AM Edition: Here are the top 10 politics articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 14, 2026 – Full Text
1. Only one in ten getting ahead under Luxon’s Government NZCTU
October 13, 2026
Source: NZCTU
Just one in ten Kiwis say their household is getting ahead since the 2023 election, according to research commissioned by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi.
The Talbot Mills Research survey found 43 percent of New Zealanders say their household finances have fallen behind since 2023. Only 10 percent say they are getting ahead.
Asked whether “the coalition government is doing enough to help New Zealand families manage cost-of-living pressures”, 70 percent said no. Just 22 percent said yes.
“For three years working people have been telling Luxon’s Government they’re going backwards. The survey results just add more evidence that Luxon has failed to improve the lives of average Kiwis,” says Sandra Grey, NZCTU President.
“Groceries, petrol, power, and rates have all gone up, and pay hasn’t kept pace. People are working as hard as ever and have less left at the end of the week.”
StatsNZ figures show prices rose 4.1 percent in the year to June 2026, while average hourly earnings only rose 2.8 percent. Over the same year petrol rose 27.5 percent, electricity 12.0 percent, and local council rates 8.8 percent. Living costs for the lowest-spending households rose 4.3 percent, more than double the 1.9 percent rise for the highest-spending households.
When asked who the Government’s decisions mostly benefit, 45 percent said wealthy people. That is four times as many as named middle-income households (11 percent) and more than five times as many as named low-income households (8 percent). Almost eight in ten (79 percent) agree the gap between wealthy New Zealanders and ordinary people is getting wider.
“Luxon’s Government had its chance to make life more affordable. It chose tax breaks for landlords over relief for working families, and people can see who has been looked after,” says Grey.
“Things don’t have to be this hard. Don’t risk 6 years of Luxon.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/13/only-one-in-ten-getting-ahead-under-luxons-government-nzctu/
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2. Geohazard centre goes dark again – more proof Govt. is breaking the basics – PSA
October 13, 2026
Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi
A Government that promised to “fix the basics” has now let New Zealand’s 24/7 geohazard monitoring centre shuts down twice in a matter of days.
GeoNet says its “eyes on monitoring” through the National Geohazards Monitoring Centre was temporarily suspended from 10pm last night until 6am today. It follows the closure of the centre on Friday night for eight hours because of staff shortages.
“We now have two instances of service shutdown in a matter of days. This is clear evidence of systemic failure,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
“The Government promised no frontline cuts. There is nothing more frontline than keeping Kiwis safe from earthquakes and tsunami. National promised to fix the basics. Instead, it’s breaking them, and this is now an election issue.
“The centre’s closure could mean that information about earthquakes is not provided quickly enough to the public and decision makers.
“Earth Sciences NZ is taking an appropriate and responsible approach by issuing public notifications of service shutdowns, but it should never have come to this.
“Responsibility for the closure lies squarely with the Government, which imposed these cuts. It’s a national tragedy waiting to happen.
The centre opened in 2018 so that analysts would monitor geohazard events around the clock, rather than relying on scientists on call from home. Since then, the team monitoring live earthquake data has been cut from 20 to 15 and its annual funding cut by a third to $24 million.
“The Government is again putting saving dollars ahead of saving lives.”
Scientists warned this would happen. Former geohazard analyst Caleb Rapson Nuñez del Prado, who took redundancy after his team was cut, told the Save Science Coalition’s report Underfunding our Future that New Zealand’s monitoring would at times “step backwards from a live monitoring system to an on-call system”.
Report: https://img.scoop.co.nz/media/pdfs/2604/Save_Science_coalition_publication_2026_digital_version.pdf
“The Government must immediately intervene; admit it got it wrong and restore funding. This is just a snapshot of the damage to come as the Government pushes ahead with more cuts.
“The closure is also another glaring example of why we need a public good test to assess the impacts on services from cuts before they happen.
“The Prime Minister needs to front up about what other services that keep New Zealanders safe this government will cut if it’s re-elected. This is why we need a new government that properly values the services New Zealanders rely on.”
Previous statement
10 October Fixing the basics? Govt cuts let geohazard monitoring centre go dark last night: https://www.psa.org.nz/news-media/fixing-the-basics-govt-cuts-let-geohazard-monitoring-centre-go-dark-last-night
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, Health NZ and community groups.
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3. New ward boosts capacity at Hawke’s Bay Hospital
October 13, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Hawke’s Bay patients will benefit from faster access to surgical care with the opening of a new 28-bed ward at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown says.
“This new ward is a practical solution to meet growing demand, delivering the extra capacity Hawke’s Bay Hospital needs right now and making a real difference for both patients and staff,” Mr Brown says.
“It gives surgical patients dedicated space before and after their procedures, along with space for surgical assessment and planning. That means fewer disruptions to planned surgery, faster patient flow through the hospital, and less pressure on the emergency department and existing wards.
“Off-site construction has allowed it to be delivered in just over nine months, with less disruption for patients and staff, while meeting the same clinical and safety standards as a permanent hospital facility.
“This investment in hospital infrastructure has also delivered for the wider region. Six local trade companies worked on the project, supporting local jobs and keeping more of this investment in the Hawke’s Bay economy.”
Key features of the new ward include:
28 inpatient beds across 14 modules
Around 1,000 square metres of new clinical space
Dedicated space for short-stay surgical care, plus surgical assessment and planning services
A design developed alongside clinicians and built for long-term use
The ward is fully staffed ahead of opening, including 3.8 FTE senior nursing positions, 28 FTE registered nurses and 6.4 FTE healthcare assistants. Among them are 13 nurses joining Hawke’s Bay Hospital for the first time, further strengthening the hospital’s nursing workforce.
“Other major investment is underway across Hawke’s Bay Hospital, including the $44.8 million Cancer Centre now under construction and the $35.8 million radiology expansion and refurbishment, which has already doubled scanning capacity.
“Planning for the hospital’s long-term redevelopment is also well advanced and moving into detailed business cases and design work. In the meantime, the new ward is providing much-needed additional capacity for patients and staff.
“I want to acknowledge local MPs Catherine Wedd for Tukituki and Katie Nimon for Napier, who have been strong advocates for improving health services for their communities and the many people across the region who rely on Hawke’s Bay Hospital.
“We are focused on fixing the basics and building the future of our healthcare system. This ward delivers more capacity for Hawke’s Bay now, while we invest in the infrastructure the region needs for the future,” Mr Brown says.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/13/new-ward-boosts-capacity-at-hawkes-bay-hospital/
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4. Auckland gets another Crisis Recovery Café
October 13, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
People in Auckland in need of mental health or addiction support will have another place to turn for faster access to support, with a new peer-led Crisis Recovery Café officially opening in Mt Eden, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says.
“Emergency departments aren’t always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. They can be busy, brightly lit and feel far too clinical, when often what someone needs is a calm place to sit down and talk to someone who understands.
“That’s why we are rolling out Crisis Recovery Cafés across the country, giving people faster access to peer support workers who can lend a listening ear, help connect people with community services and provide a safe place to go.
“The new Café, Te Piringa Āhuru ki Maungawhau is a place people can walk into without a referral and get support from people with their own lived experience, including practical support, advocacy and help connecting with other services.
“We know there is real power in having someone in the room who has their own lived experience and understands what it is like, and the rollout of more peer-led support like this has proved to be a real gamechanger for people.
“We know that each community is different, which is why I have always said some of the best solutions already exist within our grassroots organisations, they just need to be backed.
“Ember has already been making a difference for people across Auckland through its peer led services, including Peers in ED at Auckland City and North Shore hospitals, and is well placed to deliver this new Café.
“The first Crisis Recovery Café in the Northern Region was opened by Ember in South Auckland earlier this year, and it is now welcoming more than 500 people each month.
“This new Café will build on that experience and make peer-led support available closer to home for people in central Auckland.”
The Café began operating on the 9th October from 12-8pm Monday to Friday. From the 27th October they will be open seven days a week from midday to 8pm, including evenings and weekends.
“This is the third Crisis Recovery Café established in the Northern Region this year, following the South Auckland café in January and the Kaitaia café in August.
“We are continuing to build a better future by delivering faster access to support, more frontline workers and a better crisis response.”
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/13/auckland-gets-another-crisis-recovery-cafe/
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5. First state school converts to a charter school
October 13, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Pakaraka School in Northland has become the first state school to convert to a charter school.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/13/first-state-school-converts-to-a-charter-school/
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6. Burnham’s EU reset will make Britain richer but easier to quit – deVere Group
October 13, 2026
Source: deVere Group
October 12 2026
Andy Burnham’s push to cosy up to Europe could hand Britain a growth windfall and its wealthiest residents an escape hatch in the same stroke, warns the CEO of deVere Group, one of the world’s largest independent financial advisory organisations.
The comments from Nigel Green come as the prime minister calls on MPs to back closer ties with the EU, after revealing he’s been told Russia did meddle in the 2016 Brexit vote.
He says: “Closer ties with Europe will be good for the economy, there’s no question about it.
“But the same changes that make it easier to do business with Europe also make it easier for people, and their money, to move there. Investors need to factor in both.”
Burnham says Brexit has done more harm than good and refuses to rule out rejoining after the next election.
“What’s really hurt British businesses since Brexit is the extra paperwork, the checks and the delays at the border,” notes Nigel Green.
“Reduce those and you’ll see it come through in exports, in productivity and in how confident companies feel about investing here.”
Recent analysis puts the long term cost of the current deal at around 2.5% of GDP. Closer ties could claw back up to 1.2 percentage points of it.
He continues: “I’d expect markets to take this well. Sterling tends to benefit when the relationship with Europe looks more settled, and British shares have looked cheap compared with their peers for a long time. Closer ties could help change that.
“Any talk of a second referendum will cause some volatility, of course.
“But investors mainly want to know which direction the country is going in, and if that’s clear, they’ll look past the short term noise.”
A government minister says Russia is pouring £1.5bn into disinformation and propaganda this year alone.
“Investors take foreign interference seriously because it goes to the heart of whether institutions can be trusted,” says the deVere CEO.
“Being upfront about it protects the UK’s reputation with international investors.”
But the door swings both ways.
An estimated $160bn of private wealth has left Britain in two years. The top 1% of earners pay around 27% of all income tax. And Britain was forecast to lose 16,500 millionaires last year, more than any other country.
“We’re already seeing entrepreneurs, senior executives and internationally mobile families seriously considering a move abroad as taxes go up,” he says. “It comes up in our conversations every week.
“If moving around Europe becomes easier, that’s one less obstacle for them.
“Closer ties with the EU won’t solve problems of the UK’s own making. If the tax burden keeps rising and the state keeps growing, we risk losing the entrepreneurs and investors the economy depends on, and we won’t attract new ones to replace them.
“Wealthy people and business owners have more choice than ever about where they live and invest, and they’ll go wherever they feel most valued.”
The Conservatives have already vowed to unpick Labour’s moves towards Europe, including a planned food and farm trade deal.
Nigel Green concludes: “Alongside the EU reset, the government needs to get domestic policy right. This means a competitive tax system, a planning process that doesn’t hold projects up for years, and enough stability for businesses to plan ahead with confidence.
“The UK has huge strengths in its talent, its legal system, and its capital markets. Get both of these right and it can be one of the most attractive places in Europe for capital.
“Get only one right and it simply becomes easier for people to leave.”
deVere Group is one of the world’s largest independent advisors of specialist global financial solutions to international, local mass affluent, and high-net-worth clients. It has a network of offices around the world, more than 80,000 clients, and $14bn under advisement.
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7. Election candidates to debate freshwater in Christchurch
October 13, 2026
Source: Greenpeace Aotearoa
Greenpeace has announced that it will host an election debate on fresh water in Christchurch on October 19th, titled ‘the Great Freshwater Debate’.
The debate will be held at The Piano (156 Armagh Street, Christchurch), and all major political parties have been invited to attend.
Greenpeace spokesperson Rhiannon Mackie says, “We should all be able to swim in the local river, or drink the water coming out of our kitchen tap without getting sick. So far, no government has done enough to protect freshwater from pollution and over-use.
“This debate offers us the opportunity to hear directly from the main political parties how they plan to protect the water we drink, the lakes we swim in, and the rivers we take kai from.”
Parties who have confirmed their attendance at the debate include Labour, NZ First, the Green Party, and Opportunity. Greenpeace is calling on National, Act, and Te Pāti Māori to join them.
The debate will be independently moderated by senior Newsroom journalist, David Williams. Immediately following the debate, an expert panel will comment on the political positions. Expert panel members are: Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director, Dr Russel Norman; Gabrielle Huria CEO of Te Kura Taka Pini, Ngāi Tahu; Irrigation NZ chair, Andrew Mockford; and freshwater scientist and public health policy researcher, Marnie Prickett.
The public are being invited to submit questions in advance by emailing people.power@greenpeace.org with Great Freshwater Debate – Question as the subject line. The debate is free but seats are limited, so those attending are asked to register in advance.
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8. New Two-Book Historical Saga Traces Young Soldier’s Search for Home During the American Revolution
October 13, 2026
Source: Ray Deptula
MERRITT ISLAND, Fla., Oct. 12, 2026 — History often remembers those who chose sides. Ray Deptula examines what happens when loyalty to people becomes more important than loyalty to politics.
Drawing on 24 years as a U.S. Naval Aviator and Political-Military Officer, Deptula’s two-book Those Damned Yankees series follows Jack Halliday, a young man who joins the British Army out of desperation before ultimately fighting for both the British and Continental armies during the American Revolution. Guided by the actual sequence of Revolutionary War events, the series unfolds as an epic coming-of-age story about belonging, friendship and discovering where home truly lies.
“I wanted to call attention to the parallels between the American Revolution and the present day,” Deptula said. “Not just in political-military terms, but in the personal story of a young man who enters the military because he sees no other way to survive. That’s something I can personally relate to, and I think many other veterans can too.”
Set against the volatile backdrop of colonial America, A Dog Before a Soldier (Book One) follows teenage Jack Halliday, who — fresh off three harrowing years on a slave ship — joins the British Army in 1774 out of sheer necessity. Sent to Boston as part of the security force to help suppress a growing rebellion, Jack understands little of the political turmoil as he fights in key battles, including Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Long Island and the capture of Philadelphia, before deserting the British Army and seeking refuge in Annapolis, Maryland.
After deserting, Jack finds his way to Annapolis, where he is fortuitously taken in by a wealthy landowner who ultimately asks him to act as his surrogate in the Continental Army alongside an enslaved man named Custis. In return, Jack is welcomed into the family and promised the landowner’s daughter’s hand in marriage.
Can’t Find My Way Home (Book Two) finds Jack and Custis serving with the Continental Army after enduring the harsh winter of 1780-81 at Washington’s army encampment in New Jersey. When spring arrives, they are swept into the Battle of Camden, where the Continental forces are decimated by the British, and along with it, the American hopes of ridding the southern provinces of Britain’s new and dangerous foothold.
Separated from their army and lost in the volatile South, the unlikely pair must survive together in a world where trust is scarce, and Custis’ value as property continually tests Jack’s moral compass. Their desperate struggle to find safety and return home inspired the title Can’t Find My Way Home.
“At its heart, the series is built on one simple truth: Those who fight their nation’s wars are typically those least able to avoid it,” Deptula added. “And the motivation to withstand hardships comes not from political ideology, but rather, from the love of your comrades.”
A Dog Before A Soldier (Those Damned Yankees Book One)
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
ISBN-13: 979-8890224002
Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Before-Soldier-Those-Damned-Yankees/dp/B0GNW1VK48
Can’t Find My Way Home (Those Damned Yankees Book Two)
Publisher: Speaking Volumes
ISBN-13: 979-8890224170
Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Find-Those-Damned-Yankees/dp/B0H3RCNGLZ
About the Author
Ray Deptula is a native of Wells, Maine, and a graduate of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine. He spent 24 years in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator and a Political-Military Officer with service in Europe, the Mideast, Africa and the Caribbean. He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, with a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He lives in Merritt Island, Florida, with his wife, Julia.
More information: https://raydeptulaauthor.com
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9. .
October 13, 2026
Source: New Zealand Government
New independent assessment results show primary and intermediate students made the equivalent of four months’ additional progress in mathematics between 2024 and 2026, signalling a turnaround in achievement.
Original source: https://nz.mil-osi.com/2026/10/13/26388/
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10. Appointments – Four new trustees appointed to Rātā Foundation Board
October 13, 2026
Source: Rātā Foundation
Rātā Foundation has welcomed four new trustees to its Board, following appointments announced by Associate Finance Minister Shane Jones.
Pete Floris, Pat McEvedy, Lynette Rayner and Erin Reeve have been appointed for terms of up to four years. The new trustees bring a breadth of experience across governance, business, finance, fundraising, community leadership and the primary sector.
Board Chair Josiah Tualamali’i says the appointments will add to the Board’s governance capability and support Rātā Foundation’s focus on strengthening communities and enabling long-term positive impact across its funding regions. “We are pleased to welcome Peter, Pat, Lynette and Erin to the Rātā Foundation Board. Each brings valuable experience, strong community connections and a commitment to making a positive difference.
“Their perspectives and expertise will complement the skills of our continuing trustees as we guide Rātā Foundation’s long-term investment and support for communities across our four funding regions.”
New trustees
- Pete Floris brings senior commercial and financial leadership experience from New Zealand’s primary sector.
- Pat McEvedy is an experienced director, farmer and community leader whose governance background spans agriculture, infrastructure, local government and community development.
- Lynette Rayner is a professional director, accountant and trustee with governance experience across business, health, sport and community organisations.
- Erin Reeve brings experience in fundraising, education and stakeholder engagement, including leadership roles within the education and heritage sectors.
The appointments follow the departure of Philippa Burns, Judene Edgar, Dr Sharon Gemmell and Dr David Ivory from the Board.
Mr Tualamali’i says the outgoing trustees have each made a valued contribution to Rātā Foundation’s governance. “On behalf of the Board, I thank Philippa, Judene, Sharon and David for the time, knowledge and commitment they have contributed during their terms. Their governance experience has helped guide Rātā Foundation’s work and supported its long-term stewardship for the communities we serve.”
Rātā Foundation Board
- Chair: Josiah Tualamali’i
- Peter Floris
- Katie Foote
- David Jessep
- Glenn Livingstone
- Alex Magaritis
- Pat McEvedy
- John Murphy
- Dean Percy
- Lynette Rayner
- Erin Reeve
- Peter Weir
About Rātā Foundation
The South Island’s most significant community investment fund, Rātā manages a pūtea (fund) of around $730 million[1], enabling an investment of around $25 million per annum into its funding regions of Canterbury, Nelson/Tasman, Marlborough and the Chatham Islands. Since its inception in 1988, Rātā has invested over $630 million through community investment programmes to empower people to thrive.
[1] Our investment balance reflects a specific point in time and may fluctuate due to market conditions and other external factors beyond our control.
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