Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' whistlestop trip to Papua New Guinea sends a clear message: superpowers may come and go, but New Zealand is here to stay. The US and PNG signing a security deal is the latest iteration of increasing competition in the region, but strategic studies expert Robert Ayson says New Zealand has ways of staying close to its Pacific neighbours - despite the US-China struggle for influence. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith visits Papua New Gui...
May 26, 2023•16 min•Ep. 119
The 2023 Budget has proven difficult to define: neither the belt-tightening exercise that was promised, nor the blatant bribery sometimes seen in election years. Certainly, it is no election clincher, but it has not lost Labour the election either, and backs National into an uncomfortable corner where the opposition must now explain what policies or services it would do without. Grant Robertson with the 2023 Budget 'It is a Budget that does exactly what it says on the tin' - Grant Robertson The ...
May 19, 2023•16 min•Ep. 118
Meka Whaiti's defection brings Labour's solid 65-strong majority down to 62, opening it up to accusations of disunity and instability. Lumping in Elizabeth Kerekere's resignation from the Greens, National's Christopher Luxon has been criticising the left as a 'coalition of chaos' - but the story on the right is not straightforward either. The shifting of the political sands - in the wake of two MPs quitting their parties - has drawn more definitive battle lines regardless - and Luxon's decision ...
May 12, 2023•16 min•Ep. 117
Covid-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses are on the rise as we inch towards winter, so Te Whatu Ora launched its winter preparedness plan this week with the aim of easing the pain for already overstretched hospitals. The government argues its reforms unifying the 20 DHBs have allowed it to better prepare. The plan promises to bring the health system closer to people - into the home, pharmacies and rest homes - but the opposition and health workers alike worry there's too few frontline ...
May 05, 2023•16 min•Ep. 116
Expectations are being kept very low for the 18 May Budget, so any surprises can have maximum political impact. With a tight election looming, Labour will want to offer a proverbial carrot to voters - and could yet campaign on changes to the tax system after that milestone. But staring down the unavoidable cost of recovering from Cyclone Gabrielle and tackling rising living costs, leader Chris Hipkins is touting this year's spend as "no frills" with a sharp focus on infrastructure. In this week'...
Apr 28, 2023•16 min•Ep. 115
In Focus on politics, we take a detailed look at the report of the police watchdog into last year's parliamentary occupation. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Apr 21, 2023•16 min•Ep. 114
Labour's new PM and new minister this week dumped the contentious Three Waters policy in favour of a rebranded "Affordable Water". A not-so-subtle attempt to take the heat off and reclaim the narrative, they drove home the message of cheaper rates - but critics have continued to attack the plan as a new veneer of paint over the same unpopular plan. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher dives into the government's latest Three Waters refresh and the responses to it. ...
Apr 14, 2023•16 min•Ep. 113
Police Minister is a tough gig: focusing on social issues leads to 'soft-on-crime' criticism while going too hard can look like populism. With four ministers in eight months it's ended up a hot-potato portfolio for Labour, and the latest appointee Ginny Andersen has only been in Cabinet since February - raising a few eyebrows. She evidently wanted the role and says she's more than capable of steadying the ship, but the law-and-order focused opposition will be eager to test her mettle in an elect...
Mar 31, 2023•16 min•Ep. 112
National's leader Christopher Luxon ditched Parliament for the playground this week, touring schools to sell his party's solution to declining student performance with a back-to-basics focus on literacy and numeracy. Teacher unions have criticised the plan, but the party was unlikely to ever get their backing - instead targeting concerned parents and his political opponent, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins. In this week's Focus on Politics Political Reporter Katie Scotcher grades National on its new...
Mar 24, 2023•16 min•Ep. 111
Stuart Nash's rapid resignation from his treasured police portfolio - just two months after getting it back - is one of the clearest examples of a political own-goal. It's highlighted poor ministerial judgement and a pattern of recklessness - and cost his boss no small amount of political capital. In this week's Focus on Politics Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch recounts the self-inflicted demotion of Stuart Nash. "I completely stuffed up" - Stuart Nash Stuart Nash's rapid resignation fro...
Mar 17, 2023•16 min•Ep. 110
Consultants and contractors are a favourite punching bag for opposition parties - of all colours - and National is just the latest to land a solid blow, leaving Labour off-balance. The numbers show public service spending on consultants and contractors has recently surged, and the prime minister has largely left it to the sector's watchdog to mount a defence. In this week's Focus on Politics Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch drills into the public service consultant and contractor numbers,...
Mar 10, 2023•16 min•Ep. 109
While National's solution to the Three Waters problem may please the councils steadfastly opposed to the government's plan, it remains plagued by a financial fishhook. But, as journalist Bernard Hickey warns, Labour's plan is no done deal either, and still faces some complex political and monetary hurdles. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch and Political Editor Jane Patterson tally the relative merits of each policy, and hear from Hickey what a middle groun...
Mar 03, 2023•16 min•Ep. 108
While somewhat bound politically by Labour's promise of no new taxes this term, Finance Minister Grant Robertson is keeping all options open in his search for a way to fund the recovery from Cyclone Gabrielle and the Auckland Anniversary floods. It's the first big test for his pairing with Prime Minister Chris Hipkins - and they will need to carefully balance the practicalities of on-the-ground response with longer-term preparation for future challenges - all while keeping faith with voters, man...
Feb 24, 2023•15 min•Ep. 107
In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson parses the co-governance rhetoric of the past few weeks. Co-governance, co-management, devolution: how political parties approach power-sharing with Māori has already become a central topic this year. It's an important conversation - with a fundamental question at its core: is the current way of doing things delivering the best possible outcomes for all New Zealanders? You don't have to look far to see proof to the contrary....
Feb 10, 2023•16 min•Ep. 106
In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ's political team interviews the leaders of National, ACT, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori. National Party leader Christopher Luxon As the political year comes to an end, party leaders are looking forward to the summer break and pondering their approach to next year's election. Last week, we heard from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about a year that's seen anti-government sentiment and economic turmoil on the rise. Listen to the full podcast This week the man w...
Dec 16, 2022•16 min•Ep. 105
A newly prioritised spending plan and fresh ministerial line-up are part of Labour's plan to reset the political landscape for the start of 2023 - election year. The political headwinds are significant: a cost-of-living crisis only set to worsen; waning support for the governing party and its high profile leader; the murky dynamics of disinformation and social disunity swirling below. In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson sits down with Prime Minister Jacinda Arde...
Dec 08, 2022•16 min•Ep. 104
Hamilton West polling for a new MP closes on 10 December - a litmus test for next year's general election. Crime and the cost of living are top of mind for most voters, but so far they're not rushing to the ballot box. In today's Focus on Politics podcast, RNZ Political Reporter Anneke Smith takes the pulse of the bellwether electorate of Hamilton West. "By-elections, they're a phenomenon in themselves," - Former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark Hamilton West polling for a new MP closes on 10 D...
Dec 02, 2022•16 min•Ep. 103
Dire economic predictions and high interest rates from the Reserve Bank this week have increased the pressure on Labour, and given National a chance to pitch itself as the solution. The opposition party also ditched its politically problematic plan to cut the top tax rate, after weeks of laying the groundwork. In today's Focus on Politics podcast, RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson revisits the interest rate shock that spells trouble for an under-pressure Labour Party. "Inflation is no one's fr...
Nov 25, 2022•16 min•Ep. 102
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returned to the international stage this week, even as the war in Ukraine threatened to spill beyond its borders. The ASEAN, G20 and APEC summits offered chances for conversations with several world leaders, driving home the value of diplomacy. In today's Focus on Politics podcast, RNZ Political Reporter Katie Scotcher appraises the interplay between world leaders in a week of summits and uncertainty. "Worst-case scenario, the conflict spreads over the borders - the...
Nov 18, 2022•16 min•Ep. 101
Labour faithful were in fine form at the party's annual conference last weekend, but an unflattering political poll on Sunday soon soured the mood. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - roused by conference, poll, or both - was quick to question the numbers, and turn attention to banks' high profits. In today's Focus on Politics podcast, RNZ Political Reporter Giles Dexter examines a tough week and a tough poll for Labour - and how it responded. " can disagree with something happening, but unless they...
Nov 11, 2022•16 min•Ep. 100
Labour claims New Zealand's economy is holding up well compared to many others, but global pressures and new policies may threaten its re-election chances. National has been on the attack, with the cost of living crisis cutting deep, over what it says is wasteful spending and unnecessary taxation - but its own tax plans have left it open to criticism too. In today's Focus on Politics podcast, RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson examines how Labour and National are facing turbulence - from their ...
Sep 30, 2022•16 min•Ep. 99
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, RNZ Digital Political Reporter Russell Palmer wades into the three waters debate, assessing the situation ahead of local and general elections. "I still sadly am of the view that a number of ratepayers do not really know what they're paying for their poor water service delivery," - Local Government Minister Nanaia Mahuta Water management is shaping up as a major political battleground ahead of local elections next month - and the general election next year. ...
Sep 23, 2022•16 min•Ep. 98
In today's Focus on Politics podcast NZ Political Reporters Katie Scotcher, Anneke Smith and Giles Dexter explore what the debate about the role of the monarchy in New Zealand - and the possibility of change - could mean for its people. "If we made an impulsive decision to become a republic tomorrow, then who is the Treaty relationship with?" - Te Matahiapo Safari Hynes The death of Queen Elizabeth II has prompted an outpouring of grief, but has also revived discussion about New Zealand's ties t...
Sep 16, 2022•16 min•Ep. 97
In Focus on Politics, our political reporter Giles Dexter takes a look at the Government's response to youth crime and talks to those on the ground trying to turn it around. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Sep 10, 2022•16 min•Ep. 96
In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Giles Dexter reviews the government's approach to youth crime, and examines what is missing from the debate. "We are dealing with that crisis of 'hey a kid's just driven into a dairy' - we can do a lot more to prevent it" - youth worker Aaron Hendry The government this week launched a week-long media blitz touting its responses to rising youth crime; shifting the rhetoric on a topic the opposition has been targeting for months. Those on the...
Sep 09, 2022•16 min•Ep. 95
In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Anneke Smith exposes the vulnerable state of New Zealand's democracy and examines the political response. "What's good about this country politically is on pretty shaky foundations. It wouldn't be hard to wreck it," - legal expert Tim Kuhner New Zealand has a "historic opportunity" to reform laws that expose its electoral system to corruption, a legal expert says. Politics has been dogged by donations scandals, with the Serious Fraud Office...
Sep 02, 2022•16 min•Ep. 94
In today's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher looks back on a trade deal both sides found fault with, and ahead to the challenges it still faces. "It is by no means a done deal ... there's going to be a huge diplomatic effort to push this across the line," - NZ's chief EU trade negotiator Vangelis Vitalis Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in July announced a finalised European Union (EU) trade deal but, after 14 years of lobbying and negotiations, insiders warn more effort will be ...
Aug 26, 2022•16 min•Ep. 93
Law and order seems a likely hot topic again in next year's election, but experts say many proposed policies would be ineffective, Political Reporter Anneke Smith writes. "There's no magic bullet to crime prevention or crime reduction ... political parties can use and abuse crime statistics," - Criminologist Trevor Bradley Law and order is shaping up as a hot topic for next year's election, but experts say crime is not as bad as it's been portrayed and many proposed policies would be ineffective...
Aug 19, 2022•16 min•Ep. 92
In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Katie Scotcher examines one of the fastest political downfalls in New Zealand's history. "It's been immensely frustrating as a distraction, but it's important that it's fronted and it's important that we confront it," - National Party leader Christopher Luxon National's brand-new Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell has his political career hanging in the balance - but the rapid fall from grace has led to further accusations of bullying across the ais...
Aug 12, 2022•16 min•Ep. 91
Investigative journalist Guyon Espiner sits down for an extended interview with National leader Christopher Luxon. Can a man some thought might join the Labour Party lead National to victory at the next election? Investigative journalist Guyon Espiner sits down for an extended interview with National leader Christopher Luxon. Can a man some thought might join the Labour Party lead National to victory at the next election? Listen to the interview https://youtu.be/_g6gcsqz3gA Go to this episode on...
Jun 10, 2022•16 min•Ep. 90
