The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 12

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’s operations in waters off China as it pursues its UN sanctioned mission to police North Korean sanctions has put this country seriously offside with China.  ACT will campaign to amend the Local Government Act to prohibit voting rights for unelected appointees on local council committees. ACT Leader David Seymour says “if you’re voting on council decisions, you should be accountable to the people paying the bills. That means facing free and frequent elections.” The India FTA will be signed in New Delhi next week. The agreement has the backing of the business sector, but NZ First is against it due to migration clauses it contains, while Labour, which has caved in and belatedly offered its support, is concerned over clauses which commit $30bn in investment from New Zealand to India. And to talk more about Chris Luxon's extraordinary move to initiate a caucus vote on his leadership and what it means going forward, I'm joined by political columnist Janet Wilson: