With two days of the campaign left, what had earlier seemed like a relatively predictable election has narrowed considerably, with several variables potentially influencing the outcome.
Paula Lorgelly, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
Most parties are promising more funding for the government drug-buying agency. But two likely coalition partners are suggesting a new – and possibly risky – approach to medicines procurement.
The final days of the campaign have seen both major parties warn of instability if the other wins. But behind the jockeying for power, other forces are shaping the future of New Zealand politics.
Personal bias, upbringing and even popular dramas can influence the way we evaluate political leadership. As election day nears, how might we make more balanced judgments?
Policies and funds to decarbonise high-emitting industries and electrify transport are already delivering emissions cuts. But they are at risk of being disestablished or weakened.
Ugly incidents in the run-up to the election mirror the rise of online violence against women in politics. The next government needs a plan to tackle the problem before it’s too late.
With immigration soaring, warnings about its impact on population distribution, housing and business innovation have gone largely undiscussed during the election campaign.
Andrew Lensen, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
AI technologies have been left largely unregulated in New Zealand – and barely discussed during the election campaign. The country needs a clear plan for the brave new digital world.
Farmers once held immense power in New Zealand, and the National Party was their natural home. But the old order has been under threat for some time, with this election making the fault lines clear.
A shift towards more punitive responses to youth crime by the next government could reverse the progress New Zealand has made in reducing offending and addressing its root causes.
From the war in Ukraine and China’s role in the Pacific, to multi-billion-dollar military decisions, New Zealand will face huge challenges during the next term of government.
The latest political opinion polls confirm the rightward trend since mid-year. But with NZ First on the rise, the shape of the next government remains unpredictable.
Hanna Wilberg, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau
People on benefits are borrowing from the government to pay for essentials like power bills and car repairs. But repayments leave them with even less than before.
This winter’s bumper snowfall notwithstanding, the future of Ruapehu’s famous ski fields is highly uncertain. But the mountain itself will remain important in other ways.
Antarctic sea ice is now nearly 9% below normal. But the dramatic decline is not universal around the continent, which makes it difficult to predict the overall impact of climate change.
Under the new Natural and Built Environments Act, it will take ten years to phase out the old Resource Management Act. Parties promising reform will likely end up presiding over the status quo.
Long-term tidiness can require a consistent approach to keeping chaos at bay. But your possessions don’t have to control your life. New research is showing how tidy people maintain their homes.
Julia Talbot-Jones, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington et Yigit Saglam, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington
Despite its importance, water management has been largely absent from the election campaign. But using trading markets to improve freshwater quality in smaller catchments deserves wider debate.
Adjunct Professor, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, and Professor of Political Science, Charles Sturt University