Category: Politics

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand First has soared to nearly 12 percent in the latest Taxpayers’ Union-Curia Poll, its highest result since the survey launched in early 2021.

The coalition parties have extended their lead over the left bloc, but Labour remains the highest polling party.

Labour, National, and New Zealand First are all up on the previous poll in December, while ACT and the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori have all taken dips.

• Labour: 34.4 percent, up 2.8 points (43 seats)
• National: 31.5 percent, up 1.5 (39 seats)
• New Zealand First: 11.9 percent, up 3.8 (15 seats)
• Greens: 7.7 percent, down 3.1 (10 seats)
• ACT: 7.0 percent, down 1.9 (9 seats)
• Te Pāti Māori: 3.0 percent, down 0.1 (4 seats)

For parties outside of Parliament, TOP is on 0.7 percent (-0.9 points), NZ Outdoors and Freedom on 0.6 percent (-0.4 points), New Conservatives on 0.3 percent (-0.7 points), and Vision NZ is on 0.3 percent (no change).

The results would give the coalition 63 seats (up 2), while the opposition would have 57 (down 2).

The TPU-Curia poll’s calculation assumes there would be no overhang seats for National and Te Pāti Māori, but that Te Pāti Māori would retain at least one electorate seat.

Christopher Luxon is still ahead of Chris Hipkins as preferred Prime Minister, on 19.5 percent (down 0.2), while Hipkins is on 18.0 percent (up 0.2).

Winston Peters is on 9.7 percent (up 1.2), David Seymour is on 7.1 percent (up 1.1), and Chlöe Swarbrick is on 5.5 percent (down 2.1).

Net country direction, or ‘right track, wrong track,’ was on -16.4 percent, a drop of 9.8 points.

The survey showed 32.6 percent of people said the country was heading in the right direction (-5.7 points), while 49.0 percent believe the country is heading in the wrong direction (+4.1 points).

The poll was conducted by Curia Market Research Ltd for the NZ Taxpayers’ Union. It is a random poll of 1000 adult New Zealanders and is weighted to the overall adult population. It was conducted by phone (landlines and mobile) and online between Wednesday 14 January and Sunday 18 January 2026. It has a maximum margin of error of +/- 3.1 percent.

Curia is a long-running and established pollster in New Zealand. In 2024 it resigned its membership from the Research Association New Zealand (RANZ) industry body.

Polls compare to the most recent poll by the same polling company, as different polls can use different methodologies. They are intended to track trends in voting preferences, showing a snapshot in time, rather than be a completely accurate predictor of the final election result.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Analysis – In 2011, when John Key surprised voters with his early announcement of a November election, a Waikato Times cartoon captured the public mood with a reeling voter despairing “296 days of campaigning”.

Fourteen years on, Christopher Luxon has revived the November timetable and with it, perhaps the same reaction.

This time, at least, our emblematic voter has just 290-odd days to endure.

One would not want to overstate the lateness of the date. Since the advent of MMP, New Zealand has held one election in July, three in September, three in October and three in November.

So November is not exceptional. It is, however, on the later side of the ledger and leaves a long runway between now and polling day.

Asked about his motivations, Luxon danced around the question, calling November the “logical” choice given the options available on the calendar and various competing occasions.

He eventually conceded that “every day makes a difference” to the economic recovery.

ACT’s leader and deputy prime minister David Seymour was a bit more candid: “I think it’s only fair that people get to judge the government on the benefits of its policies delivered before they choose.”

In other words: a later election gives the government more time for the emerging “green shoots” to fully bloom – and for voters to feel the economic recovery in their wallets.

Treasury forecasts are picking GDP to pick up in the back half of the year, with unemployment beginning to trend down.

The coalition parties are banking on that improvement feeding through into confidence, optimism, and ultimately votes. Support for the status quo.

It’s not an unreasonable assumption – if those forecasts do indeed eventuate. The past few years have proved how fragile those forecasts can be.

The flipside to the late date is that it also leaves plenty of time and opportunity for things to go awry, either at home or abroad.

Few would bet against US President Donald Trump throwing a spanner in the works and upsetting the road back to recovery.

The still-unfolding Greenland negotiations are a fresh reminder of how quickly overseas shocks can derail domestic recoveries.

Closer to home, the long runway also allows more time for internal coalition tensions to mount, undermining Luxon’s claims on providing “strong, stable government”.

Late last year gave just a taster of that building friction as Winston Peters vowed to repeal ACT’s Regulatory Standards Act. David Seymour fired back, effectively accusing him of disloyalty.

That stoush will not be the last. All three coalition parties will be under pressure to differentiate themselves throughout the year.

And then there are the persistent leadership murmurings, with every day another chance for the various caucus factions to contemplate the polls and their futures.

Luxon is banking on his ability to keep all those variables in check right up to voting day.

The other point to make is that 7 November does not leave much time at all for negotiations to form a government before Christmas.

The final results are not expected until 20 days after polling day, and in 2023 coalition talks dragged on for another 20 days beyond that.

A similar timetable this year would push the finish line to around 17 December which is well into the festive season.

And that’s assuming the talks are as straightforward as last time. Current polling points to a razor-sharp contest and the potential for more complicated arrangements than last time.

Forget the despairing cartoon voter. Politicians and party staffers would do well now to cancel their Christmas plans.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Consumer Affairs Minister Scott Simpson is urging the nearly half of incorporated societies that have not done so yet to re-register.

Incorporated societies include clubs, charities, unions and political parties, and they have until 5 April to meet the requirements or be dissolved.

That could potentially lead to the groups’ bank accounts being frozen, and put funding and lease arrangements because banks and funders may not want to deal with a group that does not have legal status.

With just a few months left before the deadline, one club says the process is difficult and can take months.

It all stems from a law change passed by Labour in 2022 to modernise the old 1908 law following recommendations from the Law Commission in 2013.

The new law contains additional requirements for Incorporated Societies, including a bank account, and a new constitution with rules for distributing assets and resolving disputes. They would then need to meet to approve the changes and submit the paperwork to the companies office.

Societies could also decide not to re-register, but in that case must go through the separate process of winding up or becoming a different kind of entity, which can be complicated in itself.

Figures supplied by the Minister’s office showed that of the 23,684 total incorporated societies, some 11,020 were still operating under the 1908 Act.

Simpson told RNZ the changes – supported across Parliament – aimed to ensure a modern governance framework that would ensure the groups had the tools to achieve what they wanted.

“Now’s a really good time to rattle your dags and get on with it,” he said.

“It’s a relatively easy process. There’s plenty of help and assistance, and if they need any help or direction, simply go to the company’s office website and have a look, and they’ll be able to step their way through that process.”

Labour Party planning to re-register

Another group yet to submit is the Labour Party, which passed the new law.

A spokesperson told RNZ its redrafted constitution was voted on by members in November, but the party had intentionally delayed filing to the Companies Office until 2026, to simplify the process.

The spokesperson said the paperwork would be submitted by the deadline.

‘There are legal consequences’

Sport NZ’s governance and planning lead Julie Hood said societies that missed the deadline would miss out on protection from personal liability, and avoid other legal complications.

“This is a hard deadline. So if they don’t re register, they no longer exist,” she said.

“Banks, funders, contract holders have to consider whether or not they can continue to work with the entity when they’re no longer … a legal entity, and there are concerns that the banks may have to freeze bank accounts until they’ve sorted that issue out.”

Arrangements for clubrooms leased from local councils could also need to be renegotiated, and money left in the kitty would need to be distributed.

“It gets quite complicated and they may decide that they won’t or can’t renegotiate the contract. I don’t know how this is all going to play out, but there are legal consequences that come with this.”

Wellington-based Club Latino’s outgoing president Fiona Mackenzie said they had found the process could take months, and was quite challenging.

“We’re a small society, we have maybe 30 members, and we do this voluntarily. It’s not a full time thing, and so having to take the time to look through what’s required, how to go about it, how to get that through our membership has been quite time consuming.

“We’ve gone from having a set of rules of society which was about 11 pages long to now our current draft which is 35, so it’s a lot. It feels like a little bit of overkill for a society of our size.

“We’re not lawyers, we’re not policy experts, we’re not tax experts – so it’s hard to keep your club going when you’re being asked to do all this type of overhead.”

She said the club still had work to do to meet the requirements, and had sent out the draft constitution for members to read over the summer holidays ahead of a special meeting in February.

Clubs like hers wanted to do what was required of them – but “the most important thing is that they want to be spending time giving back and engaging with the community,” she said.

“It feels like it’s not necessarily designed for the type of club or society that we are. Feels like a bit of overkill.”

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment confirmed that as long as the constitution complied with the rules and was filed before the deadline, the societies would continue operating.

Hood said there was no shortage of help, with the Companies Office and Sport NZ both offering templates and resources for clubs to use and convert to a new constitution, along with governance clauses specific to different sporting codes for those who wished to use them.

“They are that are not necessarily a requirement for the for the incorporated societies act, but are good to have … that will allow particularly sports and federated structures to line up constitutions within national, regional and club entities, particularly around disputes resolution, so removing duplication of effort and making it really clear who’s responsible for what at each layer.”

She said Sport NZ would also be providing a new template in February which would offer a very simple constitution for very small clubs that may be simpler to use.

Leeway for some residents’ associations

Minister Simpson also said a problem had been discovered with some Residents’ Associations that owned property.

“This is groups that have property in common – maybe a pathway or a grassed area or something – in their Residents’ Association area,” he said.

The problem was that some of these currently had clauses that – if the group was dissolved – would distribute the property to members, contravening the 2022 law that prevents distribution to members.

Simpson said those groups would still need to submit a constitution by the 5 April deadline, but they could retain the clause permitting distribution until 5 October 2028.

“We’ve decided to give them an extension of time to sort that out. That was a matter that wasn’t raised during the select committee process back in 2022, it’s only recently come to light,” he said.

“They will need to reformat themselves into an entity that is going to meet the criteria of either an Incorporated Society or indeed, some other entity. They might, for instance, decide to form themselves into a body corporate.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The annual Rātana celebrations which traditionally mark the start of the political year are getting underway on Thursday.

Thousands of followers of the church known as Te Iwi Morehu congregate in the small settlement of Rātana Pā south of Whanganui every year in the lead up to the 25th of January, the birthday of the movement’s founder Tahupōtiki Wiremu Rātana.

Iwi from Whanganui, Taranaki and Ngāti Rangi alongside the Rangitikei and Whanganui District Councils will be welcomed on Thursday.

Iwi from around the motu, including the Kiingitanga and Te Arikinui Kuini Nga wai hono i te po, will be welcomed on Friday morning.

In that same group will be Te Rangimaheu Te Heuheu Tukino IX, the Ariki or traditional leader of Ngāti Tūwharetoa making his first visit to Rātana since the death of his father Sir Tumu Te Heuheu in September 2025.

On Friday afternoon politicians, including the prime minister Christopher Luxon and leader of the opposition Chris Hipkins, will be welcomed to Rātana.

Both Luxon and Hipkins will be speaking in the afternoon ahead of a busy election campaign this year, with an election date of November 7 confirmed just this week.

It will also be the last Rātana celebrations for Adrian Rurawhe as a Labour MP, after he announced his retirement from politics.

Rurawhe is a follower of the Rātana faith and said he spent the summer thinking about whānau and church, and that retiring from politics would give time to be more involved.

Rurawhe held the Te Tai Hauāuru seat, where Rātana is located, for nine years before it was taken by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Prime Minister has announced this year’s election will be held on 7 November.

Christopher Luxon made the announcement from National’s caucus retreat in Christchurch.

The date had been widely tipped beforehand, and Luxon said he chose it as it was a “logical time,” with eight of New Zealand’s last 12 elections also held in October or November.

“When you look at the international events beforehand, when you look at the national events, sporting events, that was sort of the logical time,” he said.

The announcement began with a lengthy preamble of what National had done so far in government, including its tax cuts, education and law and order policies, and its reforms to the Resource Management Act.

Luxon said in the lead up to November, New Zealanders would have to weigh up who was best placed to provide “strong and stable” government in a “very volatile and uncertain world,” pitching that National would provide a strong economy, safer streets, a world-leading education, and more affordable housing.

Luxon said the economic recovery was now “up and running,” and a November election would mean National could “demonstrate more of that” throughout the year.

“We’ve been doing a big turnaround, we’ve been fixing a lot of the basics. We now have an opportunity, as this recovery comes through, not just to watch it come through but to actually shape the future of this country and to put in place the long-term reforms that actually will help the country realise its potential and to lift all of our collective living standards.”

Asked whether he had given any thought to going early, to prevent ACT and New Zealand First from absorbing more of the limelight, Luxon repeated that when he had looked at the calendar and sporting events that he had got to late October and early November.

As Prime Minister, the date was Luxon’s decision. But he confirmed he had informed David Seymour and Winston Peters of the date on Tuesday.

Luxon said he was “open” to working with his current coalition partners again, but he would be making the case that the “strongest and most stablest” form of government would be a strong party vote for National.

“They do not care” – Labour ready for election

Labour MPs were holding their own caucus retreat in West Auckland as news of the election date came through.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the contest could not come soon enough.

“New Zealanders face a very clear choice at this year’s election between a government that’s offering more cuts, more division and more negativity, or a change of government to a government with a positive vision for New Zealand’s future.”

Hipkins said Luxon had failed to deliver on his promises, adding the number of people that left the country last year was an indictment on his government.

“We need to do better as a country. All National’s offering is more of the same, more excuses, more backtracking, more going backwards. They do not feel the pain that New Zealand families are feeling right now and they do not care.

“We deserve a government that is going to put working Kiwis first. That’s going to make sure that New Zealanders who go out every day, slog their guts out and work hard, actually have the opportunity to get ahead. National cannot offer that future, Labour will.”

“We’re proud of our record” – ACT

The ACT Party said it would be giving the public a clear choice at the election: “To avoid the reds and greens, without settling for beige.”

ACT leader David Seymour said the party was “proud of our record,” and had proven it could cut red tape, shrink government waste, and provide better value for the taxpayer dollar.

“We’ve also proven we can work collegially and effectively with our partners in coalition. In everything from youth justice to medicines, we have delivered. ACT provides the full package for voters who rightly fear the Labour-Green-Māori menace, but also want faster action on waste, red tape, and pride in our country,” he said.

“Retirement date” for Luxon – Te Pāti Māori

Te Pāti Māori said in announcing the election date, Luxon had also announced his retirement date.

“The pain this government has inflicted on our communities and our taiao will be felt for generations,” said co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

“Aotearoa cannot afford another term of this government. If we do not change the government, poverty and the environmental desecration will be entrenched as a normal part of life in Aotearoa.”

The party encouraged its supporters to enrol early, following changes the government made to scrap same-day enrolment.

“Game on” for National MPs

Ahead of the announcement National MPs, gathered for their first caucus meeting of the year.

On their way in, senior ministers would not give anything away about the date, but said they were ready.

Finance minister Nicola Willis was optimistic that economic fortunes would improve before the election.

“There’s always more to do, and we have ahead of us several months before an election, and our government will be working hard every week to make more progress, to make more changes, to make a difference to New Zealanders’ everyday lives,” she said.

“I’m always conscious that yes, the GDP data has improved. Yes, the Official Cash Rate is down. Yes, the business confidence index is up. But families need to feel that at home.”

National’s campaign chair Chris Bishop said it was “game on” and it would be a big year.

“It’ll be a really clear contrast at the election, and I’m really confident people will make the right decision, but there’s a long way to run between now and the end of the year.”

Bishop said he expected his workload would loosen closer to the start of the campaign.

“I don’t sleep a lot as it is. So it’s all good,” he said.

“I like being busy, and I like the portfolios that I’ve got the privilege of being in charge of, but ultimately that’s over to the Prime Minister. We will probably be having a chat about potentially freeing me up to focus on the campaign, because that is a really key responsibility. But that’s all down the line, and I’m really relaxed about it.”

While a ministerial reshuffle was not announced at the retreat, Luxon has previously said that retirements may necessitate one.

No MPs have announced their retirement at the retreat, and none would give much away of their intentions on their way into the caucus meeting.

Bishop said any retirement announcements were for the individuals to make, and he would not divulge chats he had had with his colleagues.

National party president Sylvia Wood said National went into the end of last year “really, really well” and the party was feeling good.

“We’ve got a great ground game. We’ve got a great set of members. So it’s going to be good,” she said.

Ahead of the 2023 election, the party gave its membership a goal of hitting 45 percent of the party vote, which it did not meet, landing on 38 percent.

Wood would not say whether there would be a target again this time, only saying she wanted a “really, really good” party vote.

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa protested outside the event at the Commodore Hotel.

Organiser John Minto criticised the government for not sanctioning Israel and not recognising Palestinian statehood.

He said pro-Palestine groups would continue to protest other National Party events “again and again” throughout the election year.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has come out swinging at the government in his first speech of election year, saying its responsible for the situation New Zealand is in.

Hipkins said New Zealanders were looking for a “sense of hope” this year as he addressed his party at its caucus retreat in West Auckland, saying people weren’t getting that sense of hope from this government.

“They’re seeing more cuts, more negativity, real doom and gloom from the current government, and what they want is a sense of hope that better is possible and that a better future for New Zealand is possible.”

Hipkins took aim at the Prime Minister’s State of the Nation speech, saying New Zealanders got “another litany of blame and excuses” from Christopher Luxon on Monday when what they wanted was a “plan for the future.”

“Stringing together a bunch of management buzz words is not a plan, and it’s certainly not a vision,” said Hipkins.

There was no leadership from this government, he said, and referenced the comments Luxon had made in the past about New Zealanders.

“We have a prime minister who thinks that low-income New Zealanders are bottom feeders, who think that fundamentally, New Zealand is a wet, whiny, miserable country,” said Hipkins.

He joked that it was “little bit wet today” acknowledging the wind and rain outside the venue.

“But actually, what I heard from Kiwis over the summer break was not whiny and miserable, it was desperate for something to get excited about, for some sense of hope, some sense that the government has an idea about how to make the country better.”

He greeted his MPs at their first gathering following the summer break saying “welcome to election year.”

Hipkins said the party had done the “hard work” over the last couple of years, listening, taking stock, refreshing and renewing themselves after its defeat in 2023.

“Now we are into election year – that means we get to talk about what we want to do, how we will do things differently, but also remind New Zealanders of the absolute mess this government has created.

“Because while they will try and find everybody else to blame for the mess they’ve created, make no bones about it, this government are responsible for the situation that New Zealand is in at the moment.”

Speaking off the cuff to a conference room at the Quality Inn Lincoln Green in West Auckland filled with Labour MPs and staff, who nodded throughout the speech commenting “that’s right” in agreement.

Hipkins spoke of the “record number of Kiwis” who left the country last year looking for “opportunity elsewhere” they couldn’t find in New Zealand.

“That is an absolute indictment on Christopher Luxon and his government.

“New Zealanders now are looking to us to provide that alternative.”

He spoke of the “structural deficit” Nicola Willis had “created”, pointing to the pre-election fiscal update in 2023, “New Zealand was on a pathway to recovery.”

“We were heading back into surplus.

“The economy was going to start growing again, and the first thing that this government did was a slash and burn exercise that ended all of that.”

Hipkins said Labour wouldn’t be “shy” in reminding New Zealanders the situation they found themselves in now was because of the “bad choices of this government.”

“Tax cuts for landlords and tobacco companies, whilst hard working, New Zealanders find it harder to buy their first home or go and see the doctor.”

He pointed to Labour policies such as the New Zealand Future Fund and three free doctor visits, paid for by a capital gains tax, saying it had been “well received” by people.

“New Zealanders want it. They have made that very clear. They want to see investment moved out of the speculative housing market and into providing opportunities for New Zealanders.”

He blamed the current government for increased unemployment in New Zealand, and more people on job seeker benefits.

“Despite all of their tough talk about sanctions, they’re actually making it harder for New Zealanders to get a job, and we will hold them accountable for that.”

But he said Labour would do more than that by offering a “real and compelling alternative”, because “better is possible.”

He said Willis, Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters “all want to tell you that this is as good as it gets” and if they stand back that “somehow things will fix themselves.”

“They won’t.

“It requires some leadership from government, and there’s been no leadership from this government at all.”

Hipkins closed his opening remarks by saying the party was “fired up and excited for election year” and welcoming incoming Labour MP Georgie Dansey, as former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe announces his retirement from politics.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that this year’s election will be held on 7 November.

National MPs are gathering for their first caucus meeting of the year in Christchurch, while Labour MPs will also hold theirs in Auckland.

Saturday, 7 November had already been the most mentioned frequently as a likely date.

Several pundits are picking the election to be called for after the American mid-terms set for 3 November, which will be a key indicator for how US President Donald Trump’s remaining two years in office will fare.

You can follow the livestream and our live updates at the top of this page.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has announced that this year’s election will be held on 7 November.

National MPs are gathering for their first caucus meeting of the year in Christchurch, while Labour MPs will also hold theirs in Auckland.

Saturday, 7 November had already been the most mentioned frequently as a likely date.

Several pundits are picking the election to be called for after the American mid-terms set for 3 November, which will be a key indicator for how US President Donald Trump’s remaining two years in office will fare.

You can follow the livestream and our live updates at the top of this page.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Labour MP Adrian Rurawhe has announced he will retire from politics next month.

The former Speaker has been in parliament for more than a decade, starting in 2014 as the MP for Te Tai Hauāuru before being ousted by Te Pāti Māori MP Debbie Ngarewa Packer in 2023.

He was Speaker of the House of Representatives from August 2022 to December 2023.

He says he spent the summer thinking about whānau and church, and retiring now will allow him to be more involved.

“I want to express my gratitude to the people of Te Tai Hauāuru, the Labour movement, and the countless individuals and communities I have served over the past twelve years,” said Rurawhe.

“I also want to acknowledge my whānau for their continued support. I would never have become an MP without them, and I will be forever grateful.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said Rurawhe was respected across the House in his role as Speaker, he was a valued member of the Labour team, and a passionate advocate for Maori.

“I’d like to acknowledge Adrian for the significant contribution he has made to our team and to New Zealand.

“We will miss him and wish him all the very best as he moves away from the political arena.”

His last day will be Waitangi Day and he will be replaced by Georgie Dansey.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Source: Radio New Zealand

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will announce this year’s general election date, as National MPs gather for their first caucus meetings of the year away from Parliament.

National MPs will meet in Christchurch, while Labour MPs will also hold a caucus meeting in Auckland.

Luxon is expected to announce this year’s election date at about 12.30pm Wednesday.

On Monday, Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Simon Bridges pressed him on whether it would be held on 7 November.

“You’re going to find out very shortly, my friend, very shortly,” Luxon responded, before asking Bridges whether he would put money on that date.

He also indicated his ministers would not be reshuffled at the retreat, repeating his stance that he would only reshuffle when he needed to.

“I don’t feel a compunction to do this political thing every year where it’s done. I do it when I feel there’s a need to sharpen up or to change the profile of the individual leading the assignment, or there’s a different set of tasks that we need to be done by a certain personality.”

Luxon earlier told Newstalk ZB that National “may have some retirements”, which would necessitate a reshuffle.

So far, the only National MP to announce they will retire at the end of their term is New Lynn’s Paulo Garcia, who is not a minister.

The MPs have been in Christchurch since Tuesday afternoon, gathering privately for a dinner at their hotel.

Luxon gave his State of the Nation speech on Monday, when he indicated National would shy away from any “extravagant” election promises this year.

He did not announce any policies, other than to speak about National’s previously announced pledge to raise the default KiwiSaver contribution rate, if re-elected.

Luxon is also not expected to announce any policies at the retreat.

Meanwhile, Labour is gathering in West Auckland for its own caucus retreat.

Leader Chris Hipkins has attempted to rebuild relationships in Auckland, after Labour lost key seats in the Super City in 2023 and saw its party vote fall.

Hipkins would not reveal what would be discussed at the retreat, nor would he be drawn on any reshuffles or departures.

While figures like Grant Robertson, Kelvin Davis, Rino Tirikatene and David Parker have retired over the course of the term, Christchurch Central MP Duncan Webb is the only Labour MP to confirm they will stepping down at the election.

Hipkins would not say whether any more had told him over the summer they would be leaving, saying it was up to his MPs to announce their plans.

“I’ve always been very clear that, where any MP indicates that to me, it’s their business to announce that and I always leave them the space to do that. Simply speculating on whether there had been or there hadn’t been would be unfair on anybody, had there been that conversation.”

Later this week, parties (minus ACT) will visit Rātana Pā for the annual commemorations, before Parliament’s first sitting week of the year next week.

The sitting block will last only a week though, with Parliament then breaking for a week and politicians heading to Waitangi.

The Prime Minister has yet to confirm if he will attend Waitangi this year, after opting to spend the occasion last year with Ngāi Tahu in Akaroa instead.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand