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Aotearoa's future, in focus

Better questions.
Clearer choices.

A non-partisan look at the issues shaping New Zealand — and the evidence behind the decisions that affect us all.

Explore the evidence Our vision
LOOKING BEYOND THE HEADLINES
A longer view
2006 — 2026Economy · spending · choices
20 YEARS OF CONTEXTONE SHARED FUTURE
Economy · quick facts

2024 exports: US$64.6b; imports: US$67.9b. Unemployment was 5.6% in the June 2026 quarter. The figures are from different measures and periods; neither alone describes household prosperity.

Explore economy facts and policy analysis ↗
The focus
Issues that matter, now and next
The lens
Evidence over election promises
The people
Every New Zealander, included
Policy context · current headlines

The issues behind
the latest headlines.

Freshwater quality and nitrate in Canterbury

RNZ reports concern about rising nitrate in drinking-water sources and a debate over agricultural land use, dairy consents, water treatment, and who should pay. The article notes health effects are still being reviewed; reported concerns should not be treated as settled conclusions.

Policy questions

  • Monitoring and health: Are drinking-water standards and long-term health research keeping pace with new evidence?
  • Pollution and costs: How should farm practices, catchment limits and water-treatment costs be balanced and enforced?

Road project delivery: speed, cost and standards

RNZ reports the Cambridge–Piarere Expressway is estimated to take five years and cost $1.8 billion; the Prime Minister challenged NZTA to accelerate delivery, while the agency cited project constraints and called an 18-month target ambitious.

Policy questions

  • Value and accountability: How should project estimates, schedule changes and benefits be independently tested and reported?
  • Safe delivery: Can procurement and consenting be improved without compromising safety, environmental requirements or community input?

Tauranga landslide inquiry and agency readiness

RNZ reports the inquiry into fatal Tauranga landslides was extended after delays in receiving information from participating agencies, among other scheduling pressures. Eight people died in the January slips.

Policy questions

  • Preparedness: Do agencies have clear duties, data-sharing processes and capacity to respond quickly to major hazards?
  • Learning and prevention: How will inquiry findings translate into transparent actions on land-use planning, warnings and emergency response?

School donations and equitable funding

RNZ reports 1,877 schools received $86 million through the government donation scheme this year, with some schools remaining under a grandparenting provision after their equity-index measure changed. Schools described the scheme as predictable funding that can ease pressure on families.

Policy questions

  • Fair targeting: How should eligibility reflect changing community need without creating abrupt funding swings?
  • Family costs: Does the scheme reduce pressure to contribute, and are schools adequately funded for core learning and activities?

New Zealand–India trade agreement takes effect

RNZ reports the agreement has begun. The Trade Minister said 57 percent of exports to India are tariff-free now, with that share expected to rise over time; the reported figures and forecast are attributed to the Minister.

Policy questions

  • Export outcomes: Which sectors and firms actually gain market access, and how will export growth be measured?
  • Wider effects: What are the implications for workers, consumers, standards and New Zealand’s trade diversification?

Gangs, public safety and prevention

RNZ reports Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara defended visiting a Mongrel Mob pad, saying she sees whānau; National leader Christopher Luxon described gangs as a source of serious harm, while Labour leader Chris Hipkins rejected restoring gang mana or changing the patch ban. The report also raises violence against women, drug harm, victims’ safety and claims about intergenerational trauma linked to state care.

Policy questions

  • Safety and accountability: Which measures reduce violence, drug supply and gang recruitment, and how are victims protected?
  • Prevention and justice: What is the evidence on early intervention, treatment and rehabilitation, and how do enforcement and imprisonment affect reoffending and Māori over-representation?

This selection reflects recent RNZ reporting, not a ranking of importance. Summaries attribute claims to the report or named source; the questions are prompts for evidence-based policy discussion, not conclusions about cause or effectiveness.

Start with the evidence

The big picture,
made easier to see.

Explore the economic and public-spending charts that sparked this project. Each one is a starting point for better questions — not the final word.

Illustrative chart of New Zealand annual GDP growth from 2006 to 2026; annotations are not evidence that governments caused the changes
01 / The long view

Economy & government finances
Stacked area chart breaking down New Zealand social welfare spending from 2006 to 2026
02 / Where it goes

Social welfare spending
Chart comparing New Zealand GDP growth with government revenue and expenses from 2006 to 2026, including income and spending breakdowns
03 / The detail

Government income & expenses

These are illustrative charts supplied with the project. Figures, projections and source attributions should be checked against original data before being used to draw conclusions.

Policy comparisons & issue visuals

Explore policy mechanisms and issue visuals. Potential effects are questions to test against published commitments, independent evidence and observed outcomes—not predictions or endorsements.

Aotearoa New Zealand · policy choices

Policy mechanisms and outcomes

Policy effects depend on design, funding, implementation and wider conditions. Compare published commitments using consistent measures and evidence.

Potential effects Evidence to examine
Neutral assessment framework · not a forecast
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Slides change every 5 seconds. Pause anytime; use the arrows or left/right keys to browse. Open original sources from the slide captions.

A vision for what comes next

Our north star

A New Zealand where everyone can see the evidence, understand the choices, and help shape a future that works for all of us.

Regardless of race, religion, language or background. Independent in spirit, open about our sources, and focused on the issues that matter to people.

How we work

Trust is built
into the process.

Good public conversation starts with a fair look at the facts — and room for people to reach their own conclusions.

01 — Independent

No team colours.

We look across parties and governments, keeping the focus on policies, outcomes and the people they affect.

02 — Evidence-led

Show the working.

Sources and context belong alongside the numbers, so readers can explore the evidence for themselves.

03 — For everyone

Many lives. One future.

We make space for different communities and perspectives in the issues shaping Aotearoa New Zealand.