Sideshows overshadow substance at Parliament
In Focus on Politics, RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch whips through a whirlwind week at Parliament. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Episodes
Focus on Politics
Weekly insight into the political issues that matter from RNZ's gallery team.
Episodes
Vaping regulations battle 'immeasurably harder' under coalition - campaigner
Successive governments have claimed crack downs on youth vaping but retailers are flouting the law, with just one prosecution on the books. Retailers have until the end of the year to phase out single-use products, but academics say MPs' fears vape manufacturers will just adapt are justified. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith looks at concerns vape manufacturers will find loopholes in new regulations. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello accepts compliance fig...
Luxon boosts defence amid rising global tensions
As global tensions escalated this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was touring South East Asia, strengthening defence and security ties. Back home, his government was accused of drifting away from New Zealand's independent foreign policy. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon "Together we are committed to stepping up our defence relationship" - Christopher Luxon As global tensions escalated this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was touring South East Asia, strengthening defence ...
From lobbyist to legislator: Andrew Hoggard's vision for reform
Andrew Hoggard might be new to Parliament, but he's certainly not new to New Zealand's screens and airwaves. The Manawatū dairy farmer was president of Federated Farmers from 2020 to 2023, and one of the more prominent critics of the previous government's agricultural policies. In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ Political Reporter Giles Dexter sits down with new MP - and new minister - Andrew Hoggard, to discuss the suite of reviews and replacements he's been tasked with. "This is a gove...
Aim and fire? Public service targets return amid job cuts
Public Service Targets are set for a comeback but with job cuts looming over ministries and agencies, unions fear public servants are only being asked to do more with less. Originally introduced by the John Key National government, the targets have led to improvements in the past - but that experience shows there are also risks. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Giles Dexter looks at the impending comeback of Better Public Services targets, one of the points in the government'...
Winston Peters navigates troubled waters with India, China
New Zealand must pull its weight on defence and security, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says in a sit-down interview with RNZ, after talks with both India and China. While trade was a driving force behind those engagements, it is clear tension points - like the South China Sea, and potential involvement in AUKUS - are becoming more central to foreign policy discussions in the Indo-Pacific. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Editor Jo Moir sits down with Foreign Minister Winston Peters...
Labour prepares to be prepared for power
Humiliated and humbled in last year's election, Labour has spent its first months back in opposition licking its wounds. At the party's caucus retreat this week - a gathering of its MPs at a remote location to strategise for the year ahead - it promised a comeback. In this week's Focus on Politics RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch takes a look at the difficulties and dilemmas facing Labour as it readjusts to life in opposition. Main image "We're looking forwards rather than b...
Clock stops on coalition's urgency-filled 100-day plan
The House has been in full swing for four weeks, with MPs sitting long hours as the government pushes through legislation under urgency to complete its 100-day plan. What's in it? Did the government achieve it all? And how will the plan hold in six, 12 or even 18 months? In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith examines the 100-day plan and the fanfare for it by the coalition government. "We told you what we're gonna do, we've done it, and now we're t...
When no news is bad news
Summary "To axe the whole news division, that's huge and I'm really deeply shocked by it" - Mark Jennings In a devastating blow to New Zealand's media landscape, Newshub appears set to shut down by the end of June. The response from politicians has been varied, and while some are looking for solutions in the industry it seems too late to rescue the company from financial ruin. Listen to the full podcast Hundreds of staff - journalists, camera operators, editors, producer...
Fa'anānā Efeso Collins' death brings unity in grief
Parliament was brought to a standstill on Wednesday, with politics set aside after the sudden and shocking death of first-term Green MP Fa'anānā Efeso Collins. A champion for his people, a tireless advocate, a good man - such were the tributes as Parliament mourned the loss of one its own. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch marks the death of Green MP Efeso Collins, pulling together the tributes and reflections shared this week by those whose lives he touch...
Councils get their Three Waters wish - but will they regret it?
The coalition has ticked off another objective - repealing the troubled Three Waters programme - but in doing so may have just delayed the bigger problem for another day. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch tests the temperature as the coalition moves to repeal and replace Labour's water reforms. "This is what councils across the country said they wanted" - Simeon Brown The coalition has ticked off another objective - repealing the troubled Three W...
Government faces the music at Waitangi
This year's record-breaking Waitangi celebrations drew 80,000 people to the Treaty grounds over four days, half that on Waitangi Day alone. With the dust settling on the event's biggest turnout in decades, the sense of unity and anger among many Māori will linger long after the Treaty Principles legislation is gone. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith examines the coalition government's performance at a Waitangi Day for the history books. "They can feel a movem...
Shaw's message for his successor as he prepares to bow out
Green Party co-leader James Shaw talks about his decision to step down, his time in the role, and the message he has for whoever succeeds him. James Shaw this week announced he was stepping down after nine years as Green Party co-leader. "Know why you are here... be really clear about what the difference is that you want to make with your time and the role" - James Shaw It was one of Parliament's worst kept secrets, and on Tuesday morning it was made official. After nine years co-...
Luxon fronts fierce criticism from Māori ahead of Waitangi
Coming hot on the heels of last weekend's Hui-aa-Motu and the Rātana celebrations, Waitangi Day this year promises to be highly emotive and political. The government's policies have prompted calls for resilience and resistance, and a dramatic show of unity from much of Māoridom. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch assesses the coalition's response to the challenge laid down by many in Māoridom, as the political year gets back under way. A collage showing Kii...
A year of political turmoil comes to an end
Three prime ministers, four ministerial scandals, one general election and a three-way coalition: New Zealand's political landscape has been well and truly shaken up in 2023. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher takes a look back on what was a turbulent year at Parliament and on the campaign trail. "What we have achieved together, I think, is historic" - Christopher Luxon Three prime ministers, four ministerial scandals, one general election and a three-w...
Peters defies opposition as repeals and rollbacks roll on
Summary "The adults are back in charge and New Zealanders say to the last lot good riddance" - Nicola Willis A host of Labour's policies have been tipped on the scrap heap this week as the new coalition starts passing laws at pace. The financial fisticuffs have begun opening bouts too ahead of next week's mini-Budget, with the Interislander ferry upgrade in dire straits and new figures pointing to a gloomy economy. Listen to the full podcast The week began with a bang: Winsto...
Māori dissent sets the scene as Parliament returns
The resumption of Parliament this week has been underlined by outcry from Māori, soon matched by fury within the debating chamber. With just two weeks before the Christmas break and Waitangi Day fast approaching on the other side, the government will have plenty to work through. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch examines the start of the 54th Parliament and the racially charged indignation that heralded it. Protesters from the "National Māori Action D...
Distractions assail coalition as it lays out ambitious agenda
The new government's first week in office saw it get straight to work, setting high expectations and unveiling its 100-day plan - but it's not exactly been smooth sailing. Fixing the economy and making a material difference for New Zealanders is a hefty workload for a Cabinet which has so far been dogged by distractions - driven partly by new Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher looks back at the coalition's first week in power...
Bonus episode: The meaning of Tāmaki
When ACT's Brooke van Velden won the Auckland seat of Tamaki at the election, it was a triumph of shrewd campaigning. But it was also a failure for Christian conservatism in mainstream politics. In this bonus episode of Focus on Politics, Susie Ferguson takes a close look at the meaning of Tamaki. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details
Coalition deals signed and sealed, now it's time to deliver
It took 40 days and 40 nights - but at long last, the country knows what its new government will look like. New Zealand's first-ever three-way coalition: National, ACT and New Zealand First finally signing on the dotted line in the ultimate Black Friday deal. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch examines the coalition deals and the personalities behind them. "What we have achieved together, I think, is historic" - Christopher Luxon It took 40 days a...
Te Pāti Māori plans for future as it reflects on success in Māori seats
After its most successful election - taking all but one of the Māori seats - Te Pāti Māori is amping up for the next three years as "the only true opposition". It's a dramatic turnaround for a party dumped out of Parliament entirely in 2017, but co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says that was a critical part of the party's growth. They are also looking ahead to their next generation of leaders, she says, and plans are afoot to shake Parliament up and normalise it for Māori. In this week's Focus on...
Coalition talks pick up pace behind closed doors
With National's potential partners ACT and NZ First finally getting together in Wellington this week, a sense of momentum is building for the trio to form a government. Labour's Chris Hipkins meanwhile has survived a vote on his MPs' endorsement of him as leader with Carmel Sepuloni taking the deputy leadership as the party prepares for opposition. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Editor Jane Patterson examines politicians' progress towards the incoming government and opposition. &quo...
Peters' stock rises on final vote count, how much will Luxon pay?
The final act of the 2023 election has reset the calculus, blowing apart National's dream scenario and driving up the price for forming government. With NZ First's support now a requirement, Winston Peters is sure to demand more in negotiations. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Editor Jane Patterson speaks to Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch, analysing the state of play after the final election result. Main image "We will now crack on with the clarity that we have" - ...
Labour faces vexed reset and return to opposition
After a devastating collapse in their vote on election night, the Labour Party is examining what went so wrong and who is best to lead them from the opposition benches. Current and former MPs alike are calling for a wider refocusing on the party's values and relationships to avoid the kind of fracturing that often so plagues parties banished from government. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher explores the challenge Labour faces in rebuilding after its clear elect...
Election results in a clear winner, a clear loser, a complex path to power
The battle for the hearts, minds and votes of New Zealanders is over - nearly - with the preliminary results on Saturday putting National in a position to form the next government and Labour consigned to the opposition benches. National's exact path to government is not fully clear, and depends on the final vote count. Even so, it's far preferable to the position Labour's in, having to put on a brave face despite anger and recriminations at the result. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political...
On the campaign trail, final week: The highs and lows
It has been a rollercoaster campaign, fiscal fights, feisty debates - all with the aim of taking the government benches. In Focus on Politics this week, a look at the campaign as it all comes down to the voters. "I would say the Labour campaign has been a game of two halves" - Katie Scotcher It's the eve of the official day of polling in New Zealand - and where are the votes going to fall? It has been a rollercoaster campaign, full of fiscal fights and feisty debates - all with th...
On the campaign trail, week five: Luxon grapples with his 'last resort'
TVNZ's multi-party debate this week illustrated key features of this election campaign: the minor parties' rising popularity, and the complicated role of NZ First. With polls they would need Winston Peters, National and ACT have been continuing to talk down his appeal - but it remains preferable to defeat. In Focus on Politics this week, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch dissects the past week, speaking to Guyon Espiner alongside RNZ and NBR political editors Jane Patterson and Brent E...
On the campaign trail, week four: The week of Winston Peters
Call this the week of Winston Peters - with the New Zealand First leader, riding a wave of renewed relevancy. In not one, but two TV polls, New Zealand First featured above that critical 5 percent threshold - and furthermore in that most pivotal of spots - necessary for National to form a government. In Focus on Politics this week, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch breaks down the latest week of the election campaign, a week where Winston Peters came to the fore. "In the end, the ...
On the campaign trail, week three: Debates, polls, sausage and cheese rolls
The minor parties gave glimpses of their own cooperation styles at the Newshub Nation Powerbrokers' debate, while polls continued to signal Labour on the downturn. GDP numbers also showed no recession for New Zealand, although inflation remains high. This week's Focus on Politics is RNZ's roundtable discussion covering the major happenings of the 2023 election campaign. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson, deputy political editor Craig McCulloch, and Newsroom and Stuff political editors Jo Moir ...
On the campaign trail, week two: Tax plans and spending
The second week of the election campaign has been all about the economy. There was the pre-election opening of the books, with National's tax plans and Labour's spending coming under fire. This week's Focus on Politics is RNZ's roundtable discussion covering the major happenings of the 2023 election campaign. Political editor Jane Patterson, political reporter Katie Scotcher, and NZ Herald's political editor and deputy political editor Claire Trevett and Thomas Coughlan spoke to Morning Report h...