Decision letter only. Health NZ says a decision has been made but the information is not ready to send. Some material will be refused or released under s9(2)(a) (privacy). The request covered Palmerston North Hospital ED performance from 1 July to 14 August 2026, advice to ministers, contingency plans, staffing against budget, and reviews of waits reported up to 27 hours.
Open Health NZ PDF →Today
Short briefing — open a card for depth.
General election
Saturday 7 November 2026
33 days to go
Enrol or update at vote.nz. Enrolment closes midnight 25 Oct · 21 days left to enrol. You cannot enrol at a voting place this election. Printed-roll / EasyVote cut-off was 4 Oct. Electoral Commission: about 91% enrolled as at 29 Sep (RNZ); last published headcount 3,636,524 on 31 Aug (89.75%). House last sat 23 Sep · Parliament dissolved 1 Oct.
Latest poll · 1News–Verian 23–27 Sep
Labour
28%
National
28%
Greens
16%
ACT
11%
NZ First
9%
Opportunity
6%
Te Pāti Māori
1.2%
Party vote · 23–27 Sep · n=1,004. National 28 · Labour 28 · Greens 16 · ACT 11 · NZ First 9 · Opportunity 6 · Te Pāti Māori 1.2. Preferred PM: Luxon 19 · Hipkins 14 · Swarbrick 8 · Peters 7 · Seymour 7. 1News said these numbers would give the Greens 19 MPs. 13% undecided or refused. 1News–Verian → A poll is not a result. Fieldwork ended 27 Sep 2026. No newer nationwide party-vote poll was found on 5 Oct. Earlier: The Post / Freshwater 4–11 Sep (Labour 28, National 27) and Taxpayers’ Union–Curia 1–3 Sep (National 29, Labour 25.9).
OIA answers — three we sent
Replies to our requests · Sep 2026
Requests we sent. Picked for what they show, not because they are the newest. Each link is the letter.
Waitematā Harbour Crossing — detailed business case
MCERT · 14 Sep 2026 · OC260690
Four documents released in part on the independent DBC. Cabinet paper and minute attachments refused under s18(d) pending proactive release.
Whānau Ora / Manurewa — vaccination and census data
Health NZ · 11 Sep 2026 · HNZ00207348
Data-sharing, privacy assessments and 2021–2024 correspondence with Whānau Ora / Manurewa Marae on vaccination or 2023 Census data. Key documents released as appendices.
Manurewa Local Board election 2025 allegations
Serious Fraud Office · 11 Sep 2026 · CON0018089
SFO confirmed it has received a complaint (noting media reporting) but, under s10, would neither confirm nor deny the specific information requested.
Last updated 5 Oct 2026
· bills through dissolution 1 Oct · OIA cards 5 Oct · MBIE fuel 27 Sep · poll 23–27 Sep · electricity Jun 2026 qtr · Stats NZ Jun qtr
Bills and votes · Follow the money · Ask in writing · Not a government site
Bills
Last updated 5 Oct 2026 · House last sat 23 Sep · Parliament dissolved 1 Oct · no further House business
Bill list from bills.parliament.nz.
Party positions shown on cards are estimates from public voting patterns, not official whips.
Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
Upcoming / Active Bills
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Last updated 28 Sep 2026 · official petition pages checked 28 Sep · counts change; sign on petitions.parliament.nz
Counts from official Parliament petition pages (can change). Not the parliamentary system itself — sign on petitions.parliament.nz. Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
Open official NZ Parliament petitions site →
Highest signature counts previously published on Parliament’s petition pages (approximate and can change; always check the official site to sign or see live totals). Direct links use petition IDs when known; otherwise open the official site and search the title.
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Official Hansard tally, with party split. Full MP list is inside Show every MP.
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Why this bill exists
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Ask this ministry for advice, Cabinet papers, costings or other official information about this bill. Agencies generally have 20 working days to reply. Use the template on the OIA / Ask government tab, or file via FYI.org.nz.
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Official impact & documents
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Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Site text 14 Aug 2026 · not official government
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Freedom rankings and chokepoints (like fuel security) so NZ’s open system is easier to value and protect.
Start here
Optional: set Your context (party + electorate), open Today for a short briefing, then explore Bills, Money, Tracking, Local and Engage. Stay curious. Stay kind. Democracy is a shared project.
Also see: Bills · Petitions · Promises · OIA.
Previous bills
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Parliament record to early Aug 2026
Completed bills from Hansard / official results. NZ mostly uses party votes — open “Show how MPs voted” for the line. Follow-ups where public. Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
Promises
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Coalition agreements & public commitments mid-2026
Promise vs delivery (~20 years)
Scored from public outcomes (Stats NZ, HUD, MBIE, Hansard, Budgets, Auditor-General) — evidence summaries, not party spin or an official scorecard.
Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
Primary references: Budgets and Beehive releases; Stats NZ / HUD / MSD / MBIE; Hansard; coalition agreements 2017 & 2023; public scorecards (ShareItRound, Kiwiblog, Point of Order) cross-checked against official counts. Always verify against primary sources. “Partial” means measurable progress well short of the headline pledge.
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General election
Saturday 7 November 2026
33 days to go
Enrol or update at vote.nz. Enrolment closes midnight 25 October 2026.
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OIA tools
Last updated 27 Aug 2026 · Template, agency directory, how to file
Looking for replies?
Replies to requests we sent are on the OIA answers tab. A short list of other releases agencies have published is there too.
OIA in brief
What you can ask
OIA 1982 — ask agencies for advice, costings, Cabinet papers, etc. No lawyer needed. Release is the default unless a lawful ground applies.
How (quick steps)
- Search public / FYI first
- Right agency · be specific · name + email
- Ask for email release · up to 20 working days
- Refused or late → free Ombudsman complaint
Check published answers first
FYI.org.nz, agency disclosure logs, DPMC / Cabinet, Beehive, Ombudsman case notes. Filing on FYI publishes the reply for everyone.
Structural gaps
Hard s6 withholdings lack public-interest override; other Acts can oust the OIA; weak proactive-publish duty; review system has limited “bite”. Credit: NZCCL / Andrew Ecclestone — not legal advice.
Request template
Copy, fill brackets, email the agency — or file on FYI.org.nz to publish the reply.
Subject: Official Information Act request — [short topic] Tēnā koe, Under the Official Information Act 1982, I request the following information: 1. [Document or information sought — be specific, e.g. “the Cabinet paper seeking agreement to introduce the X Bill”] 2. [Any related advice, briefings, or costings, if needed] 3. [Date range, e.g. “from 1 January 2025 to the date of this request”] Please release the information by email in electronic form (PDF or original digital files). My name is [your full name]. Please reply to this email address. Ngā mihi [your name]
Agency OIA email directory
Public OIA inboxes for major ministries and departments. Addresses change — always double-check on the agency’s own website if a message bounces. Choose an agency, then Copy or Open email.
Quick tips
- Name real document types: Cabinet paper, Regulatory Impact Statement, briefing, aide-memoire, cost model, meeting notes.
- One topic per request is usually faster than a long shopping list.
- Ministers are also subject to the OIA — use the Minister’s office contact on beehive.govt.nz or DPMC’s ministerial list.
- Personal information about you is usually a Privacy Act request, not an OIA.
OIA answers
Last updated 5 Oct 2026 · 52 requests we sent · more letters still to write up
To draft a request, copy the template, or find an agency email, use .
Answers to requests we sent
These are Official Information Act requests we sent, and the replies that came back. Each card says who we wrote to, what we asked, and what they released, withheld or refused. Open the PDF for the letter itself. Names and email addresses are taken out.
52 cards, newest first. A letter that only passes the request on, with no decision and no papers, is not listed. Extra files sit with the main letter.
On Drive, not written up yet: NZ On Air UMA Paakiwaha, Simeon Brown SBOIA26-1258, MBIE DOIA-REQ-0037627, Health NZ HNZ00206923, NZ Police IR-01-26-31543, Ministry of Health H2026086109, H2026086110. All the PDFs.
Request of 3 Sep 2026. Media lines for the 9 April 2026 RNZ response are enclosed, with some withholding under s9(2)(a) and s9(2)(g)(i). Goldsmith says a meeting between Hon Judith Collins and Palantir took place in Munich on 13 February 2026. No Palantir mention in the incoming-minister briefings he was asked about — that part refused under s18(e). The redacted PDF does not print its own date.
Open Goldsmith PDF →Request of 31 Aug 2026 sought monitoring or compliance reports since 17 Dec 2025 on Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust and Waipareira Investment Group, a monitoring timetable, and the employer entity/job title recorded for John Tamihere. DIA said no monitoring reports or timetable exist (s18(e)). It continues to monitor the Charities Registration Board’s December 2025 corrective measures and pointed to the published Board decision for Tamihere’s recorded role.
Open DIA PDF →Request of 20 Aug 2026 sought advice, briefings or Cabinet papers to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries since 1 July 2026 on Planning Bill and Natural Environment Bill changes that remove councils’ ability to make rules for fishing managed under the Fisheries Act. One document identified (“Precis for NEB and PB Amendment Papers 17 August”) and withheld in full under s9(2)(g)(i).
Open MPI PDF →Request of 11 Sep 2026 sought claim counts by year and brand, payments on accepted claims, and any current advice on whether COVID-19 vaccination treatment-injury costs sit with ACC or the Crown under s65ZD supplier indemnities. Claim counts pointed to an already-published July 2026 refresh (s18(d)). Payment splits released as Appendix 1. No current advice on the indemnity split exists (s18(e)).
Open ACC PDF →Request of 3 Sep 2026 sought the draft Independent Technical Advisory Group report attached to a 21 Aug 2025 TPK briefing to the Ministerial Advisory Group. One working-draft document identified and withheld in full under s9(2)(ba)(ii) / refused under s18(a). TPK said release while decisions remain outstanding would damage confidential policy development; the published cover note stays public.
Open TPK PDF →Request of 4 Aug 2026 sought Taskforce emails, minutes and advice involving Pfizer from mid-2020 to end-2021, plus advice to joint ministers on advance purchase agreements, indemnities and confidentiality. Health said most of the material sits with MBIE. For records it holds, it pointed to the published 2023 procurement summary statement and continued to withhold underlying supplier contracts. Not a transfer-only letter.
Open Health PDF →Request of 31 Jul 2026 on holdings about Tarrant before 15 Mar 2019, post-attack reviews, and partner reporting. Questions 1–2 refused under s18(d) as already public in the Royal Commission Part 6. Question 3 neither confirm nor deny under s6(a).
Open GCSB PDF →Combined four requests (31 Jul, 1 Aug, two DPMC transfers). Points to the Royal Commission, Arotake, NZSTE and IGIS material already public. Further documents withheld under s6(a) and s9(2)(h). Neither confirm nor deny on questions 8, 9 and 15.
Open NZSIS PDF →Request of 24 Aug 2026 sought advice, briefings or Cabinet papers to Ministers since 1 July 2026 on age verification methods (including digital ID and facial age estimation) proposed in the Online Safety (Minimum Age and Child Safety Risk Assessment) Bill, that are not already public. Six documents identified. Documents 1–4 released as excerpts under s16(1)(e). Documents 5–6 (proposed Cabinet talking points) withheld in full under s9(2)(g)(i).
Open DIA PDF →Request of 31 Aug 2026 sought conflict-of-interest declarations, worksheets, Cabinet Office notes or management plans relating to Hon Willie Jackson’s role as Associate Minister for Social Development and Employment (Māori Employment) from 1 February to 27 November 2023, and his wife’s role as chief executive of Manukau Urban Māori Authority / MUMA Whānau Services Limited, plus any transfer of responsibility or standing arrangement not to receive papers. DPMC said no transfers of responsibility or standing arrangements not to receive papers were made specifically for that role (as already published). Some information in scope was withheld in full under s9(2)(a), s9(2)(ba)(ii), s9(2)(f)(iv) and s9(2)(g)(i).
Open DPMC PDF →Partially transferred from MBIE and received 17 Aug 2026. Sought copies of any post-implementation reviews, value-for-money assessments or internal audits after 1 January 2023 relating to COVID-19 vaccine procurement contracts valued over $50 million. Pharmac confirmed it has not completed any such reviews, assessments or audits after 1 January 2023 relating to COVID-19 vaccine procurement contracts, regardless of value.
Open Pharmac PDF →Request of 21 Aug 2026 sought advice, briefings or Cabinet papers to the Minister of Transport since 1 January 2026 on the Stage 1 Clean Vehicle Standard review and the decision to retain it with recalibrated settings and separate used-import targets. Six documents identified: one released in part (s9(2)(a), s9(2)(h)); the other five refused under s18(d) as already published or due on the Ministry website by the end of September 2026.
Open MCERT PDF →Request of 23 Aug 2026 sought emails, minutes, advice and briefings from CV-TAG (including Dr Ian Town), Medsafe or officials to named Ministers between 1 July and 31 December 2021 on myocarditis/pericarditis after second doses in 12–30 year-olds, dosing or pause recommendations, and communications or policy decisions. Health pointed to already-published CV-TAG memos, dosing-interval releases and minutes, and released additional CV-TAG member correspondence with withholdings under s9(2)(a) and s9(2)(g)(ii).
Open Health PDF →Health treated this as substantially similar to an earlier request on sharing COVID-19 vaccination data with Whānau Ora agencies. It pointed to published release H2024045440 and the Public Service Commission inquiry report, and applied s18(d) because the information is publicly available.
Open Health PDF →Request of 23 Aug 2026 concerned vaccine procurement, supplier contracts, and Crown financial liabilities and indemnities. Health pointed to its 18 Sep 2023 published summary statement and said supplier contracts continue to be withheld under s9(2)(b)(ii), s9(2)(ba)(ii) and s9(2)(c). Also pointed to the Ombudsman’s published opinion on COVID-19 vaccine-contract refusals.
Open Health PDF →Request of 17 Aug 2026 sought the Cabinet paper or advice that led to the 17 Aug 2026 decision to commission an independent Detailed Business Case for an additional Waitematā Harbour Crossing, plus the terms of reference or scope. Four documents released in part (s9(2)(a), s9(2)(f)(iv), s9(2)(g)(i), s9(2)(i)). Cabinet paper and minute attachments refused under s18(d) pending proactive release.
Open MCERT PDF →Request of 23 Aug 2026 sought data-sharing agreements, privacy/risk assessments and 2021–2024 correspondence with Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency / Te Pou Matakana / Manurewa Marae / Te Whānau o Waipareira Trust on COVID-19 vaccination or 2023 Census data, plus audits or flags about possible electoral use. Health NZ released key documents as Appendices 1–3 (separate Drive files) with withholdings under s9(2)(a) and s9(2)(h).
Open Health NZ PDF →Request of 17 Aug 2026 sought information on allegations that 2025 Manurewa Local Board voting papers were stolen, opened, marked, resealed and returned, including complaints and correspondence with Auckland Council, Election Services or Police. SFO confirmed it has received a complaint (noting media reporting) but, under s10, would neither confirm nor deny the specific information requested.
Open SFO PDF →Request of 27 Aug 2026 asked when IR was first informed the Government would end final-year Fees Free; any advice on continuing, pausing or stopping paid advertising after the announcement; and a channel breakdown of advertising spend from 1 May 2026. IR said staff working on Budget initiatives became aware on 7 May; refused the advice part under s18(e); and released campaign spend of $42,973.08 excl. GST.
Open IR PDF →Request of 13 Aug 2026 sought records of information shared between NZ agencies and Australian counterparts about Brenton Harrison Tarrant before 15 March 2019, and post-attack reviews of Australia–NZ information-sharing. Parts 1–3 refused under s18(e) (documents do not exist). MBIE pointed to the Royal Commission as the main post-attack review.
Open MBIE PDF →Transferred from DPMC on 18 Aug 2026. Sought briefing notes, talking points and records of Jacinda Ardern’s 2021 calls with Albert Bourla and Anne Harris, plus subsequent advice. Health said it does not hold information prepared for the Prime Minister ahead of those calls. A small amount of follow-up email after a call on or around 10 March 2021 was withheld in full under s9(2)(b)(ii), s9(2)(ba)(i), s9(2)(g)(i) and s9(2)(j).
Open Health PDF →Request received 16 Aug 2026 sought any advice or briefings to the Minister for the Public Service or the Public Service Commissioner since 1 January 2025 on potential changes to s73 of the Public Service Act 2020 or policies on cultural and spiritual practices in public service workplaces. Advice to the Minister was refused under s18(d) as publicly available; advice to the Commissioner was refused under s18(e) (does not exist).
Open PSC PDF →Request received 23 Aug 2026 (later clarified) sought a schedule of 2020–2023 Treasury reports and briefings on indemnities to COVID-19 vaccine suppliers under s65ZD, copies if not already public, and narrowed correspondence. Treasury refused under s18(d), saying all in-scope information it holds is publicly available, citing T2021/2212 and Health’s 18 Sep 2023 vaccine-procurement summary.
Open Treasury PDF →Request received 31 Aug 2026 sought any conflict-of-interest declaration, assessment or management plan held by Te Māngai Pāho on funding decisions for UMA Broadcasting Limited (Radio Waatea) between 14 June 2022 and 27 November 2023, while Hon Willie Jackson was Minister for Broadcasting and Media and Minister for Māori Development. Te Māngai Pāho said it found no such documents for that period and that the Minister was not involved in its funding decisions.
Open Te Māngai Pāho PDF →Request of 23 Aug 2026 sought advice, briefings or risk assessments to the Minister for Biosecurity since 14 Aug 2026 on the third H5 bird-flu detection in the Wellington region. MPI said the Minister’s office was informed by phone on 21 Aug 2026 (the day the detection was confirmed). Draft communications material provided to the Minister was withheld under s9(2)(g)(i). The letter also points to published H5N1 pages and the 21 Aug media release.
Open MPI PDF →Transferred from DPMC; received 18 Aug 2026. Same Pfizer-calls request as DPMC 0110 / Health H2026086556. DIA searched using keywords from the request; one record mentioned the Pfizer vaccine but was not in scope. Request refused under s18(e) (does not exist / cannot be found).
Open DIA PDF →Request of 14 Aug 2026 (parts refined 1 Sep) sought advice on delaying the next GPS on Land Transport until after the 2026 election; the interim statement to regional transport committees; analyses of Crown NLTP funding, declining BCRs and OECD cost comparisons; and latest reform options. Eight documents identified: six to be proactively released (s18(d)); two withheld in full (s9(2)(f)(iv) also cited). Part 2: no further information held beyond the published 13 Aug 2026 ministerial statement.
Open MCERT PDF →Transferred from DIA on 28 Aug 2026. Sought any advice, briefings or Cabinet papers to the Minister of Local Government since 1 July 2026 on the rates-capping system (2–4 per cent target range, exemption criteria and independent regulator) announced on 25 Aug 2026. Refused in full under s18(d); pointed to published papers on the Ministry website.
Open MCERT PDF →Request of 17 Aug 2026 sought all information on allegations that 2025 Manurewa Local Board voting papers were stolen, opened, marked, resealed and returned; complaints or referrals and investigation status; and correspondence with Auckland Council, Election Services or SFO. Refused under s6(c) because the matter remained under active Police investigation.
Open Police PDF →Request of 14 Aug 2026 sought engagement records, personnel, advice and fees for Bell Gully’s work on COVID-19 vaccine negotiations, plus whether that prior work was considered when Bell Gully was later instructed on judicial review CIV-2024-404-845. Questions 1–4 were partially transferred to MBIE and Health. This letter answers question 5: Pharmac said it was aware of Bell Gully’s 2020–2021 procurement role and did not consider that a conflict.
Open Pharmac PDF →Request of 15 Aug 2026 sought the completed Independent Technical Advisory Group report on the review of the Waitangi Tribunal’s functions, scope and purpose, and any current advice to Ministers on the Government’s response. TPK said it holds both and withheld them in full under s9(2)(f)(iv), s9(2)(g)(i) and s9(2)(h), stating they form part of an active Ministerial policy process.
Open TPK PDF →DPMC transferred part 3; DIA received it on 6 Aug 2026. Part 3 sought internal reviews of record-keeping or OIA compliance arising from 2024–2025 PMO–Fonterra/Z Energy climate-litigation records and advice on limiting civil liability for emissions. DIA said the Chief Archivist is assessing PMO record-keeping on those matters and the outcome will be published when complete, so part 3 was refused under s18(d).
Open DIA PDF →Same three-part Tarrant Australia–NZ request; transferred to Customs on 13 Aug 2026. Customs said it holds no information in scope and refused in full under s18(e). Pointed to the Royal Commission report (Part 6 chs 6–7 and Part 8 ch 8).
Open Customs PDF →Part-transferred from DPMC on 6 Aug 2026 for advice to the Justice Minister on amending the law to limit civil liability for greenhouse-gas emissions. Mixed decision: some documents released with withholdings under s9(2)(a), s9(2)(g)(i) and s9(2)(h); later briefings refused under s18(d) as already in the published proactive-release pack. Released pack is a separate Drive appendix.
Open Justice PDF →Request of 31 Jul 2026 sought the full PSC and Stats NZ inquiry reports into alleged misuse of census and COVID-19 vaccination data associated with Manurewa Marae; recommendations and implementation status; and advice on whether matters were referred to Police or other agencies. Refused under s18(d) as already public. Links given to the PSC inquiry findings, the Stats NZ misuse-of-data report and remediation plan, and the SFO cross-agency update.
Open Stats NZ PDF →Request of 1 Aug 2026 sought numbers of people deported or refused entry on character or security grounds in 2024/25 and 2025/26, by nationality and specific ground, plus any internal trend reports. MBIE released totals (1,326 and 1,408) for voluntary departure, deportation, self-deportation and s117 turnaround, with nationality/reason breakdowns. Internal trend reports refused under s18(e) (do not exist).
Open MBIE PDF →Request of 31 Jul 2026 sought Tarrant’s international movements into, out of or through New Zealand from 2013 to 15 March 2019, information shared with foreign border agencies, and documents on whether travel patterns triggered risk assessment. MBIE released a nine-flight movement table (May 2013–December 2018) and 2018 PNR (some s9(2)(a) withholdings). Earlier PNR, alerts, foreign-agency sharing and trigger/screening documents were refused under s18(e).
Open MBIE PDF →The Drive file is a released-email pack (Appendix A), including a 26 June 2020 approach asking to put Prime Minister Ardern in touch with Bill Gates, and a 17 November 2020 Melinda Gates letter referring to development assistance, global health and COVID-19 vaccine access. Some names are withheld under s9(2)(a). The cover-letter decision text is not in the Drive snippet.
Open DIA PDF →Request of 24 Aug 2026 sought any advice, briefings or analysis provided to the Minister of Finance or the Prime Minister since 1 August 2026 on the feasibility, costs, impacts or alternatives of a bank tax or levy. Treasury refused the request under s18(e) (the document alleged to contain the information does not exist or cannot be found).
Open Treasury PDF →Request of 23 Aug 2026 sought any advice, briefings or analysis to the Minister of Finance or the Prime Minister since 1 August 2026 on an accommodation levy. Treasury refused under s18(e) (does not exist / cannot be found).
Open Treasury PDF →Request of 31 Jul 2026 sought a full CRRF programme list, 2020–2023 advice on scale/targeting, and any post-Inquiry analysis of “timely, temporary and targeted”. Parts 1–2 pointed to already-published Treasury COVID releases plus an unpublished 2024 spreadsheet; part 3 refused under s18(g) (not held).
Open Treasury PDF →Request of 31 Jul 2026 sought the complete 2017 licence application file, referee checks, and open-source/intelligence checks. Withheld under s9(2)(a) (privacy), s18(c)(i) (Inquiries Act suppression of referee identities), and s6(c) (prejudice to the law / ongoing coronial inquiry).
Open Police PDF →Request of 3 Aug 2026 sought records of engagements with Bill Gates, Melinda French Gates, the Gates Foundation, Pivotal Ventures, CEPI or GAVI. Part already transferred to DIA. PAG briefings to the former Prime Minister withheld in full under s9(2)(f)(ii), s9(2)(f)(iv) and s9(2)(g)(i). Current PMO holds nothing from the Ardern years.
Open DPMC PDF →Request of 31 Jul 2026 (part-transferred from DPMC) sought 2024–2025 PMO records with Fonterra or Z Energy on climate litigation, and advice on limiting civil liability for emissions. Remainder refused under s18(d) (PMO says a public release on Smith v Fonterra / CCRA amendments is coming). PAG briefings withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv), s9(2)(g)(i) and s9(2)(h).
Open PMO PDF →Request of 1 Aug 2026 sought declassified or publicly releasable assessments on foreign interference targeting New Zealand since 1 January 2023. Refused under s18(e) (no unclassified DPMC assessments of that type found). Pointed to existing DPMC counter-interference pages.
Open DPMC PDF →Request of 8 Aug 2026 sought ingredients, Safety Data Sheets and safety information for DrugWipe 3 S and Quantisal devices. Police refused the DrugWipe ingredient list under s18(g)(i) (not held / manufacturer proprietary), pointed to existing Police web pages for Quantisal, and released supporting safety/evaluation documents with some laboratory methodology withheld.
Open Police PDF →Parts transferred to NZSIS, Police, MBIE/Immigration and Customs. Remaining DPMC-produced material refused under s18(e) (does not exist / cannot be found).
Open DPMC PDF →Pointed to the already-published Cabinet paper and minutes on concluding the coordinated government response, and released a short additional extract. Part 3 of the request (evaluation of right-wing extremist threat detection) was transferred to NZSIS.
Open DPMC PDF →Partial transfer to DIA and Health. Four 2021 meetings/calls listed as already in the published Prime Minister’s diary. PAG briefings withheld under s9(2)(f)(iv) and s9(2)(g)(i).
Open DPMC PDF →Referred to Treasury (which administered the Fund) rather than transferred, because Treasury had already received the same request.
Open DPMC PDF →Request received 31 Jul 2026 sought the full PSC and Stats NZ inquiry reports into alleged misuse of census and COVID-19 vaccination data associated with Manurewa Marae, recommendations and implementation status, and any advice on Police or other referrals. PSC refused under s18(d), pointing to the 5 December 2024 published inquiry into how government agencies protected personal information provided for the 2023 Census and COVID-19 vaccination purposes.
Open PSC PDF →Latest letters 2 Oct 2026 · Requests we sent · a transfer with no papers is not listed · names and emails are removed from the PDFs
Other releases agencies have published
These are not requests we sent. They are a small sample of OIA replies agencies have already put online. Open the link to read the full release.
- MFAT — Communications with China about MPs visiting Taiwan Released 7 Aug 2026 · published 11 Aug 2026 MFAT OIA responses →
- Te Waihanga — Infrastructure in flood-prone / coastal hazard areas 21 Jul 2026 Te Waihanga OIA responses →
- Te Waihanga — Advice to MBIE on LNG import facility 16 Jun 2026 Te Waihanga OIA responses →
- Treasury — Kiwi Bank capital raise correspondence 18 Jun 2026 · OIA-20260151 Treasury OIA responses →
- Treasury — EV charging infrastructure policy advice 18 Jun 2026 · OIA-20260231 Treasury OIA responses →
- MFAT — Fuel-related assistance to Pacific Island countries 1 Jul 2026 · published 7 Jul 2026 MFAT OIA responses →
- MFAT — Use of AI at the ministry 26 Jun 2026 MFAT OIA responses →
- Crown Response Office — Ministerial advisory groups since the 2023 election Published 2 Jul 2026 · OIA 1210-26 Crown Response OIA list →
Sampled Aug 2026 · From agency disclosure logs · browse FYI.org.nz for citizen-filed requests
Campaign finance
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Electoral Commission donation years 2023–2025
Donation mix by party
Named large donors use the same colour on each pie. Switch year for election-year (2023) vs later returns.
About this data
Party donation figures from Electoral Commission returns
(elections.nz
and published analyses (rounded). Small-donor age/gender is not published by the Commission.
Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
Political finance snapshot (2024–2025)
Independent analysis of official Electoral Commission party donation returns by Dr Bryce Edwards and the Democracy Project ((Following the Money audits). This site does not re-audit the returns.
| Metric | 2024 (2025 audit) | 2025 returns (2026 update) |
|---|---|---|
| Total declared | $10.5m | $14.7m (+40%) |
| National | ~$4.9m (46.5%) | $6.28m |
| Coalition (Nat + ACT + NZ First) | $7.1m | ~$10m |
| Opposition (Lab + Green + TPM) | $3.3m | $4.4m |
| Donors >$50k | 11 donors → >$1.18m (all Coalition) | 28 donors → ~$3.1m (>20% of all money) |
| Concentration | Donors over $5,000 = 0.2% of donors but 34% of total money (2024 audit) | |
Patterns noted in the audits
- Property / construction / infrastructure is the dominant donor sector in Edwards’ analysis; almost all of that flow goes to Coalition parties.
- Fast-track–linked donations: over $180,000 in 2024 alone to National and NZ First; cumulative figures since 2022 have passed $1 million, with ~90% going to the two parties most responsible for the regime (Edwards / related reporting of Electoral Commission returns).
- Two funding systems: Coalition parties lean on large corporate and high-net-worth donors; Opposition parties rely more on small individual donations and MP tithing.
Credit & sources: Dr Bryce Edwards / Democracy Project, Following the Money in 2025 (annual audit) and 2026 update on 2025 returns, based on official Electoral Commission party donation returns. Read the full audits for appendices, sector tables and case studies.
Political advertising spend (public sources)
Donations are only half the money story. Parties and promoters also spend on ads. Official and public sources include the Electoral Commission (party expense returns each election; annual donation returns), the state broadcasting allocation, and the Meta Ad Library and Google Ads Transparency Center for digital political ads.
- 2026 election rules (regulated period 7 Aug – 6 Nov 2026): party expense limit about $1.503m plus $36,000 per electorate candidate; registered third-party promoters up to about $424,000 (Electoral Commission / RNZ explainers — always confirm current limits on elections.nz).
- Broadcasting allocation (public funds, not private donations): for the 2026 cycle parties were allocated a combined ~$4.15m for radio/TV/online (e.g. National ~$1.08m, Labour ~$0.91m, Greens ~$0.39m, ACT ~$0.33m, NZ First ~$0.29m, Te Pāti Māori ~$0.23m — RNZ reporting of official allocation).
- Digital libraries: Meta and Google publish political-ad spend in ranges. Independent trackers (and tools such as OpenBrief insights) aggregate these; figures move daily and are not official Electoral Commission totals.
- 2023 election party expenses (audited returns on elections.nz): example totals included Labour ~$3.51m, ACT ~$2.78m, National ~$2.55m, Greens ~$1.34m of declared election expenses (separate from donations).
Electoral Commission — donations & loans →
2023 party expense returns →
Meta Ad Library (NZ political) →
Google Ads Transparency →
NZ Political Ad Tracker (independent) →
Sources: Electoral Commission; RNZ political-finance explainers (2026); 2023 party expense returns. Digital spend ranges are platform-reported, not audited party returns. Last updated: August 2026.
Also: public broadcasting allocation (2023)
Separate from donations, parties received a statutory broadcasting allocation for election advertising (radio, TV, online) decided by the Electoral Commission:
- Labour — about $1.23m
- National — about $1.04m
- ACT — about $0.35m
- Greens — about $0.35m
- Te Pāti Māori — about $0.20m
- NZ First — about $0.17m
All MPs — finances & interests
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Parliament Register of Pecuniary Interests 2026
About this data
Interests from Parliament’s official Register of Pecuniary Interests (as at 31 Jan 2026)
— PDF.
The Register has no dollar values. Any “Est. prop” figures are NZ Herald (Nov 2025) property-only estimates, not net worth.
Ordered by role, not wealth. Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
2026 Register · full House
as at 31 Jan 2026 · no $ values in the Register~271
Declared properties (≈2.24 / MP)
~2.8
Nat avg properties / MP (Greens <1)
Full
Every MP who filed · leaders first
Declared interests from the official Register (companies, trusts, property, debts, gifts, overseas travel, etc.). “Est. prop” on some cards = NZ Herald Nov 2025 property-only estimates, not net worth. Ordered by role, not wealth. Click Show details for the full declaration.
Foreign influence
Last updated 15 Aug 2026 · NZSIS Security Threat Environment 2026 (released 13 Aug) · ownership pies · CRFI Hub
Open diplomacy, trade and lobbying are normal. Interference is deceptive, coercive or covert activity by a foreign state. Ownership is not control. Public sources only — not an intelligence assessment.
STE 2026
Fourth NZSIS unclassified report · 13 Aug
PRC
Most active · only state detected spying at scale
Possible
Terror threat level · lone actor most likely
$50
Max overseas political donation
Who owns what
Sourced public snapshots (not one official all-sector census). Red ≈ foreign control · green ≈ NZ · blue ≈ Crown/council. Ownership ≠ interference.
Banks (lending)
■ AU Big Four + other foreign ~90%
■ NZ-owned banks ~10%
RBNZ: AU majors 84% of lending; NZ-owned 10%; other 6%
■ NZ-owned banks ~10%
RBNZ: AU majors 84% of lending; NZ-owned 10%; other 6%
Supermarkets
■ Foodstuffs (NZ co-ops) ~50%
■ Woolworths NZ (AU parent) ~32%
■ Other retailers ~18%
ComCom Annual Grocery Report 2025: majors still 82% combined
■ Woolworths NZ (AU parent) ~32%
■ Other retailers ~18%
ComCom Annual Grocery Report 2025: majors still 82% combined
Dairy processing
■ NZ (Fonterra ~78% + others) ~90%
■ Foreign-owned processors ~10%
Milk collections; Fonterra farmer co-op still dominant
■ Foreign-owned processors ~10%
Milk collections; Fonterra farmer co-op still dominant
Electricity
■ Crown ≥51% (Meridian, Mercury, Genesis) ~55%
■ NZ private / listed (Contact & others) ~30%
■ Offshore free-float capital ~15%
Big four gentailers ~83% of generation (EA YE Jun 2025)
■ NZ private / listed (Contact & others) ~30%
■ Offshore free-float capital ~15%
Big four gentailers ~83% of generation (EA YE Jun 2025)
Mobile telecom
■ Spark + One NZ (NZ-controlled) ~77%
■ 2degrees (Macquarie / Aware Super) ~21%
■ MVNOs ~2%
Mobile revenue share ~Dec 2025; One NZ is Infratil
■ 2degrees (Macquarie / Aware Super) ~21%
■ MVNOs ~2%
Mobile revenue share ~Dec 2025; One NZ is Infratil
Ports
■ Council / public majority ~90%
■ Listed / private minorities ~10%
Most major ports majority council-owned; Tauranga has the largest private minority
■ Listed / private minorities ~10%
Most major ports majority council-owned; Tauranga has the largest private minority
News media
■ Public (TVNZ, RNZ) ~30%
■ NZ private / listed ~25%
■ Foreign-linked capital ~45%
By major outlet control (JMAD 2025) — not audience share
■ NZ private / listed ~25%
■ Foreign-linked capital ~45%
By major outlet control (JMAD 2025) — not audience share
Sources: RBNZ banking sector · ComCom grocery reports · Electricity Authority · JMAD media ownership 2025 · LINZ OIO dashboards
The rules
Donations
Overseas person cap $50 (Electoral Act s 207K)
Investment
OIO screens sensitive land & assets · reforms 6 Mar 2026
Interference law
2025 Act: improper conduct for a foreign power (in force 27 Nov)
Gap
No AU/UK-style public foreign-agent register
| Tool | New Zealand | Australia | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public register | None. A member’s bill is in the ballot — not law. | FITS (2018) | FIRS (in force Jul 2025) |
| Criminal law | Crimes Act offences from Nov 2025 | Espionage / foreign-interference offences | National Security Act + FIRS |
| Political money | $50 overseas-person cap | Foreign donations banned (federal) | Foreign donations restricted |
What you can track vs what stays opaque
Public / trackable
- Party donations (annual returns)
- MP pecuniary interests
- Bills, Hansard, select committees
- Some OIA releases · OIO dashboards
- NZSIS unclassified threat language
Still opaque
- No lobbying / foreign-agent register
- Beneficial ownership chains / trusts
- Real-time donation timing gaps
- Covert interference (by design)
- Informal access not on the record
Helen Clark Foundation Shining a Light (2024) · NZSIS public assessments
NZSIS — Security Threat Environment 2026
Fourth annual unclassified assessment, released 13 August 2026 (Director-General Andrew Hampton). NZSIS says challenges have intensified — “the most challenging of recent times” — and that New Zealand’s size, Pacific location, innovation, security partnerships and Antarctica gateway make it attractive to threat actors. Open NZ is not an intelligence agency; this is a public summary of what they published.
Six key assessments
- Geopolitical upheaval is bringing downstream threats to New Zealand’s safety and security.
- Public and private sectors are being targeted for IP, innovative technology and other non-public information.
- Diaspora communities are being unfairly targeted to limit the democratic rights they enjoy here.
- More insiders are causing harm — deliberately, influenced by outsiders, or unwittingly.
- Another terrorist attack is assessed as Possible — most likely a lone actor in a crowded place, little or no warning.
- Violent extremism is shaped by mixed ideologies, domestic and international events, and mainstreamed online rhetoric (including antisemitism and Islamophobia; AI making content easier to produce).
Espionage
Several states spy on NZ. The PRC is the only one NZSIS has detected at scale. That should not stop legitimate business — “eyes wide open”. Targets include government, dual-use research, space and other tech.
Interference
Must be deceptive, corruptive or coercive. PRC is the most active; several other states also operate, at varying scale. Proxies, not just diplomats. Pacific is a high-interest theatre.
Communities & elections
Ethnic communities are often the targets (lawfare, withheld passports/visas, bank/property pressure, harassment of family overseas). Influence-building expected through the late-2026 election; NZSIS says it is unlikely to change the result.
Insiders
Harm can be deliberate, coerced, or unwitting (including lucrative job offers and self-censoring to stay onside with a foreign state). New public guidance: Secure your team and Tiaki Pākihi Māori.
Read the report · PDF (3.5 MB) · 13 Aug media release · Protective Security Requirements
Timeline
2017–19
Public debate · inquiry
2023
First NZSIS unclassified
Nov 2025
Interference Act
Mar 2026
OIO reforms
Aug 2026
STE 2026 report
Trade & Free Trade Agreements
Last updated 24 Sep 2026 · India FTA 3R 16 Sep 93–29 · in force 20 Oct 2026
Public Stats NZ, MPI and MFAT trade and FTA data. Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
$84.0bn
Goods exports
year ended June 2026
year ended June 2026
$87.8bn
Goods imports
year ended June 2026
year ended June 2026
~$27bn
Dairy export revenue
(primary sector core)
(primary sector core)
~71%
Exports covered by
high-quality FTAs (2025)
high-quality FTAs (2025)
1. International trade snapshot
Stats NZ overseas merchandise trade (year ended June 2026): goods exports $84.0 billion (up $7.8bn on the prior year); goods imports $87.8 billion (up $7.1bn). Primary-sector export revenue was about $60.4bn in the year to June 2025 and is forecast around $62bn for the year to June 2026 (MPI SOPI).
Services matter too: in the March 2026 quarter, total goods + services exports were $31.4bn and imports $29.5bn (two-way $60.9bn). Travel services remain a large services export.
Top export partners (goods, approximate share)
Indicative shares from recent annual merchandise data (China remains the single largest market for dairy, horticulture, seafood and forestry).
China
~25%
Australia
~13%
United States
~12%
Japan
~5%
Korea / EU / UK
rest
What NZ sells (goods mix)
| Group | Scale (indicative) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dairy | ~$27bn primary export revenue; ~30%+ of goods exports by value in many years | World’s largest single-country dairy exporter (~22% of global dairy trade). Milk powder, butter, cheese, infant formula. |
| Meat & wool | ~$12–13bn | Beef and sheepmeat; strong US, China, EU, UK demand in 2025–26. |
| Horticulture | ~$9bn (forecast rising) | Kiwifruit (especially gold), apples, avocados, wine often grouped nearby. |
| Forestry | ~$6bn+ | Logs and wood products; China a major destination. |
| Seafood, other | Seafood ~$2bn+; wine, aluminium, machinery also material | Diversification beyond commodities is a long-running policy goal. |
Sources: Stats NZ Overseas merchandise trade (June 2026 year); MPI Situation and Outlook for Primary Industries (Dec 2025).
2. Free trade agreements
New Zealand has spent decades building a dense FTA network. Government statements in 2025–26 put coverage of exports under high-quality FTAs around 71%. Recent big steps: EU FTA (in force 1 May 2024), UK FTA, UAE CEPA (in force 28 Aug 2025), and the India FTA (3R 16 Sep 2026, 93–29; enters into force 20 Oct 2026).
| Agreement | Partners / scope | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CER | Australia | In force (deepest bilateral) |
| NZ–China FTA | China | In force; dairy zero-tariff fully phased |
| CPTPP | 11+ economies (Pacific + UK accession) | In force; accessions ongoing |
| RCEP | ASEAN + China, Japan, Korea, Australia, NZ | In force (largest by population/GDP) |
| AANZFTA | ASEAN + Australia + NZ | In force; upgraded |
| NZ–EU FTA | European Union | In force 1 May 2024; strong early export growth |
| NZ–UK FTA | United Kingdom | In force |
| NZ–UAE CEPA | United Arab Emirates | In force 28 Aug 2025 |
| Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong | Bilateral FTAs / CEPs | In force |
| PACER Plus | Pacific partners | In force |
| DEPA | Digital Economy Partnership | In force (digital trade rules) |
| India FTA | India | Passed 16 Sep 2026 (93–29) · in force 20 Oct 2026 |
FTAs cut tariffs, set rules on services, investment, digital trade and (increasingly) labour and environment. They are negotiated by the executive and examined by Parliament’s treaties process — but most citizens never see the detail. Tracking what was promised vs what exporters actually gain is part of democratic oversight.
3. Domestic trade & the internal economy
International trade sits on top of a larger domestic economy. Services dominate GDP; wholesale and retail move goods inside the country; construction, professional services, health and real estate are large domestic employers. Primary industries are a smaller share of GDP than of export receipts — which is why farm-gate and processing ownership (see Foreign Influence tab) still matter politically.
Services
Largest share of GDP (professional, health, finance, rental…)
Wholesale + retail
Tens of billions in quarterly sales; Foodstuffs vs Woolworths duopoly in grocery
Primary
~5% of GDP but the backbone of goods exports
Domestic competition policy (Commerce Commission market studies on grocery, building supplies, etc.) and infrastructure (ports, roads, energy — see Energy Supply tab) shape how efficiently export industries can operate. Citizens can track both the overseas deals and the internal rules that decide who captures the value.
China concentration is both prosperity and leverage risk. FTAs bind future governments — Parliament’s treaty exam is often low-profile. Always check Stats NZ trade and MFAT.
Economics
Last updated 5 Oct 2026 · Stats NZ June qtr still latest GDP (0.2% q/q, released 17 Sep) · unemployment 5.6% June qtr · OCR 2.75% · next review 28 Oct · PREFU 22 Sep
About this data
Official published data — Stats NZ, Treasury (BEFU/HYEFU), RBNZ, IRD. Forecasts are labelled. Not advice.
Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
Headline rates with small yearly (or latest) change badges — same layout as Outcomes. green = improving for that metric · red = worsening · grey = flat / context.
+0.2% Jun qtr
Real GDP q/q (Jun 2026)
~$455b ye Jun
Nominal GDP (ye Jun 2026)
4.1% ↑1.4pp
CPI inflation (ye Jun 2026)
2.75% ↑25bp
OCR (Sep 2026 MPS)
5.6% ↑0.2pp
Unemployment (Jun 2026 qtr)
~42% ↑ debt
Net core Crown debt % GDP
$3.8b ↓ $0.7bn
Goods trade deficit (ye Jun 2026)
$16.3b ↓ vs $20b
Current account deficit (ye Dec 2025)
Growth path — real GDP
How much the economy grew or shrank each quarter (Stats NZ, series as at the 17 Sep 2026 release). Green = grew, red = shrank. Longer bar = bigger change. Latest: +0.2% in Jun 2026. March 2026 was revised to +0.9%.
Jun 2024
−0.5%
Sep 2024
−1.2%
Dec 2024
+0.1%
Mar 2025
+0.8%
Jun 2025
−0.6%
Sep 2025
+0.9%
Dec 2025
+0.5%
Mar 2026
+0.9%
Jun 2026
+0.2%
Source: Stats NZ GDP, 17 Sep 2026 release. Longest red bar (Sep 2024, −1.2%) = biggest drop in this window. Highlighted row = latest quarter.
Debt & deficit (Treasury)
Net core Crown debt rose from under 20% of GDP pre-COVID to ~42% by early 2026. OBEGALx (operating balance before gains and losses, excluding ACC) has been in deficit since 2019/20.
Net debt 2024/25 (actual)$182.2b · 41.9% GDP
Net debt Mar 2026 YTD$187.8b · 42.2% GDP
OBEGALx 2024/25−$9.3b (−2.1%)
OBEGALx 2025/26 f’cast−$11.9b (−2.6%)
Surplus targetFrom 2028/29 (BEFU)
Source: Treasury BEFU 2026; Interim Financial Statements to 31 Mar 2026.
Debt % of GDP path (forecast)
Net core Crown debt % GDP — BEFU 2026
25
41.9%
41.9%
26f
42.4%
42.4%
27f
45.6%
45.6%
28f
46.1%
46.1%
29f
45.6%
45.6%
30f
44.4%
44.4%
Peak ~46.1% in 2027/28, then easing. Pre-COVID was under 20%.
Inflation & policy
Annual CPI reached 4.1% in the year to June 2026 (RBNZ Prices M1), above the 1–3% target band after the Middle East fuel shock. RBNZ raised the OCR to 2.50% on 8 July 2026, then to 2.75% in the September 2026 MPS. The July move was the first hike in three years. Expects inflation to ease as oil prices fall. Unemployment was 5.6% in the June 2026 quarter (Stats NZ). CPI was 4.1% in the year to June. RBNZ lifted the OCR to 2.75% on 2 September 2026. Next review is 2pm Wednesday 28 October 2026. Treasury’s PREFU (22 Sep) forecast June-quarter GDP at 0.0% before Stats NZ’s 0.2% result.
CPI Jun-25
2.7%
CPI mar-26
3.1%
CPI jun-26
4.1%
Target band
1–3%
Other points of interest
- Current account: deficit around 3.5–4% of GDP (Treasury forecasts) — NZ runs a persistent external deficit funded by foreign capital.
- Core Crown revenue / expenses: revenue ~30–31% of GDP; expenses a little higher while deficits persist (BEFU 2026).
- Growth outlook: Treasury BEFU 2026 — real GDP +1.2% in 2025/26, +2.3% in 2026/27, then ~3% as recovery broadens (oil shock delayed the path vs HYEFU).
- IMF (mid-2026): recovery delayed by energy shock; urged rebuilding fiscal buffers and productivity reforms.
Trade balance & current account
Official Stats NZ series. A goods trade deficit means merchandise imports exceed exports. The current account also includes services, investment income and transfers — the broader external balance.
$2.8b
Annual goods trade deficit
ye Apr 2026 (was $5.1b prior year)
ye Apr 2026 (was $5.1b prior year)
$81.7b
Annual goods exports
ye Apr 2026 (+$6.4b)
ye Apr 2026 (+$6.4b)
$84.4b
Annual goods imports
ye Apr 2026 (+$4.1b)
ye Apr 2026 (+$4.1b)
$16.3b
Current account deficit
ye Dec 2025 (3.7% of GDP)
ye Dec 2025 (3.7% of GDP)
Annual current account deficit (year ended in quarter)
The current account deficit has narrowed sharply from the 2022 peak (~9% of GDP) toward ~3.5–3.7% of GDP, helped by primary exports and recovering services (including tourism). Goods trade is still in deficit on an annual basis, but the gap is smaller than a year earlier as exports outpaced import growth. Quarterly balances can swing with dairy prices, oil, and machinery imports — use annual figures for the trend.
Sources: Overseas merchandise trade: April 2026; Balance of payments: December 2025 quarter. Last data update: Aug 2026.
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Te Waihanga June snapshot (published Aug) · NZTA pipeline 9 Jul · CRL opened 13 Sep
Public pipeline only — announced costs and opening years move. Fully funded is not the same as “will be built as costed”.
$290b
Total pipeline (Jun 2026)
$71.2b
Under construction
$95.8b
Fully funded · about one third
$18.6b
Committed spend, next 12 months
Where the money sits
■ Fully funded $95.8b
■ Confirmed source $97b
■ No confirmed source $97b
■ Confirmed source $97b
■ No confirmed source $97b
Next 12 months (committed / confirmed)
Transport$9.6b · 46%
Water$4.7b · 22%
Energy, health, education, otherrest
~12,500 initiatives · 54 projects over $1b (21 of those have no confirmed funding). Combined committed/confirmed value $192.8b.
Source: Te Waihanga pipeline snapshot (June 2026 update, published Aug 2026). Coverage is incomplete; totals can understate activity.
Open · since 13 Sep
City Rail Link
Open
Passengers from 13 Sep 2026
~$5.5b
Public cost (2023 reforecast)
Opened to passengers 13 Sep 2026. First week 528,007 boardings (record). Waitematā–Maungawhau via Te Waihorotiu and Karanga-a-Hape. Crown 51% / Auckland Council 49%.
CRL Ltd · AT / KiwiRail now operating
Build 2027 · sail 2029
Cook Strait ferries
≤ $1.7b
Taxpayer envelope
2029
Kupe & Cook arrive
Two rail-enabled hybrids (GSI, Nov 2025 ship contract). KiwiRail confirmed operator Jul 2026. Picton + Wellington terminals staged to match.
RoNS this term
Four building, two starting
4
Under construction now
5
In the slow lane (no date)
Full 17-road programme discussed around ~$56b / 20 years. NZTA is sequencing as funding allows — not a single start date.
NZTA pipeline · 9 Jul 2026
RoNS & major transport — status
Building now
- Ōtaki to north of Levin
- Hawke’s Bay Expressway
- Takitimu North Link Stage 1
- SH29 Tauriko West
Starting / signed
- Warkworth–Te Hana PPP signed Jul 2026 (~$3.65b NPV) · build late 2027 · open ~2033
- Cambridge–Piarere $1.773b (Budget 2026) · Stage 1 aim early 2027
Preparing
- Woodend Bypass / Belfast–Pegasus
- Takitimu North Link Stage 2
- Mill Road Stage 1 · Hope Bypass Stage 1
- Northwest Busway further stages
Slow lane — no date
- Northland Expressway Te Hana–Whangārei (excl. Brynderwyn)
- East–West Link
- Mill Road Alfriston–Drury
- Petone to Grenada
- Hope Bypass Stage 2
Also underway (not RoNS)
Eastern Busway (south-east Auckland, staged BRT) · Melling Interchange · Brougham Street (Christchurch) · second Ashburton Bridge.
KiwiRail: Budget 2026 indicated up to ~$1.075b for the 2027–2030 network programme, plus metro rail renewals in Auckland and Wellington.
Already open: Pūhoi–Warkworth (Ara Tūhono) and Transmission Gully (ongoing remediation noted).
Water — second-largest sector
Local Water Done Well replaced Three Waters. Councils keep ownership; many are standing up council-controlled water organisations. Taumata Arowai sets quality rules; the Commerce Commission is the economic regulator. Te Waihanga has water spend staying above $2b a year through to 2032.
See your council on the tab · DIA — Local Water Done Well
How to read this
- The $290b total mixes funded, part-funded and unfunded ideas. About one third is fully funded.
- Dates are targets. RoNS stages get split, sequenced or parked when money is tight.
- A “taxpayer envelope” (ferries) is not the whole project cost — ports and operators also pay.
- Energy generation and fuel stocks live on the tab — not duplicated here.
The tax base — who pays what
New Zealand’s tax system is relatively simple by OECD standards: no general capital gains tax on most assets, no payroll social-security contributions, and heavy reliance on personal income tax and GST. Inland Revenue administered tax revenue was about $116.6 billion in the year to June 2025; with net Customs GST, total was about $129.4 billion.
Individuals ~51% — PAYE, other personal tax (year to Jun 2025 share of IR + Customs GST)
GST ~27–33% — 15% rate since 2010
Companies ~16% — company tax rate 28%
Duties & other — smaller share
Source: IRD revenue statistics (composition of IR tax + Customs GST, year to June 2025). Shares approximate from published IR charts.
Main rates (indicative)
- GST: 15%
- Company tax: 28%
- Personal: progressive brackets (thresholds adjusted in Budget 2024 package)
- No broad CGT on most personal assets; bright-line rules apply to residential property
- No social security contributions of the European type — a key OECD difference
Compliance & debt
- IRD collected $4.3b in overdue tax/entitlements in 2024–25
- ~94.5% of tax paid on time and in full
- Cost to collect: about 46 cents per $100
- Compliance interventions identified ~$1.45b in revenue / disallowed expenditure
Source: IRD Annual Report 2025.
Offshore leaks — NZ facts
Avoidance (legal) is not evasion (illegal). NZ’s debate was whether foreign trusts — tax-free for non-resident settlors, light disclosure until 2017 — were a weak transparency link.
2016 Panama
Mossack Fonseca marketed NZ trusts as private, zero-tax for non-residents.
2017 Paradise
Appleby files. NZ entities in ICIJ data — smaller domestic crisis than Panama.
2021 Pandora
NZ trusts still used by some foreign PEPs after the 2017 reforms.
- IRD / Panama: fewer than 200 NZ-linked trusts in that dataset; government said those checked were disclosed under then-rules.
- Shewan Inquiry 2016: disclosure inadequate for reputation / AML risk — not a finding that NZ was a classic “tax haven”. Registration + annual returns followed.
- Volume: ~11,671 foreign trusts (2016) → ~2,254 (FIU 2024) — about an 81% fall. A leak is not automatically a crime.
ICIJ Offshore Leaks · Shewan Inquiry (Treasury) · NZ Police FIU NRA 2024 · RNZ / Stuff 2016
Foreign trusts — before vs after reform
Registered foreign trusts, 2016 vs 2024
~11,671
2016
→
~2,254
2024
~81% decline after registration, annual returns, and information-sharing with Police / DIA. Structure still exists; volume is far smaller.
Primary sources: Stats NZ GDP releases; Treasury BEFU 2026 / HYEFU 2025 / interim financial statements; RBNZ Prices (M1) and OCR decisions; IRD revenue statistics & Annual Report 2025; Shewan Inquiry 2016; NZ Police FIU National Risk Assessment 2024; ICIJ / RNZ reporting on Panama, Paradise, and Pandora Papers. Always verify against the latest official release.
NZ energy
Last updated 5 Oct 2026 · MBIE fuel stocks 27 Sep · AIS tankers checked 5 Oct · electricity Jun 2026 qtr still latest
Map of tankers whose AIS destination is a New Zealand fuel port. Checked 5 Oct 2026 on VesselFinder. Stocks remain the MBIE 27 Sep snapshot.
Ships bringing fuel to NZ
Checked 5 Oct 2026 on VesselFinder port pages (Marsden Point, Tauranga, Wellington, Napier, New Plymouth, Nelson, Lyttelton, Timaru, Port Chalmers, Bluff) and the vessel pages for ships whose destination is one of those ports. Solid orange is a recent AIS region. Hollow orange is a rough estimate from the last fix and speed, or from the port ETA when no track was public. Not GPS.
9
Named, on the map
3
Name unknown, distance only
1
Named, AIS too old to plot
12
MBIE count (27 Sep, unnamed)
Map base provided by user. Solid orange = a recent AIS region. Hollow orange = estimated from the last fix, course and speed, or from the port ETA when no track was public. Checked 5 Oct 2026. Not GPS. Green = New Zealand. Blue = source regions. Red = Hormuz.
Disclaimer: estimates assume the ship kept the last reported speed and course. Where there is no AIS, the dot only shows distance from the port at about 12 knots, and the direction is a guess. Check VesselFinder for a live position.
Full ship list — AIS check 5 Oct — expand
VesselFinder and ShipFinder on 5 Oct 2026. A ship is listed only if it is a tanker and its destination, or the port expected-arrival list, is a NZ fuel port. Four of the seven unnamed expected ships matched a real ship by flag, year, tonnage and size. The other three still have no public name. Positions marked “estimate” are speed × time from the last fix, not a new AIS report.
| Ship | Destination (VesselFinder) | ETA / status | On map |
|---|---|---|---|
| STI La Boca | Tauranga | ETA 7 Oct 10:00 · South Pacific · 13 kn · AIS 31h · last Onsan · chemical/oil products | Yes |
| Cape Brasilia | Lyttelton | ETA 8 Oct 06:00 · last AIS West Australia 6 days ago · dot is an estimate in the Tasman, not a live fix · chemical/oil products | Yes · estimated |
| Mohac | Wellington | ETA was 5 Oct 00:30 and the destination is still Wellington · South Pacific · 8 kn · AIS live · last Napier · chemical/oil products | Yes |
| Hafnia Falcon | Wellington | Destination still Wellington · page ETA 2 Oct, so it is late or the destination has not been updated · South Pacific · AIS 3 min · last Tauranga 30 Sep | Yes |
| Manavai | Timaru | ETA 5 Oct 12:00 · South Pacific · 12.9 kn · AIS 9h · last Pago Pago · matches the Timaru expected product tanker | Yes |
| Gem Topaz | Lyttelton (AIS) | AIS dest Lyttelton, ETA 7 Oct 11:00, but the last fix is East Asia 18 days ago. Not plotted. Port Otago also lists an oil-jetty call on 11 Oct from Timaru. | No · AIS too old |
| Name unknown | Marsden Point | Expected 7 Oct 04:00 · chemical/oil products · built 2026 · GT 29,887 · 49,995 DWT · 183×32 m · Marshall Islands. No public name matched those figures. No AIS and no last port. If it holds about 12 kn it is roughly 440 nm out. Dot is north of Northland only to show that distance. Direction is not known. | Yes · ETA guess |
| Morning Crane | Marsden Point | Crude · Liberia · 2020 · GT 61,651 · 109,827 DWT · 246×42 m. Matches the Marsden expected crude tanker, ETA 13 Oct 21:00. ShipFinder last fix 29 Sep 16:41 UTC at 33.8°N 140.2°E, course 162°, 14.1 kn, under way, draught 12 m. About 5.4 days at 14.1 kn is ~1,830 nm, roughly 4.8°N 150.5°E in the Philippine Sea. Still a long way from NZ. Estimate, not a new AIS fix. If it has slowed toward 12 kn it is a little further north. | Yes · estimated |
| Tasco Prasit | Tauranga | Bitumen · Thailand (particulars also say Singapore) · 2026 · GT 6,938 · 8,544 DWT · 110×19 m. Matches the Tauranga expected bitumen tanker, ETA 9 Oct 03:00. ShipFinder last fix 2 Oct 16:13 UTC at 18.0°S 153.5°E, course 133°, 10.8 kn, draught 7.8 m. About 2.4 days later that is roughly 25.2°S 161.8°E, northeast of NZ, about 1,050 nm and 4 days from Tauranga, which matches the ETA. VesselFinder’s free page still only says East Australia. Estimate. | Yes · estimated |
| Capilano Sun | Nelson | Chemical/oil products · Panama · 2021 · GT 30,873 · 49,999 DWT · 186×32 m. Matches the Nelson expected tanker, ETA 8 Oct 09:00. Left Geelong 3 Oct 04:06 UTC. Maritime Optima puts it in the Tasman Sea with AIS about an hour old, but no public lat/long. From Geelong at 13.1 kn for about 47 hours that is ~610 nm, roughly 39.6°S 157.3°E in the western Tasman, about 740 nm and two days from Nelson. Dot uses that calculation. | Yes · estimated |
| Name unknown | Napier | Expected 5 Oct 04:00 · chemical/oil products · built 2020 · GT 16,179 · 25,245 DWT · 160×25 m · Marshall Islands. No departure found. Fairchem Blue Shark is a near sister (GT 16,179, built 2019, DWT 25,202) and is not this ship. The ETA has passed by about 12 hours, so it may be alongside. No AIS. Dot is at Napier as that guess, not a sighting. | Yes · ETA guess |
| Chem Lithium | Bluff | Chemical/oil products · Liberia · 2017 · GT 11,918 · 19,981 DWT · 146.5×24 m. Matches the Bluff expected tanker, ETA 5 Oct 15:30. Left New Plymouth 2 Oct 01:18 UTC. VesselFinder: South Pacific, AIS 2 days old, 12.1 kn, draught 8.0 m. About 73 hours at 12.1 kn is ~890 nm, which fits the coastal run, so the dot is at Bluff for the ETA. Last plotted coordinates were in Cook Strait on 2 Oct (about 41.1°S 174.5°E), when the destination still said Timaru. Not a live fix. | Yes · ETA |
| Name unknown | Bluff | Expected 8 Oct 14:00 · chemical/oil products · built 2004 · GT 5,489 · 9,091 DWT · 120×18 m · Hong Kong. No public name, no departure and no AIS. At about 12 kn it is roughly 840 nm from Bluff. The dot is placed that far west, in the southern Tasman, only to show the distance. The direction is not known. | Yes · distance only |
Checked 5 Oct 2026, afternoon NZ time. Estimates use the last public fix and assume the ship kept that speed and course. They are not a new AIS report. Left NZ and not listed: Yasa Panther (now for Sohar), Oriental Aquamarine (Yeosu), Lian Le Hu (Singapore), Sea Meridian (Daesan), CC Ningbo, CL Pearl Buck and Oak Express. Gas Blossom is on the Port Otago LPG berth for 9 Oct, but its live AIS destination is not New Zealand. Click a name for the live page. Check VesselFinder for live data.
Pump prices (national average)
Gaspy national averages reported 30 Sep 2026 (NZ Fuel Watch / Gaspy). Not an MBIE official pump figure. No later national average was found on 5 Oct.
$3.471
91 · ↑55.5c / 28d
$3.654
95 · ↑56.4c / 28d
$3.812
98 · ↑54.4c / 28d
$3.199
Diesel · ↑59.8c / 28d
Current fuel stocks (MBIE)
Latest published MBIE snapshot: 11:59pm Sunday 27 September 2026 (page updated 30 Sep). Totals = in-country + on water. Excludes the strategic diesel reserve at Marsden Point. Until 30 Nov 2026 the Government can release that diesel if supply is short; if not needed it is to be blended into normal supply from 1 Dec 2026 to the end of Jan 2027. Source: MBIE fuel stock and shipping updates · Open NZ checked 5 Oct 2026.
| Location | Ships | Petrol | Diesel | Jet fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country | — | 28.3 days | 28.7 days | 27.8 days |
| On water (within EEZ, ≤2 days) | 4 | 8.8 | 0.6 | 1.7 |
| On water (outside EEZ, ≤3 weeks) | 8 | 16.6 | 18.9 | 17.1 |
| Totals | 12 | 53.7 days | 48.2 days | 46.5 days |
Days of cover vs MSO minimums
Solid bar = total days (in NZ + on water). Red line = minimum stockholding obligation (from 1 Jan 2025). Scale ≈ 65 days.
Petrol · 53.7d total · 28.3 in-countryMSO 28d
Diesel · 48.2d total · 28.7 in-countryMSO 21d
Jet fuel · 46.5d total · 27.8 in-countryMSO 24d
Minimum stockholding obligation (from 1 Jan 2025): petrol 28 days · diesel 21 days · jet 24 days (onshore or within EEZ). MBIE snapshot 27 Sep: in-country petrol is 28.3 days, just over the 28-day MSO on its own. Diesel 28.7d and jet 27.8d are above their in-country lines (21 / 24). Onshore plus EEZ is petrol 37.1d, diesel 29.3d and jet 29.5d, all above the obligation. Next official update Wed 7 Oct. Official MBIE update →
Marsden Point storage capacity (Channel Infrastructure)
Since the refinery closed in 2022, Marsden Point operates as New Zealand’s largest fuel import terminal. Figures from Channel Infrastructure public statements (mid-2026).
Terminal capacity picture (~750 ML total tank farm)
93 ML
Strategic diesel ≈ 9 days NZ use
30 ML
Extra jet storage (Z Energy)
July 2026 additions (~120 ML): 93 ML strategic diesel + 30 ML Z Energy jet. Channel Infrastructure / Regional Infrastructure Fund.
Where NZ gets its refined fuel from
New Zealand has had no domestic oil refinery since Marsden Point closed refining in April 2022. All petrol, diesel and jet fuel is imported already refined. Main sources (MBIE / Infometrics / public trade data):
| Source country | Approx share | Main crude feedstock for those refineries |
|---|---|---|
| South Korea | ~48–51% | Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Iraq (historically ~70% via Hormuz) |
| Singapore | ~31–33% | Middle East (Saudi, UAE), plus other sources |
| Malaysia | ~9% | Domestic + Middle East |
| Japan / others | ~3–6% | Various |
Import share (approx)
South Korea~50%
Singapore~32%
Malaysia~9%
Japan / other~5%
Transit time from Korea or Singapore is typically ~16–18 days. Because the Asian refineries that supply NZ rely heavily on Persian Gulf crude, disruptions at the Strait of Hormuz still affect New Zealand even though we no longer import crude ourselves. Sources: MBIE oil statistics & fuel security pages; Infometrics analysis of Stats NZ trade data; public reporting 2025–2026.
Background — supply, power, risk & policy
Short context — full detail on MBIE / IEA links below.
Liquid fuel chain
Gulf crude
via Hormuz
Asia refine
KR · SG · MY
Tankers
~10–18 days
NZ terminals
Marsden ~40%
Retail
bp · Z · Mobil
How supply works
No domestic refining since Apr 2022 (Marsden is an import terminal). ~100% petrol/diesel/jet imported refined — mainly Korea ~48–51%, Singapore ~31–33%, Malaysia ~9%. Importers: bp, Mobil, Z, Gull, Timaru Oil. National bulk storage ~1,053 ML; strategic diesel ~93 ML at Marsden (~9 days).
Electricity (own tab)
Power is ~94.5% renewable (Mar 2026) and separate from the tanker chain.
Hormuz & 2026 conflict
Pre-conflict ~20 mb/d (~20–25% seaborne oil). Cuts of ~70–90% hit Asia feedstock and global prices; NZ feels it via product cost and shipping, not crude docks. MBIE: forward orders and MSO stocks held through the window.
Policy timeline
1964–22 refine
Apr 22 import-only
Jan 25 MSO
2026 strategic diesel
Debate: more onshore storage vs tanker tickets; diesel priority; refining rebuild unlikely on cost.
Track the data
Disclaimer: MBIE stock table as published for 27 Sep 2026. Ship destinations rechecked 5 Oct 2026 on VesselFinder. Stocks and ships move — verify on MBIE and VesselFinder before relying on a number.
Mostly renewable power — separate from fuel imports. MBIE Energy Quarterly June 2026 (released 10 Sep). March quarter 94.5% is the previous headline.
Generation mix — June 2026 quarter
92%
renewable
Share of generation
Jun 2026 quarter
By source
Illustrative quarterly renewable share
Rounded public figures to show the high renewable share over recent periods. Dry years pull hydro down; wind and solar have been lifting the floor.
Check MBIE Energy Quarterly for the official series.
94.5%
Renewable generation (Mar 2026 qtr)
~57%
Hydro share of generation
~5.5%
Gas/coal thermal backup
≠ oil
Separate from fuel tankers
What this does — and doesn’t — mean
- High renewable electricity does not make NZ independent of imported petrol, diesel or jet fuel.
- Hydro varies with inflows; thermal covers dry-year and peak winter risk.
- Gas production has been falling; firming options (including possible LNG import) are active debates.
- Solar is small but growing in quarterly records.
Sources: MBIE Energy Quarterly; Energy in New Zealand 2025.
How New Zealand actually uses energy — not just electricity. Calendar year 2024 from MBIE Energy in New Zealand 2025. Electricity is only about a quarter of what we burn, drive and heat with.
Consumer energy — what NZ used
Energy delivered to homes, businesses, farms and vehicles. Excludes losses turning geothermal steam into power, and gas used to make methanol. Total 525 PJ.
525
PJ used
Calendar year 2024
Oil — petrol, diesel, jet, LPG271 PJ · 52%
Electricity (all sources)144 PJ · 27%
Natural gas58 PJ · 11%
Wood, geothermal heat, biogas34 PJ · 6%
Coal17 PJ · 3%
Of that electricity, 85.5% was renewable in 2024 (hydro, geothermal, wind, solar). Fossil fuels still supplied about two-thirds of all consumer energy — mostly oil in the tank.
Who used it
Same 525 PJ, by sector. Transport is almost all oil.
Transport202 PJ · 39%
Petrol 83 · diesel 104 · jet 13 PJ
Industry151 PJ · 29%
Electricity 49 · gas 42 · wood 18 · oil 22 · coal 15 PJ
Homes87 PJ · 17%
Electricity 51 · oil 21 · wood 7 · gas 7 PJ
Commercial54 PJ · 10%
Electricity 33 · oil 10 · gas 8 PJ
Primary industries31 PJ · 6%
Mostly diesel on farm + electricity
Source: MBIE Energy in New Zealand 2025 (2024 calendar year). Figures rounded. Next annual edition due mid-2026.
Global Freedom
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Freedom House 2026 · V-Dem 2026 · EIU 2025
Published rankings — not an official NZ ranking. Regime type, not ordinary citizens. Open democracy is rare.
21%
People in Free countries (FH 2026)
74%
Live in autocracies (V-Dem 2026)
7%
Live in liberal democracies
99
NZ Freedom House score · tied 2nd
New Zealand
FH 2026 · 99/100
Free · tied Norway & Sweden (Finland 100)
Free · tied Norway & Sweden (Finland 100)
EIU 2025 · #2
Full democracy (behind Norway)
Full democracy (behind Norway)
World picture
88 Free · 48 Partly Free · 59 Not Free · 20th year of decline
88 Free · 48 Partly Free · 59 Not Free · 20th year of decline
Who lives where
Share of world population. Twenty years ago almost half lived in Free countries — now about one in five.
Free (Freedom House)21%
Autocracies (V-Dem)74%
Liberal democracies (V-Dem)7%
Scores — top Free & lowest Not Free
Freedom in the World 2026 · 0–100. Higher = more political rights and civil liberties.
Top Free
- Finland — 100
- New Zealand — 99
- Norway — 99
- Sweden — 99
- Ireland — 98
- Canada / Denmark / Luxembourg / Netherlands — 97
Lowest Not Free
- South Sudan — 0
- Sudan / Turkmenistan — 1
- North Korea / Eritrea — 3
- Afghanistan — 6
- Belarus — 7
- China — 9 · Iran — 10 · Russia — 12
Closed systems — short snapshots
Regime assessments (Freedom House 2026), not of ordinary citizens.
China9/100
One-party CCP rule. PR −2/40 · CL 11/60. Tight control of media, net, universities, religion.
Russia12/100
Personalist rule. Elections not free or fair. Anti-war speech and independent media suppressed.
Iran10/100
Theocratic — Supreme Leader + Guardian Council. Women unequal before the law (F4 = 0/4).
Afghanistan6/100
Taliban emirate since 2021. Girls barred from secondary/higher education; most women shut out of public life.
Saudi Arabia9/100
Absolute monarchy. No national elections for highest offices. Social reforms; core political rights still absent.
These are findings about state legal systems, not individual believers. Many Muslims live in Free or Partly Free countries.
What you can do from NZ
Sources: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2026 · V-Dem Democracy Report 2026 · EIU Democracy Index 2025 · RSF Press Freedom 2026. Expert assessments, not government rankings. Always check the originals.
Engage & track
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Ministerial diaries and public sources to Aug 2026
About this data
Track MPs, parties and lobbying signals — from Hansard, Beehive diaries, party releases and select-committee records (mid–late 2026).
Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
1. Your MP this week
Defaults to the electorate MP from Your context. Most votes are party votes — the whip’s vote is every MP in that party. Named individually: Ferris and Kapa-Kingi (independents). Source: Hansard.
Extracts from official Beehive PDFs for 10 ministers (sample of the latest published month, 14 Aug 2026). Auto-shows when you pick their electorate. Full PDF is on Beehive.
Party vote = the personal record on whip votes (Standing Orders). House Aug 2026: 122 MPs (Papakura vacant). 67–55. Named Yes/No lists only on conscience votes. MP list · RNZ
Ministerial diaries
Use the Cabinet selector above. Loaded here (checked 14 Aug 2026): Luxon, Bishop, Willis, Seymour, Upston, Mitchell, Watts, Stanford, Potaka, van Velden. Others: Beehive PDF. Scheduled meetings only.
2. Your party — activity & big news
Defaults to the party from Your context. Orientation summaries — check party sites, RNZ, Newsroom or Beehive for the primary source.
Last orientation update: Aug 2026 · Not affiliated with any party · Election scheduled 7 Nov 2026
3. Party cohesion snapshot
Under MMP, most votes are party votes. Public reporting and Hansard show where parties stay locked together vs where splits or unusual cross-party patterns appear.
| Pattern (2026 examples) | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Coalition lock-step | National + ACT + NZ First usually vote together on government bills (Arms Act, Employment Leave, oil/gas permit changes). |
| Opposition lock-step | Labour + Greens + Te Pāti Māori frequently oppose the same government measures; occasional Labour abstention or soft support (e.g. English Language Bill). |
| Cross-party block | National + Labour + Greens + TPM blocked ACT’s tougher coward-punch amendment — rare four-party alignment against a coalition partner’s proposal. |
| Small-party leverage | NZ First secured English as official language as a coalition commitment; ACT drove Holidays Act / Arms rewrite. |
Full individual MP roll-calls are not always published for every voice vote. Party votes dominate. For research: Hansard, Parliament votes pages, RNZ / Newsroom reporting.
4. Lobbying & select-committee transparency
Anyone can submit. Volume has exploded this term (hundreds of thousands on Treaty Principles and Regulatory Standards alone). Committees cannot read every submission; analysis often relies on departmental summaries.
- Who submits: individuals, iwi, NGOs, unions, businesses, industry groups, local government, academics. Corporate submitters often retain lobbyists (e.g. Capital Government Relations, SenateSHJ in grocery/Commerce Commission contexts).
- Recent high-volume examples: Climate Change Response (Tort Liability) Amendment Bill and Summary Offences (Move-on Orders) Bill drew wide oral hearings — community groups, Police Association, Retail NZ, Z Energy, Fonterra, climate advocates.
- What you can track today: Parliament’s “Make a submission” list (open bills + closing dates), published submissions on the Parliament site, select-committee reports.
- What remains opaque: full influence of paid lobbyists, informal meetings, and how departmental advisers weight submissions.
Open submissions now → · Democracy Project lobbyist watch →
No public lobbying register. Orientation links only — not a ranking, and not foreign-agent status.
Sources: Hansard, Parliament.nz, RNZ, Newsroom, Democracy Project, select-committee reports, Port of Tauranga schedules, MBIE. All features are engagement tools — not official advice.
Direct democracy
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · Model only — not law, not an official vote
A model — not the law
This is one way to keep MMP and add a real citizen say between elections. If you like it, or you don’t, say so to your local MP — they work for you every sitting week, not only at election time.
MMP still picks the House. This model lets you spend your own slice of that MMP power on a bill, between elections — especially when your party is about to vote the other way.
MMP stays
Elections · parties · electorate MPs
50 / 50
Party half + local half = your share
Reclaim
Bite only when your party is against you
Advisory
Parliament stays sovereign
The idea in one picture
Party half
0.5 × seats ÷ party votes
0.5 × seats ÷ party votes
Local half
0.5 × 1 ÷ electorate votes
0.5 × 1 ÷ electorate votes
Your share
a sliver of one seat
a sliver of one seat
Yes
No
One person is tiny next to 120 seats — and that is the point. It is not a Facebook poll. It is the same two votes you already cast at a general election, reused on a single bill.
What MMP still does
- You elect a local MP and a party list
- Seats still come from the Sainte-Laguë count
- The House still makes law; parties still form government
- Whips and party votes still run most divisions
What the overlay adds
- A Yes/No on a real bill, between elections
- Your weight is your MMP slice — not one-click-one-vote
- If you vote with your party, the bar barely moves
- If you vote against them, you take that slice back
Why it only really bites when your party is against you
Party positions are the starting bar — they already “own” their seats. Your share is already sitting in that block. Voting the same way as the whip does not double-count you. Voting the other way reclaims your party half from that party and your local half from your electorate MP, and parks both on the other side. That is the combination: representative MMP as the default, direct reclaim as the exception.
Your share — from Your context
Real one-person weight using the 2023 official party-vote count this model was built on. Not exaggerated. Add party + electorate in Your context to personalise.
Worked example — National voter, typical electorate
2023 official party votes: National 1,085,851 → 48 seats. Typical electorate ~40,000 valid candidate votes.
| Half | Formula | Seat units |
|---|---|---|
| Party | 0.5 × 48 ÷ 1,085,851 | 0.0000221 |
| Local | 0.5 × 1 ÷ 40,000 | 0.0000125 |
| Your share | sum | 0.0000346 of one seat |
If you vote Yes with National on a government bill, that sliver is already in Yes. If you vote No, 0.0000346 moves from Yes to No — and a tiny notch comes off your local MP’s remaining seat-power.
Two tools, one system
Agenda setter
Rank what Parliament should debate. Sets the queue. Does not pass a law.
Bill signal
Yes/No on a real bill, weighted by your MMP slice. Moves a modelled share of a seat.
The live Yes/No buttons were taken off the Bills tab so this site stays a dashboard, not a pretend House. The maths still lives here so the model is easy to see and argue with.
How this differs from a normal poll — or a CIR
| Online poll | NZ CIR (1993) | This model | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | One click = one vote | One person, one vote | Your MMP seat-slice |
| When | Anytime | Rare, petition then poll | On a live bill, any sitting |
| Binding? | No | No (indicative) | No — unless Parliament chose it |
| Uses MMP? | No | No | Yes — both halves |
What would have to be true to make it real
- Trusted identity (RealMe-class / electoral roll) — one person, one account, real electorate
- Shared server totals and an audited public ledger — not only this browser
- Clear legal status: advisory to the House, not a substitute for it
- Anti-gaming, privacy, and a neutral operator
None of that exists yet. This tab is the model, not a petition to adopt it.
Maths: party half = ½ × (party seats ÷ 2023 party votes); local half = ½ × (1 ÷ valid candidate votes in that electorate). Seats from the 2023 official count used in this prototype. Not an official parliamentary vote.
Outcomes — how NZ is tracking
Last updated 28 Sep 2026 · Stats NZ June qtr where used · other series mid-2026
About this data
Official time series from Stats NZ, Health, Education Counts/NZQA, Police and Justice. Direction of change only — not party scorecards.
Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
12.6% flat
Children BHC50 low income (ye Jun 2025)
17.8% ↓0.4
Children AHC50 fixed low income
14.3% ↑0.8
Children in material hardship
66% Census
Households own home (Census 2023)
28% ↓2pp
Adults victim of crime (NZCVS 2025)
14.3% ↑ rising
Adults high psychological distress (2024/25)
Child poverty
Primary measures under the Child Poverty Reduction Act 2018. Source: Stats NZ — year ended June 2025 (released Feb 2026). No statistically significant annual change 2024→2025 on primary measures.
BHC50 — before housing costs (% of children)
↓ 3.9 pp vs 2018 baseline · no significant change vs 2024
AHC50 fixed-line — after housing costs
↓ 5.0 pp vs 2018 · rose from 2022 low then flattened
Material hardship (% of children)
No significant change vs 2018 or 2024 · 10-year target is 6%
Housing
Sources: Stats NZ Housing in Aotearoa 2025; Household income & housing-cost statistics ye Jun 2025; Building consents.
Home ownership (% of households, Census)
First rise since the early 1990s · Auckland lowest region at 59.5%
$505
Avg weekly rent (ye Jun 2025)
$691
Avg weekly mortgage
$22.30
Housing $ per $100 disposable
14.6×
Median house / median income (2024)
New homes consented (year ended)
Year ended April 2026 up 16% on the prior year. Multi-unit (townhouses, flats, apartments) is a large share of the lift; Auckland and Canterbury lead volume.
6.2%
Households crowded (Census 2023, up from 5.0% in 2013)
12.2%
People in crowded homes (was 10.1% in 2013)
46%
Non-owner households spending 30%+ on housing (ye Jun 2024)
1.53m
People in rental housing (Census 2023)
Rent payments rose 9.0% and mortgage payments 4.9% year-on-year to June 2025. Crowding rose between 2013 and 2023 after decades of decline. Consent recovery is real but still below 1970s per-capita peaks.
Education
Sources: Education Counts; NZQA NCEA annual reports 2024–2025.
Regular attendance (>90% of term) — Term 3
↑ 5.3 pp vs Term 3 2023 · still 8.4 pp below 2019
NCEA / University Entrance (enrolment-based)
School leavers with NCEA Level 2+: 76.1% in 2024 (up 0.6 pp). Māori leavers 60.7%; Pacific 71.1%; equity gaps remain large.
Crime & safety
Two official lenses: NZ Crime and Victims Survey (experience of crime, not only reported) and Police recorded victimisations. Sources: Ministry of Justice NZCVS 2025; NZ Police recorded crime releases / policedata.nz.
NZCVS — % of adults who were victims (any offence)
5%
Interpersonal violence 2025 (was 7% in 2018)
9%
Households burgled 2025 (was 12% in 2018)
3%
Adults victim of violent offence 2025 (was 4%)
10%
Fraud / cybercrime 2025 (was 8% in 2018)
Police recorded victimisations (selected)
−2%
Total Police victimisations 2023→2024
−6%
Burglary / unlawful entry 2023→2024
−8%
Aggravated robbery 2023→2024
−58%
Ram raids 2023→2024 (495 → 207)
NZCVS 2025 is the lowest adult victimisation rate since the survey began. Survey and Police series measure different things — do not mix them as one line. Serious assaults stayed near flat (−1% in Police data for 2024); fraud/cyber remains elevated in the survey. June-year Police series show victimisations still well above 2016 levels even after the recent dip.
Health
Sources: Stats NZ period life tables 2022–2024; NZ Health Survey 2024/25; Ministry of Health Health and Independence Report 2024.
80.1
Male life expectancy at birth (2022–24)
83.5
Female life expectancy at birth
86.6%
Adults in good / very good / excellent health
14.3%
Adults high/very high psychological distress
High or very high psychological distress (adults, past 4 weeks)
Psychological distress among 15–24 year-olds reached about 22.9% in recent survey cycles — more than four times the early-2010s youth rate in comparable series. Life expectancy gains have slowed (smallest five-year male increase since the 1960s). Equity gaps remain: Māori and Pacific peoples have shorter average life expectancy; distress rates are higher for disabled adults and young women.
How to read this tab
- Figures are official published statistics, not estimates from this site.
- Survey rates (NZCVS, NZ Health Survey, child poverty HILS) and administrative counts (Police, NCEA) measure different things — do not mix them as one series.
- “No statistically significant change” means the year-to-year movement is within sampling error.
- Targets (e.g. child poverty 10-year goals) are set by government under legislation; progress against targets is reported by Stats NZ / MSD.
Last data update: 3 Aug 2026 · Sources linked in each section (Stats NZ, MoH, Education Counts/NZQA, NZ Police, Ministry of Justice).
Local government
Last updated 14 Aug 2026 · 2025 local elections · next locals Oct 2028
About this data
Starting map of councils (not a full tracker for all 78). Links and figures from official council and government sources.
Drawn from official NZ sources where available (linked). No invented or random figures. AI helped compile this site — mistakes are possible; check the originals.
Councils — pick one
Major cities as quick picks, or search any territorial authority. One detail panel for mayor, type, region, notes and official links.
How power is structured
Left: local government stack (who sets rates & services). Right: the whole NZ system those councils sit inside — Crown to courts. Simplified — not every CCO, committee or agency.
Local government
You (local voters)
Elect mayor + councillors every 3 years · ~39.5% turnout 2025
local elections · petitions · LTP submissions
Community / local boards
Some cities · local parks, grants, place decisions
CCOs & water entities
Ports, PT, water companies under council control
accountable to council · deliver services
Regional councils
11 · environment, catchments, often PT & civil defence
City & district
67 TAs · rates, roads, water, plans, bylaws
Unitary (both)
5 · Auckland, Gisborne, Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman
Local Government Act · national direction · DIA
DIA & ministers
Local Government Minister · reform & funding settings
Parliament & Cabinet
Writes the rules · does not set your rates
Whole system (NZ)
Crown / King
Head of state · exercised by Governor-General
assent · reserve powers · appoints on advice
Parliament (House)
120 MPs · MMP · makes law · holds government to account
government needs House support
PM & Cabinet
Executive · ministers run portfolios
Public service
Ministries & depts · deliver & advise
separate but connected branches
Courts
Independent judiciary · interpret law · review power
Te Tiriti / Treaty
Constitutional relationship · Waitangi Tribunal · iwi
Local government
Councils (left) · own rates & services under statute
general elections (3 yrs) · local elections (3 yrs)
You (citizens)
Vote · submit · OIA · petition · protest · council & Parliament
Watchdogs
Ombudsman · Auditor-General · Privacy · HRC · ComCom
Media & civil society
Scrutiny · advocacy · unions · business lobbies
Rates
Your territorial or unitary council (not Parliament)
Three waters
Local water entities under Local Water Done Well
Roads & PT
Local roads at TA; public transport often regional/CCO
Planning
District plans + national direction from central gov
Environment
Mostly regional / unitary; catchments & air quality
Bylaws
Local rules — animals, waste, public places
Sources: Local Government Commission · Parliament — how it works · DIA — simplifying local government. Counts can shift if amalgamations proceed. Long-Term Plans (10 years) and annual plans are where money and priorities lock in.
Elections and reform (2025–2028)
Triennial local elections were held on 11 October 2025 (national turnout about 39.5%). The next ordinary local elections are due in October 2028. Tauranga did not vote in 2025 for city councillors/mayor because it had a 2024 election after returning from commissioners; its next ordinary election aligns with 2028.
Central government is pursuing simplifying local government — pushing toward fewer, larger unitary-style arrangements. Councils were invited to submit voluntary “Head Start” amalgamation outlines (deadline around August 2026); a backstop path is aimed at the 2028 cycle. Treat reform timelines as policy in progress: check DIA — Simplifying Local Government for the current status.
Rates — national snapshot
Rates vary by property value, differentials and targeted rates. Headline “average increase” figures are useful for orientation only.
~8.4%
Average rates increase cited for 2025/26 planning year (sector dashboards)
~6.9%
Average proposed increase for 2026/27 from council annual plans (compiled dashboards)
Stats NZ
Official local authority financial statistics (income, rates revenue, spending)
Primary official series: Stats NZ — Local authority financial statistics (ye June 2025). Independent compilations of each council’s announced % increase also circulate each budget season — cross-check against your council’s adopted annual plan.
Transparency — interests & decisions
- Since 2022, the Local Government Act requires councils to keep a pecuniary interests register for elected members and to publish a summary.
- Quality and findability vary by council — search “[council name] register of interests” or look under “mayor and councillors”.
- Agendas and minutes are the practical accountability trail for votes on rates, plans and contracts.
- OIA still applies to local authorities; many requests start with the council’s official information page.
Legal basis: Local Government (Pecuniary Interests Register) Amendment Act 2022 / Local Government Act 2002 ss 54A–54I.
How to use this tab
- Start with your city/district council for rates, consents and local services.
- Check whether you also vote for a regional council (most of the country outside the unitaries).
- Watch Long-Term Plan and annual plan consultations — that is when trade-offs on rates vs services are still open.
- Use the quick picks or the full dropdown for any territorial authority — detail opens in the same panel.
Last data update: August 2026 · Sources: Local Government Commission, DIA, Stats NZ, council election results pages · Open NZ experimental civic tool
Making it real — how to build a production system
This prototype runs only in your browser. A real system needs a server, one person one vote, and serious identity checks. Below is a practical path from “easiest” toward “strong enough for public trust.”
1. Best overall shape: a normal web app
Keep it as a browser app (phone and desktop). People already know how to open a website. You do not need a native iOS/Android app first — that costs more and slows you down.
- Front end: web pages (similar idea to this file, but connected to a server)
- Back end: a small server API that stores accounts, votes, and live totals
- Database: stores one vote per person per bill, with timestamps
Easiest modern stack for a small team: something like Next.js or similar + a hosted database (e.g. Postgres on a reputable host), deployed on a known platform (Vercel, Fly.io, AWS, Google Cloud, etc.).
2. Easiest path to “real” security (staged)
Stage A — Learning / pilot (weeks)
- Email or phone login (magic link / SMS code)
- Still not true identity — good only for demos and design tests
Stage B — Serious volunteer product (months)
- RealMe (NZ government digital identity) if you can become an approved relying party — strongest “this is a real NZ person” option in-country
- Or a commercial identity provider that does document + biometric checks (passport/licence + face match)
- One verified account → one voting identity; block duplicate sign-ups
Stage C — Public-trust grade
- Independent security review, clear privacy policy, data minimisation
- Audit logs, rate limits, fraud monitoring
- Legal advice on Electoral Act / advertising / “not an official vote” labelling
- Possibly Electoral Commission or Parliament engagement if you ever aim at official use (very hard; start unofficial)
3. Identity check options (NZ-focused)
| Method | Strength | Ease |
|---|---|---|
| Email / Google login | Weak | Easiest |
| SMS one-time code | Medium | Easy |
| Bank or utility “account ownership” checks | Medium | Medium |
| Document verify (licence/passport) + liveness | Strong | Harder / paid APIs |
| RealMe (if approved) | Strongest local fit | Hardest to get access |
Best balance for a civic pilot: start with SMS or email, design the app so you can plug in RealMe or a verified-ID provider later without rebuilding everything.
4. What must move off the browser
- Accounts and votes stored on a server, not only localStorage
- Shared live totals so everyone sees the same numbers
- HTTPS only, secure session cookies or tokens
- Server calculates shares and totals (clients can lie if they do the maths alone)
- Clear banner: not an official parliamentary vote
5. Easiest realistic roadmap
1. This prototype
(done)
(done)
→
2. Hosted web app
+ email/SMS login
+ email/SMS login
→
3. Shared database
+ live totals
+ live totals
→
4. Stronger ID
(docs / RealMe)
(docs / RealMe)
Do not wait for perfect identity before building the product: ship Stage B features first, keep identity upgradeable. The hardest parts are not the Yes/No buttons — they are trust, identity, law, and money.
6. Honest limits
- Even perfect ID does not make this an official Act of Parliament
- Foreign interference, bots, and pressure on voters are real risks
- Running ID checks costs money per user
- Political neutrality and transparency of the operator matter as much as the code
7. Longer term — government take-up
The strongest version of this idea is not a private website forever. Over time, if the model proved useful and trustworthy, the government could take it over (or build an official equivalent) and plug it into data they already hold.
- Electoral roll / RealMe — prove one person, one account, and real electorate
- Election results data — party votes, electorate totals, seat numbers kept accurate automatically
- Bills and petitions feeds — live stages from Parliament systems, not hand-copied lists
- Official “not a binding vote” rules — clear legal status so it informs MPs without pretending to replace the House
That would make share sizes, identity, and live totals far more accurate than any volunteer app can. It would also need law, privacy rules, and political will — none of which exist yet. Treat this as a possible end state, not a promise.
Transparency ledger Feature 6
Every vote in this browser is appended to a simple local ledger (anonymous ID, bill, choice, weight, time). In a real system this would be a public, append-only log so anyone can audit that live totals are not being faked.
| When | Anon ID | Bill | Choice | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open this page after voting to see entries. | ||||
Legitimacy path (how this reconnects people)
- Understand — story mode on every bill so people know the problem, the change, and who wins or loses.
- Act with weight — Yes/No that moves a real modelled share of a seat, not a meaningless poll.
- See the gap — MP / party assumed line vs citizen votes on the same page.
- Speak structurally — one-click message to the electorate MP with vote + weight + one reason.
- Deliberate lightly — anonymous mixed thoughts without a toxic open comments war.
- Audit — public ledger so trust does not depend on a black box.
- Graduate — RealMe / electoral-roll identity, then optional official advisory status for select committees.