In Brief

In Brief

What the government's conservation U-turn really means

The government is backing down on the most controversial part of its proposed conservation reforms. But New Zealand's conservation estate remains under threat, conservation advocate Bianca Ranson says. Last month, the government's Conservation Amendment Bill passed its first reading, heralding what ministers described as the biggest

In Brief

The $129 billion question: unpacking the extraordinary new Rich List

New Zealand's richest now hold wealth equivalent to almost a third of the country's annual economic output. What does that tell us about how our economy works? The release of the latest edition of The National Business Review's annual Rich List this week has

In Brief

"Labour is reckoning with that history": Max Harris on Rogernomics, flipping Tāmaki, and the election

Max Harris is one of New Zealand's leading progressive thinkers. Now he's running for Parliament – for the Labour Party. Is that a sign Labour is changing? This week Labour released its candidate list for the 2026 election, and among the new names, perhaps one stood out

In Brief

“A landmark scandal”: what the climate lobbying story reveals about power in New Zealand

What began as a story about the government's climate policy has turned into something much bigger: a story about corporate lobbying, access to political power, and now allegations of a cover-up. Political commentator Bryce Edwards believes it could also change how New Zealand thinks about its democracy.

In Brief

Budget 2026: fiscal responsibility or managed decline?

The government says Budget 2026 is about fiscal responsibility. Economist Tayla Forward says its fixation on debt and surplus risks deepening New Zealand's economic woes. The government's 2026 Budget has been sold as a lesson in restraint. Branded a "no sugar hits" Budget, Finance

In Brief

“An upward transfer of wealth”: inside the fight over outsourcing in Wellington

As rates rise and infrastructure crumbles, Unions Wellington is calling for council services to be brought back in-house — arguing outsourcing has failed both workers and ratepayers. So, can the privatisation of local government be reversed in the capital? Local councils in New Zealand are trapped in an impossible position.

In Brief

Free fees are gone – but the bigger story is the crisis in tertiary education

The free fees scheme for tertiary students never went far enough, and its demise highlights chronic issues of underfunding for universities and polytechs, says Tertiary Education Union president. The coalition Government’s decision to scrap the fees-free tertiary education scheme has ignited debate about student debt, access to university,