PARLIAMENT, ELECTION AND GOVERNMENT
Thomas Coughlan (Herald): National leads Labour to its happy place (paywalled)
Ben Thomas (Post): Hipkins and Labour meekly allowing National to set the election narrative (paywalled)
Paul Moon (Herald): We must be suspicious of an election campaign infused with nostalgia (paywalled)
Neil Sands (LawNews): Prime Minister pledges no hikes in existing taxes, tips ‘safe harbour’ protection for directors
RNZ: Dr Shane Reti farewells Parliament
Katie Bradford (Herald): Act criticises National after Luxon’s party changes Queenstown bed tax deal
Lyric Waiwiri-Smith (Spinoff): Let’s do the time warp again
Nina Brown (Stuff): ‘Little sparkler’ Winston Peters says public sale of fireworks will be election issue
Michael Swanson: Small Targets, Big Gaps
Don Brash: Explaining my vote
Peter Dunne (Newsroom): Labour does a high-risk debt shuffle
No Right Turn: Whining at an open door
Steve Braunias (Newsroom): The secret eulogies for .. Dolly Parton
ELECTION 2026: THE OPPORTUNITY PARTY
Audrey Young and Chris Knox (Herald): Your ultimate guide to Opportunity Party – as Qiulae Wong eyes potential balance-of-power role (paywalled)
Brian Fallow (Interest): A close look at the Opportunity Party’s tax reset plan
David Farrar: TOP’s claims vs reality
Public Interest: Left wing or right wing? Qiulae Wong on vested interests, inequality, and what Opportunity really stands for
ELECTION 2026: CRAIG STOBO STANDS FOR NZ FIRST
RNZ: Former FMA chair Craig Stobo standing for NZ First in Luxon’s Botany electorate
Adam Pearse (Herald): Former FMA boss Craig Stobo joins NZ First, running in Christopher Luxon’s seat
Anneke Smith (Post): Former FMA chairman Craig Stobo standing for NZ First in Botany (paywalled)
Anna Whyte (Interest): Ex-FMA chairman Craig Stobo to run for NZ First against Christopher Luxon
Hamish McNicol (NBR): Former FMA chair Craig Stobo to stand for NZ First (paywalled)
1News: Former FMA chair to run for NZ First in Luxon’s electorate
WELFARE AND BENEFICIARY PAYMENTS
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Minister Louise Upston denies dodging questions over missed benefit payments
1News: PM and Upston said no benefits were cut after law change - they were wrong
Emma Ricketts (Stuff): PM apologises for second error suspending payments to beneficiaries
Lauren Crimp (RNZ): Another sorry from Christopher Luxon after beneficiaries miss out
Stuff: Cost of dying: Funeral directors demand election action
Michael Cugley (Te Ao News): Political parties challenged to address poverty among tamariki Māori
SOCIAL MEDIA BAN
Jenna Lynch (Stuff): How the under-16 social media bill could see Facebook blocked in New Zealand
Jack Riddell (Herald): Hawke’s Bay students back National’s proposed under-16 social media ban
Deb Stevens and John Kleinsman (Post): Nothing about us without us: What our young people are saying about a social media ban (paywalled)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND RATES CAP
The Post: Editorial: Tell us what happened at Moa Point (paywalled)
Nick James (Post): Binding performance requirements for Tiaki Wai to scrutinise its spending (paywalled)
Tom Hunt (Post): About 50 people turn up to Tiaki Wai protest (paywalled)
Herald: Editorial: Local government reform: Rates-capping and the councils’ pushback (paywalled)
Andrew Gunn (Post): The rates cap: Now with free soundbite, and a can to carry or kick (paywalled)
Mark Todd (Post): Auckland voted for a quality compact city. Wellington needs to butt out (paywalled)
Sue Teodoro (Post): Mayor warns local government lacks resources to deal with dead and dying birds (paywalled)
Andrew Little (Post): Rates cap won’t build the future ‒ or even fix the basics ‒ that Wellington needs (paywalled)
Justin Wong (Post): Porirua council votes against boycotting companies involved in illegal Israeli settlements (paywalled)
Reynold Macpherson (Herald): Rotorua Lakes Council unitary authority bid: Call for elected executive mayor (paywalled)
Jonathan Killick (Post): Heart of the City calls special general meeting to elect new board (paywalled)
Torika Tokalau (Post): Public toilet network in central Auckland ‘uneven’, only two in CBD highly rated (paywalled)
Damien Venuto (Stuff): What Auckland Councillors earn – and how much debt costs ratepayers every year
David Farrar: The disaster at Mt Maunganui
Matthew Rosenberg (RNZ): Invercargill council votes against Māori ward following ‘slam dunk’ feedback
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