NZME unveils its biggest-ever election coverage for 2026

NZME will mount the most comprehensive election coverage in its history over the coming months, using the combined strength of the NZ Herald, Herald NOW, Newstalk ZB, BusinessDesk and NZME’s regional newsrooms to inform New Zealanders throughout the 2026 campaign and on election night.

From breaking news and expert analysis to live debates, polling, policy tools and wall-to-wall election-night coverage, NZME’s coverage across digital, video, radio and print will combine national scale, regional depth, political authority and live broadcast strength.

The newly released NZ Herald app has been designed for moments like this. At the touch of the ‘Watch’ button, users have access to live video, whether for election coverage or other content across NZME’s network.

The NZ Herald Debate Series

NZME and Sky NZ will deliver three major debates across consecutive weeks in October, reaching audiences live through the new NZ Herald app, digital, streaming, audio, television and social platforms.

The NZ Herald Debate series will bring New Zealanders closer to the leaders, policies and ideas on offer across the 2026 campaign.

Hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Ryan Bridge, the series will cover:

• The Future of New Zealand (Wednesday 7 October) with spokespeople from political parties on the crucial issues that will shape New Zealand's future. This important national conversation will also feature entrepreneurs, business leaders, and other influential voices to discuss the opportunities and challenges ahead for the country. Live on the NZ Herald app and website, NZ Herald YouTube channel, Three and ThreeNow.
• The Leaders’ Debate (Wednesday 14 October) between National Party leader Christopher Luxon and Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins. Live on the NZ Herald app and website, NZ Herald YouTube channel, Three, ThreeNow and simulcast on Newstalk ZB. It will be followed by a post-debate analysis show hosted by NZME senior correspondent Katie Bradford.
• The Powerbrokers’ Debate (Wednesday 21 October) bringing together the leaders of the parties that will likely be part of coalition discussions in our MMP environment. Live on the NZ Herald app and website, NZ Herald YouTube channel, Three and ThreeNow.

The debates will be held in a purpose-built studio in front of live audiences at NZME Central in Auckland.

Host Ryan Bridge says audiences can expect a fresh, fast-paced and fair contest of ideas: “There's no doubt this is a tight race with minor parties likely to have a significant influence on who gets the keys to the Beehive's ninth floor. This is a chance for New Zealanders to watch the leaders interact live and unedited at a crucial point in the campaign.” 

Sarah Bristow, NZ Herald’s Head of Video Strategy, says: "The debate series will play a defining role in the lead-up to the election and reflect our ambition to showcase important conversations across multiple platforms. In Ryan Bridge we have one of the country’s sharpest interviewers and these premium, live events will be a must-watch for voters, bringing them closer to the people and ideas shaping New Zealand's future.”

Newstalk ZB

Home to the country's most experienced political broadcasters, Newstalk ZB will roll out a dedicated slate of election programming across its biggest shows. Its commentary and analysis will be led by hosts including Mike Hosking, Kerre Woodham and Heather du Plessis-Allan, whose political expertise is unmatched on New Zealand radio.

The Mike Hosking Breakfast will host a series of Leaders' Breakfasts from 7am-9am: the Leader of the Opposition on Tuesday 27 October, the leaders of the minor parties on Thursday 29 October (30 minutes each with NZ First, ACT, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori TBC) and the Prime Minister on Monday 2 November, with a podcast extension released each Monday.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive will run The Front Bench weekly from 4pm–5pm ahead of the election, featuring Heather, Barry Soper, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani, on Monday 5 October, Monday 12 October, Monday 19 October, Tuesday 26 October (after Labour Day) and Monday 2 November, also with a podcast extension each Monday.

du Plessis-Allan will also host the Great Primary Sector Debate on Wednesday 30 September in association with Federated Farmers, which will be livestreamed on the NZ Herald app and website, and the NZ Herald YouTube channel.

Kerre Woodham will host talkback with the leaders in the lead-up to the election, spending an hour with each leader while they are out on the campaign trail, while The Country with Jamie MacKay will carry regular interviews with the leaders.

Hosking and du Plessis-Allan will headline Newstalk ZB’s election night special, with leading political commentators and experts joining as guests and reporters filing live from around the country.

Will Maisey, Head of Talk at Newstalk ZB, says the station - New Zealand’s number one in both cumulative audience and share - is excited about its election plans and what it will deliver to audiences: “Our hosts and guests are experienced, passionate, credible and trusted. ZB listeners expect us to ask the right questions and we’ll be doing that throughout the campaign.”

NZ Herald

Featuring experts such as Thomas Coughlan, Audrey Young, Katie Bradford, Fran O’Sullivan, Adam Pearse, Shayne Currie, Derek Cheng and others, the NZ Herald’s unmatched political coverage will also ramp up over the coming months.

Alongside the debates, the Herald's reporters will be out taking the pulse of the nation, finding out what matters to ordinary New Zealanders across the country and what they want to see from our politicians.

The Herald's coverage includes a Poll of Polls powered by a new statistical model, plus video explainers and premium analysis. And its interactive policy grid provides party policy at your fingertips, with quick comparisons in an easy-to-read format each time a new position is announced. The results can even show voters who they might want to vote for based on individual political preferences.

One of the country's most trusted business journalists, Liam Dann, will lead a panel of economic experts assessing whether the parties' promises will be good for the country's future.

On election night - 7 November - the NZ Herald and Herald NOW will run a special video broadcast, along with interactives, minute-by-minute updates, and a live blog, with reporters embedded at key seats nationwide.

BusinessDesk

BusinessDesk is working with MYOB to host an election debate between the major parties' finance leaders at NZME’s iHeart Lounge on 2 October. Its coverage will dig into policy and the implications for New Zealand businesses, including canvassing CEOs and directors on what they want from the incoming government - and who they think should be appointed ministers. 

Murray Kirkness, NZME Chief Content Officer (Publishing) says: "NZME’s political news coverage, along with unparalleled commentary and opinion, will of course continue up to and beyond election night. The debates will be an important and compelling way to host a contest of ideas. And our election-night coverage will be as wide-ranging and comprehensive as New Zealanders have come to expect."