Tag: cost_of_living
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NZ Election Intelligence Update: 14 October 2026
The central uncertainty is increasingly not simply whether National or Labour finishes first, but how votes for the smaller parties translate into seats and viable governing arrangements.
Politics and GovernmentElectionGeneral PoliticsEconomySocial Issues NZ election 20261News-Verian pollNational PartyLabour PartyOpportunity PartyMMP thresholdcoalition negotiationscost of livingChristopher LuxonChris HipkinsQiulae WongACT PartyNZ FirstGreensTe Pāti Māorifiscal plansTVNZ multi-party debate
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Labour: Nearly One in Three NZ Households Still Struggle to Afford Food
Labour's Willow-Jean Prime says the 2026 Hunger Monitor shows almost a third of households can't afford food, blaming National's three years in government.
Politics and GovernmentEconomySocial IssuesElectionEmployment and Labor New Zealand Labour PartyWillow-Jean Prime2026 Hunger Monitorfood insecuritycost of livingChristopher LuxonNew Zealand election
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Labour Pledges Cheaper School Uniforms, Restored Lunches and Rural Bus Routes
ACT says Labour has backed its policy to cap compulsory branded uniform items at three and calls on all other parties to support it.
Politics and GovernmentEducationGeneral PoliticsOther PartiesLabour PartySocial IssuesElection ACT New ZealandLaura McClureschool uniformsLabourChris HipkinsWINZ hardship loanscost of livingNew Zealand Labour PartyGinny Andersenschool lunchesrural school busesback-to-school costs
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NZ First Pledges Annual Minimum Wage Rises and $120 Weekly Working for Families Boost
New Zealand First says it will lift the minimum wage every year for three years and make the $50 in-work tax credit permanent, adding $70 a week for a total of $120.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsOther PartiesEconomyEmployment and LaborElection New Zealand Firstminimum wageWorking for Familiesin-work tax creditcost of livingeconomic recoveryNZ First
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Labour Pushes Cost of Living Plan as National and ACT Accuse It of Rewriting History
Labour says a typical Auckland family with two children pays $6,302 more a year under National, while National says Labour's $18 billion of unfunded promises would cost households $2,263 a year in extra tax.
Politics and GovernmentEconomyOther PartiesLabour PartyElectionGeneral PoliticsFinancial MarketsSocial IssuesTransportationEmployment and LaborEnergyEducationAgricultureHealth David SeymourACT New Zealandcost of livinginflationReserve BankKiwiSaverSimeon BrownNew Zealand National PartyNew Zealand Labour PartyOfficial Cash RateFamilyBoostNZ National PartyKieran McAnultyChristopher LuxonNational Partyelection campaignAucklandprescription chargesChris HipkinsWinston Peterspublic transport faresCost of Living Action PlanMedicardfuel taxschool lunchesFederated Farmersrural school busesGreg Andersonfarmingfuel tax freeze
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Labour Accuses National of Hiding Fiscal Cut Plans
Labour Campaign Chair Kieran McAnulty says National won't reveal where its planned cuts will land, warning New Zealanders will pay the price when the numbers don't add up.
Politics and GovernmentEconomyElectionGeneral PoliticsState Governments New Zealand Labour PartyKieran McAnultyNicola WillisNew Zealand National Partycost of livingfiscal policygovernment spending cuts
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Hipkins Wins Undecided Panel 49-24 in First Leaders' Debate as Luxon Refuses to Reopen Opportunity Door
The 90-minute TVNZ debate covered the economy, health, tax, race, AI, climate and foreign policy, with Luxon declining repeated chances to say whether National would talk to Opportunity if it needed the party's support to govern.
Politics and GovernmentElectionGeneral PoliticsOther PartiesMediaWorldMiddle East Chris HipkinsChristopher LuxonTVNZ Leaders' Debate2026 electionNew Zealand politicsMMPOpportunity Party1News Verian pollcost of livinghealth policytax policyeducation policycrimerace relationsco-governanceartificial intelligenceclimate changeforeign policyGazaPalestinian statehoodJack Tame1News Leaders' DebateNew Zealand election 2026Gaza genocideIran strikesPalestinian statecoalition politicsTe Pati MaoriGreensundecided voters
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New Poll Puts Opportunity Party Below 5% MMP Threshold as National and Labour Stay Level
The Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll has National on 28.5% and Labour on 28.2%, with NZ First the largest mover at 12%, while Opportunity's 4.8% is its first reading below the threshold in six recent polls.
Politics and GovernmentElectionGeneral PoliticsOther PartiesEconomySocial IssuesEnvironmentMedia NZ Election 2026Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll1News-Verian pollOpportunity Party5% MMP thresholdNational PartyLabour PartyNew Zealand FirstGreensACTTe Pāti MāoriWaiarikiRawiri Waititicost of livingIpsos Issues Monitorpolling uncertaintyseat arithmeticoverhang seatsNew Zealand politicsOpinion polls5% thresholdChristopher LuxonChris HipkinsRNZ-Reid ResearchCoalition negotiationsTax policyClimate policyParis AgreementMill RoadACT PartyNZ FirstGreen Partypolling1News Verian pollRNZ Reid Research pollTe Pati MaoriMMP thresholdPoll Intelligenceelection 2026
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One News NZ Leaders' Debate 2026: Full Transcript — Part 1 of 7
luxon-hipkins-clash-cost-of-living-wages-economy-first-leaders-debate
Politics and GovernmentElectionGeneral PoliticsEconomyEmployment and Labor TVNZ Leaders Debate 2026Christopher LuxonChris HipkinsJack TameNational PartyLabour Partycost of livingwagespay equitysupermarketspetrol priceselection 2026full transcript
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Labour Pledges Cheaper Car Repairs and Fuel Price Crackdown for Kiwi Drivers
Labour promises right to repair, weekly fuel price reporting, a three-year fuel tax freeze and more competition at the pump ahead of the election.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsLabour PartyEconomyElectionEnergy New Zealand Labour PartyChris HipkinsArena Williamsfuel pricesright to repairCommerce Commissioncost of living
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Labour's McAnulty Challenges National: 'Show Us the Cuts'
Labour campaign chair Kieran McAnulty says National has made up numbers about Labour's finances while refusing to reveal its own fiscal plan 32 days out from the election.
Politics and GovernmentElectionEconomyGeneral PoliticsBanking New Zealand Labour PartyKieran McAnultyNew Zealand National PartyNicola WillisNew Zealand electioncost of livingfiscal plan
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Labour Pledges Pay Equity Law and $4/Hour Rise for Care Workers
Labour promises to restore pay equity legislation within 100 days and give 65,000 care and support workers a $4 an hour pay rise from 1 January 2027.
Politics and GovernmentEmployment and LaborElectionSocial IssuesEconomy New Zealand Labour PartyJan Tinettipay equitycare and support workersChristopher Luxoncost of living
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Labour Releases Costed Fiscal Plan With Free GP Visits, $20 Transport Fare Cap
Labour's Fiscal Plan promises three free GP visits a year, free prescriptions, a $20 weekly public transport fare cap and a three-year fuel tax freeze, all fully funded.
Politics and GovernmentEconomyElectionEmployment and LaborHealthSocial Issues Labour PartyFiscal PlanChristopher LuxonNational PartyCost of LivingPay Equity
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Labour Pledges 'Fair Go Law' to Ban Hidden Fees and Trap Subscriptions
New Zealand Labour promises a Fair Go Law to ban junk car insurance, checkout hard sells and unfair exit fees, requiring upfront pricing and easy subscription cancellation.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsLabour PartyEconomyElectionSocial Issues New Zealand Labour PartyChris HipkinsArena WilliamsFair Go Lawhidden feesConsumer Guarantees Actcost of living
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Hipkins Pledges Lobbying Register, Urgency Limits in Trust in Government Speech
Labour leader Chris Hipkins tells the Law Association he will introduce a mandatory lobbyists' register, restrict parliamentary urgency, modernise the Official Information Act and restore election-day enrolment to rebuild trust in government.
Politics and GovernmentGeneral PoliticsLabour PartyElectionEconomyArtificial IntelligenceLegal Chris HipkinsNew Zealand Labour PartyTrust in GovernmentLaw Associationlobbying registerOfficial Information Actcost of living
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Labour Pledges 'Fair Go Law' to Ban Hidden Fees and Subscription Traps
New Zealand Labour promises a Fair Go Law to ban junk car insurance, checkout hard sells, hidden ticket fees and hard-to-cancel subscriptions, saying families are being ripped off by costs they never saw coming.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsLabour PartyEconomyElectionSocial Issues New Zealand Labour PartyChris HipkinsArena WilliamsFair Go Lawhidden feesConsumer Guarantees Actcost of living
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Labour Unveils Cost of Living Plan: Free GP Visits, Fare Caps and Fuel Tax Freeze
New Zealand Labour, led by Chris Hipkins, promises three free GP visits a year, free prescriptions from 2027, capped public transport fares and a three-year fuel tax freeze.
Politics and GovernmentEconomyElectionHealthEnergyTransportationSocial Issues New Zealand Labour PartyChris Hipkinscost of livingMedicardpublic transport faresfuel taxSolarSaver
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Labour's Barbara Edmonds Says National Can't Rewrite Three Years of Economic Failure
Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says New Zealanders are worse off after three years of National, warning of more cuts, higher unemployment and weaker growth if re-elected.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsLabour PartyNational PartyEconomyElectionEmployment and Labor New Zealand Labour PartyBarbara EdmondsChristopher LuxonNew Zealand economycost of living
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Hipkins Launches Labour Campaign With Cost of Living Pitch, Student Debt Cut
Labour leader Chris Hipkins launches the 2026 campaign promising three free GP visits a year, a capital gains tax on investment property and a 10 percent student loan cut.
Politics and GovernmentElectionEconomyHealthSocial IssuesEmployment and Labor Chris HipkinsNew Zealand Labour Party2026 New Zealand electioncost of livingcapital gains taxstudent loanChristopher Luxon
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Labour Accuses Luxon of Hiding as Campaign Enters Day Two
Labour campaign chair Kieran McAnulty says Christopher Luxon has been out of sight for two days, citing coalition disputes, supermarket and LNG criticism, and education ministry questions.
Politics and GovernmentElectionGeneral PoliticsLabour PartyNational PartyEducation New Zealand Labour PartyChristopher LuxonKieran McAnultyNew Zealand electioncost of livingMinistry of Education
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Historic Merger Data Undercuts Supermarket Breakup Push, Seymour Says
ACT leader David Seymour says RNZ-reported data shows New Zealand food prices tracked Australia and OECD averages since the 1990s, undermining the case for breaking up supermarkets.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessEconomyElectionTradeSocial Issues David SeymourACT New Zealandsupermarket mergergrocery sectorNew Zealand food pricesMBIEcost of living
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Labour Pledges Immediate Action to Cut Grocery Prices
Labour says it will force Woolworths and Foodstuffs to split wholesale from retail, void anti-competitive restraints on small grocers and ban junk supplier fees to bring down checkout prices.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsLabour PartyEconomyElectionTrade New Zealand Labour PartyChris HipkinsArena Williamsgrocery pricesWoolworthsFoodstuffscost of living
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Labour: Food Prices Rise Under National, Mince Up 36 Percent
Labour's Barbara Edmonds says food prices have risen again under National, with mince up 36 percent, bread 66 percent and butter 72 percent, and sets out Labour's affordability plan.
Politics and GovernmentEconomyElectionGeneral PoliticsSocial Issues New Zealand Labour PartyBarbara Edmondsfood pricescost of livingChristopher LuxonNational PartySolarSaver
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Labour Says National's Cuts Have Left New Zealanders Poorer
Labour's Barbara Edmonds says real GDP has fallen to $53,375 per person under National, blaming cuts, cancelled projects and 20,000 lost construction jobs ahead of the election.
Politics and GovernmentEconomyElectionEmployment and LaborGeneral Politics New Zealand Labour PartyBarbara EdmondsNational PartyNicola Willisreal GDP per personcost of livingconstruction jobs
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Supermarket competition takes centre stage as parties clash over break-ups and price gouging
Supermarket showdown: Greens, National, Labour, NZ First and ACT go to war over grocery prices
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsOther PartiesEconomyElectionSocial Issues supermarket competitionNew Zealand election 2026grocery pricesGreen PartyKiwiMartNational PartyNicola WillisFoodstuffsstructural separationLabour PartyChris Hipkinsprice gougingArena WilliamsACT PartyDavid SeymourNew Zealand FirstWinston PetersCommerce CommissionStats NZcost of livingRestonVirginiaFairfax County
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Labour Pledges to Make Price Gouging Illegal for Big Companies
New Zealand Labour promises a legal test for excessive pricing on essentials, Commerce Commission investigation powers, and penalties forcing gouging firms to hand back excess profits.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsEconomyElectionSocial IssuesLegal New Zealand Labour Partyprice gougingChris HipkinsArena WilliamsCommerce Commissioncost of livingessential goods
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Labour Pledges $20 Weekly Public Transport Fare Cap for Auckland
Labour's Tangi Utikere says Auckland commuters would pay no more than $20 a week for public transport, saving an average of $25 weekly, as the City Rail Link opens.
Politics and GovernmentTransportationElectionGeneral PoliticsEconomySocial Issues New Zealand Labour PartyAucklandCity Rail LinkTangi Utikerepublic transport faresChristopher Luxoncost of living
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Wellington Council Responds to Moa Point Report, Quality of Life Survey Reveals Mixed Sentiments
Wellington City Council addresses a thorough Crown Review Team report on the Moa Point wastewater plant failure and acknowledges mixed resident feelings from the Quality of Life survey, noting high life quality but concerns about the city and cost of…
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsState GovernmentsEconomyReal EstateEnvironment WellingtonMoa PointWastewaterQuality of LifeCost of LivingAndrew LittleLocal GovernmentWellington City Council
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NZ Parliament Grills Ministers on Cost of Living, Economy, and Climate Progress
New Zealand ministers addressed Parliament on July 23, 2026, debating the cost of living, economic growth, climate targets, and housing affordability, alongside education and social welfare reforms.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessGeneral PoliticsEconomyEmployment and LaborEducationEnvironmentSocial Issues New Zealand ParliamentCost of LivingEconomic PolicyClimate ChangeHousing MarketEducation ReformSocial Welfare
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Green Party Blames Fossil Fuels for Surging Inflation, Criticizes Government Response
New Zealand's inflation hits 4.1%, driven by fossil fuel prices, says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. She criticizes the government's approach and calls for rapid decarbonization to ease cost of living pressures.
Politics and GovernmentBusinessScience & TechnologyConflictGeneral PoliticsEconomyEnvironmentClimate ChangeEnergyMiddle East InflationFossil FuelsGreen PartyChlöe SwarbrickCost of LivingDecarbonizationElection