Danyl McLauchlan is a politics writer, feature writer and book reviewer for the NZ Listener
The listener.co.nz is the website of the award-winning New Zealand Listener, which has been covering the political, cultural and literary life of Aotearoa New Zealand for 80 years with features on current events, politics, social issues, health, technology, arts, food, culture and entertainment.
![Danyl McLauchlan: The great blotting-out of key Labour policies has been accomplished](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: The great blotting-out of key Labour policies has been accomplished
Expect more plaudits for PM Christopher Luxon’s next 100-day plan.
![Efeso Collins’ death and Grant Robertson’s retirement mark the beginning of a new era](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Efeso Collins’ death and Grant Robertson’s retirement mark the beginning of a new era
The future of NZ will look more like South Auckland and a lot less like Wellington.
![Danyl McLauchlan: Where’s the political courage to mete out tough love to the wealthy?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Where’s the political courage to mete out tough love to the wealthy?
Beneficiaries are in the firing line again.
![Danyl McLauchlan: It’s been a summer of discontent for the coalition government](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: It’s been a summer of discontent for the coalition government
The PM will be hoping for calmer times ahead.
![Danyl McLauchlan: The National MPs we can expect to see more of when the government is announced](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: The National MPs we can expect to see more of when the government is announced
Who runs National and what will they do with their newly won political power?
![Danyl McLauchlan: How strategic conservatives have made NZ First a political force](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: How strategic conservatives have made NZ First a political force
MMP has spawned a group of voters who act as a handbrake on the left and the right.
![Danyl McLauchlan: What’s influencing modern politics?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: What’s influencing modern politics?
"The state can help people, but it can also waste incredible amounts of money."
![Danyl McLauchlan: Labour left few policies behind that will provide a lasting legacy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Labour left few policies behind that will provide a lasting legacy
The party lost the election in spectacular fashion.
![Danyl McLauchlan: The urgent issues that just won’t wait any longer](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: The urgent issues that just won’t wait any longer
National faces a number of problems – none of which will be easy to solve.
![Symbolic victories and bombshell defeats. Welcome to the new challenges of a fragmented future](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Symbolic victories and bombshell defeats. Welcome to the new challenges of a fragmented future
Anxious wait for special votes count could force Luxon to deal with Peters.
![Danyl McLauchlan: How the major parties’ fortunes waxed and waned ahead of the election](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: How the major parties’ fortunes waxed and waned ahead of the election
Comeback king Winston Peters has played his cards right, leaving uncertainty in his wake.
![Danyl McLauchlan: The major parties don’t have the answers to NZ’s failing infrastructure and housing crisis](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: The major parties don’t have the answers to NZ’s failing infrastructure and housing crisis
The winners and losers in the party policy stakes.
![Danyl McLauchlan: A week of squabbles, scandals and harassment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: A week of squabbles, scandals and harassment
As advance voting starts, National releases its manifesto and the PM gets Covid.
![Cost of Living Part 2: Why is living in NZ is so expensive?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Cost of Living Part 2: Why is living in NZ is so expensive?
The expectation of rising prices becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
![The genetic lottery: Are our lives determined at birth?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
The genetic lottery: Are our lives determined at birth?
Controversial book suggests success or failure is hard-coded in our genes.
![Danyl McLauchlan: Scraps, pledges and a shopping list of policy commitments](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Scraps, pledges and a shopping list of policy commitments
As politicians continue tussling, poll results are causing voters to think strategically.
![Our parties marketing-oriented approach to policy is raising problems for voters](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Our parties marketing-oriented approach to policy is raising problems for voters
Today, political parties curate gigantic databases of information about voters wants.
![Danyl McLauchlan: A week of prospects, protests and possibilities](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: A week of prospects, protests and possibilities
With three weeks to go, parties reveal their power partnerships
![What you need to know in politics: Polls, false claims and tax policy hole](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
What you need to know in politics: Polls, false claims and tax policy hole
As voting day nears, Labour continues to lose voters amid spouting false claims.
![Danyl McLauchlan: Why Labour’s support has disintegrated](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Why Labour’s support has disintegrated
Looking back at polling trends suggests that the 2023 budget was the turning point.
![Cost of living crisis: Which party would serve you better?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Cost of living crisis: Which party would serve you better?
Inflation kills govts, so what are the parties’ solutions and how do they benefit voters?
![What you need to know in politics: Campaigns launch, hecklers and attack ads](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
What you need to know in politics: Campaigns launch, hecklers and attack ads
Both major parties have kicked off their campaigns as promises continue to roll out.
![‘Corrections does not correct’: Victim advocate’s solutions for broken justice system](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
‘Corrections does not correct’: Victim advocate’s solutions for broken justice system
Ruth Money more funding for victim support could help stop the cycle of crime.
![Home detention failures and rise of violent crime: What are the govt's solutions?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Home detention failures and rise of violent crime: What are the govt's solutions?
The tide is going out on effective justice reform and rehabilitation for young offenders.
![What you need to know in politics: Interruptions, parties ruled out and tax](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
What you need to know in politics: Interruptions, parties ruled out and tax
Major parties make major announcements as election day draws closer for voters.
![Danyl McLauchlan: Although large, National’s tax package doesn’t change much](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Although large, National’s tax package doesn’t change much
No vision of how economy may generate more wealth or how to solve any long-term problems.
![What you need to know in politics: Labour takes dramatic fall](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
What you need to know in politics: Labour takes dramatic fall
No matter what promises Labour makes, they keep taking hits in the polls.
![New science explains the rise of political instability, oligarchy and elites](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
New science explains the rise of political instability, oligarchy and elites
Scientist has been able to identify cycles of stability and violence across human history.
![Danyl McLauchlan: Labour’s food GST exemption a rotten policy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Labour’s food GST exemption a rotten policy
Labour doesn’t want to help people on low incomes buy food: it wants to win the election.
![What you need to know in politics: New policies ignore ‘bread and butter’ issues](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
What you need to know in politics: New policies ignore ‘bread and butter’ issues
Political parties come out with range of policies, but none cover “bread & butter” issues.
![Danyl McLauchlan: Labour’s new party list shows who’s valuable (and who isn’t)](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Labour’s new party list shows who’s valuable (and who isn’t)
Low rankings a gentle suggestion that MPs should do something else with their life.
![Political week in review: Kiri Allan saga raises questions about ‘toxic’ political culture](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Political week in review: Kiri Allan saga raises questions about ‘toxic’ political culture
Why has the government haemorrhaged ministers during an election year?
![Dr Shane Reti’s DIY approach no match for vast, dysfunctional bureaucracy](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Dr Shane Reti’s DIY approach no match for vast, dysfunctional bureaucracy
Gang house reception may have been gracious, but health bureaucracy could be more brutal.
![Danyl McLauchlan: Kiri Allan the architect of her own downfall](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: Kiri Allan the architect of her own downfall
Allan’s career is almost certainly over and this is both a personal and political tragedy.
![Danyl McLauchlan: The opaque nature of political lobbying in NZ](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=792)
Danyl McLauchlan: The opaque nature of political lobbying in NZ
With all that charm, it’s easy to forget that these people are deeply political actors.