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gerrymandering

This trick of National could win them the 2026 election

Written By: Mountain Tui
Date published: 12:22 am, September 10th, 2025 - 14 comments

US voter suppression tactics are back in vogue and National’s Coalition is bringing them to Aotearoa New Zealand

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    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Tuesday
  • Australia can import AI models, but they may bring their baggage
    Anyone who thinks Australia can achieve full sovereignty in artificial intelligence is dreaming. Modern AI sits on layer after layer of dependency: chips, fabrication equipment, cloud infrastructure, energy, software, data, talent and model development. For ...
    The Strategist by Fergus Ryan and Alex Colville · Monday
  • 12 October 2026
    New Zealand First’s policy announcements around workers’ issues including minimum wage and in-work tax credits are the biggest stories featuring in today’s Union News. Union coverage Employment The post 12 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Monday
  • Women, Peace and Security has an influence problem
    The future of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda will not be determined by how many women are present in security institutions. It will be determined by whether those institutions are willing to create ...
    The Strategist by Jen Wittwer · Monday
  • Greens’ youth jobs guarantee is the action young workers need
    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes the Green Party’s Youth Jobs Guarantee, which would give every 16- to 24-year-old who has been out of work for six months a pathway into a local job. “Young people are being locked out of work at one of the most important stages of… Read More »Greens’ youth jobs guarantee is the action young workers need The post Greens’ youth jobs guarantee is the action young workers need appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Monday
  • TOP betrays its supporters
    TOP - now the Opportunity Party - was founded for one purpose: to promote a radical shift in Aotearoa's tax system, from taxing income to taxing land. The right hate the idea, saying it will lower house prices (boo hoo) and drive farmers out of business (showing they were shit at business to begin with). Chris Luxon had ruled out any coalition with the party because they promoted it. And in the face of this pressure, TOP has surrendered and complied in advance - first leaving tax reform off its list of coal
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · Monday
  • Opportunity appears to give up on tax reform
    Quilae Wong says considering ruling out tax reform to tempt Luxon into Govt-forming talks & ‘unrealistic’ to expect reform in 2026-2029; Labour’s fiscal shackle rules out real change from other side
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Monday
  • Conducting the national orchestra to achieve resilience and security
    Australia has spent several years rediscovering the importance of sovereign capability, resilience and economic security. The harder task now is implementation. Governments understand that strategic competition, coercion and concentrated supply chains can turn economic dependencies ...
    The Strategist by John Coyne · Monday
  • Sorting event transport at Kingsland
    It feels like the media have been waiting for a ‘City Rail Link failure’ story – and this weekend they finally got one, kind of, as the weekend saw another big event and another challenge with post-match event trains. Auckland Transport and Eden Park are blaming each other for the issues, as 1News reports: Frustrated rugby fans booed passing trains at Eden Park last night as delays to city-bound services left thousands queuing after the All Blacks thrashed the Wallabies.… The post Sorting event transport at
    Greater Auckland by Matt L · Monday
  • Picks n’ Mixes & In the Papers for Monday Oct 12
    Willis & Edmonds agree cross-party accord on pensions, but with caveats; ACT wants big disability cuts; Greens propose youth jobs guarantee; National to make Year 11 compulsory
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Monday
  • Mister Jones
    Champion of Bottom Trawling, Conservation Mining, and Immigration Capping.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 11 October 2026
  • Televised Executions
    The US continues its descent away from decency.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 10 October 2026
  • Twenty-five years on: what Australia gave Afghanistan, and what it still owes
    On 14 September 2001, Prime Minister John Howard announced that Australia would invoke the ANZUS Treaty. On 11 October, Australia established Operation Slipper, its first operation in Afghanistan. By early December, the first Australian special ...
    The Strategist by Sami Omari · 9 October 2026
  • If Chinese AI goes rogue, expect opacity
    We now know that Chinese AI agents are inclined to cheat just as US models are. The big difference is that if one causes a cybersecurity incident, the ways we would find out are much ...
    The Strategist by Alex Colville · 9 October 2026
  • 9 October 2026
    The deterioration of our health system features again in today’s Union News with an article summing up demand for hospitals across the motu. Stuff do an in-depth analysis on the employment situation in Northland. Union coverage Employment The post 9 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · 9 October 2026
  • Comfortably Numb
    National resorts to bashing beneficiaries.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 9 October 2026
  • Not like the old days: modern sea control will be episodic and local
    A new combination of surveillance, drones and precision strike is eroding the old assumption that navies could generate sea control through superior ships, vessels, aircraft and operational skills alone. Geography still matters, but the new ...
    The Strategist by Sean Andrews · 9 October 2026
  • Weekly Roundup 9-October-2026
    Kia ora and welcome to our regular roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday, we took some time to analyse the election campaign transport announcements… …and on Tuesday, we editorialised about what the recent campaign announcements mean for Auckland On Wednesday, we ran a guest post book review by George Weeks, about rethinking parking… …and on Thursday, we ran a throwback post from 2018, about rethinking Mill Road.… The post Weekly Roundup 9-October-2026 app
    Greater Auckland by Greater Auckland · 9 October 2026
  • The Weekly Hoon: National & Labour budget tracks near identical; Climate distrust; Foreign aid cuts
    Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale discuss the week in geopolitics and NZ’s political economy with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 9 October 2026
  • The Literary Traditions Underpinning The Silmarillion
    Benjamin Bassett (the gentleman behind the Reading Tolkien Podcast/YouTube channel) has raised an interesting question: what the hell is Tolkien’s Silmarillion, in terms of literary tradition? Bassett correctly notes that it cannot be described as either a novel or a short story, but rather as a peculiar chronicle, and further cites Olaf Stapledon’s Star Maker […]
    A Phuulish Fellow by strda221 · 9 October 2026
  • New US air-to-air missiles will finally overthrow China’s range advantage
    With a clutch of new long-range air-to-air missiles (LRAAMs) with ranges of 300 km or more, US forces could dramatically shift the aerial balance of power over the Western Pacific. Travelling at least twice as ...
    The Strategist by David Axe · 8 October 2026
  • Australia is building green industries. Defence could make them strategic
    Australia is spending billions to build green industries while Defence is trying to make the Australian Defence Force harder to disrupt. These efforts should reinforce each other. Future Made in Australia, the government’s clean-industry agenda, ...
    The Strategist by Simran Keshwani · 8 October 2026
  • When everyone is an ‘analyst’, expertise loses meaning
    Australia has developed a growing class of self-declared geopolitical analysts and independent researchers who built their reputations not through research, experience or sustained analytical work but through podcasts, social media feeds and confident commentary. Platforms ...
    The Strategist by John Coyne · 8 October 2026
  • Throwback Thursday: Rethinking the Mill Road Corridor
    With Mill Road back in the news, as a campaign headline from the National Party (see our Tuesday coverage), it’s the perfect time for a look back at our previous coverage of this overscaled project. The post below, by Harriet Gale, first ran in February 2018, and attracted vigorous discussion, with over a hundred comments.… The post Throwback Thursday: Rethinking the Mill Road Corridor appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Greater Auckland · 8 October 2026
  • When I’m a Billionaire
    Forget the quarter-acre paradise; is this the new Kiwi dream?
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 8 October 2026
  • Bookshelf: The closing of the Russian mind (doesn’t bode well for the future)
    Bogged down militarily in Ukraine, with Russia’s economy in a shambles and Ukrainian drones penetrating ever deeper into the heartland and causing popular unrest, President Vladimir Putin’s position is looking increasingly tenuous. In anticipation of ...
    The Strategist by Robert Wihtol · 8 October 2026
  • KiwiStack Live Election Mini-Hoon with Elliot Crossan
    A recording from Bernard Hickey's live video chat with Elliot Cross on fiscal policy options in Election 2026
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 8 October 2026
  • Labour’s sinking-lid fiscal strategy has consequences
    Labour admits will take benefits off teenagers too as its sinking-lid fiscal track to 30.4% of GDP forces similar cuts to National; Thomas Coughlan warns of first-ever, one-term National Govt
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 8 October 2026
  • As allies’ capabilities grow, they need to work with US on nuclear signalling
    The Indo-Pacific’s next deterrence problem may be a shortage not of military capability but of coordination. As Australia, Japan and South Korea acquire long-range strike, missile defence and other strategic conventional capabilities, they are increasingly ...
    The Strategist by Benjamin Zala · 7 October 2026
  • National’s small business plan: 47 band-aids and an attack on workers’ rights
    National’s 47-point small business plan is mostly minor tweaks, re-announcements and overdue housekeeping – but tucked inside it is an attack on working people’s right to bargain collectively, says the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (NZCTU). “For all the talk of backing small business, the most significant thing in this plan… Read More »National’s small business plan: 47 band-aids and an attack on workers’ rights The post National’s small business plan: 47 band-aids and an attack on wo
    NZCTU by Aaron · 7 October 2026
  • Election-rigging violates the BORA
    Last year the regime attempted to rig the election, overturning 77 years of settled law to cut off enrolment two weeks before the vote, in a desperate effort to stop 100,000 mostly young, mostly opposition supporting people from voting. It was naked American-style election-rigging, of a sort not seen before in Aotearoa, and even at the time the Attorney-General said that it violated the bill of Rights Act, because it overturned longstanding expectations around enrolment. And now, the regime has formally adm
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · 7 October 2026
  • To face AI intrusion, counting legacy systems will be easy. Fixing them won’t
    The Department of Home Affairs has made an important start. In response to an OpenAI agent reaching non-public files on a decades-old Medicare Statistics portal, last week it issued a direction that required agencies to ...
    The Strategist by Rajiv Shah · 7 October 2026
  • Book Review: Rethinking Parking
    Today’s guest post is a book review by George Weeks, of Rethinking Parking: Planning and Urban Design Perspectives by Dr David Mepham. George Weeks is a transport adviser, planner and urban designer based in Auckland. An earlier version of this review originally appeared in Roundabout Magazine, the newsletter of the Transportation Group NZ.… The post Book Review: Rethinking Parking appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Guest Post · 7 October 2026
  • Australia’s Middle East priority should be working with those that can counter Iran
    Australia needs a more active and hardheaded approach towards the Middle East to deal with ongoing conflicts stemming from or worsened by the attack against Israel three years ago today by Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist ...
    The Strategist by Alex Bristow · 7 October 2026
  • Polls & debate judges put Labour ahead, but weakly
    RNZ-Reid Research, 1News-Verian & Roy Morgan polls show Labour mostly ahead of National, but both below or barely at 30%; Momentum with Greens at 15% & Opportunity over 5%; Hipkins seen winning debate
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 7 October 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori launches Mana Takatāpui Policy
    ×Te Pāti Māori has today launched its Mana Takatāpui Policy, committing $200 million over three years and establishing an independent, Takatāpui governed Commission with real authority over Takatāpui specific funding. Te Pāti Māori Co Leader Rawiri Waititi says the policy is built on a simple principle: Nothing about Takatāpui without Takatāpui. “For too long, decisions have been made about Takatāpui without Takatāpui. Our policy changes who holds the power,” Waititi said.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 23 September 2026
  • We Want Cheaper Power And We Want Our People To Own It.
    ×Te Pāti Māori has today announced its Energy Sovereignty policy, a plan to cut power costs, build Aotearoa’s energy future and shift ownership into the hands of whānau, hapū, iwi and communities. “Every party is talking about generating more electricity. We’re asking the question they keep avoiding: who will own it?” said Te Pāti Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi “If we replace fossil fuels with renewables but leave ownership and profits concentrated in the same hands, we haven’t transformed the system. We’ve just c
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 16 September 2026
  • GOVERNMENT'S LAST ACT IS ANOTHER ATTACK ON TE TIRITI
    ×In its final days, this Government is trying to strip Te Tiriti from our laws. Three Treaty-related Bills before Parliament would weaken Te Tiriti protections and reduce Crown accountability. Te Pāti Māori opposes every one of them. Instead, Te Pāti Māori are calling for Te Tiriti to be protected through enforceable Crown obligations that no Government can simply discard.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 15 September 2026
  • TE PĀTI MĀORI LAUNCHES TE TIRITI ENTRENCHMENT POLICY
    ×Te Pāti Māori has today launched its Te Tiriti Entrenchment Policy, a major constitutional reform package that will make Crown obligations arising from Te Tiriti legally enforceable and resource the next stage of Māori-led constitutional transformation. “Te Tiriti is the constitutional foundation of Aotearoa. Its mana does not rise and fall depending on who forms the Government,” Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi said. “Our policy is about certainty, accountability and making sure the Crown keeps its p
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 1 September 2026
  • MP for Hauraki-Waikato Hana-Rawhiti Calls on Govt to Honour its Commitments to Waikato and Waipaa Awa
    ×Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke says the Government’s decision to delay key provisions of Plan Change 1, which sets rules to protect and restore the health of the Waikato and Waipaa awa, puts 3-yearly electoral interests ahead of its obligations to iwi and the environment. “This is bigger than a plan or a process. It is about whether the Crown will keep its word to Waikato-Tainui and honour the commitments it made – and written into legislation” says Maipi-Clarke. “The power of Te Ture Whaimana
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 24 August 2026
  • Luxon chose culture wars while basic services failed
    ×Christopher Luxon has spent too much of his term legislating culture wars while the basic services New Zealanders rely on have been allowed to deteriorate, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says. “The Prime Minister had a finite term to govern. He chose to spend an extraordinary amount of it undoing Māori rights and weakening Crown obligations while the services New Zealanders depend on were deteriorating,” Ngarewa-Packer said. “He found the time to mobilise 13 government agencies to trawl throu
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 18 August 2026
  • Luxon survives today, but he will not survive November 7
    ×Today’s National Party caucus meeting may have saved Christopher Luxon’s job, but it has not solved National’s deeper problem. This government is consumed by its own survival while whānau are left to carry the cost. For days, New Zealanders have watched a governing party turn inward while families face rising costs, job losses and an economy going backwards. “Luxon may have kept the job, but National has lost the country’s confidence,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 12 August 2026
  • Oriini Kaipara MP extends aroha following fatal workplace incident in Ōtāhuhu
    ×Oriini Kaipara, MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, extends her deepest condolences to the whānau, friends and work colleagues of the worker who tragically lost their life at the Auckland Meat Processors facility on Portage Road, Ōtāhuhu. "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the whānau who are now navigating an unimaginable loss. No one should leave for work and not return home to their loved ones." Following notification of the incident, Oriini's office has been actively seeking information to better understand t
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 7 August 2026
  • Te Pati Maori will make the Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding
    ×Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi says New Zealand First's call to review the Waitangi Tribunal proves the coalition has learnt nothing from the Tribunal's latest report. "The Waitangi Tribunal has found that the Government's Treaty clause review is a major breach of Te Tiriti. Instead of fixing the breach, Shane Jones wants to investigate the institution that exposed it." Waititi says this is about far more than constitutional law.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 6 August 2026
  • Government’s patriarchal noise cannot hide cervical-screening failure
    ×While this Government and its allies manufacture patriarchal noise and drag public debate into personal attacks, a serious health-system failure involving nearly one million cervical screening notifications demands urgent answers. Health New Zealand says there is “no indication of harm”, but the Government has produced no evidence that proves nobody missed screening, follow-up care or an earlier diagnosis.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 5 August 2026
  • Government rips up another promise of partnership with Māori
    ×Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the Government’s reported decision to scrap existing Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements is not planning reform it’s another deliberate step in dismantling the Crown’s relationship with tangata whenua. “This Government isn’t just rewriting planning law. It is rewriting the place of Māori in Aotearoa.” “One law at a time, one institution at a time, one agreement at a time, they are removing the practical ways Te Tiriti is honoured.”
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 21 July 2026
  • MFAT Must Act Urgently to Free Everlee Wihongi After Another Delayed Hearing
    ×Everlee Wihongi was set to appear in court today to be freed from ICE detention. Unfortunately, approximately 80 minutes before it was scheduled to begin, the Immigration Court decided to postpone the hearing until June 30, 2026. ICE has no reason to continue to detain Everlee after the conviction that formed the basis of the immigration case was successfully overturned. Everlee has now been detained for over two months, and this is just the latest in a long line of unnecessary delays. “Our aroha goes out t
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 18 June 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori Announces Lisa Marie Murch as Te Tai Tonga Candidate for 2026
    ×Te Pāti Māori is proud to announce Lisa Marie Murch as its candidate for Te Tai Tonga in the 2026 General Election. Born and raised in Murihiku, Lisa brings lived experience, education, service, and a deep commitment to whānau Māori across Te Waipounamu. A young Māori mother at sixteen, Lisa knows firsthand the realities many whānau face. Her journey from cleaning and baking, to becoming a head baker, bilingual primary teacher, kaupapa Māori educator, and specialist across Murihiku and Ōtepoti schools, is g
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 15 June 2026
  • Government Hid Its Own Evidence on LNG
    ×Te Pāti Māori is calling on the Government to release all remaining redacted advice on the proposed Taranaki LNG import terminal and halt the contract process until full public disclosure has occurred. This week RNZ revealed that officials redacted modelling commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment showing low need for LNG imports. In some scenarios, no need at all. That information was only made public after RNZ lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman. Parts of the document remain
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 11 June 2026
  • Seymour Admits He Never Checked Impact on Māori with Diabetes
    ×David Seymour Associate Minister of Health confirmed in answers to Written Parliamentary Questions that he supported removing Māori and Pacific priority access to Type 2 diabetes medicines, without any equity analysis, without modelling of Māori complications, and holds no data on how many Māori currently rely on the pathway they're removing. Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the admissions were negligible. "They don't know who they're harming. They don't know how many Māori with diabetes r
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 10 June 2026
  • If The Government Really Wants To Lower Power Bills, This Is The Way
    ×Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the government’s LNG announcement today exposes a fundamental failure of energy policy leadership. “Simeon Brown says he has an answer to our energy security problem. A billion-dollar contract to import liquefied natural gas. From the Middle East. With no plan to pay for it. That’s not energy security, that’s energy dependency,” says Ngarewa-Packer. “Initially the government planned a levy on power bills to fund this facility. Now they want the same gentail
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 9 June 2026
  • Govt will Erase Iwi Representation Across Aotearoa
    ×Today the government announced that they will be removing the voting rights of iwi representatives from all councils across the country. They will be amending the Local Government (System Improvements) Bill after it has already gone through select committee, meaning that there will be no public submission process. “This is another gut punch, and our people are fed up” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Every time we think this government couldn’t possibly harm te iwi Māori any more, they always
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 2 June 2026
  • TPM to Entrench Te Tiriti: Government’s Tiriti Purge is Constitutional Vandalism
    ×Te Pāti Māori is condemning today’s announcement by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith to strip or weaken Te Tiriti o Waitangi references across 19 pieces of legislation. “This is not policy reform. It is constitutional vandalism.” After failing to redefine Te Tiriti through the Treaty Principles Bill, the Government is now dismantling it clause by clause through legislative review instead. Different vehicle. Same destination.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 15 May 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori responds to announcement of new political party
    ×Te Pāti Māori acknowledges Mariameno Kapa-Kingi’s announcement that she intends to contest the 2026 General Election under the newly announced Te Tai Tokerau Party. We wish Mariameno well. Te ao Māori has always carried many voices, many rohe, many whakapapa, and many expressions of mana motuhake. We respect the right of whānau, hapū, iwi, rohe and candidates to determine their own political pathway.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 11 May 2026
  • MP Govt Floats Nuclear Jones Must Front Up
    ×Te Pāti Māori is demanding answers after Shane Jones casually floated nuclear fission in the House today. Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said, “Aotearoa is not neutral on nuclear. We are proudly anti-nuclear. That position was fought for, defended, and embedded in who we are as a nation.” “Is this Government marching us away from our nuclear-free legacy? Because Aotearoa deserves to know,” said Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 29 April 2026
  • KiwiRail to fund additional ferries works in Picton
    KiwiRail will directly fund up to $37.5 million for Picton rail yard upgrades and adding auto-mooring technology to the new wharf as part of the New Ferries project, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced today. “Selecting KiwiRail as the long-term operator of the Interislander has given the company confidence to invest its own funds in commercial assets, meaning the taxpayer is not paying a cent more than our $1.7 billion allocation but still achieves the benefit as the ultimate owner of KiwiRail,” Mr Pete
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • Resilience work underway for key South Island route
    Work to bolster the resilience of a key South Island route vital to New Zealand tourism will soon begin, South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager says. “The Government allocated around $40 million in Budget 2026 to fund resilience upgrades to State Highway 94 (SH94) between Te Anau and Milford, as part of a wider $150 million-plus package to strengthen five of the mainland’s most vulnerable state highways,” Mr Meager says. “There will soon be spades in the ground at key sites on SH94 in Fi
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • King’s Counsel appointments 2026
    Attorney-General Chris Bishop today announced the appointments of 12 King’s Counsel. The rank of King’s Counsel is primarily awarded to barristers sole who have met the overarching criteria of excellence in their careers. The 12 new King’s Counsel appointed, from over 100 applications, are Matanuku Mahuika, Karen Radich, Janette Campbell, Matthew Harris, Kirsten Gray, Tim Smith, Polly Pope, Kerry Cook, Sam Lowery, Rob Kirkness, Isaac Hikaka, and Annabel Maxwell-Scott. “The appointment of King’s Counsel reco
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • Levy reduction for cruise industry
    Cruise ship passengers will pay significantly lower Border Processing Levy rates from 1 July 2027, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. From 1 July 2027, cruise passengers will see a net reduction of NZ$19.91 per person through the combined arrival and departure levy rate changes. The Border Processing Levy for arriving cruise passengers will lower from NZ$27.14 to NZ$7.20, while the levy for outgoing passengers will increase by three cents per person. “The levy system is working as intended. Where f
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • New construction ACOP to bring health and safety clarity
    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today launched a new Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) that outlines practical steps businesses and workers can take to meet their health and safety responsibilities on residential construction sites. “This ACOP will provide practical, sector-specific information to help clients, principal contractors, contractors, subcontractors and workers prepare for upcoming changes to health and safety law, and support better outcomes across New Zealand's residen
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • West Coast infrastructure upgrades on course
    Investment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund is delivering progress on key projects on the West Coast, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says. "Improvements to key shipping ports and the upgrade of Hokitika Airport are part of the government’s support for the West Coast’s economic growth and resilience,” Mr Patterson says. Mr Patterson joined local leaders and iwi today at the blessing of Greymouth Port's new port sounding vessel, which will be used to monitor and manage the port’s
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • Hunua Quarry development fast-tracked
    A third substantial Auckland quarry project has gained Fast-track approval to expand operations, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Resources Minister Shane Jones say. This is the 37th project approved through the Fast-track process. Winstone Aggregates lodged its application in March 2026, with approval taking around four months from the appointment of an independent expert panel. The redevelopment of Hunua Quarry will expand existing quarrying activities to allow Winstone Aggregates to deepen the ex
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Thursday
  • SH54 resilience improvements on the way
    A crash-prone bridge in Manawatū currently down to one lane is set to be replaced with funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say. The project to replace Haynes Bridge on State Highway 54 will receive funding of $6.5 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Mr Jones says the investment in the new bridge on a key Manawatū-Whanganui route will deliver benefits for communities and businesses throughout the region. "Safe
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Thursday
  • New term, same story; attendance up again
    Provisional school attendance data for Term 3 2026 shows despite a tough flu season in person attendance rates were the highest of any Term 3 since 2022, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. In Term 3 2026, 52.2% of students met the criteria for regular attendance, representing a 1.7 percentage point increase from 50.5% in Term 3 2025. A student attends school ‘regularly’ when they are in class for more than 90 per cent of the term. “This data shows attendance rates continue to rise under this G
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Thursday
  • International tourism nears full recovery
    International visitor numbers are now within a whisker of pre-pandemic levels, with four months left to go in the year and the summer season yet to hit, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. Stats NZ data out today shows the total number of overseas visitor arrivals in August 2026 was 99 per cent of the 251,100 in August 2019. “In 2025 I set the ambitious goal to increase the number of international visitors to New Zealand to at least 2019 levels by 2026. “This monthly data shows we are well
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Open ocean opportunities for iwi aquaculture
    The Government has set aside areas suitable for aquaculture to ensure Marlborough iwi have the opportunity to contribute to the region’s open ocean aquaculture boom, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The two Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) ensure suitable space in the region remains available while the Crown and Te Tau Ihu iwi negotiate a settlement under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act,” Mr Jones says. “With the launch earlier this year of New Zealand’s first open
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Diesel reserve extended to maintain fuel security
    The Government has extended an agreement for a 550,000-barrel strategic diesel reserve until August 2027 to maintain New Zealand’s fuel resilience, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say. “Maintaining our national fuel security, particularly through a period of global uncertainty, remains a top priority for the Government. That’s why we’re pleased to announce this extension to our existing deal with Z Energy for the diesel reserve at Marsden Point,” Nicola Willis says.
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Survivor Support and Recognition Fund to open next year
    The Government has approved a third and final round of the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund (SSRF). The fund supports community-led services and initiatives for survivors of abuse and neglect in care This $820,000 contestable fund will be available to non-government organisations and community groups that directly support survivors of abuse in care,” says Lead Coordination Minister Erica Stanford. Applications are expected to open in February 2027. The Department of Internal Affairs' Community Operatio
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Long overdue replacement for critical bridge
    Another bridge on South Canterbury’s State Highway 82 will be replaced, through funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say. The Deep Creek Bridge on SH82 will be replaced at a cost of $7.5 million. Elephant Hill Stream Bridge has already been replaced, and Waihao North Bridge is in the process of being replaced Deep Creek Bridge carries about 1850 vehicles each day and supports local journeys, agricultural activity and fre
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • It's all adding up: More maths gains for Kiwi kids
    New independent assessment results show primary and intermediate students made the equivalent of four months' additional progress in mathematics between 2024 and 2026, signalling a turnaround in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The latest Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) data, released today by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), show statistically significant improvements in mathematics and reading comprehension and vocabulary. “Our number one priority in educati
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Auckland gets another Crisis Recovery Café
    People in Auckland in need of mental health or addiction support will have another place to turn for faster access to support, with a new peer-led Crisis Recovery Café officially opening in Mt Eden, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Emergency departments aren’t always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. They can be busy, brightly lit and feel far too clinical, when often what someone needs is a calm place to sit down and talk to someone who understands. “That’s why we are
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Tuesday
  • Damning report shows Teaching Council failed to protect children
    A damning new independent review has revealed how repeated failures by the Teaching Council allowed a teacher with a known history of offending to remain in the profession before he went on to commit indecent acts against children, Minister of Education Erica Stanford says. The independent regulatory review undertaken by Katherine Anderson KC follows the equally damning 2025 Debbie Francis review, which exposed a deeply concerning culture within the Teaching Council. “First and foremost, my thoughts are wit
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Tuesday
  • New ward boosts capacity at Hawke’s Bay Hospital
    Hawke’s Bay patients will benefit from faster access to surgical care with the opening of a new 28-bed ward at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This new ward is a practical solution to meet growing demand, delivering the extra capacity Hawke’s Bay Hospital needs right now and making a real difference for both patients and staff,” Mr Brown says. “It gives surgical patients dedicated space before and after their procedures, along with space for surgical assessment and planning. That m
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Monday
  • First state school converts to a charter school
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Pakaraka School in Northland has become the first state school to convert to a charter school. “Charter schools give educators more freedom to provide students with an education that suits their needs,” Mr Seymour says. “The Pakaraka community has chosen a new path for its school. They want to be able to build on what is already working for its students, and the charter school model enables them to do that. “In 2024 the school partnered wit
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Monday
  • Government ambitious for every child’s education
    Thank you, Prime Minister. Over the past three years, we have been focused on one overriding objective: lifting educational achievement for every young New Zealander. And a huge part of that has been closing the equity gap, ensuring that your means do not determine your destiny by providing a world-leading education for every young person in our schools. Because we are ambitious for every child in this country. A world-leading education system starts with ensuring every child learns to read, write and do ma
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Monday
  • Additional domestic student places for veterinary science at Massey University
    “An increase in the number of funded domestic places in Massey University’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science programme from 125 to 140 per year from 2027 onwards will help address demand for veterinarians in the future,” says Minister for Tertiary Education Penny Simmonds. Minister Simmonds made the announcement during her visit to the university’s Palmerston North campus on Friday, 9 October. “The veterinary workforce plays a key role in our biosecurity, animal welfare, food safety, and export industry. Incr
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • District Court Judges Appointed
    Attorney-General Hon Chris Bishop has announced the appointment of Leighvi Maynard of Gisborne and Nicola Graham of Napier as District Court Judges. Mr Maynard began his legal career at Simpson Grierson in Auckland, where he was a member of the firm’s Environment, Planning and Resource Management team. In 2006 he moved to Gisborne and entered general practice, working across civil, employment, Māori land, family and criminal law jurisdictions before joining the Office of the Crown Solicitor for Rotorua, Tau
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Simpler food safety, stronger focus on risk
    The Government is proposing changes to make it easier for food businesses to meet their food safety obligations, with less paperwork and a sharper focus on the risks that matter, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says. Consultation opened today on an updated Simply Safe & Suitable food control plan template. This is New Zealand's main food control template: a pre-approved, plain-language checklist that tells businesses what steps to follow and what records to keep so their food stays safe. "Businesses hav
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Food and fibre exports hit record $65.2 billion
    Food and fibre exports reached a record $65.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2026, up $4.8 billion on the year before, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. "Kiwi farmers and growers keep delivering for the New Zealand economy," Mr McClay says. "This year was already on track to be a record. Their hard work has delivered a result that beats expectations." Exports are up 8 per cent on the previous year and ahead of the Ministry for Primary Industries' June forecast of $64.3 billion. "It's a gre
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Investigation into Apollo Stadium site planning rules
    An investigation has been launched into whether Christchurch planning rules are getting in the way of new housing, economic growth and the future redevelopment of the former Apollo Projects Stadium site, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. The investigation follows a request from Christchurch City Council Mayor Phil Mauger to consider changes to the Christchurch District Plan for the 4.93-hectare site at 95 Jack Hinton Drive in Addington. “The temporary Apollo Stadium has served Christchurch well. Now th
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Four more school redevelopments get the green light
    The Government is investing a further $37 million to redevelop four schools, taking investment in school redevelopment projects approved this year to more than $200 million, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “When we came into Government, school property was a mess. Around 350 projects could not be delivered within the funding available, schools had been waiting years for certainty, and classrooms were costing around $1.2 million each. “We said we would fix it, and that is exactly what we have been do
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • Next steps in fight against organised crime
    The new Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Chief Executive Board has met for the first time today, Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has announced. “We need better organised government to fight organised crime, and the Board will help deliver that,” Ms Costello says. “The Government has made a series of decisions to improve our response to TSOC, including appointing a Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), and putting in place a new TSOC strategy and Action Plan. A key recommendation of the
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • More Kiwis choosing teaching
    More New Zealanders are choosing to become teachers, with initial teacher education enrolments up 40 per cent since 2023. Education Minister Erica Stanford says the increase shows more Kiwis want to be part of New Zealand’s teaching workforce. “We’ve had a real focus on getting more New Zealanders into teaching so we can grow our own workforce and reduce our reliance on recruiting teachers from overseas. “Overseas-trained teachers make an important contribution to our schools, and we will continue to need t
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • RMA national direction reforms complete
    The Government has completed the biggest overhaul of national direction in the history of the Resource Management Act – with the final changes making it faster, easier and more affordable to build and upgrade New Zealand’s electricity and telecommunications networks, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. “Over the past two years the Government has developed or amended 16 national direction instruments to remove unnecessary barriers to housing, infrastructure, energy and the primary sector,” Mr Bishop says.
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • Government cracks down on rockpool vandals
    Major fishing rule changes will come into force this summer to stop people from stripping rockpools of marine life on the Auckland and Coromandel coastlines, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft say. “Fossicking in a rockpool is a Kiwi tradition. It’s a pastime that’s been enjoyed by generations of New Zealanders. However, it’s being exploited by a selfish few who are taking far too much kaimoana. This behaviour is endangering these fragile ecosystems and putting at r
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026

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