General Debate 07 October 2026

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General Debate

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Cassandra

Who won the debate? The media all have Hipkins in front, sometimes only marginally, but still in front. Was I watching a different channel or do you see what you want to see?

I thought Hipkins looked unwell and was on the back foot most of the night. Luxon was on top of his brief, confident and prime ministerial.

Even Audrey Young had Hipkins way in front. Perhaps we’ll get Party Vote ACT after all?
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October 7, 2026 8:00am
KKNZ2025

Roy Morgan New Zealand Poll: In September National-led Government increases lead over Labour-led Parliamentary Opposition (52% vs. 41.5%)

“This is the largest lead (10.5%) for the National-led Government for two years since September 2024.”

https://www.roymorgan.com/findings/10351-nz-national-voting-intention-september-2026
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October 7, 2026 8:01am
Tomtoddy

The Leaders TV Debate – some random thoughts.

1. TV is primarily an entertainment medium. The basic idea of the debate, format, style and delivery is much more about creating a “show” or “performance” that will attract an audience who will pay their ‘license’ (through taxes) and that will satisfy advertisers than it is educational or instructional.

2. As such it focuses on the individual leaders “performance” rather than the content of their statements as it applies to the governing of the country. There is no evidence that a winning “performer” will necessarily provide sound government.

3. Gotcha or “yes”, “no” questions give substance to point one above and belittle the importance and seriousness of the subject matter. It is a demeaning stunt.

4. The “attacker” versus “defender” (who has to try and vindicate the last three years) will almost always favour the attacker such is the psychological balance. Attackers roam free. Defenders are confined.

5. Similarly, attackers can make extravagant promises and offers with fewer constraints because the defender is caught in the “why aren’t you already doing it” syndrome.

6. Someone called the “director” controls camera shots and therefore can determine which person, which expressions, which reactions get seen. It’s a narrow viewing not a whole room view.

“Independent experts” commentating is a joke. Again, simply a weird form of entertainment. The so-called debate winner is simply a person, more telegenic, who manages a better theatrical performance.

I am not a National supporter but I felt Luxon had more useful content about running the country wisely.
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October 7, 2026 8:01am
- Dougal10
  
  Because of all the above why would you even think about watching .
  
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  October 7, 2026 8:17am
NeverMindTheBollocks

Predictably, Wellington City Council are crying crocodile tears. Blaming the forthcoming rates cap, they’re saying that they’ll have to cut the subsidy to Te Papa, restrict the opening hours on galleries and libraries et al.

Not going ahead with the immensely unpopular and expensive buses switch to the Quays route seems to be off the cost saving agenda.

Or, as one wag remarked, simply dispensing with the services of a few of the Council execs paid more than the Mayor does not seem to have been considered.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regions_wellington/1756754/nasty-decisions-for-wellington-councillors-looking-to-find-60m-in-savings
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October 7, 2026 8:01am
NeverMindTheBollocks

In Yemen, children brave snipers and mortars on their way to school.

They are a living reproof to NZ kids who can’t be arsed to turn up to class.

http://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c670pzpv9gk4o
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October 7, 2026 8:02am
Yvette

Can over-hang become under-hung?
So if the Maori Party have miscalculated things and win perhaps only two electorate seats but have a party vote of 4 percent, they are likely to loose one seat because their party list has only 1 person on it?

In a standard 120-seat Parliament, securing 4% of the Party Vote entitles a party to approximately 5 total seats. The party first fills in its 2 electorate seats. To reach its 5-seat entitlement, the party needs 3 list candidates, but because their official Party List contains only 1 person (General Secretary, Lance Norman) he takes 1 list seat.
The party has zero candidates left on its Party List to claim the remaining 2 seats. So under Section 193 of the Electoral Act 1993, unfulfilled list seat entitlements cannot be allocated to other party members or transferred. Those 2 seats are permanently forfeited, reducing the party’s total caucus size to 3 MPs and shrinking the overall size of Parliament down to 118 seats.

Conclusion: with only one person on their Party List, is the Maori Party indicating their expectancy that their party vote will be about zilch?

“He that lives by the sword shall die by the sword” and all that stuff
Should voters not disappoint the Maori Party?
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October 7, 2026 8:18am
- MCōs
  
  Te Pāti Māori has never won 4% of the party vote and won’t this time
  They have had one list MP twice; otherwise all their seats have been electorate MPs
  Their best party vote showing was in 2023 when they won 3.08%, which resulted in a two seat overhang because they won six of the Maori seats.
  I don’t think this time they’ll be looking for a new General Secretary because despite all the trauma I still think they’ll win some seats at the election.
  Somebody has to win them!
  
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  October 7, 2026 8:49am

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