Richard Prebble: The Future Never Comes

New Zealand First’s big promise this election is a Future Fund.

The Future Fund looks like a recycled version of the Provincial Growth Fund, but this time on steroids.

The Provincial Growth Fund was to be a $3 billion fund for “regional development”. Regional development turned out to include refurbishing 347 marae.

It also included $52 million for the loss-making Whakatōhea mussel farm in Ōpōtiki.

Peter Dunne: Labour's Policy Vacuum

It is often said that Oppositions never win elections because governments lose them. In other words, if a government is unpopular enough it will lose an election, regardless of the calibre of the Opposition.

That was certainly the case in 2023 when Labour was tossed out of office. The public mood then was far more that people had had enough of Labour and were keen to get rid of it, rather than a positive feeling for National. And as National's support has waned in recent months, and Labour's increased, it was beginning to look as though history might be set to repeat itself at this November's election. However, that may be about to change.

Mike's Minute: So yes, Chris Hipkins does think you're stupid

I asked yesterday whether Chris Hipkins thought we were stupid.

And as luck would have it, he answered our question – yes, he does.

First you have the Future Fund, a cornerstone policy, revelation that they aren't telling us who's money goes in and what sort of job creation they are expecting because they got bogged down in the Treaty issues, so we will need to wait until after the election.

Roger Partridge: The Wrong Solution to the Wrong Problem

Labour’s Future Fund

Labour’s first policy announcement ahead of the 2026 election reveals the party recognises New Zealand’s infrastructure crisis. But it also shows it has no idea how to fix it.

Yesterday, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins unveiled a “Future Fund” that would redirect Crown asset dividends into investments in New Zealand businesses and infrastructure. The fund would be managed by the Guardians of the Super Fund but with a mandate to support domestic companies rather than maximise returns.

David Farrar: Labour’s corporate welfare fund

Labour’s co called Future Fund is nothing like Singapore’s Temasek Holdings.

There are decent pros and cons towards a country having an investment fund. We already have one – the NZ Super Fund. Their job is to get the best returns on their assets.