The Trans Tasman Pol Pod

So, one of the country's more bizarre elections has been held, and now we wait for an official result. There is still the possibility of some drama at the end of the month, but not much. Joining us again is Otago University Political analyst Dr Michael Swanson to talk about the election, and where to from here

Just days to go until the country decides whether the ruling coalition has done enough to be re-elected, or a change is needed. It appears to be the left's to lose, but it is also very tight, and efforts to game the rules of MMP have thrown a cloud over a rather lacklustre campaign, where the main parties have tried to be small targets. The small parties will decide who rules. Joining us to discus...

The lifeless election campaign drags on, with neither main party able to land a killer blow and no major scandal erupting to destroy the hopes of one of the other. The Herald's Mood of the Boardroom survey is out – the corner office set doesn't rate Luxon at all, and is strongly in favour of Willis as finance minister despite her borrow and hope policies. The country's top CEOs don't like Hipkins...

We're halfway through what is a very flat election campaign so far with the country set to vote on November the 7th for either a Government which hasn't done much to justify re-election or an opposition which is still dealing with the hangover from its last time in office. The two major party leaders are doing their best to be small targets and their policy offerings reflect this, with no real vot...

With the election just under 4 weeks away, the leaders of the main parties took centre stage this week for the first televised leader's debate – as usual there was nothing to really take away – Chris Hipkins was declared the winner, but neither leader landed a telling blow. Labour released its long awaited fiscal plan - basically National lite, with 2026 Budget numbers locked in. A series of new p...

Supermarkets are becoming a major campaign issue as the parties get into the business of attempting to be elected in November. After years of campaigning against National and its rich landlord mates, Labour now has the same mates, after Chris Hipkins announced it would be keeping the tax break for landlords it has so roundly lambasted the Government for delivering. Despite all the talk from econom...

It’s clear voters don’t believe either Labour or National can provide the solutions the country needs, and their support for them is ebbing away. For a second poll in a row they’re both under 30%. Immigration policy is becoming a key issue for November as New Zealand First continues to push its nationalist agenda, and Labour tries not to be outdone by the parties of the right on an issue which in...

Tax is shaping as the big issue for the election, with National and Labour both on the attack over their various policies, and allegations of lying being thrown about. The Pacific Islands Forum has been beset by its usual controversies, with some leaders not appearing, China cast in the role of bogeyman once again, Taiwan in the mix and New Zealand throwing money at a new port at a former military...

The latest poll out, RNZ’s Reid Research sample, shows National’s leadership coup attempt has not been as damaging to the party as might have been expected. In fact, National’s core support has remained solid. Chris Hipkins has finally delivered some more Labour economic policy, promising the party’s fiscal strategy will grow the economy, get the books back into surplus and make sure hard-working...

It's been an extraordinary week in politics, with Chris Luxon once again having to face down his detractors in caucus, and once again winning a confidence vote. Amazingly, in a week in which his MPs tried to depose him as leader, Luxon is ahead of Labour leader Chris Hipkins as preferred Prime Minister in the most recent polls, and the National Party is holding its own. The big mover this week is...

Christopher Luxon has had a bad week. First there was the kerfuffle over his comments to a group of business people in Rotorua, where he insulted one of his party's key voting blocks by telling them effectively to grow up and just deal with tough economic times. He then threw his MPs and advisors into a spin by basically making policy on the fly, saying he'd call a referendum on MMP if re-elected....

The latest Talbot Mills poll which saw National climb out of the 20s will be good news for the party, but Chris Luxon's decision to rule out Opportunity after the election may come back to bite him. Winston Peters invoked a political storm this week with his attack in Parliament on Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan telling him to "go back to your own country" during a debate. Some called it a sackable offe...

ACT and NZ First are rapidly becoming bolt holes for failed politicians from other parties where they are retreaded and given high list positions to try to kick start their former mediocre careers. But the resignation of Stuart Nash as a NZ First candidate after a sexism scandal shows the danger of recruiting these failed politicians. Winston Peters  has firmly positioned NZ First as the party of...

Narendra Modi's visit went off without a hitch and he and Prime Minister Luxon appear to be the best of friends. They want to take the relationship to the next level, which includes a focus on maritime security which could put us offside with China. Another decision which could put us in China's bad book is potentially joining the new Ocean of Peace Alliance between Australia and Fiji. It is clear...

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...