Election 2023

Labour says the pandemic showed a need for more local healthcare worker training. The party's announced it'll train another 335 doctors every year from 2027- and increase medical school places from next year. Health spokesperson Ayesha Verrall says they've already increased the workforce by 2,000 people. "So I think the National Party's attack line - that this should've happened earlier - is negat...

ACT thinks more people should be in jail. The party's law and order policy would invest $1 billion into 500 more prison beds, and toughen sentences for offending against vulnerable workers. Leader David Seymour says the Government has tried letting criminals out of prison. He says a Ministry of Justice survey shows the result. "Victimisations are up by about 30 percent in 5 years, but the human pr...

Labour's pledging to lift medical school places by 95 a year from 2025, in New Zealand's largest boost ever. Chris Hipkins says if re-elected, they'll lift training 62 percent over the coming decade. Labour's extra places amount to 874 doctors trained each year by 2027- beating out National's promised 759 by 2030. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this scheme is the latest strateg...

Questions over divisions within New Zealand. An Essential Research poll shows 77 percent of Kiwis believe the country is either a little more - or much more - divided, depending on their political stance. Labour and Green voters think there's less division, and National and ACT supporters say we are more so. Those aged 55-plus are the most concerned. Victoria University's Max Rashbrooke says he's...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Reporter Sophie Trigger tells us the reaction to Christopher Luxon’s walkabout around Auckland and breaks down Act’s suite of law-and-order policies. And Chief Political Correspondent Aaron Dahmen tells us about Chris Hipkins’ visit to Dunedin and how he dipped his toe into the student lifestyle. Plus, all your Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is your daily...

Polls are coming in thick and fast as we head towards October 14th.   The latest is the New Zealand Herald's Poll of Polls, which combines results from a range of pollsters, specifically Curia, Kantar Public, Talbot Mills, and Reid Research.   According to the Poll of Polls, National and ACT’s chances continue to soar.   They have a 95.1% chance of forming a government if the election were held th...

So was this PREFU better than expected as a number of headlines suggested?   Answer: possibly. Possibly not.   What numbers were they looking at?   It's important to point out this is not retrospective. This is not stuff that has happened, therefore cannot be argued with.   This is a projection and the projection comes from Treasury. There are some numbers from their projections to ponder, such as...

MPs Megan Woods and Mark Mitchell joined the Mike Hosking Breakfast to wrap the week's political news. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! This year's deficit is expected to be $10 billion, next year's expected to go up to $11.4 billion - Treasury reckons we've come out of recession but the next Government will have a tough battle on its hands to pay down d...

National's Chris Luxon has been quick to slam Labour's 'economic mismanagement' after the PREFU revealed Government debt has blown out further. Treasury's latest update is forecasting no recession, but shows the Government will be in deficit longer than expected and take on billions more debt. Luxon says Kiwis are worried about losing their homes and taking on second jobs as the Government continu...

The Finance Minister is standing by the Government's record, after Treasury today laid the books bare. The Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update suggest our recession's likely over, but shows the Government deficit will continue longer than predicted in the Budget. Debt's now expected to peak at 22.8 percent of GDP by 2025. Grant Robertson says our Government borrowing wasn't for nothing. "Lots...

National's promising to spend our money on the right things, if elected next month. Treasury's today revealed the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update. It suggests our recession's likely over - but shows the Government will be in deficit for longer, and take on billions more in debt. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Opposition's now crunching its numbers. "What Na...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls combs through the Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update – and gives us the Prime Minister’s reaction. And Chief Political Correspondent Aaron Dahmen has National’s reaction to the PREFU – and also gives us an insight into all the snacks Christopher Luxon is getting on the campaign trail! Plus, all your Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is...

Well, good news last night for National.   Labour must be left wondering how many more election bribes they'll have to offer before voters begin to nibble. The latest Newshub Reid Research Poll that came out last night has seen National shoot up 4.3 points to 40.9%, and Labour suffered a 5.5% fall from the last Newshub poll, they're on just 26.8%.   But before gleeful right and centre right voters...

It was a beautiful sunny morning. But, even though it looked warm, it was still pretty chilly. And when Chris Hipkins looked out the window at his Christchurch hotel this morning he would’ve thought the same. That it looked like a beautiful spring day. But, as soon as he walked outside, he would’ve realised that it wasn’t and there was still a chill in the air. Except for him, it wouldn't have bee...

Chris Hipkins joined John MacDonald live in studio to discuss poll results, crime, and economic management. Plus, Labour’s strengths, weaknesses, and what Hipkins have left in the tank.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has plunged 5.5% in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll, taking the party to just under 27% support.   National has shot up to 40.9%, while ACT's on 10%, the Greens 12.3% and New Zealand First is tip-toeing up to the threshold at 4.6%.   Former Senior Ministerial Advisor for the National Party Brigitte Morton told Kate Hawkesby that it’s a significant swing and is likely to stabilize back...

Chris Hipkins is accepting responsibility for the party's falling poll numbers.   There's now a 14-point gap in support between the incumbent party and National according to the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll.   Labour is down to 26.8% while the Nats hit 40.9%, and both party leaders are on 22.5% for preferred Prime Minister.   The Labour leader told Mike Hosking that the polls are not where th...

The economic slowdown is likely to be having a major impact on the Government's books.   Treasury is releasing its Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update at 1pm, the final fiscal update before Advanced Voting begins in two weeks.   It's expected to show revenue is lower and debt is higher than forecast in May's Budget.   Economist Michael Reddell told Mike Hosking that New Zealand now has a very...

The psychological impacts are becoming clear for our two main parties 32 days out from the election.   The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll has Labour down 5.5% to 26.8%, while National has jumped 4.3% to 40.9%.   ACT has fallen two points to 10%, but can comfortably govern with National.   Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that it’s hard for Labour to get supporters out...

I’m wondering at this point who’s more obsessed with the election, the media, the politicians, or the voters.   The bulk of the feedback I’m getting at the moment is: we’re over it, open early voting, let’s get on with it, we just want change and a new direction. So as the politicians ramp up the campaigns and the polling starts spewing out percentages, and we begin crunching numbers and policy's...

Support for National has rocketed up to just over 40 percent, with a 4.3 point jump in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll. Labour has taken a devastating tumble, down 5.5 percent to 26.8 percent. ACT has fallen two points to 10 - but can comfortably govern with National. The Greens are up to 12.3 percent, Te Pāti Māori is on three, while New Zealand First flirts with the threshold at 4.6 percen...

ACT's Leader denies he's threatening the National Party by suggesting a confidence-only deal, post-election. David Seymour previously said his party would consider it - if National doesn't co-operate in negotiations. That would force the larger party to seek the minor party's support for Government spending. Seymour says ACT's position isn't new or dramatic. "It's just saying- look, we actually wa...

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.   The Act Party has thrown a potential cat amongst the pigeons by threatening it may only ent...

In today’s Election Fix, Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen breaks down National Leader Christopher Luxon’s visit to Ohariu. Newstalk ZB’s Political Editor Jason Walls takes a look ahead to tomorrow’s Pre Election Economic and Fiscal Update (PREFU). Plus, all your Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is your daily wrap of the Election 2023 campaign, talking to our reporters in the field plus t...