Election 2023

It's been rumoured in business circles that Luxon is scoping top Kiwi figures as part of his potential administration.  Fraser Whineray and Andrew Grant have reportedly been courted by National's leader ahead of the election. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the pair have declined so far, but Luxon has expressed interest in partnering with Whineray and Grant. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

Labour's finance spokesperson remains coy about the Government turning down a proposal to stop funding gangs. Cabinet rejected a proposal in July by then-Justice Minister Kiri Allan banning anyone gang-affiliated from receiving public funding. Grant Robertson says he doesn't recall getting involved with that discussion. "Governments in the past have given a range of funding to agencies who work wi...

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, NZME Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie steps in for Barry Soper. The panel discuss...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls talks us through Chris Hipkins visit to Tauranga today – and whether he’s mixing and mingling with the voters. Political Reporter Sophie Trigger analyses Winston Peters’ latest public meeting in Paraparaumu. Plus, she spoke to some of his supporters and got some interesting answers. And Newstalk ZB’s Joey Dwyer discusses the latest fallout from...

What a funny old week it's been listening to the media and the Government howling for National's costings on their foreign house buyers tax and National's refusal to release them. Personally I don't give a flying fig on the costings. It seems perfectly obvious that National will not raise the money it says it will because that would take a record level of overseas sales. And National doesn't care....

Ōhāriu voters will soon get the chance to decide who represents them in the next Parliament. Newstalk ZB's Wellington Mornings held a panel with candidates for the electorate seat. Labour Greg O'Connor, National's Nicola Willis and TOP's Jessica Hammond shared what they thought were the main issues in the area. They also debated how cost of living pressures can be alleviated, the Johnsonville Mall...

Politicians are in full-on campaign mode, trying to make it over the line in the Ohariu electorate. The seat was held for years by Peter Dunne, the Labour MP turned United Future leader. Labour's Greg O'Connor took the seat in 2017 after Dunne's resignation -- and has held it since. Reporter Azaria Howell hit the streets of Johnsonville to find out if voters are going to back him a third time, and...

David Seymour claims his welfare policy will help people help themselves.   Under Act's proposal, drug addicts could lose their benefit if they refuse treatment or don't make efforts to find a job.   It would also apply to people with mental health issues like stress who don't seek help.    Seymour told Kerre Woodham we need to ask tough questions about our system.   “Should Government policy assu...

Labour's made a suite of announcements targeting women.   The party's released its first women's manifesto promising improved endometriosis care and extended breast cancer screening.   It'd also introduce gender pay gap reporting and establish an innovation and entrepreneurship scholarship programme for low to middle-income women.   Employment lawyer Jennifer Mills told Kate Hawkesby New Zealand r...

National is taking aim at the Government in what it claims is not putting victims at the heart of the criminal justice system.   Cabinet rejected a proposal in July by then Justice Minister Kiri Allan banning anyone gang-affiliated from receiving public funding.   National's Simeon Brown told Mike Hosking the country has a soft-on-crime Government that doesn't see crime for what it is.   He says m...

As policies fly about here and there in these last 4 weeks heading into the election, Labour's deputy prime minister and National's deputy leader will join once a week to gain insight into all things party-related.   National’s Nicola Willis joined Kate Hawkesby to discuss any fiscal plans, Act vowing to end co-governance and Labour supposedly turning down proposals to stop gang funding.   LISTEN...

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...