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Polls open on election day in New Zealand | Midday News Bulletin 7 November 2026

SBS News Australia •
November 07, 2026 • 12:59 AM
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Polls open on election day in New Zealand; Australia's newest museum, Powerhouse Parramatta, opens its doors; the Jillaroos prepare to take on Fiji in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.

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Polling booths are open across New Zealand, as voters decide whether to give Prime Minister Christopher Luxon a second term in office.

More than 2,300 voting centres are operating nationwide, with the economy and cost of living dominating the campaign.

Attention is turning to the smaller parties, which could play a crucial role in determining who forms the next government.

The chair of New Zealand's largest Māori tribal organisation, Mane Tahere, says politicians must listen to voters.

"However the cards fall and however, the people have voted; take heed of that. And to listen very carefully around the issues that voters want to see addressed very clearly. Stop the spin. Stop all of the race baiting as Maori, as Indigenous. And turn this country around into a positive thriving country, that we as Maori, we as Ngapuhi - know we can be."

Polling closes at five o'clock this afternoon Sydney time, with preliminary results expected tonight.

A member of the Saibai Island community in the Torres Strait says the UN climate talks in Türkiye are an opportunity to strengthen First Nations leadership in global climate negotiations.

The UN warned in September that global temperatures were on course to exceed the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree target.

Australia will lead negotiations at the two-week COP31 summit, beginning on Monday.

Saibai Islander Barbara Ibuai is attending the summit.

She says the impacts on her low-lying island highlight the need for urgent climate action.

"I've seen a lot of land that's lost where I used to play. I can't anymore. There's a huge sea wall dominating that seascape, our natual interaction with the environment around us especially into the sea. Our traditional governance says that we are in oneness of everyone we sit in this water with."

US President Donald Trump has appointed his longtime adviser Stephen Miller as the new White House chief of staff.

The shake-up comes just days after Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections.

Mr Miller is a key architect of Mr Trump's hardline immigration policies and has been one of his closest advisers since the 2016 presidential campaign.

He replaces Susie Wiles, who is moving to the president's political operation.

Mr Trump has defended the decision.

"Susie's done a very good job, great job. But I just wanted to make it… Stephen's been great. Stephen's been with me from beginning. He gets it - he's very good politically, and he's a very good man. He'll do a great job, great manager."

After almost 15 years, the doors of Australia's newest museum, Powerhouse Parramatta, is open to the public.

The billion-dollar museum is described as the largest cultural infrastructure project in Australia since the Sydney Opera House.

About 3,000 objects are on display across 18,000 square metres of exhibition and public space - making it the state's largest museum.

25,000 visitors are registered to attend the opening events this weekend.

The museum's interim CEO, Abbie Galvin, says it is wonderful to finally see this moment arrive.

"It is now a building that is for the community of Western Sydney, the community of New South Wales and of course, Australia. It is an incredible cultural institution. And it represents innovation. It represents education. And it absolutely represents wonderment. So I am thrilled to be able to see the doors open - and see everyone through there today. This represents millions of hours of human endeavour and ingenuity."

Australia's national women's rugby league team, the Jillaroos, are preparing for their World Cup semi final against Fiji this weekend.

The Jillaroos are aiming to secure a fourth tournament title, after winning the last three World Cups.

It is the first World Cup for head coach Jess Skinner, the first Indigenous and Māori head coach of the team.

She has told NITV, she has had a clear vision and approach in her role in coach - and that combined with the players' hard work is what will give them the prepartion to stay cool under pressure.

"Bringing my Maori values and my Aboriginal values and my grassroots values, I think that is what makes me unique in my coaching and how I approach it. I always lead with the reconciliation and always with mob at the front. And I think that is what our girls need. When we have 51 per cent of our NRLW are Pasifika or Maori. Our Indigenous girls make up just over 11 per cent. Our game reflects our society. So for me, when I coach, I want all of that to come through the door as well. Because it just shows who we rae as a national team. And we're really proud of that."

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