Parliament has wrapped for the year and our politicians are on their summer breaks, and it will likely be the only respite they get before the election campaigning gets underway in 2023. For the final episode of the year, Thomas is joined by Henry Cooke, author of the Museum Street newsletter to discuss the winners and losers of politics in 2022, and turn an eye towards 2023 and which MPs may go, which may get promoted, and the big question - who will come out on top in the election? On the Tile...
Dec 21, 2022•47 min
If you’ve struggled to catch your bus on time in recent weeks, you are not alone. A shortage of 800 bus drivers across the country has led to a national public transport crisis, and prompted the chairs of Auckland Transport, Environment Canterbury, and Greater Wellington Regional Council to write to Transport and Immigration Minister Michael Wood urging a review. This week, Georgina is joined by Greater Wellington Regional Council Chairman Daran Ponter to discuss what has led to the crisis, how ...
Dec 15, 2022•32 min
The year is nearly over but that's not slowing things down at the Beehive. In a return to the panel discussion, Thomas is joined this week by NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny and Newsroom political editor Jo Moir to discuss the last week in politics, including the ongoing Three Waters debates, Jacinda Ardern's end of year interviews, potential political retirements, the TVNZ-RNZ merger, and how the country's finances are looking at the end of the year. See omnystudio.com/lis...
Dec 09, 2022•33 min
A report into the shady world of political donations has found that many donors enjoy access to politicians in exchange for the money they give to political parties. Money for Something, a report by Max Rashbrooke and Lisa Marriott into political donations, spoke to eight donors about their reasons for donating to political parties. Donors were granted anonymity in the report, allowing them to speak frankly about what they expected for their money. Rashbrooke joins Thomas today to discuss what t...
Dec 06, 2022•39 min
It has been six weeks since Wayne Brown won the Auckland mayoralty, and he has dominated local government headlines since then. He has come in with promises and pledges to shake up the Super City, and has taken aim at the council-controlled organisations, while facing a difficult financial situation. In the new monthly edition of On the Tiles: Local Edition, Georgina Campbell talks to NZ Herald Auckland reporter Bernard Orsman, who has had some rare conversations with Wayne Brown, to discuss the...
Nov 24, 2022•30 min
Most of us would have noticed that the price of everything has gone up. Interest rates, mortgages and inflation are making headlines daily. The Reserve Bank has been in the spotlight for much of this, with opposition MPs and some commentators blaming the central bank for some of the issues we've seen, and a recent monetary policy review on their policies under Covid has added to that criticism. To discuss this, Thomas is joined by NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny to talk to ...
Nov 18, 2022•34 min
This weekend will see Labour Party members, MPs and minister - as well as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - gather in Auckland for the party's annual conference. It has the scene of many dramatic political events in the past, but as the party looks to try and stay in power next year, will it be a quieter affair or Thomas is joined by former Labour Party minister, MP and President, Ruth Dyson, to discuss what the conferences are really like, what will be top concerns and priorities, and what a chan...
Nov 04, 2022•26 min
The votes have been counted across the country, and many cities in New Zealand will have new mayors running things this week. For the final episode of On the Tiles: Local Edition, Georgina Campbell is joined by Thomas Coughlan, Simon Wilson and Michael Sergel to dissect the results in the major cities and what the shakeups mean for them, as well as how things turned out for the country's smaller centres. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 10, 2022•32 min
Thomas Coughlan introduces a guest podcast from Bernard Hickey's The Kākā . Just before local body elections close Hickey speaks to NZ Herald senior writer Simon Wilson about the potential makeup of the new council and the attributes of mayoralty contenders Efeso Collins and Wayne Brown. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Oct 07, 2022•34 min
On the sixth episode of On The Tiles - Local Edition, Georgina Campbell has updates on low voter turnout, drama in Auckland's race, and the abuse at debates in Wellington. Newstalk ZB's Pierre Nixon joins the podcast to chat about former National MP Nick Smith's return to politics. Georgina also speaks to Local Government New Zealand President Stuart Crosby about public transport and how councils can get on top of bus cancellations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Oct 03, 2022•34 min
On the fifth episode of On the Tiles - Local Edition, Georgina Campbell has updates on the race in Auckland, Christchurch mayoral candidates are being reminded of the requirements of the job, and pushback from candidates on Three Waters. Newstalk ZB's Georgia O'Connor-Harding also pops on the pod to discuss one of the hottest contests happening: Invercargill. Georgia also speaks to Dr Mona Krewel, the director of Victoria University of Wellington's Internet, Social Media, and Politics Research L...
Sep 27, 2022•33 min
Housing has been a hot topic in New Zealand for years, but things have heated up in recent weeks as house prices have dropped, highlighting just how high prices have gone, and making many wonder how low they could go. The uncertainty around the local housing market has been such a hot topic, the new Housing Technical Working Group made up of members from the Reserve Bank, Treasury and Ministry for Housing and Urban Development has looked into this issue. In this week's episode, Thomas is joined ...
Sep 23, 2022•39 min
On the fourth episode of On the Tiles - Local Edition, Georgina Campbell updates on some major polls concerning the races in Wellington and Christchurch, while Auckland sees a big change in its race. She then speaks with NZ Herald political reporter Michael Neilson about the Māori wards that have been introduced this year, and NZME Taupō editor Daniel Hutchinson to discuss the race that's seen Mayor and Deputy Mayor go head to head. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 19, 2022•29 min
On the third episode of On the Tiles - Local Edition, Georgina Campbell updates on what's happened on the campaign trail this week, and points out a common problem with mayoral promises before elections. She then speaks with NZ Herald's Simon Wilson to explain what rates are and why promises to cut them are damaging for councils, and talks to Otago Daily Times Queenstown Burea Chief Tracey Roxburgh about the race for Queenstown's mayoralty, and how the candidates plan to bounce back post-Covid. ...
Sep 12, 2022•29 min
On this week's episode, Thomas is joined by former NZ political reporter Henry Cooke to discuss the new UK Prime Minister, Liz Truss, after her appointment to the role earlier this week. They discuss the long leadership challenge leading here, the challenges facing Truss, and Cooke shares his experiences with the cost of living crisis hitting the UK. The episode was recorded prior to the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, and Thomas offers some quick thoughts on what her death means for New Zealand ...
Sep 09, 2022•40 min
On the second episode of On the Tiles - Local Edition, Georgina Campbell gives highlights on how some of the major mayoral campaigns are going, before talking to National's housing spokesman Chris Bishop to discuss the housing crisis. It's a contentious topic that could influence many voters, including in Rotorua and its newly dubbed 'MSD Mile' - but Local Democracy Reporter Felix Desmarais explains why mayoral promises may be hollow. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 05, 2022•28 min
It's a new month and a new season, and many politicians will be hoping to shake off the drama that dominated August. On this week's episode, Thomas is joined by Newstalk ZB deputy political editor Jason Walls to discuss the biggest stories to hit politics in the last month, from the Sam Uffindell scandal that kickstarted things, to the KiwiSaver GST changes that sparked 24 hours of chaos for Labour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Sep 02, 2022•36 min
On the first episode of On the Tiles - Local Edition, Georgina Campbell runs through the biggest stories in local elections over the last week, before taking a deep dive with Thomas Coughlan on Three Waters and if council candidates can stop or change things, and chats to Local Democracy Reporter Susan Botting about the race in Whangarei and why Northland is due for some big changes post the election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Aug 29, 2022•27 min
Local elections are getting underway soon, and the New Zealand Herald are to help you make informed choices. For the next six weeks, join NZ Herald Wellington issues reporter Georgina Campbell as she takes you through the biggest races and issues happening in local elections this year. First episode out August 30th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aug 28, 2022•45 sec
James Shaw is best known to many as the Climate Change Minister and the co-leader of the Green Party - but he can't use that title at the moment, after a vote from Green Party delegates saw the position opened up. While Shaw is the only candidate going for the position, it has surprised many outside of the Greens. In his first long-form interview about the challenge, James Shaw joins Thomas to discuss what happened and how he felt about it, what he's taken away from the vote, the tricky balance ...
Aug 26, 2022•32 min
The idea of Act returning to having a double-digit caucus in Parliament seemed unlikely only a few years ago - but current polling is showing that not only will it likely repeat next year, but that Act will be in a position to form a coalition with National. So why is the party doing so well, particularly when minor parties have struggled in recent decades? And what would Act want should National need them to govern? Act leader David Seymour joins Thomas to discuss the historical context behind ...
Aug 19, 2022•31 min
The National Party is heading to Christchurch this weekend for the party's annual conference, which will by the first for leader Christopher Luxon after replacing Judith Collins last year. The conference will be a major one for National after several years of tension and changing leaders, with a new party president also due to be elected. Will this conference be a quiet show of solidarity, or will it be remembered for all the wrong reasons? National Party member and PR consultant Liam Hehir join...
Aug 05, 2022•37 min
The Reserve Bank is rarely out of the headlines, but the spotlight on the country's central bank has burned brighter than normal during the Covid-19 pandemic. A report out this week has criticised the bank's monetary policy, particularly the money printing, during the pandemic. It has led to National joining calls for an independent review into the review. This week, Thomas is joined by NZ Herald Wellington Business Editor Jenée Tibshraeny to discuss the politics of the criticism, if this is mor...
Jul 29, 2022•38 min
Now that politicians have been able to leave the country to grow diplomatic connections for quite a while, what have they been doing? In recent times Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been on trips to Singapore, Japan, the US, Spain, Belgium, the UK, Fiji, and twice to Australia. International jet setting still has its issues, with many of the travelling press gallery catching Covid-19 while covering the Pacific Islands Forum Questions were posed over what would happen if China invaded Taiwan, a...
Jul 22, 2022•36 min
This week, the Government announced a Cabinet reshuffle, set off by the retirements of Kris Faafoi and Trevor Mallard, and changing the Police Minister portfolio away from Poto Williams. Putting quibbles over the "minor" reshuffle, as it was flagged, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that a bigger reshuffle is set to come next year to gear up for the election. Today, Thomas is joined by Hayden Munro, former Labour staffer and 2020 campaign manager, to discuss the reshuffle, the MPs on the rise,...
Jun 17, 2022•38 min
The final results in the Australian federal election have been tallied, given Anthony Albanese and his Labor Party a majority government. But what are the priorities for the new Australian government, what lessons can the ousted Coalition learn, and what does the seismic shift in Aussie politics mean for New Zealand? Australian Associated Press New Zealand correspondent Ben McKay joins Thomas to discuss the big takeaways from the election. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Jun 03, 2022•43 min
In the wake of the $6 billion, 2170 + page Budget revealed on Thursday, this week Thomas is joined by Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny and Newstalk ZB chief political report Jason Walls to dissect the finer details announced by Finance Minister Grant Robertson. What policy did Treasury recommend against? What will this mean for house prices and inflation? What policy are the key shareholders not in support of? And is this really like a Harry Potter reading party? See omnystudio.com/li...
May 20, 2022•37 min
There's just under a week to go until Finance Minister Grant Robertson unveils his fifth Budget. To discuss what they hope to see next week, and what they hope doesn't get included, Thomas chats with economists Craig Renney and Eric Cramption. Follow On the Tiles on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are out on Fridays. You can find more politics news at nzherald.co.nz/politics. You can follow Thomas Coughlan on Twitter @coughlthom See omnystudi...
May 13, 2022•45 min
Labour MP Rachel Brooking has the unusual distinction of having reviewed the RMA and its replacement twice in the space of two years. She was appointed to the Government's review of the RMA in Labour's first term. She later became a candidate and an MP for Labour. She's now on the Environment Committee, where she's involved in scrutinising the new RMA legislation. This week, she speaks to Thomas Coughlan on On The Tiles about being a first-term MP, and the difficult choices the Government faces ...
Apr 30, 2022•32 min
Easter celebrates the resurrection - and a politician who has been resurrected more times than most is former National leader Judith Collins. In an almost biblical career, she's been demoted, re-promoted, and eventually elevated to the party leadership - a job she described as "hell" and lost in a brutal no-confidence vote. In an exclusive, long-form interview with Thomas Coughlan, Collins elaborates on why she never wanted to be leader, how she ended up replacing Todd Muller, her relationship w...
Apr 14, 2022•38 min
