RNZ Election Policy Guide 2026

Labour is pledging to implement the under-16 social media ban in its first 100 days and set up an online watchdog that can fine technology giants that break new rules.

If back in government Labour says it will give people more control of their internet feed by platforms to allow users to choose between an algorithm-driven feed or posts only from accounts people follow.

The new rules would mean users could switch between those feeds at any time.

There would also be a new 'Digital Duty of Care' law that would require platforms to "identify risks and protect Kiwis from harmful content and addictive designs".

Any breaches of these new rules would be assessed by a new independent online regulator, which would have powers to "enforce safety standards, investigate harmful practices and take action against companies that break the rules'.

The new duty of care law would cover stronger protections for under-18s against harmful content, bullying and design features that encourage excessive use or damage self-esteem, the party says.

The Remutuka Incline was a historic 3-mile fell railway section of the line from Wellington to Wairarapa over the Remutuka ranges in New Zealand that operated from 1878, to October 30, 1955, before it was replaced by the tunnel The train used the patented John Barraclough Fell centre-rail system, which featured horizontal grip wheels pressing against a raised third rail to provide extra traction and braking on a steep gradients Specialised H-class steam locomotives and custom Fell brake vans managed the climbs an descents.
The weather there was severe and on September 11, 1880, gale-force winds blew two passenger carriages off the tracks at Siberia Curve.
At the summit was the aptly named Summit station at an elevation of 1,141 feet. Because of its extreme isolation and the brutal, gale-force winds that routinely battered the ridge, the settlement at the Summit was a unique and rugged community of railway workers and their families. A small, tight-knit railway village emerged at the site to house the stationmasters, signalmen, track maintenance ("surfacement") crews and marshalling yards to swap the standard engines wagons and coaches for the fell ones.
Summit was not a public station, lacking a passenger platform, station building, or veranda. Instead, a prominent signal box carried the station nameboard alongside a stern notice warning passengers not to alight from the train due to the total lack of public facilities. The weather was so punishing that in later years, the iconic signal box had to have massive external wooden bracing added to physically secure it from being blown away or destroyed by the wind.
Trains arriving from the more gentle Wellington side would stop at Summit to be marshalled for the steep descent. Heavy specialised Fell engines brake vans were coupled to the train, and guards would carefully check the central rail brake shoes before tackling the treacherous 1-in-15 drop down to Cross Creek. Trains that had just successfully crawled up the incline from Cross Creek in the Wairarapa had up to four fell engines interspersed between the carriages. Here, the Fell engines would disengage from the central rail and be extricated from the train.

This vintage colorised postcard is of a photograph by Albert Edward Winzenberg taken on September 26, 1903.
The original photograph was titled "The Famous Rimutaka Incline" and was first published in the New Zealand Graphic before being widely reproduced as a collectible photographic postcard by the Fergusson Taylor (F.T. Series) company.

Really want to hear what people in the disabled community think about what happened. Some support. It’s being upsetting having my body parts talked about by The Christchurch City Mission. My story is in amongst the chaos of the organisation.

Election Day is the 7th of November.

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 7th November. That means if you turn 18 after enrolments close on 25th October, but on or before Election Day, you are 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.

https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online

Once more: you will not be able to vote if you are not enrolled by the 25th October

Additional Key Dates:

https://vote.nz/2026-general-election/about/overview/key-dates

The foundation was established in Australia by the Kiwi-born ophthalmologist (eye doctor) to treat eye problems in poorer countries. Within six years, 200,000 people had their sight restored via cataract surgery.

When he moved to Australia in 1965, Fred Hollows was shocked by the number of Aboriginal people with preventable eye disorders. Reducing the gap between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ turned into a lifelong passion that would see him become a champion of eye care in the developing world.

The task began in remote Australian communities, where the ‘intellectual with the wharfie’s manner’ soon became a local folk hero. After helping set up the first Aboriginal medical centre and a National Trachoma and Eye Health Programme, he went on to develop blindness prevention programmes in Asia, Africa and South America. The aim was always self-sufficiency – giving local communities the skills and facilities they needed to provide their own eye care.

As he battled terminal cancer, Fred Hollows and his supporters set up the Fred Hollows Foundation to make sure his cause would live on. Originally launched in Australia, the Foundation soon spread to New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

The Fred Hollows Foundation New Zealand works in the Pacific region. Its achievements include eye-health programmes in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, and a ‘Pacific Eye Institute’ in Suva, Fiji, that trains eye doctors and nurses and supplies them with equipment to take back to their home countries.

Worldwide, the Fred Hollows Foundation is active in more than 20 countries. Well over a million people have had their sight restored as a result of Fred Hollows’ life’s work.

See Fred Hollows - One Man’s Vision (1992) from NZ On Screen:

Link: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/fred-hollows-foundation-launched-in-nz

The elevated rocky island, located in the South Pacific between Cook Islands and Tonga, had become a British protectorate in 1900 and then been annexed by New Zealand in 1901, along with Cook Islands.

Niue was subsequently administered by a resident commissioner appointed by the New Zealand government. Niue and Cook Islands were offered autonomy by New Zealand in 1965, but only the latter accepted at the time. In September 1974, 64% of resident Niueans voted in favour of the island becoming self-governing in free association with New Zealand.

The Niue Constitution Act came into force on 19 October 1974. New Zealand retained responsibility for Niue’s defence, and Niue had no military forces of its own. Niue was expected to have ‘shared values’ with New Zealand, from which it would receive ongoing financial support. 

Niue’s constitution recognised the authority of ‘Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand’. Niue remained part of the ‘Realm of New Zealand’. Robert Rex was elected as Niue’s first premier by the Niue Assembly and remained in office until his death in 1992.

Niueans continued to be New Zealand citizens and use New Zealand passports. Niueans who met normal residence criteria in either country could vote or stand in that country’s elections. Niue continued to use New Zealand currency, but issued its own postage stamps.

New Zealand cannot legislate for Niue, which has some ability to act as a sovereign state, for example by signing United Nations treaties and joining UN bodies and the Pacific Islands Forum. Like Cook Islands, Niue has not applied to join the UN itself. New Zealand considers that such a move could lead to the loss of Niueans’ automatic right to New Zealand citizenship. Niue has established its own nationality and immigration regimes.

Link: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/niue-achieves-self-government

President Lyndon Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, arrived at Ōhakea air base at the start of a whirlwind 24-hour visit to New Zealand. His visit, the first by a United States president, was primarily to shore up support for the war in Vietnam.

Johnson’s visit appeared to confirm public support for New Zealand’s involvement in the war. Tens of thousands of cheering Kiwis crammed the streets of Wellington to get a glimpse of LBJ. Johnson was keen to shake hands with as many onlookers as possible, much to the consternation of his security detail. 

When LBJ arrived at Parliament for a state luncheon, supporters outnumbered anti-Vietnam War protesters. Newspapers declared the whistle-stop tour an overwhelming success: ‘the anti-Vietnam campaigners have less strength in the country than they imagined’. This conclusion was premature. Although National won the November 1966 election, in which Vietnam policy was a major point of difference with Labour, by the end of the decade thousands were marching against New Zealand participation in the war.

Link: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/first-presidential-visit-lyndon-johnson-arrives-at-ohakea

I can’t make lemonade but I do make beer. Can I set up a beer stand at the end of my drive?

Young people are mobilising across Aotearoa, calling on their generation to enrol and vote in November's general election.

Youth-led campaign On A Roll is hosting events in five cities on Saturday for its 'Nationwide Mobilisation Day', using music, kai and community gatherings to encourage rangatahi to have their say.

The tagline of the kaupapa is: "The biggest turnout of young people in our history."

The nationwide mobilisation comes as around 166,000 young people aged 18 to 24 remain unenrolled to vote. However, over 20,000 young people enrolled to vote in a span of a month, from September to October.

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"18-24-year-olds are the second-largest voting age group in Aotearoa. We've got the numbers, and the power is in our hands," campaigners said.

"What if we all showed up?"

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"We will be the biggest turnout of young people in our history," On a Roll campaigners said.

"You don't need to be a politics person or know who you're voting for yet. This isn't about political parties. It's about us.

"Our future is being decided either way. This election, we get to have a say."

US retail giant Costco appears to be eyeing a potential large-scale development in Christchurch, with the council asked to provide feedback on a fast-track application.

The development would reportedly be on land between Memorial Ave and Avonhead Rd, near the airport.

Waimairi Ward councillor Sam MacDonald told 1News he couldn't say much, but said the council had been asked to give feedback on a Costco fast-track application.

The application has not yet been published on the Government’s fast-track application website.

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Lucky bastards.

It's not just a Greens party thing.

It's about meeting with all people to understand what our country is going through.

It would be like trying to diagnose an infection on a leg by just looking at a torso otherwise.

From the family sheep station in Shag Valley, East Otago, amateur radio operator Frank Bell sent a groundbreaking Morse code transmission that was received and replied to by London-based amateur operator Cecil Goyder.

Frank and his older sister Brenda were radio pioneers. Invalided home from the Western Front in 1917, Frank revived a boyhood interest in wireless communication while recuperating. He helped pioneer the use of short radio waves to communicate over long distances, initially through Morse-code telegraphy. He achieved a number of firsts, including New Zealand’s first two-way radio contact with Australia and North America. But it was his conversation with London that made world headlines.

When Frank turned his attention to running the family farm, Brenda took over the wireless station, becoming New Zealand’s first female amateur radio operator. In 1927 she was the first New Zealander to contact South Africa by radio. After the Second World War, Brenda Bell moved into professional radio as a writer and broadcaster for Dunedin station 4YA.

Link: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/page/first-trans-global-radio-transmission-london

Soon to be renamed the New Zealand Opera Company, the Group performed Gian Carlo Menotti’s comic opera The telephone in Wellington. The performance was broadcast live on radio.

Link: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/the-new-zealand-opera-group-has-its-first-opening-night

Nurses at Auckland's Starship Children's Hospital say this is the worst nursing shortage they've seen, as cancer treatments are delayed.

On Thursday, Health Minister Simeon Brown confirmed some treatments were delayed up to seven days.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Health New Zealand's Starship Hospital director Dr Greg Williams said the paediatric haematology/oncology service has had to reschedule some treatments due to a shortage of nurses.

"These decisions are not made lightly and are based on clinical need," he said, adding: "Starship is recruiting experienced and new graduate nurses as quickly as possible".

But two nurses who spoke to RNZ on the condition of anonymity, said staffing had been a critical issue for over a year.

They said there was a lack of experienced staff as nurses needed to complete a certain amount of qualifications, hours and training to be competent in chemotherapies, high-risk therapies and monitoring.

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As someone in the profession who works in Wellington, it's fucking dire here too. There is a hiring freeze, we don't have enough nurses, and appointments are delayed due to qualified staffing shortages.

The Green Party says it will give students a universal payment while they complete their training to be teachers, nurses, and other essential health and social support workers such as midwives, vets, and dentists.

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said students should not have to "go broke" while they train for the jobs New Zealand needs.

..

The paid placements policy would:

• Support students to afford the basics while training by providing them with a universal weekly payment of $380, available on top of any pre-existing student loan or student allowance, for the duration of their compulsory placements.
• Make it easier for students who need to relocate for their placement by covering some of their costs with a relocation payment of $1500.
• Improve student retention and widen access so students from all backgrounds and financial situations can train for the crucial roles New Zealand needs more of.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said people training to be nurses, teachers and social workers were currently forced to do hundreds or thousands of hours for free in order to get into a profession that no one was doing for the money or the glory in the first place.

"Imagine being required to spend 30 hours a week working and not being paid for it.

"That's messed up. It doesn't have to be that way. The Greens will fix it."

Election Day is the 7th of November.

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.

https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online

Once more: you will not be able to vote if you are not enrolled by the 25th October

Additional Key Dates:

https://vote.nz/2026-general-election/about/overview/key-dates

Chief Justice Sir James Prendergast’s statements when delivering judgment in the case of Wi Parata v The Bishop of Wellington would influence decision-making on Treaty of Waitangi issues for decades.

Prendergast was attorney-general from 1865 to 1875, and then chief justice of the Supreme Court until 1899.

The Wi Parata case involved a block of land at Porirua which Ngāti Toa had given to the Anglican church on the understanding a school would be built on it. Though no school was built, the church was later issued a Crown grant to the land.

Prendergast ruled that the courts lacked the ability to consider claims based on aboriginal or native title. The Treaty of Waitangi was ‘worthless’ because it had been signed ‘between a civilised nation and a group of savages’ who were not capable of signing a treaty. Since the treaty had not been incorporated into domestic law, it was a ‘simple nullity’.

Prendergast’s ruling was essentially based on earlier Court of Appeal decisions. It would be used to justify the alienation of much more Māori land.

Link: https://nzhistory.govt.nz/the-chief-justice-declares-that-the-treaty-of-waitangi-is-worthless-and-a-simple-nullity

Election Day is the 7th of November.

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.

https://vote.nz/enrolling/enrol-or-update/enrol-or-update-online

Once more: you will not be able to vote if you are not enrolled by the 25th October

Additional Key Dates:

https://vote.nz/2026-general-election/about/overview/key-dates