Focus on Politics - podcast cover

Focus on Politics

Weekly insight into the political issues that matter from RNZ's gallery team.

Episodes

Focus on Politics: The Campaign Mop Up

A thumping Labour win and a National humiliation. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch checks in with the rest of the gallery team to dissect the 2020 election result and what it means for the various parties. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Oct 23, 202016 minEp. 29

Focus on Politics: Campaign Week Five

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson catches up with the rest of the political team as the election creeps closer. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Oct 09, 202016 minEp. 28

Focus on Politics: Campaign Week Four

A poll, policy, debates and Serious Fraud Office charges - it was a big week on the campaign trail. RNZ senior political reporter Jo Moir catches up with the rest of the gallery team who've been following the party leaders around the country. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Oct 02, 202016 minEp. 27

Focus on Politics: Campaign Chat

RNZ's political team gets together for a wrap-up of the week on the campaign trail. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sep 25, 202016 minEp. 26

Focus on Politics: Grim reading

It was a horror week of economic news as the Government opened the books ahead of the election. RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson breaks down the numbers. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sep 18, 202016 minEp. 25

Focus on Politics: Campaign Week One

The Covid campaign kicked off proper this week and it was Labour's tax plan front and centre. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch talks to the rest of the gallery team who've been following the party leaders around the country. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sep 11, 202016 minEp. 24

Focus on Politics: The Green School Fiasco

What seemed at first to be a minor misjudgement ballooned into a major scandal for the Green Party co-leader James Shaw this week, with each day bringing fresh revelations about the Green School funding fiasco. Our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch attempts to make sense of the unfurling story. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Sep 06, 202016 minEp. 23

Focus on Politics: Mandatory mass masking

Cabinet has agreed to make masks mandatory on public transport at any time the country is in level 2 or above. The move was prompted by the transmission of Covid-19 on an Auckland bus, but some experts and politicians say it should've happened sooner. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Aug 28, 202016 minEp. 22

Focus on Politics: False-start to the Campaign

The election has been postponed by a further four weeks and will now be held on October 17. The decision to change the election ultimately falls on the shoulders of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, but that didn't stop other political parties trying to force her hand in the lead up to her decision on Monday. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Aug 23, 202016 minEp. 21

Focus on Politics: Polls, Policies and Political spats

It was a week of poll results - some the Opposition accepted - others they would not. But with the election just seven weeks away there was also policy and as the campaign ramps up, there was some argy bargy amongst party leaders too. RNZ political reporter Jo Moir wraps up the week. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jul 31, 202016 minEp. 19

Focus on Politics: Scandals and Sackings

Focus on politics, looks at another week of scandals, sackings and forced resignations. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jul 24, 202016 minEp. 18

Focus on Politics: Collins takes control

It was a week of turmoil and tumult for the Opposition with a host of resignations and a reshuffle. And it all ended with an outcome many in the National Party had called an impossibility: Judith Collins in charge. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch wraps up the week none could have predicted. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jul 17, 202016 minEp. 17

Focus on Politics: Leaks, escapees and resignations

Parliament was in recess this week, but that didn't stop politicians dominating the headlines. The week started with a confession and ended with another one. RNZ political reporter Jo Moir reports. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jul 10, 202016 minEp. 16

Focus on Politics: Bloomfield vs Clark

It doesn't take long for things to unravel when the public gets a whiff of incompetence. This week the breakdown between Health Minister David Clark and Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield coincided with a One News Colmar Brunton poll. RNZ political reporter Jo Moir reports. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jun 26, 202016 minEp. 14

Focus on Politics: Breakdown at the Border

A border botch-up this week saw two Covid-19 cases slip through the cracks, shattering public confidence in the quarantine scheme. It sent the Government scrambling to patch the holes in the supposedly "watertight" system and prompted renewed calls for the Health Minister's head. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jun 19, 202016 minEp. 13

Focus on Politics: An eye on the purse strings

New Zealand has averted a health crisis, but could be headed for an economic downturn. RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson talks to Finance Minister Grant Robertson about what's in New Zealand's future. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jun 12, 202016 minEp. 12

Focus on Politics: A Creaking Coalition

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson asks what toll the looming election is taking on the government's creaking coalition. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Jun 05, 202016 minEp. 11

First week for new National Party leader

New National leader Todd Muller talks about the leadership spill, his caucus and the upcoming election. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

May 29, 202016 minEp. 10

Focus on Politics: Unprecedented Times

"In unprecedented times, you make unprecedented decisions" - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern New Zealand has closed its borders. Mass gatherings have been banned. Travelling Kiwis have been told to come home and stay put. And the Government has rolled out "the most significant peace-time economic plan in modern New Zealand history". RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch wraps up an unprecedented week. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...

Mar 20, 202016 minEp. 9

Focus on Politics: Covid-19 and economic turmoil

The global coronavirus outbreak has continued to escalate this week with the World Health Organisation officially declaring Covid-19 a pandemic. But at home, where the number of cases still sits in single digits, the focus has turned to the economic turmoil being wrought. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch assesses the damage and considers the Government's response. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...

Mar 13, 202016 minEp. 8

Focus on Politics: Covid-19 reaches NZ

New Zealand has moved into a new phase of its coronavirus response with the first cases of Covid-19 being confirmed in the country. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch looks at the Government's response on the health and economic fronts so far. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Mar 06, 202016 minEp. 7

Focus on Politics: Alarm over Covid-19

The world has reacted with alarm as the coronavirus causes increasing disruption to individuals and companies around the globe, and is now putting pressure on international economies. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Feb 29, 202016 minEp. 6

Focus on Politics: Serious Fraud Office investigations

This week Independent MP Jami-Lee Ross was named as one of the four people facing charges in relation to two 100 thousand dollar donations made to the National Party. The Serious Fraud Office also announced it had commenced an investigation into the New Zealand First Foundation's handling of donations Political reporter Yvette McCullough looks at how the week played out. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details...

Feb 21, 202016 minEp. 5

Focus on Politics: SFO looks at NZ First Foundation

A political grenade has been lobbed into election year with the secretive NZ First Foundation facing investigation by the Serious Fraud Office over the way it handled donations. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch takes a look at how the story developed over the week and considers the potential consequences for all parties. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Feb 14, 202016 minEp. 4

Focus on Politics: Waitangi 2020

Political parties defend their record on Maori issues at election year Waitangi commemorations. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Feb 07, 202016 minEp. 3
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