Election 2026: Labour has launched its campaign with a clear pitch for younger voters: write off 10% of student loan balances for eligible New Zealand-based graduates (with $2,000-or-less wiped entirely), starting April 1, 2027. Education & culture: A leaked video has reignited New Zealand’s curriculum transparency row, with debate swirling around Māori representation, governance, and what schools should teach. Politics & power: Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work continues to spark culture-war pushback, with commentators arguing over who is really driving “undue influence” in NZ media and politics. Te Tiriti & democracy: The Alliance Party released a Te Tiriti-centred constitutional reform plan aimed at shifting power toward ordinary people, including changes to voting and recall processes. Health: The Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology is urging all parties to prioritise kidney disease prevention and early detection, warning it affects more than one in 10 Kiwis and hits Māori and Pacific communities hardest. Environment: Greenpeace protesters boarded the government research vessel Tangaroa in Wellington Harbour over deep-sea mining plans, and police are considering charges. Pacific identity: Nauru has formally reclaimed its traditional name, Naoero, as part of a push to reconnect with language and heritage. Global arts: Jennifer Peedom’s film Tenzing reframes the Everest story by centring Tenzing Norgay’s own dreams and struggles, with a global streaming release set for October 16.