Election 2023

I'm surprised because TVNZ journos basically never strike. The last time they did was 20 years ago, in 2006. Yet, when they finally decide to strike, they choose to do it just nine days before an election. Surely they're smart enough to realise how political that's going to look. Now, I'm not saying they're necessarily trying to be political but I'd bet the two unions organising the strike absolut...

One expert says it looks like New Zealand First is preparing for conflict with its new defence plan.  The party wants to increase defence spending to three percent of GDP, up from the current goal of two percent.  It proposes merging the Army, Navy and Air Force HQs, creating a Marine Force and increasing personnel by more than five-thousand. Massey University Professor Beth Greener says...

The September quarter's reprieve from inflation is likely to be temporary, according to one expert. The Consumers Price Index measure of household expenses rose 3.7 percent in the year to September - down from 4.1 annually to June. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says changes since mean it'll go up again - pushed by many costs. "Going through into building costs, we've seen the likes of...

Labour's leader says he's confident candidate Kerrin Leoni didn't visit the Mongrel Mob, as alleged by a Te Pāti Māori MP. Oriini Kaipara and another party MP visited the mob HQ - alongside a Green Party MP and candidates, posting photos online. In a Whakaata Māori election debate, Leoni denied Kaipara's claim she'd visited the week before. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper sa...

Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges says politically, the Mood of the Boardroom shows a "tactical draw" between National and Labour.  The survey of business leaders shows dissatisfaction and a desire for more investment in infrastructure, reform, leadership and talk of productivity, Bridges told Ryan Bridge.  "Because you'd expect, and they are in their numbers, the Nats as a cen...

We now have a poll in all seven of the Māori seats, which gives us a chance to at least make some sort of observation.  It's more than fair to suggest these polls are even ropier than the major polls, which have been all over the place at the best of times.  They are smaller, have greater margins of error, and involve a group that at first blush doesn’t automatically represent the demogr...

Chris Hipkins is standing firm that move-on orders criminalise homelessness.  The Bill allowing Police to move on beggars, rough sleepers, or people acting disorderly from a public place take effect this Sunday.  If they refuse or return within 24 hours of being moved on, they can be penalised with up to three months’ jail or a $2,000 fine.  Stuff's fact check of Tuesday's leaders d...

Nearly there.  Voting's already happening for kiwis overseas.  Monday, we start in-country. Two weeks later it's all over and counting begins.  The result looks as tight as a fishes bum.  Here's my predictions.  Opportunity won't get 5% and the Coalition will be returned to power.  I want to be clear. This is not based off a scientific poll-by-poll or electorate proba...

All right, it was either a rogue poll, or it was the moment National started to win this election. I think there's a good chance it's the latter. If National is now winning the election, it will be because they have finally started talking about the things they're good at: education and crime. Thank you very much to the Mongrel Mob for the latter. Not that annoying "nine new taxes" nonsense that w...

The National Party has gained four points, building to a five-point lead over Labour in the latest 1News Verian poll.  This is the Nats' strongest result since February, but Labour are at their lowest since the last election.  Labour Finance Spokesperson Barbara Edmonds dismissed this poll, saying 'we are focused on the things that New Zealanders are saying that matters to them.' LISTEN...

The latest 1News Verian poll is out, and National are looking up.  National have climbed 4 points to 32%, but Labour have slipped down to 27%. The Green party has also made ground, reaching 16%.  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper says this will give the National Party some confidence. 'That'll no doubt Chris, Luxon some encouragement, and that's probably why, I don't know whethe...

In Podcast 350,  the NZ First Deputy Leader presents the case for both himself and the party. Even Mr Jones confesses the he can be a little aggressive at times. Or as he puts it,  “brutal at times”. However, honest communication is always welcome and constructive. His manner of delivery always conveys a genuine eloquence, but policy is the important factor. “We have to ensure that the b...

The Greens co-leader says she's not taking anything for granted as the party surges in the polls.  The latest 1News-Verian poll has the Greens up one point to 16% — retaining a record high result— with National on top, rising a huge four points to 32% and Labour dropping one to 27%.  Chlöe Swarbrick told Kerre Woodham people have felt disillusioned by legacy parties, and it's a glob...

Surely it's only one more day before Chris Hipkins gets to, just maybe, put the gangs in the rear-view mirror.  In his new found assessment that handing millions to the Mongrel Mob when last in government was "a mistake", he reveals the real issue he faces this election campaign;  Time.  The gap between what he did and what he now promises to do is too short. That is roughly why mos...

Today on Politics Wednesday, National's Mark Mitchell and Labour's Ginny Andersen discuss the latest from the election campaign.   Plus, they discuss the rising number of threats towards MPs and the attack on an Australian politician.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The other day Christopher sent conniptions through the commentariat by saying we'll be lucky to have a Government by Christmas.  I'm not surprised. So we have an election on November 7.   Writ day is December 3.   That's the deadline for all the votes to be counted.   It's 3 weeks later.   It's always been 3 weeks later. Now here's a thing.   Same day voting was remov...

Another debate of the Chris's took place tonight prompting a politics focused intro to Marcus Lush Nights with Tim Roxborogh, followed by discussions of 'Jurassic Parking' moa, cats, and dodgy ferris wheels. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's shot up while Labour's slipped in the latest 1News-Verian poll, but both sides still need Opportunity to form a coalition. National's up four points to 32 percent, while Labour's fallen one to sit on 27.  The Country's Jamie Mackay examined the results and weighed in on which outcomes would benefit rural voters. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All right, we need to talk about a news story that has been written in such a way that you're supposed to be alarmed by the fact that nearly half of all Year 12 students might fail Erica Stanford's NCEA replacement. The story is this - at the moment, 15 percent of Year 12 students fail NCEA Level 2. But modelling suggests that once Erica Stanford replaces NCEA with her new secondary school qualifi...

Auckland businessman Jim Jackson is a big supporter of the National Party, but he's raised concerns over a stalled project. The proposed East West Link has been on hold for over a decade, and Jackson recently put up a billboard condemning Luxon for not getting the project done. He says he's been involved with the development of the expressway for the past 19 years, and he's not happy with the pros...

National's Education Spokesperson is brushing off concerns over previously unseen modelling suggesting the NCEA level two replacement could make pass rates plummet.  Ministry of Education documents released to the PPTA show Year 12 attainment could fall 27 percent under the New Zealand Certificate of Education. Erica Stanford says it's an old paper produced at the beginning of the curriculum...

Labour and National are regaining a little ground in the latest The Post/Freshwater Strategy poll, but both major parties remain well below 30 percent. The poll has Labour up to 28.7 and National up to 27.6, the Greens are unchanged on 14.3, New Zealand First is down to 11.8, ACT is unchanged on 9, and Opportunity is down to 5.4. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Hipkins...

In light of the Green and Te Pāti Māori MPs' visit to the Mongrel Mob pad and their stated determination to restore the mana of the mob, I read Jamie Ensor's piece in the Herald with interest. According to Jamie, Labour hasn't proposed any specific new law and order policies with just days to go until the election.  Law and order was a big flashpoint at the last election. The cost of living w...

Does Labour really think Facebook and all the other social media platforms are going to be paying any attention to its threat to crack down on them? Yesterday, the party’s social media spokesperson Reuben Davidson warned “they will pay the price” if they don’t make the kinds of changes Labour will demand if it forms the next Government. Which, essentially, is letting people decide whether they wan...

A school leader says it's fantastic both major parties are backing a crackdown on children's social media use.  Labour says if elected, an under-16 social media ban will go before a select committee within 100 days, alongside a new digital duty of care law.  National introduced a similar bill to Parliament in August.  Secondary Principals Association Chair and B416 expert advisory p...