Parties who change leader in election year always lose. But does that mean National’s decision to keep Christopher Luxon as leader the right one?
Read MoreLuxon's history lessons... but also what's different from past leadership challenges
Politics
Budget 2026: What's best today and tomorrow? It's your choice now
Nicola Willis has leaned into National Party traditions but without the ruthless rationing of Ruth Richardson or Jenny Shipley. Still, she’s placed her bet for the election that people will vote for better days to come
Read MoreLuxon misspeaks, but stumbles upon a troubling truth
Christopher Luxon has spent two days misspeaking his way through the nuanced world of foreign affairs, but in doing so stumbled upon a key question surrounding the bombings of Iran - what limits are there when the powerful will go to ‘any’ lengths?
Read MoreRemembering Jim Bolger: A decent man, a fascinating political mix, a tough negotiator
With the passing of Jim Bolger, New Zealand has lost a politician defined by another era, but who helped usher in the modern age of coalitions and managers. A politician who was never popular but who has become increasingly admired
Read MoreThe Incredible Shrinking Nicola Willis
Nicola Willis delivered exactly what she promised at Election 2023 (more or less). But with the election in the rearview mirror, voters may be in for a less careful Willis in the years ahead as she promises cuts will be “business as usual”
Read MoreDavid Seymour promise of grand designs reveals tension at the heart of government
ACT leader David Seymour spoke of generational change in his state of the nation speech. Yet this government is built more for tweaking than transformation, so what’s a determined change-maker to do?
Read MoreNational-led government's 'back on track' promise somewhere down the track
As politicans break for the year, the clock is still ticking on the government’s 100 Day Plan. So what’s it delivered so far? And what’s it taught us about the new coalition?
Read MoreThe electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
Chris Hipkins needs a new song and dance routine and fast, or he could be doing the limbo and losing the next generation of Labour's leaders
Read MoreNational, ACT & NZ First: Delivering the sun or just beach cricket?
The power of... nothing. Robertson
Grant Robertson hopes the promise of no recession and falling inflation is what voters really, really want to hear right now, more than grandiose new policies. But he’s keeps headroom for election promises
Read MoreR.E.S.P.E.C.T. Find out what it means to Me...ka
Meka Whaitiri’s switch from Labour to Te Pāti Māori raises questions about whose mana is being enhanced - not by the decision itself but how it’s being done. What thought has she given to her public duties as an MP?
Read MoreThe faulty logic of Stuart Nash & the Ombudsman's opportunity
When is a cabinet minister not a cabinet minister? The faulty logic of Stuart Nash has landed him and Labour in a heap of trouble but opened the door to serious reform of the Official Information Act
Read MoreSaving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
Chris Hipkins has shown himself to be a quick fix guy in his time as Prime Minister. So why didn’t he take the path of least resistance and sack Stuart Nash? How does that compare to Rob Campbell? And what does it tell us about this year’s election?
Read MoreMum knows better than Maureen where the winds of climate change are blowing
The terrible damage of Cyclone Gabrielle has the potential to up-end election year just as it has up-ended so many lives. For National it brings danger (enter Maureen Pugh), for the Greens, opportunity
Read MoreOil, Water and Money: The RNZ/TVNZ Merger
The problems inherent in the failed RNZ-TVNZ merger go way back. Bad policy was finished off by bad politics, writes a former Broadcasting Minister
Read MoreHow to read Chipp-ese: Translating Chris Hipkins' first post-cab statement
At Chris Hipkins’ first post-cabinet press conference as PM we got introduced to the new language of Chipp-ese. So reading between the lines, what did his words really mean?
Read MoreAotearoa New Zealand as a "little experiment". The rights, wrongs & other wrongs of Christoper Luxon
Christopher Luxon’s description of New Zealand as “a little experiment” prompts questions about the story tell ourselves about our country… and some other history he needs to factcheck
Read MoreIntroducing Chippy, the new bloke
As ‘Chippy’ the new Prime Minister is sworn in today he has the chance to reset his party and its chances at this October’s election. So what arrows does he have in his quiver? Two stand out…
Read MoreJacinda Ardern: "For me, it's time". So how will she be remembered?
Jacinda Ardern’s has announced her resignation ahead of this year’s election. So how will New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister be remembered? What’s her legacy amidst years of crisis?
Read MoreSlouching towards Christmas in this Year of Covid
Two years into the pandemic, 2022 has become our true ‘Year of Covid’ and as we crawl towards Christmas, the disease isn’t letting go of us… or the government
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