Election 2011

Anti-MMP billboards go up

Anti-MMP billboards featuring Winston Peters went up today calling for New Zealanders to vote to abandon the current voting system.

Smiling Goff holds own against Key

It was the turn last night for Labour leader Phil Goff to smile during a leader's debate when he firmly grasped his role as an Opposition leader when facing up to Prime Minister John Key.

Unionists mobilise to help the left

Unions are mobilising thousands of members for this election to reverse the large drop in voter turnout in 2008, when people in staunch Labour territories stayed at home.

Nats' consents policy 'developers' charter': Labour

Labour claims National's policy of putting a six-month deadline on councils considering resource consent applications for developments such as retail areas and new subdivisions amounts to a "developers' charter''.

Bennett, King debate welfare

National and Labour have agreed on one thing: work is the answer to getting people off benefits.

Goff on attack during election debate

Labour leader Phil Goff continued his election strategy of attacking National's greatest asset tonight, panning the Prime Minister's record in rebuilding his hometown of Christchurch during a leaders debate in the city.

NZ First plans hard labour for repeat offenders

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is planning to shorten jail sentences for repeat offenders but make life behind bars more difficult with a regime of hard labour.

National proposes time limit for consents

The National Party today introduced an election policy which would see a six-month time limit on planning consents for medium-sized buildings.

Election nominations announced

Thirteen political parties and 544 individual candidates will contest the November 26 election.

Asian voters back Key, poll shows

Asian voters are backing John Key and National this election, and Labour is facing an uphill task trying to convince them to vote against the trend.

Labour plans compulsory EQC levies

Labour would make Earthquake Commission levies compulsory for all home owners with payments made through local authority rates, leader Phil Goff announced as he hit Christchurch on the campaign trail today.

Peters not contesting electorate

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has decided not to contest an electorate seat in next month's election, instead choosing to focus on the party vote.

National targets single parents

An overhaul of the welfare system will force single parents who have another baby while on a benefit to look for work when that baby turns 1 and all solo parents to get full time work when their youngest child turns 14.

Big reform of benefits proposed

Big reform of benefits proposed

National plans to reform welfare in the style it wanted to back in 2005, when it was led by former leader Don Brash, who now leads Act New Zealand.

Party sees chances with credit crisis

Democrats for Social Credit leader Stephnie de Ruyter and southern campaign manager Bob Warren...

Party sees chances with credit crisis

The global credit crunch is providing opportunities for the Democrats for Social Credit to put forward their alternative monetary policies in the hope the party returns to the halcyon days of the past.

Opinion: Public not buying Key's assets plan

No matter how much in the way of cosmetics National applies to pretty up its plan to sell shares in some state assets, the policy is never going to be popular. John Key is doing his darnedest to make it so, however.

Oops: MPs' mistakes on the campaign trail

The dangers of insufficient proof-reading were laid bare for Labour MP Shane Jones today when he proclaimed himself dishonest in a press release.

Key wins but Goff may lift

Prime Minister John Key emerged the winner of the first head-to-head debate with Labour leader Phil Goff, who, although calm and reasoned at times, consistently rose to baiting by Mr Key and lost valuable time when he could have been explaining policy.

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Election 2011