Election 2023

Is Chris Luxon chickening out of the press debate tonight? Of course he is ch ickening out . Sure, his campaign diary will be full and it’ll be a pain in the butt to rearrange things to fit in an afternoon and evening in Christchurch, because it is a several hours long operation to get ready for a debate and then do the debate . But if he really wanted to do it , he would . He just doesn’t. Fair e...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Reporter Sophie Trigger discusses the National Party’s latest health pledges – and how they’ll sit with voter. She also paints the picture of Christopher Luxon’s visit to a retirement home and his walkabout at Riccarton Mall. Plus, she gives us the latest on Chris Hipkins’ health. And the Election 2023 headlines you need to know – including Rawiri Waititi’s comme...

I think it's a little bit rich when you've got Chris Hipkins cancelling a debate because of Covid and people send him "best wishes" and "get well soon"s, instead of accepting the good wishes graciously and using the time to recover at home, out go attack ads saying Chris Luxon is a chicken for refusing to reschedule the debate.   They offered to put up Kelvin Davis against Christopher Luxon, but t...

The feathers are flying with Labour accusing Christopher Luxon of being too chicken to front up to a leaders debate here in Christchurch.   And I mean, literally, too chicken. Because it’s going nuts on social media saying Luxon’s running scared with a photo of him in a chicken suit.   And I reckon National will be quietly loving it. Because how desperate does Labour look? How desperate? Very desp...

Chris Luxon told  Canterbury Mornings  the photoshopped pictures of him wearing a chicken suit circulating social media, after pulling out of The Press Leader's debate, was "a load of rubbish".   "Let's be clear, [Chris Hipkins] is isolating in his hotel with Covid, we're ten days from an election and we have a debate next week anyway with TVNZ," the National leader said.   "We have a busy schedul...

The most shameful promise this election came from Labour, who promised in 2017 to increase the breast screening age, and then for six years didn’t do anything.   And now they are promising it again, as though you are supposed to believe them and things will be different.   The most ridiculous promise came yesterday, suggesting Labour are now wanting to run a Four Square.   It would be a Government...

Labour's committing to further shake-ups within the supermarket sector in a bid to break up the grocery duopoly.   While details are in the early stages, help with finances, gaining land space, and making regulator changes are on the cards.   Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins, told Mike Hosking a new competitor won't enter the market without Government support.   He doesn't believe it would be in the f...

Political candidates are facing increased violence.   National says a volunteer's faced death threats, another was attacked by a dog, and one candidate has moved house after threats from a gang.   In the past week, Labour's Angela Roberts says she was slapped at a debate, and Te Pati Maori's Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke says her home was invaded.   Parliamentary Service Chief Executive Rafael Gonzale...

I went out in search of some democracy yesterday, trying to early vote.   I looked up on the Vote NZ website where in my area had early voting places open and what time. I headed out on a walk confident I’d found the place but as I rocked up there, the lights were out; the first bad sign. Then I saw an actual sign on the ground, blown over in the wind, it said ‘no early voting here until October 9...

Last week's Mood of the Boardroom survey ranked National's Chris Luxon over his Labour counterpart. The survey compiled responses from more than 100 chief executives and leaders- with Luxon scoring 3.24 out of 5 compared to Hipkins' 2.95. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says voters are still sceptical of National's tax package, with experts criticising the party's priorities. LISTEN ABOV...

Labour may need to change gear for the next week of election campaigning. Party leader and incumbent Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has Covid and will isolate for five days, or until he tests negative. Finance Spokesperson Grant Robertson says these circumstances aren't ideal, but Labour has a big team of candidates and volunteers raising support on the campaign trail. "There's not a lot we can do a...

National has disclosed allegations of violence and intimidation threatening to disrupt their election campaign. Allegations claim a gang threat has forced a candidate to move house, a volunteer's faced death threats, and another's been the victim of a dog attack. Labour's Angela Roberts has reported being slapped at a debate, and Te Pati Maori's Hana Maipi-Clarke says she's had a politically-motiv...

Every Monday until the election, The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis.   This week, the The Spinoff’s Editor-at-Large Toby Manhire steps in for Barry Soper. Our ex...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Reporter Sophie Trigger gives us the implications of Chris Hipkins’ Covid diagnosis. And she talks us through Labour’s latest attack line against National. Newstalk ZB’s Political Editor Jason Walls tells us all about the classic campaign set piece, the politician voting. And the Election 2023 headlines you need to know – including the Greens going hard to win mo...

I want to start the show with tributes to 3 people. The first is Brooke Graham. My neighbour and friend from the Coromandel who died recently at the age of just 42 from brain cancer.  A fast death inside 9 weeks but slow enough for her to make plans for her 10 year old daughter and her husband. Hers was a death of great grace and I am immensely sad. So to Carrick and MacKenzie, here's to your amaz...

One of the country's most famous electorate seats is up for grabs this election. For 15 years, Grant Robertson has held Wellington Central, but he's heading to Labour's list. In his place is current list MP Ibrahim Omer. The Greens are putting up city councillor Tamatha Paul, while National has lawyer Scott Sheeran. Newstalk ZB reporter Nick James asked Wellington Central voters about the big issu...

Who has the ability and the answers to take New Zealand forward?   Christopher Luxon joined Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking for an extensive look into the policies and plans behind the National Party leader.   Two hours of the toughest questions, covering the topics New Zealanders really care about.   The economy, their tax plan, education, healthcare, what do they actually plan to do?   Crime is risin...

I know I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again, I’m so over this election. Please let it be over already.   Now that Winston’s crept back into the fray, we've got the old gameplaying of not just the politicians - but the voters now too who seem to believe they can rig MMP in their favour.   They want to design their own bespoke government. After all these years, we still don’t seem to get it. E...

Labour's new education policy is being described as a Band-Aid for a deeper problem.   The party is promising two million hours of free literacy and maths tutoring for intermediate and high school students and a training fund to help teachers.   Education Hub founder Dr Nina Hood told Mike Hosking one-on-one or small group tutoring is one of the most effective interventions.   But she says unless...

The property market is experiencing some pre-Election jitters.   It seems Kiwis are holding off on making big decisions until after D-Day - with the national average asking price staying flat the whole of September - t his is according to realestate.co.nz's last report before the Election.   Vanessa Taylor, head of sales at realestate.co.nz, joined Kate Hawkesby on Early Edition to discuss the rep...

National's Deputy leader says its economic plan is solid despite widespread doubts.   The party released its fiscal plan on Friday, Finance Minister Grant Robertson describing it was being built on sand.   A recent Newshub Reid Research poll found 53 percent of respondents don't think National can pay for its tax cuts.   The tax plan was also criticised by economists from across the political spec...

A change of date could be on the cards for Chris Hipkins' next head-to-head with National's Chris Luxon. The pair were due to take part in a leaders' debate hosted by The Press on Tuesday, but Hipkins has Covid and is isolating. The paper's owner, Stuff, is now working through contingency plans, including alternative dates for the face-off. Labour's Grant Robertson says if someone was needed to st...

Winston Peters has a fiery interview with Jack Tame, National announces their 100-day plan, the Green Party are convinced their wealth tax will work and Chris Hipkins gets Covid days before the election- Peter Dunne joins the Weekend Collective to give his take on the week in politics. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has a fiery interview with Jack Tame, National announces their 100 day plan, and The Green Party are convinced their wealth tax will work- Peter Dunne joins the Weekend Collective to recap this weekend in politics. Later, Grant Robertson provides an update into Chris Hipkins' health, and what that means for upcoming debates. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

This week on the Sunday Panel, BusinessDesk Investments editor and host of Cooking the Books Frances Cook and Victoria University senior lecturer Morgan Godfrey joined in on a discussion about the following-   No matter which side of the aisle wins, it's very likely that both major parties will need to form three-way coalitions. Is this good or bad news for voters? What do we think of Winston Pete...