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•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Feb 10, 2023•16 min•Ep 106•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Dec 16, 2022•16 min•Ep 105•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Dec 02, 2022•16 min•Ep 103•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Nov 25, 2022•16 min•Ep 102•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Nov 18, 2022•16 min•Ep 101•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Nov 11, 2022•16 min•Ep 100•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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 elect...
Sep 23, 2022•16 min•Ep 98•Transcript available on Metacast 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 Zealan...
Sep 16, 2022•16 min•Ep 97•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Sep 09, 2022•16 min•Ep 95•Transcript available on Metacast 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,...
Sep 02, 2022•16 min•Ep 94•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Aug 26, 2022•16 min•Ep 93•Transcript available on Metacast 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 poli...
Aug 19, 2022•16 min•Ep 92•Transcript available on Metacast 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 acc...
Aug 12, 2022•16 min•Ep 91•Transcript available on Metacast 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•Transcript available on Metacast 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 po...
May 27, 2022•16 min•Ep 89•Transcript available on Metacast 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&#x...
May 20, 2022•16 min•Ep 88•Transcript available on Metacast 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 indu...
May 13, 2022•16 min•Ep 87•Transcript available on Metacast 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 pr...
May 06, 2022•16 min•Ep 86•Transcript available on Metacast 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 measu...
Apr 29, 2022•16 min•Ep 85•Transcript available on Metacast 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 tr...
Apr 22, 2022•16 min•Ep 84•Transcript available on Metacast 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 de...
Apr 08, 2022•16 min•Ep 83•Transcript available on Metacast 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 import...
Apr 01, 2022•17 min•Ep 82•Transcript available on Metacast 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 ...
Mar 25, 2022•16 min•Ep 81•Transcript available on Metacast 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...
Mar 18, 2022•16 min•Ep 80•Transcript available on Metacast 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&#x...
Mar 11, 2022•16 min•Ep 79•Transcript available on Metacast 
