Kiwi Unity — How NZ Works Article Prompt
For in-depth system articles of 2,000 to 5,000 words
What this article is
A deep, factual explanation of one of the major systems that shapes New Zealand. This is reference content — timeless, thorough, and built to last. It forms the backbone of the Kiwi Unity knowledge base and will be linked to from Hot Topics and Building Blocks for years.
What it must do
Explain how this system actually works in New Zealand — where it came from, how it operates today, who is involved, how decisions get made, and how it affects everyday New Zealanders. Connect the system to real life. Show the tensions and trade-offs where they exist. Point toward where things are heading without speculating or editorializing.
Structure to follow
Start with context — why these matters and what we are about to explain. Move through the history briefly — enough to understand why the system works the way it does today. Spend the most time on how it works now — the mechanics, the players, the real-world impact. Cover the tensions and competing pressures honestly. Include at least one concrete New Zealand example that brings it to life. Close with a short summary and a plain English Q&A covering the questions most readers will have.
Not every section needs to be the same length. Give weight to what matters most. Cut anything that does not add genuine clarity.
Length
As long as it needs to be to explain the system properly — no longer. Some topics will sit closer to 5,000 words. Others will be done properly at 2,500. Length follows clarity, not a word count target.
Tone
Clear, calm, and neutral. Intelligent but never academic. Written for a real New Zealander who wants to understand something properly — not for a policy expert, not for a student sitting an exam. Short sentences. Plain language. No jargon without explanation. No opinion dressed as fact.
What it must never do
Take a political position. Assign blame. Present one side of a contested issue without presenting the other. Persuade. Editorialise. Overcomplicate.
Sourcing standard
These articles make multiple factual claims across complex topics and must be fully sourced. Use in-text attribution throughout wherever facts, data, or specific claims appear. For example: According to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand... or Statistics New Zealand data shows...
At the bottom of every article include a clean Sources section listing the key references used. Not every single source — just the main ones a reader might want to check or explore further.
Source hierarchy:
- Government and official sources first — Stats NZ, MBIE, Reserve Bank, Treasury, Parliament
- Recognized research institutions — universities, think tanks, Info metrics, NZIER
- Established NZ journalism for current context — RNZ, Newsroom
- International sources only where directly relevant — IMF, World Bank, OECD
Never cite opinion pieces, politically aligned sources, or anything that could undermine the neutrality of the article. If a source has an obvious agenda it does not belong in a Kiwi Unity article.
The test: could a reader verify every factual claim in this article if they wanted to? If yes, the sourcing is good enough.
Connections
Every article must link to at least two or three related Building Block articles and reference at least one current or recent Hot Topic where relevant. No article exists in isolation.
Cultural standard
Acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua where relevant. Use te reo Māori correctly and respectfully. Represent all communities fairly. No stereotypes, no tokenism, no deficit framing.
The test before publishing
Could a busy New Zealander read this and come away genuinely understanding how this system works? If yes, publish. If not, simplify and try again.
If it is not clear, it is not finished.
Kiwi Unity — Article Presentation Standard
1. Purpose
This standard defines exactly how every article looks and feels on the Kiwi Unity website. Consistency across all four libraries builds trust and makes the site feel like a serious, professional knowledge platform rather than a collection of individual pages.
Every article — regardless of which library it sits in — follows this presentation standard.
2. Page Structure
Every article page is built in this order from top to bottom:
Hero section Article title in large H1 heading. One or two sentence plain English summary of what the article covers. Library label clearly visible — NZ's Hot Topics, NZ's Building Blocks, or NZ: How It Works. Pillar category where relevant — for example Economy and Money or Government and Law.
Article body The full article content structured with H2 headings for major sections and H3 headings for subsections within those. Short paragraphs throughout. No walls of text.
Key takeaway block A grey or dark background callout block near the end of the article containing one or two sentences summarizing the single most important thing to understand from this article. Visually distinct from the body text so it stands out.
Sources section A clean simple list of the key sources used. Plain text. No academic formatting. Headed simply Sources.
Connected content section A visually distinct section at the bottom of every page linking to related content across the three libraries. This is not optional — it is how the Kiwi Unity model works.
3. Heading Rules
H1 — article title only. One per page.
H2 — major section headings within the article. These are the main chapters of the piece. Written in plain language that tells the reader exactly what that section covers.
H3 — subsections within a major section where needed. Not every section needs H3 headings. Use them only where a section genuinely has distinct parts that benefit from a label.
Never skip heading levels. Never use bold text as a substitute for a proper heading. Never use headings just to break up text — only use them when a new section genuinely begins.
4. Body Text Rules
Short paragraphs — maximum four or five sentences. Often two or three is better.
One idea per paragraph.
No jargon without immediate explanation.
No sentences longer than 25 to 30 words where possible.
Left aligned throughout.
Minimum 16px font size.
Line spacing 1.3 to 1.5.
5. Callout Blocks
Use a grey or dark background block sparingly — maximum two per article — for:
- The key takeaway near the end of the article
- One important fact or figure mid-article where it genuinely adds impact
Do not overuse callout blocks. If everything is highlighted, nothing is highlighted.
6. Dividers
Use a horizontal divider between the article body and the key takeaway block, and between the key takeaway block and the sources section. This creates a clean visual break that tells the reader the main content is complete, and they are now in the reference and navigation section of the page.
Do not use dividers between every section within the article body — headings and spacing do that job.
7. Images
Use images where they genuinely add clarity or context — a map, a diagram, a chart, or a relevant photograph. Never use images just to fill space or make a page look busier.
Every image must have alt text for accessibility.
Images should be clean and neutral — never politically charged, never sensationalized.
8. Connected Content Section
This section appears at the bottom of every article page without exception. It is visually distinct from the article body — use a light grey background block or a clear divider to separate it.
For How NZ Works articles:
- Related Building Blocks — list two to four relevant Building Block articles with clickable links
- Related Hot Topics — list one or two current or recent Hot Topics this article connects to
For Building Block articles:
- Part of — one clickable link to the parent How NZ Works article this block sits under
- Related Hot Topics — one or two Hot Topics this block supports
- Related Building Blocks — one or two other blocks in the same topic area
For Hot Topic articles:
- The Building Blocks behind this issue — list all relevant Building Block articles with clickable links
- Go deeper — one clickable link to the relevant How NZ Works article
- Related Hot Topics — one or two other Hot Topics in the same area if relevant
The connected content section heading should simply say Keep Exploring or Connected Reading — plain, clear, and inviting rather than functional sounding.
9. Sources Section
Appears below the connected content section or just above it — either works as long as it is consistent across all articles.
Headed simply: Sources
List key sources as plain text with the organization or publication name and the document or page title. No academic citation formatting. No footnote numbers. Just a clean readable list.
For example:
Reserve Bank of New Zealand — Monetary Policy Statement Statistics New Zealand — Consumer Price Index Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment — Weekly Fuel Price Monitoring
10. Library and Pillar Labels
Every article page must clearly show which library it belongs to and which pillar it sits under. This helps readers understand where they are in the Kiwi Unity system and makes navigation intuitive.
Place these labels visibly near the top of the page below the title — small, clean text, not intrusive but always present.
For example: NZ's Building Blocks — Economy and Money or NZ: How It Works — Government and Law
11. Consistency Rule
Every article across every library follows this standard without exception. Readers should be able to land on any page of the Kiwi Unity site and immediately recognize the structure, know where they are, and know how to navigate to related content.
Consistency is what makes the site feel like a serious knowledge platform rather than a collection of individual pages.
Final Rule
If the presentation does not make the content easier to read and navigate — simplify it.
Kiwi Unity — Building Block Article Prompt
For focused explainer articles of around 1,000 words
What this article is
A short, focused explanation of one specific component behind a bigger issue. Not the whole picture — just one clearly defined part of it. These articles form the growing library at the heart of Kiwi Unity and are linked to from Hot Topics and How NZ Works articles constantly.
What it must do
Take one concept, one institution, one mechanism, or one piece of the puzzle and explain it clearly and completely in around 1,000 words. Define what it is, explain how it works, show why it matters to everyday New Zealanders, and connect it to the bigger issue it belongs to.
Structure to follow
Open with a plain one or two sentence explanation of what this thing actually is. Then explain how it works — simply and concretely. Then explain why it matters — what changes in New Zealand because of this thing. Close with a short section connecting it upward to the relevant How NZ Works article and back to any relevant Hot Topics.
Keep it tight. Every paragraph should earn its place. If something does not add clarity, cut it.
Length
Around 1,000 words but not a rigid target. Some topics are done properly at 800 words. Some need 1,200. The rule is one concept explained completely and clearly. If it is done at 900 words, stop at 900. Do not pad to hit a number.
Tone
The same calm, clear, neutral voice as everything on Kiwi Unity — but slightly more conversational given the shorter length. Think of it as explaining something to a smart friend who has never heard of it before.
What it must never do
Expand beyond its defined scope. Try to explain the whole system when it only needs to explain one part. Take a position. Editorialize.
Sourcing standard
Building Block articles are short and conversational so sourcing should be light but present. Include one or two in-text attributions where key facts or statistics appear. For example: According to Stats NZ... or The Reserve Bank reports...
No formal sources section is needed at the bottom unless a specific claim genuinely requires it. The goal is credibility without turning a focused explainer into a cited essay.
Never reference opinion pieces or politically aligned sources. All facts must be verifiable.
The test: are the key factual claims in this article grounded in credible sources a reader could check if they wanted to? If yes, the sourcing is good enough.
Connections
Every Building Block must link to its parent How NZ Works article and to any Hot Topics it supports. It should also reference one or two related Building Blocks where natural.
The test before publishing
Could someone read this in five minutes and walk away understanding exactly what this one thing is and why it matters? If yes, publish. If not, simplify.
If it is not clear, it is not finished.
Kiwi Unity — Article Presentation Standard
1. Purpose
This standard defines exactly how every article looks and feels on the Kiwi Unity website. Consistency across all four libraries builds trust and makes the site feel like a serious, professional knowledge platform rather than a collection of individual pages.
Every article — regardless of which library it sits in — follows this presentation standard.
2. Page Structure
Every article page is built in this order from top to bottom:
Hero section Article title in large H1 heading. One or two sentence plain English summary of what the article covers. Library label clearly visible — NZ's Hot Topics, NZ's Building Blocks, or NZ: How It Works. Pillar category where relevant — for example Economy and Money or Government and Law.
Article body The full article content structured with H2 headings for major sections and H3 headings for subsections within those. Short paragraphs throughout. No walls of text.
Key takeaway block A grey or dark background callout block near the end of the article containing one or two sentences summarizing the single most important thing to understand from this article. Visually distinct from the body text so it stands out.
Sources section A clean simple list of the key sources used. Plain text. No academic formatting. Headed simply Sources.
Connected content section A visually distinct section at the bottom of every page linking to related content across the three libraries. This is not optional — it is how the Kiwi Unity model works.
3. Heading Rules
H1 — article title only. One per page.
H2 — major section headings within the article. These are the main chapters of the piece. Written in plain language that tells the reader exactly what that section covers.
H3 — subsections within a major section where needed. Not every section needs H3 headings. Use them only where a section genuinely has distinct parts that benefit from a label.
Never skip heading levels. Never use bold text as a substitute for a proper heading. Never use headings just to break up text — only use them when a new section genuinely begins.
4. Body Text Rules
Short paragraphs — maximum four or five sentences. Often two or three is better.
One idea per paragraph.
No jargon without immediate explanation.
No sentences longer than 25 to 30 words where possible.
Left aligned throughout.
Minimum 16px font size.
Line spacing 1.3 to 1.5.
5. Callout Blocks
Use a grey or dark background block sparingly — maximum two per article — for:
- The key takeaway near the end of the article
- One important fact or figure mid-article where it genuinely adds impact
Do not overuse callout blocks. If everything is highlighted, nothing is highlighted.
6. Dividers
Use a horizontal divider between the article body and the key takeaway block, and between the key takeaway block and the sources section. This creates a clean visual break that tells the reader the main content is complete, and they are now in the reference and navigation section of the page.
Do not use dividers between every section within the article body — headings and spacing do that job.
7. Images
Use images where they genuinely add clarity or context — a map, a diagram, a chart, or a relevant photograph. Never use images just to fill space or make a page look busier.
Every image must have alt text for accessibility.
Images should be clean and neutral — never politically charged, never sensationalized.
8. Connected Content Section
This section appears at the bottom of every article page without exception. It is visually distinct from the article body — use a light grey background block or a clear divider to separate it.
For How NZ Works articles:
- Related Building Blocks — list two to four relevant Building Block articles with clickable links
- Related Hot Topics — list one or two current or recent Hot Topics this article connects to
For Building Block articles:
- Part of — one clickable link to the parent How NZ Works article this block sits under
- Related Hot Topics — one or two Hot Topics this block supports
- Related Building Blocks — one or two other blocks in the same topic area
For Hot Topic articles:
- The Building Blocks behind this issue — list all relevant Building Block articles with clickable links
- Go deeper — one clickable link to the relevant How NZ Works article
- Related Hot Topics — one or two other Hot Topics in the same area if relevant
The connected content section heading should simply say Keep Exploring or Connected Reading — plain, clear, and inviting rather than functional sounding.
9. Sources Section
Appears below the connected content section or just above it — either works as long as it is consistent across all articles.
Headed simply: Sources
List key sources as plain text with the organization or publication name and the document or page title. No academic citation formatting. No footnote numbers. Just a clean readable list.
For example:
Reserve Bank of New Zealand — Monetary Policy Statement Statistics New Zealand — Consumer Price Index Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment — Weekly Fuel Price Monitoring
10. Library and Pillar Labels
Every article page must clearly show which library it belongs to and which pillar it sits under. This helps readers understand where they are in the Kiwi Unity system and makes navigation intuitive.
Place these labels visibly near the top of the page below the title — small, clean text, not intrusive but always present.
For example: NZ's Building Blocks — Economy and Money or NZ: How It Works — Government and Law
11. Consistency Rule
Every article across every library follows this standard without exception. Readers should be able to land on any page of the Kiwi Unity site and immediately recognize the structure, know where they are, and know how to navigate to related content.
Consistency is what makes the site feel like a serious knowledge platform rather than a collection of individual pages.
Final Rule
If the presentation does not make the content easier to read and navigate — simplify it.
Kiwi Unity — Hot Topic Article Prompt
For current issue explainers — length as needed to cover the full picture
What this article is
A full, fair, neutral explanation of something happening in New Zealand right now. Not a news report. Not an opinion piece. A complete picture of a current issue — what is happening, what is driving it, what all the moving parts are, and how it connects to the bigger systems of New Zealand.
What it must do
Give readers the full picture of a current issue in one place. Explain what is happening clearly. Break down all the components driving it. Show how those components connect to the bigger systems. Link out to the Building Block articles that explain each component in more detail. Connect to the relevant How NZ Works deep dive. Leave the reader genuinely more informed — not more outraged, not more anxious, not pushed toward any political position.
Structure to follow
Open with a clear, plain explanation of what is happening and why it matters right now. Work through the moving parts one by one — what each one is and how it is contributing to the issue. Show how they connect to each other and to the bigger system. Include current data and real New Zealand context. Close with a section that connects this issue to the How NZ Works library so readers can go deeper.
Length
As long as it takes to give the full picture. A simpler issue might be covered properly in 800 words. A complex one with many moving parts might need 2,000. Length follows the complexity of the issue — never padded, never cut short before the job is done.
Tone
Current and relevant but never reactive. Calm in the face of issues that may be causing public anxiety or political noise. Factual and grounded. The reader should feel informed and clear — not alarmed, not reassured, just genuinely better informed.
What it must never do
Take a side. Assign blame. Use emotionally charged language. Report opinion as fact. Reflect the framing of any political party, media outlet, or interest group.
Sourcing standard
Hot Topics deal with live issues, so sourcing is critical for credibility. Use in-text attribution throughout for any current data, statistics, or specific claims. For example: According to the Commerce Commission... or MBIE data shows...
Include a short Sources section at the bottom listing the main references used. Readers need to trust that what they are reading about a current issue is grounded in verified, up to date information.
Source hierarchy:
- Government and official sources first — Stats NZ, MBIE, Reserve Bank, Commerce Commission, Treasury
- Recognized research institutions — Info metrics, NZIER, university research
- Established NZ journalism for current context — RNZ, Newsroom
- International sources where directly relevant — IMF, World Bank, OECD
Never cite opinion pieces, politically aligned commentary, or sources with an obvious agenda. If the framing of a source has a political lean, find a more neutral one.
The test: could a reader trust every factual claim in this article as verified and current? If yes, the sourcing is good enough.
Connections
Every Hot Topic must link to all relevant Building Block articles covering its components. It must link to the relevant How NZ Works article for the broader system. These links are not optional — they are how the Kiwi Unity model works.
The test before publishing
Could someone who knows nothing about this issue read this article and come away with a genuinely clear, balanced, complete understanding of what is happening and why? If yes, publish. If not, find what is missing and add it.
If it is not clear, it is not finished.
Kiwi Unity — Article Presentation Standard
1. Purpose
This standard defines exactly how every article looks and feels on the Kiwi Unity website. Consistency across all four libraries builds trust and makes the site feel like a serious, professional knowledge platform rather than a collection of individual pages.
Every article — regardless of which library it sits in — follows this presentation standard.
2. Page Structure
Every article page is built in this order from top to bottom:
Hero section Article title in large H1 heading. One or two sentence plain English summary of what the article covers. Library label clearly visible — NZ's Hot Topics, NZ's Building Blocks, or NZ: How It Works. Pillar category where relevant — for example Economy and Money or Government and Law.
Article body The full article content structured with H2 headings for major sections and H3 headings for subsections within those. Short paragraphs throughout. No walls of text.
Key takeaway block A grey or dark background callout block near the end of the article containing one or two sentences summarizing the single most important thing to understand from this article. Visually distinct from the body text so it stands out.
Sources section A clean simple list of the key sources used. Plain text. No academic formatting. Headed simply Sources.
Connected content section A visually distinct section at the bottom of every page linking to related content across the three libraries. This is not optional — it is how the Kiwi Unity model works.
3. Heading Rules
H1 — article title only. One per page.
H2 — major section headings within the article. These are the main chapters of the piece. Written in plain language that tells the reader exactly what that section covers.
H3 — subsections within a major section where needed. Not every section needs H3 headings. Use them only where a section genuinely has distinct parts that benefit from a label.
Never skip heading levels. Never use bold text as a substitute for a proper heading. Never use headings just to break up text — only use them when a new section genuinely begins.
4. Body Text Rules
Short paragraphs — maximum four or five sentences. Often two or three is better.
One idea per paragraph.
No jargon without immediate explanation.
No sentences longer than 25 to 30 words where possible.
Left aligned throughout.
Minimum 16px font size.
Line spacing 1.3 to 1.5.
5. Callout Blocks
Use a grey or dark background block sparingly — maximum two per article — for:
- The key takeaway near the end of the article
- One important fact or figure mid-article where it genuinely adds impact
Do not overuse callout blocks. If everything is highlighted, nothing is highlighted.
6. Dividers
Use a horizontal divider between the article body and the key takeaway block, and between the key takeaway block and the sources section. This creates a clean visual break that tells the reader the main content is complete, and they are now in the reference and navigation section of the page.
Do not use dividers between every section within the article body — headings and spacing do that job.
7. Images
Use images where they genuinely add clarity or context — a map, a diagram, a chart, or a relevant photograph. Never use images just to fill space or make a page look busier.
Every image must have alt text for accessibility.
Images should be clean and neutral — never politically charged, never sensationalized.
8. Connected Content Section
This section appears at the bottom of every article page without exception. It is visually distinct from the article body — use a light grey background block or a clear divider to separate it.
For How NZ Works articles:
- Related Building Blocks — list two to four relevant Building Block articles with clickable links
- Related Hot Topics — list one or two current or recent Hot Topics this article connects to
For Building Block articles:
- Part of — one clickable link to the parent How NZ Works article this block sits under
- Related Hot Topics — one or two Hot Topics this block supports
- Related Building Blocks — one or two other blocks in the same topic area
For Hot Topic articles:
- The Building Blocks behind this issue — list all relevant Building Block articles with clickable links
- Go deeper — one clickable link to the relevant How NZ Works article
- Related Hot Topics — one or two other Hot Topics in the same area if relevant
The connected content section heading should simply say Keep Exploring or Connected Reading — plain, clear, and inviting rather than functional sounding.
9. Sources Section
Appears below the connected content section or just above it — either works as long as it is consistent across all articles.
Headed simply: Sources
List key sources as plain text with the organization or publication name and the document or page title. No academic citation formatting. No footnote numbers. Just a clean readable list.
For example:
Reserve Bank of New Zealand — Monetary Policy Statement Statistics New Zealand — Consumer Price Index Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment — Weekly Fuel Price Monitoring
10. Library and Pillar Labels
Every article page must clearly show which library it belongs to and which pillar it sits under. This helps readers understand where they are in the Kiwi Unity system and makes navigation intuitive.
Place these labels visibly near the top of the page below the title — small, clean text, not intrusive but always present.
For example: NZ's Building Blocks — Economy and Money or NZ: How It Works — Government and Law
11. Consistency Rule
Every article across every library follows this standard without exception. Readers should be able to land on any page of the Kiwi Unity site and immediately recognize the structure, know where they are, and know how to navigate to related content.
Consistency is what makes the site feel like a serious knowledge platform rather than a collection of individual pages.
Final Rule
If the presentation does not make the content easier to read and navigate — simplify it.