The Prime Minister-elect's leaving the door open to revealing details of a coalition deal. Arrangements in 2017 weren't publicly released, because the Chief Ombudsman ruled details couldn't be requested under the OIA- because it came within Jacinda Ardern's capacity as Labour leader. ACT's David Seymour is in coalition talks with National and says he'd be happy for his promises to be made public. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Seymour is quite transparent as a politician- and he'd want to ...
Oct 24, 2023•5 min
David Seymour says he sees no reason why a potential coalition deal shouldn't be made public. Arrangements in 2017 weren't publicly released, when the Chief Ombudsman ruled details couldn't be requested under the Official Information Act - because it came within Jacinda Ardern's capacity as Labour leader. But ACT Party leader Seymour says he'd be happy for this year's finalised arrangement to be in the open. "We're really happy with the way it's going, I mean, we've been chatting through the dif...
Oct 24, 2023•4 min
Phone calls and negotiations behind the scenes, as National and ACT look set to form the next Government. With the special votes yet to confirm the make-up of the Beehive, both parties are likely to need New Zealand First in a three-way majority arrangement. Former National MP Steven Joyce, was part of talks in 2017, when Winston Peters eventually sided with Labour and Jacinda Ardern. He says it's a different situation now, as Peters had to choose between two parties, while this time Labour's al...
Oct 22, 2023•16 min
This week on Politics Central, Steven Joyce weighs in on the key challenges impacting Luxon and National in forming a Government, particularly in negations with their coalition partners. Later, Professor Robert Patman provides an update on the Israel-Gaza war and how the US can navigate its involvement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 22, 2023•41 min
This week on the Sunday Panel, Capital Director Ben Thomas and journalist, editor and author Jo McCarroll joined in on a discussion about the following topics- and more! The All Blacks have made it to the World Cup final- did we back them early on? If they win, where does that leave Ian Foster- should he expect a knighthood? The gangs have come out against National's proposed crackdown- will these polices work in practice? Will the gangs turn to getting more face tattoos if patches are banned? W...
Oct 22, 2023•10 min
National's Chris Luxon has kept coalition talks under lock and key following last week's election result. The Nats and ACT have a slim majority, but it's likely NZ First will be needed in a three-way majority arrangement once special votes are counted. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says these three parties will want to get a clear arrangement in writing before the special votes are confirmed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 21, 2023•6 min
PR Specialist and former Labour Chief of Staff Neale Jones and former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast join Nick Mills on the Friday Faceoff. This week they discuss the 2023 Election results, whether Chris Hipkins should stay on as leader, plans for a charity hospital in Wellington being derailed, and tensions at the Wellington City Council reaching boiling point. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 20, 2023•29 min
Today John MacDonald spoke to Labour's new Christchurch East MP, Reuben Davidson, and National's Matt Doocey on Politics Friday. They discussed the election result and coalition agreements. Plus. what is wrong with our justice system when we see so many offenders getting granted home detention and early parole? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 19, 2023•19 min
Chris Luxon has confirmed his National-led government isn't keen on Auckland's Light Rail project. The incoming Prime Minister labelled the project a 'white elephant' and said the billions spent could be better put towards other transport priorities. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon has been consistent about scrapping Light Rail from the beginning of the campaign. "If he had turned around and said- we're going to go ahead with this, he would have had a mutiny on his hands led by Simeon...
Oct 19, 2023•4 min
Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! A hospital in Gaza is the latest to have been hit by bombs, with about 500 feared dead. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has turned from bad to catastrophic - has Israel gone too far now, is the situation in Gaza too dire? Winston Peters has touched down in Wellington, and has refused to answer questions from t...
Oct 18, 2023•10 min
NZ First leader Winston Peters has touched down in Wellington, ahead of negotiation talks with National and ACT. There were cheers from onlookers outside the airport as he arrived- but Peters stayed quiet, despite being peppered with questions by journalists. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's unlikely Winston Peters will directly address media as coalition discussions get started- and journalists will have to get creative in sourcing explanations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...
Oct 18, 2023•5 min
The election result looks to have lit a fire under the property market. Real estate agents in Wellington say business has picked up since the 'blue wave' crashed through. National and ACT have both promised to phase in interest deductibility for landlords and make it easier for banks to lend money. City Sales sales manager Scott Dunn says people saw a change of Government coming. He says Auckland's market picked up about three weeks ago. "Our change happened about two or three weeks ago, we've h...
Oct 18, 2023•6 min
With the election over (apart from half a million votes still to be counted), we look at how the country can encourage a more positive approach to economic recovery. “Commerce beats politics, every time.” This quote comes from our guest, Earl Rattray, prominent businessman and lifetime participant in the dairy industry. We look at a different perspective on the Middle East, from Barry Brownstein “Why Civilisation is at Stake”. And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer. File your comments and c...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 19 min
Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to take a look at the election result and how the next few weeks will play out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 17, 2023•11 min
Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the issues of the day- and more! Andrew Little announced his decision to bow out of politics- will any other big Labour names join him? Chris Hipkins says he's going to hang on and keep leading Labour for the time being- how long will he last? Who else could take over? Does Labour understand what went wrong on Saturday? Chris Luxon has faced a b...
Oct 17, 2023•9 min
New Zealand's farming community are feeling hopeful about the new changes in Government. While the nation's 54th Parliament won't be finalised until November, several prospective MPs from National and ACT have backgrounds in the primary sector. Grant McCallum, Suze Redmayne, Miles Anderson, Mike Butterick, Andrew Hoggard and Cameron Luxton are among the new faces bringing their rural backgrounds and insight into the Beehive. The Country's Rowena Duncum says Kiwi farmers will be feeling a weight ...
Oct 17, 2023•3 min
Christopher Luxon has been batting off questions about National's ongoing coalition discussions. The incoming Prime Minister has confirmed he'll remain tight-lipped as National negotiates with ACT and NZ First as the special votes are still tallied. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Luxon's trying to establish a style of leadership where his team gets things done- as opposed to discussing plans. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 17, 2023•6 min
Chris Hipkins says he's still the leader of the Labour Party. He delivered the impassioned message after a marathon caucus meeting with new and current MPs. He's confirmed there was no leadership challenge, but the team will hold a vote within three months of the election. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Labour doesn't know the makeup of their future caucus yet- and there's still time for the Party and Hipkins to reassess their options. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Oct 17, 2023•7 min
Mount Albert's Greens candidate says the narrow margin in the seat shows elections are no longer two-horse races. Labour's Helen White has won on early numbers by just over 100 votes. It's traditionally a Labour stronghold, previously held by Jacinda Ardern, David Shearer, Helen Clark - and Michael Savage. White's blaming her slim-win on the Greens splitting the vote. Ricardo Menendez-March says his Party's proud of its record result. "No one, not the Greens, not National or Labour, can take any...
Oct 17, 2023•3 min
Former Labour Leader Andrew Little says he's thinking of the Party and its future as he quits politics. He says it's important those who'll form the next Labour Government get the chance to be nurtured and developed. Little says he doesn't believe people should hang on too long. "I feel very privileged to have been in the roles that I've been in and to have done what I've done, but I'm also at an age where I could do some other things outside of Parliament- and I'm very keen to explore that." LI...
Oct 17, 2023•4 min
Chris Hipkins is staying on as the leader of the Labour Party- for now. Which I think is the right thing for Labour, and I'll explain why. But first, I'll get you across what has happened. They made the call today in a nearly two-hour caucus meeting. It was supposed to wrap up at 2pm this afternoon, but it ran all the way until quarter past 3. Clearly there was more to discuss than they thought. It could be that they were debating what to do with the leadership, could be that some people were cr...
Oct 17, 2023•2 min
As the Labour party, still technically the Government of course, gather in Wellington to do that time-honoured thing of all losers, which is some soul searching, the trick is not to say you are doing it, but to actually do it. The trouble, as we have discovered these past three years, is they don’t actually do anything except talk. To search one's soul, one has to accept what has happened to you and take a level of blame. You have to see it's actually on you, it is your fault, and if you don’t w...
Oct 16, 2023•2 min
Chris Hipkins is set to make his first public appearance since Labour's election loss. The party will farewell a huge number of outgoing MPs at their first caucus meeting this morning. Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Mike Hosking that the media hasn't heard from the Labour leader over the past few days. He says Hipkins has basically gone to ground after the election loss, but he will front media before caucus meets this morning. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...
Oct 16, 2023•3 min
‘Jacinda was prepared to sell her grandmother”.. read the headline yesterday. A statement made by Ron Mark when interviewed about how coalition negotiations have gone in the past with NZ First. Unfortunately, he went on to say in the article that not only was she ready to sell her grandmother, but she did. Ouch. What an indictment on an already unpopular leader. But it should serve as a warning to Luxon and co as they head into the rocky, murky waters, that is the negotiation of coalition deals....
Oct 16, 2023•3 min
Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills and The Spinoff's Toby Manhire joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National and ACT scored a slim majority in last weekend's election with 61 seats- and they may need NZ First's help after the extra special votes are tallied. Does Winston need to be included no matter how the numbers fall in the end? Australia's Voice referendum failed, with all but one state vot...
Oct 16, 2023•15 min
The election has finally wrapped up- and New Zealand is in for a change of leadership. Chris Luxon is our new Prime Minister-elect and National and ACT are currently on 61 seats, with the final official result being declared on November 3. NZME's Fran O'Sullivan says the nation's business community appreciates the change of leadership. "People I've spoken with really expect to see clarity, they expect to see focus, momentum and importantly- execution. And that's where the previous Government stu...
Oct 16, 2023•4 min
Chris Luxon secured his role as Prime Minister- and now begins weeks of negotiation, compromise and coalition talks. National and ACT have a slim right-wing majority of 61 seats, meaning they may need bolstering from NZ First if special votes move the dial. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has warned media not to expect regular updates on how talks are progressing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 16, 2023•4 min
Incoming and outgoing MPs have arrived in Wellington as National's Chris Luxon and ACT's David Seymour form the next Government. Labour MPs have already begun handing over the reins and consulting National on future decisions- but no new policies will be implemented before November 3. Jacinda Ardern's former Chief of Staff Mike Munro says the incoming MPs will be settling into their new roles- and no substantial decisions can be made yet. "The situation in the Middle East- New Zealand's going to...
Oct 16, 2023•4 min
Signs of camaraderie as we transition from one Government to the next. National's Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says outgoing Finance Minister Grant Robertson has reached out to her. She says Robertson told her he was happy to discuss any aspect of the finance role. Willis says she appreciates that- and it's her intention to make some information requests of the Government over the next couple of weeks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 16, 2023•8 min
A former New Zealand First MP says the Party will be driven by its manifesto, and protecting past coalition gains. Incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon is holding talks with potential partners, waiting for the final count on November 3. It could mean National and ACT need NZ First to rule. Now-Carterton Mayor, Ron Mark, says law and order and co-governance top the Party's list. "These things fit perfectly with National-ACT's manifesto- but there's going to be stuff that they won't agree with that...
Oct 16, 2023•5 min
