News Stories

Brown and Luxon clash over bed levy as major events slip from Auckland’s grasp
The Spinoff | 28 Aug 2025

Auckland Council is scrambling to secure major events with a temporary $30m fund, as the mayor and PM lock horns over whether hotel guests should be asked to pay up.

Should we fret about public debt?
The Spinoff | 28 Aug 2025

Depending on who you talk to, New Zealand is either drowning in debt or starving the country of the investment it needs because of a self-righteous fixation on driving debt …

Principals plead for Govt to stop ‘politically driven’ NCEA replacement
Newsroom | 28 Aug 2025

Erica Stanford’s not for turning, saying the school heads’ judgement has been marred by their ‘PTSD’ from the unmitigated disaster of previous changes The post Principals plead for Govt to …

Tangi for candidate
Te Awamutu News | 28 Aug 2025

Waikato Regional Council Ngā Hau E Whā constituency candidate Maxine Moana-Tuwhangai has died and her tangi was held at Kāwhia’s Mōkai Kāinga Marae last week. She was taken to Kaipāpaka …

Council Mourns Tom O’Connor
Waimate District Council | 28 Aug 2025

Council’s flag flew at half-mast on Friday 15 August 2025 as a mark of respect to Pareora-Otaio-Makikihi Ward Councillor Tom O’Connor who died on Wednesday 6 August 2025.

Why didn’t Costco expand out of Auckland? That’s the question as Nicola Willis woos supermarkets
Stuff | 27 Aug 2025

Glenn McConnell looks into whether the Government’s new “express lane” for construction will entice a new supermarket chain.

Wellington economy shrinks as 177 businesses shut in a year – does Nicola Willis accept some blame?
NZ Herald | 27 Aug 2025

New numbers show the region's economy continues to be hit more than the national average.

‘Oddball’ Auckland mayoral contenders blast Brown for snubbing debate
The Post | 27 Aug 2025

Incumbent mayor Wayne Brown has copped flak for refusing to debate rivals, but he says the calibre of his competition isn’t worth the time.

Will new million-dollar investment visa grow the economy? Erica Stanford thinks so
Stuff | 27 Aug 2025

Stanford announced a new business investor visa to replace the entrepreneur work visa, taking effect from November.

Mike King’s role within Govt-funded charity I Am Hope unclear
NZ Herald | 27 Aug 2025

Mental health advocate's charity was given $24m over four years by the Government.

‘No respect for you’: rivals hammer Wayne Brown for missing first mayoral debate
Stuff | 27 Aug 2025

Auckland’s mayoral hopefuls lined up at the University of Auckland to share their visions — and take aim at an absent incumbent.

BSA rejects complaint about swearing on RNZ programme
RNZ | 27 Aug 2025

Dame Jacinda and RNZ's Jesse Mulligan discussed a incident in which she could be heard calling David Seymour "an arrogant prick".

Nicola Willis to set out next steps on supermarket competition today
The Post | 27 Aug 2025

The Government is expected to keep the threat of breaking-up Foodstuffs and Woolworths NZ in its back pocket.

The good, bad and auē of the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection debate
The Spinoff | 27 Aug 2025

In the last debate before voters head to the polls in the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection, there were some good moments but more that would make you sigh ‘auē’.

Auckland mayor fumes at ‘ridiculous’ $63m traffic control bill
The Post | 27 Aug 2025

Wayne Brown slams the spend-up as “beyond a joke”, but Auckland Transport defends the cost as less than 5% of total infrastructure spend.

A genius plan to get Māori on board with NZ First’s ‘brown tape’ initiative
The Spinoff | 26 Aug 2025

The war on woke has identified a new enemy: brown tape. Unsurprisingly, Māori already know we have way too many rules. Over the weekend, the New Zealand First Party declared …

'I’m only human': Rotorua council hopeful breaks silence on bankruptcies
Stuff | 26 Aug 2025

Mariana Morrison said that blemishes on her financial record from more than a decade ago were not relevant today.

Hastings mayoral candidates respond to BayBuzz questions
BayBuzz | 26 Aug 2025

BayBuzz has received responses from four of the five candidates standing for mayor of Hastings.