Roger Childs: The Post, not impressive

I regard Hobson’s Pledge as a repulsive organization. Matthew Hooton, The Post, Friday October 2

Stuff

The Post’s editorial last Friday showed Stuff at its worse. The previous day it had printed a full page advertisement from Hobson’s Pledge which was basically a cartoon wondering why Labour leader Chris Hipkins doesn’t rule out the racist Maori Party as a possible partner in a Labour-led coalition should they be able to form a government after the election. Editor Hooton conceded that the advert did not breach the law or advertising standards so Stuff decided to run it.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: National's winning on education - and parents agree

So I reckon there was one moment in that leaders' debate that would have worried parents up and down this country, and it was this one.

Chris Hipkins conceded that, if Labour were to win the election, he would scrap the one hour of reading, writing and maths for primary school kids.

Clive Bibby: Opening salvos in Election Campaigns almost always matter

With the exception of only a few military campaigns throughout history, the tactics used and the strategic positioning of the major firepower on the battleground was almost always crucial to the end result.

So too it has always been with political debate - no matter what forum.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 4.10.26

Thursday October 8, 2026 

News:
Post-settlement entity invests in Gull merger to give its whānau 25c a litre off fuel
People who whakapapa to the Hawke's Bay town of Wairoa are getting a reprieve at the pump amid soaring fuel costs.

As a result of post-settlement governance entity Tātau Tātau o Te Wairoa investing in the merger between petrol station chains NPD and Gull, members will get 25 cents a litre off fuel at Gull stations.

Mike Butler: A Giant Treaty Rort?

Does Treaty of Waitangi policy amount to a rort that has grown beyond the wildest dreams of those who set it up and is now too large and too deeply embedded for any government to dismantle?

That is the question that emerged from spending a couple of months updating the treaty settlement financial redress total at Treaty Transparency 1975-2026 HERE 

 
The word “rort” describes a scheme that takes unfair advantage of a public service, loophole, or resource.

Mike's Minute: Medicine for foreign aid money is a no-brainer

From our “he would say that, wouldn’t he” file, comes the predictable Winston Peters response to the National Party's medicine for aid deal.

National are reading the room. If you have no money and you need to trade one thing for another, does medicine beat aid?

Yes, hands down.

Olivia Pierson: New Zealand - Beyond the Boats Invading our Mother Country

The only souls still possessed of political zeal are those whose fervour is the fervour of the wolf. What they see is a flesh-and-blood civilisation, meaty and unguarded, to be looted for the survival of their own mangy pack. I mean the commies, of course: the Greens, Labour, Te Pati Maori, the gauchely named Opportunities Party, and the Islamic interest that travels openly in their company. Should these packs ever come into serious power, the country will be eaten out from its porn-soaked reproductive organs to its essential guts, and the devouring will be euphemised as gritty “real life” until the old guards are gone — the Boomers, and we of Generation X.

Andrew Dickens: National’s trade-off between foreign aid and medicine shows how far we've fallen

National’s trade-off between foreign aid and Pharmac is a sign of just how far we’ve fallen.

Firstly, our spend on medicines through Pharmac has always been woefully low. It pales beside Australia’s investment and that’s never made sense to me.

Simon O'Connor: The five-letter word media won’t say

From a failed airline hijacking to riots in France, our inability to name causes and motivations is undermining our ability to respond to reality.

There seems to be one five-letter word that much of the mainstream media cannot simply bring itself to say: Islam.

As you know, in recent days, yet another Islamic terrorist has sought to bring death to innocents. On this occasion, it was an attempt to hijack an aircraft and then use it as a flying bomb into Tel Aviv. Had the terrorist succeeded, hundreds, if not thousands, would have died.

Peter Williams: There’s the Bloody Ball. Use it!

The Nats still have a chance but they have to change tactics

In the famous Ranfurly Shield challenge of 1985 Auckland - the challengers - led Canterbury 24-0 at half time. The legendary Canterbury coach Alex “Grizz” Wyllie strode to the middle of Lancaster Park with a rugby ball under his arm - it was only a 5 minute break back then and players never left the field - and said to his team “there’s the bloody ball. Use it!”

Then he stormed off. His shell shocked players responded brilliantly. They lost the match 28-23 but they were in the game right to the final whistle.

Fast forward to the 2026 election. The National Party is down and out. Metaphorically they are behind 24 nil.

Kerre Woodham: Where is Labour's pay equity funding actually going to come from?

Finally, after much hinting and promising and ooh, winking and teasing, Labour's revealed how it will fund the core pay equity policy it has been promising for the past three years.

Except that they didn't.

Richard Prebble: A free bus would be cheaper

I could have saved the Greens the consultancy fee. I would have told them for free that their idea is nuts.

But they do not have to take my word for it.

The Greens campaigned for an Auckland-to-Hamilton passenger rail service that Labour agreed to.

Guest Post: An Axe With No Handle

Guest Post on GoodOil by LilBaP

The books are on fire. Wellington is arguing about the colour of the cover. We watch with interest and we are also the ones paying.

Damien Grant, on Stuff last week, opened Treasury’s pre-election forecast and read it out loud, which is more than most have managed.

Wednesday October 7, 2026 

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Roy Morgan Poll: In September National-led Government increases lead over Labour-led Parliamentary Opposition (52% vs. 41.5%)

The Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll for September 2026 shows the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) up 3% to 52%, increasing its clear lead over the Labour-Greens-Te Pāti Māori Parliamentary Opposition, virtually unchanged at 41.5%, and 6.5% supporting Opportunity. This is the largest lead (10.5%) for the National-led Government for two years since September 2024.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Directing more money to Pharmac is the sensible choice

So, Winston Peters is pretty upset, as you would expect, about National's plan to take money from the foreign aid budget and use it to fund medicines through Pharmac. But from where I'm sitting, that seems fairly sensible, doesn't it?

1News Verian Poll: Opportunity still in kingmaker seat as Greens hold strong

Opportunity continues to hold the keys to power and the Greens remain in a strong position to play a significant role in the next government, the latest 1News Verian poll results show.

With Opportunity set for 7% of the vote, and National leader Christopher Luxon having ruled out working with the party, today’s results point to a route to power for Labour.

Mike's Minute: Labour's fiscal plan is a failure

With the period of digestion now complete, I think it is more than fair to suggest that the Labour Party's fiscal plan has been marked a failure.

This is not just me, but as far as I can read virtually every journalist and commentator, including economists, say so.

This politically should be a disaster. Economic credibility, this election in particular, is everything.

Richard Prebble: A super policy

Opening ACT’s election campaign, David Seymour made the most consequential policy pledge of the election.

All the other parties are proposing, in one form or another, to make KiwiSaver compulsory.

Andrew Dickens: Why Doesn't National and Act have the same pressures as Labour?

So Labour finally released their fiscal plan in the weekend.

It was much anticipated. In fact commentator after commentator for weeks now have been demanding it.

Now it’s being dissected. And mostly by the current coalition parties.