Willow-Jean Prime, who I think it is fair to suggest will lose her Northland seat this time around, has nevertheless been out on the hustings campaigning and she has struck trouble. She has been in local and national politics for 20 years and has never seen racism like it, she says. She calls it unhinged. Here, in part I suspect, is the problem. A couple of events at local pubs have led her to make the comments. For the record, verbal abuse is never acceptable, and one can imagine the sort of th...
Sep 21, 2023•2 min
So on Tuesday evening I was quite excited about the first Leaders Debate. It was a funny old evening. I thought Jessica Mutch McKay did a good job moving things along but the two Chris’s energy wanned, and so did mine. It wasn’t a dynamic debate. There wasn’t actually a lot of debate. So, after a solid, but slightly disappointing Leaders Debate, I then turned my attention to the Newshub Nation Powerbrokers' Debate featuring Minor party leaders, which took place last night on Three. Surely this w...
Sep 21, 2023•3 min
Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Labour MP Greg O'Connor has done the unthinkable and conceded that Labour is likely going to lose the election. Is this a rookie move or is there strategy behind this? 80 percent of Kiwis are wondering if Chris Luxon will work with Winston Peters - should Luxon continue to not say anything until the election? The president of the Co...
Sep 21, 2023•10 min
ACT leader David Seymour isn't sure National's proposed taxes will help New Zealanders. The party's released their alternative budget today, promising modest income tax cuts of $16 billion over four years. It's also proposing three tax rates rather than five. Seymour says whoever leads the next Government will have to have an honest conversation about what the numbers require. "I'm not confident that adding more taxes is the real solution- the real solution is to get spending under control. Whic...
Sep 21, 2023•6 min
The Labour Party insists its Ohariu candidate isn't telling voters to only give him their electorate vote. The Post reports Greg O'Connor told voters at a meeting that with polling going the way it is, National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis is likely to be the next Finance Minister. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Greg O'Connor was 'too honest' about his intentions by encouraging voters to only give him their electorate vote. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 21, 2023•6 min
In today’s Election Fix, Political Report Jason Walls talks through Act’s alternative budget – and also tells us if there’s any “fizz” for tonight’s Minor Leaders Debate. Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen discusses Chris Hipkins’ visit to Hawke’s Bay. And he tells us the special gift the Labour leader received. Plus, the Election 2023 headlines you need to know. Election Fix is your daily wrap of the Election 2023 campaign, talking to our reporters in the field plus the day’s big headlines. ...
Sep 21, 2023•6 min
ACT is promising a huge shake-up to the education system. Its new education policy would crack down on ECE providers that don't teach children the basics. The B4 School Check would be extended to include education progress. Under ACT, the checks will make sure kids can read their name, know the alphabet, hold a pencil, pick up a book, and communicate thoughts and ideas. Dame Lesley Max, Co-Founder of the Great Potentials Foundation, told Kerre Woodham that an idea seems to have developed that th...
Sep 21, 2023•9 min
I am very reassured by the ratings of the first Leaders' Debate. It was a bit over one million, which is about the same as the last election and down a bit on the 2017 debate between Bill English and Jacinda Ardern. I am reassured because engagement is critical and you could argue never more critical than currently, given the state of the country. Just because the result is a forgone conclusion doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be involved. If you want to talk numbers, look at the Ipsos issues poll. It’...
Sep 20, 2023•2 min
“At the end of the day it comes down to the economy,” Luxon said on what the big difference is between Labour and National after the two leaders agreed on several topics during the recent leader's debate. Luxon told Mike Hosking that the party is working incredibly hard to pull the undecided 12% vote onto their side. When asked why Luxon wasn’t being “upfront” on what his coalition plans would be if he won, Luxon said the nature of MMP meant he had to keep his options open. “David and I have a g...
Sep 20, 2023•9 min
An education researcher says some of ACT's education policies would be a radical change while others are no brainers. The party wants to implement standardised testing, with University Entrance replacing NCEA Level Three. The B4 School Check would be extended to include education progress, and Early Childhood Education providers that don't contribute to child development risk losing funding or licensing. New Zealand Initiative Research Fellow Michael Johnston told Mike Hosking that one thing he ...
Sep 20, 2023•5 min
National's Nicola Willis is satisfied with her party pulling ahead of the competition in another poll. The latest One News-Verian poll puts the National Party on 37 percent - down 2 points - and Labour on 27, down one. NZ First has crossed the 5 percent threshold again- meaning the party could join National and ACT in Parliament. Nicola Willis says this poll shows voters are in the mood for change, which she believes a vote for National could fix. "A vote for any other party risks 3 more years o...
Sep 20, 2023•7 min
National's support has slipped, but a poll shows it's still miles ahead of the competition. The latest One News-Verian poll puts the National Party on 37 percent - down 2 points - and Labour on 27, down one. The Greens and ACT are both up two points - neck-in-neck on 12 percent - and NZ First is steady on 5. Only the centre-right bloc could form a Government- but Hipkins and Luxon are tied as preferred Prime Minister with 23 percent. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is pro...
Sep 20, 2023•4 min
The alarm is being sounded about a future drop off in Pharmac funding. A boost for the drug buying agency announced in Budget 2022- ends in 2024. Medicines NZ Chief Executive Graeme Jarvis wants the major parties to commit to continuing the money. He says if the gap isn't filled, Treasury is warning there will be years where it won't be possible to keep funding the same medicines. "So in other words, there's going to have to be either a reduction in the number of medicines funded- or patients wo...
Sep 20, 2023•3 min
Help and support for exploited migrants will be delivered in a new Government scheme. The Government has confirmed a package of basic financial support, for accommodation and essential living costs. It plans to stop 90-day trial periods for employers using the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Immigration Minister Andrew Little says they're tightening the scheme meant to fill gaps by letting businesses employ offshore. "The vast majority of employers are doing exactly that, they're doing a good job...
Sep 20, 2023•3 min
Another snapshot of how political parties are faring in the polls is out at 6pm - in another One News -Verian poll. Its figures last week had National leaps and bounds ahead of Labour, which have been on stubbornly low 20s for weeks. Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Aaron Dahmen says even a one percent bump would help Labour. National has been criticised for not releasing costings for its multi-billion-dollar tax cut package- and Dahmen says that could play into today's rankings. LISTEN ABOV...
Sep 20, 2023•4 min
Chris Hipkins revealed an unexpected policy announcement in last night's debate. During last night's event, Hipkins said the wanted to ban sugary drinks in secondary schools- claiming they already were in primary schools. Today, he claimed he'd misremembered banning sugary drinks from primary schools, but had consulted on this issue as Education Minister. Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Boyd Swinburne said Chris Hipkins had the opportunity to introduce tougher measures against sugary drinks i...
Sep 20, 2023•5 min
In today’s Election Fix, Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen has been with Chris Hipkins on the East Coast – where he’s announced more funding for cyclone recovery. He also gives us an insight into the Labour leader’s gaming skills. Political reporter Sophie Trigger talks through Christopher Luxon’s visit to a goat farm and his continued reaction to last night’s debate. Plus, the key Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is your daily wrap of the Election 2023 campaign, talking to our reporter...
Sep 20, 2023•6 min
Last night’s leaders’ debate on TV was a brilliant advertisement for the minor parties. In fact, I reckon Labour and National could make some money out of it because, as far as I’m concerned, I thought it provided 90 minutes of reasons not to go with the traditional red and blue parties. So what I reckon Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon should be doing today, is writing out some invoices and sending them to all the minor parties, because that kind of primetime TV advertising doesn’t come chea...
Sep 20, 2023•5 min
I know people are complaining that last night's debate between the leaders of Labour and National was boring. But seriously, give me a ‘let's get on with business, steady as she goes’ Prime Minister any day. I am sick and tired of 'rockstar razzle-dazzle' prime ministers who give up when the going gets tough, be they ‘ponytail pulling, catwalk modeling’ Prime ministers or ‘unicorn riding, fairy dust sprinkling, jazz hand waving’ Prime Ministers. Give me somebody solid, sensible, reliable, who un...
Sep 20, 2023•5 min
Today on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings John MacDonald was joined by ACT Leader, David Seymour. John asked him if he felt that voters would now look to the smaller parties after last night's Leaders' Debate. They also talked about why his party is against co-governance, and how his policies on law and order will bring crime under control in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 20, 2023•21 min
So, the debate. Firstly, I fear I may be wasting your time if you didn't see it. If you didn't, you didn't miss much. If you did see it you will have been, I assume, bored witless. If you were a Chris Hipkins fan going in I don't think he did anything to put you off. Chris Luxon did well because it was his to lose. In fact, given the build up about him being new and so on, he did very well. He looked in command of what he was saying but then, hype aside, you don't get to be the leader of a large...
Sep 19, 2023•2 min
MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to wrap the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 19, 2023•12 min
Last night saw the first leaders’ debate between Labour’s Chris Hipkins and National’s Chris Luxon. Most seem to agree that it was a lacklustre affair, with Luxon perhaps winning by a hair. Political Commentator Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that in the past, audiences would see politicians under pressure when it came to live debates. She said that since every press conference is now streamed live on social media, the pressure is off, and the debates just become a competition of talking poin...
Sep 19, 2023•5 min
Labour says it's taking a long-term approach to reducing youth crime. In Auckland, a 16-year-old boy has been charged over Monday's fatal bus station attack, the victim's family revealing he was a 24-year-old alleged 501 deportee from Australia. And in Christchurch, an 18-year-old learner driver is facing charges over Sunday's fatal Rangiora crash, with new figures revealing Canterbury has been facing a sharp rise in serious boy racer incidents. Labour's Carmel Sepuloni told Kate Hawkesby that s...
Sep 19, 2023•4 min
How over all the violence are we right now? I can’t tell you how over it I am. I’m sure you are too. It’s actually getting ridiculous and what I’m worried about now is that not even a change of government is going to stop it. A stabbing murder at an Albany bus stop in Auckland Monday, another knife incident 30 minutes later in Auckland’s Waterview, the next day, Tuesday, a person taken into custody after a knife found Kepa Road, in Auckland’s Orakei. That same day a shooting at a Rotorua interse...
Sep 19, 2023•3 min
Some are picking Chris Luxon as narrowly taking the crown in last night's leaders’ debate. The National Party Leader went head to head with Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins in the first of three debates ahead of the election. Newstalk ZB Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Kate Hawkesby who he thought came out on top. He says Luxon was more passionate and had a better plan on law and order, whereas he believes Hipkins couldn't defend the Government's record on that issue. LISTEN ABOVE See omnys...
Sep 19, 2023•5 min
Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from PR firm Capital and Paddy Gower from Paddy Gower Has Issues joined in on a discussion about the following topics- and more! Labour appears to have quietly scrapped their prison reduction target- is this a big deal? They had achieved a 30 percent drop in the last two terms but it's since climbed again to 20 percent. Does it seem to you also that Hipkins accidentally announced this? More young people are behind violent crimes- in the last couple days, we've ...
Sep 19, 2023•10 min
A leading economist believes New Zealand's economy is at the "bottom edge" when compared to other developed countries. This follows the Government laying out their Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update and revealing a surplus has been pushed out an extra year amid a lower tax take. HSBC's Paul Bloxham says inflation isn't coming down fast enough, when compared to other countries. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 19, 2023•4 min
Last week, political parties polling above five percent squared off at Hamilton's Mystery Creek Events Centre. Labour's Damien O’Connor, National's Todd McClay and others faced off in the Rural Issues debate, hosted by ZB's Heather du Plessis-Allan. The Country's Jamie Mackay recapped the highs and lows of the debate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Sep 19, 2023•4 min
Labour and National are facing scrutiny as they promote their respective tax policies ahead of the election. Both parties will also have the additional challenge of getting New Zealand back to budget surplus by 2027. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains why both parties should release a pre-Christmas budget ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 19, 2023•5 min
