Taxing campaign trail follows fiscal doom forecasts

news that things were ‘‘better than expected’’.

The bad news was that even the good news was very, very bad indeed — just not quite as bad as Treasury thought it could have been.

The preelection economic and fiscal update (Prefu) told us that Treasury’s shortterm forecasts were now slightly better than Treasury’s earlier forecasts — but the longterm forecasts were now worse.

The GDP for the second quarter of the year was down by 12.2% — a slightly smaller hit than Treasury’s initial estimates.

Pop the Champagne corks,

Grant, but we can see your ghost good news.

Photo of the week

Politicians can’t win either way in a campaign under Covid19 restrictions.

Photos of politicians surrounded by empty space make them look like noddy nomates.

But, as Labour leader Jacinda Ardern found out, photos amidst throngs of fans are also a bad idea.

Ms Ardern copped a ‘‘practice what you preach’’ lesson on social media after photos taking selfies surrounded by crowds at Palmerston North’s Massey University, and then with tradies at a building site. There was no distancing and no masks.

It must have riled up New Zealand First leader Winston Peters who has questioned the need for the Level 2 rules outside of Auckland, but is diligently head counting at his meetings to ensure no more than 100 people enter a venue and they all sit apart.

Most unusual policy

A week after he was nabbed smoking in a nosmoking area at the University of Otago, Winston Peters outlined his new tobacco policy — to reduce tobacco taxes so cigarettes cost no more than $20 a packet.

It was also the most shortlived policy: it was promptly ruled out by Labour leader Jacinda Ardern.

Crusher, wherefore art thou Crusher?

National Party leader Judith Collins on the whereabouts of her alter ego, Crusher.

‘‘When I’m putting out dental health policy or an education policy, you’re going to see a softer side of me. You can’t do those things with a Crusher look on your face. But you’re

Four weeks before election day, The New Zealand

Herald looks at some of the highlights and lowlights of the past week on the campaign trail.