Elections

There was a distinctive youth element that came out of the Leader’s Debate in Invercargill last night, with an almost even balance of male/female candidates as well. Between them they covered a broad cross-section of New Zealand issues involving health, Maori, Climate, business and farming. There wa

From a one man band to potentially bringing eight other MPs back to Parliament with him, ACT’s David Seymour has been performing out of his skin. The stars have aligned for the party that’s battled through successive leaders and scandals, to now be polling as the third largest party behind National.

National would bring in a zero suicides strategy and install New Zealand’s first minister for mental health if elected. The party’s health spokesperson Shane Reti and mental health spokesperson Matt Doocey announced the party’s mental health strategy in Christchurch this morning. With $179m of addit

Labour would negotiate to extend the life of the Tiwai Point Aluminium smelter by three to five years if elected, it says. Party leader Jacinda Ardern and energy spokesperson Megan Woods announced the plan today, with negotiations focused on establishing a fair price for the transmission costs paid

Legalising of recreational cannabis could increase health and safety risks for the primary sector, say wary employers. The sector already has one of the highest workplace accident and death rates in the country, and leaders say it could be another risk if the referendum gets support on 17 October. C

ACT leader David Seymour was in Invercargill on Sunday evening along with ACT Rural spokesperson Mark Cameron and ACT’s firearms spokeswoman Nicole McKee. All three spoke at a meeting on Sunday evening and released a number of policies including climate change, water, and forestry in Southland today

National says it will double the size of the tech sector in 10 years, if elected, with a $1.29 billion plan that aims to create at least 100,000 new jobs. Among the party’s aims in its Tech 2030 plan is the ambition to develop “the world’s most tech-friendly regulation”. National wants to increase t

A good ol’ fashioned town hall pre-election meeting. One way to describe Friday’s gathering at the Invercargill WorkingMen’s Club with the Right Hon. Winston Peters. The meeting attracted good numbers, in fact very good numbers considering it was a work day and the weather hardly favourable. The lea