Stories by Peter Wilson
News
Week in Politics: The 'multiple reasons' why Labour lost so badly
Analysis - Labour holds 35 seats in Parliament and of those only 17 are electorate seats. How could it lose so badly and give up so many seats to National?
Election 2023: National and Labour both face urgent issues
Analysis - National could face a crisis of expectation after promising so much, while Labour has to rebuild its devastated ranks, writes Peter Wilson.
The Week in Politics: What the polls are telling us
Analysis - If the polls are right a National-led government will be elected on Saturday, either in coalition with ACT, or as more recent polls indicate ACT and New Zealand First, Peter Wilson writes.
The Week in Politics: Blame games and media bashing
Analysis - Hipkins comes down with Covid, sparking a blame game over the cancelled Luxon debate, while Winston Peters lashes the media, writes Peter Wilson.
The Week in Politics: Luxon likely to get what he doesn't want
Analysis - Christopher Luxon's announcement that he'll work with Winston Peters after the election if he has to boosts NZ First's chances of getting back into Parliament, writes Peter Wilson.
Week in Politics: Leaders' debate fails to catch fire
Analysis - The leaders' debate Chris Hipkins had to win but didn't, more bad polling news for Labour, and ACT and NZ First reluctantly agree they could work together, writes Peter Wilson.
Week in Politics: On the campaign trail
Analysis: The latest polls show Labour's flagship policy promise hasn't worked, next week's leaders debate could be its last chance.
Week in Politics: Promises, polls and attack ads
Analysis - The main parties launch their campaigns and Labour's attack ads draw an angry response, National's tax cuts are challenged, the policy deluge continues and is this "the most negative…
Week in Politics: National aims for maximum voter impact
Analysis - National aims its tax package at middle New Zealand, where the most votes are. The strategy behind Chris Hipkins ruling out working with NZ First and the government cuts its spending as…
Week in Politics: Bad poll for Labour, more policies and a National MP in trouble
Analysis - Commentators deliver similar verdicts on the latest poll, and its grim reading for Labour. The main parties continue to crank out policies, David Seymour's joke that no one thought was…
Week in Politics: NZ First gains traction while GST-free produce fails to hit the sweet spot
Analysis: Labour will have to do much more than offer families a $5 saving to get back in the race while NZ First's support continues to creep up and the media starts looking at where it's coming…
Week in Politics: Tunnel plans and cellphone bans
Analysis - Labour's tunnel proposal for Auckland Harbour, National's policy to ban cellphones in schools and the latest poll shows New Zealand First over the 5 percent threshold.
The Week in Politics: Poll pushes Labour closer to the danger zone
Analysis - Another poll points to a change of government, David Seymour says he won't sit at the Cabinet table with NZ First and questions about National's huge road building plan, Peter Wilson writes…
Week in Politics: Kiri Allan's out, wealth tax keeps haunting Hipkins
The political implications of Kiri Allan's downfall, David Parker gives up revenue and National says Labour's tax policy includes removing GST from fruit and vegetables, and it isn't denied.
Week in Politics: Labour strikes back: Who's soft on crime now?
Analysis - "Soft on crime" taunts finally get a response from Labour, National's Christopher Luxon puts his foot in his mouth, and a poll shows Labour's support hasn't collapsed.
Week in Politics: Hipkins makes a captain's call as Labour slides in the polls
Analysis: Prime Minister Chris Hipkins rules out taxing the wealthy, polls show support for the government slumping, and the Greens set out their election manifesto.
The Week in Politics: Parties lock horns on gangs, health staff shortages
Analysis: Health workforce data shows the extent of the problem that this government and the next are facing, National and ACT reject a report which says the country can't arrest its way out of the…
Week in Politics: National goes hard on law and order
Analysis - National pushes Labour on gangs and disorder as it settles on one of its primary campaign narratives, writes Peter Wilson in a look at the Week in Politics.
Week in Politics: National and Labour go courting at Fieldays
Analysis - National would have had clear air for its agriculture policy if Christopher Luxon had not come down with a case of foot in mouth, writes Peter Wilson.
Week in Politics: Chris Hipkins' worst week
Analysis - For a competent minister - and he has shown himself to be that - Michael Wood has got himself into a real muddle, writes Peter Wilson.
Week in Politics: Party members cop heat over problematic remarks and plans
Analysis - National pulls out of the bipartisan agreement on housing density and gets itself into a muddle over bilingual road signs, while the prescription fee saga rumbles on.
The Week in Politics: Reserve Bank raises OCR, Budget reaction continues
Analysis - The Reserve Bank's surprisingly benign response to the Budget robs National of a strong attack line and the NZ Steel deal is hailed as a win for the climate, but opposition parties say it…
Week In Politics: The Budget chasm between Labour and National
Analysis - Budget 2023 has highlighted the stark differences between the main parties, writes Peter Wilson.
Week In Politics: Meka Whaitiri - why did she do it?
Analysis - The implications of Meka Whaitiri's defection and the big unanswered question: why? Meanwhile, National fires the opening shots in its tax attack with claims of a secret agenda.
Week in Politics: Australian citizenship, Green tensions and tax debates
Analysis: Australia's citizenship deal, the Green Party's Kerekere row drags on and evidence the wealthiest pay tax at a lower rate than the rest of us renews the capital gains tax debate.