Election campaign live update
Live election campaign coverage on 16 October 2026.
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Future voters might thank National and Labour for unsexy politics
National and Labour hold the centre in unsexy politics, saving democracy from extreme swings.
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National promises fewer council approvals for farms
National pledges simpler farm rules to boost food exports and reduce council approvals.
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Former gambler wants all online ads banned
Former gambler urges regulators to ban gambling ads to prevent relapse.
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Mother heartbroken as toddler's cancer treatment delayed
Starship Hospital staff shortages delay toddler's cancer treatment.
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Greens promise universal payment for trainee teachers, nurses, vets and dentists
Green Party pledges $380 weekly payments for trainee teachers, nurses, vets and dentists.
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Huge interest: Agriculture stays standalone at Year 11
New Zealand schools want agriculture to remain a Year 11 subject to keep it visible for all students.
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Tech Sector Pushes for Long-Term Strategy
Tech leaders demand stable policies to boost AI and quantum innovation in New Zealand.
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Water pistols, National absent from Aro Valley debate
Aro Valley candidates debate features water pistols and heckling as National skips event.
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Migrant Workers Association welcomes NZ First policy shift
Migrant advocacy group says NZ First adopted its policy to end migrant worker employer ties.
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Labour urges hope and rage; National fears handout society
Labour supporters told to harness 'hope and rage' as National voters fear 'handout society' after election rally.
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How Much Does It Cost to Run an Election?
New Zealand's 2026 election costs $180m to run, with key challenges in voter outreach.
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Seymour hints at National-Opportunity coalition
ACT leader David Seymour suggests a four-headed coalition with Opportunity could block left-wing rule.
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Court tech project shifts from red to amber alert
Court tech project moves from red to amber alert after strong review.
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Greens' Marama Davidson defends gang meetings amid election backlash
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson insists election meetings with gang members are vital for community safety.
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Commerce Commission Rules Out Wellington Water Price Controls
Commerce Commission says it won't step in to lower Wellington water bills for now.
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New Zealand's AI and Security Choices
New Zealand faces tough security choices as AI and Japan reshape defense strategy.
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NZ First plans combat sports safety reforms
NZ First to overhaul combat sports rules for athlete safety and stop criminal influence.
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New Zealand risks squandering digital potential
Tech leaders warn NZ's digital economy could lose $76b in potential without long-term tech strategy.
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Crown-Māori relations at all-time low
Māori unemployment and crime rise as Crown-Māori relations hit record low.
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Luxon and Hipkins debate leaders
National and Labour leaders clash in Queenstown finance debate.
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Te Tai Tonga: New Zealand's Largest Electorate Race Wide Open
New Zealand's largest electorate faces a wide open race after incumbent MP Tākuta Ferris' expulsion from Te Pāti Māori.
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National and Labour debate tax policies in Queenstown
National's Nicola Willis and Labour's Barbara Edmonds clash over tax policies during Queenstown debate.
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NZ First Proposes Infrastructure Changes
NZ First aims to fix housing approvals by requiring infrastructure plans before development.
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Test results show maths, reading improving
Primary school math and reading scores rise as reforms take effect.
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Winston Peters and John Campbell clash over UN pandemic vote
New Zealand's foreign minister rejects signing UN pandemic agreement, sparking debate with National Party leader.
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National promises to remove Auckland's parking ban
National Party pledges to end Auckland's minimum car parking ban.
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Former National health minister slams party's 'punitive' drug testing policy
Former National health minister Jonathan Coleman criticizes party's drug testing policy for beneficiaries as punitive and stigmatizing.
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Former PM Helen Clark calls NZ abstention on UN pandemic vote 'humiliating'
Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark says the country's UN pandemic vote abstention is 'humiliating' for national sovereignty.
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Education Minister Slams Teaching Council Over Sex Offender Teaching
Education Minister Erica Stanford accuses Teaching Council of allowing sex offender to teach despite warnings.
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Labour's election funding gap
Labour needs $4.1m to fund 2026 election after $900k broadcasting allocation.
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Labour's election funding gap
Labour needs $3.2m more to run election campaign after $900k public funding.
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Should New Zealand Lower Voting Age to 16?
New Zealand youth advocates push to lower voting age to 16 for 2026 election.
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Government rejects aluminium industry's call for import protection
New Zealand government denies aluminium industry's request for temporary import protection.
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Wairarapa candidates debate vaping, housing, meth and water
Wairarapa candidates face tough questions on vaping, housing, meth and water storage during election debate.
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Economist doubts fiscal unit's impact
Economist says NZ's fiscal plan unit won't change election outcomes.
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National superannuation stance unchanged
National insists superannuation policy remains fixed despite election promises.
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Child Poverty Beyond Uniforms
Child poverty experts highlight food insecurity as a bigger issue than school uniform costs.
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Economists doubt fiscal plans debate will shift election vote
Economists say fiscal plans debate won't change election vote outcome.
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Election 2026: Greens call ACT fiscal plan 'welfare for the wealthiest'
Greens label ACT fiscal plan as 'welfare for the wealthiest' amid policy clashes.
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Auckland election race hinges on city's challenges
Politicians focus on Auckland's economic struggles to win tight election race.
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ACT Party to Remove Charitable Tax Cap
ACT Party pledges to scrap donations tax-break limit to boost charity sector.
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Auckland mayor calls National road plan 'idiotic'
Auckland mayor Wayne Brown condemns National's $1.75 billion Mill Road project as 'idiotic' during election campaign.
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National would make completing Year 11 compulsory if back in power
National plans to require Year 11 completion for all students if re-elected.
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Labour school lunches on-site for 244,400 students
Labour promises on-site school lunches for 244,400 students starting 2028.
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Greens propose jobs guarantee for young Kiwis
Green Party pledges to fund jobs for 32,000 young New Zealanders through a four-year program.
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ACT's disability cuts criticized as poorly researched
Mental Health Foundation calls ACT's disability benefit cuts 'based in bigotry' amid mental health crisis concerns.
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ACT sets out plan to raise retirement age
ACT Party's fiscal plan cuts debt, spending and disability benefits.
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New Zealand cuts aid to Ethiopia
New Zealand's aid cut to Ethiopia risks starvation deaths as government funds cancer care.
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Pakaraka School Converts to First Charter School
Northland state school joins charter school movement after community push.
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Politicians Can't Dance Alone on Superannuation
National Party's Nicola Willis urges cross-party collaboration on superannuation policy amid tight polls and opposition.
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Youth advocates urge rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns grow
Youth advocates push rangatahi to vote as homelessness concerns rise.
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Election Live: National Policy Shift
National hints at 2029 tax cuts as Greens target AI regulation.
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National hints at tax cuts after 2029
National promises tax cuts for voters after 2029 as fiscal plan shows surplus path.
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Election Live: National Opens Books
National reveals fiscal plan as Greens target AI and Labour school uniforms.
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Greens vow AI regulation
Green Party pledges AI oversight to share benefits with New Zealanders.
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Labour cuts school uniform costs
Labour plans affordable school uniforms and healthy lunches to ease family budgets.
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AI regulation divides National and Labour
New Zealand's AI strategy faces criticism as National and Labour clash over regulation approach.
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Auckland Central: Boundary changes shake election race
New boundaries and move-on orders shift Auckland Central's election dynamics.
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Winston Peters on NZ's declining appeal
Peters says New Zealand is less attractive than before but will restore it.
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