News Stories

Luxon visits Brown; Auckland mayor rallies councils against PM’s rates cap
Newsroom | 3 Feb 2026

His advice on winning critical vote? ‘Most Aucklanders are fed up with listening to the residents of a failing village’ The post Luxon visits Brown; Auckland mayor rallies councils against …

Suggestion to improve English skills ‘patronising’
Otago Daily Times | 3 Feb 2026

Benedict Ong. Steve Walker. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED A Dunedin city councillor had been warned against undermining the council’s collaborative spirit after suggesting a colleague may want to brush up on his …

‘No, in a nutshell’: CODC on endorsing Santana
Otago Daily Times | 3 Feb 2026

Tamah Alley. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Central Otago’s mayor is disputing a Santana stock exchange announcement that says the council "endorses" the firm’s proposed gold mine.

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, John Tamihere and the case of the confusing constitution
The Spinoff | 3 Feb 2026

The hearing into the expulsion of Te Pāti Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi saw lawyers offering their own interpretations of the party’s governing document.

Chris Hipkins: How shared values can unite Aotearoa and not divide
NZ Herald | 3 Feb 2026

Labour will go to Waitangi this year urging partnership and rejecting division.

Maturity and dispute resolution
Otago Daily Times | 3 Feb 2026

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon yesterday called the ongoing disagreement between his National Party and coalition partner New Zealand First over the proposed free trade agreement with India "a mature disagreement".

Ex-farmers prepare to compete for electorate
Otago Daily Times | 3 Feb 2026

Damien O’Connor. Miles Anderson. PHOTOS: ODT FILES Two former farmers are looking to go head-to-head in the fight to win the Waitaki electorate at this year’s general election.

Officials advise against change to health budget cycle
The Post | 3 Feb 2026

Finance Minister Nicola Willis’ desire to scrap multi-year funding for Health NZ, moving to an annual cycle instead, had officials raising red flags.

Lukewarm response to council’s new public engagement committee
The Post | 3 Feb 2026

Only six people are confirmed to speak at the first meeting, but New Plymouth deputy mayor Murray Chong is unconcerned, saying: “I’m pretty sure it will ramp up.”

Gore mayor says $5000 trip about ‘stronger ties’ beyond country music
The Press | 3 Feb 2026

Ben Bell has defended a council-funded trip to Australian sister city Tamworth as an investment in showcasing Gore to the world.

How will Luxon be received at Waitangi?
Newsroom | 3 Feb 2026

Comment: A year after spending Waitangi in the South Island, the PM is returning to Northland despite the possibility of a stormy reception The post How will Luxon be received …

The NZ coastline this MP calls her ‘beautiful big blue backyard’
Stuff | 3 Feb 2026

Jenny Marcroft, NZ First list MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi, explains why her electorate in Auckland is the place to be this summer.

Expulsion of Te Pāti Māori MP breached process, court told
Otago Daily Times | 2 Feb 2026

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. Photo: RNZ (file) By Lillian Hanly of RNZMariameno Kapa-Kingi's lawyers claim Te Pāti Māori's co-leaders were projected to overspend their parliamentary budget, and there was discussion of a …

Ousted Te Pāti Māori MP holds on to her job - for now
Stuff | 2 Feb 2026

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi will have to wait for the results of the judicial review of her expulsion.

Te Pati Māori MP rejected offer to retake expulsion vote
Waikato Times | 2 Feb 2026

The party and MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi’s day in court over her expulsion ends with no conclusion but strong counter-claims.

Te Pati Māori co-leaders were tracking to overspend by $42k, court hears
The Post | 2 Feb 2026

A lawyer for Mariameno Kapa-Kingi says it’s ironic the party, in the High Court defending its decision to expel her today, focused on claims that she was overspending her budget.

‘Why can’t I buy a bottle of wine’: Mayor bemoans ‘over-zealous’ laws after being unable to buy bottle of wine at winery gig
Stuff | 2 Feb 2026

Nelson mayor Nick Smith said he enjoyed the Ready to Roll gig at Neudorf Winery but found it odd he was unable to buy a bottle of wine.

There’s finally a bipartisan modern-day slavery bill. How will it work?
The Spinoff | 2 Feb 2026

After years of false starts, a bill requiring companies to investigate their supply chains for risks of forced labour is finally likely to become law. On Thursday last week, National …

Luxon says Peters is ‘plain wrong’ on India free trade deal
Stuff | 2 Feb 2026

Coalition partners clash over immigration from India in Free Trade Agreement.

Jones shuts down NZ signing up to 'road map' away from fossil fuels
Otago Daily Times | 2 Feb 2026

Shane Jones. Photo: RNZ By Kate Newton of RNZ Resources Minister Shane Jones shut down the possibility of New Zealand signing up to a 'road map' away from fossil fuels …