New Zealand
Parties pitch competing plans to make New Zealand safer
We compare what parties are promising on law and order in this election.
Latest from Politics
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
National to negotiate fertiliser security deals, offer $300m water storage loans
The priority areas will be Northland, Tairāwhiti, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa and Canterbury.
'Enough is enough': New Zealand First wants to ban fireworks
NZ First says its bill would ban private fireworks sales, use and imports.
Shane Jones reflects on his rural upbringing and longevity in politics
Shane Jones on the rural childhood and family values that shaped his politics.
National is promising $300m in loans for water storage if it is elected
The National Party will negotiate fertiliser security agreements with key supply countries and commit $300 million in loans to increase water storage if elected. Video / NZ Herald
Immigration scandal: Fate of MBIE CEO likely unclear until 2027 as inquiry drags on
The inquiry was initially expected to be wrapped up ahead of November's election.
Apollo Stadium site: Chris Bishop investigates Christchurch planning rules
The review will assess whether rules constrain housing and economic growth.
Qiulae Wong says no tax reform next term 'worth considering' in potential deal with National
Christopher Luxon points to Wong's land tax when ruling out Opportunity.
Better is ... impossible. The nonsense in a suit posing as political slogan
OPINION: Virtually all political slogans promise everything and explain bugger all.
Letters: Scrapping election day enrolments likely to disenfranchise many of our young
OPINION: Letters on society's divide, environmental issues and rugby scrums.
Support rises for NZ First and Labour in new poll
The coalition parties still have the numbers to form a government on this poll.
Phil Goff calls National's foreign aid cuts to fund Pharmac a 'cheap shot'
Election 2026: The Podcast reveals behind-the-scenes secrets from leaders' debates.
Labour's living wage pledge could 'end in tears', economist warns
Hiking wages without lifting productivity risks causing inflation to spike.
Solar could save Kiwis thousands — so what’s stopping us?
Rewiring Aotearoa’s Mike Casey joins The Front Page to explain the potential savings from electrification and the upfront costs stopping people from making the switch.
The New Zealand Herald Leaders' Debate
Join Ryan Bridge for the New Zealand Herald Leaders' Debate, a live, unedited showdown between the leaders of New Zealand's two largest political parties.
Is Opportunity really more popular than Act? Poll of polls explained
Our Poll of polls predicts election results, not polling averages, so numbers may differ.
Phil Goff on Winston Peters, broken promises and National’s election dilemma
Phil Goff and Jamie Ensor unpack the campaign’s unexpected consequences on Election 2026: The Podcast with Katie Bradford.
Watch: National Party leader Christopher Luxon says he is open to drug-testing MPs
His party proposes to introduce random drug testing of beneficiaries and Jobseeker benefit cuts by as much as $81 per week. Video / Mark Mitchell
Winston Peters clarifies conversion therapy remarks as Luxon rules out any changes
The NZ First leader claimed his party would have prevented the 2022 reform.
Why Labour's rising star has a popularity problem
OPINION: Arena Williams made a controversial entrance to national politics.
National proposes random testing for beneficiaries – but Act wants tougher line
Louise Upston insists it's not about 'punishing someone because they haven't found a job'.
Beyond the risks, what opportunities does AI offer?
One NZ CEO Nick Judd and AUT AI expert Dr Mahsa McCauley discuss some of the upsides of AI. Brought to you by One NZ.
Labour to force airlines to give 'automatic refunds' for cancelled and changed flights
Flights would have to be 'significantly' changed for refunds to be provided.
‘Full of holes’: Justice Ministry concedes mistakes in OIA reform work
A statement from Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith later repeated a key inaccuracy
How could Māori, who make up about one in six voters, influence this election?
OPINION: Social media leftist campaigns like #DitchThePricks are influencing some voters.
'Seeing ugly things': Seymour says world watching NZ's 'dumpster fire policy debate'
'The currency markets are watching our election and they're seeing two ugly things.'
Editorial: Want politicians to listen? Don't burn the hoarding
OPINION: Democracy works best at the ballot box, not by vandalising a billboard.
Nation-building about more than building a road
OPINION: Investment and development take years, politics works on a shorter timeline.
Relaxed, ruthless and not on the ballot: John Key won a debate he wasn’t even contesting
OPINION: Tamatha Paul showed her policy backbone as she challenged Key on billionaires.
Needles rationed amid surge in Kiwis 'experimenting on themselves' with injectables
The increase in needle use is putting pressure on traditional harm reduction services.