PremiumOpinionOpinion byThomas CoughlanPolitical Editor·NZ Herald·19 Jun, 2026 05:00 PM8 mins to readThomas Coughlan, Political Editor at the New Zealand Herald, loves applying a political lens to people's stories and explaining the way things like transport and finance touch our lives. Labour and its leader Chris Hipkins have set about refreshing themselves this month by announcing some substantive policies. Photo / Michael CraigTHE FACTSLabour continued to announce policy this week, culminating in a promise to axe $5 prescription co-payments.Polls show Labour as the most popular party in Parliament, although the Herald’s Poll of Polls model calculates that on current polling the coalition is still likely to be re-elected. National has gone on the attack, pointing out only a fraction of Labour’s spending pledges have been funded by its Capital Gains Tax. Grant Robertson’s final words to Parliament were an exhortation to his colleagues not to forget the value of hope.
“That is our job in this place: to give people hope… so that is my final, simple message to you all Hoatu he tumanako ki a rātou –
