OVERHANGS. STRATEGIC VOTING. TWO VOTES. ONE LOLLY SCRAMBLE. 🍬 VoteSmart2026.co.nz Heard strategic voting mentioned approximately 4,000 times lately but still not entirely sure how it works? Wondering what an overhang is, why Parliament can suddenly sprout extra MPs, or how using your two votes differently could change the final numbers? Excellent. We bought lollies. In just a few minutes, we explain the whole thing using jellybeans, M&Ms, gummy teeth, Froot Loops, blackballs, gummy bears and a suspiciously important collection of chocolate bullets. No political science degree required. Just two votes, some very peculiar maths, and 120 seats that don't necessarily stay 120. Watch The Lolly Scramble, then head to VoteSmart2026.co.nz to learn more about how your two votes work. And share this with someone who still thinks an overhang is something requiring Spanx. 😜 Authorised by NZ Media Holdings 2023 Ltd (RCR Media), ContactUs@rcr.media

"Isn't that the most stark example of ideology smashing headfirst into reality that you've ever seen?" - Maree Buscke Buscke recounts the French woman pleading "I'm one of you" while her family's shop was allegedly being trashed. Turns out virtue-signalling points are not accepted as legal tender during a riot. How's that ideology holding up now? Maree Buscke @MacBuscke and Marty Gibson @martyozone are back with Media Matters. 🎥 Watch here: rcr.media/episodes/media-mat…

"This actually gives our young people the best start." - Laura McClure, ACT Party MP McClure says students could earn real trade credits, stay strong in maths and literacy, and still keep university entrance open. Is this the kind of practical education overhaul New Zealand schools have been missing? 🎥 Watch here: rcr.media/episodes/laura-mcc…

"We need to sort of bring some correction and some order back into society." - Alfred Ngaro, NZ First Candidate and Former Cabinet Minister Ngaro says escalating hostility, violent rhetoric and inconsistent standards are eroding social cohesion. Has political tribalism gone so far that New Zealand now needs to reset the boundaries of acceptable behaviour? 🎥 Watch here: rcr.media/episodes/alfred-ng…

"You spent, I think, something like $20,000 on a four-year-old, 80% chance that they wouldn't end up in one of the gangs and in prison and causing harm. Wait 'til they're 18, 80% chance of failure." - Matt Robson, Auckland Barrister and Former Corrections Minister Robson says New Zealand has known for decades that intervening early can dramatically change a child's trajectory, yet governments keep waiting until the damage is done. Why are we still spending at the bottom of the cliff instead of investing at the top? 🎥 Watch here: rcr.media/episodes/don-brash… Learn more about your vote and MMP: VoteSmart2026.co.nz

🌿 New rules for natural health products? Have your say! The Government is proposing new regulations for natural health products, potentially affecting the supplements and remedies many Kiwis use every day. What could the changes mean for consumer choice, access to products, and the businesses supplying them? Public consultation is your opportunity to have a say before decisions are made. 👇 Read more about the proposal and how to make a submission. realitycheck.radio/have-your…

"One could say that it's to distract people or to receive very few submissions at a time when government is in caretaker mode essentially..." - Katie Ashby-Koppens, Lawyer Katie raises questions about the timing of the Government's natural health products consultation, with submissions closing on 2 November. Is this an unfortunate deadline, or does it risk letting major regulatory changes develop without enough public scrutiny? 🎥 Watch here: rcr.media/episodes/legal-hub…

🎙️ The Brennan Barometer: Less Than a Week to Stop the Left 🗳️ In this week’s Barometer, Paul Brennan makes the case for tactical voting under MMP, arguing that voters need to think strategically if they want to keep a National-led, centre-right government in power. ⚠️ With just days until the election, Paul explains why he believes the issues of Covid-19, transgender ideology, abortion and assisted dying make this a critical crossroads for New Zealand.

"And I think a National Party, with a very strong NZ First Party, and a very strong ACT Party, will make for a much, much better government where things get properly debated and properly discussed, and we'll get better results." - Rodney Hide, Former ACT Party Leader 🌐 RCR.media | Rodney Hide argues that giving ACT and NZ First greater influence could improve the quality of debate and decisions inside a National-led government. Would Luxon make better decisions with Seymour and Peters holding more cards at the Cabinet table?

"And you're not going to vote for the Opportunity Party, because you don't even know what you're going to get." - Rodney Hide, Former ACT Party Leader 🌐 RCR.media | Life is like a box of chocolates, and apparently so is TOP! 🍫 One chocolate contains Labour. Another contains National. And the mystery filling? Three years of a government you might never have voted for! Would you trust TOP to choose your Prime Minister, or would you rather know what's inside the box BEFORE you vote?

"A few seats flipping towards National, a few party votes slipping to ACT and NZ First, the world of difference." - Rodney Hide, Former ACT Party Leader 🌐 RCR.media | With Rodney Hide arguing that eight of ten MMP elections were decided by five or fewer MPs, the arithmetic of coalition politics takes on enormous importance. Could the next government be determined not by a massive swing, but by a few carefully contested electorates and party-vote shifts?

"Man oh man, that is the stuff of nightmares." - Rodney Hide, Former ACT Party Leader 🌐 RCR.media Chris Hipkins, the Greens, Te Pāti Māori and potentially TOP. Rodney Hide says the prospect of this combination taking power is enough to give him nightmares! Could strategic voting on the left deliver a government unlike anything New Zealand has seen before?

Are you one of the oodles of people who've been out beating the feet the past few weeks, delivering Vote Smart 2026 flyers? Thank you! There's still time to get involved with letterbox drops or pitch in to help us keep the noise volume HIGH for the final week of the campaign! 🔊 We want to keep the ads running in the papers, the billboards lit up, and our digital ads popping up in news feeds across the country! To get your mitts on some flyers, get in touch with the team at inbox@rcr.media. To help us make the most of these final few days, chip in here: realitycheck.radio/donate 📲 Share the campaign here: votesmart2026.co.nz 📢 Vote Smart 2026 campaign authorised by RCR Media, ContactUs@rcr.media

"You go from having no extra MPs for the centre-right, to having seven or eight." - Rodney Hide, Former ACT Party Leader 🌐 RCR.media | Rodney claims that shifting just 20% of National's party votes to ACT and NZ First could dramatically increase the centre-right's parliamentary numbers under an overhang scenario. Are New Zealanders finally becoming more sophisticated MMP voters than the parties themselves expect?

"I think if you're an ACT or a National voter in Epsom or Tamaki, you'd be foolish to be giving your electorate vote to ACT." - Rodney Hide, Former ACT Party Leader A stunning call from former ACT leader Rodney Hide! He argues that voting National in Epsom and Tāmaki could deliver two extra centre-right MPs without costing ACT any seats. Could strategically electing National candidates deliver two bonus MPs to the centre-right while leaving ACT's total representation untouched?

Seems some in the mainstream media have been rather busy muddying the waters lately. 💦 Two separate campaigns, two very different sets of circumstances, and some remarkably creative reporting that manages to blur the distinction. Accidental? We'll leave you to ponder that one. 🤔 In the meantime, we've decided it's time to clear a few things up. Our media release is now up on Scoop. 👇 scoop.co.nz/stories/PO2610/S…

📊🗳️ ELECTION 2026 – BY THE NUMBERS Who Will Decide Election 2026? The Numbers Might Surprise You! Join RCR host Maree Buscke with special guest Maurice Williamson, former National MP, this MONDAY evening as they explore the numbers behind the election, possible scenarios, where the needle could shift, and which electorates could prove crucial. 📍 Do You Live In An Electorate That Could Decide The Election? 📅 MONDAY 2 November 2026🕗 8:00pm NZT 🔍 The Numbers, The Possibilities, And Perhaps An Unexpected Surprise! 👇 Join Us Live!us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi… Team RCR

🚐🐾 RCR ROAD TRIPPIN’ — HAMILTON, THANKS FOR THE WARM WELCOME! ❤️🇳🇿 A couple of days ago, the RCR caravan rolled into Hamilton with special guest, RCR host Paul Brennan! 🎙️ Meagan, Dean and Buster joined Paul to catch up with our Waikato community, from Lost Boys Cafe in Frankton to the Hamilton Workingmen's Club. Getting Paul there wasn't easy, with flight changes and delays! Huge thanks to Regional Coordinator Lynda for organising the catch-ups, her partner Darren for getting Paul there, and local coordinators Peter and Sally for their support. ❤️✈️ Great people, good conversations and lots of familiar faces. And wherever we go, Buster is never far from the action! 🐶🤗 A massive shout-out to Lincoln and his family for hosting the RCR Road Trippers and sorting out a few issues with the caravan. Your hospitality and hands-on help were hugely appreciated! 👏🔧 Thank you, Hamilton! ❤️ 📸 We caught up with our North Auckland community tonight — photos coming tomorrow! 🚐🐾 Next stop: WHANGĀREI! We're hitting the road bright and early. See you soon, Northland! #RCRRoadTrippin #RCRMedia #VoicesForFreedom #Hamilton #Waikato

🇳🇿 PETER WILLIAMS on POLITICS: Is MMP About to Throw a Spanner in the Works? 🚨 The overhang is finally making headlines, and National @NZNationalParty could have a major problem on its hands. Could the next Parliament be bigger than ever — and who really stands to benefit? Peter Williams crunches the numbers and reveals what could be lurking beneath the election results. 💥 Learn more about your vote and MMP: VoteSmart2026.co.nz