LISTEN: ELI HILL recaps how things went down at the Wharewaka Labour Party gathering in Wellington when Jacinda Ardern gave her end of election day speech up on the screen… and how Gareth Morgan got it wrong.

LAURA WILTSHIRE surveys the political landscape in which people should be wary of predictions

Four more years a good result for young National voters

Robertson and party faithful reckon youth quake still hidden in special votes

LAURA WILTSHIRE reports from the Wharewaka in Wellington and Labour’s party.

WATCH: Greg O’Conner describes himself as an eternal pessimist, so despite leading in Ōhāriu he is unprepared to call it, saying it could go either way still.

LAURA WILTSHIRE reports from the Wharewaka.

Labour faithful mingle with MPs Grant Robertson (Wellington Central), Greg O’Connor (Ohariu), Kris Faafoi (Mana) and Ginny Anderson (Hutt South).

Tension and excitement fill the air at Victoria University student bar The Hunter Lounge

Youth participation is key says a Wellington City Councillor. The rise of Jacinda Ardern has bought calls of a “youthquake” in New Zealand politics. Brian Dawson says that the youth participation in this election has been higher than ever for Labour.

Johnsonville voters reflect on an election during which their MP resigned

Voting appears to have gone smoothly for Wellingtonians today. Some minor delays were reported when polling booths opened at nine o’clock this morning, but no other problems have been reported. People spoken to on Cuba St a short time ago were surprised at how easy the voting process is.

Petone voters are being well fed today with sausages in bread, scones and cream

Polling booths are open until 7pm for New Zealanders to cast their ballot

The Whitireia Team is covering the election live, including from the corner of Courtenay Place and Taranaki St in Wellington. Click above for a rolling blog of action from 7pm.

As Te Reo in schools added to the political debate in the elections, AIMEE EASTWOOD listens to her experience.

The Labour party is saying that New Zealand does not have a rural/urban divide. Labour’s Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson says New Zealand is more united than divided, despite an angry a protest at a farmers rally in Morrinsville yesterday. He says in his experience, New Zealanders agree on a need for urgency around social issues.

Jacinda Ardern was not the only one brought to tears by the sight of 606 pairs of shoes

Will Saturday’s election will be the cause of our destruction? ELIJAH HILL reports.

Riders Against Teenage Suicide (R.A.T.S.) on their motorbikes played a part in bringing the message to Parliament.

SARAH McMULLAN talks to riders about protecting their tamariki.

UNICEF’s U-report is helping young New Zealanders voice their opinions on political issues with the election just over a week away.

The lights are on at Wellington’s new creative institute. BRONTE WILSON reports on the celebration for the building which will host Whitireia and Weltec students from 2018.

Finlayson battles tough crowd, despite suggesting he has compassion

Te Auaha New Zealand Institute of Creativity building Dixon St being prepared to open in 2018

While they will often clash on policy, Labour and National share common ground on the importance of polls.

THOMAS AIREY talks to Wellington electorate opponents Grant Robertson and Nicola Willis.

606 pairs of shoes on Parliament’s lawn mark the country’s suicide deaths

With polls big in the news, are they accurate? Recent polls by Colmar Brunton put the Labour Party in the lead with the Greens and New Zealand First fighting it out as coalition partners. Meanwhile Newshub’s poll paints a different picture. However New Zealand Firsts housing spokesperson Dennis O’Rourke says voters should be wary of […]

WATCH: A chance for you to learn to sew, and save the environment during your lunch break

Musical Theatre students at Whitireia Polytechnic Performing Arts are gearing up for opening night.

This week Wellington’s Tory Street hosts an African fashion pop up store run by A-Collective

What can be done about low youth and Maori voting numbers? AIMEE EASTWOOD attends Here We Go Again forum to find out.

Wellington electorate candidates talk up their chances wth Dunne gone

The Parties Youth Wing debate at Victoria University had representatives from all the parties on campus, but one group was notably absence – women. LAURA WILTSHIRE reports on a meeting where even the Trump comedian bit off more than he could chew.

Newswire poses the question “How important is personality in your preffered Prime Minister?”

Young voters could change the election outcome. LAURA WILTSHIRE asks the question, will they?

Social Issues on the agenda as crowd of 40 brave wet night for politics

Early morning chaos in city centre as air conditioning billows smoke

Emotional living wage stories shared and politicians pledge to take action

TOP is doing things differently in the political landscape. ELIJAH HILL tries to read the topography at a party event.

Logan Tauiliili has unfinished business are second placing in the 2017 Hardham Cup

Businesses discuss parties’ employment, trade policies at election breakfast

Art publications up to 10 years old are getting their own show

Water pistols spray candidates, and rain wet spectators for the iconic local election debate.

Year 10s at Wellington High School are looking closely at this year’s General Election

Loose forward has fingers crossed for this week’s scan of freak injury

Leaky buildings give school a chance to build flexible learning environment

Rebuild helping school become modern learning environment

Fergusson Intermediate students from Trentham were among thousands of Wellington regional children at city venues for SportsFest. ELIJAH HILL reports.

ACT’s Stephen Berry was booed at the LGBTQI Rainbow forum on Tuesday for not backing new hate speech law.

Newswire’s AIMEE EASTWOOD asked candidates after the meeting about hate speech and free speech.

NewsWire Team joined thousands Wellington region primary students to capture some of the activity.

Statistics New Zealand says half of same-sex marriages and civil unions for overseas residents

The Weltec tutor is using the eel traps of his whanau to inspire creative students. He talks with PATRICK FRENCH.

The event saw music, the lighting of candles and a retelling of the Maori creation myth

Statistics New Zealand has released a report showing the rising costs of tobacco and rent is affecting New Zealand’s poorest, particularly Maori and beneficiaries. AIMEE EASTWOOD investigates.

Wellington most influential citizens line up with their Absolutely Positively Wellingtonian Awards. AIMEE EASTWOOD talked to three of the recipients.

Rain failed to deter a climate change protest at Parliament as US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, visited the country. AIMEE EASTWOOD talked to some of the protesters.

FM radio surfers will now find a diverse range of shows as they dial, with Wellington Access Radio going live this month on 106.1 FM. Depending on the time of day listeners will find the bilingual Maori Matters, InsideOUT Radio from rainbow communities, or Samoa Ala Mai. ALBION HAINES reports.

Wellington Access Radio Station Manager Kristen Paterson talks about the switch to FM frequency and what’s next for the station.

Māori language is struggling to survive colonisation. JADE WINTON-LOWE talks to three Te Reo speakers.

Wellington’s Lux Light Festival returned to the CBD this year. AIMEE EASTWOOD captures the dazzling artworks and performers.

Ragne Maxwell is hoping to revamp the teaching style at Porirua College to get students more engaged in learning. A few months into the job, she sits down with KATENI SAU and talks about her dreams and the actions she intends to take.

KATENI SAU explores the challenges of being a Pacific journalist

Dams proposed for two for the Wairarapa reservoirs are not finding favour with locals. The community group Wairarapa Water, People before Profits recently held a protest outside Te Papa to raise awareness in Wellington about the dams. Chairman Dave Field says the Greater Wellington Regional Councils’ proposal is going to come at a cost.  

Friends who were once enemies 100 years ago gather at Strathmore every year.

Members of the Peace Movement Aotearoa gathered at the going down of the sun in Wellilngton.

Kea are cheeky, colourful and a Wellington favourite. SHAR DAVIS captures them in action.

Christchurch’s heart is being re-imagined and KATENI SAU took to the streets to capture progress

Puppeteers use rock art inspired puppets to tell the story of Pourangahua.

Members of the Peace Movement Aotearoa gathered at the going down of the sun in Wellilngton.

Friends who were once enemies 100 years ago gather at Strathmore every year.

JADE WINTON-LOWE REPORTS

Bellevue has accelerated the writing ability of male and Maori students.

The absence of voices from the trans community in the health system was discussed over tea, coffee and cake at Saint Andrews Church as part of Trans Day of Visibility. AIMEE EASTWOOD talks to some of those who spoke.

Parents in April get their chances to talk about renovating five teaching spaces

Collaboration of professional opera singers, orchestra and circus acrobats

Circus, burlesque, belly and drag performers pulled in an audience at Cuba Dupa on Sunday. ALBION HAINES captured the action in pictures.

Chocolate farm run by little birds called the OooEee give people at CubaDupa a treat