Each Friday, NZ Herald Deputy Political Editor Thomas Coughlan covers off the biggest political news in New Zealand, going behind the headlines and giving the inside perspective direct from the Beehive, featuring interviews with politicians, press gallery reporters and economic and political experts.
And join us every month for a Local Edition episode with Georgina Campbell, looking at the biggest concerns from a local government level.
You can find more politics news at nzherald.co.nz/politics/
For a special episode going through Budget 2024, Thomas is joined by NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny and Interest.co.nz's Dan Brunskill to discuss the highlights, lowlights, surprises - or lack thereof - from the Budget, and what it signals about the economy and the years to come for this Government. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Green MP and MP for Rongotai, Julie Anne Genter, made headlines at the start of May after she crossed the debating chamber and yelled at Minister Matt Doocey during a Parliamentary debate. She is now facing disciplinary action by the Greens and has been referred to the Privileges Committee. Now, in her first sit-down interview since this incident, Genter talks to Georgina about the incident, the aftermath and feedback from the public, the other allegations that emerged from constituents in the d...
We are well and truly in Budget Month - while it's not delivered until May 30th, the Government has started their pre-Budget funding announcements, while Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered her first preview speech. This week, Thomas is joined by Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny and Interest.co.nz's Dan Brunskill to discuss what we could expect from a Budget that's promised low-spending and tax cuts for all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
After years in Parliament, former Green Party co-leader James Shaw this week exits politics. Shaw's careers has seen many highs - particularly around passing world-leading climate change legislation - as well as coalition struggles and internal party strife, which became an issue once again this week. As he leaves the Beehive, Shaw joins Thomas to reflect on his time in politics, his friendships across the aisle, farmer's fractured feelings about climate change, his relationship with former Gree...
Diplomat Terence O’Brien was at the centre of New Zealand’s foreign relations for nearly half a century, forging new ties with Asia, negotiating New Zealand’s market access to what became the European Union, or running the first successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council. His new post-humous memoir, Consolations of Insignificance, comes out next month. His son, Diplosphere co-founder Dan O'Brien, joins Thomas to discuss his father's life in public service, and how some...
The Coalition Government has seen its first cabinet reshuffle. Melissa Lee has lost her Broadcasting Minister portfolio and has been demoted out of Cabinet. Meanwhile, Penny Simmonds has lost her Disability Commission portfolio. To discuss this, The Front Page's Chelsea Daniels is joined by the host of the On the Tiles podcast, and NZ Herald deputy political editor, Thomas Coughlan. . See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Councils across the country are grappling with an infrastructure deficit and sky-high rates -but what options are available to them to fund and finance these projects, and how much involvement should central Government have in bailing them out? This week, Georgina is joined by New Zealand Infrastructure Commission general manager of strategy Geoff Cooper to discuss the extent of the problem, the questions we need to ask ourselves, and what exactly New Zealand can afford. See omnystudio.com/liste...
In a first for On the Tiles, Thomas and Georgina have teamed up for a chat with Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk about his early wins in the portfolio, and a special focus on earthquake risk for buildings and if the Government, and country, needs to change its approach to risk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
David Seymour sat down with On the Tiles to talk about his new Reglation Ministry and how the Government handled its first 100 days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Grant Robertson has this week left politics, after nearly three decades at the Beehive - first as an advisor to Margaret Hobbs and Helen Clark, before serving as the Wellington Central MP and later Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. In an exit interview with Thomas, he reflects on his early career, entering as a MP, twice running for the Labour Party leadership, and goes deep in his reflections on his decisions made during the height of the Covid pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener fo...
Barbara Edmonds made history last month when she was named Labour's first ever female finance spokesperson. Stepping into Grant Robertson's shoes, Edmonds has a challenge over the next three years to sell Labour's vision on finance, after years of back and forth on new taxes. She talks to Thomas about going up against the coalition Government, wealth tax versus capital gains tax, and Labour's record on finance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
We've made it through the first 100 days of the coalition government - so which ministers have performed well and what policies have stood out? How much money does the country have left? And was Christopher Luxon's living allowance debacle a worrying sign? Today, Thomas recaps the first 100 days with NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny and Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Wellington has been divided over the City Council's secret Reading Cinema deal. The building was closed in early 2019 after an earthquake risk was discovered and it has since become a symbol of the tired state of Courtenay Pl. The council has been working on a $32 million deal behind closed doors but details were leaked late last year, sparking a debate over whether it was appropriate for a cash-strapped council to be funding Reading’s multimillionaire owners to fix one of the city’s most common...
The Government has announced their plans to repeal and replace Labour's Three Waters plans. Georgina is joined by Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate and Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry to discuss their reactions to the changes, why they want more answers on the Government's plans, and the huge cost likely coming for ratepayers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Parliament next week is set to kick-off a marathon four week sitting period, which comes as the coalition government looks to get through the final parts of its 100-day plan - including some pretty big legislation around crime and justice. Thomas is joined by Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls to discuss what's left of that 100 day target, how Labour is performing in Opposition so far, and PM Christopher Luxon's Waitangi speech controversy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
In the second instalment of our series on the Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Government's plans, Thomas is joined by University of Auckland sociologist Elizabeth Rata to discuss her views on the Treaty, where it sits as a legal document, and how principles play into this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the Tiles is back for 2024, and we're kicking off with the story set to dominate over the next year. As the Government prepares to have a debate on the principles of Treaty of Waitangi, Thomas talks with Victoria University of Wellington professor Dr Luke Fitzmaurice-Brown (Te Aupōuri) to discuss what the principles are, the differences between the Treaty and Te Tiriti, and what the consequences of this debate could be. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
For the last episode of the year, Thomas is joined by NZH Wellington business editor Jenée Tibshraeny and economist Brad Olsen to discuss this week's mini-budget and what it revealed about the state of the economy, and how the National-led government will need to respond. New episodes return on January 26th. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In this special bonus episode, Georgina Campbell runs through the big takeaways from Nicola Willis' 'mini budget' and the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
While this may have been the year of Election 2023, there was plenty to digest from local politics around the country. From extreme weather in the north and east, to blurred lines between private and public life in the capital, and then perhaps the most attention a southern council has received in decades, there has been a lot going on over the last 12 months. To discuss who performed the best, who sullied their mayoral chains, and what the big issues are in the years to come, Georgina is joined...
This week, Thomas is joined by former RNZ political editor Jane Patterson as she leaves the Press Gallery. They discuss high and lowlights from her two decades spent at the heart of politics, and discuss how the relationship between media and politicians has changed over that time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
After 40 days, New Zealand has a new government. National, Act and NZ First have signed their agreements to form the country's first-ever three-party coalition government. So who's deputy Prime Minister, who are the new Ministers, and what are the policy priorities? And NZ Herald politics editor Claire Trevett joins for her analysis on how this will all work. Host: Hamish Fletcher Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Thomas Coughlan talks to NZ Herald Wellington Business Editor, Jenée Tibshraeny, and former economics editor Brian Fallow about the challenges Minister of Finance Nicola Willis will have to deal with now she has her hands on the government's books. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
NZ Herald Deputy Political Editor Thomas Coughlan and Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls are back to discuss the seemingly never-ending wait for a government to be formed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Wellington has been home to plenty of drama recently, and Wellington City councillors are about to vote on whether to consult with the public on selling its 34% share in the airport. NZME's Wellington Head of News, Katrina Bennett, and Newstalk ZB Wellington Breakfast Newsreader and News Director, Max Toll talk to Georgina Campbell about Code of Conduct complaints, claims of a financial crisis, big cuts being proposed, and a left-leaning Mayor who now has to work with a National-led government. ...
After three weeks, the final vote count is in, and while some parties have lost seats, others are enjoying their largest caucuses ever. So who's on top and who's having to swallow their campaigning words? NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett joins to give us the latest. Host: Hamish Fletcher Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
On the Tiles and Thomas are back for the first episode post-election campaign. Joined by Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls, this episode we look at the high and lowlights of the campaign, speculate about the possible Cabinet make-up, and try to decrypt vague messages from NZ First leader Winston Peters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
October 18th: In this final episode for now of On the Campaign, we hear from NZ Herald head of data Chris Knox about why the special votes are so important in determining the shape and makeup of the next government. Host: Hamish Fletcher Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
October 16th: The campaign is over and the coalition negotiations have begun. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins to discuss what should happen over the next three weeks as National and the new Prime Minister Christopher Luxon prepare to take charge, and work out who they need to work with. Host: Georgina Campbell Producer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
In a special crossover episode, the hosts of On the Campaign and The Front Page discuss the results of Election 2023. As the polls predicted poll night was a bloodbath for Labour. Their caucus has nearly halved, several key MPs are out and while Chris Hipkins has not resigned yet, it seems like the inevitable outcome. But for National and Act, it was a case of celebrations. Christopher Luxon is set to be our next Prime Minister, National swung a number of seats their way, and so did Act. With th...
