The Trans Tasman Pol Pod

Foreign relations has been a dominant feature this week, with the Chinese testing a missile in the Pacific, and the Indian Prime Minister in the country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is making his first official visit to New Zealand, and China's test launch of a nuclear capable ICBM with a dummy warhead into the Pacific sparked concerns in Wellington and Canberra. The IMF has been in town r...

Well there's only been one big story this week of course – Nicola Willis' 3rd budget. Willis is just a step away from Ruth Richardson in her attacks on the machinery of the state and the well being of the down trodden, as she attempts to “balance the books.” There were a few changes on the tax front – and a new tax/levy, much to the disgust of those who expected Willis to stick with her no new tax...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered a pre-Budget speech launching a new blast of austerity described as “public service reform.” This will involve slashing the number of Government agencies, cutting thousands more public sector jobs and boosting the use of AI. Winston Peters is working hard to put NZ First in pole position for when the campaign proper kicks off in October, with the announ...

The latest set of polls to emerge shows voters aren't really sure of their opinions as the election approaches. The Government has provided details of changes to the Fuel Response Plan following what it calls extensive consultation and engagement with business and industry, and other stakeholders. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the priority is to ensure the country continues to have sufficien...

The Herald's Poll of Polls research has been gushing about the margin of victory the right will achieve on November 7, suggesting the current coalition Government will be returned to power. The research however shows the parties of this current coalition will have the numbers to form a Government, if in fact they can, not that the coalition as it stands will govern again. Labour, the Greens and ot...

There's much speculation about whether the coalition can survive until November – it's likely it will, but internal pressure is building, with Winston Peters at the centre of it as he tries to differentiate himself from what he sees as a weak and failing administration. A new report from right wing think tank The New Zealand Initiative warns while the Government’s 2025 Defence Capability Plan comm...

Chris Luxon is nothing if not supremely confident, and he showed it this week, facing down dissent in his caucus with a self called leadership vote, which he won. MPs leaving the party’s caucus meeting on Tuesday refused to reveal the outcome of the vote, and Luxon told reporters he has the support of caucus, refusing to answer questions, and blaming media for creating a “soap opera.” New Zealand’...

The Government went into overdrive to hype up the city deal it has agreed with Auckland, but Mayor Wayne Brown is less impressed, saying the best Auckland has achieved is it might prevent stupid ideas from being implemented by the Government. The Green Party says while it is relieved the cause of the recent 'boil water' notice in Auckland was easily addressed, more action is needed to deal with th...

New Zealand has started to get involved in the Iran war at a diplomatic level, meeting with 40 other nations to try to get the Strait of Hormuz opened, while Winston Peters has been in the US talking with officials. The latest polls are still a depressing read for Chris Luxon, with National still mired below 30% support. The March Roy Morgan sample shows support for National dropped 4.5% to 26.5%...

The Government has further progressed its plan to deal with a fuel crisis if one eventuates. Meanwhile some economists are calling for diesel allocation to be prioritised now, so essential industry is not affected by what they say will inevitably be a shortage. They’re saying the fuel plan should be escalated immediately and early rationing will help ease what could be a serious crisis down the li...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Prime Minister Chris Luxon are trying to front foot the looming fuel crisis, hoping it may help revive National’s sliding credibility as an economic manager. Willis says Fitch Rating’s decision to place this country’s AA+ long-term credit rating on negative outlook “is a reminder of why fiscal discipline is so important,” and global economic volatility makes the...

The Government has established a Ministerial Group to oversee fuel security as it tries to navigate through what could be its most testing time since coming to office. Some analysts optimistically say the crisis gives the Government a chance to recover some of the credibility it has lost. But this would imply the Government has a workable plan to deal with the situation. At this stage it appears n...

Chris Luxon believes he and his Government are doing a good job, despite the evidence to the contrary, and that he will steer the coalition to another election victory. It’s not altogether impossible. If he really can withstand the pressure, the parties of the right are far from out of the race, with just a few points dividing the major ideological blocs. Economists are coming down on the side of...

The Government is under fire for the nature of its response to the US-Israeli led attack on Iran, which is clearly against international law. The Government may soon start to feel the economic pressure as well if the conflict causes a spike in inflation. It may not be the Government's fault, but it will certainly have to take the blame. If the election is to be fought on fiscal credibility and eco...

The Government's legislating of new powers for police to force homeless people in city centres to “move on,” is being attacked from all sides. Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman is bullish on inflation coming down to within the Bank's 2-3% target zone over the next 12 months, but it appears the emphasis is on tightening. Ironically Penny Simmonds, the Environment Minister who has been MIA so far, w...

NZ First leader Winston Peters has put a stake firmly in the ground, with a call to hold a referendum on Māori seats in Parliament. A row has blown up over revelations Judith Collins' appointment as Law Commission President did not follow procedure and is a blatant political decision. The PSA is calling for an independent review of the appointment after evidence emerged it was done without any rec...

The Government was forced to issue a robust defence of its fast track legislation in the wake of jubilation among conservationists after an expert panel rejected Trans Tasman Resources’ application to mine the seabed off Taranaki for various minerals...Last the week, the US announced a stockpile of rare earth elements, and plans for a critical minerals trading bloc. New Zealand is set to be part o...

It's Waitangi week, and while Maori are still getting the short end of the stick across virtually every measure in society and the economy, but without the hated and derided Treaty Principles Bill, don't expect too many fireworks. NZ First is flexing its election muscle, with Winston Peters targeting the NZ India FTA. He sees it as an immigration issue...right up NZ First's street. Meanwhile there...

This is the last edition for 2025 - we'll be back in February. Meantime this week the Government has revealed its two new RMA replacement Bills - well telegraphed, and not much different from the changes people expected...The Greens are on the warpath after it became clear the Government is paying no more than lip service to its Paris Climate obligations.  Bank economists are talking up the econom...

There's reportedly been a leadership coup within National's ranks which has failed. The challenger, Chris Bishop, not able to get the numbers to roll PM Luxon - Luxon survives and National may well consider itself lucky to have escaped having a leader who may well have turned out to be less popular than Luxon. Meanwhile Labour is ending the year on a high, and in the box seat to form a Government...

The Government has been scrambling this week to pass legislation before Parliament rises for the year, and maybe because there's a risk of the coalition not being returned at next year's election....There were some big calls, with a big change to KiwiSaver, a Social Housing plan, and the biggest changes to local Government in many decades as Chris Bishop made his presence felt, riding roughshod ov...

The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor Survey is more bad news for National and the coalition, with ranking of the Government's performance hitting another new low, and the latest Talbot Mills/Anacta Poll shows the Labour Party rising to 38% and likely holding the balance of power, if the results were reflected at an election. Labour says it will will repeal the Government's Regulatory Standards Bill in...

The report on the pilot run of the Government's boot camp programme for young offenders is out, and it has mixed news. The Government's latest Sunday announcement is a law & order policy - always a good diversion if other things aren't going well. This time it's a crackdown on Meth use. The Government is still pushing ahead with its goal of getting an India FTA in the bag by the end of its fir...

The Government's economic policies are still failing to deliver, with unemployment up again, and the highest number out of work since 1994, but some research shows "green shoot" are appearing. A new argues this country’s 3-year Parliamentary term is too short for effective Government – few would argue with its view there, but calling for more MPs to keep politicians accessible to voters may be a s...

Was this the long awaited Labour party tax policy, or is it a health policy? After the Future Fund's rather confused and detail poor launch last week, Labour needed a strong policy launch to put it back on track and help end the year strongly. Te Pāti Māori's implosion continues, with news the party’s leadership is trying to suspend MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. She is at the centre of a variety of con...