AM Edition: Top 10 Politics Articles on LiveNews.co.nz for October 30, 2026 – Full Text

Source: Kiwi Performance Indicators

28 October 2026

For the first time this election, a comprehensive list of the top 10 voter issues and official government performance data has been compiled into one place – www.KPI.nz (Kiwi Performance Indicators).

Voters can now see:

1. The top 10 issues ranked and aggregated across the two research companies (Ipsos, Curia) that regularly poll and publish the issues that matter most to New Zealanders.
2. Dynamic KPIs using official Government data and other leading industry sources to show how our country is going in each key area.
3. An objective comparison of how well Labour-led vs National-led governments have performed over time.

Better Data. Better Debate.

Performance data is meticulously sourced and checked with trusted organisations including Stats NZ, the Reserve Bank, Treasury, Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, the Ministry of Social Development, NZ Police, REINZ and the Ministry for the Environment.

For full transparency, each KPI includes interactive historical graphs, data sources, methodology, explanatory notes and government timelines. Issue rankings and graphs are updated as new information becomes available.

The top 10 voter issues:

1. Cost of Living – the #1 issue for 4.5 years (Ipsos, page 7).
2. Health – all 5 Health Targets improving after rapid decline (4 Wait Time KPIs).
3. Economy – out of recession, but slow-growing. GDP per capita is what counts most.
4. Unemployment – 1 in 8 now on a main benefit. Flaws in the official unemployment rate.
5. Housing – affordability back under 6x household income for the first time in 13 years.
6. Environment – GDP up, emissions down (2nd table).
7. Poverty – very slow data releases, but 8 out of 9 poverty measures improved last release (table 2).
8. Taxes – a more complex picture. Contact us for our additional tax research.
9. Crime – victimisations per capita down 22.5% from 2022 and 2023 peaks.
10. Immigration – into the top 10 for the first time. A top 3 issue in the UK (#1), US (#3), AU (#3).

The top three issue rankings are identical between Ipsos and Curia, and account for 52% of the combined weighted issue scores.

Issues 4-12 are much closer, and often move about month to month. Treaty/race relations (#11) and Education (#12) drop out of the top 10 this month.

Overall mood of the nation

Country Direction is above the September-October 2023 lows of -28%, but still at -13%, despite most KPIs improving.

These are just a few of the insights revealed by the data. Media are encouraged to contact us for further findings, analysis and story angles.

“This election has seen robust coverage of party polling, policies, promises and gang-pads. But we believe there’s a far more important P-word not getting enough attention — Performance,” says Geoff Neal, one of the creators of Kiwi Performance Indicators.

“KPIs are a standard part of most people’s jobs and critical to the success of both public organisations and private businesses, so we’ve always found it strange that the biggest business of all — New Zealand — doesn’t have its own high-performance dashboard.

“We’ve brought together the data on the issues that matter most to New Zealanders, so media and voters alike can objectively compare government performance and judge for themselves.”

About KPI.nz

KPI.nz is an independent, citizen-funded and volunteer initiative. It receives no taxpayer funding and operates independently of political parties, media and corporate organisations. Our aim is to encourage informed discussion and debate to achieve better decision-making and outcomes for New Zealand.

Full methodology: kpi.nz/methodology

Next data update: Crime data, Friday 30 October. Issues ranking and Country Direction, early November.

Source: Greenpeace

New research commissioned by Greenpeace International has revealed that an alternative greenhouse gas accounting metric, aggressively backed by agribusiness lobbyists, would allow major meat and dairy exporting nations to conceal their livestock sector’s impact on global warming by significantly overstating methane reductions.

The approach of measuring emissions in this way, known as ‘No Additional Warming’, has already been adopted by the New Zealand Government, which last year weakened New Zealand’s methane target by almost 50%, in defiance of both the independent Climate Change Commission’s advice, and warnings from respected international climate scientists.

Sophie Nodzenski, Campaigner at Greenpeace International, said: “Rapid methane cuts give us our best shot at keeping global heating overshoot to a minimum while we decarbonise the global economy. Yet, while temperature overshoot takes center stage at COP31, the industrial livestock lobby is pushing a dangerous accounting trick to shirk its fair share. Changing the metrics to hide real emissions isn’t climate action – it’s shifting the bill for massive pollution onto those least responsible for it.”

Rhiannon Mackie, Greenpeace Aotearoa climate spokesperson, said: “New Zealand is leading a global race to the bottom on climate action. If the world’s 10 largest meat and dairy exporters were to follow in our footsteps, we would see 10 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions go unaccounted for in just this decade: magically wiped off the books while remaining in the atmosphere, and continuing to superheat our climate.”

“If large livestock producers use this loophole to shirk their responsibility, we face a grim choice: either we suffer accelerated global warming, or taxpayers, other industries, and developing nations will have to work twice as hard to pick up the slack.”

The report investigates GWP-, a controversial metric that tracks whether methane emissions are going up or down rather than counting total emission changes. It assumes that steady methane emissions cause no extra warming because methane breaks down quickly – even though it traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide in the short term and is responsible for approximately 0.5°C of global heating.

Mackie said: “A worldwide attempt to weaken climate action is currently taking place at the behest of the agribusiness lobby – a global behemoth that is weaponising the same tactics as Big Oil and Big Tobacco before it, to cover up science and avoid accountability for the harm it is causing. That includes Federated Farmers, Beef and Lamb, and Dairy NZ here in Aotearoa, who have effectively been allowed to rewrite environmental laws and climate change policies under this Government.”

“The report we’ve released today makes it clear: any political party that claims to care about the Paris Agreement needs to abandon ‘No Additional Warming’; reinstall strong, science-based methane targets as recommended by the Climate Change Commission; and take action to cut methane emissions from intensive dairying immediately – that means regulating the industry, reducing herd sizes, and putting agriculture in the Emissions Trading Scheme.”

According to modeling in the report produced by the think-tank Cerulogy, GWP- allows countries to present negligible cuts in emissions as significant climate victories. A cut of a mere 0.6% in actual methane emissions by the world’s ten largest meat and dairy exporters between 2020 and 2030, could be reported as a 30% reduction under the GWP- metric.

A 30% reduction of actual emissions would allow these countries, if adopting the GWP- metric, to claim their emissions are actually cooling the planet – logging 898 million tonnes of “negative emissions” in 2030 without making any real change. Under the standard metric, 2030 would still see 640 million tonnes of methane released by livestock into the atmosphere, continuing to massively drive climate heating.

This bookkeeping trick wipes away real-world climate-heating gases, creating a massive 1,538 million tonne gap between reported figures under GWP- and atmospheric reality in a single year, and a cumulative 10 billion tonne gap if applied systematically in reporting between 2020 and 2030 – equal to nearly a fifth of the world’s current total annual global greenhouse gas emissions. The investigation highlights the extreme scale of these artificial ‘paper’ reductions.

For context, 1,538 million tonnes of carbon is:

• More than Indonesia’s total national greenhouse gas emissions in 2024.
• 86% of total global aviation emissions recorded in 2023.
• About 6.4 times the annual greenhouse gas footprint of JBS, the world’s largest meat producer, in 2023.
• Equivalent to three times the emissions from passenger cars driving across Europe’s streets each year (780 million vehicles).

If some countries unilaterally decide to report their methane emissions using GWP- within the framework of a global climate agreement that was built with absolute reductions in mind, this would effectively wipe significant emissions off the global emissions balance sheet, surreptitiously eating up our remaining carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.5°C. Over the 2020-2030 period, systemic GWP- reporting from these 10 countries would create a cumulative gap of obscured emissions .

The report also highlights a risk of governments using these paper savings in agriculture to justify slower decarbonisation in heavy-polluting fossil fuel sectors. Australia, for example, could use GWP- to report 76 million tonnes of negative emissions to justify continued pollution in its dirty coal sector equivalent to 20 coal-fired power stations running for a year. Meanwhile, the United States could hide emissions equivalent to 86 million passenger cars.

Greenpeace International warns that GWP- is a threat to global climate goals and is urging governments to reject GWP- for national target setting and reporting, establish binding agricultural emissions reduction targets aligned with 1.5°C, and support a just transition toward ecological farming.

Source: Alliance Party

Thursday 29 October 2026

Dunedin’s legendary ‘Cat in the Hat’ election meeting is seeing political fur fly as local candidate and Alliance Party leader Victor Billot fights for his right to speak.

The ‘Cat in the Hat’ meetings are a popular fixture on the Dunedin general election calendar, and the 2026 event will be held at the Opoho Presbyterian Church at 7pm, Sunday 1 November.

Meeting organiser and MC Philip Somerville traditionally appears at the debates dressed as the Dr Seuss character ‘The Cat in the Hat.’

However, Mr Billot says the whimsical feline is in danger of evolving into another Seuss classic: ‘The Grinch Who Stole Free and Open Debate.’

In the past, Mr Billot has spoken as a candidate at several of these forums, but this election he failed to receive an invitation.

He says he has since been told an arbitrary new rule means parties not polling nationally at a sufficient level are excluded from the debate.

Mr Billot says all he wants is a fair go.

“No special treatment, just the right to speak as a genuine candidate with a serious message.”

He says if agreement can’t be reached to give him a go, he will be standing outside the church holding his own public street-corner meeting.

Mr Billot says the Alliance Party is a registered party, running electorate candidates and a party list, with a previous role in Government and has recently gained the affiliation of a major New Zealand trade union, the Maritime Union of New Zealand.

He says as a long-term Dunedin resident, he has a history of local involvement, unlike some other candidates from “permitted” parties.

“There is no ACT Party candidate in Dunedin, and the National Party candidate is an Ashburton dairy farm owner who lives four hours’ drive away.”

Mr Billot says there is a serious principle at stake here.

“How are new or smaller parties expected to ever feature in the polls if they are censored by self-appointed gatekeepers?”

Mr Billot says he has noticed a “chilling and more closed off attitude” in this election with public platforms.

“In past campaigns, smaller parties were shown respect and given a modest opportunity to present themselves to the voting public.”

“In 2026, I have noticed a trend to favour the establishment parties and shut out the underdog.”

Mr Billot says election debate organisers must take responsibility for allowing the free and open exchange of ideas.

“The Opoho event is not a private meeting of a club, it is a public meeting for the general election, open to all local people.”

He says as big money and social media algorithms now dominate politics, community forums and public debates become ever more important.

Mr Billot says some outlets are still prepared to give all voices a fair go.

“For example, the Public Interest podcast has had thousands of views for my recent interview, and even right-wing outlets such as Reality Check Radio and The Platform have provided a fair hearing to a democratic socialist party such as the Alliance.”

“This is a very important principle at stake.”

Alliance Party

Source: Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

• Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision tells staff to brace for loss of around 24 roles
• Agency admits some work will have to ‘reduce, slow down or stop’

Government cuts are forcing the custodian of the nation’s film and audio archives to propose cutting around 24 roles, nearly a third of its workforce and reduce the critical specialist work it does to preserve our history.

Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision has told staff the broad outlines of a restructure that it plans to consult on in the new year following the Government reducing its funding in Budget 2024 (by 6%) and again in 2026 (by 2%). It wants to reduce its workforce to about 60 staff with the changes taking effect from mid-2027.

“This is just more of the same from this government – cultural vandalism plain and simple. It has no regard for those who safeguard our history and promote our unique culture,”

said Fleur Fitzsimons, Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary.

Ngā Taonga is the national audio-visual archive. It safeguards films and recordings that document our history dating back to 1894, preserving materials to ensure they stand the test of time for future generations. It has told staff that with the rising cost of maintaining the digital archive and no increase in funding, it has been forced to restructure again, starting with its leadership team. It is the second restructure in two years.

“New Zealanders greatly value Ngā Taonga, it safeguards a treasure trove of films and recordings which need specialist knowledge to preserve. You can’t rebuild this knowledge once these people are lost. These specialists are the reason the collection survives and is accessible to everyone.”

Ngā Taonga itself states that with fewer people, some work will have to ‘reduce, slow down or stop’. That means less access for the public, a growing backlog, fewer new films and recordings collected, and some taonga left at risk.

“Staff are rightly worried, they know with such a significant downsizing of the workforce, Ngā Taonga won’t be able to function properly,”

said Fitzsimons.

“But the Government does not care. From our national library and archives to our national museum, and now our film and sound archive, the Government is stripping back the core institutions that hold our stories.”

“Once again, this shows the urgent need for the next Government to adopt a public good test before restructuring and cutting so all agencies are forced to pause and assess proposed cuts against a range of criteria including impact on services, workers and the communities they serve.”

“This continued attack on our cultural institutions needs to stop. That’s why come 7 November we urge New Zealanders to vote for a new government that properly values the vital institutions that help our country to thrive.”

Recent statements on cuts to agencies protecting and supporting our culture and history

• National Library and Archives NZ — 21 October 2026 – Deep cuts to National Library and Archives NZ confirmed despite huge outcry: https://www.psa.org.nz/news-media/deep-cuts-to-national-library-and-archives-nz-confirmed-despite-huge-outcry
• Creative NZ — 12 June 2026 – Cultural vandalism: Arts workers pay the price for Govt neglect of Creative NZ: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2606/S00086/cultural-vandalism-arts-workers-pay-the-price-for-govt-neglect-of-creative-nz.htm
• Ministry for Culture and Heritage — 13 June 2025 – Govt cuts will undermine access to New Zealand’s history: https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2506/S00063.htm

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 boards and community groups.

Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi

Source: Northland Regional Council

Northland Regional Council’s latest Annual Report, covering the previous 12 months, included confirmation of a decision for a 0% increase in total rates and the start of a potentially major shake-up of local government across Taitokerau.

Reflecting on the recent adoption of the council’s Annual Report for the 2025/26 financial year, council chair Pita Tipene says holding rates for the following financial year 2026/27 (which the council had confirmed in June) was council’s tangible way of standing with its people and easing pressure where it’s needed.

“Times are tough for the people and communities of Taitokerau and council recognises that affordability remains a critical issue.”

Chair Tipene says that among other successes of the past year, highlights were:

• The Regional Plan for Northland became fully operative. After nearly nine years of development, consultation and hearings, the Regional Plan for Northland became fully operative in late March, establishing a single integrated framework for managing the region’s natural and physical resources.
• Supporting tangata whenua capability and environmental leadership across Taitokerau, including freshwater monitoring wānanga, biosecurity partnerships, kaitiaki-led restoration projects, iwi and hapū environmental monitoring initiatives, and scholarships that provided Māori rangatahi with valuable work experience opportunities.
• More than $1.33 million was invested in sustainable land management. Council allocated over $1.33 million through the Hill Country Erosion Fund, Environment Fund, and Tāngata Whenua and Community Catchment Group Fund, supporting 83 projects focused on sustainable land use and freshwater improvement.
• Continued expansion of community-led pest control. Through 37 Biofund grants and support for community pest control areas, council invested $862,000 in biosecurity initiatives and established or renewed seven projects covering more than 4200 hectares.
• Major gains in Predator Free Northland programmes. Landscape-scale predator eradication continued across Taitokerau, including 4000 hectares declared possum-free at Whangārei Heads and significant progress across Pēwhairangi Whānui (Bay of Islands) programmes.
• Environmental education reached more than 25,000 young people. Council’s education programmes partnered with 149 schools and early childhood centres, engaging more than 25,000 tamariki and students in environmental learning and action.

Meanwhile Chair Tipene says over the past year central government had also signalled one of the biggest potential shifts on the local government scene – both locally and nationally – since 1989.

He says while Local Government reorganisation was secondary to NRC performing its core functions well, the council had been working with its district counterparts to explore opportunities to strengthen local government arrangements in ways that best meet the needs of Northland communities.

“While the government has currently paused the process until after next month’s election, our focus remains on achieving better outcomes for Taitokerau, reflecting our unique environment, communities and partnerships, including those with tāngata whenua.”

He says over the year the council had also worked diligently alongside its district council partners to ensure Northland was in the best possible position to implement central government’s reform of the Resource Management Act.

“These reforms provide an opportunity for Northland’s councils to take a coordinated, region-wide approach to planning for the future.”

During the 12 months covered by the report the council – which had seen four new councillors elected at last year’s local body elections – had also endorsed a new strategic direction, setting out where it was heading over the next three years, and how it would get there.

Chair Tipene says the high-level document brought together council’s vision, mission, values, long-term outcomes and the key shifts needed to get there, and shapes how it plans, invests, and works with others.

“It will also help shape our draft Long Term Plan 2027-2037 and guide decisions about priorities and investment.”

Full audited Annual Report

Attracts Active Participation from Industry Professionals and the Public, and Brings Together More Than 50 Enterprises to Showcase Innovative Logistics Solutions

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 29 October 2026 – Organised by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) and funded by the Logistics Promotion Funding Scheme (LPFS) under the Maritime and Aviation Training Fund of the Transport and Logistics Bureau of the HKSAR Government, LogTech Expo 2026 attracted strong participation from industry professionals and the public, bringing together over 50 logistics, supply chain and innovation and technology (I&T) enterprises, as well as representatives from industry, academia and the public sector. The Expo showcased innovative technologies and applications spanning artificial intelligence (AI), smart supply chain management, smart warehousing, logistics robotics, green logistics and the low-altitude economy, fostering the integration of technology with real-world logistics scenarios and exploring new opportunities in the digitalisation and smart transformation of the logistics industry.

Aligned with the logistics and innovation priorities outlined in Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address, including strengthening Hong Kong’s role as an international maritime centre and international aviation hub, promoting modern logistics development, and accelerating AI and low-altitude economy applications, the Expo was held under the theme “Smart-Driven Transformation, Leading the Future of Logistics”. Through exhibitions, forums, technical sharing sessions and business matching activities, the event promoted the integration of innovative technologies with real-world logistics applications and accelerated the industry’s digital and intelligent transformation. The Opening Ceremony was officiated by Mr YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics of the HKSAR Government, and Mr DU Yonghai, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC. The Expo also received support from more than 20 industry organisations.

Mr YAU Cheuk Hang, Vic, JP, Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics, said: “Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan and the 2026 Policy Address put forward the goal of fully developing Hong Kong into a ‘Global Maritime Capital’, focusing on the two key areas of ‘increasing quantity’ and ‘improving quality’. Driving the smart and green transformation of the logistics industry is one of the key priorities under the ‘improving quality’ agenda. The LogTech Expo has become an annual event for the logistics industry, enabling industry stakeholders to learn about the latest logistics technology solutions and to discuss the development trends and applications of smart logistics. It is hoped that this will help enhance the productivity of the industry and maintain the competitiveness of Hong Kong’s logistics sector.”

Mr DU Yonghai, Chief Innovation Officer of HKPC, said:”AI has evolved from being a tool for enhancing efficiency into a key engine driving the transformation and upgrading of the logistics industry. Through the integration of AI, robotics, automation systems and data analytics technologies, enterprises can enhance supply chain visibility, optimise decision-making processes and respond more quickly to changing market demands. HKPC has been actively promoting the application of AI and advanced manufacturing and logistics technologies. Through LogTech Expo 2026, we hope to facilitate technology exchange and cross-sector collaboration, helping the industry seize new opportunities arising from smart logistics and the low-altitude economy, while supporting Hong Kong’s logistics sector in advancing towards greater efficiency, intelligence and sustainability.”

AI, Robotics and Smart Warehousing Solutions Take Centre Stage

This year’s Expo brought together more than 50 logistics, supply chain and I&T enterprises, showcasing a wide range of smart logistics applications covering AI, smart warehousing, logistics robotics, supply chain visibility, Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and automated logistics systems. Through real-world use cases, exhibitors demonstrated how AI, robotics and data technologies are enhancing logistics operations, optimising warehouse management and improving supply chain transparency.

Highlights included quadruped robots (Robot Dogs), Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), intelligent sorting systems, Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), RFID logistics tracking solutions and high-density smart warehousing equipment, which attracted strong interest from visitors seeking to understand their practical applications and future potential in logistics operations. Companies including BPS Logistics Technology, HSM Industrial Solution Limited, Million Tech Development Limited, IoT Systems Limited and Beijing Xingdongjiyuan Co., Ltd. showcased innovative solutions in smart warehousing, automated operations and supply chain management.

Participating companies also affirmed the Expo’s effectiveness as a platform for industry engagement. Eddie CHAP, General Manager of Supply Chain Solutions of Tradelink Electronic Commerce Limited, said, “The Expo brought together stakeholders from across the logistics and supply chain sectors, providing an ideal platform for industry exchange and the showcase of smart logistics solutions.”

Mandy MAK, Chief Operating Officer of Swivel Software, said, “The Expo helped facilitate effective alignment between logistics technologies and industry needs, driving the practical adoption of innovative solutions and advancing digital transformation within the industry.”

Industry Leaders Discuss AI Applications and Smart Logistics Trends

The Expo also facilitated the sharing of practical industry experience through thematic forums and technical presentations. One of the highlights was the opening seminar, “Smart Tools for Logistics: Practical AI Applications and Insights”, moderated by Ryan IP, Vice President and Executive Director of the Public Policy Institute of Our Hong Kong Foundation. The seminar featured Professor LAI Kee-hung, Head of the Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies and Chair Professor of Shipping and Logistics at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Sunny HO, MH, JP, FCILT, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Shippers’ Council; Keno CHEUNG Tai-yip, President of The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong; and Suki CHEUNG Shuk-ming, Chief Executive Officer of MG Ship. The panel explored the logistics industry’s ongoing digital transformation from a model of “reactive response” to one driven by “predictive decision-making”, and examined the significant value of AI in enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and strengthening risk management. Speakers noted that despite AI’s enormous potential, the industry continues to face challenges such as gaps between expected and actual returns on investment, poor data quality, and cybersecurity and compliance requirements. The speakers also pointed out that approximately 65% of small and medium-sized enterprises remain at an early stage of technology adoption. They unanimously advocated for the education sector to cultivate multidisciplinary talent equipped with critical thinking skills, while calling on the Government and industry stakeholders to jointly promote affordable and user-friendly digital solutions. Such efforts, they said, would help narrow industry gaps and accelerate the comprehensive upgrading of the logistics sector.

Throughout the day, the Expo hosted more than 10 thematic forums and technical sharing sessions covering AI, digital twins, cross-border e-commerce logistics, supply chain visibility, ESG and green logistics, and the low-altitude economy, providing an important platform for the industry to exchange practical insights and explore the latest technological applications.

Fostering Industry Exchange and Business Collaboration

In addition to the exhibition and seminar programme, the Expo featured a dedicated networking and business matching session that brought together exhibitors, logistics and supply chain practitioners, partners, buyers and other industry stakeholders to have in-depth discussions on logistics technology applications, digital transformation strategies, market trends and potential collaboration opportunities. This helps connect technology providers with enterprise users while facilitating the adoption of innovative solutions and new business partnerships, and further strengthens the Expo’s role as a platform for logistics technology exchange, business matching and knowledge sharing.

Looking ahead, HKPC will continue to work closely with industry partners to promote the practical adoption of AI, automation, data-driven technologies and other innovations across the logistics sector. By fostering deeper integration between technology and industry applications, HKPC is committed to supporting the digitalisation, intelligent transformation and high-quality development of Hong Kong’s logistics industry.

Please download the high-res photos HERE.

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About the Hong Kong Productivity Council