Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL Govt failing on economic mgmt 📉 | Council CEO Rich List 💰 | Rangiora’s “gold-plated gym” 🏟️ – NZ Political Email Archive

Taxpayer Update: NEW POLL Govt failing on economic mgmt 📉 | Council CEO Rich List 💰 | Rangiora’s “gold-plated gym” 🏟️

Party: Taxpayers’ Union

Sender: Tory Relf <[email protected]>

Date Received: 2025-08-18 09:57

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Good morning Friend,

Another week, another bad set of polls for the Government – this time, on economic management – our 2025 Council CEO Rich List was hit in the media over the weekend, and in between, we’ve had waste exposed from Auckland to Waimakariri. Let's get into it.

NEW POLL: Nicola Willis gets voters' thumbs down on five of five economic management tests 👎

A majority of voters say the Government is performing poorly on economic management across all five key issues measured as part of last week's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll.

In addition to the usual poll questions, our pollsters ask voters to say whether they thought the Government was doing a “good job" or “bad job" in each area, resulting in a net score (i.e. the "good" number minus the "bad").

In no area did the Government receive a net positive result. Ouch.

You can read the full results over on our website.

Your humble Taxpayers' Union suggest the message loud and clear: the Government's failure to be bold on economic reform or cutting excessive government spending is hurting them.

Nicola Willis's 'softly-softly' approach is not cutting the mustard. There are more bureaucrats now than when Labour left office, she is spending more than Grant Robertson was at the time of the 2023 election, and the Government is even borrowing at a faster rate! That’s caused inflation to track back up, and the ‘going for growth’ has been too much talk, not enough action.

Nicola’s in London - talking about Taxpayers' Union policies! 😍

Nicola Willis has been in London meeting with the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves. Reeves is battling grim approval ratings and a bond market that is fast losing confidence in her fiscal management. Sound familiar?

Willis visited our friends at the Adam Smith Institute, where she was briefed on (and I’m quoting directly here) “how innovative free market policies (such as Full Expensing…) could help the Kiwi economy to grow.”

I wonder why she flew 13,000 miles to hear about full capital expensing when she could’ve just walked 100 yards down Lambton Quay to come and see us? 😉

EXPOSED: Council CEO Rich List 💸

On Friday, we dropped the 2025 Council CEO Rich List, and honestly, it’s a jaw-dropper. These bosses have been raking it in over 2023–24, while councils cry poor.

Most Kiwis are pinching pennies as rates have exploded, but Council bosses are pocketing five and a half times the average salary. On top of that, the average pay rise was $16,000 last year – while rates are up 35% in just three years.

At the top: Christchurch City Council ratepayers forked out $1,027,696 in 12 months to cover their former CEO Dawn Baxendale, and her replacement, Mary Richardson. Gore District’s leadership shuffle cost ratepayers $771,558, while the Super City CEO is on a super pay-packet of $735,935. Rotorua Lakes District Council’s trio were paid $695,961, and Tauranga City Council’s Marty Grenfell was on $623,658.

Now, in fairness to Mary Richardson in Christchurch, her base salary is actually trimmed back from when she first stepped in as interim CEO, but ratepayers still forked out over a million dollars for the one role in a single year. Let’s hope we can heap praise on Mary in next year’s tables.

The numbers are eye watering, and will lead any ratepayers to ask: when did “town clerk” turn into CEO-level pay? These aren’t startup moguls; they’re bureaucrats. With very hefty pay packets.

Bottom line: public service is supposed to mean service, not six-figure salaries while households struggle. Rates keep climbing, but somehow there’s always room for another pay bump at the top.

See how your council's Town Clerk's pay packet compares at www.RichList.nz

OIA loophole: MPs keep their secrets safe 🔒

Here’s one for the “rules for thee, not for me” file. Parliament’s just pushed ahead with an update to the Parliament Bill — but guess whose spending still won't be covered by the Official Information Act... Members of Parliament!

Spending by Ministers, Departments, and councils are subject to OIA or its local government equivalent requests… but your local MP? Off limits. No obligation to release the documents, correspondence, or advice they rely on. Transparency for everyone else, but secrecy for the very people making the laws.

Our Investigations Coordinator, Rhys (who, by the way, I reckon must be the most prolific OIA user in the whole country) went on The Platform this week to call it out.

If MPs want to rebuild trust, the first step is simple: apply the same sunlight rules to themselves that almost every other public agency lives under.

Otherwise, the message is pretty clear: transparency is great, just not when it’s about them...

Rangiora’s $28m Gold-Plated Gym 🏋️

Rangiora’s MainPower Stadium has been unveiled with all the bells and whistles — and we mean all of them. Six thousand square metres of courts, event space, a modern gym, fancy lighting, passive cooling, and even rainwater harvesting.

Sounds flash, right? Well, it should. The final bill came to $28 million. With just 7,100 households, that's nearly $4,000 per household!

That’s a lot of ratepayer money for essentially a gold-plated gym.

Sure, it’s picked up an industry award, but trophies don’t pay the rent. And when households are tightening belts, you’ve got to ask: do we really need top-shelf features in a community gym? Or would a solid, no-frills stadium have done the job without the champagne price tag?

TAXPAYER TALK: Mayor Andrew Tripe on the Lowest Average Rates Increase in the Country 🎙️🎧

Rates across the country have soared, many into the double-digits. But while most councils point fingers and find excuses, Mayor for Whanganui Andrew Tripe has kept his average rates increase as little as 2.2 percent – the lowest in the country this year.

This week, Mayor Tripe joins Peter Williams for a discussion on how this was achieved, and the work behind getting his Council focused on the basics, while keeping up with important infrastructure and services, and paying down debt.

Speaking of podcasts... 🎧

Not to compete with our own podcast, but our Executive Director, Jordan, was on The Good Oil Podcast with Cam Slater. Jordan and Cam discuss bureaucratic bloat, freedom of speech and why democracy needs defending now more than ever. Watch here, or find it in all your usual streaming services.

As always, thank you for your support Friend.

Have a great week.

Tory Relf
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union

In the Media:

NZ Herald Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says Hipkins is trying to ‘gaslight’ NZ on Covid-19 inquiry no-show

Taranaki Daily News Ballot Box Bites

Asia Pacific Report Gerard Otto on Palestine, genocide and the media: ‘Not if – but when – but not now’

RNZ Statehood stoush, political polls, RNZ’s listener loss

NZ Herald Kiwis demand public answers from former ministers in Covid-19 inquiry – Editorial

The Press Business leaders sour on Luxon government, but fear lack of clear successor

Greymouth Star Coast council CEO payments revealed

NZ Herald New Zealand’s perfect political storm approaches – Bruce Cotterill

NZ Herald Duncan Garner: Power and money hungry councils must be wound down

NZ Herald Covid-19 inquiry: Kiwis disagree with Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins not fronting public hearing, poll results show

Otago Daily Times Accusation of high salaries taken out of context: Mayor

Waikato Times Museum muddle sees Waipā ratepayers carry the can

Waikato Times Voters want hope, so what are politicians offering?

NZ Herald NZ’s highest paid council CEOs revealed: Christchurch chief’s salary tops $1m

RNZ The State of the Opposition

Local Matters Council drops rates bombshell on Rodney

Interest.co.nz Any capital gains or wealth tax Labour proposes before the 2026 election will be designed to avoid making it harder for the next generation of farmers to buy productive land

BusinessDesk Kāpiti council spends $43k on CEO Harvard course amid rates pressure

The Bradbury Group Auckland’s Decline, Palestine, TVNZ Poll & Seabed Law | Marama Davidson, Chris Finlayson, Kerrin Leoni | Bradbury Group

Radio531pi Radio: Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni joined #PacificMornings to discuss the Party’s recent caucus retreat, and whether any policy announcements could be on the way

The Platform NZ Simon Bridges On The State Of Auckland

Cambridge News Council Costs Revealed

TVNZ Councillor kicked out of meeting after labelling policy ‘racist’

The Press Rangiora's MainPower Stadium slammed as 'gold-plated gym'

The New Zealand Initiative ‘DROWNING ELECTORALLY’: LUXON’S PREMIERSHIP UNDER PRESSURE

Taranaki Daily News Chong exits council meeting

RNZ Midweek - Assassinations in Gaza, poll chaos, ad backlash

RNZ The Politics Panel

The Post Murray Chong leaves council meeting after repeated warnings

Te Ao Māori News NZ First minister to focus on the regions after party boost in polls

NewstalkZB ‘Head down, tail up’: Luxon shakes off popularity drop in recent polls

Waatea News Claudette Hauiti on the kickouts of Parliament & more

Interest.co.nz A new poll shows even the Government's own supporters have mixed feelings about its economic reforms and efforts to cut spending

The Spinoff Why the Labour-National stalemate is leaving voters looking elsewhere

Otago Daily Times Tail-wagging jibe may have Labour worried

Stuff NZ politics live: Swarbrick says Speaker’s ruling puts Parliament in ‘unprecedented territory’

Heather de Plessis-Allen Drive Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Chlöe Swarbrick getting booted from the House during Palestine speech

The Platform NZ Rhys Hurley On Why Parliament’s Spending Remains Hidden From The Public

Chris Lynch Media Poll shows voters give Government failing marks on all major economic issues

RNZ Christopher Luxon shrugs off polls showing tight electoral race

Greymouth Star New poll shows govt struggling to make headway

NewstalkZB Luxon won’t discuss polls with MPs, Labour quiet on whether CGT will include family home

Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast Sam Warren: Taxpayers’ Union Local Government Campaigns Manager on rising property rates

RNZ Christopher Luxon shrugs off polls showing tight electoral race

NewstalkZB John MacDonald: Here’s why Luxon and Hipkins are neck-and-neck

NewstalkZB “Just the basics”: Push for caps on rising council rates

The Informer LETTERS – 12 August

The Kākā Luxon said judge him on GDP growth. So voters are.

RNZ Pressure builds on govt to recognise Palestinian statehood

Stuff NZ is divided, the polls show. Who’s got your vote, and why?

Marcus Lush Nights You almost need the tomahawk

TVNZ John Campbell: Please, National and Labour, do something. Anything!

Hawke’s Bay Today Poll suggests ‘hung’ Parliament

The Post Luxon’s leadership running out of oxygen as polls tighten

The Platform NZ NZ Elliot Ikilei On NZ's $66 Billion Covid Spending Report & Hobson’s Pledge Billboard

Stuff NZ politics live: Swarbrick says Speaker’s ruling puts Parliament in ‘unprecedented territory’

NewstalkZB Nicola Willis hopeful despite Luxon’s popularity dropping in new poll

NZCity The Finance Minister says the latest One-News Verian poll shows a fight is on

RNZ The Panel with Allan Blackman and Aimie Hines Part 1

NZHerald New political poll: Christopher Luxon’s popularity drops to 2-year low, Labour’s party vote rises

NewstalkZB New poll: Luxon’s popularity drops to lowest in two years, Labour sees rise

Otago Daily Times Support grows for Labour; govt still keeps reins: poll

Heather de Plessis-Allen Drive Chris Hipkins: Labour leader on the new political poll predicting a hund Parliament ahead of the 2026 election

The Press Second poll of the day sees surge for Labour

NewstalkZB Election 2026: Hipkins hopeful as new poll predicts hung Parliament

New Zealand Taxpayers' Union Inc. · 117 Lambton Quay, Level 4, Wellington 6011, New Zealand
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Good morning Friend,
Another week, another bad set of polls for the Government – this time, on economic management – our 2025 Council CEO Rich List was hit in the media over the weekend, and in between, we’ve had waste exposed from Auckland to Waimakariri. Let's get into it.
NEW POLL: Nicola Willis gets voters' thumbs down on five of five economic management tests 👎
A majority of voters say the Government is performing poorly on economic management across all five key issues measured as part of last week's Taxpayers' Union-CuriaPoll.
In addition to the usual poll questions, our pollsters ask voters to say whether they thought the Government was doing a “good job" or “bad job" in each area, resulting in a net score (i.e. the "good" number minus the "bad").
In no area did the Government receive a net positive result. Ouch.
You can read the full results over on our website. <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/gov_fail_grade_on_econ_issues>
Your humble Taxpayers' Union suggest the message loud and clear: the Government's failure to be bold on economic reform or cutting excessive government spending is hurting them.
Nicola Willis's 'softly-softly' approach is not cutting the mustard. There are more bureaucrats now than when Labour left office, she is spending more than Grant Robertson was at the time of the 2023 election, and the Government is even borrowing at a faster rate! That’s caused inflation to track back up, and the ‘going for growth’ has been too much talk, not enough action.
Nicola’s in London - talking about Taxpayers' Union policies! 😍
Nicola Willis has been in London meeting with the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves. Reeves is battling grim approval ratings and a bond market that is fast losing confidence in her fiscal management. Sound familiar?
Willis visited our friends at the Adam Smith Institute <http://adamsmith.org/>, where she was briefed on (and I’m quoting directly here) “how innovative free market policies (such as Full Expensing…) could help the Kiwi economy to grow.”
I wonder why she flew 13,000 miles to hear about full capital expensing <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/full_expensing_mr> when she could’ve just walked 100 yards down Lambton Quay to come and see us? 😉
EXPOSED: Council CEO Rich List 💸
On Friday, we dropped the 2025 Council CEO Rich List <RichList.nz>, and honestly, it’s a jaw-dropper. These bosses have been raking it in over 2023–24, while councils cry poor.
Most Kiwis are pinching pennies as rates have exploded, but Council bosses are pocketing five and a half times the average salary. On top of that, the average pay rise was $16,000 last year – while rates are up 35% in just three years.
<RichList.nz>
At the top: Christchurch City Council ratepayers forked out $1,027,696 in 12 months to cover their former CEO Dawn Baxendale, and her replacement, Mary Richardson. Gore District’s leadership shuffle cost ratepayers $771,558, while the Super City CEO is on a super pay-packet of $735,935. Rotorua Lakes District Council’s trio were paid $695,961, and Tauranga City Council’s Marty Grenfell was on $623,658.
Now, in fairness to Mary Richardson in Christchurch, her base salary is actually trimmed back from when she first stepped in as interim CEO, but ratepayers still forked out over a million dollars for the one role in a single year. Let’s hope we can heap praise on Mary in next year’s tables.
The numbers are eye watering <RichList.nz>, and will lead any ratepayers to ask: when did “town clerk” turn into CEO-level pay? These aren’t startup moguls; they’re bureaucrats. With very hefty pay packets.
Bottom line: public service is supposed to mean service, not six-figure salaries while households struggle. Rates keep climbing, but somehow there’s always room for another pay bump at the top.
See how your council's Town Clerk's pay packet compares at www.RichList.nz <http://www.RichList.nz>
OIA loophole: MPs keep their secrets safe 🔒
Here’s one for the “rules for thee, not for me” file. Parliament’s just pushed ahead with an update to the Parliament Bill — but guess whose spending still won't be covered by the Official Information Act... Members of Parliament!
Spending by Ministers, Departments, and councils are subject to OIA or its local government equivalent requests… but your local MP? Off limits. No obligation to release the documents, correspondence, or advice they rely on. Transparency for everyone else, but secrecy for the very people making the laws.
Our Investigations Coordinator, Rhys (who, by the way, I reckon must be the most prolific OIA user in the whole country)went on The Platform this week to call it out <https://www.youtube.com/watch
<https://youtu.be/pJDeVlrcRlI>
If MPs want to rebuild trust, the first step is simple: apply the same sunlight rules to themselves that almost every other public agency lives under.
Otherwise, the message is pretty clear: transparency is great, just not when it’s about them...
Rangiora’s $28m Gold-Plated Gym 🏋️
Rangiora’s MainPower Stadium has been unveiled with all the bells and whistles — and we mean all of them. Six thousand square metres of courts, event space, a modern gym, fancy lighting, passive cooling, and even rainwater harvesting.
Sounds flash, right? Well, it should. The final bill came to $28 million. With just 7,100 households, that's nearly $4,000 per household!
That’s a lot of ratepayer money for essentially a gold-plated gym.
Sure, it’s picked up an industry award, but trophies don’t pay the rent. And when households are tightening belts, you’ve got to ask: do we really need top-shelf features in a community gym? Or would a solid, no-frills stadium have done the job without the champagne price tag?
TAXPAYER TALK: Mayor Andrew Tripe on the Lowest Average Rates Increase in the Country 🎙️🎧
Rates across the country have soared, many into the double-digits. But while most councils point fingers and find excuses, Mayor for Whanganui Andrew Tripe has kept his average rates increase as little as 2.2 percent – the lowest in the country this year.
This week, Mayor Tripe joins Peter Williams for a discussion <https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/taxpayer_talk_andrew_tripe> on how this was achieved, and the work behind getting his Council focused on the basics, while keeping up with important infrastructure and services, and paying down debt.
Speaking of podcasts... 🎧
<https://www.youtube.com/watch
Not to compete with our own podcast, but our Executive Director, Jordan, was on The Good Oil Podcast with Cam Slater <https://www.youtube.com/watch Jordan and Cam discuss bureaucratic bloat, freedom of speech and why democracy needs defending now more than ever. Watch here <https://youtu.be/J9jqVgPdpHE or find it in all your usual streaming services.
As always, thank you for your support Friend.
<https://www.taxpayers.org.nz/donate a great week.
Tory Relf
New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union
In the Media:
NZ Herald Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says Hipkins is trying to ‘gaslight’ NZ on Covid-19 inquiry no-show <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/prime-minister-christopher-luxon-on-mike-hosking-after-popularity-poll-plunge-netanyahu-criticism/EMRDNKTGC5D55K4KYFEBUAMZMA/>
Taranaki Daily News Ballot Box Bites
Asia Pacific Report Gerard Otto on Palestine, genocide and the media: ‘Not if – but when – but not now’ <https://asiapacificreport.nz/2025/08/17/gerard-otto-on-palestine-and-the-media-not-if-but-when-but-not-now/>
RNZ Statehood stoush, political polls, RNZ’s listener loss <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2019000164/statehood-stoush-political-polls-rnz-s-listener-loss>
NZ Herald Kiwis demand public answers from former ministers in Covid-19 inquiry – Editorial <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/kiwis-demand-public-answers-from-former-ministers-in-covid-19-inquiry-editorial/YICF5G3XZFFYLJEASMB3UKLTCU/>
The Press Business leaders sour on Luxon government, but fear lack of clear successor <https://www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360791333/business-leaders-sour-luxon-government-fear-lack-clear-successor>
Greymouth Star Coast council CEO payments revealed
NZ Herald New Zealand’s perfect political storm approaches – Bruce Cotterill <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/new-zealands-perfect-political-storm-approaches-bruce-cotterill/UHKCBCVBMRFFFGR235MM3QLVNE/>
NZ Herald Duncan Garner: Power and money hungry councils must be wound down <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/opinion/duncan-garner-power-and-money-hungry-councils-must-be-wound-down/GCZTAWPA3NHFVPAJKLHRUR3MFA/>
NZ Herald Covid-19 inquiry: Kiwis disagree with Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins not fronting public hearing, poll results show <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/covid-19-inquiry-kiwis-disagree-with-jacinda-ardern-chris-hipkins-not-fronting-public-hearing-poll-results-show/NSAJAJYI7NBMROJULXP2Y6XWQ4/>
Otago Daily Times Accusation of high salaries taken out of context: Mayor <https://www.odt.co.nz/southland/accusation-high-salaries-taken-out-context-mayor>
Waikato Times Museum muddle sees Waipā ratepayers carry the can
Waikato Times Voters want hope, so what are politicians offering?
NZ HeraldNZ’s highest paid council CEOs revealed: Christchurch chief’s salary tops $1m <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/nzs-highest-paid-council-ceos-revealed-christchurch-chiefs-salary-tops-1m/DJTDRNW3HFFLNCDS2J3DFREYZE/>
RNZThe State of the Opposition <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/focusonpolitics/audio/2019000005/the-state-of-the-opposition>
Local Matters Council drops rates bombshell on Rodney <https://www.localmatters.co.nz/auckland-council/council-drops-rates-bombshell-on-rodney/>
Interest.co.nz Any capital gains or wealth tax Labour proposes before the 2026 election will be designed to avoid making it harder for the next generation of farmers to buy productive land <https://www.interest.co.nz/rural-news/134726/any-capital-gains-or-wealth-tax-labour-proposes-2026-election-will-be-designed>
BusinessDesk Kāpiti council spends $43k on CEO Harvard course amid rates pressure <https://businessdesk.co.nz/article/investigations/kapiti-council-spends-43k-on-ceo-harvard-course-amid-rates-pressure>
The Bradbury Group Auckland’s Decline, Palestine, TVNZ Poll & Seabed Law | Marama Davidson, Chris Finlayson, Kerrin Leoni | Bradbury Group <https://omny.fm/shows/the-bradbury-group/auckland-s-decline-palestine-tvnz-poll-seabed-law-marama-davidson-chris-finlayson-kerrin-leoni-bradbury-group>
Radio531pi Radio: Labour Deputy Leader Carmel Sepuloni joined #PacificMornings to discuss the Party’s recent caucus retreat, and whether any policy announcements could be on the way <https://www.facebook.com/watch/
The Platform NZ Simon Bridges On The State Of Auckland <https://www.youtube.com/watch
Cambridge News Council Costs Revealed <https://www.cambridgenews.nz/2025/08/council-costs-revealed/>
TVNZ Councillor kicked out of meeting after labelling policy ‘racist’ <https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/08/14/councillor-kicked-out-of-meeting-after-labelling-policy-racist/>
The Press Rangiora's MainPower Stadium slammed as 'gold-plated gym' <https://www.thepress.co.nz/nz-news/360791086/rangioras-mainpower-stadium-slammed-gold-plated-gym>
The New Zealand Initiative ‘DROWNING ELECTORALLY’: LUXON’S PREMIERSHIP UNDER PRESSURE <https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/drowning-electorally-luxons-premiership-under-pressure/>
Taranaki Daily News Chong exits council meeting
RNZ Midweek - Assassinations in Gaza, poll chaos, ad backlash <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/mediawatch/audio/2018999819/midweek-assassinations-in-gaza-poll-chaos-ad-backlash>
RNZ The Politics Panel <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2018999816/the-politics-panel>
The Post Murray Chong leaves council meeting after repeated warnings <https://www.thepost.co.nz/nz-news/360790018/murray-chong-leaves-council-meeting-after-repeated-warnings>
Te Ao Māori NewsNZ First minister to focus on the regions after party boost in polls <https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/08/13/nz-first-minister-to-focus-on-the-regions-after-party-boost-in-polls/>
NewstalkZB ‘Head down, tail up’: Luxon shakes off popularity drop in recent polls <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-country/audio/chris-luxon-prime-minister-responds-to-popularity-drop-in-recent-polls/>
Waatea News Claudette Hauiti on the kickouts of Parliament & more <https://waateanews.com/2025/08/13/claudette-hauiti-waatea-digital-parliamentary-press-gallery-reporter-91/>
Interest.co.nz A new poll shows even the Government's own supporters have mixed feelings about its economic reforms and efforts to cut spending <https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/134679/new-poll-shows-even-governments-own-supporters-have-mixed-feelings-about-its>
The Spinoff Why the Labour-National stalemate is leaving voters looking elsewhere <https://thespinoff.co.nz/the-bulletin/13-08-2025/why-the-labour-national-stalemate-is-leaving-voters-looking-elsewhere>
Otago Daily TimesTail-wagging jibe may have Labour worried <https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/tail-wagging-jibe-may-have-labour-worried>
Stuff NZ politics live: Swarbrick says Speaker’s ruling puts Parliament in ‘unprecedented territory’ <https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360605837/live-nz-politics-blog>
Heather de Plessis-Allen Drive Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Chlöe Swarbrick getting booted from the House during Palestine speech <https://omny.fm/shows/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/barry-soper-newstalk-zb-senior-political-correspondent-on-chl-e-swarbrick-getting-booted-from-the-house-during-palestine-speech>
The Platform NZ Rhys Hurley On Why Parliament’s Spending Remains Hidden From The Public <https://www.youtube.com/watch
Chris Lynch MediaPoll shows voters give Government failing marks on all major economic issues <https://www.chrislynchmedia.com/news-items/poll-shows-voters-give-government-failing-marks-on-all-major-economic-issues/#google_vignette>
RNZ Christopher Luxon shrugs off polls showing tight electoral race <https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/569729/christopher-luxon-shrugs-off-polls-showing-tight-electoral-race>
Greymouth Star New poll shows govt struggling to make headway
NewstalkZB Luxon won’t discuss polls with MPs, Labour quiet on whether CGT will include family home <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/christopher-luxon-won-t-discuss-poor-polls-with-caucus-labour-not-saying-anything-about-tax-policy/>
Kerre Woodham Mornings Podcast Sam Warren: Taxpayers’ Union Local Government Campaigns Manager on rising property rates <https://omny.fm/shows/kerre-woodham-mornings-podcast/sam-warren-taxpayers-union-local-government-campaigns-manager-on-rising-property-rates>
RNZ Christopher Luxon shrugs off polls showing tight electoral race <https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/569729/christopher-luxon-shrugs-off-polls-showing-tight-electoral-race>
NewstalkZB John MacDonald: Here’s why Luxon and Hipkins are neck-and-neck <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/christchurch/canterbury-mornings-with-john-macdonald/opinion/john-macdonald-heres-why-luxon-and-hipkins-are-neck-and-neck/>
NewstalkZB “Just the basics”: Push for caps on rising council rates <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/kerre-woodham-mornings/audio/sam-warren-taxpayers-union-local-government-campaigns-manager-on-rising-property-rates/>
The Informer LETTERS – 12 August <https://theinformer.co.nz/community/letters-to-the-editor/letters-12-august/>
The Kākā Luxon said judge him on GDP growth. So voters are. <https://thekaka.substack.com/p/luxon-said-judge-him-on-gdp-growth>
RNZ Pressure builds on govt to recognise Palestinian statehood <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2018999540/pressure-builds-on-govt-to-recognise-palestinian-statehood>
Stuff NZ is divided, the polls show. Who’s got your vote, and why? <https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360788247/nz-divided-polls-show-whos-got-your-vote-and-why>
Marcus Lush Nights You almost need the tomahawk <https://omny.fm/shows/marcus-lush-nights/you-almost-need-the-tomahawk-11-august-2025>
TVNZ John Campbell: Please, National and Labour, do something. Anything! <https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/08/12/john-campbell-please-national-and-labour-do-something-anything/>
Hawke’s Bay Today Poll suggests ‘hung’ Parliament
The Post Luxon’s leadership running out of oxygen as polls tighten <https://www.waikatotimes.co.nz/politics/360787996/luxons-leadership-running-out-oxygen-polls-tighten>
The Platform NZNZ Elliot Ikilei On NZ's $66 Billion Covid Spending Report & Hobson’s Pledge Billboard <https://www.youtube.com/watch
Stuff NZ politics live: Swarbrick says Speaker’s ruling puts Parliament in ‘unprecedented territory’ <https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360605837/live-nz-politics-blog>
NewstalkZB Nicola Willis hopeful despite Luxon’s popularity dropping in new poll <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-responds-to-luxons-popularity-dropping-in-new-poll/>
NZCity The Finance Minister says the latest One-News Verian poll shows a fight is on <https://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx
RNZ The Panel with Allan Blackman and Aimie Hines Part 1 <https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/thepanel/audio/2018999463/the-panel-with-allan-blackman-and-aimie-hines-part-1>
NZHerald New political poll: Christopher Luxon’s popularity drops to 2-year low, Labour’s party vote rises <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/new-political-poll-christopher-luxons-popularity-drops-to-lowest-in-two-years-labour-sees-party-vote-rise/LDTNRIETRZF2TB4BNRDT2B34OE/>
NewstalkZBNew poll: Luxon’s popularity drops to lowest in two years, Labour sees rise <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/politics/new-political-poll-christopher-luxon-s-popularity-drops-to-lowest-in-two-years-labour-sees-party-vote-rise/>
Otago Daily Times Support grows for Labour; govt still keeps reins: poll <https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/support-grows-labour-govt-still-keeps-reins-poll-rnz>
Heather de Plessis-Allen Drive Chris Hipkins: Labour leader on the new political poll predicting a hund Parliament ahead of the 2026 election <https://omny.fm/shows/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/chris-hipkins-labour-leader-on-the-new-political-poll-predicting-a-hung-parliament-ahead-of-the-2026-election>
The Press Second poll of the day sees surge for Labour <https://www.thepress.co.nz/politics/360788030/second-poll-day-sees-surge-labour>
NewstalkZB Election 2026: Hipkins hopeful as new poll predicts hung Parliament <https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chris-hipkins-labour-leader-on-the-new-political-poll-predicting-a-hung-parliament-ahead-of-the-2026-election/>
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