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Quotable quote

 

“Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose.” 

- Lyndon B. Johnson 

ELECTION 2026 - NZ FIRST LAST PARTY TO RELEASE LIST

 NZ First is the last party to release its party list, revealing a mix of experienced politicians, high-profile newcomers and potential future leaders. 

The top four positions remain unchanged, with Winston Peters, Shane Jones, Casey Costello and Mark Patterson retaining their places. The first significant change comes at number five, with the inclusion of former National MP and Cabinet minister Alfred Ngaro. At number six is another familiar political figure, Michael Laws, a former MP, mayor and broadcaster, followed by former National MP Harete Hipango Brownlie at number seven. 

ELECTION 2026 - OVER THE TOP

Gareth Morgan has had some unflattering things to say about the party he founded. In an opinion piece published by Newsroom, he sharply criticised The Opportunity Party's tax policies and political direction. 

 “Apart from any wealth tax being anti-entrepreneurial, the land tax of Opportunity appears to be a very poor substitute for the income tax on imputed rent that TOP 2017 proposed … Opportunity’s land tax is at best a poor proxy of taxing income from land, but more accurately can be described as a regressive wealth tax much like those proposed by Labour and the Greens [and] a major step backwards in terms of the enlightenment of New Zealand’s tax regime. 

ELECTION 2026 - FOUR THINGS THAT COULD DECIDE THE ELECTION

With support for the major parties at its lowest level since MMP was introduced in 1996, the general election is emerging as a choice between two distinct blocs, rather than individual parties: National, ACT and NZ First on the right or Labour, Greens, Te Pāti Māori, and the Opportunity Party on the left. 

 Recent polling suggests National has suffered the largest decline in party-vote support since the 2023 election, falling by almost 10 percentage points. NZ First appears to be a major beneficiary, gaining around five points on its 2023 result. One explanation advanced for this shift is dissatisfaction among some centre-right voters who believe National has not moved quickly or decisively enough to reverse the policies of the Ardern–Hipkins government. 

ELECTION 2026 - AROUND THE ELECTORATES

CANDIDATES LIST (main parties) 

WHANGAREI 

Candidates

Lloyd Budd  (National, 60 on the party list)

Gary Payinda  (Labour, 48)

Doug Graham (ACT, 38)

Vince Cocurullo (NZ First, 31)

National has held the Whangārei electorate in all but two elections since the seat was established in 1972. 

GLIDING ON AT THE NRC

Fancy working fewer hours without a reduction in pay? Then the Northland Regional Council may be for you.

In a split 5–4 vote, councillors decided to make permanent a trial that saw most full-time NRC employees move to a 72-hour fortnight, down from 75 hours, without any reduction in pay. The hours of part-time employees were reduced proportionately.

The estimated value of the reduction in staff time is $2.88 million a year—equivalent to around a 5% rates increase.

NORTHLAND WATERS

 Northland Waters has appointed Kate Simmonds as its first chief executive. She will take up the role on 5 October. Born and raised in Northland and now living in Kerikeri, Simmonds has extensive experience in the water sector. Her involvement with Far North District Council water projects dates back to at least 2018, and she has subsequently worked as a water-services consultant.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - T2

 

“The T2 bus lane from Kamo down to the Bank Street roundabout was a potentially disastrous decision from day one, especially from Whau Valley to the Bank Street roundabout.

Not only are businesses losing income because of a lack of parking southbound and northbound, but there is the everyday potential of heavy vehicles colliding with power poles northbound because our so-called experts at Council decided to close the parking bays on the left-hand northbound lanes. Because of this, our delivery trucks are so much closer to the poles. It is a catastrophe just simmering away, waiting to boil over. Who’s going to pay for the damage? Council? I don’t think so.

I am a recently retired truck driver, and it is decisions like this that cause headaches for my mates still doing it. Wake up councillors, get it right!” – M.P.

SMOLDERS AT 18

Far North District Councillor Davina Smolders has been ranked 18th on the ACT Party list. ACT would need to secure around 14–15% of the party vote for her to enter Parliament as a list MP. The party is currently polling at around 9%.