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October 6, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 06 October 2026

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General Debate

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Cassandra

The Reid poll is bad news. Inexplicable to me but then I have been an Act supporter for ever.

Labour under Hipkins was a failure. National and the Coalition are doing reasonably well. NZ’s problems are largely caused by external factors.

NZ voters are not that bright? I’m an old fogey and Chloe is right about Palestine and the Jews? Is the world mad?

Why does the media think that TOP is not part of the left?
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October 6, 2026 8:01am
- mike
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  It must be tempting to assume someone’s differing opinion is due to a lack of intelligence.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:11am
  - Luke Piewalker
    
    @Mike. [Mod – take the abuse elsewhere]
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:25am
  - amospicton
    
    A trait you display on here on a daily basis Mike.
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:41am
  - yossarian
    
    Yes I can imagine there’s some numpties on the right but can you honestly say that the likes of Tabatha, Marama, Debbie and Rarawi are the epitome of level headed leadership, and so by that token, what does it say about those that vote for them?
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:37am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Yet Mike the other day was telling us someone using Christianity as a guide for life means they are mentally ill.
    
    So tolerant. So caring. So, …open minded.
    
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    October 6, 2026 1:29pm
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      I wonder: what would using progressive moral theology as a guide to life indicate about someone’s relationship with reality?
      
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      October 6, 2026 3:33pm
- pdm
  
  National is where I expected from my door knocking in Hastings Central for ACT over the last 4 weeks.
  
  Labour and the Greens are way out of kilter from what I have been hearing.
  
  NZFirst about right but ACT shows as about 15% because people are vote splitting – Electorate mainly National (or undecided) Party Vote ACT is very much the way the people I have talked to are thinking.
  
  Not many two ticks for either National or Labour and I think we could see both main parties around the 25% mark on 7 November.
  
  One other thing – most Maori I come across are on the General Roll.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:14am
  - Frank the tank
    
    Let’s hope your on-the-ground observations hold true. Act at 15%; NZF @ 11-12% and National @ 22-23% would be the best result for New Zealand as a country and a real wake up call for National
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:33am
    - nathie
      
      Dream on, as much as I’d like ACT to do well they typically end up with around/less than 10% support on election night. And if National polled that low as you wish then Labour and its far-left mates will be Govt.
      
      The problem with elements of the Right is that they are fractured and are unable to work together – as per many commentators here.
      
      The Left and the MSM to some extent see this and it reinforces their narratives that the Right will lose the election.
      
      Listen to HDPA and her constant undermining of National. Constrast this to Hosking who sees the bigger picture – united we stand, divided we fall.
      
      The best thing the Right can do is unite for a Coalition win. Yes of course ACT (and NZF) mop up “issues voters”, leaving National to win over the undecided and swinging (Labour) voters. How about we all support this?
      
      Because it is surely better than the alternative of Labour with the 5 other co-leaders merrily wrecking the economy and fixating on “colonialism” and the “treaty” and “climate change” and “Palestine, and hugging Hamas”…
      
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      October 6, 2026 8:56am
      - R
        
        Nothing, you understand the situation.
        
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        October 6, 2026 9:47am
      - Positan
        
        Compared to ACT – and to a lesser extent NZFirst – National has squandered just about all its gains – except in Education – with the most gormless leadership since Ardern.
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:24am
      - nathie
        
        Woosh!
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:29am
      - kowtow
        
        ‘Constrast this to Hosking’
        
        Oh yeah , well NZME are using Hosking soundbite humiliating Luxon for going on his show and not knowing when the costings are out…….
        
        If that were to happen on one of the media circus televised debates it would be all over.
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:47am
    - R
      
      Frank, it is not NATIONAL who require the wakeup call; it is the ‘easy options, I don’t want to have to think or make decisions for myself’ brigade. Of which their are many, some contribute here on KB
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:54am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Tactical voting is too complicated for most voters.
    
    The other problem is that a vote is now merely a bargaining chip for a party to negotiate their entry into Government, the voter has effectively zero control over the outcome.
    
    There would be more faith in the system if parties campaigned as pre agreed coalitions while allowing each party to promote their own policies outside of the core agreement.
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:34am
    - septic skeptic
      
      Tactical voting isn’t too complicated. Voters on the Maori roll manage it quite successfully. Why would it be different for other ethnicities?
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:44am
      - imalwaysright
        
        I wasn’t aware that Maori, in particular, were successful at tactical voting.
        
        What tactics do they employ?
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:46am
      - septic skeptic
        
        The majority vote TPM electorate and most split their vote to give Greens and Labour their party vote.
        
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        October 6, 2026 11:22am
      - RoboRob
        
        @imalwaysright
        
        Electorate vote TPM, party vote Labour. Been at it for years.
        
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        October 6, 2026 12:11pm
      - Debsta
        
        Yes, it would be called out as over-representation in any normal analysis, with those on the Maori roll effectively have two votes that count compared to our one.
        
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        October 6, 2026 1:37pm
    - judith8409121
      
      somewhat amazed that ‘tactical voting’ can be too complicated – what do you think people do when they enter a polling both? or listen to anyone talking about the voting procedure – everyone has 2 votes – use them both for the best advantage of the outcome – i am amazed anyone does anything else- not tactical voting is the problem.
      
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      October 6, 2026 12:37pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        That’s not tactical voting.
        Tactical voting by its nature requires an organised group voting as one to achieve an outcome.
        Individual taste isn’t tactical. Its voting.
        
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        October 6, 2026 1:48pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Remember people will often say one thing to your face and then do another. Most people don’t like confrontation. The Dems and Hillary had this issue in the US. Polling and in person, everyone was voting for Hillary and no one liked Trump. People were too embarrassed or scared to say they were going to vote Trump.
    
    Just saying, the positive view of the right you are seeing might just be because you are an Act door knocker. I hope you are right though.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:36am
    - rouppe
      
      No one HAS to engage with a door knocker. It’s much easier to tell them to go away than sit through a spiel and lie about how you’re going to vote
      
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      October 6, 2026 4:32pm
  - Damocles11
    
    Thanks for your report pdm. Good to hear from someone who is out there on the front-lines, working hard for our collective goal: keep the far left out & the current coalition in. Admirable stuff.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:10am
  - Colville
    
    pdm.
    If you get out of Hastings central and in some of the smaller villages you will find its staunch TPM (and Mob!)
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:34am
    - alwyn.a
      
      Yes, it is quite scary walking around Havelock North.
      I am always scared I will be attacked because I am wearing the wrong colour clothing.
      Don’t even think of wearing black clothing.
      
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      October 6, 2026 11:53am
    - pdm
      
      Are you surrounded Colville?
      
      BTW are you in Tukituki or Napier electorate out there?
      
      My next area is from Railway Road to Southland Road bounded by Southhampton Street (South side) and the Racecourse.
      
      They are keeping me to safe? areas I think – probably because I am a doddery old bugger. lol.
      
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      October 6, 2026 1:04pm
      - Colville
        
        pdm.
        I am Tuki.
        Flaxmere, Bridge Pa, Fernhill… Out that way it gets scary.
        Have a look at Kaleb Hawkins as a Tuki candidate. 🤣
        
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        October 6, 2026 7:08pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    Take into account your door knocking for ACT. Of course people will tell you they are party voting ACT.
    
    On the day they probably wont.
    
    It just an act(sic) of kindness to you.
    
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    October 6, 2026 5:53pm
- septic skeptic
  
  As I predicted Luxon is proving a big liability in the campaign. 17.1% preferred PM in the RR poll. That is hopeless for a sitting PM. Why the hell could Bishop, Willis, Stanford etc not forsee this and agree on a new leader?
  I hope enough National supporters have more nous than John Key and electorate vote only for National. If we see the National party vote tanking and ACT/NZF rising there is hope.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:16am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Michael Laws speculated yesterday that, ‘win’ or ‘lose’, Luxon will resign on election night.
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:36am
    - RoboRob
      
      I have been saying similar for some time. I do think he will be PM after the election (if they win). I think he will handle negotiations and then step down within the first year. An orderly change of power.
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:04am
      - septic skeptic
        
        That would imply that he isn’t up to his day job of managing the cabinet but they kept him on to front the election campaign?? Surely campaigning and anything to do with winning over voters is his weakest link!
        
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        October 6, 2026 9:47am
      - igm
        
        Bring back Penk and Bayly now Ms Wood. Luxon railroaded them because they had something to offer. Not plataudes.
        
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        October 6, 2026 9:47am
      - RoboRob
        
        @septic skeptic
        
        No, what I am saying is that while he might be great as a leader / managing during the term, they will replace him earlyish next term so they have a leader who will help them win a third term. Its what they should have done last term when it became clear he was unpopular and their vote was dropping in the polls. Waiting until election year to sub him out isn’t a good idea.
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:57am
    - Dougal10
      
      Laws is campaigning for a seat to return to the central govt trough , he will be just as happy in opposition throwing insults across the house , he has perfected his delivery at the ORC table where the only thing that council has achieved in 10 years is a fancy new headquaters building and a tripling of staff.
      
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      October 6, 2026 10:07am
  - MCōs
    
    Things are pretty desperate for National supporters if Winston is the last hope
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:46am
    - RoboRob
      
      True that.
      
      Also true on the left, ‘pretty desperate for Labour supporters if Wong is the last hope’ 🙂
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:37am
      - Ghost
        
        Left? I know three act voters who are voting opportunity as a protest vote.
        
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        October 6, 2026 9:41am
      - Cassandra
        
        Ghost: they can’t be Act voters. Why are they protesting?
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:29am
      - Ghost
        
        And why can’t they be? Every other election they’ve had any act sign on their property, voted act. So don’t pretend you know what they are or aren’t
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:35am
      - All_on_Red
        
        “voting opportunity as a protest vote.”
        Is that actually true?
        Talk about cut off your nose to spite their face.
        What a bunch of morons.
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:59am
      - MCōs
        
        Someone yesterday scoffed at the proposition that 20% of Kiwis are disabled
        Today 5-6% are morons for voting Opportunity and many times people have claimed Greens supporters are deranged . . . . .
        There’s your 20% right there!!
        
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        October 6, 2026 12:22pm
      - Frank the tank
        
        Voting TOP as a protest against Act. LOL.
        
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        October 6, 2026 12:26pm
      - Ghost
        
        yes it is true, and to make it even more complicated, two run their own businesses from their farm. So a left govt will hit them hard
        
        Here is an article looking at talbot mills poll, so should be taken with salt, but it lists who 107 opportunity supporters voted for in the last election
        
        23% national
        11% Nz First
        6% Act
        
        https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/28-07-2026/what-we-know-about-the-opportunity-party-vote-in-six-charts
        
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        October 6, 2026 12:42pm
      - Dougal10
        
        Ghost , as farmers we make way more money out of lefty governments , but as individual business people we naturally support a hands off approach and like things simple.
        
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        October 6, 2026 6:15pm
- Frank the tank
  
  National is a complete failure with Luxon and Willis at the helm. They have no feel nor understanding of the real world at the moment. Their election campaign has been run poorly and many rational center-right voters like myself have fled to either Act or NZF.
  
  National is a center-left party now devoid of people that live in the real world and a party of beltway advisors and ex-corporates. When was the last time National had a candidate that was a successful SME business person. Or indeed a politician with a bit of spark or personality.
  
  On the center-left both TOP and Labour do that segment better than National. Last night Labour supported the right to repair legislation that is a no-brainer centralist policy that will restrict overseas corporates from dominating the Automotive sector and pushing out smaller NZ-owned independents. Instead Luxon and Willis want to attack NZ-owned supermarket based on the reckons of insider beltway economists looking for some bucks.
  
  National, unless it evolves post this election is toast. Like the Liberals in Australia, the Conservatives in the UK and CDU in Germany people have become disillusioned with the center right establishment parties as they drift further and further to the left and are populated by corporates and political insiders.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:17am
  - MCōs
    
    You forgot to add that the election campaign has been poorly run by Simeon Brown
    I don’t know who concocted the no new taxes slogan, but it grates and it’s clearly not working
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:02am
    - RoboRob
      
      I am stunned at how poor their campaigning is. They have a pile of money and experience. They seem to have spent it all on nice blue jackets (at about $100 a piece I assume) for every campaign worker. I saw about 10 around my place in the weekend.
      
      We finally got a leaflet, a week after Labour. It was a third of an A4 page and double sided. Most of the back was a white square designed for handwriting something I guess. On the front the candidate said he had grown up in the electorate and now raises his kids here. Please vote me back in so National can continue its good work. I shit you not, that was pretty much it. He didn’t list ANY personal achievements, just Nationals. It was pathetic, 4/10. Labours pamphlet had much more policy info and was full A4, double sided.
      
      I have started getting (very good) Act adds on my podcasts. Nothing from National. WTF are National doing?
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:10am
      - Isobar
        
        I agree. They have campaigned like a tired, arrogant third term government. All negative. They have nothing to say about a positive direction or vision to get behind.
        
        Its like they are completely out of ideas.
        
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        October 6, 2026 9:14am
      - imalwaysright
        
        The blue jackets are a big mistake.
        
        They look like supermarket shelf stackers (a far more worthy job than some of the MPs would deserve).
        
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        October 6, 2026 9:18am
      - Nick R
        
        I couldn’t agree more about National’s campaign. The focus on tax has been a complete bust and… there’s nothing else. It reminds me of the Simpsons gag about jazz parenting – we’ve tried doing nothing and now we’re all out of ideas.
        
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        October 6, 2026 9:54am
      - Damocles11
        
        CEO Luxon purged Bishop out of the campaign manager role, to put him in his place after loads of talk about a leadership coup. Simeon has no experience in the role.
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:14am
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      Agreed, it’s a feeble slogan. I’m reminded of one commentator’s view that the Nats (and the NZ right in general) are like a board of accountants trying to run a civilization.
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:59am
      - Colville
        
        I really like the TAX slogan but its been invisible here in Hawkes Bay. its everywhere in Auckland.
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:36am
    - Simon
      
      “I don’t know who concocted the no new taxes slogan, but it grates and it’s clearly not working”
      
      100%. Not sure why anyone is down ticking this comment. No new taxes is pure Wellington Clown Show. Its so out of touch. The hard working and productive are carrying NZ at huge cost. No new taxes is smug, elitist & so off hand.
      
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      October 6, 2026 11:43am
      - Hard Cheese
        
        “No new taxes” implies that everything is going to stay the same instead of getting worse under the other parties. Things staying the same is hardly inspirational and not what people want to hear when they’re facing cost of living pressures
        
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        October 6, 2026 6:00pm
    - Frank the tank
      
      You did note my comment that their election campaign had been run poorly? I agree the non new taxes slogan clearly again out out of step with middle NZ who are more worried re cost of living at the moment
      
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      October 6, 2026 12:28pm
  - wgtn_dude
    
    Frank-“When was the last time National had a candidate that was a successful SME business person. Or indeed a politician with a bit of spark or personality.”
    
    If I recall, that would be Bob Clarkson. The man who would bet his left testicle.
    
    At least he spoke his mind.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:20am
  - Taieri
    
    They have no feel nor understanding of the real world at the moment.
    ————–
    
    This applies to virtually every NZ party. Perhaps, with a slight exception of ACT.
    
    When was the last time National had a candidate that was a successful SME business person.
    ———–
    
    When was the last time ANY NZ party had a successful SME business person as a candidate?
    I’m not counting former corporate seat warmers and time servers.
    
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    October 6, 2026 1:08pm
- Sensible moderate views
  
  As I said a week ago, the NZME vilification of Labour is a total own goal, simply leading to a rise in support for the greens. That combined with the Mowbrays… hopeless strategy all round. Goodbye Nicola, Chris, Paul, Gerry
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:19am
  - Damocles11
    
    So are you attacking the Mowbrays? The goal is to keep the Left out to stop a complete economic melt-down & to keep some semblance of a New Zealand we recognise. I would have thought that that imperative overrides all others.
    It really grates with me the number of people who seem to care more about the state of National and the fate of some of their list MP’s than they do about keeping the lunatic Left out of power.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:09am
    - KKNZ2025
      
      “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing”
      
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      October 6, 2026 3:05pm
- Philview
  
  We are seeing a surge in left wing populism with particular emphasis on tax the rich. I haven’t seen much scrutiny given to Green Party policies.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:51am
- Isobar
  
  One other factor, maybe the vote splitting plan is getting through to National voters, but their party vote is going to TOP. National have a good chunk of supporters that cant stand ACT or NZ First.
  
  I think the vote splitting (which requires thousands of non-political tragics like us to follow through for it to work) has a massive risk of backfiring.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:10am
  - RoboRob
    
    National voters who dislike Act or NZF should vote for National. A vote for TOP makes zero sense.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:01am
    - Isobar
      
      Do you think voters act rationally?
      
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      October 6, 2026 11:40am
- Dougal10
  
  The Reid poll seems completely flawed it is a poll of list votes only .
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:16am
- R
  
  Cassandra……’why does the media think?…..
  1….the media do not think factually
  2…this is election year
  3…..the media have an AGENDA..
  ….and their agenda is not for the greater future good of NZ, particularly the future for our grandchildren
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:23am
  - MCōs
    
    The media’s agenda is to sell newspapers
    In that respect this campaign is a tedious disaster
    
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    October 6, 2026 12:36pm
- Paulus
  
  The media all appear to think that they are, of course, much cleverer than us mere mortals !
  More daily Bollocks.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:36am
- Bullion
  
  Unemployment is high, the number of people on benefits is high. Treasury forecasts have been overly optimistic than what’s panned out for a number of years, and total new lending from banks is now down yoy and real loan growth for property purchases has gone negative – both not good indicators given bank credit is an important fuel for economic growth (the other govt spending).
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:56am
- PurplePen
  
  is this something that David Farrar could have a go at. where in a somewhat unique situation where we have one of the major parties expected to get more electorate seats than the party vote would produce. currently polling only provides you the number of seats are party gets based on the party vote. that type of pole result doesn’t take into account the situation we have today. so instead you could show a poll result where the number of seats allocated is based on party vote only for those parties who are expected to get less electorate seats then the party vote would produce; and for the parties in the reverse situation instead of showing what the poll result gives them so what their electorate seat result is. does that make sense?
  
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  October 6, 2026 12:41pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Reading all teh comments here.
  Maybe General Debate should be renamed.
  Dump on National with pissing and moaning./sarc
  
  Until after the election, when normal transmission will be resumed.
  
  Another sunny day in the big Kingdo. Temp overnight: a cool 24c noon 30c.
  NOTE: You acclimatise over a few weeks where 24c is cool and thinking about a jacket.
  
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  October 6, 2026 6:01pm
Tomtoddy

Luxon on Hosking this morning when asked when National will release its fiscal plan responded, “don’t know”. Does this guy have even an ounce of political nous? You never, never say “don’t know” in politics.

National is pulling the centre right down, disaster by disaster.

Hipkins isn’t doing much because he doesn’t need to. He can afford to sit back and let National destroy the CR’s chances with the MSM chipping in to grease the pole. Grasping for all the List votes when you have 43 Electorate MP’s and polling in the mid 20’s is suicidal.
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October 6, 2026 8:03am
- Frank the tank
  
  Correct – this mirrors his position on the Waitangi Tribunal. Fence sitting as opposed to taking a position and demonstrating leadership.
  
  The ONLY way the center right wins the election is 50%+ of center right voters follow the Mowbray plan.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:20am
  - Damocles11
    
    He isn’t a real leader, he is a corporate manager. The kind who sit in meetings thinking about the golf course. He just isn’t across the detail. He isn’t smart enough to even realise he is producing gaffes, the mouth speaks while the brain is on auto-pilot.
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:44am
    - septic skeptic
      
      After a term as PM I still don’t really know much about what he wants for the country. Aside from “growth” and excluding the provision of public SERVICES from his co-governance program. For example the role of the Waitangi Tribunal will have to CHANGE? WTF does that mean Chris???
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:00am
      - RoboRob
        
        The whole problem with National is that they don’t have an expressed vision and they have thrown all their principles out the door. The only thing they are campaigning on is keeping Labour out. The Dems in the US campaigned like that against Trump, how did that pan out?
        
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        October 6, 2026 11:03am
      - R
        
        Skeptical,…..you need to pay a lot more attention to PM Luxon’s comments, you may have fallen into the media practice of ‘cherry picking’ the bits that suit your immediate goal; not the future goal. Remember, Labour began this destroy NZ capitalisim project, back in the 1980’s. The present coalition has only had 3 years to identify, and begin, the recovery from the mismanagement of that long term ideological project.
        
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        October 6, 2026 11:14am
      - Taieri
        
        Labour began this destroy NZ capitalisim project, back in the 1980’s.
        ———-
        
        If I recall, it was the Labour that saved in 1984, what passes for capitalism in NZ. In fact, it saved the country from insolvency. Granted, it was the Labour of Douglas and Co, not the Labour of Ardern, Hipkins and Robertson, but still Labour.
        
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        October 6, 2026 1:13pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        “The present coalition has only had 3 years to identify, and begin, the recovery from the mismanagement of …”
        
        No, they had front row seats, literally, to the havoc caused by the Ardern Regime, for six years.
        
        You would think they would have been formulating plans and getting their ducks in a row ready for Day 1 back in Government, but no, apparently the scale of the damage was a surprise!
        
        All Oppositions spend the Term pissing about instead of shadowing the Government.
        
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        October 6, 2026 1:58pm
    - Scooter
      
      Spot on, he has taken no position on any of the issues that face NZ or trying to make meaningful changes. His only contribution has been keeping the coalition together. In that regard he has done well. He probably has no desire to change NZ in any societal way, he probably thought he could financially manage it better than Labour.
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:17am
      - Taieri
        
        His only contribution has been keeping the coalition together
        ————-
        
        And that is not a small achievement.
        He also inherited empty coffers, a very hostile media, quite a few enemies in the caucus and, particularly in the last 7 months a very unfriendly international economic environment. He managed all of this reasonably well, but his biggest problem is his lack of appeal to voters. And the latter factor is what will eventually finish his political career.
        
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        October 6, 2026 1:20pm
  - Simon
    
    “Correct – this mirrors his position on the Waitangi Tribunal. Fence sitting as opposed to taking a position and demonstrating leadership.”
    
    National have a position but you are not supposed to know what it is. Its keep Waitangi Tribunal going. Leadership dont come into it.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:47am
- kowtow
  
  And NZME are using that exchange as a “promo” .
  For goodness sake Luxon really is a liabilty.
  
  Funny isn’t it . Under the two Maori ( Bridges and Bennet) leaders of that party ,in there on merit , that party was way more popular than under a pair of white wets , who’re wed to Maorifiaction.
  
  Therein a part of the problem?
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:21am
  - nathie
    
    There are two versions of the NZME promo – yesterday they included the part where Luxon finally said it will be released within a couple of weeks – the current promo removes his response.
    
    Which isn’t surprising as the NZME newsroom tends to have a left-bias.
    
    But still I agree Luxon should not have given them that opening to begin with, as Tomtoddy says “never say “don’t know” in politics”. It was an own goal.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:25am
    - R
      
      Sometimes,..’don’t know’ is the honest answer. I know I know, we have had six years of dishonesty from an immediate past government. But we can recover the concept of, and recognise HONESTY as individuals, despite the best efforts of the media, this is election year.
      
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      October 6, 2026 11:19am
- Damocles11
  
  He has ‘foot in mouth’ syndrome. Being a corporate hype-man repeating empty slogans may work in the strictly hierarchical and codified Dunning-Kruger world of corporate New Zealand, but it goes down like a lead balloon out in the real world. Luxon just isn’t all over the detail, he can only do the grinning hype and figurehead stuff – although his grin often comes across as more of a grimace.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:25am
  - R
    
    Damocles,..The Dunning-Kruger concept actually applies to a very large proportion of the ‘real world’ electors that you mention. A failure of our education system to teach how to think and analysis.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:08am
- Scooter
  
  I can’t remember where I heard it, maybe Barry Soper on Heather’s podcast today, said even if National win or lose in November Luxon will resign soon after, either through losing or from his own party by bringing down their ratings so poorly. I’m not so sure, he seems to have more tenacity in staying in power than he does in actually delivering on what he promised.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:28am
  - Damocles11
    
    The rule in corporate NZ is that you always back the top managers to the hilt. Once you’ve appointed them you are pretty much stuck with them. Luxon doesn’t have an HR department who can run interference for him, because we aren’t his underlings: we get to make or break him at the ballot box. He is tried and judged in the court of public opinion, where all his weaknesses are on full display and are mercilessly exposed.
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:52am
  - kowtow
    
    Du P Allan has been stirring the anti Luxon agenda for quite some time. Soper ,not so much.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:17am
    - RoboRob
      
      HDPA hasn’t been running an anti Luxon campaign, she has just been accurately reporting what is happing in the polls and his political mistakes. You know, journalism.
      
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      October 6, 2026 11:05am
      - kowtow
        
        Sorry I’ve followed it quite closely.
        
        She , Coughlan and NZME ; stirring.
        
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        October 6, 2026 12:24pm
- R
  
  I listened to Hosking this morning, PM Luxon made no such statement, he has already told us ,’next week’,
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:26am
- RoboRob
  
  You want a leader that brings votes through charisma, looks, personality or trust. Unfortunately Luxon doesn’t bring voters, he actually detracts them. People like National much more then they like Luxon. No matter how good a leader / manager he is, thats just a fact.
  
  National has know about this but hasn’t had the internal organisational ability to resolve the issue. Unfortunately supporters for the right are paying the price as well as National.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:31am
  - septic skeptic
    
    I think probably Stanford, Bishop, Willis, Brown and the rest all figured better to lose with Luxon than win with one of the others if it can’t be me. Kudos to those who tried to roll him.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:55am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    People don’t like National, they know Labour is nuts.
    We are poorly served in the centre. National have actually been primarily more responsible for Maori anti democratic separatism than Labour have.
    Who signed UNDRIP?
    I’d like team red and blue to get zero votes please.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:24pm
- Yabster
  
  he actually said “shortly”- hosking said one week, two weeks? and he then said “not quite sure”- ie he never said don’t know- so get your facts right. I am no huge Luxon fan but if you are going to quote him don’t make it up!!
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:03am
  - kowtow
    
    H ; When’s it out.
    L; Er , it comes out shortly, um I’m not quite sure exactly…….
    
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    October 6, 2026 12:51pm
mike

Random election question:
Are there fewer election hoardings on display this year?
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October 6, 2026 8:09am
- septic skeptic
  
  Now you mention it I think so. That’s good, less visual clutter. Maybe they are waking up to the online advertising opportunities.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:20am
- spryte
  
  I thought so as well. Hopefully it turns into a trend.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:23am
- Scott
  
  Not in the Wairarapa. There are many posters with the smiling face of Chris Hipkins and his best mate ever, Kieran MacAnulty.
  Also on my YouTube feed I get advertisements inviting me to vote for the Greens and the smiling face of Chloe. Oh the horror!!! 😧
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:24am
  - Tarquin North
    
    Et tu Brutus Mc Anulty. Hipkins should be watching his back.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:05am
  - spryte
    
    Interesting. Very few Labour signs here. It’s a solid Blue electorate and the Labour candidate is a joke. Maybe Labour is focusing their limited budget on marginal seats? It would make sense.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:05am
    - Nobby2
      
      spryte, nothing labour does makes sense !
      
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      October 6, 2026 5:14pm
- RoboRob
  
  Yup
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:11am
- R
  
  Sign of the times. Fewer younger people can read, only us old foggies.
  Erica has been working on the reading problem and seems to be having some success with 7 year olds; much to the disappointment of the OPPOSITION parties.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:29am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Definitely fewer of the roadside ones in Gizzy… quite a few support logos on household fences, though I haven’t seen anything for TOP hereabouts.
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:04am
- Mr Nobody NZ
  
  I think so. We went through Rotorua over the weekend and in previous elections I was amazed at the number on displayed this time I could count the total on two hands.
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:15am
- Ghost
  
  Still going up. Pile of labour and green ones went up in the weekend here
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:28am
  - kowtow
    
    The blue ones seem to be going up………in flames.
    
    What does that say about opposition supporters.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:51am
    - R
      
      Desperate opposition supporters….!!!
      
      4 0
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      October 6, 2026 11:23am
    - Pineapple Lumps
      
      Around central Auckland there is a funny coincidence – coalition government signs graffitied, vandalised or completely destroyed. Labour, Greens and Opportunity don’t seem to be affected.
      
      Perhaps National and ACT should use some of their campaign funds to employ a few Private Investigators to capture the vandals and publish them in action?
      
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      October 6, 2026 1:55pm
  - R
    
    Ghost this is a recognition of the short memory span of so many people now, put up the large visual message during the week for impact, prior to election day.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:24am
- Sacha
  
  SH2 through Pahiatua town has what seems like a dozen hordings in one block.
  Parties I’ve never heard of . . . . . . .
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:24pm
Yvette

When the voting age was 21 the state did not spend money trying to persuade electors to enrol. This year the taxpayer is spending $18.1 million on encouraging people to enrol. At the latest count 166,746 18- to 24-year-olds are yet to do so. – Richard Prebble
https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/richard-prebble-a-grumpy-old-man

If my calculator is correct (so OK – if I am correct) that is $108.55 each, when each of those not registered should be enrolled because that is compulsory (but voting is not) so they face a first instance $100 fine for not being so registered, and $200 thereafter?

Why in fact chase along these people? If they are irresponsible with their New Zealander rights (and duties), who wants them to vote?
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October 6, 2026 8:12am
- mike
  
  Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
  Because high voter turnout is good for democracy?
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:18am
  - septic skeptic
    
    Why is it important to “democracy” that people with little interest participate in the decision as to who governs the country?
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:24am
  - Cassandra
    
    Not voting is democracy.
    
    25 3
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    October 6, 2026 8:26am
  - Tomtoddy
    
    Because high voter turnout is good for the left.
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:27am
    - mike
      
      Good for everyone to have a politically engaged population.
      
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      October 6, 2026 8:29am
      - septic skeptic
        
        Maybe it is better, though I can’t see why myself. But there is no positive correlation between being bribed/coerced/compelled to enroll and being politically engaged. The fact that you have to be persuaded to enroll is surely indicative that you are NOT politically engaged.
        
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        October 6, 2026 8:34am
      - Blog-aholic
        
        The politically ‘engaged’ can still be politically illiterate.
        
        4 2
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        October 6, 2026 8:57am
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Mike, not if there is a critical mass are morons unfortunately.
        
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        October 6, 2026 1:33pm
- pdm
  
  On Sunday we gave a grand daughter who turns 18 on 5 November advice on what she needs to do to vote. That ball is now in her court.
  
  That the Electoral Commission does not enforce the law is an indictment on their head Le Quesne.
  
  How does that man keep his job?
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:21am
  - mike
    
    I doubt the efficacy of prosecuting for this offence, let alone cost-effectivness.
    
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    October 6, 2026 8:28am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Mail out an infringement notice, give them a month to comply or pay a fine.
      
      10 3
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      October 6, 2026 8:43am
      - septic skeptic
        
        Pay a fine? Pay?? Just add it to the tab along with the speeding fines and parking tickets. Eventually it will all get rolled up into 20 hours community work for which they won’t turn up.
        
        7 0
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        October 6, 2026 9:59am
      - Maggy Wassilieff
        
        I doubt that most 17 year-olds in NZ know that it is a legal requirement for them to register to vote when they turn 18.
        
        It is definitely something I was aware of half a century ago.
        
        8 2
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        October 6, 2026 10:10am
      - Colville
        
        iamalways..
        
        Like Oz…they send a notice and people ignore it.
        It costs more to chase that the fine is worth so they dont.
        
        Do you really want someone paying a $150 fine off at 12 cents a week from their dole? That probably costs govt $50 a week to manage!
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:39am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Septic, Colville, we have to start somewhere.
        But, in the current state of the country, the fewer voters under 50 years old the better.
        We have the second/third generation of the post 70’s dumbed down indoctrinated populace voting now.
        They are extremely dangerous, especially as they actually believe they are in the right.
        
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        October 6, 2026 2:15pm
      - rouppe
        
        OK, so let’s play that out.
        
        Uninterested kid doesn’t enrol. Infringement is mailed out.
        
        What do you think the reaction to that is going to be? It’ll be “ef National, I’ll vote the other lot. That’ll teach the mumble-mumbles”
        
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        October 6, 2026 5:15pm
      - Colville
        
        rouppe.
        Mailed? A piece of paper? 🤣
        
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        October 6, 2026 7:12pm
  - RoboRob
    
    He cant be fired. The minister still has faith in hi anyway.
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:25am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Some of our Government Ministers have more faith than actual religious Ministers.
      
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      October 6, 2026 9:45am
  - R
    
    Perhaps he is employed by the PSA union.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:12am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    What? You must register to vote on pain of prosecution, but it’s not compulsory to vote? How bloody stupid.
    
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    October 6, 2026 1:35pm
- Frank the tank
  
  Voting should be a privilege more so than a right. There should be some form of effort required as opposed to dropping voting down to the lowest common denominator.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:23am
  - MCōs
    
    Enrollment is actually a legal obligation
    Voting is a choice.
    
    10 0
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    October 6, 2026 9:17am
    - Frank the tank
      
      So it should be and shouldn’t have to have bribes like KFC buckets in order to do so
      
      4 0
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      October 6, 2026 12:37pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Voting is compulsory in Aus. You get fined for not voting. This would I assume result in a number of mindless idiot votes that would be no better than monkey-scribble, but overall probably a good thing.
        
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        October 6, 2026 2:12pm
- Dougal10
  
  If they know who they are and the govt do , why aren’t they just automatically enrolled , but to vote they need to supply an address.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:09am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    IRD certainly know who they are, where and what age.
    
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    October 6, 2026 12:53pm
- Bullion
  
  That spend is not focussed purely on the 18-24 age group. They are targeting the entire voting age population, especially with enrolment once advance voting starts – such as people that have moved and not enrolled correctly.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:02am
infused

Should have rolled lux you absolute numpties..
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October 6, 2026 8:13am
- Colville
  
  Nope.
  Dammed if they did so they held onto hope that he would rise to the occasion.
  We are still waiting!!
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:40am
- crash
  
  Who do National have that would be better?
  
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  October 6, 2026 4:20pm
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    National deserve to be wiped out at the ballot box, no ticks blue.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:27pm
Bobba Fret

As someone said on Newstalk ZB today, I would be happy to vote today and get this election over with rather than have to listen to politician’s go on and on. I’m already sick of it. The next 4-5 weeks seem to be just for the small percentage of undecided voters (and even most of them probably already know if they will vote for a left or right party).
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October 6, 2026 8:16am
- Philview
  
  I agree, the time span is too short to have to go this lengthy campaigning and ridiculous over promises every 3 years.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:56am
- imalwaysright
  
  The best campaigning National could do would be to spend a month making the changes they promised.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:48am
  - Bullion
    
    parliament is closed. so the executive can still run the country (with caveats around making long term decisions based on the cabinet manual), but the legislature is closed so can’t introduce new bills or progress bills.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:24am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Yes, I realise that.
      My point is that they would have redeemed themselves to their dispirited supporters had they done that. Unclear on my part.
      
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      October 6, 2026 2:22pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  rather than have to listen to politician’s go on and on
  
  Don’t listen.
  Tune out.
  
  I know how I’m going to vote and it’s too late to change my mind.
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:13am
  - Colville
    
    I know how I’m going to vote and it’s too late to change my mind
    
    I could have voted 34 months ago !! 🙂
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:41am
  - crash
    
    It is not possible to tune out if you want to read/watch the news for non-political purposes.
    
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    October 6, 2026 4:22pm
AitchW

Because if they don’t chase them there will be howls of outrage from the left that young people couldn’t possibly know that there is an election looming and that they need to enrol.
The left has a very low opinion of its voters.
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October 6, 2026 8:16am
- septic skeptic
  
  You say that as if howls of outrage from the left is a bad thing.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:39am
- R
  
  The left has a very low opinion of most, particularly if the voter has made eise personal choices, and is succesful .
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:15am
- NZer In Exile
  
  Hence why the loony left use the tactic of importing truck loads of the most incompatible and problematic immigrants. They know these immigrants will be dependent on taxpayer handouts long term, if not for their whole lives, and will therefor vote left to keep the handouts and victimhood status flowing. But the loony left don’t care about the long term ramifications for the country. They only care about securing power for themselves and their ideological mates.
  
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  October 6, 2026 2:21pm
kowtow

Oil at pre war export levels through the strait.
Petrol at record at pump.

Oil companies making record profits.

Someone’s taking the piss.
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October 6, 2026 8:31am
- imalwaysright
  
  “Someone’s taking the piss.”
  
  Correct.
  Funny how none of the pumps have run out.
  …When you are getting a 40% premium on your product, the last thing you will let happen is a dry pump (or the end of an extremely profitable conflict).
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:49am
- Ghost
  
  infrastructure damage, cost of insurance, demand from countries trying to refill their reserves, freight costs. It will take a while for any reasonable drop in oil price
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:51am
  - kowtow
    
    Russian oil off line.
    
    Trump’s fault?
    
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    October 6, 2026 9:03am
    - Colville
      
      The Uks have been successful with bombing.
      Problem for the Ruskies is when a well in Siberia stops flowing it freezes and needs to be rebuilt. Which is why the Uks are pushing hard now going into winter.
      Ruskies dont have the skills to redrill or rebuild pump stations and need to import the tech which is sanctioned. Their economy is dying.
      
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      October 6, 2026 10:45am
      - kowtow
        
        As are their conscripts.
        
        The women of Russia need to revolt to protect their sons , brothers and husbands.
        
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        October 6, 2026 12:48pm
      - Taieri
        
        Ruskies dont have the skills to redrill
        ———
        
        So, if they don’t have skills, who’s been drilling for them when it was the USSR?
        BTW: the first (quite primitive) oil refinery in Russia opened in 1745.
        
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        October 6, 2026 1:33pm
      - Colville
        
        Taieri
        
        They have used contractors for years. But they have imported control gear and drill gear. They don’t and can’t manufacture any of it.
        
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        October 6, 2026 7:15pm
- Damocles11
  
  It all has to be refined. It’s not end product petrol and diesel coming through the Strait. Refinery capacity is maxed out globally.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:50am
  - kowtow
    
    Russian refineries off line.
    Trump’s fault //
    
    Not to ignore the drive by “mainstream” politicians to nut zero has resulted in closed refineries across the west as well as discouraged business investment in new or upgraded ones.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:55am
- David George
  
  Yes kowtow; there has also been a big reduction in Russian production and processing thanks to military actions. Repairs are struggling to return damaged capacity due to a shortage of materials, money and manpower.
  What is being processed/produced there is under heavy export sanction. Even so there are severe fuel shortages within Russia itself.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:58am
  - Don Beckett
    
    China gets a lot of Russian oil by direct pipe lines from wells in Siberia.
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:37am
    - Colville
      
      Its less than 1% of world production. circa 10% of Russian production.
      
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      October 6, 2026 10:48am
Damocles11

Right wing political commentator Ben Thomas calculates that National would need a 34% vote share to start bringing in MP’s from their list. This is because of the number of electorates they are expected to win. The two most recent polls have National at around 26% to 28% of the party vote share. This means they would need potentially 8% of voters to switch their party vote to National between now and the election to get 1 more MP in on the list, at a time when there is a strategic voting campaign underway asking them to do the exact opposite.
Hopefully I don’t need to explain the situation any further, as the penny will have already dropped. Centre-right voters can either help National attempt to push the proverbial up hill with a rake, or use their grey matter to get a centre-right Coalition government elected.
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October 6, 2026 8:41am
- MCōs
  
  When someone says to a pollster x, y or z party do they mean candidate vote or party vote?
  In my case on polling day the two will be different with thus far the party vote undecided.
  I’m in Mangere so my candidate vote is irrelevant because Lydia Sosene, Lab, will win by a mile.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:30am
  - septic skeptic
    
    OK, your electorate vote won’t count. Does that make it more or less attractive to waste your party vote on National who figure to get ZERO list MPs?
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:06am
- Prince
  
  I think Thomas over-estimates the electoral seats National will win. Electorates typically swing withh the list vote – National will lose many. Even so, Bishop and Willis are in trouble. A pity for Bishop – he may just squeak in Hutt South based on his work there. I won’t mourn Willis – her decision to intervene in the Supermarket business has been fatal for National.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:31am
  - kowtow
    
    Maurice Williamson on the Platform this am said that the Nat’s list seats have been declining by 5 seats per election for the last 4 or 5 cycles , down to what could well be zero this time.
    
    That’s some trend!
    
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    October 6, 2026 10:58am
    - Albie
      
      The only Net Zero target Luxon is likely achieve is the number of list MP’s this election .
      
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      October 6, 2026 11:55am
- nova
  
  Assuming this vote splitting works, what happens next? If National get 35 seats and 20% of the vote, they are consigning themselves to a future where the number of MPs they can get is limited by the number of seats they can win. Which permanently makes them a 30% to 35% party. The reality is that National need a mandate from the party vote in order to lead the government, and in that context a party vote can never be considered wasted. You are increasing the mandate, even if it doesn’t result in list seats. The other tactic at best gives a slight advantage for this election, but comes with the prospect of long term damage.
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:02am
  - Homeworker
    
    The trend around the world is that the old main parties are consigned to around 30% of the vote for the next few election cycles. I don’t think we will see any of these parties ever get into the 40s again.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:15am
- septic skeptic
  
  Amazing to think that National could get 750,000+ party votes and they would all be wasted as they still won’t get even one list MP!
  Yet John Key (and DPF) ask you to vote “two ticks blue”
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:14am
  - crikey
    
    Septic: I’m beginning to think National are stupid enough to prefer to go into opposition rather than encourage their voters to support potential coalition partners with their party vote when their party vote is not going to do them any good.
    
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    October 6, 2026 5:31pm
- Colville
  
  Damo.
  Willis and Goldsmith can f*** off for I care but I think we need Bishop badly.
  
  RMA Housing and infrastructure he is doing the grunt work.
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:50am
  - septic skeptic
    
    If by some miracle National do get one list MP that will be Willis. Bishop needs a second list seat or an electorate win. Goldsmith is 3rd rank of those that are list only.
    
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    October 6, 2026 12:08pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Goldsmith 3rd.
      That’s depressing.
      
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      October 6, 2026 2:26pm
  - Frank the tank
    
    Didn’t rate [Deleted] Bishop while in Opposition however he has been one of the best performing ministers and the closest multi facet operator we have had since Joyce. Will be a loss and if he wants to battle on needs to be parachuted into a safe National Seat
    
    [Mod – no need for silly nicknames]
    
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    October 6, 2026 12:42pm
- geoff3012
  
  20%
  
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  October 6, 2026 12:18pm
Tomtoddy

Most thinking commentators are picking National to win around 37 Electorates. They are likely to lose four or five but could actually pick up a couple like Wigram and Auckland Central.

But if they do hold 37 seats and the latest poll is reflected in their Party List vote they will end up in overhang creating 6 or 7 extra seats in the House. The latest poll has them on 25-26% which would give them an entitlement of 30 – 31 seats when they already will probably have 37 – 38 from the Electorate votes.

The real problem is the centre right is losing ground to the left. It is turning into a horror story.
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October 6, 2026 8:51am
- Damocles11
  
  I’m not as pessimistic as you. Rusted-on National voters are down in the dumps because for them everything has to be National-led. It’s that ‘born to rule’ mentality again where ACT are somehow viewed as a kooky off-shoot. ACT are still releasing great policies, such as their new KiwiSaver one. We need to stop hammering savings with tax, and instead build a savings culture.
  TOP are still within the margin of error and need to crystallise poll numbers into actual votes. These is a scrap on in the Maori electorates. The rise of strategic voting will bring a sense of the unknown to this election. The centre-right just needs to get out and vote and see where the chips fall.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:03am
  - greybeard
    
    I agree with you 100%.
    Especially when it comes to TOP and TPM: as I posted yesterday I think TPM might actually cock it up this time with their decision to have only 1 on the list, who will not make it if 2 or 3 maori seats go to Labour.
    ( Last time they initially got 6 electorate seats and 3% party vote.
    This time they are giving away just about all of their party vote ).
    As for TOP, they have had a dream run thanks to the MSM but already they have had to modify their policies to ensure some sort of support.
    When the rubber hits the road in November I suspect that TOP will come up short.
    But that is just my opinion and I am no political animal.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:22am
    - Debsta
      
      A tick because I sure hope you are right!
      
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      October 6, 2026 2:08pm
    - Steve Todd
      
      @greybeard @ 11:22AM
      
      You have completely misunderstood Te Pāti Māori (TPM)’s position, greybeard.
      
      They have put up a Party list with just one name on it — the party secretary, who no doubt would be aghast if TPM received sufficient Party votes to be allocated one seat more than the number of electorates they win — to emphasis that, at this election, they are only seeking the Electorate vote. The party wants its supporters to give their Party votes to Labour or the Greens.
      
      So yes, you are right, they are discarding the Party vote. They don’t want it. Oriini Kaipara made that very clear on Marae on Sunday morning.
      
      At this stage, I think TPM will still win four electorates. In my view, their Party vote will entitle them to no more than two seats overall. (There will still be diehards who will give the party their Party vote no matter what.) Therefore, it doesn’t matter if the party’s list has one name on it, or 30 names on it. They will still only have four Electorate MPs, and two of the seats would be overhang seats.
      
      I will again take this opportunity — see my specific response to Yvette at GD on Sunday afternoon — to make it very clear to Kiwibloggers that TPM know exactly what they’re doing, always have. Māori have always used MMP to their advantage.
      
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      October 6, 2026 2:42pm
      - greybeard
        
        “at this election, they are only seeking the Electorate vote.”
        
        I am glad you agree with me !
        
        They obviously know that they will never get the required 5%.
        
        TPM think they will get all 7 maori seats , but I say that Labour has a good chance of taking 2 or 3 of those seats.
        
        If TPM supporters give their party vote to Labour or the Greens, what guarantee would there be that either of those two parties, in the event of a left-wing win, would in future come out on the side of TPM and its adherents?
        
        We shall see.
        
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        October 6, 2026 4:39pm
      - Steve Todd
        
        @greybeard @ 4:39PM
        
        Thank you for responding, greybeard.
        
        They obviously know that they will never get the required 5%.
        
        I agree, but they don’t need, or expect, to exceed the 5% threshold.
        
        TPM think they will get all 7 maori seats , but I say that Labour has a good chance of taking 2 or 3 of those seats.
        
        I agree. As I say, I think TPM will get four seats, max.
        
        If TPM supporters give their party vote to Labour or the Greens, what guarantee would there be that either of those two parties, in the event of a left-wing win, would in future come out on the side of TPM and its adherents?
        
        There’s no guarantee, but if the TPM policy works as intended, there will be more Māori MPs within Labour and the Greens / Parliament. That is what TPM want. In other words, TPM are building a binding coalition, certainly with Labour’s Māori caucus, and with the Greens.
        
        My first response to you was prompted by this comment—
        
        […]: as I posted yesterday I think TPM might actually cock it up this time with their decision to have only 1 on the list, who will not make it if 2 or 3 maori seats go to Labour.
        
        That comment is factually incorrect. Whether TPM win three, four, or five Electorate seats — I don’t think they will win six, and certainly not seven — and whether their list contains one name or ten, they will finish up with the number of Electorate seats they win, no more.
        
        As you say, “We shall see.”
        
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        October 6, 2026 5:14pm
- kowtow
  
  Maurice Williamson on the Platform this morning ( good session btw) has said there’s a few extra electorates now in play for the Nats , but because Nat HQ is desperate for list rankings the candidates in those seats are being hamstrung from going all out , as the Nats are seeking better list rankings .
  
  And these people claim to be better managers!
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:07am
  - RoboRob
    
    That would tie in with what I have seen from my local MP. His campaign is vote National and his brochure says almost nothing about him.
    
    Not sure what he thinks he will gain out of this.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:12am
  - septic skeptic
    
    It’s high time National read the tea leaves and got on board with party vote ACT. It’s bloody obvious they aren’t getting list MPs this time around. If they DON’T shift strategy one can only conclude that maintaining the uniparty duopoly is more important to them than winning this election
    
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    October 6, 2026 12:13pm
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      Key would rather the Nats be intact than the right in power. He couldn’t give a stuff about what’s going to happen to the country when the other lot get in.
      Our best defense will be the incompetence of Labour greens and TPM. National are pointless for NZ.
      
      Let National be wiped out at the election, they’ve earned it.
      Net zero is a bottom line, nothing to like in the treaty principles bill.
      
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      October 6, 2026 10:35pm
  - nova
    
    If National is worried about getting zero list seats, because they will win too many electorate seats, and wants to solve it by not competing hard for electorate seats, then that seems like the “opposite of clever”.
    
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    October 6, 2026 5:26pm
- Isobar
  
  I also think we cant underestimate the party’s bad popularity affecting it on the electorate level.
  
  Some of Natonals electorate candidates might squeak in due to vote splitting on the left. But i think they are set to potentially lose more than 37 seats.
  
  This has held true in every mmp election so far.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:23am
  - RoboRob
    
    The experts, who appear to be honestly calling things (i.e. Maurace Williamson) believe National will win about that many electorate seats. I guess we will see.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:13am
  - Steve Todd
    
    @Isobar @ 9:23AM
    
    But i think they are set to potentially lose more than 37 seats.
    
    I agree Isobar.
    
    As I said six weeks ago, here, https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2026/08/general_debate_21_august_2026.html/comment-page-1#comment-3872606, “[…] I very much doubt that we will end up with more than two overhang seats, whether intentionally (Te Pāti Māori), or accidentally (National). Three at the most.”—
    
    and that—
    
    “National will secure its proportional entitlement of seats, and no more.”
    
    But, there’s still a month to go, and as RoboRob says, “I guess we will see.”
    
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    October 6, 2026 2:06pm
    - Isobar
      
      It will be a catastophic own goal for the vote splitting movement if this became true.
      
      This is the nightmare scenario for National. Losing a bunch of electorates AND a low party vote because voters have been told to vote elsewhere.
      
      If this happens, it is a potentially extinction level event for the Nats.
      
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      October 6, 2026 2:52pm
      - Steve Todd
        
        Yep. In fact, an own goal.
        
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        October 6, 2026 6:51pm
      - keepcalmcarryon
        
        Yes please.
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:38pm
Philview

Per some reports the US has withdrawn completely from RAF Fairford in the UK. The bombers have left, families evacuated and all ground personnel removed. It has been played down but it seems like a very serious concern over safety in the UK.
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October 6, 2026 9:01am
- kowtow
  
  No this is front page news in the UK media.
  
  The UK is no longer safe for US military assets , for British Jews or indeed for business and private property rights.
  
  Netanyahu made the point that on the same day Israel intelligence tipped off the UK authorities about an Iranian threat , they had some sanctions imposed against them.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:03am
- RoboRob
  
  Apparently done with some urgency, the planes were taking off before the UK had finished organising the refuelling planes.
  
  I note there are reports some of the released supposed terrorists have fled the country. Strange they would be allowed to do so. Something very unusual is going on here. Whilst if could be a Trump beat up, actually moving military assets implies there could be more too it.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:16am
  - MCōs
    
    “Whilst if could be a Trump beat up”
    Never!!
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:28am
  - kowtow
    
    ‘have fled the country’
    
    Impossible!
    When bailed the authorities said they were on very strict conditions.
    
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    October 6, 2026 2:24pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    It must be something very serious to spook the US into a total withdrawal.
    
    Perhaps the US have read the writing on the wall that the UK has been intentionally flooded by a Muslim guerilla force and that the UK Government are encouraging it.
    
    It looks like the fuse is lit and there will soon be widespread terrorism across the UK. Just a few bomb scares and a few shootings will paralyse the country.
    
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    October 6, 2026 2:39pm
  - Ghost
    
    haven’t seen any reports of them fleeing, but as for withdrawing, there will be more than this to it. Russia have declared the UK is a legitimate target and listed bases and factories. Iran have said which bases in the UK are now legitimate targets. The base was used as a fallback for the B-1B when their middle east bases were destroyed.
    
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    October 6, 2026 2:45pm
- pb
  
  It appears US staged the whole thing. They paid a few unemployed immigrants to stir up a bombing plot. The UK arrested them and released them same day. Rubio was aghast, and decided to withdraw the entire bombing fleet from England? Weak hands. They wanted to move the bombers out, and came up with a pathetic pretense. America has 24 military bases in the UK. Sounds like an occupied country.
  
  What did Trump mean when he said he will “annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly” ?
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:19pm
Ian

https://www.odt.co.nz/canterbury/christchurch/activist-john-minto-challenges-cost-of-sodastream-sticker-damage-kr8rvxna

So Minto causes material damage, not just standing somewhere with protest cards or whatever. Says he’s prepared to go to court, which he says will cost taxpayers thousands – judge somewhat agrees with him about the justification of spending all that money. So now see what other things he and other activists think they can get away with. In reality, his putting protest stickers on products instore is a bit childless.
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October 6, 2026 9:04am
- zulumonster
  
  We can only hope he is childless ….
  
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  October 6, 2026 2:38pm
- AitchW
  
  Jesus Christ these Hamas huggers get away with murder. I’d love to see this go to court and the judge award costs against Minto to cover the cost of the trial.
  He should warn him pretrial that if found guilty he will be liable for all those thousand of dollars.
  God save us from woke judges.
  
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  October 6, 2026 6:03pm
- rouppe
  
  Putting protest stickers on the products also makes them unable to be sold as new, undamaged goods.
  
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  October 6, 2026 6:26pm
Yvette

RNZ-Reid Research poll: National crashes, Greens surge, Opportunity kingmaker
National has plunged below 26 percent in a new RNZ-Reid Research poll, while the Greens have surged about a month out from voting day.

“Crashes” and “plunged below 26 percent”

Christopher Luxon’s National Party has fallen 3.2 percentage points since August, registering just 25.9 percent, its weakest result since the 2020 election.
________________
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/politics_election-2026/1749693/rnz-reid-research-poll-national-crashes-greens-surge-opportunity-kingmaker
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October 6, 2026 9:12am
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  Polls seem to vary so wildly that I tend not to take them too seriously anymore. I would suggest Reid had misrepresented group of pollsters.
  
  The media have given TOP so much free publicity this year, I can’t think of an unelected party that has had so much media support. My suspicion is they will still be below 5% on the night ie a wasted vote for their supporters.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:56am
RichardF

I’m in the Gold Coast and my Uber driver complained about the price of petrol rising $0.30 since early September….to a lofty $2.28 – $2.35 per liter of 91. The petrol stations vary by just a few cents here. In NZ there’s large variations between brands and locations. I told him we just hit $3.50 average in NZ. “How do you live there” he asked..

Labour are saying what kiwis want to hear; they’ll deal to the fuel companies. I don’t really believe them.

I also enjoyed paying $2.99 for a rock melon at a green grocer. They were $12.99 at my local New World before I left.

I don’t think Labour and their mates can fix the structural problems in our country but you can see why they’re surging in the polls as kiwis feel like they’re getting fleeced everytime they step outside.
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October 6, 2026 9:14am
- RoboRob
  
  The Aussie dollar is worth much more then the NZD so if you factor that in the gap in fuel price isn’t quite as large. Additionally AU has always had much cheaper fuel, they dont tax the shit out of it like we do. FWIW Australia supposedly has the second lowest fuel reserves in the world (after England), so chances of an actual fuel shortage are more real there.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:19am
  - greybeard
    
    They also grow a hell of a lot more rock melons than we do – thousands of tons per year!
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:26am
- MCōs
  
  The price of petrol isn’t the issue so much as the increase over what it used to be
  Petrol in the US is about $NZ2/litre, which is enough to bring down the government because that’s a huge increase over previous levels.
  Here we used to pay $2 and it was built into our regular household budget and people thought nothing of it.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:47am
- rouppe
  
  Here in Thailand fresh chicken breast is $4.50 a kilo instead of about $16, eggs are about 32c each instead of 70-80c
  
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  October 6, 2026 6:31pm
RoboRob

Nationals new roading policies would normally be vote winners. Unfortunately National have burned the trust they used to have. The Mill road was recently put on hold by Bishop and described as more ‘asperational’ then a promise. Now less then 3mths after being put on hold, it is a firm election promise again.

The same is true on finance, I header Hipkins this morning and his promises sounded good, he sounded like they were properly planned. Now I know not to trust him based on his past so I disregard him. Unfortunately Willis has moved National from a position of implicit trust, if National says they will do it they will at least attempt it, to one of mistrust.

I heard Willis on a podcast with Duncan Garner yesterday. She sounded good, the best I have heard her. However when talking about public sector cuts she let the cat out of the bag. She said cuts would be made by attrition and reduced hiring for new projects. Sorry thats NOT what they are promising, they have been talking department restructures and MAJOR staff reductions. Clearly that isn’t really what is planned, in the same way as the big reductions promised last term didn’t happen.

This is Nationals real electoral problem, they have lost the trust of voters and their promises fall on deaf ears.
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October 6, 2026 9:18am
- Isobar
  
  The Woodend bypass has been promised and canclled so many times, no one believes it will happen.
  
  The current price put out by bishop ($72mil per KM) is outrageous when we have a deficit to deal with. $72 per mm!!
  
  Again it shows the party is completely out of touch.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:27am
  - RoboRob
    
    I thought it was already confirmed and happening. I actually thought they had ‘turned soil’ on it!
    
    $72m per KM is crazy talk. Tell Fulton Hogan or whoever it is, to fuck off we will get some overseas crew in. I image the $ per KM would rapidly reduce if there was a threat of losing the job.
    
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    October 6, 2026 11:23am
- septic skeptic
  
  They need to get out of Wellington a bit more. Redundant civil servants out looking for jobs in the private sector doesn’t faze us in other cities or rural areas. Sure, it will go down like a cup of cold sick in the Wellington beltway bubble.
  
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  October 6, 2026 10:20am
  - MCōs
    
    There is another side to the coin.
    Unbelievable as it may seem to some people public servants actually perform a function and can’t just be let go without consequences
    Periodically governments have attempted to save money by putting the mower through the ranks as a populist solution with mixed results
    
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    October 6, 2026 12:11pm
    - KKNZ2025
      
      Labour increased public service staff by 18000/40% 2017-2023, with no significant improvement in public services. They were stacking the “long march through the institutions”
      
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      October 6, 2026 12:30pm
      - keepcalmcarryon
        
        Yes Labour proved beyond all doubt that increasing the public service is worse for NZ, how can anyone argue differently?
        
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        October 6, 2026 10:48pm
    - septic skeptic
      
      Of course there are plenty of civil servants doing useful jobs. Are you saying that applies to all of them???
      
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      October 6, 2026 12:35pm
      - Quail
        
        SS,
        Useful is one thing — necessary another!
        
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        October 6, 2026 2:07pm
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  I think National needs to change its campaign strategy to actually talk about the things they have done and will do to keep NZ improving.
  
  I don’t think “No New Taxes” is a bad idea but it can’t be the only thing they campaign on. It isn’t good for the chances of a centre right government if National campaign poorly. Kiwibloggers what ideas do you have for them to campaign on? Here are some of mine
  
  1. Education – no distractions in the classroom
  2. Crime – a safer place to live
  3. Economy – reduced bureaucracy
  4. Health – better response times
  5. Roading – keeping kiwis moving
  6. Society – we focus on togetherness not division
  
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  October 6, 2026 2:09pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Nationals vision for the future and how they plan to get there.
    
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    October 6, 2026 2:41pm
Damocles11

Too many Wellington belt-way apparatchiks amongst National’s top ministers, too wet and looking after their own back-yard. Had they gone ‘hard and early’ on some genuine cost cutting and real public sector head-count cuts then the whole situation would be miles better by now. Go hard, go early, let the MSM fling dung at you all they like, let the unions and PSA go absolutely berserk: by year 3 you’ll be seeing the rewards. Any good gardener knows that you prune hard, and the new growth will sprout.
‘Duh, we don’t try to do much on the policy front, just manage better than Labour….you’ll never get anywhere with that maori stuff.’
You cannot do politics without having some rock solid ideological convictions and some steel which it comes to bulwarking our constitutional arrangements against attack. National are severely lacking in these departments.
Lazy, complacent, weak, wet.
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October 6, 2026 9:45am
nathie

Wonder who the Labour Party geniuses are who devised their “attack ad” being played on the radio?

It features the voices of people complaining about eg the cost of living, then finishes off with a call to vote Labour …. umm the very party that created the cost of living pressures in the first place with their tax and high spending programmes, which fueled inflation and high interest rates during their last term!

More tax and spending and higher living costs Begins Now – brought to you by Labour!
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October 6, 2026 9:56am
- kowtow
  
  I don’t know , a sizeable block of voters seem to think that re electing the idiots who created the economic mire we’re in is the answer to fixing same.
  
  There’s an awful lot of emotional and short term thinking going on.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:08am
- Damocles11
  
  Their voters believe National caused the cost of living crisis. They also believe governments have all sorts of direct powers over the economy that they really don’t have. The best thing we could have done was slash corporate tax rates years ago to encourage business investment here. Do ‘a Singapore’ and reap the benefits. It’s the sort of thing Key could have done when National had the wind in their sails and the public in the palm of their hand, but the opportunity was squandered through sheer laziness and lack of intelligence. ‘We just aim to be better managers than Labour.’
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:54am
Colville

Did anything come of Farrar calling out the Herald for their bullshit manipulated “poll of polls”??

Was there a response?
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October 6, 2026 10:52am
- kowtow
  
  Never had a chance.
  
  Not in our current media environment , where getting TOP across the line is their No 1 priority.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:11am
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  But, but, but… “their truth” is surely just as valid as facts-based truth.
  
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  October 6, 2026 4:01pm
imalwaysright

The British Government can’t seem to stop the Muslim landing craft on their southern shores, but they certainly know how to deploy an army of Police, Ambulance, transport, and Social Services, in order to accommodate the invaders.

Meanwhile the Police are demanding identification from local residents who have the temerity to gather on their own streets out of concern.

https://youtu.be/9Fv-1kiOcUI?si=HBJMEwZLNFFNsohx

(Long advertisement in the middle, jump to second half to see the scale of the deployment)
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October 6, 2026 10:59am
Damocles11

Remember John Key and “explaining is losing?” Just more laziness. You get people with no grounding in the detail and they become empty hype merchants. It economic bad times, that doesn’t play well with voters.
Key is placed on a pedestal by the National ‘brains trust’ but he had one thing Luxon hasn’t had: the post-GFC environment of ultra-low interest rates which created a property market boom and the so-called ‘Rockstar Economy’. The National insiders have never been able to seperate the man from his myth.
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October 6, 2026 11:42am
Yvette

Small technicality:
Muriel Newman –
The Waitangi Tribunal was established as a permanent commission of inquiry to investigate contemporary claims that the Crown had breached the Treaty.
https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/muriel-newman-the-battle-over-the-waitangi-tribunal

The Tribunal did not start hearing historic claims until a decade after it was set-up.
The criticism now is that is reverting to it original function, which seems to be an error Muriel Newman makes.

But that is a diversion from what seems a much greater fault:

Catch 22
By reframing history through these invented principles, everything the Government had done since 1840 as New Zealand’s sovereign authority was able to be reinterpreted as a Treaty breach requiring massive financial redress.

The principles were also largely developed by the Tribunal, the courts and the Crown rather than being written into the Treaty. …

That is like trying to play chess against the person who made up the rules – and continues to do so.

LOTTO is also another State-established game of chance
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October 6, 2026 11:49am
MCōs

Every day I turn on the radio and there’s another multiple homicide.
What happened to tough on crime
9 2
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October 6, 2026 12:43pm
- kowtow
  
  Are you in favour of the death penalty?
  
  4 4
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  October 6, 2026 12:46pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Yes, for pedos, child abusers, and child murderers.
    
    1 2
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    October 6, 2026 2:48pm
- Ghost
  
  every government since 2002 has been weak on crime, and until they deal to the sentencing act they are liars if they claim any different
  
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  October 6, 2026 1:01pm
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    100%: Sentencing is the foundation of any justice system.
    While sentencing is constrained by the Sentencing Act it will be ineffective – as will anything feeding into it: corrections, the judiciary, police…
    
    11 0
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    October 6, 2026 1:30pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  it’s the judges that need a rocket up them. They keep letting them out. Home D etc.
  
  9 2
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  October 6, 2026 1:16pm
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    No, it is the MPs that need a rocket up them – by way of the voters.
    
    The Sentencing Act 2002 is a product of parliament. It is 24 years old. That means 24 years worth of MPs of all stripes have been broadly OK with what it says – otherwise they would have patched it.
    
    Now don’t go blame Helen Clark just because it was a 2002 Act. All Acts can be modified or replaced by future parliaments. That means all governments since then generally gives it the thumbs up.
    
    Certainly the dudges might use the Sentencing Act to its fullest, but they are only doing what they are allowed to do. If the MPs have a problem with that (which they clearly do not), they can fix the Act.
    
    6 0
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    October 6, 2026 2:58pm
  - Ghost
    
    Here is the law, as passed by parliament that judges have to follow
    
    (g) must impose the least restrictive outcome that is appropriate in the circumstances, in accordance with the hierarchy of sentences and orders set out in section 10A; and
    
    (h) must take into account any particular circumstances of the offender that mean that a sentence or other means of dealing with the offender that would otherwise be appropriate would, in the particular instance, be disproportionately severe; and
    
    (i) must take into account the offender’s personal, family, whanau, community, and cultural background in imposing a sentence or other means of dealing with the offender with a partly or wholly rehabilitative purpose; and
    
    (j) must take into account any outcomes of restorative justice processes that have occurred, or that the court is satisfied are likely to occur, in relation to the particular case (including, without limitation, anything referred to in
    
    https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2002/9/en/latest/#DLM135342
    
    3 0
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    October 6, 2026 3:06pm
    - cmm (semi-retired edition)
      
      Yup, with that guidance it is surprising anyone ends up in prison and they aren’t just given a massage and some KFC vouchers and a limousine ride home.
      
      5 0
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      October 6, 2026 3:36pm
- Taieri
  
  How being “tough on crime” can prevent multiple homicides? Deterrent don’t work when the perpetrator loses his/her marbles on goes on a rampage.
  
  5 0
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  October 6, 2026 1:24pm
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    “Deterrent don’t work when the perpetrator loses his/her marbles on goes on a rampage.”
    
    Well, first off, in most cases the large offenders were first lesser offenders. Locking people up earlier prevents them from progressing.
    
    Secondly, no system is ever going to be perfect. Yes, some will still go on the rampage. But the number will be reduced. Don’t let the quest for perfection get in the way of improvement.
    
    Thirdly, if the consequences are serious (eg. the death penalty or life means life), then the message gets through most of the time – even for those that have lost their marbles.
    
    9 1
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    October 6, 2026 3:01pm
  - KKNZ2025
    
    Capital punishment stops repeat offending dead.
    
    1 0
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    October 6, 2026 3:08pm
    - Colville
      
      Keeping them in a small box is cheaper and also works.
      
      0 0
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      October 6, 2026 7:26pm
      - Colville
        
        I have to say if I was inclined to do something heinous.. The idea of 23 3/4 a day in solitary for the rest of my life is far far more terrifying than a bullet.
        
        0 0
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        October 6, 2026 7:38pm
  - MCōs
    
    Maybe so, but the Nats certainly didn’t make that allowance when they got stuck into the Labour three short years ago.
    
    1 2
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    October 6, 2026 3:10pm
- kowtow
  
  ‘What happened to tough on crime’
  
  What happened to New Zealand.
  
  7 1
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  October 6, 2026 2:21pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

There’s a lot of downers for National, this time round. But, Labour are not doing any better.

Leaving aside the personalities and policies, I think we’re entering a new paradigm in terms of how voters manage their options. It seems to me that the days of 40%+ for the major parties are gone. It’s been a trend for several elections, with only the Covid election being off trend.

I think we’re coming to an era where a major party will see the high twenties as about as good as it gets, then there’ll be the secondary parties (Greens, maybe ACT or NZ First depending on what emerges post-Winston), and then there will be the true minority parties.

That being the case, the route to relevance for both National and Labour will not come via trying to be all things to all people. It will rather be about establishing an identity, backed by a clear vision and principles.

Along with that will need to emerge solid relationships with like-ish parties. As others have commented here, it would be good to see coalitions of parties campaigning together. They should identify the policies they have in common and present these to the electorate. At the same time, they can agree to disagree on other policies, with the understanding that some but not all of these may make on to the agenda depending on the relative strengths of each party post election.
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October 6, 2026 1:11pm
Bobba Fret

Did anyone hear on Newwstalk ZB yesterday, Barry Soper rcckons Barbara Edmonds is the likely next leader of the Labour party after Chippy (not McNulty).
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October 6, 2026 1:20pm
- nova
  
  Carmel Sepuloni has been very quiet lately. I think Soper might be right. McAnulty would be a terrible choice, unless of course arrogance and narcissism were the main traits that Labour were looking for in their leader.
  
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  October 6, 2026 5:34pm
- AitchW
  
  I can believe it. McAnulty may be too hard left even for Labour. And he’s got a face you just want to punch!
  
  2 1
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  October 6, 2026 5:55pm
  - Colville
    
    Him and Hipkins both.
    Both small and smarmy.
    
    1 0
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    October 6, 2026 7:39pm
cmm (semi-retired edition)

Entitled “movie star” arsewipe gets drunk, crashes at high speed causing serious injuries to others (insert allegedly to taste).

“I am deeply saddened by this incident. My thoughts are with those who were hurt, and their families at this time,” he said.

Come on dude. Man up. Accept you had some agency in this. Apologise.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hollywood-star-cliff-curtis-charged-over-waterfront-crash/RLRMINT7Y5HCLI3SJ5TVIAIC6I/
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October 6, 2026 1:28pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  And, of course, (drunk) driving a super sized and overweight narcissistic a-hole tank making the injuries for other road users much worse than they otherwise would be. Yeah, he really cares about the victims.
  
  https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/hollywood-star-cliff-curtis-to-appear-in-court-over-waterfront-crash/
  
  9 2
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  October 6, 2026 1:40pm
  - RoboRob
    
    ‘ driving a super sized and overweight narcissistic a-hole tank’
    
    I thought you were talking about a Dodge RAM or Ford Everist Titanium. You know the penis extensions for middle aged men. Was disappointed when all it was was a tesla.
    
    * I prepare for even more then usual down ticks from the oversized ute driving class 🙂
    
    9 0
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    October 6, 2026 2:46pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      It was the tank sized version Tesla. The batteries make them very heavy. Get T-boned by one of these oversized wank wagons in an ordinary car and you are probably going to have a broken neck or die.
      
      I drive a lot. People who drive “cars” like this overwhelmingly drive like absolute f-wits. The double cab utes are mostly driven by arrogant thicko boof-heads with very low impulse control and the SUVs are driven mostly by arrogant jerks who think everyone should bow down to them on the road.
      
      1 1
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      October 6, 2026 3:14pm
    - mike
      
      Is it just the utes that are oversized, or the drivers too?
      
      2 5
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      October 6, 2026 3:43pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Oversized egos. Undersized concern for the safety and well-being of other human beings using the roads.
        
        1 0
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        October 6, 2026 5:33pm
      - Colville
        
        I have a 150ish kg mate.
        He drives a Ram because he fits in it.
        
        Call him fat and you would regret it.
        
        1 1
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        October 6, 2026 8:23pm
      - Hugh Jarse
        
        Drive a Hillman Imp do you Mike ?
        
        0 1
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        October 6, 2026 8:52pm
    - AitchW
      
      Everest is a soccer mum’s car.
      
      2 0
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      October 6, 2026 5:54pm
      - Colville
        
        And a piece of shit.
        
        0 0
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        October 6, 2026 7:39pm
mike

Seen in the wild:
So, Trump dies and is buried at Mar a Lago. A man in New York goes to La Guardia airport and tells the ticket agent, “I want to piss on Donald Trump’s grave.” The agent says “yes sir” and prints him a ticket to Los Angeles. “Why LA?” The man asks, “he’s buried in Florida.” “Yes,” the agent tells him. “LA is where the back of the line is.”
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October 6, 2026 3:40pm
cmm (semi-retired edition)

The disgraced Soldier With No Name has now been named as Jack Captein.

It seems he was in the NZDF for at least 5 years before his arrest – as a private.

Maybe someone here can clarify: Wouldn’t being a private after 5 years be a huge red flag?

My experience is with the South African Army. After 2 years the majority of the people I worked with would be at least a Lance Corporal, though some would maybe take up to 3 years of service to get there.

If someone had 5 years of service and was still a Private that would indicate a person that is severely mentally stunted or had massive discipline issues. Kinda the sort of person who doesn’t last in the army.

What’s the case in NZ?

(I can understand that he might have been stripped of rank while in confinement, but everything I have read indicates that he never had any rank to start with).

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/jack-captein-named-as-former-nz-army-soldier-in-attempted-espionage-case/K34HJ5B7CBHYDJDV4XKPGDKBOQ/
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October 6, 2026 3:59pm
- kowtow
  
  They had to keep him in the ranks .
  
  Had he been promoted he could have become Captain Ceptein .
  
  We couldn’t have our military being like Catch 22 or could we…….
  
  6 1
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  October 6, 2026 4:29pm
- Sane Voice
  
  Your assessment of time to promotion is spot on.
  
  Maybe after 5 years and no advancement he had a bit of a chip on his shoulder.
  
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  October 6, 2026 8:43pm
Simon Arnold

Bob Edlin gives us a quick run down on nightsoil and the Stuff it has now become in a very droll piece, worth a read. https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2026/10/06/stuff-columnist-kindles-memories-of-the-dunny-mans-crucial-work-when-he-confesses-to-not-knowing-of-nightsoil/
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October 6, 2026 4:05pm
cmm (semi-retired edition)

Yet another company smacks the rocks owing over $2 million.

A substantial part of that is to the IRD.

“The sole director reported that persistent low sales levels left the business unable to meet its financial obligations to banks, landlords, staff, and the Inland Revenue ”

Errr, not true. Sure you might need to go into debt for operational expenses (leases, inventory, wages….) but that is not the case for PAYE and GST owing to the IRD. PAYE is deducted at the time of paying wages. GST is gathered at the time that customers buy stuff.

So the only way that you get into debt with the IRD (if you are not profitable) is if you dip into PAYE and GST for “cashflow”.

That should be prosecuted. If a company charges GST, then that has been charged to the customer to be passed on to the IRD. It is not supposed to be used as general purpose money. To re-direct money like that is surely fraudulent behaviour (even if it does not fit the legal threshold for a fraud conviction).

We just need a few directors to get a caning for these activities and most of the miscreants will step into line.

But as long as the IRD just rolls over, this sort of activity will just continue.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/companies/retail/lifestyle-furniture-liquidation-retailer-owes-creditors-more-than-2-million/premium/GP2XSGESSZELJP5DBWGFQZAH2E/
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October 6, 2026 5:42pm
- Ian Boag
  
  It’s not quite that simple. AFICT you have a simple one man band. Not too many worries about inventory, receivables, rent or payroll. Hardly a typical small business.
  
  Back in the day when I had all of these things to fret about .. sometimes the IRD was a reasonable source of short-term cash support. “Use of money interest” on outstanding provisional and stuff was quite reasonably priced and didn’t involve prostrating oneself before the bank manager. IRD just got all scratchy if not paid on the (later) due date.
  
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  October 6, 2026 5:59pm
philip7

Hi
It’s time for both National (and Labour) to realise that they are only good for 25% in the long haul. It nothing personal just reality. They need to embrace strategic voting as their brand is buggered.
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October 6, 2026 6:04pm
- Homeworker
  
  It is not just in NZ. The traditional major parties, apart from in the USA where they do not have any minor parties, are in the mid 20s in most Western democracies. There has to be a gap there for a party who speaks frankly about our economic problems and sticks to its policies.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:37pm
Colville

Watching debate.
I want to smash TV.
Luxon seems to be rational.
7 0
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October 6, 2026 7:40pm
- Southern Raider
  
  19 women and 1 male green looking voter standing in the camera shot behind Jack Tame
  
  Can see why the polls during the show are leaning 2/3 towards Hipkins
  
  9 1
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  October 6, 2026 7:51pm
  - Colville
    
    Yip. Luxon scoring points but the audience doesn’t want to hear facts.
    
    9 0
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    October 6, 2026 8:25pm
    - Southern Raider
      
      In the “expert” panel section they switched back to the studio and interviewed supposedly a National voter and an ACT voter who both had decided Hipkins won the debate and they were switching to Labour
      
      So in a total of 100 “undecided” voters in the studio TVNZ managed to find two right wing voters who both brought what Hipkins was saying? What a setup
      
      8 0
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      October 6, 2026 8:54pm
  - Hugh Jarse
    
    We trust biased TVNZ to get an unbiased audience, yeah right. Tame has performed poorly and hasn’t controlled the overtalking.
    
    Luxon talks facts, can’t recall a single number coming from Hipkins.
    
    4 0
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    October 6, 2026 8:28pm
rouppe

Well, that leaders debate wasn’t very inspiring.
6 0
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October 6, 2026 9:02pm
- Colville
  
  Luxon did better than I thought he would.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:04pm
Wayne1749

If NZ elects a shiftless loser like Hipkins to be our PM, it will be a complete and utter embarrassment.

Here is a gem of a policy from Hipkins:
Chris Hipkins appeared to announce that Labour “would remove the requirement for an hour a day of reading, writing and maths in schools, ……………..Similarly, teachers should be allowed to use their professional judgment.”

Sorry, we pay taxes to have an educated citizenry that can read, write, and do maths. Not for some teacher to user their ‘professional judgement’ to indoctrinate the kids with woke crap.

Of course the kids that suffer will be from lower decile schools. Kids from wealthy homes will get their reading, writing, and maths and science in spades either at school or via tuition.

But Hipkins does not care about that. Labour wants an aggrieved underclass as a constant to virtue signal forever over them and as a solid voting block.
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October 6, 2026 9:38pm
- Ghost
  
  I believe politicians should experience their portfolios. Once a year a week out amongst those they are responsible for, at minimum. Police Minister out with the police, etc. I often wonder how some of the education minsters would do if they were sent back to primary school to do the basics.
  
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  October 6, 2026 9:58pm
RW Capitalist

How many times did Hipkins say,” our plans are costed”
Some thoughts:
Just saying it does nothing Chris, show us
Under the best conditions, CGT will raise ZERO funds for at least 6years (post the bright line).
Massive spending promises
Gerry MacGuire said it

S H O W me the money.
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October 6, 2026 10:03pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  Hipkins doesn’t want to ban fireworks! Might be worth a vote lol personal freedoms eh.
  
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  October 6, 2026 11:19pm
slijmbal

The Herald has a voting opinion – who won the debate and Luxon murdered Hipkins 2 to 1.

Will that get mentioned anywhere? /sarc
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October 6, 2026 10:48pm

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