Election 2023

Labour says raising the age limit for breast cancer screening is incredibly important.   The party's launched its "women's manifesto" – which includes improving endometriosis care.   It's also promising to extend the free breast cancer screening age to 74 a – National Party members bill promising that was drawn from the ballot box earlier this year.   Labour first promised the change in 2017.   Wo...

Labour's Cabinet turned down a proposal to stop funding gangs. The National Party's revealed the then-Justice Minister Kiri Allan lodged the proposal to end contracts with gangs in July. Cabinet didn't agree, which National says is another example of Labour being soft on crime. National's spokesperson for Public Service, Simeon Brown, says it's a waste of taxpayer money. "And what we see the Mongr...

The ACT Party's campaign took an unexpected turn this afternoon, but leader David Seymour says it's good that his party is being noticed. Four protesters managed to get past security and heckle Mr Seymour as he gave his speech. He had to raise his voice several times to drown them out, saying the protesting was a sign his party is successful. ZB political editor Jason Walls says other parties have...

Labour has released the first ever 'Women’s Manifesto', National still won't release the numbers on their tax policy, and this week brings the first of the leaders debates. To give his astute insight, Jason Walls joins the Weekend Collective. Later, National's Simeon Brown reveals that Chris Hipkins’ Cabinet considered whether to stop Government contracts involving funding for gangs in July and de...

This week on the Sunday Panel, e ditor and journalist Jo McCarroll and Freebairn and Hehir lawyers partner Liam Hehir joined in on a discussion about the following issues- and more! Luxon’s still refusing to say whether he will or won’t work with Winston Peters – does he need to be upfront? Why doesn’t he say what he plans to do? Could NZ First drag National down? What should we expect from Tuesda...

The divide between the right and the left continues to grow, as Labour keeps declining in the polls. This week's major political polls have seen the current Government dip below 30 percent as National and ACT surge ahead as favourites for the election. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's unlikely the polls will change in Labour's favour this close to the election. "I wouldn't imagine things...

On Wednesday morning, after the PREFU release on the Tuesday afternoon, Finance Minister Grant Robertson joined Mike Hosking to talk about the books, the country’s future and his own performance.   As I listened to the conversation, I wondered, has Labour missed a trick here?    Now I know Grant Robertson did not want the job of Prime Minister. He could read the tea leaves and was perhaps also fee...

Labour's reaching out to workers this weekend on the campaign trail. Leader Chris Hipkins pledged to increase the minimum wage annually, improve the pay of educators and healthcare workers, and put an end to lower-paid training and youth wages. Labour's workplace relations and safety spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni says the party intends to lift wages and allow people to keep up with the cost of livi...

With tax changes and policy changes promised by differing parties – where should the election feature in your financial plan? Plenty of people have spent the past year holding off on financial decisions, on the expectation that a change in Government would have a material impact on their wealth creation plans – but is that a sound strategy, or a risky one?   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listene...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls fills us in on Chris Hipkins more traditional day on the campaign trail. Plus, he analyses the Labour Leader’s continued attacks against National. Political reporter Sophie Trigger discusses National’s plan for the tech sector and talks Nicola Willis’ bold promise this morning. Plus, all your latest Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is your...

National’s tax plan debacle is looking more and more like an episode of Grand Designs. A wide-eyed optimistic couple with a big dream. They reckon they’ve done the numbers and can definitely make it work. But, as time goes on, some people start raising their eyebrows and asking a few questions and the shiny happy people start getting all defensive on it. But then, as we all know, most times we fin...

Broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and former Wellington Mayor Justin Lester join Nick Mills on Friday Faceoff. This week they discuss the current polls ahead of the 2023 election, National refusing to release its tax plan numbers, city councillor Diane Calvert drawing attention to the council's books, and how Cuba Street can be improved.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Week two of the campaign has come and gone - so who are the winners? Well, if you go on polling alone, it's the new Government of National and Act. But if you believe that this campaign counts, if you believe that these events and stunts and announcements count for a lot, then there is still much to play for. For the record, I will repeat, I think the whole thing is a foregone conclusion. This, mo...

Willis said National is offering tax reductions to working Kiwis, and Labour is "obsessed" with finding holes in their tax policy.     "We've gone above and beyond," Willis said of the party's budget.   Willis told Mike Hosking that she would not release the costings of the budget because the next step would be "releasing Excel sheets."   "We've chosen more conservative numbers."   "I'm confident...

The horticulture industry is welcoming a new policy on water storage with open arms.   National's promising that farmers will not need a resource consent to build a water storage pond in most cases unless wetlands or Significant Natural Areas are affected.   It's a plan they say cuts red tape around food production.   Horticulture New Zealand Policy Manager Michelle Sands says it's a positive poli...

Labour's promising a justice system shake-up, with the party saying it'll streamline the process for people to take legal action.   The party claims it'll be a more cost-effective way for groups of people to take legal action together by establishing a class actions regime.   Labour's Justice spokesperson Ginny Andersen told Mike Hosking that this has worked overseas.   She says for example, it's...

It’s funny as we get to the sharp end of the election campaign, what exercises people and what doesn’t.   The media are exercised by the Nats tax cut plan. They’re exercised by it largely I assume because the Labour party are exercised about it. And the Labour party are exercised about it because they hate it because it’s popular. It’s seen poll surges for National, and they’ll do anything to try...

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff and current director at Mike Munro communications, Mike Munro, and ZB's Nick Mills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Multiple economists have teamed up to scrutinise aspects of National's tax plan and it's been made clear the numbers don't add up. Will voters care? Will National have to find ways to cut m...

Ministers from several major parties are expected to go head to head at tonight's Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek. Damien O’Connor (Labour), Eugenie Sage (Green Party), Todd McClay (National), Andrew Hoggard (Act), and Mark Patterson (New Zealand First) will discuss the issues impacting the region's rural community. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what can be expected. LISTEN ABOVE See om...

Three economists have teamed up to scrutinise part of National's tax plan. The party's proposed ending the ban on foreign buyers - for homes worth more than $2 million- and taxing them 15 percent. It expects foreigners will buy 1700 houses valued on average at around $2.9 million. But economist Michael Reddell says it'll be more like 700 in that price range. "That $2 million threshold really does...

Winston Peters won't close the door on sitting with ACT leader David Seymour around the Cabinet table. Depending where the chips fall at next month's election - both parties could be in the Beehive as part of a National-led government. But Peters and Seymour don't see eye to eye, with the latter categorically ruling out working with New Zealand First. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper...

The country's three biggest education unions have joined forces to put education funding on the political agenda this election campaign. A new BERL report has found public spending per student in 2019 was nearly 25 percent lower than the OECD average. Tertiary Education Union National President Julie Douglas says more investment would allow better decisions about the sort of system we want. "I thi...

This week on Behind the List, Newstalk ZB's Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper dives into one of politics' most tense relationships.  He speaks to both Winston Peters and David Seymour - and finds out why they won't work together. Plus, the pair send a message to each other through the podcast.  The seasoned political analyst then casts his eye over this week's political polls which have b...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls talks the latest pushback to National’s tax plan from three independent economists. And Christchurch reporter Pierre Nixon reviews both Chris Hipkins’ and Christopher Luxon’s visits to the South Island. Plus, all your latest Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is your daily wrap of the Election 2023 campaign, talking to our reporters in the f...

ACT leader David Seymour wasn’t eating pies on TV last night like the other party leaders. But he was spitting tacks about dangerous criminals not being locked-up in prison. He was out promoting his party’s law and order policy and, if I was to sum up the message he was trying to get across, it would be this: “More people should be in prison”. Now I don’t necessarily agree that there should be mor...