Te Pāti Māori has again breached the Electoral Act by missing the 30 June deadline to file audited financial statements, despite receiving a formal police warning last year for the same offence. No public explanation has been offered. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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Economy

Health

Briefing for 17 July 2025

Te Pāti Māori under pressure again over missing financials and byelection feud

Te Pāti Māori has once more missed its legal deadline under the Electoral Act, missing the 30 June deadline to file audited financial statements. This is despite being formally warned by police last year for the same offence.

The party has also yet to provide an audit report for last year’s overdue financials. The Electoral Commission claims it is following up.

FACT Aotearoa faces scrutiny over attacks on NZ First during election

The registered charity FACT Aotearoa (Fight Against Conspiracy Theories Aotearoa) is under official review after publicly attacking New Zealand First during the 2023 election while receiving taxpayer funding.

The Charities Commission has confirmed it is looking into whether the group breached the Charities Act by opposing a political party while operating as a charity.

MMP’s weird rule could hand an extra seat to Labour

A by-election in Tāmaki Makaurau could lead to Labour gaining an extra seat in Parliament, not by winning more votes, but because of a strange rule in New Zealand’s MMP system.

Te Pāti Māori currently holds the seat after a narrow win in 2023, but it is one of two “overhang” seats. That means the party won more electorates than its share of the party vote should allow. If Labour’s Peeni Henare, a list MP who lost by just 42 votes last time, wins the seat in the by-election, Labour could gain a bonus seat in Parliament.

Rand Paul seeks criminal charges for Fauci over alleged lies and autopen pardon

US Senator Rand Paul has renewed efforts to pursue criminal charges against Dr Anthony Fauci, accusing the former public health official of lying to Congress about the origins of COVID and receiving a preemptive pardon signed not by hand, but with an autopen.

Paul’s move follows revelations that Fauci received a preemptive pardon from President Joe Biden.

Seymour rebuked over rogue UN letter response, Peters says ‘experience matters’

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has publicly rebuked ACT leader David Seymour for pre-emptively responding to a critical United Nations letter, insisting official diplomatic matters require coordination and experience.

“This is a matter of experience… it’s called diplomacy,” Peters told reporters, after Seymour unilaterally sent a scathing reply to UN special rapporteur Albert K Barume.

US rolls back COVID vaccines for healthy under-65s

The US Food and Drug Administration has reversed course on COVID vaccine policy, limiting access to those aged 65 and older or people with serious health conditions.

Everyone else will now need an off-label prescription from a doctor to get the shot.

Barbie’s newest doll includes insulin pump and glucose monitor

Mattel has released a new Barbie doll with Type 1 diabetes, part of its wider push to promote inclusivity and medical representation in toys.

Developed with advocacy group Breakthrough T1D, the doll features a continuous glucose monitor on her arm, an insulin pump on her waist, and a smartphone displaying a tracking app. She also carries a blue purse for snacks or supplies and wears a blue polka-dot outfit, a nod to global diabetes awareness.