Chris Hipkins has just confirmed Labour is dropping its plan to get people out of jails. When they first took over six years ago, Labour set a target of reducing the prison population by 30 percent in 15 years. That target is now gone. Hipkins was asked about it today, and says there is no target for the next term. This is massive, because Labour was celebrated for this. On November 29, 2018, there was a huge write up in the Guardian about how great Kelvin Davis was. “The man on a mission to get...
Sep 19, 2023•2 min
The countdown is on to this election's first Leaders' Debate. Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Chris Luxon go head-to-head on TVNZ from 7pm. Former National Prime Minister, Sir John Key, says Luxon's the under-dog - and may have the tougher job. "There are actually a lot of people who want to vote for him and want to vote for National- so they will just be making sure he's the real deal. So there's a lot to play for Chris Luxon." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...
Sep 19, 2023•3 min
A u-turn from Labour. The Party says it'll dump its 2018 target of reducing the prison population by 30 percent within 15 years. It says the crisis has been averted and a target's no longer needed. National Party Corrections spokesperson Mark Mitchell says it's an extraordinary change. He says it's been Labour's core justice policy for the past 6 years. "At the same time, they had no plans to keep the public safe. And we've seen just a tsunami of violent crime and disorder in our country over th...
Sep 19, 2023•3 min
Prison population targets will be no more if Labour gets back in Government, because it says they've served their purpose. In 2018, the Labour Government promised to reduce the prison population by 30 percent within 15 years. Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the target was set because prisons were bursting at the seams when Labour took office, describing scenes of triple bunks and mattresses in hallways. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says this policy change came as a shock to several key...
Sep 19, 2023•5 min
In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls and Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen take a look at tonight’s Leaders debate – and what we should expect. Plus, they discuss another day of Chris Hipkins attacking National’s tax policy and whether it’s having any impact. And we get the details of the Greens latest campaign policy. Plus, the key Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is your daily wrap of the Election 2023 campaign, talking to our reporters in the field plus the day’s big...
Sep 19, 2023•6 min
A former MP has some advice for both candidates in tonight’s leaders’ debate. Labour's Chris Hipkins will face off against National’s Chris Luxon on TVNZ. Peter Dunne mastered the crowd reactor tool the Worm during TV debates in the 2000s, and says Hipkins should control his words to avoid seeming snide. But, he told Kate Hawkesby, there are traps for Luxon too. He says Luxon needs to avoid management language and really connect with people. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...
Sep 18, 2023•4 min
It's debate night tonight. As the campaign takes its next step in intensity, the unknown this year is the Luxon factor. We have never seen him head to head, unless you watch Parliament and no one does. He has down played his credentials against a bloke who has spent his entire career in politics. A lot of energy goes into these things. Having hosted a couple over the years, they get nervous and they spend a good chunk of the day preparing. They arrive early and get given a specific room, on a se...
Sep 18, 2023•2 min
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he knows there is a lot riding on his performance in tonight's first leaders' debate as Labour needs to make up ground in the polls. The PM told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking his party can be trusted to deliver on its election promises, will tackle crime, and that the economy will bounce back. When asked by Hosking if the leaders' debate was his to lose, Hipkins replied he "wouldn't go that far". "They are often more difficult for incumbent Prime Ministers than lea...
Sep 18, 2023•8 min
David Seymour said yesterday that the media can’t be trusted to fairly carry ACT’s message. Based on the texts we got yesterday from people who attended the ACT launch rally, there may be some truth in that. In general, I don’t think we’re being well served by election coverage at the moment... but from all sides. The annoying disruptors, the shadow boxing politicians, the agenda driven clickbait media who proclaim not to have any agenda at all. Give it up, we can see your agenda, it’s plain as ...
Sep 18, 2023•3 min
It will be Chris v Chris in the first leaders' debate tonight. Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Chris Luxon will face off on TVNZ. The Labour leader says he hasn't spent a lot of time preparing, while Luxon says the country needs a great leader not a great debater. But Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that it will be important for those voters who haven't yet decided who they like. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 18, 2023•2 min
It's been rumoured in business circles that Luxon is scoping top Kiwi figures as part of his potential administration. Fraser Whineray and Andrew Grant have reportedly been courted by National's leader ahead of the election. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the pair have declined so far, but Luxon has expressed interest in partnering with Whineray and Grant. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 18, 2023•4 min
Labour's finance spokesperson remains coy about the Government turning down a proposal to stop funding gangs. Cabinet rejected a proposal in July by then-Justice Minister Kiri Allan banning anyone gang-affiliated from receiving public funding. Grant Robertson says he doesn't recall getting involved with that discussion. "Governments in the past have given a range of funding to agencies who work with those with drug addictions and so on- from time to time, those people have had links with gangs."...
Sep 18, 2023•9 min
Every Monday until the election, The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. This week, NZME Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie steps in for Barry Soper. The panel discuss ACT’s campaign launch over the weekend and whether its focus on co-governance is a vote winner or lose...
Sep 18, 2023•32 min
In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls talks us through Chris Hipkins visit to Tauranga today – and whether he’s mixing and mingling with the voters. Political Reporter Sophie Trigger analyses Winston Peters’ latest public meeting in Paraparaumu. Plus, she spoke to some of his supporters and got some interesting answers. And Newstalk ZB’s Joey Dwyer discusses the latest fallout from Act’s campaign launch. Plus, all your latest Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is your daily wr...
Sep 18, 2023•9 min
What a funny old week it's been listening to the media and the Government howling for National's costings on their foreign house buyers tax and National's refusal to release them. Personally I don't give a flying fig on the costings. It seems perfectly obvious that National will not raise the money it says it will because that would take a record level of overseas sales. And National doesn't care. The overseas buyers tax is a sideshow. They are committed to tax cuts. That's their thing. That's n...
Sep 18, 2023•6 min
Ōhāriu voters will soon get the chance to decide who represents them in the next Parliament. Newstalk ZB's Wellington Mornings held a panel with candidates for the electorate seat. Labour Greg O'Connor, National's Nicola Willis and TOP's Jessica Hammond shared what they thought were the main issues in the area. They also debated how cost of living pressures can be alleviated, the Johnsonville Mall redevelopment and LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 18, 2023•34 min
Politicians are in full-on campaign mode, trying to make it over the line in the Ohariu electorate. The seat was held for years by Peter Dunne, the Labour MP turned United Future leader. Labour's Greg O'Connor took the seat in 2017 after Dunne's resignation -- and has held it since. Reporter Azaria Howell hit the streets of Johnsonville to find out if voters are going to back him a third time, and hear about the issues that people find important. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...
Sep 17, 2023•6 min
David Seymour claims his welfare policy will help people help themselves. Under Act's proposal, drug addicts could lose their benefit if they refuse treatment or don't make efforts to find a job. It would also apply to people with mental health issues like stress who don't seek help. Seymour told Kerre Woodham we need to ask tough questions about our system. “Should Government policy assume that people are forever victims or should it be based on the idea that people can make a difference in the...
Sep 17, 2023•11 min
Labour's made a suite of announcements targeting women. The party's released its first women's manifesto promising improved endometriosis care and extended breast cancer screening. It'd also introduce gender pay gap reporting and establish an innovation and entrepreneurship scholarship programme for low to middle-income women. Employment lawyer Jennifer Mills told Kate Hawkesby New Zealand rates well on gender equality, but there is pay inequality. “I’m not sure that frankly an entrepreneurial m...
Sep 17, 2023•5 min
National is taking aim at the Government in what it claims is not putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system. Cabinet rejected a proposal in July by then Justice Minister Kiri Allan banning anyone gang-affiliated from receiving public funding. National's Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking the country has a soft-on-crime Government that doesn't see crime for what it is. He says much of it is being pushed into the community by gangs and they need to put an end to it. Meanwhile, Prime ...
Sep 17, 2023•3 min
As policies fly about here and there in these last 4 weeks heading into the election, Labour's deputy prime minister and National's deputy leader will join once a week to gain insight into all things party-related. National’s Nicola Willis joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss any fiscal plans, Act vowing to end co-governance and Labour supposedly turning down proposals to stop gang funding. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 17, 2023•5 min
Labour says raising the age limit for breast cancer screening is incredibly important. The party's launched its "women's manifesto" – which includes improving endometriosis care. It's also promising to extend the free breast cancer screening age to 74 a – National Party members bill promising that was drawn from the ballot box earlier this year. Labour first promised the change in 2017. Women's Issues spokesperson Jan Tinetti told Mike Hosking it should be celebrated, not challenged over when it...
Sep 17, 2023•3 min
Labour's Cabinet turned down a proposal to stop funding gangs. The National Party's revealed the then-Justice Minister Kiri Allan lodged the proposal to end contracts with gangs in July. Cabinet didn't agree, which National says is another example of Labour being soft on crime. National's spokesperson for Public Service, Simeon Brown, says it's a waste of taxpayer money. "And what we see the Mongrel Mob doing is peddle meth and misery- they're not out there to try and help people become better a...
Sep 17, 2023•6 min
The ACT Party's campaign took an unexpected turn this afternoon, but leader David Seymour says it's good that his party is being noticed. Four protesters managed to get past security and heckle Mr Seymour as he gave his speech. He had to raise his voice several times to drown them out, saying the protesting was a sign his party is successful. ZB political editor Jason Walls says other parties have had similar problems with hecklers. "It just goes to show that the people that are disrupting these...
Sep 17, 2023•16 min
Labour has released the first ever 'Women’s Manifesto', National still won't release the numbers on their tax policy, and this week brings the first of the leaders debates. To give his astute insight, Jason Walls joins the Weekend Collective. Later, National's Simeon Brown reveals that Chris Hipkins’ Cabinet considered whether to stop Government contracts involving funding for gangs in July and deliberately chose to keep doing so. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 17, 2023•41 min
This week on the Sunday Panel, editor and journalist Jo McCarroll and Freebairn and Hehir lawyers partner Liam Hehir joined in on a discussion about the following issues- and more! Luxon’s still refusing to say whether he will or won’t work with Winston Peters – does he need to be upfront? Why doesn’t he say what he plans to do? Could NZ First drag National down? What should we expect from Tuesday's televised debate? Can we expect hard-hitting questions about National's controversial tax plan? L...
Sep 17, 2023•8 min
The divide between the right and the left continues to grow, as Labour keeps declining in the polls. This week's major political polls have seen the current Government dip below 30 percent as National and ACT surge ahead as favourites for the election. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's unlikely the polls will change in Labour's favour this close to the election. "I wouldn't imagine things to change too drastically, and I think that's going to be quite a problem for Chris Hipkins. He says...
Sep 17, 2023•6 min
On Wednesday morning, after the PREFU release on the Tuesday afternoon, Finance Minister Grant Robertson joined Mike Hosking to talk about the books, the country’s future and his own performance. As I listened to the conversation, I wondered, has Labour missed a trick here? Now I know Grant Robertson did not want the job of Prime Minister. He could read the tea leaves and was perhaps also feeling the effects of almost 6 challenging years in power. But if you listen to the Hosking interview - or ...
Sep 16, 2023•2 min
Labour's reaching out to workers this weekend on the campaign trail. Leader Chris Hipkins pledged to increase the minimum wage annually, improve the pay of educators and healthcare workers, and put an end to lower-paid training and youth wages. Labour's workplace relations and safety spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni says the party intends to lift wages and allow people to keep up with the cost of living. "It's important that we don't allow inflation to go beyond wages, we need people to keep up with...
Sep 16, 2023•6 min
With tax changes and policy changes promised by differing parties – where should the election feature in your financial plan? Plenty of people have spent the past year holding off on financial decisions, on the expectation that a change in Government would have a material impact on their wealth creation plans – but is that a sound strategy, or a risky one? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 15, 2023•5 min
