2026: Here’s what we know is in the Budget and what we think is likely to come (paywalled)
Luke Malpass (Post): No tricks, no treats: Willis warns of lean Budget (paywalled)
Marc Daalder (Newsroom): Four key questions to be answered this Budget
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): Five things to watch in Budget 2026 (paywalled)
Russell Palmer (RNZ): Opposition, advocates have low expectations of support for those struggling most
Anneke Smith (Post): Budget 2026 the coalition Government’s ‘last chance’ to deliver on cost of living - Labour (paywalled)
Herald: ‘A Budget for grown-ups’: Why Christopher Luxon faces pressure to still deliver treats
Stuff: Everything we already know will be in Budget 2026
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): The outstanding coalition commitments that could be in the Budget
Nick James (Post): Budget 2026: What to expect and when on the Government’s big day (paywalled)
Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): Budget 2026: How to read the Budget paperwork and where to find it all (paywalled)
Richard Harman: Willis’s Budget; forecasts – or guesses? (paywalled)
Rebecca Howard (BusinessDesk): RBNZ not losing sleep over Budget 2026 – for now (paywalled)
Jenée Tibshraeny (Herald): Government faces pressure to ease quasi-wealth tax on offshore investments (paywalled)
Cherie Howie (Herald): Government should have gone ‘harder, sooner’ on cuts, Steven Joyce says
Mary Argue (RNZ): Scientists not holding out hope for big Budget boost after year of cuts and sector overhaul
Hanna McCallum (Newsroom): Secondary schools to take centre stage in education Budget
Kate Green (RNZ): Health industry hopes for continuation of funding levels
Bill Rosenberg (Post): How much funding is needed to make Health healthy? (paywalled)
Amy Williams (RNZ): Disability advocates hope for transport, housing support in Budget
Nick James (Post): Budget 2026: Ministers say rail on track to get a cash injection in Budget (paywalled)
Greg Hurrell (BusinessDesk): Greens attack Government over claimed $1.4b carbon auction shortfall (paywalled)

CLIMATE CHANGE LAW SCANDAL
Andrea Vance (Post): PMO staffer identified in climate lobbying allegation (paywalled)
Lillian Hanly (RNZ): Climate briefing note sent to PM’s chief policy adviser, it has been revealed
ODT: Editorial: Transparency matters (paywalled)
Steven Cowan: Protecting the polluters
Greg Presland (The Standard): More fishy than a bait shop
Holly Bennett (Spinoff): Lobbying shouldn’t be done in the shadows
Louis Collins (RNZ): ‘This isn’t Hogwarts’: Vanishing lobbying distracts from Government’s budget narrative
Julia Gabel (Herald): Christopher Luxon’s staffer at centre of climate lobbying allegations revealed as former chief policy advisor
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): ‘What does the ministry know about business confidence?’: Minister dismisses officials’ advice on law change
Hamish McNicol (NBR): Bar Association criticises ‘disturbing’ Government overreach (paywalled)
David Harvey: The Courts and Climate Change

LOBBYING
Brent Edwards (NBR): Reform of ComCom ‘swamped by lobbyists’ (paywalled)
Thomas Manch (BusinessDesk): Lobby firm Silvereye files lawsuit against Gillies Group over $3.49m demand (paywalled)
Lobby for Good: The Half-million dollar Fast-Track: When ‘cutting red tape’ looks like cutting deals

MP EXPENSES AND ENTITLEMENTS
Joel MacManus (Spinoff): NZ First MP Andy Foster claims $36k top-up to stay in home he’s owned for 26 years
Jo Moir (RNZ): Louise Upston ‘comfortable’ with rules allowing her to collect $1000 a week to live in own apartment
No Right Turn: Taking the p*ss

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