The ACT Party think they have a solution to the problem to the New Zealand housing crisis, Resource Management and housing consenting. ACT's Todd Stephenson joins the Weekend Collective to tell us how they're going to do it. Plus, The National Party have set out their 5 targets for improving the New Zealand health sector. Dr Shane Reti explains what these are, and how they're going to reform. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 10, 2023•41 min
This week on the Sunday Panel,NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson and Newstalk ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The National Party says if elected, it will aim to end emergency housing motels within two years. It will do it through building more social housing and implementing tighter eligibility criteria so people have to use grants in areas they are already living. Is this a realistic goal? Can National pull this...
Sep 10, 2023•11 min
It's a big week in the world of politics, as Treasury is set to publish the Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU) on Tuesday. All documents will be published on the Treasury's website shortly after 1.00pm on the day. ZB Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen says this information will provide an indication of how much cash the Government has on hand ahead of the election- which will likely be very little. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 10, 2023•6 min
National's Chris Bishop vows the use of emergency social housing motels in Rotorua will come to an end. The party will do so through building more social housing and implementing tighter eligibility criteria so people have to use grants in areas they are already living. Chris Bishop says emergency housing in Rotorua has become a 'massive' permanent institution, with the Government pumping millions into a short-term solution. "The Government has basically washed their hands of it and said- it's a...
Sep 09, 2023•7 min
So the first week of campaigning is underway, and I’m already exhausted by the scale of scheduled events, appearances and the very bright pink ACT bus I encountered on Friday. And I’m mostly just watching it unfold from the comfort of my computer. How good is it to see the politicians on the road, selling their wares and finally giving us their vision for New Zealand through their policy announcements? Until earlier this year the opposition's job was to tell us what they thought the Government w...
Sep 09, 2023•3 min
National's released more of its education policy today. If it wins the election, it will require primary schools to teach every single child how to reach using structured literacy. It's basically a return to phonics, instead of the whole language approach used for the last 50 years. Education spokesperson Erica Stanford joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 08, 2023•4 min
Parliament has officially wound up today. New Zealand Herald Extraordinary Phillip O'Shea headed procedures earlier today, despite Parliament officially closing last week. A new Taxpayers Union-Curia poll has spelled turmoil for the Labour Party. It's put the party at 27 percent - no change from last month - but well behind National at 35 percent. But Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says his election campaign is "only just ramping up". Meanwhile, National leader Chris Luxon has been rounding up the...
Sep 08, 2023•6 min
If you are a parent or a grandparent worried about whether our schooling will teach your child to read properly – you need to listen to this. Good education announcement from National today. I have been waiting for anyone to announce this for a couple of years now. So I'm pleased someone’s finally done it. If the Nats win the election, they will require all primary schools to teach little ones to read using structured literacy – which is basically going back to phonics. Now let me explain to you...
Sep 08, 2023•3 min
Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls and Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young join Nick Mills on Friday Faceoff. Together they critique the first week of the 2023 election campaigns, whether it's possible for National to get construction going on a second Mount Victoria tunnel, Foodstuffs taking the city council to court over the Thorndon Cycleway and plans to build a charity hospital on Adelaide Road. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 08, 2023•31 min
Labour's self aggrandising press release on police came through late in the show yesterday, so we didn't really get a chance to get our teeth into it. The press release came from Chris Hipkins, well his office. A Labour Government will deliver a further increase of 300 additional frontline police officers, new ways to crack down on gangs, and strengthen legal protections against stalking and harassment, we will also continue to crack down on gangs. Recently, we've seen communities disrupted and ...
Sep 08, 2023•7 min
Here’s what Chris Hipkins should have said when he made the big announcement yesterday that, if Labour gets to form the next government, it will deliver 300 extra police officers and they’ll have a look at legislation to crack-down on gang convoys. What he should have said, is: “If you vote for us, we will finally give you what you assumed we were going to give you, until you realised at the last minute that we had let you assume the wrong thing without correcting you”. Because, when you think b...
Sep 08, 2023•4 min
So week one of the campaign, well I call it week one because the two major parties had their launches. Of course, they've been campaigning for months, unless you are Chris Hipkins who upon receiving a poll a week or so back claimed he hadn't campaigned at all, until Megan Woods on this show busted him. He showed ironically that same trait this week when he started defending Willie Jackson, who blatantly made stuff up about Act and National and the minimum wage. Even when he corrected it, he got ...
Sep 07, 2023•2 min
The National Party is promising to build a new “Great Walk” as part of its new tourism policy. It's planed an $14m upgrade the 80km Waiau-Toa/Molesworth walking track in Canterbury, creating the 11th Great Walk. Hurunui Mayor Marie Black told Tim Dower that having a track of this distinction in their district would be a significant boost for the local and regional economies. She said that the district would embrace something of this nature, and it could bring in the big spenders. LISTEN ABOVE Se...
Sep 07, 2023•3 min
National says we should be the safest country in the world, but we're not. If elected, Labour's announced a plan which would boost Police numbers by 300 over four years and tackle gangs. It would allow Police to go after convoys and confiscate cars, motorbikes, and tractors. National’s Justice Spokesperson Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking that they have their own announcement to make soon. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 07, 2023•3 min
Labour's law and order policy would allow Police to confiscate cars, motorbikes, and even tractors. Police Minister Ginny Andersen says it's designed for large scale convoys going through public roads, disrupting people's daily lives. Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen told Tim Dower that it appears they'll come at them after the fact. He says they will have to show there's a breach of the road laws by people in two or more vehicles. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 07, 2023•4 min
Really? New Zealand First... really? I mean, I know it's a pretty desperate time... we're all a bit lost and confused and disappointed, frustrated and seriously peed off at the state of the country right now. But to see a poll showing New Zealand First potentially over the five percent threshold? I guess it shows how desperate things are for a lot of people. It's not my place to tell you how to vote, or how not to vote, but what I will say is: just think of the history. Think of the dramas, the ...
Sep 07, 2023•2 min
Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour chief of staff and Maxim Institute director Tim Wilson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Labour leader Chris Hipkins has apologised today - after his party released social media ads with misleading information about National's plan to scrap the first-year fees-free policy for tertiary education. This is on top of Willie Jackson claiming a National/ACT Government would get rid of the minimum wage. Is this issue unique t...
Sep 07, 2023•10 min
More trouble for the carbon credit scheme that Labour wants to use to fund climate initiatives. The Government has tried - and failed - a third time to auction off credits, giving businesses the right to emit carbon dioxide. This means Treasury is now short over $900 million ahead of Tuesday's Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update. The Country's Jamie Mackay says the credits will be available to purchase again- but economists warn the units could be harder to sell a fourth time. LISTEN ABOVE S...
Sep 07, 2023•3 min
Claims truth is the first casualty of the election season. Labour leader Chris Hipkins has had to apologise for the actions of several party members, with inaccurate information being shared about National and ACT's plans for the country. Willie Jackson found himself in hot water over his claims about minimum wage, junior staffers have been exposed lying about the opposition's plans for student loan interest- among others. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the first week of the ...
Sep 07, 2023•6 min
National's transport spokesman has labelled Auckland Light Rail's commercial building purchase 'shocking'. Auckland Light Rail has signed a $33 million contract to buy the Kiwi Bacon Building, located on New North Road. That's despite National vowing to scrap the $14.6-billion-dollar project if elected next month. Simeon Brown says the Government has had six years to deliver and hasn't presented a business case to purchase the building. "The Government hasn't got a business case, they haven't go...
Sep 07, 2023•3 min
The Police Minister says bolstering the police force will help New Zealand tackle a complex crime situation. Labour has promised 300 more cops over four years if re-elected. It's on top of about 1800 more staff coming on board since Labour won the 2017 election. Police Minister Ginny Andersen says it will make a material difference. "Those extra police officers mean that when people call the phone and ring up police, we get a response immediately." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...
Sep 07, 2023•4 min
This week on Behind the List, Newstalk ZB's Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper digs into the first week of the Election 2023 campaign. He speaks to both Labour and National's Campaign Chairs, Megan Woods and Chris Bishop. Soper challenges Woods over Labour's misinformation this week and questions Bishop on National's claim this is the most negative campaign in modern history. The seasoned political journalist casts major doubt over Labour's free dental care policy and gives his take on t...
Sep 07, 2023•27 min
Newstalk ZB Political Reporter Sophie Trigger joins Nick Mills on the Beehive Buzz. This week she discusses how each major party is performing in the lead up to the 2023 election, the reaction to the CTU attack ads on Christohper Luxon, and an ongoing Trade Dispute between Canada and New Zealand which has now been resolved. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 07, 2023•8 min
Now this is more like it team! Leaders of Labour, National, and the Green Party all pledged last night to build at least another 1000 state houses a year in Auckland, if they win the election, in whatever configuration. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins, National’s deputy leader Nicola Willis, the Greens Co-leader Marama Davidson were guests at the launch in Māngere of Te Ohu Whakawhanaunga Tāmaki Makaurau, an umbrella group for this social housing sector which combines 45 groups all within the socia...
Sep 07, 2023•7 min
My policy of the week, and this may or may not become a thing for the next couple of weeks depending on the quality of what we see, goes to Act and their productivity ideas. That’s not to say a tunnel in Wellington isn't a solid idea, but it's not hard to announce a tunnel. Productivity is one of the great handbrakes on allowing this country to be great. We have talked about it for years and failed at liftoff every single time. Part of it is the make up of our economy. Productivity is hard to gr...
Sep 06, 2023•2 min
Labour's defending its plan to grow the economy, saying it's about capitalising on strengths rather than playing the same old tune. The five point plan includes growing an export-led country, boosting renewable energy, enhancing tourism, and focusing on sustainable agriculture technology. Labour Finance spokesperson Grant Robertson told Mike Hosking that New Zealand's always been an export nation, but this is about maximising the value of that. He says they want to shift what we do into areas th...
Sep 06, 2023•4 min
Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Ben Thomas from Ben Thomas PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Chris Hipkins has had to apologise for the actions of another MP, this time Willie Jackson. Jackson claimed ACT and National would get rid of the minimum wage. Is Labour's campaign out of control? Labour has laid out a five-point plan to grow the economy- how strong does this look? In particular, how credible is this...
Sep 06, 2023•9 min
ANZ economists are warning that taxpayers may have to cover the extra interest accumulated on Government debt. If the Treasury has to issue more bonds than the market wants, the price of the bonds will fall, and their yields will rise- which will cost taxpayers. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says the Government is bringing in less tax revenue that expected as the economy slows- and Treasury will have to factor that in. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy ...
Sep 06, 2023•3 min
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has laid out a five-point economic strategy for Labour's third term in Government- if the party's re-elected. Hipkins promised he'll lead a delegation to India to foster relations and eventually establish a trade deal. $100 million will also be spent on Venture Capital Fund for investment in agri-tech, to encourage innovation. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this Government has ignored India as a trade partner- until the election came around. LISTE...
Sep 06, 2023•6 min
National's Nicola Willis is promising a 'competitive, cost-effective' scheme that will benefit Kiwi motorists. Leader Chris Luxon is pledging to deliver 10,000 EV chargers over the next 4 years, at a cost of $257 million. National also seeks to dump Labour's clean car discount scheme. Nicola Willis says National will collaborate with the private sector to deliver a competitive bidding process that will reduce costs. "It supports the investment, and it makes sure that we get the chargers in the r...
Sep 06, 2023•8 min
