Election 2023

The powerbrokers’ debate last night – you learn anything from it? Your impression of anyone improve, or did you feel the shine coming off someone by the way they conducted themselves? I thought it was bloody awful myself, but I stuck with it because I kinda had to. Let's forget the weird pub beer garden look of the whole thing, I just want to think about the substance of the, er, “debate” and the...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls tells us who the surprise appearances came from during Christopher Luxon’s walkabout on Auckland’s waterfront today. Plus, did National announce any policy today? Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen continued his road trip with Chris Hipkins – this time through Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Plus, the Election 2023 headlines you need to know – i...

David Seymour and ACT are nothing if not pragmatists.   After taking in the impact of the PREFU, the pre-election fiscal and economic update provided by the Government, Seymour has made some changes to ACT’s alternative budget, principally softening tax cuts to account for economic conditions.   Previously, ACT had proposed a two tier tax system with a top rate of 28%. Now it's going to get there,...

National’s tax fantasy is dead. Now, if you’re one of the people who seem to go completely ape whenever I mention the National Party and who accuse me every time of being anti-National, calm the farm for a minute. Because what I said is a quote. I’m not saying it. It’s a quote. It’s a quote from the headline on political commentator Matthew Hooton’s weekly column, which is published every Friday m...

Willow-Jean Prime, who I think it is fair to suggest will lose her Northland seat this time around, has nevertheless been out on the hustings campaigning and she has struck trouble. She has been in local and national politics for 20 years and has never seen racism like it, she says. She calls it unhinged. Here, in part I suspect, is the problem. A couple of events at local pubs have led her to mak...

So on Tuesday evening I was quite excited about the first Leaders Debate.   It was a funny old evening. I thought Jessica Mutch McKay did a good job moving things along but the two Chris’s energy wanned, and so did mine. It wasn’t a dynamic debate.     There wasn’t actually a lot of debate.     So, after a solid, but slightly disappointing Leaders Debate, I then turned my attention to the Newshub...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Labour MP Greg O'Connor has done the unthinkable and conceded that Labour is likely going to lose the election. Is this a rookie move or is there strategy behind this? 80 percent of Kiwis are wondering if Chris Luxon will work with Wi...

ACT leader David Seymour isn't sure National's proposed taxes will help New Zealanders. The party's released their alternative budget today, promising modest income tax cuts of $16 billion over four years. It's also proposing three tax rates rather than five. Seymour says whoever leads the next Government will have to have an honest conversation about what the numbers require. "I'm not confident t...

The Labour Party insists its Ohariu candidate isn't telling voters to only give him their electorate vote. The Post reports Greg O'Connor told voters at a meeting that with polling going the way it is, National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis is likely to be the next Finance Minister. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Greg O'Connor was 'too honest' about his intentions by encouraging voters to only...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Report Jason Walls talks through Act’s alternative budget – and also tells us if there’s any “fizz” for tonight’s Minor Leaders Debate. Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen discusses Chris Hipkins’ visit to Hawke’s Bay. And he tells us the special gift the Labour leader received. Plus, the Election 2023 headlines you need to know. Election Fix is your daily wrap...

ACT is promising a huge shake-up to the education system.   Its new education policy would crack down on ECE providers that don't teach children the basics.   The B4 School Check would be extended to include education progress.   Under ACT, the checks will make sure kids can read their name, know the alphabet, hold a pencil, pick up a book, and communicate thoughts and ideas.   Dame Lesley Max, Co...

I am very reassured by the ratings of the first Leaders' Debate.   It was a bit over one million, which is about the same as the last election and down a bit on the 2017 debate between Bill English and Jacinda Ardern.   I am reassured because engagement is critical and you could argue never more critical than currently, given the state of the country.   Just because the result is a forgone conclus...

“At the end of the day it comes down to the economy,” Luxon said on what the big difference is between Labour and National after the two leaders agreed on several topics during the recent leader's debate.   Luxon told Mike Hosking that the party is working incredibly hard to pull the undecided 12% vote onto their side. When asked why Luxon wasn’t being “upfront” on what his coalition plans would b...

An education researcher says some of ACT's education policies would be a radical change while others are no brainers.   The party wants to implement standardised testing, with University Entrance replacing NCEA Level Three.   The B4 School Check would be extended to include education progress, and Early Childhood Education providers that don't contribute to child development risk losing funding or...

National's Nicola Willis is satisfied with her party pulling ahead of the competition in another poll. The latest One News-Verian poll puts the National Party on 37 percent - down 2 points - and Labour on 27, down one. NZ First has crossed the 5 percent threshold again- meaning the party could join National and ACT in Parliament. Nicola Willis says this poll shows voters are in the mood for change...

National's support has slipped, but a poll shows it's still miles ahead of the competition. The latest One News-Verian poll puts the National Party on 37 percent - down 2 points - and Labour on 27, down one. The Greens and ACT are both up two points - neck-in-neck on 12 percent - and NZ First is steady on 5. Only the centre-right bloc could form a Government- but Hipkins and Luxon are tied as pref...

The alarm is being sounded about a future drop off in Pharmac funding. A boost for the drug buying agency announced in Budget 2022- ends in 2024. Medicines NZ Chief Executive Graeme Jarvis wants the major parties to commit to continuing the money. He says if the gap isn't filled, Treasury is warning there will be years where it won't be possible to keep funding the same medicines. "So in other wor...

Help and support for exploited migrants will be delivered in a new Government scheme. The Government has confirmed a package of basic financial support, for accommodation and essential living costs. It plans to stop 90-day trial periods for employers using the Accredited Employer Work Visa. Immigration Minister Andrew Little says they're tightening the scheme meant to fill gaps by letting business...

Another snapshot of how political parties are faring in the polls is out at 6pm - in another One News -Verian poll. Its figures last week had National leaps and bounds ahead of Labour, which have been on stubbornly low 20s for weeks. Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Aaron Dahmen says even a one percent bump would help Labour. National has been criticised for not releasing costings for its mult...

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...