Election 2023

I feel like we need to deal with the elephant in the room- Winston’s going to be part of this Government, isn’t he? Nobody’s saying it out loud, but I think we can all see that it’s absolutely going to happen. Take the cue from the fact that he was offered the Speaker’s job. And as far as I can see, they’re going to need him because at the moment - assuming that they win the Port Waikato by-electi...

So the political party that didn’t know what it stood for anymore and offered no real future lost the election to the party that offered tax cuts that are affordable only by increasing taxes on the wealthy and then claim that we’re back on track.  I’d argue that New Zealand is confused.  How else can you explain a nation that just 3 years ago so gratefully gave a red tide to Labour and now switche...

Rongotai's new MP has fronted up to media following the weekend's election result. The Greens Julie Anne Genter won the Labour stronghold seat. She explained to Nick Mills why she thinks she won. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg O'Connor believes he's won the Ohariu electorate through his strong ground game. Amongst a blue wave, the incumbent Labour MP beat National's Deputy Leader Nicola Willis in the seat over the weekend. O'Connor thinks his omnipresence and determination got him over the line. He says he's made a real effort to know the people of his electorate well during his six years in office. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

The weekend. Discuss.    No there's more than that isn’t there? What a weekend. I owe my texter Muz from Hawkes Bay a bottle of Pinot of his choice. He said that it would be a walkover, that it would be absolutely obvious that National would do well and that they would have partners to support them.    I thought the election would be a bit closer, a bit tighter. But ultimately, although it wasn't ...

What I enjoyed most about Saturday night was the message. What National and Act have argued for, and got support for, is to take this country back to what it was - aspirational, successful, outward looking and positive. For years we were the rockstar economy. When tragedy and upset struck as it did with the earthquake and the Global Financial Crisis, we didn’t buckle and we didn’t sink. We backed...

Wellington Central's new MP Tamatha Paul has revealed why she wouldn't talk to Mike Hosking during his election night coverage. The Green candidate won the seat convincingly over the weekend, however refused to be interviewed by Newstalk ZB's Breakfast Host when asked. She explained to Nick Mills why that decision was made.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well what a weekend.   From the nail biter of a fantastic AB’s game, which, for the record, I was never in any doubt of. For those of you who were still listening to our election night coverage at midnight Saturday night you would have heard me say I picked the AB’s to win – so you know, never in any doubt from me, just saying. Just so happy for Fozzie to be honest. I feel like he deserved that.  ...

Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he wants to "get cracking on" building relationships and starting conversations with respective political parties in forming a government.   Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning, he acknowledged there is a large chunk of special votes still needing to be counted.   Asked about his thinking on NZ First and party leader Winston Peters, he...

ACT Party leader David Seymour said what is clear is there is going to be a process driven by the special votes that may well deliver them a majority to work together with the National Party.   "But there's also a possibility that there's going to be a third person in this marriage —as Diana once said— and we're going to have to work through how we create a three-way deal," he said, acknowledging...

The National Party says it's keeping the special votes in mind as it starts working out how it will form government.   Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says they won't be doing any negotiating via the media because they want to respect the privacy of prospective coalition partners.   She told Kate Hawkesby that work is going on.   Willis says they're progressing relationships with parties they want arr...

A polling expert has given New Zealand's general election polls a pass mark.   Curia Principal David Farrar told Mike Hosking that the polling industry gave a pretty good idea of what to expect.   He says with half a million votes to come, National's probably going to end up somewhere between 37 and 38%, which is where polls expected them to land.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

This week the Sunday Panel has had a bit of a rebrand. This week's Election Panel features Political Commentator Brigette Morton and Former Labour Minister Kris Fafooi discussing the ins and outs of this election: What caused the blue wave that swept the country? Will the special votes change anything?  How will Labour fare as the opposition? Will Luxon's business background give him an edge when...

A blue wave swept the country last night, National taking 39% of the votes. Former Finance Minister and National member, Steven Joyce, told Newstalk ZB's Election Special that ahead of time he was concerned that it might become another auction between the two parties. However that doesn't seem likely, he said, even if it became a mathematically viable option. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listen...

Te Pāti Māori's had a good election, with Rawiri Waititi holding Waiariki and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer taking Te Tai Hauāuru.   21-year-old Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke has unseated senior Labour Minister Nanaia Mahuta in Hauraki-Waikato, and Takuta Ferris has taken Te Tai Tonga.   Two other Labour Cabinet Ministers have only slim leads: Kelvin Davis in Te Tai Tokerau and Peeni Henare in Tāmaki Makaurau...

ACT is playing electorate monopoly in Auckland, with Brooke van Velden taking a historic win in Tamaki and David Seymour comfortably regaining Epsom.   Van Velden told Newstalk ZB’s Election Special that Tamaki locals haven’t had a real choice since Robert Muldoon won the seat in 1960.   She said that she’s committed to listening and continuing to listen to the locals, fulfilling their desire to h...

Act will have 11 seats in the new Parliament, with Brooke van Velden taking the previously safe National seat of Tamaki.   Leader David Seymour told Newstalk ZB's Election Special that the challenge is now to use their increased influence in a National-led government.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour campaign chair Megan Woods says they're still letting the dust settle on a devastating election result.   She told Newstalk ZB’s Election Special that it's too soon to say where things went so wrong for her party.   But she says that at the end of the day, they just didn't get enough votes.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They may not have swooped to victory but it's been a massive night for the Greens.   They'll spend the next three years in Opposition but they're celebrating as though they've won the election, picking up much of the Labour vote.   Greens Co-Leader James Shaw told Francesca Rudkin and Jason Walls that it's been a banger of a result.   He says they've got 14 MPs —the most ever— with seven new peopl...

New Zealand First's Shane Jones says the election's brought a sense of relief. He's calling leader Winston Peters a phoenix, leading a team of eight back into Parliament on current numbers. But things could change after the special vote count is released on November 3. NZ First's Shane Jones told Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB's Election special that it's still a big unknown. He says these matter...

New Zealand First's Shane Jones says the election's brought a sense of relief. He's calling leader Winston Peters a phoenix, leading a team of eight back into Parliament on current numbers. But things could change after the special vote count is released on November 3. NZ First's Shane Jones told Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB's Election special that it's still a big unknown. He says these matter...

The votes are in. National is set to take up Government, but time is still to tell whether or not Christopher Luxon will need to pick up the phone and call in NZ First. The party's campaign spokesperson Chris Bishop joined Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB's Election Special to find out what comes next for National. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson of Sherson Willis PR and former Labour staffer Mike Munro talked about: What did we think of last night’s final debate? Did Chris Hipkins go too far? How will tomorrow night play out? How big a role will New Zealand First and Winston Peters play tomorrow night? Will he break his word? Will he work with ACT? What will happen after the dust settles? And should Ma...

Labour claims it's enjoying a last-minute surge, in leaked internal polling. It puts Labour on 30 percent, National on 35, the Greens on 13, Act on 8, and Te Pati Maori on 4. It would have the left bloc overtaking the right - 47 percent to 43 percent. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls is urging scepticism. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan with New Zealand First on 6 percent, this still make...

Let’s kick-off with a bit of financial advice. If you have shares in a sausage roll factory or an ice cream shop, sell them now. Because, after today, sales are going to plummet without the politicians screaming around the country filling their gobs and scooping the cold stuff into cones. Come midnight tonight, we are done for another three years. Although the real action is still to come with vot...