Election 2023

Trying to pick a winner from a TV debate is a tricky thing to do.   First thing I have to bear in mind is that I'm not impartial when I look at these things. I've already decided who I want to win, so that's bound to be an influence.   I started going through it round by round, first one to Luxon, even in the second, Hipkins in round three.   Four to Luxon, five to Hipkins... overall, I'd have to...

The Labour Party has laid out their newly proposed fiscal policy ahead of the election. Labour has pledged to look for more savings across the books, and keep net debt under 30 percent of GDP.  Milford Asset Management's Frances Sweetman says Labour's 'careful and balanced' fiscal plan comes with a few caveats. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's looking increasingly likely Chris Luxon will have to pick up the phone to Winston Peters next month. Tonight's One News/ Verian Poll shows New Zealand First is on 6 percent - up a point - and remaining in a kingmaker position. Labour and National have both dropped 1 point - to 26 and and 36 percent- and Act's steady on 12. The Greens are on 13, and Te Pati Maori is at 2 percent. National Depu...

Newshub's Paddy Gower says National and Labour's leaders are gutless for refusing to debate their colleagues in the minor parties. He will moderate the show-down between Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins in Auckland tonight, after last week's TVNZ debate. Gower says it's important for the pair to face-off, but it seems a bit historic that the other leaders won't be there. "We know that whoever f...

Labour's David Parker has responded to National's criticism of the Party's fiscal plan. The plan promises to look for more savings across the Government's books and to keep net debt under 30 percent of GDP. But National questions Labour's credibility- saying it's blown all operating allowances set since 2017. Associate Finance spokesperson Parker says it's because of Covid and the cyclone and floo...

A prediction tonight's leaders debate may be more exciting than the last one. Chris vs Chris will appear on Newshub at 7 tonight, moderated by Patrick Gower. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says some were disappointed by the debate on TVNZ- but he says this one could be a different story. "I've talked to both leaders- Chris Hipkins says he's essentially going on 'attack mode', so expect fireworks...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls breaks down Labour’s fiscal plan – and talks what impact it may have on the party’s election chances. Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen talks National’s new campaign bus. Plus, the pair chat how both leaders are feeling in the leadup to tonight’s debate. And Newstalk ZB’s Jacob Jones gives us the highlights of a fiery Northcote electorate d...

Labour's police spokesperson has accused her National counterpart of touring the country "scaring old ladies".   Ginny Andersen told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking Breakfast that Mark Mitchell is holding public meetings to drum up fear about crime.   “These meetings where you go around the country scaring old ladies. Mark's being going around the country scaring old ladies, that's exactly what his who...

Labour's accusing National of beating up the vulnerable with its new welfare scheme.   The opposition is promising to introduce traffic light style sanctions to those on the dole who aren't meeting Jobseeker requirements.   A red light breach could mean reductions, mandatory work experience, and someone's money being managed by WINZ.   Labour's Social Development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni told...

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro and Business Mentors NZ CEO Sarah Trotman joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National seeks to introduce sanctions if beneficiaries don't meet their obligations to prepare for or find work. What do we make of this policy?  Despite Labour assuring everyone that a wealth tax is off the table, Welli...

National's Chris Luxon was set to make an impression at Auckland’s NorthWest mall. Between declining a hairdresser's offer to moisturise his head, pulling off a man’s beanie without asking and getting a blue stain on his suit at Little Lab- it was a memorable day on the campaign trail. ZB chief political reporter Aaron Dahmen says it was a mix of entertaining and weird- making for perfect campaign...

National denies their new welfare policy will put more children into poverty. The party wants a traffic light-style scheme, which sanctions beneficiaries who don't meet their Jobseeker obligations. A third breach could see benefit reductions, mandatory work experience, and someone's money managed by WINZ. Labour argues the policy would increase child poverty, but National's Louise Upston says it'l...

There's growing speculation that Labour could eventually introduce a wealth tax. In a leaked video, Labour's Wellington Central candidate Ibrahim Omer tells a meeting that the party hasn't given up on the policy. Hipkins has pushed back against these claims and plans to discuss Omer's comments with him. ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says Hipkins has made it clear that he's not introducing a weal...

In today’s Election Fix, Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen takes us through Christopher Luxon’s visit to the strawberry fields. And we get a breakdown of his eventful visit to Auckland’s NorthWest mall. Political Editor Jason Walls questions why Chris Hipkins is continuing his attacks against National, Act and New Zealand First. Plus he asks whether the Labour leader is getting desperate. Plus...

A little bit of politics, because we didn't really get a chance to talk about Christopher Luxon and David Seymour saying yes, okay, if we have to, we will work with New Zealand First.   Commentators have got themselves into quite the lather over that. A sign of weakness, they were saying, being bullied by the media and all that sort of carry-on. And it's not often I agree with the leader of New Ze...

My favourite quote of the week, and admittedly it is only Tuesday, is from the Governance Services Manager at the Auckland city council.   Submissions have just closed on the council's plan to establish Māori wards. The manager says "most submitters seemed to not want Māori seats".   No kidding.   Now, there are two sorts of democracy; one is what we are in at the moment, the election, where we ge...

Latest polling shows National will need New Zealand First on board to form a government.   The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll shows Labour's fallen slightly to 26.5% and National's dropped to 39.1%.   The Greens' boosted to 14.2%.   With ACT's 8.8% the right-bloc would have 60 MPs, just below the 61 needed to form a government.   New Zealand First's 5.2% would be required.   Political commentat...

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking that polls are polls, and they need to spend the next few weeks getting their poll numbers up.   “Every day in an election campaign matters, and we intend to fight until the last day.”   When questioned on why election odds for Labour, Greens, and  Te Pati Maori sit at 0.2% if the election was held today according to a Herald poll, Hipkin...

The Greens are the quiet movers in the latest poll.   The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll puts them up 1.9 points to 14.2%, a result which would deliver them 18 MPs.   Labour was down slightly to 26.5%, National dropped a bit more to 39.1%, and ACT fell to 8.8%.   New Zealand First would just make it to Parliament on the numbers at 5.2%.   Green Party Co-Leader James Shaw told Mike Hosking that...

Now we've had a day to mull it over... has Christopher Luxon played a smart card or a dopey one?   Up until yesterday we were under the impression Luxon wants nothing less than to have to deal with New Zealand First.   But this feels like an admission of defeat, as though Luxon has realised NZ First may well hit the threshold, and if they do that's going to drag down the number of seats National c...

Both Labour and National took a dive in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll. The National Party has lost nearly 2 points of support, taking it to just over 39 percent - and with ACT on 8.8, it needs New Zealand First to govern. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan explains what this could mean for the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Associate Finance Minister is looking on the bright side of the latest poll. The party has fallen a further 0.3 points to 26.5 and National's dropped 1.8 points to 39.1 percent. NZ First is up 1.9 points to 5.2 percent, reaching the necessary threshold to enter Parliament. David Parker says it appears the left has stabilised - while National and ACT have peaked early. "I think it's the go...

Winston Peters says he doesn't feel snubbed by being the National leader's last resort. Chris Luxon today confirmed he would work with New Zealand First post-election if absolutely necessary- but reiterates his preference is a National-Act Government. Peters says Luxon's been under media pressure to make a call and has taken the time to make the right decision. He says he'd be happy to take Luxon'...

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 Executive Director of the Taxpayer’s Union Jordan Williams steps in for Barr...

In today’s Election Fix, Chief Political Reporter breaks down the worst kept secret of the campaign. The fact that Christopher Luxon will work with Winston Peters and New Zealand First post-election, if he has to. Plus, Aaron talks through the public’s reaction during Luxon’s time in Waikato. Political Editor Jason Walls tells us what Chris Hipkins’ reaction to the news has been – and also paints...