NZ MAGA'fuckation | October 2026 Edition

Agriculture Minister Todd McClay is sparring with the Green Party’s Steve Abel around claims New Zealand is failing to meet its climate commitments under the European Union free trade agreement.

International relations experts are warning a case claiming New Zealand is not meeting EU trade agreement climate commitments could seriously impact the country’s reputation.

National wants to progress a more seamless trans-Tasman travel experience, but Labour is questioning what happened to work it did on the issue before 2023.

The Green Party has pledged to reinstate the pay equity scheme and fund a settlement for the 65,000 care and support workers whose claim was stopped by the government’s changes.

Young people say political parties’ social media is “so cringe, it’s funny” - while a social media expert argues that trashing each other can backfire.

Cycle groups are pumped at law changes coming into effect today that aim to improve safety for non motorists on the roads and footpaths.

Follow the latest with RNZ’s live coverage

A former British high commissioner to New Zealand says our country’s “100% Pure New Zealand” brand is at stake, following a Dutch environmental group lodging a complaint with the European Commission alleging New Zealand may have breached parts of its free trade agreement with the European Union.

In the lead-up to November’s election, Midday Report is speaking with the technology spokesperson for a range of parties about their biggest hopes and fears for artificial intelligence (AI) and the role of the Government in regulating the technology. On Friday, Guyon Epsiner sat down with ACT leader David Seymour.

Christopher Luxon has walked back claims made by one of his ministers about the Greens, before then suggesting - wrongly - that they originated from the media.

National is promising to start construction on Mill Road, one of its Roads of National Significance, if it leads the next government.

New Zealand faces its first climate complaint under EU trade rules, but the government rejects claims climate promises have been broken.

Political parties have revealed policies over the past weeks that are likely to affect household budgets, should they take effect.

The Greens have announced plans to fund the removal of level crossings along Auckland’s Western line.

Analysis - Nothing in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll will give either of the Chrises any confidence as they head into their first head-to-head debate on Tuesday night.

The Greens want to close “Luxon’s carve-outs” for commercial fishers in the Hauraki Gulf, phase out bottom trawling and protect 30 percent of it by reforming marine protected area legislation.

Specialist pain doctors are calling for the shingles vaccine to be free for everyone over 65.

Both National and Labour are stuck in the 20s in a new poll, while the Opportunity Party continues to hold the balance of power.

RNZ’s latest political poll - the first during the election campaign - came out just hours before the two major party leaders faced off in TVNZ’s debate.

Analysis - Three years ago, Christopher Luxon headed into his first head-to-head debate with Chris Hipkins on the back of a poll that had National on 37 points and able to form a government with ACT alone.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has come out swinging against politicians on the election campaign trail, telling those in central government to stop making promises while expecting Aucklanders to foot the bill.

Women’s Refuge says stricter emergency housing requirements are putting victims of domestic violence at risk.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters says he hopes the country’s ban on conversion therapy is revisited.

The Labour Party has accused National of painting beneficiaries as “bludgers” in the hope it translates to a bounce in the polls.

Analysis - What’s a right-leaning voter to do?

Bottom trawling could be a make or break policy when it comes time to form the next government.

Chris Hipkins has told Nelson voters that Labour is committed to the Hope Bypass and the Nelson Hospital redevelopment, and the party will not cancel, defer or re-scope projects where work is underway if elected.

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong says she does not believe Christopher Luxon has completely ruled out working with her party, saying he would rather be in government than in opposition.

Federated Farmers is welcoming National’s announcement of a scheme to help get water storage projects built.

The Public Service Association (PSA) says Government cuts have left New Zealand less prepared for natural disasters after the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre was temporarily closed because of staff shortages.

A New Zealand woman travelling through Panama says the earthquake was unlike anything she had ever experienced back home.

An earlier version of this story said the party proposed a ban on commercial fishing. This has been corrected to ring-net fishing.

The ACT Party's fiscal plan promises to cut debt and spending, raise the superannuation age by three months every year, and cut disability benefits by $653 million.

The ACT Party wants to cut more than $1.1 billion in foreign aid over four years from 2028 onwards.

ACT is facing criticism from across the aisle over health and disability cuts in its fiscal plan, and copping friendly fire after criticising National's Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis.

The drop of aid New Zealand sends to Ethiopia is small but significant. Slashing it in order to boost Pharmac's budget will cost lives.

AI may represent a "huge opportunity" for New Zealand, but there are still "serious dangers and evils" associated with the technology, says Christopher Luxon.

National is dangling tax cuts for voters, but not until the books are back in surplus - which isn't forecast until at least 2029.

The associate education minister estimates about 6000 students will be enrolled in charter schools next year.

Analysis: Winston Peters is on a mission and says the idea that either Chris will be calling the shots once the votes are counted is a nonsense.

The Mental Health Foundation is rubbishing the ACT Party's pre-election proposal to cut more than half-a-billion dollars worth of disability benefits, saying the plan is "based in bigotry".

For mainstream political parties, a credible election campaign costs millions of dollars. How do they pay for it all?

New Zealand is among 30 countries to issue a joint statement condemning Iran for what they say are violent attacks against them.

On Tuesday, TVNZ is hosting its second election debate, also simulcast on RNZ, which sees leaders of the Greens, NZ First, Opportunity, ACT and Te Pāti Māori face-off.

Constant back-and-forth speed limit changes on Northland's state highways are confusing and potentially costly for motorists, the Automobile Association (AA) says.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark has slammed New Zealand's abstention on a vote on global pandemic preparedness at the United Nations, describing it as "humiliating".

The strategist behind the Covid-era slogan “Team of 5 Million” and the daily 1pm lockdown briefings has written a new book.

New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones says the proposed Bendigo-Ophir gold mine has taken too long to advance through the fast-track approvals process, blaming legislation that has taken on the form of a "constipated bureaucratic beast".

Consumer says some households and businesses will face large increases to their electricity lines charges from next year, when the low fixed charge scheme is fully phased out.

Environmental groups say the conservation minister "closed his mind" to public submissions on stewardship land when deciding classifications for hundreds of thousands of hectares.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson is doubling down on her candidates meeting with patched gang members and having photos taken with them in the middle of an election campaign.

Analysis - One of the few moments of agreement in Wednesday night's NZ Herald leaders' debate came right at the outset, when both men insisted, hand on heart, they'd never told a porkie in politics.

The government has quietly chosen a preferred provider for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Taranaki - though it is yet to sign a contract.

"You made us do it."

National is promising to let farmers carry out more work without council approval, saying simpler rules would help them grow more food and sell more overseas.

The mother of a toddler whose cancer treatment was delayed due to staff shortages at Starship Hospital says often her son was screaming and writhing in pain while they tried to get help from a nurse.

Analysis - In a neck-and-neck election campaign there's no greater gift for a political party than an unforced error by the opposing team.

Charity groups are calling for sustained action on incomes and housing to fight child poverty.

There's nothing like the worst flu outbreak in 10 years to test the mettle of the health system - and to test the prime minister's claim it's in better shape than three years ago.

National says it will take away a person's right to silence when a child is murdered if the party is re-elected.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon picked a "challenging" election date, despite the Electoral Commission favouring two other options, newly released advice shows.

Opposition parties are raising concerns over what they call voter suppression by the government, as the enrolment deadline draws near.

*Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that fees-free study will be abolished at the end of 2026

National leader Christopher Luxon has laughed off the opposition's charge of voter suppression, saying more people are enrolled right now than at this stage last election.

Christmas could come and go before New Zealand gets a new government, with neither Christopher Luxon nor Chris Hipkins willing to promise a coalition deal before the festivities are over.

The prime minister has had a "coaching conversation" with the Transport Agency's boss over a major roading project's cost and timeframe.

The latest The Post/Freshwater Strategy poll is pointing to a neck and neck result with the two major parties just over a single percentage point apart.

Green Party candidate Huhana Lyndon could be set to make history in the Māori electorate seats as she leads the race for Te Tai Tokerau.

New Zealand has signed a NZ$1.6 billion deal with the US government to buy five navy helicopters and weapons.

Support for National has surged in the latest political poll, with the party up four points to 32 percent.

The final leaders' debate for this election campaign is done and dusted, with the two Chrises clashing on health, homelessness, the economy and the cost of living.

Analysis - A meaty quickfire round in Tuesday night's debate revealed a long list of things National and Labour could agree on, but the rest of the head-to-head was far from cordial.

Analysis: "Last one" was heard as the two leaders of the largest political parties came together for a handshake ahead of their third and final head-to-head debate last night. Then, the two Chrises went at it.

ACT Party leader David Seymour has backed National's Blair Cameron for the Nelson electorate, while telling a public meeting the Upper South Island is facing "real problems" with the health system.

The AI generation of fear-based messages is finding its audience in this year's election campaign, a professor of digital marketing says.

A new Whakaata Māori-Curia poll has Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara only slightly ahead of Labour candidate Kerrin Leoni in the electorate seat of Tāmaki Makaurau.

The National Library and Archives NZ will cut more than 11 percent of its workforce, with confirmation today that 45 jobs will be lost.

The High Court has ruled regulations banning new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young people with gender dysphoria were unlawful.

See how all the day's events unfolded with RNZ's live blog:

National leader Christopher Luxon has fronted up to Bay of Plenty residents on issues affecting the region.

Confidence amongst the country's leading business leaders has climbed in this year's Mood of the Boardroom Survey.

See how all the day's events unfolded with RNZ's live blog.

Analysis: It's one of the defining questions of Election 2026 - will Opportunity get the opportunity to help form a government for the next three years?

Epsom voters have long been savvy about strategic voting, giving ACT their electorate vote, and National the party vote.

Katherine Taniwha's family knows how to build a home.

The Green Party would hike taxes, take on more debt and delay balancing the government's books to put billions more into hospitals and healthcare.

Labour's Tāmaki Makaurau candidate Kerrin Leoni has resigned after a video emerged of her campaigning alongside Mongrel Mob members.

Despite not having made it to parliament, The Opportunity Party has already been proclaimed a potential "kingmaker" following next month's election.

A political commentator believes parties on the left lost control of the election campaign in the last week, with candidates drawing heavy criticism for campaigning with gangs.

National Party leader Christopher Luxon denies his government has disenfranchised voters, despite claims that changes to the deadline will likely affect the number of people enrolled.

Enrolments have closed and voting in the general election begins today, with party leaders among those casting their ballot on day one.

Chris Hipkins has promised a Labour-led government would be formed by Christmas, and he's set out five things he would tackle in his first week as prime minister.

ByTe Rina Kowhai

For over a century, Indian Kiwis have called New Zealand home. So why today do they still face calls to 'go back to where they came from'?

*Correction: This story has been updated to clarify the estimated number of unenrolled voters

The Sensible Sentencing Trust is "formally challenging" Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick to meet with it - and victims of gang violence - before the election.

New Zealand First candidate Ron Mark has denied any suggestion that his campaign advertisement blaming "woke b******t of diversity, equity and inclusiveness" for the sinking of HMNZ Manawanui has anything to do with it being captained by a woman.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is defending a party ad blaming the sinking of a navy ship on "woke b......t'", but is at odds with his own candidate.

Local government leaders are calling on the next government to put more money into flood and climate resilience.

The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) is set to raise its benchmark interest rate despite previously signalling a pause, as headline inflation has fallen, and just 10 days out from the general election.

NZME, the owner of Newstalk ZB, has been offered another 20 years of its commercial radio frequencies for $11.2 million, under a Crown deal which values the industry's spectrum at about 70 percent less than the Crown received in the previous renewal round in 2011.

National's campaign chair has demanded Labour and the Greens explain which smaller-party policies would emerge from coalition negotiations - despite National refusing to do the same.

A senior National MP has described Opportunity as a "bunch of flakes," and questioned what the party stands for.

The National Party has dropped below 25 percent in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll, while Opportunity has reached a new high and could decide the next government.

Analysis - National is in a fight to save the furniture just nine days out from the polls closing.

The National leader has taken to social media to warn voters against making the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll a "reality," while his deputy and campaign chair earlier dismissed the poll.

The project to replace the Interislander ferries hit the government's $1.7 billion cap in June, forcing the removal of value-for-money, sustainability and safety enhancements.

In a world without President Donald Trump New Zealand will have to show courage and decisiveness, says an American foreign policy and national security analyst.

The Leader of the Opposition says he's dropped the sweeping rhetoric for promises he can keep. How's that going for him?

New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones has committed to introducing a bill forcing Ngāpuhi to sign a Treaty settlement in the first 100 days of the next government, if re-elected.

The Electoral Commission says the provisional enrolment rate for the election is 93.6 percent, compared to 94.7 percent at the 2023 election.

An electoral law expert says there is no reason not to believe a law change is responsible for the voter enrolment rate slipping below 2023 levels.

An international organisation that tracks climate action says New Zealand's rollback of policies is "staggering" when compared with other countries.

ACT leader David Seymour is downplaying talk of his ambitions to become finance minister, after earlier saying it was possible he would seek the role.

"When was the last time you had to think about whether you were allowed to feel safe? Not whether you were safe, but whether you could allow yourself to believe that you were safe?"