A case of the vapours for all parties / Bridges’s leadership / The return of TOP / The politics of trees – natives vs pinus radiata / Public sector productivity / Fonterra’s ructions play out on DIRA canvas / Kiwi dollar – how low can it go?

Parker tries again for some sort of water tax / Lucky escape in nurses’ decision / NZ First’s influence / Unwelcome advice / Trade tensions to weigh on currency / Culture wars heating up / New Crown infrastructure decision-making body soon

NZ First at 25 / NZ First – National-lite in its influence / US vs Mexico tariff war – an opportunity for NZ dairy? / Simon Bridges’s first party conference as leader / Industry sectors – big themes for the next 3-5 years / The Greens take some hits / Employment law reform – a long, slow road

Medium Term Economic and Political Projections / Economic outlook – medium term / Political outlook – medium term / Tweaking the dragon – a new chapter in NZ-China relations / Hipkins to China this week / Business lobby wobbles? / Nurses’ industrial action

The other agenda in the NZ-EU FTA / Nurses’ strike action – a one-off? / Pre-fab housing – watch the Super Fund / November rate cut on the cards? / Regulation looms on nutrient allocation / Pohokura outage costing Methanex / Here comes Hart Jr

Govt losing its shape again – how much does it matter? / NZ First’s attack on Fonterra – serious this time? / Methane compromise paves way for Nats on climate change / US-style border documentation on the way / Implications for employers in revived domestic violence law / Return to tri-partitism ramps up / Immigration and international student policy

Precedent for M. bovis eradication / KiwiBuild – momentum-building imperative / Wage pressures and capacity constraints weigh on confidence / Headache for National in Northcote? / Rail’s new lease on life / Keep a close eye on the nurses’ pay deal / Trade and diplomatic relations

The Well-Meaning Before the Well-Being Budget / Growth looks toppy, spending pressures underdone / High immigration here to stay? / Real wage growth ahead / M. bovis outbreak – a creeping crisis / Winston Peters, acting PM / Adjusting to Adrian Orr’s new style

Unwanted ‘winter of discontent’ now baked in? / But Labour Ministers’ internal morale is high / Not so happy in the Greens / Public sector tested by more interventionist govt / Gas reserves downgrade imminent / Banks and petrol retailers in the gun / First hints at next round of RMA reform

Energy policy contradictions / A string of momentum-dulling decisions / MBIE tasked with coordinating transformative policies / NZ Super Fund considering pre-fab investment / R&D tax credits from next year / Electricity and climate review committees well-received / Northcote by-election