Articles in ‘Election’

e Pāti Māori has unveiled one of the most far-reaching constitutional proposals of the 2026 election campaign, seeking to give new legal force to Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations across government. The policy would create an independent commission capable of stopping some Crown decisions, make Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding and begin a $220 million programme aimed at constitutional transformation by 2040. eLocal Report: Based on…

Labour is promising $21 million a year for Māori-led trades training if it forms the next government, with funding available to providers including marae and iwi trusts. The party says the programme would cover trades ranging from plumbing and electrical work to hairdressing, with no age limit for participants. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by RNZ — read the original report here. · Labour has put Māori trades training on its election…

ACT wants to fundamentally change the way New Zealand taxes cryptocurrency, promising that qualifying personal crypto gains would become tax-free once an asset had been held for more than 12 months. The party also wants exemptions for small everyday transactions and clearer rules for stablecoins and financial technology companies. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Craig McCulloch for RNZ HERE. · ACT has unveiled a cryptocurrency policy that…

Labour has promised New Zealand motorists there will be no increase in fuel excise duty during its next term in government, while also calling on the coalition to cancel a 12-cent-a-litre increase currently scheduled for January. The commitment offers motorists certainty at the pump, but it also creates a larger question: if fuel-tax revenue does not rise, what transport spending will have to give way? eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Giles…

Political advertising on Facebook and Instagram is becoming harder for voters to see and understand as a whole. Parties can begin with broad audiences, but Meta's automated advertising systems can optimise delivery towards the people most likely to respond — potentially producing very different election campaigns for different voters. eLocal Report: Based on reporting published by The Conversation, Algorithms are choosing who sees what…

Housing Minister Chris Bishop has acknowledged New Zealand faces an “enormous challenge” over housing and homelessness after officials confirmed there is no guarantee that a person needing shelter can be accommodated on any given night. The Government says it is increasing social housing and homelessness services, while maintaining that making shelter a legal guarantee would not necessarily solve the problem. eLocal Report: Based on reporting…

ACT has unveiled a wide-ranging constitutional policy aimed at reasserting Parliament's authority over the courts, restricting how tikanga can influence judicial decisions, strengthening private property rights and ending vaguely worded Treaty clauses in legislation. Te Pāti Māori has attacked the proposals as divisive, but the underlying policy raises a much larger constitutional question: who should ultimately make New Zealand law — elected…

National is promising voters it will introduce no new taxes if re-elected in November, abandoning proposed bank and accommodation taxes. But the pledge comes with an important qualification: Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis would not rule out increases to existing taxes, levies or fees — while Christopher Luxon left open the future of fuel excise. eLocal Report: Based on reporting by Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira, Political Reporter for RNZ. · …

Freedom (NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party) has announced Alistair Wait as its Northland electorate and list candidate. A researcher and teacher of constitutional history, common law, equity and tikanga Māori, Wait says his decision to enter electoral politics reflects an opportunity to campaign for direct democracy, meaningful constitutional change and greater political authority for New Zealanders. 21st August, 2026. · Freedom (NZ Outdoors &…

HAMILTON — Experienced legal advocate, community leader, and political campaigner Donna Pokere-Phillips has officially announced her parliamentary candidacy for the Hamilton West electorate with the Freedom Party (NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party), bringing a lifelong commitment to whānau, whenua, justice, and accountable government directly to the local community. · Born in Taranaki with deep whakapapa connections to Tainui, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, and…