Chris Bishop has been left to clean up Simeon Brown's mess. My piece on the backdown today: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

NEW: Chris Bishop has unveiled the Govt's major backdown on the Roads of National Significance, with just six with guaranteed construction dates. Here's 2023 promises v now:

This is not the rate hike for Nicola Willis to worry about. But the next one could be: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

NEW: The Government is pursuing a VPN ban or restrictions as part of the U16 social media ban, according to multiple sources. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

NEW: NZ govt has been warned by China it will undertake a test firing of a missile in the South Pacific in the next 24 hours. The move comes just after Aus signed a new defence pact with Fiji. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

“There aren’t many five million people countries that have done a deal with a one and a half billion dollar country like India,” Luxon making a point he says the media aren’t getting on RNZ.

The new US Ambassador is far more Roman Roy than Kendall. That won’t be enough. Column today: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

From Wigram to Westminster: Hayden Munro, former Labour campaign manager and Megan Woods aide, is coordinating Andy Burnham’s campaign: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

The Govt has made decisions on tightening Indian immigration. But it is extremely worried about these being publicised ahead of the Modi visit. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Damning report from the Ombudsman PMO and the missing document in Smith v Fonterra. Finds that the chief policy advisor was personally consulted on the OIA decision but did not provide the briefing note. Ombudsman finds his lack of recollection "surprising": www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

A new review of Treasury finds it is failing in it role of providing big economy-wide advice, with interviewees complaining it doesn't have big ideas any more - or engage with the private sector over matters like health and transport: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

IRD officials pushed to get rid of the 'cumbersome' adjustments made when WFF recipients get non-work income. The Minister said no: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Can Chris Hipkins make jobs an election issue? Piece this AM: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

My first column in the Saturday morning slot: National made a big gamble with KiwiSaver this week. If it doesn’t work many in the party will conclude the phone is simply off the hook to Luxon. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Newsletter today on the rush to the centre 19 weeks out from the election www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Winston Peters says the new health and safety law will "create accidents and deaths” - but it isn't worth bringing the Government down over, which is what will happen if votes against it. www.thepost.co.nz/business/361...

Christopher Luxon has dismissed Opportunity after the party polled at 4.6%. Says he hasn't really given them any thought but a vote for them is a vote for Labour and the Greens: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Last night’s poll suggests the coalition has a problem, not just National www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Winston Peters says he told Cabinet yesterday Keir Starmer was a "goner". He says he's been around long enough to "tell when someone is in trouble". Says he wasn't surprised Labour won Makerfield because they brought in an "outsider".

Interested in how the Green Party's tax plan would impact you? I have another calculator! Most workers would get a cut, but some workers would get a much larger one thanks to the rejig of brackets across the board. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

NATIONAL TO CAMPAIGN ON MAKING KIWISAVER COMPULSORY: - Includes those who are self employed and over 65 - Will also include babies in the scheme with a $1500 boost - Only way out will be existing hardship test for withdrawals or similar defined contribution scheme www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Report from the National conference today: - Party prez says second place in the party vote is “not good enough” even if coalition returns - Party is missing membership goals - Nicola Willis big ups KiwiSaver policy success www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Some professional news: I'm the new political editor of The Post. I'm extremely excited to take on this role for the paper I grew up reading, and the new digital brand it is becoming. As ever please send me tips, feedback, story ideas - here or [email protected]

Clerk of the House David Wilson reveals that half of all the submissions received by Parliament in the last 30 years were received in this term of Parliament.

Is a public sector this bad at big complicated things really going to use AI to cut 10% of costs over the next two years successfully? Column this morning: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Labour will campaign on free maternity scans for all mothers www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

New poll day! www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

I had a big chat to the chief electoral officer about: - How they are preparing for the radically shortened enrolment period - Why they still think special votes are going up - Why the counting will still take the same as last time www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

NEW: Labour's first policy of 2026 is a public transport fare cap: - $20 for AKL, Wellington, Chch, - $10 for everywhere else www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

In my column today I decide exactly how much MPs should be paid www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

NEW: Labour has announced its list for the election with several first-time candidates rocketed well ahead of current caucus members - and the news that Greg O'Connor won't be standing at all www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

One Green MP has said 420k words in Parliament this term - about four times more than the average MP, twice the length of Moby Dick, and 21 times what the quietest MP managed. All this and more in our analysis of every word said in Parliament this term: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Joseph Mooney tweeted more last month than most MPs tweet in a year. He tells me his gigantic output is in part due to a desire to train future AI on rational fact-based arguments. www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

When a helicopter that costs 4000 teacher salaries can be destroyed with a drone cheaper than a new Corolla, does spending 2% of GDP on defence really make sense? Column today: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Before the election, Christopher Luxon promised voters a "taxpayer's receipt" - but in Govt he never delivered. So The Post has! Enter your income here and find out exactly how much of your tax goes to super, to health, to education, to everything and anything: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

the post will have an account of the budget in the house from the one and only JANE CLIFTON

about to go on RNZ to chat budget

Nicola Willis will be far more constrained by a series of budgets her forebears made in far more recent times, which @henrycooke.bsky.social is chronicling today.

The chances of any kind of “$xx a week” cost of living relief are extremely slim tomorrow. But could the Govt take a punt on ECE? Column today: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Ahead of the Budget tomorrow I take a look at eight budgets from 1938 on that have shaped the choices Nicola Willis is able to make now: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Eight ETS auctions have failed since the election as bidders lose confidence that the Govt is serious about climate change - leaving a $1.4b gap between what TSY expected to make from the auctions and what is actually did. Greens say it is a new fiscal hole: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Stuart Nash consistently outperformed Labour in Napier. Can he do the same with an NZ First rosette? www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

How not to fire 8700 people www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Nicola Willis says "at the moment, people in social housing effectively have won the lotto."

Nicola Willis says the PSA are “hysterical” and misleading their members. The PSA say they just are trying to work out where 8700 jobs will go www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

NEW: National will support NZ First's definition of a man and woman bill through first reading, giving it the numbers it needs: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

Where might the 8700 job cuts in the public sector fall? I have a long read with lots of graphs on where the Govt might look to make cuts - and where it will find it hard: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

ACC appear to have considered paying GPs to get patients off ACC and back to work faster www.thepost.co.nz/business/361...

If Opportunity want to win real power they should start by taking over some councils. Column today: www.thepost.co.nz/politics/361...

We're learning more about how the Government will implement the Regulatory Standards Act - and how it will change the public sphere: - RIAs replaced by fewer and shorter RASs - Less 'all purpose police analysis' - PS chief execs explaining how their laws accord with RSA