Expert analysis
04 Nov 2026
The $15.6 billion Treasury doesn’t need
Commentary: Before the election, parties should state whether they support a reduction in the Crown Settlement Account b...
03 Nov 2026
Māori leaving prison are set up to fail
Commentary: People leaving prison die at more than three times the rate of the general population, about a quarter of Mā...
03 Nov 2026
Nat list MPs face underarm ball in final over
Commentary: Deliberately trying to engineer an overhang is a form of electoral cheating.
02 Nov 2026
Boosting tourism without protecting visitors is a risky bet
Commentary: Tourism growth is surging towards 2034 targets, but experts warn disaster safety for millions of visitors in...
27 Oct 2026
Tourism needs tales, not undermining
Commentary: Mining or contesting conservation boundaries loses the substance and source of tourism productivity – landsc...
22 Oct 2026
What happens if this tight election delivers a hung parliament?
Commentary: A poll this week showed we could end up with a hung parliament. What the hell happens then?
19 Oct 2026
Natural hazards don’t obey electoral cycles. The next government faces crucial choices
Commentary: Every election seems to return to the same themes: the economy, health, housing and the cost of government....
14 Oct 2026
It’s time to bring lobbying out from the shadows
Commentary: With recent scandals highlighting the risks of lobbying done behind closed doors, NZ’s secret lobbying cultu...
13 Oct 2026
Only structural change will fix NZ’s glaring health equity gap – what voters should know
Commentary: The performance of New Zealand’s health system – from hospital staffing and resourcing to access to primary...
12 Oct 2026
Is NZ’s foreign policy ‘realism’ working? Why the next government faces a real choice
Commentary: The 2026 general election is taking place as the world experiences a tumultuous transition.
05 Oct 2026
Tax reform not the province of the major parties
Commentary: Most major parties reject or ignore health-focused remedial taxes, leaving major structural tax reform to le...
02 Oct 2026
What political parties should consider for their AI election policies
Commentary: So far, most parties have yet to announce major policies regarding AI.