Monday: Hipkins goes even more negative

The newly-erected election hoardings feature a smiling “Chippie”, but Hipkins’ pivot to tougher, more negative campaign talk continues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The Kākā

TL;DR: Labour Leader Chris Hipkins sharpened his attacks on the Opposition over the weekend, ruling out New Zealand First in any Labour-led coalition and painting any National-ACT-NZ First coalition as chaotic and extreme.

Elsewhere, the Greens promised yesterday to build above-ground light rail lines in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as provide a $750m urban nature fund for tree planting and ‘green’ stormwater infrastructure. A joint CTU/FIRST Union and ActionStation analysis out this morning has found profits responsible for more than half of 2022’s inflation surge.

Also, National and ACT agreed they would abolish Māori wards in councils and Germany’s centre-left Government is considering imposing a nation-wide rent freeze.

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