You must be enrolled to vote before the election. If you are not enrolled you cannot vote.
The last day to enrol is the 25th of October.
Unlike previous elections, you can NOT enrol and vote at any voting place, including on election day.
The current government changed this, and it is a change that many people, particularly first-time and younger voters may not be aware of.
Take a few minutes to check in with your friends, whānau, work colleagues, classmates, teammates, and anyone else in your network. If they are not enrolled, encourage them to do it now.
You can enrol to vote if you'll be 18 years old on or before 7 November. That means if you turn 18 after enrolments close on 25 October, but on or before Election Day, you're eligible to vote, and enrolling early is your ticket to being able to vote in the election this year.
While you're at it, it's also a great opportunity to check that your enrolment details are up to date.
Your comprehensive guide to every policy announced by every party. Guides are updated as policies are announced so check back regularly.
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Policies are listed in chronological order of release and guides are constantly updated, so please check in regularly. Minor parties are limited to those with a decent prospect of entering Parliament through party vote or a specific electorate.
Five former dancers who worked at a Wellington strip club have won their case, after arguing they were treated as employees despite being employed as contractors.
The former dancers told the Employment Court that because the club considered them to be contractors, they missed out on entitlements such as annual and sick leave, had to pay their own taxes and were not able to work for other clubs or agencies.
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The workers said in practice, they were treated as employees and Judge MS King agreed.
"When the plaintiffs commenced work with Calendar Girls, there was a clear common intention to do so as independent contractors. However, the evidence demonstrates an inequality of bargaining power between the parties, which points away from the plaintiffs being in business on their own account and requires consideration of how the relationship operated in practice."
Jean Batten, c. 1934 (Alexander Turnbull Library, 1/2-046051-F)
Jean Batten left for New Zealand from Kent, England, at 4.20 a.m. on 5 October 1936. Despite the early hour, a large media contingent gathered to see her off; Batten was already famous for her successful solo flights from England to Australia in May 1934, and to South America in November 1935.
Batten had installed two extra petrol tanks in her low-winged monoplane, a Percival (Vega) Gull. But to reach Australia she still had to land and refuel at numerous locations across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. En route she slept little, flying day and night, sometimes in bad weather. She arrived in Darwin in 5 days 21 hours – 24 hours faster than the previous record-holder, Jimmy Broadbent.
News of the record was front-page news around the world. Batten continued on her way, arriving in Sydney on 13 October. While she had a welcome rest and waited for the weather over the Tasman Sea to improve, some tried to dissuade her from continuing on to New Zealand. But Batten decided to proceed.
Before taking off from Richmond Aerodrome, Sydney, at approximately 6.30 a.m. (New Zealand time) on 16 October, she declared that no one should look for her if she went down at sea. Outwardly fearless, she later confessed that she almost ‘lost her nerve’ during this final leg. To her relief she finally recognised a rocky island and a few minutes later was over New Plymouth. She arrived at Auckland’s Mangere Aerodrome at about 5 p.m., 10½ hours after leaving Sydney, and was greeted by a crowd of 6000.
Batten then set off to tour the country by car and train, admitting that she was weary of air travel for the time being. In fact, she was both physically and mentally exhausted by her odyssey, which had taken a total of 11 days 45 minutes. The tour was eventually called off in Christchurch and Batten spent much of November resting at Franz Josef Glacier at the government’s expense. In October 1937 she made a return flight from Sydney to England – her last long-distance flight.
The government has quietly chosen a preferred provider for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import facility in Taranaki - though it is yet to sign a contract.
The company's identity remains under wraps, along with initial safety evaluations carried out as part of the procurement process.
Opponents of the project have now renewed their calls for those safety evaluations to be shared with the local community.
The latest information was not formally announced, but instead included in updated information on the ministry's website.
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A reminder to make sure your details are updated and you are enrolled to vote.
A mother farewells her son, October 1914 (Auckland War Memorial Museum, MS 20003/72)
Thousands of Wellingtonians rose before dawn and crowded vantage points around the harbour to watch as 10 grey-painted troopships, escorted by four warships, sailed to war.
These ships carried the Main Body of, and the First Reinforcements for, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force – around 8500 men, as well as nearly 4000 horses.
This was the second major departure of New Zealand troops for the First World War, following the 1400-strong Samoa advance force which had left two months earlier, also from Wellington.
The October departure was the culmination of a series of farewells. After war broke out in early August 1914, men from around the country volunteered in large numbers. Those accepted were sent to mobilisation camps in each of the four military districts: Alexandra Park in Auckland, Awapuni racecourse in Palmerston North, Addington (later Sockburn) Park in Christchurch and Tahuna Park in Dunedin. As they left home for the camps, their families, workmates and communities farewelled them at community halls, theatres and hotels, railway stations and wharves.
In September, the four contingents were farewelled at civic events in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Up to 30,000 people attended Wellington’s farewell at Newtown Park on 24 September, when schools and many businesses closed for the day.
Ships carrying the Canterbury and Otago troops entered Wellington Harbour that afternoon, expecting to depart with the local contingent and rendezvous with the Auckland transports in the Tasman Sea.
Then, suddenly, the plan changed. The authorities were worried about the weakness of the escort – the obsolete light cruisers HMS Philomel and HMS Psyche – given that the whereabouts of the warships of Germany’s East Asia Squadron was unknown. Pending the arrival of more powerful Allied warships, the Aucklanders were recalled to port, while the Canterbury and Otago contingents (and their horses) disembarked in Wellington. Training resumed. In the evenings the men were entertained with concerts and other activities organised by local communities. On 10 October the Auckland contingent sailed for Wellington, where it arrived four days later.
Thanks to the arrival of the armoured cruiser HMS Minotaur and the Imperial Japanese Navy’s battlecruiser Ibuki, the convoy was finally ready to depart. On 14-15 October the troops and horses reboarded their ships, which anchored out in the harbour; early on the morning of the 16th, the convoy set sail.
Frank Morton described the scene:
Forty-eight days later – after stopovers in Hobart; Albany in Western Australia, where they joined a convoy of 28 Australian troopships; and Colombo – the New Zealanders landed in Egypt. When they had set sail they had assumed they were bound for Europe to fight the Germans. Now, their initial role would be to help protect the Suez Canal against attack by the forces of the Ottoman (Turkish) Empire, which had entered the war while the convoy was on the high seas.
Over the next four years a further 90,000 New Zealanders would depart for war. Those who sailed on 16 October 1914 remain the largest single group ever to leave these shores at one time.
Seventeen New Zealand coastwatchers and five European civilians captured in the Gilbert Islands (now Kiribati) were beheaded at Betio, Tarawa.
Coastwatchers were service and civilian personnel from New Zealand, as well as Pacific islanders, who kept a 24-hour watch for enemy ships and aircraft. They were a vital link in the intelligence chain during the Pacific War. For most, the main challenges were isolation and boredom. For those on the front line in the Gilbert Islands, however, the risk of capture by the Japanese was very real.
During August and September 1942, 17 military coastwatchers (seven Post and Telegraph Department radio operators and 10 soldiers) and five civilians were captured as Japanese forces overran the Gilbert Islands. Imprisoned on Tarawa atoll, they were all beheaded following an American attack on the island.
All those executed received a posthumous mention in despatches. The civilian coastwatchers were retrospectively given military rank in 1944 so that their dependants could claim pensions and other rights. The story of the Pacific island coastwatchers who served for New Zealand has received less attention.
Greens' co-leader Marama Davidson says she'd "probably die laughing" if National picked up the phone to call them for support after the election.
Davidson and electorate MP Julie-Anne Genter were at Wellington East Girls' College in Mount Victoria, Wellington, on Wednesday following TVNZ's Multi-party debate on Tuesday.
Asked whether working with Opportunity was a concern given the party was open to working with National, Davidson said voters can be really clear the Greens' want to "change the government."
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On whether the Greens could have stopped some of the policies from what Davidson called "the most racist government we have seen", she said it was showing a "bit of naivety" in how government and politics actually works.
"This idea that the Greens' and the National party can work together in a government is one that is really far fetched and not fixed to reality at all.
"The National party would have to become a whole different party if the Greens' are going to entertain working with them."
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Asked if she'd consider it, if National picked up the phone, Davidson said she'd probably die laughing if that happened.
"We have been unapologetic about the consistency of what we stand for.
"We have to tax the super rich so we can bring down people's power bills, so that we can stop polluting our environment and hold corporate polluters to account.
"Why would the National Party want to ring us?"
Ed: Thats Barbara Edmonds (Labour). RNZ live feed, so images changing
Armed police search a vehicle near Rūātoki (NZ Herald/newspix.co.nz)
Citing the Terrorism Suppression Act, police arrested 18 people in raids linked to alleged weapons-training camps near the Bay of Plenty township of Rūātoki.
In addition to raids in Rūātoki and nearby Whakatāne, police executed search warrants in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Wellington after 12 months of surveillance of activist groups.
Among those arrested was Ngāi Tūhoe activist Tame Iti. Police claimed Iti was involved in running military-style training camps in the Urewera Ranges and was planning to establish an independent state on traditional Tūhoe land.
Only Iti and three others were brought to trial in February 2012, on charges of participating in a criminal group and possessing firearms. The jury could not agree on the former charge, but all four were found guilty of firearms offences. Two received nine months’ home detention and the other two – including Iti – were sentenced to 2½ years in prison.
In 2013 the Independent Police Conduct Authority found that police had ‘unnecessarily frightened and intimidated’ people during the raids. In 2014 Police Commissioner Mike Bush apologised for mistakes made during the raids.
Labour has released its economic plan, outlining a number of previous commitments and announcing that it will redirect up to $50 million a year into the state-backed Elevate venture capital fund.
Labour's finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said this would allow for more innovative businesses to "expand, hire and pay good wages here at home".
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The full list of commitments in its economic plan follow:
Back innovative Kiwi companies by redirecting up to $50 million a year into Elevate
Make big businesses pay small suppliers within 15 days
Let small businesses claim new tools and equipment straight away, up to $10,000
Raise the GST threshold to $80,000, giving small businesses more room to grow
Give smaller Kiwi businesses a fairer chance to win government contracts
Help small businesses and start-ups use AI to save time and get ahead
Get Kiwis back into work fixing schools and hospitals and building homes
Back 30,000 apprentices with an expanded apprenticeship boost, introducing a $1000 tools grant, and guarantee every eligible graduate nurse a job
Introduce a simple, targeted capital gains tax on investment and commercial property, with every dollar going to healthcare
Establish the New Zealand Future Fund to invest in Kiwi businesses and infrastructure
Return the books to surplus in 2028/29, bring back the Reserve Bank's dual mandate, and set up an independent Parliamentary Budget Office.
You must be enrolled to vote before the election. If you are not enrolled you cannot vote.
The last day to enrol is the 25th of October.
Unlike previous elections, you can NOT enrol and vote at any voting place, including on election day.
The current government changed this, and it is a change that many people, particularly first-time and younger voters may not be aware of.
Take a few minutes to check in with your friends, whānau, work colleagues, classmates, teammates, and anyone else in your network. If they are not enrolled, encourage them to do it now.
You can enrol to vote if you'll be 18 years old on or before 7 November. That means if you turn 18 after enrolments close on 25 October, but on or before Election Day, you're eligible to vote, and enrolling early is your ticket to being able to vote in the election this year.
While you're at it, it's also a great opportunity to check that your enrolment details are up to date.
George Grey portrait, c 1860 (Alexander Turnbull Library, G-623)
Sir George Grey was a dominant figure in 19th-century New Zealand politics, serving two terms as governor before becoming premier on 15 October 1877. He was the first person to hold both positions – an achievement that has been matched only by Keith Holyoake, who was prime minister for 11 years and later became governor-general.
Historian Keith Sinclair described Grey as one of the most remarkable 19th-century British colonial governors and one of the most remarkable people to have lived in New Zealand.
During his first term as governor (1845–53), Pākehā critics viewed him as a despot unwilling to share power with settlers. He opposed an 1846 proposal for an elected assembly on the grounds that the minority settler population could not be trusted to pass measures that would protect the interests of Māori. This, he feared, would lead to conflict.
In 1852 Grey was the chief author of a new constitution which established provincial and central representative assemblies. He was criticised for arranging provincial elections before those for the General Assembly, giving the provincial councils a five-month headstart on central government. Some believed this entrenched provincialism in New Zealand politics.
During his second term as governor (1861–68), Grey clashed increasingly with the settler government over the conduct of the New Zealand Wars. After retiring to his property on Kawau Island in the Hauraki Gulf, he led the fight against Julius Vogel’s proposal to abolish the provincial system that he had helped establish. In 1875 Grey was elected as both superintendent of Auckland province and Member of the House of Representatives (MHR) for Auckland City West.
Despite his best efforts, Grey was unable to save the provinces. When the ministry led by Harry Atkinson lost a confidence vote on 13 October 1877, Grey formed a new ministry that combined conservatives and radicals. Lacking a safe majority, Grey asked the governor, Lord Normanby, to dissolve Parliament and call fresh elections. Normanby refused.
Grey now championed a number of so-called radical causes, such as ‘one man, one vote’. While this roused considerable enthusiasm, an economic downturn in 1878 focused attention on pocketbook issues. In 1879 the government lost a division in the House and failed to win a majority in the subsequent election. After the defection of four Auckland members, Grey resigned as premier in October, but remained an MHR until 1895. He returned to England in 1894 and died in London in 1898, aged 86.
Opportunity remains kingmaker while the major parties - Labour and National - are tied in the latest 1News Verian Poll.
Party support has remained largely stable, with only small moves up or down.
National has slipped 1 point to 28 percent, tying them with Labour, also on 28 percent.
The Green Party have slipped slightly, falling 1 point to 15 percent.
The ACT Party has gone up 1 point, tying them with New Zealand First who also sits on 10 percent.
Te Pāti Māori is down to just 0.4 percent.
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If replicated at the election, that would give National 34 MPs and New Zealand First and ACT 12 - a coalition bloc of 58.
On the left, Labour would get 34 MPs, the Greens 18, Te Pāti Māori four - depending on how the Māori seats were calculated - and Te Tai Tokerau Party one seat - 57 together.
Opportunity would have 8 seats, meaning they would get to decide who governed.
Mr Asia drugs boss Terry Clark (left) in the Bay of Islands, 1979 (NZ Herald/newspix.co.nz)
The gangland murder of ‘Mr Asia’ (Marty Johnstone) led to the demise of one of New Zealand’s largest ever drug rings. Johnstone was killed on the orders of drug lord Terry Clark. Divers found his mutilated body in a flooded quarry in England.
Clark (also known as Sinclair) and Johnstone had begun working with each other in the mid-1970s, when the Mr Asia drug ring began importing large quantities of heroin into New Zealand and Australia. Gisborne-born Clark headed their operations in Australia. He became a multi-millionaire, buying properties in the Bay of Islands and Fiji, and stashing money in safes and bank accounts around the world.
Clark ruthlessly protected his interests, killing a number of associates he suspected of informing. He fled to the United Kingdom in 1979 after Australian police found the bodies of two of Clark’s traffickers in a shallow grave in Melbourne.
Arrested in London, Clark was sentenced to life imprisonment for Johnstone’s murder. He died in a British prison in 1983, supposedly of natural causes.
The recent 1News story about the Christchurch vet who flew to Sydney for spine surgery highlights real issues in the New Zealand public health system and an issue in the private system.
It seems some doctors in the public system still misunderstand shared decision making. Shared decision making involves clinicians outlining reasonable options so the patient - together with the doctor's help - can choose the path forward. A doctor might not prefer the selected option, but if it remains reasonable, they should proceed if it is the patient's choice.
Health New Zealand never suggested the revision surgery was an unreasonable choice. They just stated it was not their preferred. Apparently, shared decision making in our public system means the hospital makes the decision and simply shares it with you as they wheel you out the door.
Then there is the private system. After misplacing the screw during the initial operation, the original surgeon offered to fix the mistake, provided the patient pay $46,795. Here, the Orthopaedic Association confirms there is no protocol for revision fees and the surgeon can just decide to charge you a second time.
The employer called a meeting on 9 September 2025 to address performance concerns, prompting the employee to complain about her manager and a co-worker. HR undertook to investigate the complaint within 2 weeks but sought to prioritise the performance concerns instead.
HR missed its 2 week deadline and only produced draft terms of reference for the complaint investigation on 3 October 2025 after the employee complained to the Chief Executive. Despite this stalling by HR on the investigation, the Authority dismissed the employee's claim.
The employee lost the case because she refused to engage constructively and constantly changed her stance with the employer. She demanded a financial payout, refused without prejudice communication, and requested guaranteed employment before agreeing to speak with HR. When the terms of reference arrived, she emailed senior management to decline participation in the investigation.
Dragging out an investigation while threatening dismissal normally exposes an employer to an unjustified disadvantage claim. The employer avoided liability because the employee's subsquent erratic behaviour gave the business a excuse for both the initial delay and the subsequent loss of momentum.
In this case, the employee conduct excused HR's own stuff-up.
Wellington's deputy mayor is warning it could cost every ratepaying household or business more than $80,000 over the next 25 years to fix the city's poor pipes alone.
Ben McNulty said figures - first highlighted by Wellington Water - that it would cost more than $6 billion to fix Wellington city's pipes over two decades, would put enormous pressure on residents - and more government support in the future would be needed to ease bills.
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"It's just not affordable. It is beyond the capacity of ordinary people to pay."
Water agency Tiaki Wai declined an interview request, even as the cost figures swirled on the campaign trail with Wellington candidates discussing it.
A spokesperson did not respond directly to McNulty's numbers, referring to a previous media release which stated a 13.3 percent increase in water bills for this financial year.
Silver Ferns Irene van Dyk (left) and Laura Langman celebrate their victory over Australia in 2010 (NZHerald, via Te Ara)
At the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the New Zealand netball team topped their pool with four easy victories and a 47–41 win over England. They then won their semi-final against Jamaica comfortably, while the Australian Diamonds’ five-goal margin over England in the other semi-final suggested they were a capable match for the Silver Ferns, their traditional rivals.
Just how close the teams were became clear as the match, the longest official game of netball ever played, stretched over 84 pulsating minutes. The match was tight until the Silver Ferns led by seven goals early in the fourth quarter. An Australian comeback reminiscent of their surge to victory in the 1999 world championships final levelled the scores at full-time.
There was still nothing between the two teams after 14 minutes of extra time. Under a rule which its drafters surely never expected to be needed, play would continue until one team was two goals ahead. Both Australian shooters missed their chance for glory; Maria Tutaia did not, and the Silver Ferns won 66–64.
The epic victory won New Zealand’s second consecutive Commonwealth Games netball gold medal and matched Australia’s triumphs in 1998 and 2002. The balance has subsequently shifted once again. In 2014 the Australian Diamonds thrashed the Silver Ferns 58–40 in the gold medal match. In 2018 the New Zealanders failed to reach the final for the first time and were beaten 60–55 by Jamaica for the bronze. It was scant consolation that the Australasian duopoly was broken when Helen Housby scored in the last second of the final to give England a one-goal victory over Australia.
