Election 2023

The Automobile Association is expressing its support for some of National's speed reduction promises.   National's announced it'll return many state highways to 100 km/h from 80, and many local roads to 50.   AA Policy Manager Dylan Thomsen told Tim Dower they like the idea of increasing expressway speeds, having more variable speed limits near schools, and fewer unmanned roadwork sites.   “That’s...

National's deputy has confirmed the party would work with New Zealand First - if it came to it.   It's understood leader Chris Luxon will confirm in a social media video today that he's willing to work with Winston Peters if necessary.   It comes after weeks of questions.   Nicola Willis told Tim Dower their preference is to form a two-party coalition government of National and ACT.   “Realistical...

Same policy, slightly different flavour under National, Labour, ACT, and the Greens. All 4 parties have unveiled new tweaks to existing immigration laws, and Labour is looking to boost struggling sectors with changes to the Green List and Recovery Visa extensions. 17 new roles will be added to the list and the RSE worker cap will increase by 500. Labour's Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little say...

Immigration Minister Andrew Little revealed yesterday that the Government will make immediate changes and tweaks to the Green List, seasonal employment, and compliance visits.  Seeing the RSE cap will increase by 500 spots for the coming summer, he joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the reason for the quick changes. Plus, Simeon Brown talks about how National wants to increase the speed limit...

The National Party wants to change the balance when it comes road safety. If elected, National would return many state highways to 100 kilometres per hour from 80 and many local roads to 50. The Kapiti Expressway and Transmission Gully would be bumped up to 110 - as would the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway if it's safe to do that. Public Service Spokesperson Simeon Brown says speed limits around scho...

This week on the Sunday Panel, The Front Page podcast's Damien Venuto and Coast's Lorna Riley joined in on a discussion about the following: Co-governance- a column by Heather du Plessis-Allan discussed the newly-released poll showing that 48 per cent of respondents want a referendum on Māori co-governance. Only 17 per cent said no. ACT is the only party backing a referendum on co-governance and e...

The first televised leaders debate of the election season has been dubbed one of the more forgettable. National's Chris Luxon and Labour's Chris Hipkins went head to head at the TVNZ-hosted forum and jousted over tax, crime, housing and climate change. ZB political editor Jason Walls says the lukewarm reaction to the first debate is a symptom of audiences not paying attention to earlier campaign e...

As political parties lay out their promises ahead of the election, breast cancer advocates are encouraging candidates to make tacking breast cancer a priority. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women under 65. Kat Sprowell, a survivor of Triple Negative Breast Cancer, is calling on politicians to do better. "I think it is lacking, and I feel really unclear exactly where they stand. I...

Aside from the Wahs, who have dominated public discourse for the last few weeks, there are two other matters of some significance going on at the moment - the General Election and the Rugby World Cup.    It dawned on me on Friday morning - after the Newshub Nation’s Powerbrokers Debate, and while we wait patiently for the All Blacks to take to the field again - that these events have quite a bit i...

The leaders' debate fails to catch fire, but the minor parties give us an entertaining showcase ,  Victoria University axes 229 jobs and 6 courses, with 11 more that could meet the same fate and h undreds of The Warehouse Group sites will be powered by solar farms. Simon Wilson and Shane Te Pou join the Weekend Collective to wrap up the week.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Another allegation of bullying in the Labour Party. MP Shanan Halbert has been accused of bullying by several former staff dating back more than a year, labelling him “manipulative”, “scheming” and “a narcissist”. Minor party leaders have had their say in the latest election debate. Act’s David Seymour, the Green’s Marama Davidson, NZ First’s Winston Peters and Te Pati Maori’s Debbie Ngawera-Packe...

Labour says efforts to crack down on ram raids are working. The party's police spokesperson is hitting back at claims by National Leader Chris Luxon that there are two ram raids a day. Ginny Andersen told Tim Dower data released by Police shows a 70 percent reduction in ram raids from their peak of 116 a month in August last year. “While the numbers are a bit noisy, they have been in decline gener...

The powerbrokers’ debate last night – you learn anything from it? Your impression of anyone improve, or did you feel the shine coming off someone by the way they conducted themselves? I thought it was bloody awful myself, but I stuck with it because I kinda had to. Let's forget the weird pub beer garden look of the whole thing, I just want to think about the substance of the, er, “debate” and the...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Editor Jason Walls tells us who the surprise appearances came from during Christopher Luxon’s walkabout on Auckland’s waterfront today. Plus, did National announce any policy today? Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen continued his road trip with Chris Hipkins – this time through Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Plus, the Election 2023 headlines you need to know – i...

David Seymour and ACT are nothing if not pragmatists.   After taking in the impact of the PREFU, the pre-election fiscal and economic update provided by the Government, Seymour has made some changes to ACT’s alternative budget, principally softening tax cuts to account for economic conditions.   Previously, ACT had proposed a two tier tax system with a top rate of 28%. Now it's going to get there,...

National’s tax fantasy is dead. Now, if you’re one of the people who seem to go completely ape whenever I mention the National Party and who accuse me every time of being anti-National, calm the farm for a minute. Because what I said is a quote. I’m not saying it. It’s a quote. It’s a quote from the headline on political commentator Matthew Hooton’s weekly column, which is published every Friday m...

Willow-Jean Prime, who I think it is fair to suggest will lose her Northland seat this time around, has nevertheless been out on the hustings campaigning and she has struck trouble. She has been in local and national politics for 20 years and has never seen racism like it, she says. She calls it unhinged. Here, in part I suspect, is the problem. A couple of events at local pubs have led her to mak...

So on Tuesday evening I was quite excited about the first Leaders Debate.   It was a funny old evening. I thought Jessica Mutch McKay did a good job moving things along but the two Chris’s energy wanned, and so did mine. It wasn’t a dynamic debate.     There wasn’t actually a lot of debate.     So, after a solid, but slightly disappointing Leaders Debate, I then turned my attention to the Newshub...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Labour MP Greg O'Connor has done the unthinkable and conceded that Labour is likely going to lose the election. Is this a rookie move or is there strategy behind this? 80 percent of Kiwis are wondering if Chris Luxon will work with Wi...

ACT leader David Seymour isn't sure National's proposed taxes will help New Zealanders. The party's released their alternative budget today, promising modest income tax cuts of $16 billion over four years. It's also proposing three tax rates rather than five. Seymour says whoever leads the next Government will have to have an honest conversation about what the numbers require. "I'm not confident t...

The Labour Party insists its Ohariu candidate isn't telling voters to only give him their electorate vote. The Post reports Greg O'Connor told voters at a meeting that with polling going the way it is, National Deputy Leader Nicola Willis is likely to be the next Finance Minister. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Greg O'Connor was 'too honest' about his intentions by encouraging voters to only...

In today’s Election Fix, Political Report Jason Walls talks through Act’s alternative budget – and also tells us if there’s any “fizz” for tonight’s Minor Leaders Debate. Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen discusses Chris Hipkins’ visit to Hawke’s Bay. And he tells us the special gift the Labour leader received. Plus, the Election 2023 headlines you need to know. Election Fix is your daily wrap...

ACT is promising a huge shake-up to the education system.   Its new education policy would crack down on ECE providers that don't teach children the basics.   The B4 School Check would be extended to include education progress.   Under ACT, the checks will make sure kids can read their name, know the alphabet, hold a pencil, pick up a book, and communicate thoughts and ideas.   Dame Lesley Max, Co...

I am very reassured by the ratings of the first Leaders' Debate.   It was a bit over one million, which is about the same as the last election and down a bit on the 2017 debate between Bill English and Jacinda Ardern.   I am reassured because engagement is critical and you could argue never more critical than currently, given the state of the country.   Just because the result is a forgone conclus...

“At the end of the day it comes down to the economy,” Luxon said on what the big difference is between Labour and National after the two leaders agreed on several topics during the recent leader's debate.   Luxon told Mike Hosking that the party is working incredibly hard to pull the undecided 12% vote onto their side. When asked why Luxon wasn’t being “upfront” on what his coalition plans would b...