News Stories

Auckland mayoralty candidate Michael Morris: A revitalised city for animals, justice and environment
NZ Herald | 11 Jun 2022

Summary: Morris ran for mayor of Auckland on an animal justice platform in 2022

'Ignore the hatred': Racism fuels former refugee to encourage more immigrants to stand for public office in NZ
Manawatu Standard | 7 Jun 2022

"Online abuse and verbal insults remain routine for the first former refugee to be elected to local government in New Zealand, but he will not flinch to racism. Orphee Mickalad, …

National MP Maureen Pugh reveals she's been struck by lightning three times
Stuff | 14 Sep 2021

National MP Maureen Pugh has been struck by lightning three times, she's revealed - once so powerfully it cooked her flesh and another time leaving her like "a vegetable" for …

Palmerston North City Council votes to establish a Māori ward
Manawatu Guardian | 14 Apr 2021

Voting record from original 2021 decision to introduce Māori ward: "Last week's vote to introduce Māori wards was split 11-5. In favour were mayor Grant Smith, Aleisha Rutherford, Brent Barrett, …

Orphee Mickalad wins Palmerston North City Council by-election
Manawatu Guardian | 22 Feb 2021

"Palmerston North's newest city councillor was inspired to enter politics by the man he replaces. Orphee Mickalad was a student in Tangi Utikere's history class at Freyberg High School. It …

Election 2020: Palmerston North candidates for local MP
Manawatu Standard | 12 Oct 2020

Includes profiles of Dave Popplewell (New Conservatives) and William Wood (National)

Tensions rise at Palmerston North election candidate meeting
Stuff | 2 Aug 2020

"New Conservative candidate David Poppelwell was firm. Legalising cannabis and euthanasia would be the wrong call and lead down a “slippery slope”, and the daily updates on Covid-19 during ”prime-time …

The strange case of the election hoarding vandalised by Photoshop
The Spinoff | 30 Jul 2020

The social media page of New Conservative candidate Rudi du Plooy erupted last night with claims his sign had been vandalised before social media users pointed out it was an …

National's teen candidate William Wood apologises after appearing to impersonate Hitler in resurfaced image
Stuff | 28 Jul 2020

"The National Party's teenage Palmerston North candidate William Wood has apologised after appearing to impersonate Adolf Hitler in an image resurfaced online. "The photo was taken when I was 14," …

Extra $25m for dam not stopping progress
Newsroom | 24 Feb 2020

King said he was hugely disappointed but the work had to go on. “We are in the position now, given the stage of the project, where pressing on is pretty …

South Island mayors decry North-centric government roading spend
Star News | 30 Jan 2020

"We're not talking, you know, hundreds of millions of dollars in a number of these projects, particularly Motueka, you're talking less than 10 [million]. And it's just massively frustrating not …

A giant Māui statue one of the suggestions for $52 million Naenae Pool
Stuff | 10 Dec 2019

Tom Murphy told the politicians they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a world-class facility. He urged them to look beyond just building a new pool and to create an …

National Party candidate William Wood removes social media photo of hand gesture adopted by white supremacists
New Zealand Herald | 3 Dec 2019

"National's 17-year-old candidate for Palmerston North, William Wood, has removed a public photograph on his Facebook page showing a friend making a hand gesture adopted by white supremacists. The photograph …

Deon Swiggs' accusations dropped: 'It's vindication for me' - councillor
RNZ | 3 Dec 2019

A Christchurch City Councillor says he feels vindicated after what he called "scurrilous allegations" against him were dropped in the Christchurch District Court today.

Councillor Deon Swiggs investigated for 'grossly inappropriate' conduct releases messages
Stuff | 3 Oct 2019

A youth group supporting those who complained about Cr Deon Swiggs' behaviour say they "utterly condemn" his release of messages.

Mayoral candidate Tim King offers 21 years of Tasman council experience
Stuff | 20 Sep 2019

"Even focusing on the core services only will be immensely challenging," he said. "There's some things you do control and a whole lot of things that you don't including Government …

Hawke's Bay Hospital junior doctors say strike is not about pay
Hawke's Bay Today | 15 Jan 2019

Junior doctors at Hawke's Bay Hospital say they are striking for workers' rights, not pay. "The core issues behind the strike are rostering and the ability for our unions to …

National candidate speaks out over harassment by rogue MP Jami-Lee Ross
NZ Herald | 18 Oct 2018

A National Party candidate has spoken about a campaign of harassment by rogue MP Jami-Lee Ross which became so severe she sought medical help and intervention by the party hierarchy.

New Zealand opposition leader Simon Bridges recorded calling colleague '****ing useless'
Sky News | 17 Oct 2018

The leader of New Zealand's main opposition party has been secretly recorded calling one of his own party's MPs "****ing useless". National Party leader Simon Bridges said Margaret Pugh had …