"The Campaign for MMP is holding a public meeting in Palmerston North tomorrow night on "the case for MMP".
The meeting will go from 5pm until 7pm on Wednesday 16 November in Palmerston North. For more information, go here.
3:48pm: Citizen Bomber Martyn Bradbury tweets
@CitizenBomber
"If John Key wants beneficiaries drug tested for work, why not lead by example and drug test his Cabinet as well?"
3:40pm: Tau Henare tweeted from the National campaign trail today
@tauhenare West Side Tory
"Big team effort." With pic.
3:35:pm: 3news reports Labour have announced a $251 million jobs policy, saying the government isn't doing anything to deal with the 157,000 unemployed.
3:29pm: Jolyon White's partner who worked as Dr Russell Norman's executive assistant has also been stood down, writes APNZ reporter Amelia Romanos. "Green Party co-leader Russel Norman's assistant has been stood down after her partner was found to be responsible for defacing of hundreds of National Party billboards."
3:22pm: NZ Herald deputy political editor Claire Trevett reports from the National Party campaign bus:
@CTrevettNZH
"I'm told the dent in the car was already there and the judder that halted us on Nat's bus was either a sign or the traffic island."
3:10pm: National Party Wellington candidate Paul Foster-Bell tweets re the billboard saga.
@PARFosterBell
"Call from @jamespeshaw re. defaced hoardings - he offered to rectify, despite no wrongdoing on his part. He is an honourable & decent guy."
3:07pm: APNZ reporter Amelia Romanos writes regarding Jolyon White's resignation from the Green party today.
"A complaint was laid with the party against Mr White today, and officials had been preparing to investigate when Mr White resigned from the party this afternoon."
3:00pm: Roger Partridge, chairman of the New Zealand Business Roundtable, writes for the NZ Herald why we should vote for First Past the Post.
2:51pm: Forest and Bird believe that National's conservation policy is going to put natural heritage at risk. According to the organisation, "Despite rhetoric about "boosting the conservation estate", the policy does not mention cuts to DOC staff and funding in the National-led government's first term."
2:48pm: Adrian Maidment has captured an unlikely question in a cartoon on Scoop. Check it out here.
2:42pm: 3news reports Jolyon White has resigned from the Green party. White is considered the leader of the group that defaced National party billboards.
It's 2:30pm and the biggest stories surrounding the election this afternoon are:
- Green Party co-leader Dr Russell Norman admits members of his own party were behind recent National billboard defacement around the country. He has apologised to National leader John Key.
- National have announced their planned welfare reforms which include tightening up on welfare abuse.
- There are reports that the National party campaign bus hit a parked car this morning in the Sylvia Park car park.
2:29pm: APNZ reporter Amelia Romanos writes about the proposed welfare reforms put forward by National.
"Mr Key said up to 12 per cent of those who received benefits in the last year were not entitled to them, and more needed to be done to safeguard taxpayer money."
2:26pm: Former Outrageous Fortune star Robyn Malcolm, and vocal Greens supporter tweets
@robynmalcolm
"Billboard defacement. What dorks. Idiotic, destructive and embarrassing. Not how the Greens roll at all. What were they THINKING?!"
2:20pm: Dr Sharples talks to Radio Live regarding the split of the Maori Party and the creation of the Mana party.
"In the end if your caucas can't agree then it is really hard to exist. We didn't defend ourselves and Hone was able to say what he likes. He brought us in to be ridiculed and we lost a lot of support. It's coming back though."
2:15pm: Newstalk ZB reports "Under National, Paula Bennett says beneficiaries who take drugs and who are on the run from police will be no longer eligible for a benefit."
2:11pm: Shane Jones tells Radio Live he wants to be the Auckland MP because that would be the only way to stop a fully National government from keeping power.
2:08pm: Which parties made up New Zealand's 49th Parliament? What will our 50th Parliament look like? This graphic will be updated live on the night of November 26 as the results of the 2011 Election come through.
1:59pm: Maori Party leader Dr Pita Sharples and Labour MP Shane Jones will be on Radio Live at 2pm.
1:52pm: National have pledged to tighten up on welfare abuse and fraud. John Key has said: "Under National, there will also be a stronger, more proactive stance against those who abuse and defraud the welfare system."
1.46pm: The Greens co-leader Dr Russell Norman has told 3news that National transport minister Steven Joyce has a "motorway fetish". He said National are using taxpayer money to keep building motorways, when money should be put towards better public transport.
1:42pm: iPredict have released their latest daily update to Scoop. It shows National at 47% and Labour at 28.5%
1:37pm: NZ Herald deputy political editor Claire Trevett has tweeted that the National Party campaign bus has hit a parked car.
@CTrevettNZH
"Things not off to a good start on Nats' campaign bus - dinged a car trying to get out. Now in reverse."
1:34pm: Radio Live tweets @RadioLIVENZ
"So, yeah, again: Dr. Pita Sharples & Shane Jones join Willie & JT after 2pm here." #votenz #decision11
1:29pm: 3news reporter Lloyd Burr tweets @LloydBurr
"On the bus with the Greens and all their supporters. They want light rail for Wellington" #votenz. With pic.
1:26pm: 3news reports that National corrections minister Judith Collins has officially opened a trade training complex at Christchurch men's prison to help with city rebuild efforts. Around 130 prisoners are to be trained in trades like roofing and plumbing to help rebuild the city once they get out.
1:17pm: APNZ reports that people who have out-of-town plans for November 26 are being reminded to get their votes in now.
1:14pm: Newstalk ZB political reporter Felix Marwick writes that Phil Goff has said supporters in Epsom won't be told to vote strategically.
1:11pm: Radio NZ reports that Labour wants New Zealanders to rebuild Christchurch.
Phil Goff has said "There's 10,000 young people not in employment, education or training in Christchurch, who'd love the chance to rebuild their city."
12:32pm: 3news political reporter Patrick Gower tweets: @patrickgowernz
"Winston Peters says keys spin doctors and minder didn't notice the black bag 'because they thought it was one of their own make up bags'"
12:18am: Winston Peters has released a statement for NZ First about a public meeting in Tauranga and has once again stated that NZ First will not be working with either Labour or National, nor will they work with the Maori Party or the Greens.
12:14pm: University of Otago politics lecturer and NZ Herald writer Dr Bryce Edwards has called the 5% threshold that parties need to gain to get in to power "undemocratic" and is one of the biggest problems with the MMP system.
12:08pm: The Listener live blogger Toby Manhire has summarised what the political bloggers have been saying today.
It's 12:00pm and the top stories of the day so far are:
- Green Party leader Russell Norman has announced that the people who defaced a series of National billboards were associated with the Greens. He has apologised to John Key and has said the Green party will pay for the damages.
- The "teapot tape" saga has been called a "farce" by Phil Goff.
- Tariana Turia say family caregivers should be paid for their work
11:53am: You can compare your local electorate candidate responses to key questions about climate change, renewable energies and fossil fuel extraction at website Elect Who?
11:51am: NZ Herald deputy political editor Claire Trevett tweets @CTrevettNZH
"And Paul Goldsmith! He's been allowed out in public. Nowhere near the Epsom electorate tho', no no!" With pic.
11:43am: Felix Marwick tweets again @felixmarwick
@PeterDunneMP believes a Banks led ACT Party is a scarier prospect than a Brash led ACT Party #decision2011
11:40am: Newstalk ZB political reporter Felix Marwick tweeted that John Key has accepted the Greens offer to fix up the billboards.
11:37am: Political reporter for NZ Herald, Derek Cheng tweets @dchengnzh
"And the @NZGreens were flying so high. Will this have an impact on their 10%+ poll ratings?" #votenz
Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater seems to think so. On his blogging site, he writes "The shield of sanctimony will not protect the Greens"
11:33am: "Jo Henky", one of the National billboard defacers has posted a press release on Scoop. In it he writes: "To our knowledge no billboards were harmed in the delivery of [our] message. The stickers can be easily peeled off."
11:19am: Unitec lecturer in accounting and finance, Keith Rankin, writes the partnership between National and Act is harming the reputation of MMP.
11:06am: Labour have released a six point plan for employment today. These points include:
* A savings scheme that will provide new investment for New Zealand businesses;
* Support innovation to develop new products to sell to the rest of the world;
The new policy is on Scoop.
10:59am: APNZ's political reporter Amelia Romanos reports that although the Greens had previously denied involvement in the National billboard defacing, Dr Russell Norman has just admitted a member of his party coordinated the vandalism. Dr Norman said other Green party members recognised Jolyon White's voice on the radio during an interview this morning.
"While the actions are those of individuals, not the Green Party, I am incredibly disappointed by what they have done, especially given my and the Green Party's preference for a positive and clean campaign,'' he said.
10:55am: NZ Herald political reporter Derek Cheng has tweeted regarding the defaced National billboards @dchengnzh
"Nat's billboard defacing co-ordinated by Jolyon White, the husband of Russel Norman's EA. @RusselNorman has rung Key to apologise" #votenz
According to reports, the vandalism was done by individuals and not members of the party itself. Russell Norman has condemned these actions.
10:52am: APNZ reports that a member of the Green Party has admitted responsibility for coordinating a sticker attack on National Party election billboards. More to come soon.
10:48am: NZ Herald reporter Michael Dickison is on the campaign trail with Phil Goff in Onehunga this morning. He reported Phil Goff said this morning that the entire "teacup tape" saga had become a "farce".
"I'm sure the police have more important things to do than get involved in a political spat between the National Party and the Herald on Sunday," he said.
10:41am: Newstalk ZB reported John Key has said it was his fault the tape recording device was not detected during his cup of tea with John Banks. He also said people should not blame his protective detail because there was a big media scrum and he didn't see it till the end of the conversation.
It's 10:33am and a summary of the latest top stories are:
- Rachel Smalley's interview with John Key over the "teacup tapes".
- National will spend $9 billion upgrading roads if re-elected
- The group that defaced National billboards will not rule out causing more damage.
10:29am: When you run out off money for billboards, it's time to be creative. Check out the DIY version of a billboard posted on Marcus Lush's Radio Live page.
10:22am: Citizen Bomber Martyn Bradbury has tweeted re the latest iPredict results. @CitizenBomber
"NZ First hits 5.1% on iPredict"
10:18am: Tertiary students nationwide are showing their support for MMP as public debate on the upcoming referendum heats up. NZUSA representatives say they support the system because it is the fairest system available.
10:17am: Newstalk ZB political reporter Felix Marwick has tweeted regarding the defaced National billboards. @felixmarwick
Green Party may have been behind sabotage of National Party billboards. @RusselNorman to front media soon #decision2011
10:09am: United future have released "key outdoor heritage policies," according to their latest press release. Policies include ensuring public access to all public resources including game, waterways and coastline.
9:55am: Mana party leader Hone Harawira says landline polls must go because they create a false impression about which candidate is in front and which one is behind. He says today's poll released by Te Karere proves polls that rely on landlines are a thing of the past.
9:45am: The Dominion Post reported UnitedFuture leader Peter Dunne has defended criticising his rivals in Ohariu for not living locally when four of his party's candidates do not live in their electorates.
9:39am: Radio NZ reported the National Party is promising to spend an immediate $9 billion upgrading roads, if re-elected. Major roads that could be upgraded include the road linking Waikato and Tauranga, SH1 from Cambridge to Tirau, the Hawke's Bay expressway and SH1 north and south of Christchurch.
9:36am: Newstalk ZB political reporter Felix Marwick tweets @felixmarwick
@phil_goff says Labour voters in Epsom won't be told to vote strategically to keep @johnbanksnz and ACT out #decision2011
9:30am: Mana party Waitakere candidate Sue Bradford tweets @suebr about the Waitakere candidates' forum tonight at 7.30pm at the Glen Eden Baptist church.
9:17am: The school system changes, like that about to be implemented in Kawerau, are being tipped as "huge election issues", writes the NZ Herald's Jamie Morton.
In Kawerau, Education Minister Anne Tolley announced the town's college and intermediate would merge into a new senior school expected to open in 2013. But Kawerau Intermediate principal Daryl Aim has accused the Government of "trying to buy off the community".
9:14am: The Labour party has released a statement saying that new jobs are no longer National's priority. "The Government promised it would create 170,000 jobs, but we've yet to see exactly how it intends to deliver that many jobs without a real plan," Jacinda Ardern said.
9:07am: TV3's Firstline presenter Rachel Smalley interviewed John Key this morning over the "teapot-tapes". To view the interview go here.
9:05am: NZ Herald political columnist John Armstrong writes that refusing to release the "tea tapes" could be Key's biggest mistake of the campaign. Read the full article here.
9:03am: 3news reports nearly 20,000 advance votes have already been cast for the upcoming election.
8:50am: 3news reports Phil Goff is not behind the defacing of National billboards. He said "I have better things to do."
8:48am: Doubts are being raised about the future of the Maori Party's flagship Whanau Ora programme and whether it would be expanded after the election, according to Radio NZ.
8:42am: NZ Herald reporter Isaac Davison writes about the Green party's transport policy released yesterday. "The Greens would spend $200 million to $300 million eliminating the highway's black spots and put the rest into developing rail. The Labour Party has said it would also scrap the "fiscally irresponsible" Puhoi-Wellsford highway in favour of an Auckland rail loop."
8:34am: NZ Herald reporter Yvonne Tahana writes "Tariana Turia combined her duties as Maori Party co-leader and Disability Issues Minister yesterday when she said it was wrong that family members were not paid to act as caregivers when the state happily paid strangers to do the same work." To check out the full story see here.
8:30am: Election results.co.nz reports that if Labour loses the election, leader Phil Goff will be forced down and David Shearer could be appointed in the leadership role, according to former Labour minister John Tamihere.
8:27am: Bernard Orsman of the NZ Herald writes "In a move to counter Prime Minister John Key's tacit endorsement of Act's John Banks in Epsom, Labour is urging the people of the blue-ribbon seat not to split their candidate and party votes." For the full article see here.
8:26am: NZ Herald political reporter Derek Cheng writes "Prime Minister John Key is making an election promise to properly fund war veterans to attend World War II commemorations in Europe in the next four years, following outrage over the previous treatment of war heroes."
8:22am: National Standards for education is a hot topic this election, writes the NZ Herald's education reporter Elizabeth Binning. "National's controversial standards system has generated much debate since it was introduced last year, with nearly a third of schools signalling their dislike of it."
"Although the party is yet to release its full education policy, it is unlikely to turn its back on the system, which Education Minister Anne Tolley has consistency pushed as a way of identifying primary school children who are struggling in maths, reading and writing."
8:18am: The National billboard defacers won't rule out more stunts, according to Radio NZ news. The unnamed group says it has defaced 700 National Party billboards, plastering slogans on them including "The Rich Deserve More" and "Drill it! Mine it! Sell it!"
8:16am: Citizen Bomber Martyn Bradbury tweets @CitizenBomber
"iPredict Election Show 7pm tonight with Metiria Turei and Jacinda Ardern, STRATOS Freeview 21 & Sky 89 - "
8:13am: The row over the Epsom "tea tapes" heats up and is becoming a "distraction" for Act and National, writes NZ Herald political editor Audrey Young. For her full article see here.
8:04am: Listener live blogger Toby Manhire has posted details of the interview between John Key and Rachel Smalley on Firstline this morning on his blog. He writes: "Interesting: I half expected him to palm off all questions of the tape with a blanket "It's a matter for the police now, I'm not going into it", but he didn't even attempt to do so."
8:00am: Welcome back to our daily updates of the election coverage throughout the day.
