Election 2023

Chris Hipkins revealed an unexpected policy announcement in last night's debate. During last night's event, Hipkins said the wanted to ban sugary drinks in secondary schools- claiming they already were in primary schools. Today, he claimed he'd misremembered banning sugary drinks from primary schools, but had consulted on this issue as Education Minister. Health Coalition Aotearoa co-chair Boyd Sw...

In today’s Election Fix, Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen has been with Chris Hipkins on the East Coast – where he’s announced more funding for cyclone recovery. He also gives us an insight into the Labour leader’s gaming skills. Political reporter Sophie Trigger talks through Christopher Luxon’s visit to a goat farm and his continued reaction to last night’s debate. Plus, the key Election 20...

Last night’s leaders’ debate on TV was a brilliant advertisement for the minor parties.   In fact, I reckon Labour and National could make some money out of it because, as far as I’m concerned, I thought it provided 90 minutes of reasons not to go with the traditional red and blue parties.  So what I reckon Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon should be doing today, is writing out some invoices and...

I know people are complaining that last night's debate between the leaders of Labour and National was boring. But seriously, give me a ‘let's get on with business, steady as she goes’ Prime Minister any day.    I am sick and tired of 'rockstar razzle-dazzle' prime ministers who give up when the going gets tough, be they ‘ponytail pulling, catwalk modeling’ Prime ministers or ‘unicorn riding, fairy...

Today on Newstalk ZB Canterbury Mornings John MacDonald was joined by ACT Leader, David Seymour. John asked him if he felt that voters would now look to the smaller parties after last night's Leaders' Debate. They also talked about why his party is against co-governance, and how his policies on law and order will bring crime under control in New Zealand.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

So, the debate. Firstly, I fear I may be wasting your time if you didn't see it. If you didn't, you didn't miss much. If you did see it you will have been, I assume, bored witless. If you were a Chris Hipkins fan going in I don't think he did anything to put you off. Chris Luxon did well because it was his to lose. In fact, given the build up about him being new and so on, he did very well. He loo...

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.

Last night saw the first leaders’ debate between Labour’s Chris Hipkins and National’s Chris Luxon.   Most seem to agree that it was a lacklustre affair, with Luxon perhaps winning by a hair.   Political Commentator Brigitte Morten told Mike Hosking that in the past, audiences would see politicians under pressure when it came to live debates.   She said that since every press conference is now str...

Labour says it's taking a long-term approach to reducing youth crime.   In Auckland, a 16-year-old boy has been charged over Monday's fatal bus station attack, the victim's family revealing he was a 24-year-old alleged 501 deportee from Australia.   And in Christchurch, an 18-year-old learner driver is facing charges over Sunday's fatal Rangiora crash, with new figures revealing Canterbury has bee...

How over all the violence are we right now?   I can’t tell you how over it I am. I’m sure you are too. It’s actually getting ridiculous and what I’m worried about now is that not even a change of government is going to stop it.   A stabbing murder at an Albany bus stop in Auckland Monday, another knife incident 30 minutes later in Auckland’s Waterview, the next day, Tuesday, a person taken into cu...

Some are picking Chris Luxon as narrowly taking the crown in last night's leaders’ debate.   The National Party Leader went head to head with Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins in the first of three debates ahead of the election.   Newstalk ZB Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Kate Hawkesby who he thought came out on top.   He says Luxon was more passionate and had a better plan on law and order,...

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from PR firm Capital and Paddy Gower from Paddy Gower Has Issues joined in on a discussion about the following topics- and more! Labour appears to have quietly scrapped their prison reduction target- is this a big deal? They had achieved a 30 percent drop in the last two terms but it's since climbed again to 20 percent. Does it seem to you also that Hipkins accid...

A leading economist believes New Zealand's economy is at the "bottom edge" when compared to other developed countries. This follows the Government laying out their Pre-Election Economic and Fiscal Update and revealing a surplus has been pushed out an extra year amid a lower tax take. HSBC's Paul Bloxham says inflation isn't coming down fast enough, when compared to other countries. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

Last week, political parties polling above five percent squared off at Hamilton's Mystery Creek Events Centre. Labour's Damien O’Connor, National's Todd McClay and others faced off in the Rural Issues debate, hosted by ZB's Heather du Plessis-Allan. The Country's Jamie Mackay recapped the highs and lows of the debate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour and National are facing scrutiny as they promote their respective tax policies ahead of the election. Both parties will also have the additional challenge of getting New Zealand back to budget surplus by 2027. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains why both parties should release a pre-Christmas budget ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Chris Hipkins has just confirmed Labour is dropping its plan to get people out of jails . When they first took over six years ago , Labour set a target of reducing the prison population by 30 percent in 15 years . That target is now gone . Hipkins was asked about it today, and says there is no target for the next term . This is massive, because Labour was celebrated for this . On November 29, 2018...

The countdown is on to this election's first Leaders' Debate. Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Chris Luxon go head-to-head on TVNZ from 7pm. Former National Prime Minister, Sir John Key, says Luxon's the under-dog - and may have the tougher job. "There are actually a lot of people who want to vote for him and want to vote for National- so they will just be making sure he's the real deal. So t...

A u-turn from Labour. The Party says it'll dump its 2018 target of reducing the prison population by 30 percent within 15 years. It says the crisis has been averted and a target's no longer needed. National Party Corrections spokesperson Mark Mitchell says it's an extraordinary change. He says it's been Labour's core justice policy for the past 6 years. "At the same time, they had no plans to keep...

Prison population targets will be no more if Labour gets back in Government, because it says they've served their purpose. In 2018, the Labour Government promised to reduce the prison population by 30 percent within 15 years. Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis says the target was set because prisons were bursting at the seams when Labour took office, describing scenes of triple bunks and mattresses...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls and Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen take a look at tonight’s Leaders debate – and what we should expect. Plus, they discuss another day of Chris Hipkins attacking National’s tax policy and whether it’s having any impact. And we get the details of the Greens latest campaign policy. Plus, the key Election 2023 headlines. Election Fix is you...

A former MP has some advice for both candidates in tonight’s leaders’ debate.   Labour's Chris Hipkins will face off against National’s Chris Luxon on TVNZ.   Peter Dunne mastered the crowd reactor tool the Worm during TV debates in the 2000s, and says Hipkins should control his words to avoid seeming snide.   But, he told Kate Hawkesby, there are traps for Luxon too.   He says Luxon needs to avoi...

It's debate night tonight.   As the campaign takes its next step in intensity, the unknown this year is the Luxon factor. We have never seen him head to head, unless you watch Parliament and no one does.   He has down played his credentials against a bloke who has spent his entire career in politics.   A lot of energy goes into these things. Having hosted a couple over the years, they get nervous...

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says he knows there is a lot riding on his performance in tonight's first leaders' debate as Labour needs to make up ground in the polls. The PM told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking his party can be trusted to deliver on its election promises, will tackle crime, and that the economy will bounce back. When asked by Hosking if the leaders' debate was his to lose, Hipkins repl...

David Seymour said yesterday that the media can’t be trusted to fairly carry ACT’s message.   Based on the texts we got yesterday from people who attended the ACT launch rally, there may be some truth in that. In general, I don’t think we’re being well served by election coverage at the moment... but from all sides. The annoying disruptors, the shadow boxing politicians, the agenda driven clickbai...

It will be Chris v Chris in the first leaders' debate tonight.   Labour's Chris Hipkins and National's Chris Luxon will face off on TVNZ.   The Labour leader says he hasn't spent a lot of time preparing, while Luxon says the country needs a great leader not a great debater.   But Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls told Mike Hosking that it will be important for those voters who haven't yet d...