Yours Politically - Sanjesh Narain

The Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong says New Zealanders are looking for something different. The leader of the Opportunity Party (TOP), Qiulae Wong, says many New Zealanders are seeking a fresh approach to politics after years of governments failing to address the country’s biggest challenges. Wong said New Zealand has seen successive governments, whether led by Labour or National, stru...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says he is excited to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to New Zealand, describing the visit as an important opportunity to strengthen ties between the two countries. Speaking to Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Luxon said the visit will help enhance trade and defence cooperation, while also celebrating New Zealand’s vibrant Kiwi-Indian community....

Vision NZ Party leader Hannah Tamaki says she respects all faiths but believes that people who come to New Zealand should also respect the country’s way of life and its values. Tamaki also said she is concerned that some groups attempt to influence the government to advance their own agendas. No stranger to politics, Tamaki is contesting an election for the third time. This election, she is...

National Farmers Union President Surendra Lal says only a small number of cane farmers in Labasa, including Minister Charan Jeath Singh, have begun harvesting, while most are holding off in the hope of a better offer from the Government. Speaking to Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Lal said about 95 percent of cane farmers are refusing to send their cane to the sugar mills until their concerns ar...

Labour’s finance spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, says she does not agree with all the findings in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) report. Speaking to Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Edmonds discussed the IMF’s assessment of New Zealand’s economy. While the IMF has forecast GDP growth of around 2 percent this year, she said many businesses continue to report sluggish tradin...

ACT’s Papakura candidate Malkiat Singh says he will not back down despite receiving threatening messages on social media. Singh says his ancestors endured lives of servitude and that his community has a long history of resilience. He says he entered politics to serve both his community and New Zealand. Singh also claims he knows who is behind what he describes as a campaign to discredit him,...

Fiji Sugar Corporation (FSC) Board Chairperson Nitya Reddy says he fully sympathises with sugarcane farmers, noting that he is a farmer himself and understands the challenges they face. Reddy acknowledged that the forecast cane payment may not be sufficient for farmers. However, he explained that the forecast payment is calculated based on the estimated volume of cane expected to be harvested duri...

Dr Parmar joined Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain and said that any form of migrant exploitation is a serious concern, with mechanisms in place to address such cases. Dr Parmar said the government is aware of protests being planned ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to New Zealand and that authorities are monitoring the situation. She also said that, despite the criticism, she continues to...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he is sceptical about the prospects of a peace deal between the United States and Iran. Speaking with Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Hipkins rejected claims that Labour’s pay equity policy was “gold-plated”. He said a Labour government would reverse the National-led coalition’s changes to pay equity legislation. Hipkins also blamed N...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit New Zealand in July, with the trip understood to have been confirmed. However, the exact dates are reportedly being withheld until closer to the visit for security reasons.   ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar has welcomed the visit, arguing that stronger engagement with India could bring economic, trade, investment, education, and people-to-people...

Justice minister-Paul Goldsmith says if people want to see real change in the country they have to stick with the incumbent. He joins Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain to talk about Law and Order and  retail crime. Hon. Goldsmith says there is still more work to be done and he is happy to continue on his portfolio or take over any other portfolio given by the Prime Minister.    

Labour MP for Palmerston North -Tangi Utikere Deputy Shadow Leader of the House Spokesperson for Local Government, Transport, State Owned Enterprises, Racing After long wait Labour has announced a policy to cap public transport fares at $20 a week in main centres and $10 everywhere else if elected. The cap, which would be introduced on 1 July 2027, is $20 in Auckland, Wellington and Christchu...

Labour MP Kieran McAnulty joins Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain for an interview. McAnulty says the Government has failed to deliver on National’s promise to turn the economy around and ease financial pressures on households. He argues that many New Zealanders continue to struggle with the cost of living and says Labour will keep advocating for greater support for families and individuals f...

ACT MP Dr Parmjeet Parmar says government has delivered a responsible budget. Speaking to Radio Tarana host-Sanjesh Narain, Dr Parmar says government is managing the books in a responsible way resulting in surplus to be recoded earlier than forecast.

Barbara Edmonds described the Government’s Budget as “disappointing” during an interview with Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain. Edmonds said the Budget had “failed New Zealanders” and criticised its overall direction and priorities. When asked to summarise the Budget in one word, she responded: “disappointing.”

NZ First party leader- Winston Peters has been publicly distancing Christopher Luxon and the government from some key economic and immigration decisions as the 2026 election campaign starts to take shape. On the Budget, Peters has argued the government made the “wrong choices” and suggested a budget surplus should already have been achieved rather than pushed further out. Debate around...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says he is willing to work with parties that share common ground with Labour. Speaking to Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Hipkins said Labour has performed well in consecutive polls because the government has failed to deliver on its promises. The Labour leader also said New Zealand needs a capital gains tax. He argued that while the government may have secured an uni...

ACT MP-Dr Parmjeet Parmar has defended her party’s immigration policy. Speaking to Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Dr Parmar said there are certain requirements migrants must fulfil if they want to call New Zealand home. She said migrants seeking New Zealand citizenship should first understand New Zealand’s values. Meanwhile, Dr Parmar also revealed that she continues to receive thre...

Carmel Sepuloni, deputy leader of New Zealand Labour Party, has pushed back on proposals for a c citizenship test, saying she doesn’t see the need for such a change. In an interview with Radio Tarana host Sanjesh Narain, Sepuloni questioned the reasoning behind introducing a formal test for prospective citizens. Her comments reflect a broader debate in New Zealand about immigration policy an...

Minister Louise Upston joins Radio Tarana's Sanjesh Narain in this latest podcast. She talks about recent attacks by Iran on UAE and what further impact it will have on global fuel supply and what does it mean for NZ’s fuel security? Is the current fuel crisis affecting tourism industry and what is your take on ACT’s immigration policy? How would you describe Shane Jones “Bu...

Mark Mitchell, New Zealand’s Police and Emergency Management Minister, spoke to Radio Tarana to provide an update on flooding in Wellington. He said the government response is ongoing and urged residents to stay informed, but reassured the public that the situation is being actively managed. Mitchell also dismissed concerns about a potential leadership challenge within the New Zealand Nation...

Immigration officers will soon have the power to ask suspected overstayers for identification in homes and workplaces. The government said it was closing a compliance gap in the deportation system, while critics argued it was a step towards the immigration conditions that had allowed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE]  raids seen in the United States .  In September last year,...

Interview with ACT MP Dr Parmjit Parmar. Dr parm has written to the immigration minister seeking changes to the parent Category Visa application. 

Labour's Immigration spokesperson Phil Twyford speaks to Tarana on topics ranging from Economy to Immigration.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins doesn't think government's energy plan will reduce power bills. While speaking to Tarana he has reiterated that his party still supports the proposal to recognise palestine as a State.