Ani O'Brien: National is right about social media, but its ban is still a bad idea

A quick response to National’s announcement of legislation to ban u16 social media

I have written about social media and children a few times now, but because National has finally announced actual legislation, it seems worth covering once more. I am not opposed to restricting children’s access to social media. I think the evidence of harm is sufficiently serious that governments are justified in acting, and I have little patience left for people who dismiss the whole thing as another moral panic about whatever technology the youth are using this decade.

Colinxy: Labour’s 2026 Policy - Powered by Unicorn Farts

The Fiscal Strategy That Isn’t a Strategy

Every election cycle produces its share of political fantasy, but Labour’s 2026 offering is something else entirely: a fiscal plan seemingly powered not by numbers, economics, or reality, but by the gaseous emissions of mythical creatures. According to Labour’s own documents, they’ve conceded their policies require $12 billion more in spending, while their so‑called Simple Capital Gains Tax, a rebrand of taxing inflation, is so transparent it’s almost endearing, will raise barely a tenth of that.

Geoff Parker: Carwyn Jones misses the point - David Seymour is right

Who Makes New Zealand’s Laws — Parliament Or The Courts?

Carwyn Jones says ACT's new “One Law for All. One Future Together” policy appears to be an attempt to “re-litigate” the failed Treaty Principles Bill.

But that criticism misses the central point of David Seymour's proposal.

Dr Oliver Hartwich: If I were PM - Fix the machine before the policies

On my first morning as Prime Minister, I would deliver a speech. It would contain no slogans or platitudes about becoming the best country in the world. Instead, it would be a stocktake, and it would not be a pleasant one.

I would tell New Zealanders what they already sense: the country has been slipping down the income rankings of the developed world for decades. The government’s books have been in deficit for years, and an ageing population will make both problems worse.

Peter Williams: Trouble on tour

How New Zealand tourists can fall victim to crime

Too much of the talk at breakfast in Johannesburg this morning was not about the All Blacks wonderful victory against the Springboks but about how members of our tour group are having their phones stolen, victims of this city’s outrageous pickpockets.

I saw one instance happen right before me without really knowing it was happening. We were standing on a footpath outside Ellis Park waiting for our bus and bathing in the reflected joy of the All Blacks win.

Kerre Woodham: We finally have tax promises from both major parties

Yep, it was all about taxes over the weekend. Labour pinned its colours to the mast over the weekend and wants to tax more to spend more. Taxman from the Beatles was written by George Harrison in 1966 when Harold Wilson came to power in Britain.

He imposed a super tax of 95% on the extremely wealthy, of which the Beatles were on paper, but their accountants warned them they were about to become bankrupt. 95% tax. Labour does not want that in 2026 in New Zealand, but they do want to tax more to spend more.

Philip Crump: Covid - Off-Label

Medsafe approved Pfizer’s booster at six months. New Zealand moved to five, then to four, and finally, three. The more interesting story is how the law changed to allow it.

The Government has now responded to Phase Two of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID-19, released in March. It will not proceed with standalone pandemic legislation, preferring a review of the Health Act to balance public health, the economy and the rights of New Zealanders.

Before designing the next framework, it’s worth considering how some aspects of the last one worked. Notably, the story of the booster interval shows how quickly a medical decision can become a programme decision.

David Farrar: TOP says do what I say, not what I do

The Opportunistic Party has said their policy is to restrict donations to a political party over an electoral cycle to $30,000.

So far this years they have banked the following donations:

Tuesday August 25, 2026 

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Electoral Commission Requiring Staff To Learn The Treaty Of Waitangi

Dr Muriel Newman and Sean Plunket discuss the Electoral Commission requiring staff to learn the Treaty of Waitangi on The Platform

Click to view

Caleb Anderson: The NZ First Conundrum - and its potential undoing

Last week Shane Jones issued a warning to the Waitangi Tribunal indicating, basically, that NZ First expects them to stay in their lane.

There was something odd about this media release, both in respect of content, and in respect of timing.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: How disappointing is ACT's Constitution Act proposal?

Okay, if you voted in the last election to see a tidy-up of the creep of Treaty principles throughout our statute books, you should be very disappointed by what ACT did when it basically walked away from Treaty principles altogether.

ACT announced it's going to change the Constitution Act instead of trying to pass the Treaty Principles Bill again.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 23.8.26

Tuesday August 25, 2026 

News:
ACT releases election Treaty policy - what's in it and what's gone
ACT has released its election policies on constitutional issues, pledging to curb "activist judges", enshrine property rights, among others — but the party's defeated Treaty principles referendum is nowhere to be found.

The policy, titled One Law for All with One Future Together, was released at 1pm.

Mike's Minute: The only thing deciding this election is the economy

Right, a poll the Government should be worried about - whose fault is the economy?

The importance of this is based on the simple premise that this election is about one thing, which is the state of the place.

Is it getting better, or not?

Do you see a brighter future, or not?

Ashley Church: Could TOPs “free money” policy really work?

And is it really 'evidence based'?

In 2004, John Key described Labour’s newly announced Working for Families programme as “communism by stealth.”

For younger readers, Working for Families was a major expansion of financial assistance to families introduced by Helen Clark’s Labour Government in the 2004 Budget. It increased family income assistance, added a new payment for working parents and expanded help with childcare and housing. By the time it was fully implemented, Labour expected the package to cost an additional $1.1 billion every year, with nearly 300,000 households receiving direct assistance.

Pee Kay: Soviet Style at your Checkout!

The Reality Behind the Greens’ $10 Million Supermarket Fines

Paul McCartney wrote about it; the Beatles sang about it –

“I’m back in the USSR

You don’t know how lucky you are, boy

Back in the USSR”

Now welcome to Chloe and Marama’s nostalgic trip back to the USSR, where basic economics are replaced by socialist bureaucracy!

Tony Orman: A Major Election Issue Should be the Death of Democracy

The forgotten Number One issue this Election is the Demise of Democracy.

It doesn’t matter what the issue is because it’s with every issue.

Even the new whiz kid of technology AI is worried.

JC: Media Love Snakes and Ladders

There are two reasons for buying the Weekend Herald. Both reasons sit in the Business Section and feature two contributors: Bruce Cotterill and Fran O’Sullivan. Their articles are always timely and many are related to politics. Fran’s articles are often more specific, while Bruce paints pictures with a broader brush. Both articles over two weekends were of the National Party debacle.

I first want to talk about the media, because it was Bruce’s article that gave me the idea for my headline, as it occurred to me that virtually none of the achievements he talks about are mentioned in the media. I am aware most prefer not to watch the six o’clock news and their reasons for not tuning in are pretty obvious, including having no interest in left-wing politics.

John MacDonald: Grass verges have had their day

Grass verges have had their day.

These are the areas of grass you see on streets, between the road and the footpath, where people sometimes park their cars.

I’ll tell you why I think they should go. But first, let me tell you about some residents in the Christchurch suburb of Somerfield who aren’t happy about the city council putting in a heap of red and white markers to stop people parking on the verge.

Simon O'Connor: Reflections from the ED

A recent trip to the emergency department, and a longer stay in hospital, had me thinking about the current debate around cultural competency and indigenous knowledge.

I recently had an unexpected visit to Auckland’s emergency department, followed by a longer stay in hospital. It seems I may have brought back more than memories from a recent overseas trip.

Before anyone panics, I should immediately add that I’m now fully recovered and pose no risk to anyone. If that weren’t the case, I’d probably still be locked away in the isolation room where my hospital journey began.