Latest from Politics

Michele Hewitson: Coalition of cuts or coalition of chaos, what’s better?
At least a meeting of what may loosely be called minds would be a non-partisan pick’n’mix.

What you need to know in politics: Interruptions, parties ruled out and tax
Major parties make major announcements as election day draws closer for voters.

Danyl McLauchlan: Although large, National’s tax package doesn’t change much
No vision of how economy may generate more wealth or how to solve any long-term problems.

Is the Govt's consultant spending worth the billion-dollar price tag?
Our public services spent $1.25b on outsourced help last year, but are they worth it?

Michele Hewitson: Parties play policy Whac-A-Mole as Labour thwacked in polls
Some advice: beware of grumps and moles and, if you are the PM, polls. They are all pests.

What you need to know in politics: Labour takes dramatic fall
No matter what promises Labour makes, they keep taking hits in the polls.

Michele Hewitson: Dear politicians, not all publicity is good publicity
Uffindell’s attempt to drum up publicity has certainly got him some, of the wrong sort.

The rise and rise of David Seymour: Could he really lead NZ?
Michele Hewitson unveils the enigmatic leader of the Act Party.

Danyl McLauchlan: Labour’s food GST exemption a rotten policy
Labour doesn’t want to help people on low incomes buy food: it wants to win the election.

Michele Hewitson: The prize for political faux pas of the year goes to...
Fiscal holes bring us reluctantly to, er, Grant Robertson’s hole.

Wealth tax or food GST exemption: Which could make our tax system fairer?
Labour’s aborted wealth tax and GST food exemptions latest attempts to make tax fairer.

What you need to know in politics: New policies ignore ‘bread and butter’ issues
Political parties come out with range of policies, but none cover “bread & butter” issues.

What we can learn from Labour’s election loss 30 years ago
Did an ad campaign change the outcome of our 1993 cliffhanger?

Michele Hewitson: Exposing tax policy leaker would fracture already fragile Labour
Whoever the leaker is, they must have it in for Prime Minister Chris Hipkins.

Michele Hewitson: Kiri Allan’s demise draws predictable reactions
Clunk. That’s the sound of yet another wheel falling off Labour’s campaign bus.

Political week in review: Kiri Allan saga raises questions about ‘toxic’ political culture
Why has the government haemorrhaged ministers during an election year?

Danyl McLauchlan: Kiri Allan the architect of her own downfall
Allan’s career is almost certainly over and this is both a personal and political tragedy.

Michele Hewitson: Luxon’s hilarious photo-op shows the ‘glamorous’ side of politics
It might be the worst news photo of a politician ever taken.

Political week in review: Labour’s ‘in it for you’ with Grand Youth Crime Pivot
What’s in a slogan, more on the Michael Woods brouhaha, and the Grand Youth Crime Pivot.

Michele Hewitson: Debate targets ‘drongo’ journalists in flood relief efforts
The evening raised $13k – and proved there is a fine line between fun and imbecility.

Political week in review: Labour polling down as Chris Hipkins missing vision
Visionary leadership Ardern brought to party – cynically or not – is completely absent.

Inform your opinion: Should the voting age be lowered to 16?
Are 16yos experienced enough to decide who would best represent their interests in govt?

Michele Hewitson: ‘Tipsy Tory’ proves that politicians aren’t allowed to have fun
The trick is to avoid getting caught, but if you are, it pays to have a good story.