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Natalia Albert

About

Natalia Albert is a political scientist specialized in New Zealand Politics. She is a regular contributor on RNZ Nights with Emile Donovan and writes for interest.co.nz. Less Certain is her weekly newsletter.

Member for

6 months

Latest articles

rabbit hole
The state housing rabbit hole
Natalia Albert falls down a rabbit hole whilst trying to establish how many public houses New Zealand has
by Natalia Albert
9
Natalia Albert falls down a rabbit hole whilst trying to establish how many public houses New Zealand has
immigrationrf1.jpg
Why immigration has lost social licence
Winston Peters is racist, but he is also highlighting an actual real social and political issue we all need to grapple with: Immigration and the problems it creates
by Natalia Albert
39
Winston Peters is racist, but he is also highlighting an actual real social and political issue we all need to grapple with: Immigration and the problems it creates
CL
That's not the point, Prime Minister
Natalia Albert says making sure NZ is a stable liberal democracy is more important for the PM than ruling potential coalition partners out before the election
by Natalia Albert
53
Natalia Albert says making sure NZ is a stable liberal democracy is more important for the PM than ruling potential coalition partners out before the election
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and NZ Foreign Minister Winston Peters
A red carpet and a closed door
What the timing of a trade deal, a state visit and a voting policy says about who we want here and who we want to hear
by Natalia Albert
55
What the timing of a trade deal, a state visit and a voting policy says about who we want here and who we want to hear
voting
NZ First's xenophobic policy
Natalia Albert argues NZ First's voting rights policy is both xenophobic and a waste of everyone's time
by Natalia Albert
76
Natalia Albert argues NZ First's voting rights policy is both xenophobic and a waste of everyone's time
DS
Did the ACT Party show the way for the Opportunity Party?
Natalia Albert says what the Opportunity Party is attempting to do is nearly impossible. Yet…
by Natalia Albert
31
Natalia Albert says what the Opportunity Party is attempting to do is nearly impossible. Yet…
tax debate
The Greens Tax Policy: the good and the bad
Natalia Albert says finally the Green Party has mostly got its tax policy right
by Natalia Albert
56
Natalia Albert says finally the Green Party has mostly got its tax policy right
tech
What is the right question about the Immigration NZ saga?
Nobody had to mean it. The informal rules won over the formal ones and so decided who held power, and it wasn't the Minister, Natalia Albert says of Immigration NZ's shambolic tech project
by Natalia Albert
28
Nobody had to mean it. The informal rules won over the formal ones and so decided who held power, and it wasn't the Minister, Natalia Albert says of Immigration NZ's shambolic tech project
Finance Minister Nicola Willis speaks to Budget Day attendees at Parliament.
Budget Day is about values not money
Set the money aside and Budget Day is where a government tells you what it cares about. This year that value is responsibility, theirs as a government and yours as an individual
by Natalia Albert
6
Set the money aside and Budget Day is where a government tells you what it cares about. This year that value is responsibility, theirs as a government and yours as an individual
pie
Dear Nicola: Where’s my $5,000?
Households didn’t get $5,000, but defence, landlords and business did. Natalia Albert looks at the past two budgets, and where the money actually went
by Natalia Albert
19
Households didn’t get $5,000, but defence, landlords and business did. Natalia Albert looks at the past two budgets, and where the money actually went
Qiulae Wong.
Can Qiulae Wong become the new Winston Peters?
Natalia Albert assesses the potential for the Opportunity Party's leader Qiulae Wong to become a Winston Peters-style kingmaker
by Natalia Albert
44
Natalia Albert assesses the potential for the Opportunity Party's leader Qiulae Wong to become a Winston Peters-style kingmaker
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon speaks to reporters.
Separating the leader from the party, seven months from an election
Natalia Albert argues Christopher Luxon won't survive as PM until the election, but it won’t matter because National will still win
by Natalia Albert
19
Natalia Albert argues Christopher Luxon won't survive as PM until the election, but it won’t matter because National will still win
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon addresses reporters at a post-Cabinet media conference alongside a sign language interpreter, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones.
The fuel crisis: who, what, and on whose advice?
The agencies, ministers, and data behind New Zealand’s fuel crisis response - and the questions that still need answers
by Natalia Albert
40
The agencies, ministers, and data behind New Zealand’s fuel crisis response - and the questions that still need answers
Claude
Anthropic and politics in New Zealand
New Zealand is using AI to take minutes and draft honours citations. On the other side of the Pacific, it is refusing Pentagon demands and deciding the terms of modern global warfare
by Natalia Albert
21
New Zealand is using AI to take minutes and draft honours citations. On the other side of the Pacific, it is refusing Pentagon demands and deciding the terms of modern global warfare
hipkins
Labour's problem is not Chris Hipkins
Whether Chris Hipkins survives this week is almost beside the point. Labour has no coalition architecture. That does not change whoever is at the podium
by Natalia Albert
23
Whether Chris Hipkins survives this week is almost beside the point. Labour has no coalition architecture. That does not change whoever is at the podium
3
A new party leader for National is not a new government
The poll that may end Luxon’s leadership matters. But the conversation is so narrow that what we leave out is as important and deserves a serious debate
by Natalia Albert
27
The poll that may end Luxon’s leadership matters. But the conversation is so narrow that what we leave out is as important and deserves a serious debate