PremiumAnalysisAnalysis byThomas CoughlanPolitical Editor·NZ Herald·21 Jul, 2026 04:41 AM3 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. An Act Party billboard featuring new candidate Paul Henry.Three facts:The regulated period begins on Friday August 7.During the regulated period, there are limits on election spending by parties and candidates. The maximum a party could spend during the regulated period this election is $4,059,000.No, it’s not just you – election ads really are popping up everywhere.
They’re even popping up in very unlikely places: big electronic billboards in Wellington seem to have an unusually high number of ads from the coalition parties and their candidates, despite the fact those parties will
