How to fix our democracy
To fix our democracy we need to consider increasing the size of Parliament to improve proportionality, urgently improve transparency of funding of third parties and allow election day enrollments.
MMP, the overhang, and the left
I think we’re overcooking both the overhang and Labour’s supposed failure to anticipate it.
Daily review 09/11/2026
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 …
Open Mike 09/11/2026
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Post 2026 Election Reflections
Where we are now The electoral position is clear pre-special votes: National, ACT and NZ First are up on the opposition parties by […]
Bloody overhang
The right has never met an electoral system that it did not want to rort.
Open Mike 08/11/2026
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Election Night discussion post
We voted, now comes the fun part.
Open Mike 07/11/2026
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
Election day news
This is a post to highlight any news during the election day up to 7pm.
If you’re after a place to vote – then you should look at the Vote NZ polling booth page where they allow you to put in electorate, optional suburb and if the polling place is accessible for the disabled and elderly. There is also a drill down map.
Daily review 06/11/2026
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 …
Data Centres – 21st century “Think Big”?
The “tax the billionaires” resolution went down in California thanks to billionaire money, but the voters have spoken on the “next big thing” […]
Had enough yet?
It has been a long three years. This Government has shown extraordinary incompetence and cruelty. Make sure that you and your whanau vote.
Open Mike 06/11/2026
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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 …
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.
The United States Mid Term Elections
The wins are good, but neither MAGA nor Trump is over.
Open Mike 05/11/2026
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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
Open mike is your post. For announcements, general discussion, whatever you choose. The usual rules of good behaviour apply (see the Policy). Step up to the mike …
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.