In today's Focus on Politics podcast Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch assesses the Prime Minister's American odyssey. "It's incredibly important... in this fraught time of global politics... for us to be engaging with like-minded partners" - Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's second overseas trip this year - this time, to the United States - comes in the midst of numerous geopolitical uncertainties. With Russia waging war on Ukraine and China flexing its power in the Pacific, ...
May 27, 2022•16 min•Ep. 89
In today's Focus on Politics podcast Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch runs the numbers on the Budget and its political implications. "The here and now matters, but so too does tomorrow" - Finance Minister Grant Robertson The government has become used to crisis Budgets after two years of grappling with Covid-19, but 2022 has seen a new crisis rear its head - the cost of living - and it may yet prove a tougher beast to tame. Finance Minister Grant Robertson had billed Thursday's Budget as ...
May 20, 2022•16 min•Ep. 88
In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Anneke Smith explores the border reopening, immigration changes, and the response. "The capacity really isn't there, and it means they opened up a visa category in full knowledge that it was going to suck the living daylights out of the resources," - Immigration advisor Katy Armstrong Call it a reset, a rebalance or re-jig - the government has finally unveiled its new vision for immigration in a post-pandemic world. Many industries are welc...
May 13, 2022•16 min•Ep. 87
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson sits down with the Finance Minister Grant Robertson and National's Nicola Willis to preview this month's Budget. "We've got to get through this 2022 that's difficult, but we also know that we want a health system that's operating really well in '23 and '24 too," - Grant Robertson It's Budget time again, but 2022 brings a number of major economic challenges. These include massive costs pressures affecting households, business a...
May 06, 2022•16 min•Ep. 86
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher assesses where the government's planning is for new and potentially more deadly variants. "This is a preparedness exercise, it's going to be a high-level plan ... it's not going to be as prescriptive as the other plans we have rolled out in response to Covid because we can't crystal ball gaze about precisely what will turn up." - Ayesha Verrall When the government relaxed Covid-19 public health measures, Prime Minister Jacin...
Apr 29, 2022•16 min•Ep. 85
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson looks past the spectacle of Ardern's first official trip since Covid-19 to the geopolitical tensions beneath. "It is about demonstrating through global action that there will be swift response should that occur in any other region or country." - Jacinda Ardern Pomp and ceremony, against a backdrop of torrid global events and shifting political allegiances. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has taken her first official trip since t...
Apr 22, 2022•16 min•Ep. 84
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson examines the state of play in Ukraine, and the legal and political instruments being brought to bear against Russia. "If Putin remains in power and he physically remains in Russia, there's not really anything that can be done. The only possibility would be a coup that overthrows him ... or if Putin travels outside of Russia" - Stephen Smith Russia's invasion of Ukraine is bringing new images every day of destruction, and alleg...
Apr 08, 2022•16 min•Ep. 83
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, investigative journalist Guyon Espiner talks to a leading defence lawyer, the chair of the IPCA and the commissioner of police about whether the police watchdog is fit for purpose. "We have police officers telling us things they don't tell police in the criminal investigations against them ... what they do tell us cannot ever be used against them," - IPCA Chair Judge Colin Doherty The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) holds an important constitutio...
Apr 01, 2022•17 min•Ep. 82
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, the government is pressing ahead with its planned mega media merger. Political reporter Katie Scotcher explores what it will mean for RNZ and TVNZ, as well the wider media sector. "The platform at RNZ and TVNZ is strong enough to support change, it's whether or not the willingness sits within the newly-formed company," - Media academic Richard Pamatatau The RNZ and TVNZ mega-media-merger has been years in the making. While it has finally been confirmed, much...
Mar 25, 2022•16 min•Ep. 81
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson interrogates the ramifications for New Zealand of Russia's war against Ukraine. "The countries which are close neighbours with a shared history and culture appear to be a ruthless enemy, and the nations which are so far away with different historical backgrounds appear to be a real friend," - Ukraine Ambassador designate Kateryna Zelenko Whether the global ripples from Russia's invasion of Ukraine crash onto New Zealand's shor...
Mar 18, 2022•16 min•Ep. 80
National's tax plan, and the highest inflation in decades has the government feeling the pinch. Political Editor Jane Patterson counts the costs for both parties. "At least $200 out of our single income for him just to get to work and home each day ... that was taking away from our food" - Jeanette, whose family has been hit hard by inflation If the latest political poll is anything to go by, National is hitting the right note by focusing on the financial hardship faced by many - it's real and j...
Mar 11, 2022•16 min•Ep. 79
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch recounts the siege of Fortress New Zealand and reckons with its reconnection to the world. "It's time to move forward together, safely" - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Fortress New Zealand - the 'hermit kingdom' - is soon to be no more. For almost two years, Aotearoa has been cut off - foreigners for the most part have been barred entry, with returning New Zealanders having to complete a stay in government-run managed ...
Feb 04, 2022•16 min•Ep. 78
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson assesses the government's readiness for the Omicron variant. "We know that the boosters are only just rolling out now, and we've only just started to immunise our children ... we just want people to be safe." - Green MP Elizabeth Kerekere After two years of dealing with Covid-19 in its various forms, the government and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern are heading into another gauntlet, likely compounded by supply chain disruption...
Jan 28, 2022•16 min•Ep. 77
In Focus on politics, RNZ's political team catch up with the minor party leaders to discuss 2021, potential allies, and Covid-19. RNZ's political team catch up with the minor party leaders to discuss 2021, potential allies, and Covid-19. With much of the political year focused on the Covid-19 response, Labour and National have soaked up much of the attention, but the minor parties have still played a role. ACT has been soaking up some of National's lost support, the Greens have had to forge thei...
Dec 17, 2021•16 min•Ep. 76
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch talks with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the year that's been. "It was the year of the vaccine and to finish with rates in the mid-90 percent mark for first dose, 85 percent for Māori, over 90 percent for Pacific, I'm really proud of what New Zealand's done," - Jacinda Ardern Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern accepts the government could have done more to assist community-led vaccination efforts, but she defends the ...
Dec 10, 2021•16 min•Ep. 75
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson talks to National's leader Chris Luxon in his new office to assess what his leadership will look like. "It's easy to say the words 'unify, unify, unify' ... but, you know, that's an intellectual rational thing - you've got to make it emotional and actually get people to reset and leave some of the baggage behind," - Chris Luxon It was only just over a week ago Chris Luxon took the National Party leadership after only 409 days ...
Dec 03, 2021•16 min•Ep. 74
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch delineates the nuclear destruction of Judith Collins' leadership and assesses the fallout. "This is not our best day," - Shane Reti In July 2020, at what seemed like National's nadir, Judith Collins took the helm and promised to rebuild the party. She was - somewhat presciently - described as the nuclear option. This week, she leaves the job with the party in ruins, turfed out by a shell-shocked caucus after her ham-fi...
Nov 26, 2021•16 min•Ep. 73
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson and Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn examine New Zealand's ICU and health capacity as Covid-19 spreads, and elimination shifts to suppression. "We want to be able to provide the standard of care that we're used to providing ... the other thing that I'm concerned for is even for business as usual we're shortstaffed from a nursing point of view" - ICU nurse Tania Mitchell Doctors and nurses are at the pointiest end of Covid, car...
Nov 19, 2021•16 min•Ep. 72
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Anneke Smith looks into the Family Court system as it nears its 40-year anniversary. "It's something that just hangs over someone's head constantly ... to be under that constant stress is just not good for families and it's not justice, really," - Family Court lawyer Marieke van den Bergh Trish - not her real name - has been waiting 16 months for an urgent protection order application hearing. In that time, her ex-partner has showed up una...
Nov 12, 2021•16 min•Ep. 71
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson hits the brakes and looks ahead to the traffic light system, and what it means for Covid-19 in New Zealand. "If we do follow the rules, if a lot of people continue to work from home, if we don't all rush back out to try and get back to that level 1 life then the system will work better" - Covid-19 modeller Shaun Hendy On 23 March last year life changed forever with the pandemic wreaking global devastation but after nearly two ...
Nov 05, 2021•16 min•Ep. 70
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher takes a deeper look at New Zealand's free trade ambitions with the UK and Europe. "We've scrummed down, with packed tight and together we've got the ball over the line, and we have a deal - and I think it's a great deal." - Boris Johnson New Zealand is on the hunt for new trading opportunities across the globe, both to help the economic recovery, and diversify away from China. The in-principle free trade agreement secured wi...
Oct 31, 2021•16 min•Ep. 69
In Focus on politics, Is New Zealand ready to move to the new Covid future? "The whole of the system is already under pressure ... they're anticipating what the next shift is gonna be like, are the gonna have enough nurses to be able to cope with the demand?" - Nurses organisation kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku Once New Zealand moves to the traffic light system, that's an acceptance that Covid will be circulating within the community - which will lead to more cases, hospitalisations and deaths. The gr...
Oct 22, 2021•16 min•Ep. 68
In Focus on politics, Katie Scotcher explores the challenges and priorities in the inherently political transport sector. The government is at a transport crunch point - Labour's first year as a majority has seen it scrap or reshape major projects and programmes, while decisions about the future of others loom. The usual challenges of the inherently political sector are being compounded by the financial pressures from the pandemic and the urgent need to respond to climate change. National's Tran...
Oct 15, 2021•16 min•Ep. 67
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson takes politicians' temperature on Covid-19 and the economic response, and how that impacts efforts to combat inequality. "We have a program around reducing inequality that's been running throughout our time in government but when we're in a crisis we work with those local communities ... we've worked closely, for example, with gang leadership..." - Finance Minister Grant Robertson The government's response may have been stavin...
Oct 08, 2021•16 min•Ep. 66
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson dives into the three waters debate, plumbing the depths of local governments' opposition to the centralisation of water infrastructure. "There is near universal agreement that the status quo is not sustainable. Our three waters assets are now liabilities" - Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta Water is one of Aotearoa's most precious resources and the government's embarked on an ambitious plan to better manage drinking, sto...
Oct 01, 2021•16 min•Ep. 65
Focus on Politics, is New Zealand moving away from elimination? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 25, 2021•16 min•Ep. 64
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch details the latest Covid-19 outbreak, the government's response, and how that's been received by the public and politicians alike. "Just as we successfully stayed home and saved lives last year, I'm asking the team of five million to unite once more to defeat what is likely to be this more dangerous variant of the virus." - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Having gone 170 days without community transmission and 477 since ...
Aug 20, 2021•16 min•Ep. 63
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Long Form Journalist Te Aniwa Hurihanganui explores the harm caused when politicians question Māori values and language. "For Māori people to see words like Aotearoa or te reo Māori and its use in general to be thrown around so lightly and so harmfully, I think it's dispiriting for a lot of people in that they start to disengage from the debate as well." - Morgan Godfery Political commentator Morgan Godfery says that to be told your name for your country is ...
Aug 13, 2021•16 min•Ep. 62
Legislation banning gay conversion therapy, a practice described as monstrous and traumatising, is making its way through Parliament but not everyone is on board. "I was sent to a counsellor who told me that I could change my sexuality ... if you have people who are telling you that you need to change something which is actually fundamental to who you are, it does do lasting damage." Paul Stevens has first-hand experience of so-called conversion "therapy" - the harmful practice of trying to chan...
Aug 06, 2021•16 min•Ep. 61
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Māori News Journalist Jamie Tahana and Education Correspondent John Gerritsen look at a suite of new initiatives being brought in to improve Māori achievement, reduce racism in the system and to teach history. "We're making sure that every Māori child can see themselves and their language and their culture valued in the education system ... it's basically what non-Māori children see in the education system already." Associate Education Minister (Māori educat...
Jul 30, 2021•16 min•Ep. 60
