Who is to blame for the latest unemployment statistics?
Bad news for National as the unemployment rose to its highest level in nearly 11 years.
Search/Archives upgrade
We don’t allow people to comment on The Standard during election day. The primary reason for this is s197 of the Electoral Act 1993. However I mostly finished playing around with the search and archives feature of the site. So you get a day to play with it, and then we will shut down the complaints – all in the standard of this Coalition’s select committee procedures for important bills.
Daily review 05/11/2026
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
The United States Mid Term Elections
The wins are good, but neither MAGA nor Trump is over.
Open Mike 05/11/2026
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Daily review 04/11/2026
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
US mid term elections discussion thread
Elections are currently being held in the United States on November 3, 2026
Open Mike 04/11/2026
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Daily review 03/11/2026
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Agony of a coalition who had no plan and no future
The spectacle of the overhang this last week and the disfranchisement by legislation of our fellow voters just bring into focus just how bad the government this term was. The support of the overhang appears to mainly have been about how to divide the spoils in the next cabinet if the right win the government benches. That isn’t a stable and effective government.
Tactical voting: Kapiti electorate
Kapiti is one of the seats where the electorate vote can make a difference to the outcome of the election.
Opportunity flirt with ruling NZ First out – but then change their mind
Qiulae Wong flip flops on partners. Plus: National Party panics as they record the worst result since 2020. And Labour talk cost of living
Act is panicking about Tamaki and Max Harris
Act has distributed an unbranded pamphlet in the Tamaki electorate using last election’s result in the seat implying that its candidate is ahead.
Open Mike 03/11/2026
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Daily review 02/11/2026
Daily review is also your post. This provides Standardistas the opportunity to review events of the day. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Don’t forget to be kind to each other …
Caption contest
Keep it seemly.
Is National ashamed of its members?
National members in Tamaki have been told not to wear National Party tshirts during a Luxon walkabout so that they can engage with Luxon “organically”.
IPSOS poll: Labour leads on all the top issues that matter to New Zealanders
RNZ reported this morning on the latest IPSOS poll, Fuel rises become top-three concern, as Labour extends lead – IPSOS poll The latest […]
The Greens’ own environmental policies vs National, ACT and NZ First’s Dirty Dozen
Protecting the environment is a policy choice.
Open Mike 02/11/2026
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The next Labour government’s first week
Barbara Edmonds has a plan and Labour aren’t mucking around.
Open Mike 01/11/2026
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This weird election just got weirder
This week right wing parties became locked in a messy fight over an attempt to distort proportionality by creating a large overhang of National electorate seats, a campaign being funded by a wealthy climate change denier and an anti vax movement with hidden funding.
The Austerity Bombshell in Labour’s Fiscal Plan
Will a Labour victory in the 2026 election mean an end to austerity? To meet the strict spending targets outlined in their fiscal plan, Elliot Crossan argues that Chris Hipkins and Barbara Edmonds will need to underinvest in health, cut the rest of the public sector, and betray Ardern’s legacy on child poverty.
Open Mike 31/10/2026
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Daily review 30/10/2026
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Hacker focus in election season
In election season, this site gets a certain amount of hacker attention. It drives the usual attempts by hackers wanting to add my systems to their bot nets, AI scanners, and search bots into the background. This year it appears to be somewhat one sided. This year the Russians are interested. Almost obsessed. Perhaps I should talk to their ambassador about their state’s inept technical behaviour.
Open Mike 30/10/2026
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Daily review 29/10/2026
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The last RNZ Reid poll, and getting out the vote for a left win
It comes down to how many people get out and vote. Oh yeah, and fuck Mowbray.
National’s big mo problem
Momentum in politics is normally a good thing. But two recent polls suggests that National’s momentum is going the wrong way.
Open Mike 29/10/2026
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Daily review 28/10/2026
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Labour’s smart social housing policy
“Labour’s housing spokesman Kieran McAnulty said the policy was “a game-changer and a life-changer”.
Open Mike 28/10/2026
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Daily review 27/10/2026
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BHN: Leaders Special: Chris Hipkins, Labour
Chris Hipkins will be on BHN live tonight from 9pm.