Politics
NZ Herald Live: National Party conservation and agriculture announcement
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon makes a conservation and agriculture announcement.
Latest from NZ National Party
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
PM Christopher Luxon: No change to nuclear free position | Ryan Bridge TODAY
"Could have expressed himself better": PM on Penk's comments around NZ's anti-nuclear stance. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
'The toots say it all': Ministers visit future Waikato Expressway extension
The $1.77b project will build a 16km four-lane highway near Karāpiro.
Thomas Coughlan: Nicola Willis gives herself some breathing space and puts the squeeze on Labour
OPINION: Forecasts assume operating allowances of $2.4b in the next three Budgets.
The most uninspiring election-year Budget in at least a decade
OPINION: This is a boring Budget – but its boringness is deliberate.
Jamie Ensor: When will Labour release policy? It may not be when you expect
ANALYSIS: It's a key question swirling around political circles.
Officials told Government not to intervene in climate court case
Released papers show officials advised against altering climate litigation rules.
In a tight NZ Budget, will money go where it's needed most – or to political priorities?
OPINION: Operating budgets face a 2% cut next year, then 5% in each of two years.
Editorial: Is Labour failing to learn from past mistakes or just being pompous?
OPINION: Labour, it has been suggested, no longer represents the working class.
Budget 2026: Govt announces $1.5b to strengthen NZ's maritime security, buy new drones
Chris Penk says NZ's geographic distance is no longer a shield from global instability.
Paul Goldsmith vs Willie Jackson on public service cuts, social housing and Ngai Tahu settlement
Goldsmith and Jackson clash over public service cuts and the Ngai Tahu treaty settlement. Video / Ryan bridge TODAY
'Real threat': Expert warns Govt's AI plans could create 'economic shock', 'biased' policy
Artificial intelligence in the public sector could erode data privacy and integrity.
Sandra Grey: Public service cuts don't help – they just hurt people
OPINION: The Government plans to cut unprotected budgets by 13% over three years.
Kiwis don’t ‘really care’ about detail in key election policy, Hipkins claims
He said the policy was a 'pretty simple proposition'.
Changing climate law to prevent civil cases removes a key protection for NZ citizens
OPINION: The law change stops the Smith v Fonterra climate case ever being heard.
Editorial: Money's tight, keep the election promises focused on it
OPINION: Expect the pledges to lurch this year from what we've come to expect as normal.
'Does Mr Seymour or Mr Luxon understand economics?': Peters firm on plan to buy back BNZ
The NZ First leader wants a premium-priced government offer made to NAB.
'Simply made up': Hipkins denies Labour blocked clean energy projects | Ryan Bridge TODAY
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says National is 'desperate' in blaming them for blocking clean energy projects, and has called BNZ bickering 'farcical'. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
NZ Herald Headlines | Monday, May 18, 2026
Morning Headlines | NZ First announces intention to buy out BNZ and National Party's plans to prohibit good character sentence discounts for sexual offenders | Monday, May 18, 2026
Advocate 'stoked' about ban on sex offender character references, but lawyer warns change is 'dangerous'
Christopher Luxon said no sexual offender is a person of good character.
'Road to Damascus epiphany': Winston Peters takes aim at National, Act over immigration
Peters made the campaign announcement in Auckland before the Budget.
NZ First to campaign on buying back BNZ and making KiwiSaver enrolment compulsory at birth
The NZ First leader made the campaign announcement in Auckland before the Budget.
National to ban judges from considering good character when sentencing sex offenders
'No sexual offender is a person of good character. Period,' Christopher Luxon said.
Prime Minister speaks at National Party regional conference
Christopher Luxon speaks to media following his speech at the National Party regional conference. Video / NZ Herald
Heather du Plessis-Allan: If Top wants to be elected, it needs to be honest with us
OPINION: It's not a centre party. It's a classic, redistributionist left-wing party.
Chris Luxon and Erica Stanford address media as new school qualifications unveiled
Christopher Luxon delivers a speech at the National Party Northern Regional Conference, hosted at the Orewa College Arts and Events Centre. Video / NZ Herald
'You're playing the race card': National and Labour duke it out over immigration | Ryan Bridge TODAY
National Minister Paul Goldsmith and Labour MP Willie Jackson talk all things politics. Video / Ryan Bridge TODAY
Hipkins accuses Luxon of 'reprehensible' leadership over immigration comments
The Labour Party leader made a State of Auckland speech this morning.
National will choose 'social stability' over profit in immigration – Luxon
The Prime Minister confirmed spending would be slashed in the May 28 Budget.
Editorial: Main parties face a tricky dynamic holding their top spot
OPINION: The aftermath of the election could be more interesting than the campaign itself.