Election 2023

National's Chris Luxon has kept coalition talks under lock and key following last week's election result. The Nats and ACT have a slim majority, but it's likely NZ First will be needed in a three-way majority arrangement once special votes are counted. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says these three parties will want to get a clear arrangement in writing before the special votes...

PR Specialist and former Labour Chief of Staff Neale Jones and former Wellington Mayor Dame Kerry Prendergast join Nick Mills on the Friday Faceoff. This week they discuss the 2023 Election results, whether Chris Hipkins should stay on as leader, plans for a charity hospital in Wellington being derailed, and tensions at the Wellington City Council reaching boiling point. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Today John MacDonald spoke to Labour's new Christchurch East MP, Reuben Davidson, and National's Matt Doocey on Politics Friday.   They discussed the election result and coalition agreements. Plus. what is wrong with our justice system when we see so many offenders getting granted home detention and early parole?    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon has confirmed his National-led government isn't keen on Auckland's Light Rail project. The incoming Prime Minister labelled the project a 'white elephant' and said the billions spent could be better put towards other transport priorities. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon has been consistent about scrapping Light Rail from the beginning of the campaign. "If he had turned aroun...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! A hospital in Gaza is the latest to have been hit by bombs, with about 500 feared dead. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has turned from bad to catastrophic - has Israel gone too far now, is the situation in Gaza...

NZ First leader Winston Peters has touched down in Wellington, ahead of negotiation talks with National and ACT. There were cheers from onlookers outside the airport as he arrived- but Peters stayed quiet, despite being peppered with questions by journalists.  ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's unlikely Winston Peters will directly address media as coalition discussions get started- and jou...

The election result looks to have lit a fire under the property market. Real estate agents in Wellington say business has picked up since the 'blue wave' crashed through. National and ACT have both promised to phase in interest deductibility for landlords and make it easier for banks to lend money. City Sales sales manager Scott Dunn says people saw a change of Government coming. He says Auckland'...

With the election over (apart from half a million votes still to be counted), we look at how the country can encourage a more positive approach to economic recovery. “Commerce beats politics, every time.” This quote comes from our guest, Earl Rattray, prominent businessman and lifetime participant in the dairy industry. We look at a different perspective on the Middle East, from Barry Brownstein “...

Labour's Ginny Andersen and National's Mark Mitchell joined Mike Hosking to take a look at the election result and how the next few weeks will play out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the issues of the day- and more! Andrew Little announced his decision to bow out of politics- will any other big Labour names join him? Chris Hipkins says he's going to hang on and keep leading Labour for the time being- how long will he last? Who...

New Zealand's farming community are feeling hopeful about the new changes in Government. While the nation's 54th Parliament won't be finalised until November, several prospective MPs from National and ACT have backgrounds in the primary sector. Grant McCallum, Suze Redmayne, Miles Anderson, Mike Butterick, Andrew Hoggard and Cameron Luxton are among the new faces bringing their rural backgrounds a...

Christopher Luxon has been batting off questions about National's ongoing coalition discussions. The incoming Prime Minister has confirmed he'll remain tight-lipped as National negotiates with ACT and NZ First as the special votes are still tallied. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Luxon's trying to establish a style of leadership where his team gets things done- as opposed to di...

Chris Hipkins says he's still the leader of the Labour Party. He delivered the impassioned message after a marathon caucus meeting with new and current MPs. He's confirmed there was no leadership challenge, but the team will hold a vote within three months of the election. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Labour doesn't know the makeup of their future caucus yet- and there's still time for the...

Mount Albert's Greens candidate says the narrow margin in the seat shows elections are no longer two-horse races. Labour's Helen White has won on early numbers by just over 100 votes. It's traditionally a Labour stronghold, previously held by Jacinda Ardern, David Shearer, Helen Clark - and Michael Savage. White's blaming her slim-win on the Greens splitting the vote. Ricardo Menendez-March says h...

Former Labour Leader Andrew Little says he's thinking of the Party and its future as he quits politics. He says it's important those who'll form the next Labour Government get the chance to be nurtured and developed. Little says he doesn't believe people should hang on too long. "I feel very privileged to have been in the roles that I've been in and to have done what I've done, but I'm also at an...

Chris Hipkins is staying on as the leader of the Labour Party- for now. Which I think is the right thing for Labour, and I'll explain why. But first, I'll get you across what has happened. They made the call today in a nearly two-hour caucus meeting. It was supposed to wrap up at 2pm this afternoon, but it ran all the way until quarter past 3. Clearly there was more to discuss than they thought. I...

As the Labour party, still technically the Government of course, gather in Wellington to do that time-honoured thing of all losers, which is some soul searching, the trick is not to say you are doing it, but to actually do it. The trouble, as we have discovered these past three years, is they don’t actually do anything except talk. To search one's soul, one has to accept what has happened to you a...

Chris Hipkins is set to make his first public appearance since Labour's election loss.   The party will farewell a huge number of outgoing MPs at their first caucus meeting this morning.   Political Editor, Jason Walls, told Mike Hosking that the media hasn't heard from the Labour leader over the past few days.   He says Hipkins has basically gone to ground after the election loss, but he will fro...

‘Jacinda was prepared to sell her grandmother”.. read the headline yesterday.   A statement made by Ron Mark when interviewed about how coalition negotiations have gone in the past with NZ First. Unfortunately, he went on to say in the article that not only was she ready to sell her grandmother, but she did.   Ouch.   What an indictment on an already unpopular leader. But it should serve as a warn...

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills and The Spinoff's Toby Manhire joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National and ACT scored a slim majority in last weekend's election with 61 seats- and they may need NZ First's help after the extra special votes are tallied. Does Winston need to be included no mat...

The election has finally wrapped up- and New Zealand is in for a change of leadership. Chris Luxon is our new Prime Minister-elect and National and ACT are currently on 61 seats, with the final official result being declared on November 3. NZME's Fran O'Sullivan says the nation's business community appreciates the change of leadership. "People I've spoken with really expect to see clarity, they ex...

Chris Luxon secured his role as Prime Minister- and now begins weeks of negotiation, compromise and coalition talks. National and ACT have a slim right-wing majority of 61 seats, meaning they may need bolstering from NZ First if special votes move the dial. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has warned media not to expect regular updates on how talks are progressing. LISTEN ABOVE See...

Incoming and outgoing MPs have arrived in Wellington as National's Chris Luxon and ACT's David Seymour form the next Government. Labour MPs have already begun handing over the reins and consulting National on future decisions- but no new policies will be implemented before November 3.  Jacinda Ardern's former Chief of Staff Mike Munro says the incoming MPs will be settling into their new roles- an...

Signs of camaraderie as we transition from one Government to the next. National's Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis says outgoing Finance Minister Grant Robertson has reached out to her. She says Robertson told her he was happy to discuss any aspect of the finance role. Willis says she appreciates that- and it's her intention to make some information requests of the Government over the next coupl...

A former New Zealand First MP says the Party will be driven by its manifesto, and protecting past coalition gains. Incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon is holding talks with potential partners, waiting for the final count on November 3. It could mean National and ACT need NZ First to rule. Now-Carterton Mayor, Ron Mark, says law and order and co-governance top the Party's list. "These things fit pe...