The latest in NZ politics

Fisheries plan sparks a national conversation

Town hall packed out in Invercargill

What's actually in the cost-of-living package

Regional jobs plan unveiled in Whangārei

Poll tracker: how the numbers are moving six months out from the election

Our rolling average of the major public polls shows a tightening race, with the outcome likely to hinge on two or three swing seats and the minor parties.

Nash on the ground in Hawke's Bay flood recovery

Cross-party support builds for review of electoral funding rules

A rare show of cross-party agreement has emerged for a select committee inquiry into political donations, after a series of high-profile disclosure disputes.

Councils warn water reform replacement leaves regions with funding gaps

Local government leaders say the Government's replacement for the previous water reforms shifts risk back onto ratepayers, with smaller districts hardest hit.

Budget 2026 signals infrastructure push as Treasury flags tighter books

The Government has used Budget 2026 to promise a multi-billion-dollar lift in infrastructure spending, even as Treasury warns the return to surplus has slipped another year.