Midday Report Essentials for Thursday 19 February 2026

National U-turns on housing density; fearing a backlash in well-heeled parts of Auckland, the government drops its housing number ambitions, two million new homes was too much; how does 1.6 million sound? We take a look at the housing plans being released today; and when one door closes, another opens - four major environmental groups are boycotting National's blue-green conference this weekend, but attending the Opportunity conference instead; we speak to party leader Qiulae Wong and to Forest & Bird.