Commercial landlords would rather keep their properties empty than accept lower rents. This policy allows councils to force an auction for a lease after a property has been vacant for over a year.

From 1 July 2026, energy retailers in NSW, South Australia, and South-East Queensland must give households at least three hours of free electricity every day. No solar panels required. No need to own your home. You just need a smart meter and to opt in through your retailer to have access to free daytime electricity.

The scheme is called the Solar Sharer Offer. It works by passing on the benefit of cheap midday solar power, which has always existed on the wholesale market but never made it to your bill, directly to households. Since it was first announced in November 2025, one significant change has been made to the design. This article covers what that change is, how the scheme works in practice, and how to get the most out of it.

• The war on drugs has created a market where drug prices are so much higher than global prices that Mexican Cartels are now targeting New Zealand.
• In less than a year, meth use has tripled in Northland.
• NZDTS results from January 2026 show use increasing and prices falling.
• NZ Drug Foundation details the failures in our Drug Policy in their 2025 report Safer drug laws for Aotearoa New Zealand: Evidence to inform regulatory change
• The cost to keep someone in prison is $552/night or $201,480/yr