PODCAST · news
Caucus
by RNZ
Top political commentators unpick and make sense of New Zealand's election campaigns with frank and forthright discussion.
Episodes
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Winding up Winston, the rule of ruling things out, Peter Dunne's heir, and the boring work of saving democracy
The debates this week told us a heap about the state of the nation and the vibe of the campaign. We discuss how Opportunity took its chance, why New Zealand First feels boxed in, and where National and Labour are getting it wrong... and what they're doing right. ANALYSIS By Tim Watkin The…
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National’s panic and pivot as it tries to win back its fractured base
Major parties try new policies to reconnect with their bases, National re-writes its risk pitch, fiscal frustrations, & what stuck from the first leaders debate. ANALYSIS By Tim Watkin What’s a right-leaning voter to do? The past few weeks have seen debates about strategic voting as polls have...
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How's this election different? Disgruntlement, Opportunity, & First-termitis
The campaigns are launching and it's time to lock into politics New Zealand. Caucus returns to set the scene for Election 2026, discussing why incumbency sucks, strategic voting is controversial, and the minor parties are major players. ANALYSIS By Tim Watkin Polls leading into the campaign…
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The four Cs that cost Labour and how National nicked Auckland
A mood for change swept National & friends into power, so this season's final Caucus breaks down the numbers, unpacks the swing in Auckland, & looks at the coalition niceties. And the team opens their envelopes to check their predictions. Election 2023 By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the...
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Long pants, Lazarus Peters, missing bits, & winners & losers
Wrapping up Election 2023, there's still plenty to play for ahead of election day. We review the highs and lows of Election 2023, unpack National's 'Winston Strategy', consider the missed opportunities and pick the seats to watch. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here Analysis…
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National and Labour's broken bungy and why we all need to grow up
Grumpy voters, crimes against candidates, desperate parties, unsophisticated MMP strategies and the return of John Key. As the campaign peaks, so does the tension. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here In Caucus this week, Julian Wilcox, Lisa Owen, Guyon Espiner and Tim Watkin...
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What do you do with a problem like Winston?
National's decision to form a government with New Zealand First as "as a last resort" is both a plea and a warning. What might a "cocktail" with ACT and NZF taste like? Could Luxon hold it together? And is NZF a racist party? By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here This week's...
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The electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
Chris Hipkins needs a new song and dance routine and fast, or he could be doing the limbo and losing the next generation of Labour's leaders. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here Analysis - Another poll, another 27 for Labour. It was July the last time one of the reputable TV...
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National, ACT & NZ First: Delivering the sun or just beach cricket?
Multiple polls point to a change of government. Is National passing the sniff test? Do voters really want ACT's 'real change' or a handbrake? We ask what a centre-right government might look like. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here Analysis - David Seymour is usually more a...
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A campaign of fear and loathing? Nah, the facts matter more
Should we be worried about the election campaign going negative? Or is the greater worry party leaders who can't get their facts straight? By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here Analysis - It's been all about the fear and loathing in campaign land this week, with every party...
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Money or the bag: Major parties crashing into the centre
National's tax plan is a clever political document but raises questions about "heroic" numbers. We look at how much government spending doesn't change and what's up for grabs in coalition deals. Plus a quick visit to Ilam and Epsom. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here…
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Don't stop believing: ACT hits fawke in the road as Labour falls & National stalls
ACT endures scrutiny, Shane Jones impersonates Julie Andrews and we recall 1999, while Lacklustre Luxon and Ho Hum Hipkins fail to inspire. Election 2023 By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here Analysis - A new 1News Verian poll shows it is an uphill battle for the centre-left...
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National's yin and yang v Labour's frugal fear factor
With little money in the government's coffers heading into Election 2023, the Caucus podcast looks at how the two main parties plan to use fear, frugality and friendliness to win your vote. By Tim Watkin Analysis: Labour's campaign strategy of stinginess has started to take shape, as it rolled…
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Campaigns rev into gear over climate, dentalcare and cellphones
Get your teeth into the big announcements on climate change, cellphones and teeth. Caucus debates the BlackRock deal, China, free dentalcare affordability and teachers as the "phone police" Election 2023 By Tim Watkin Drivers, start your engines. The campaign seemed to get into gear this week…
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Missing in Action: Kingmakers, popular leaders, tax policy & something to believe in
The election is just two months away. 10 weeks. 72 days. Caucus returns looking at what's distinct about this campaign - no kingmaker, missed opportunities, weaker majors and stronger minor parties, Election 2023 By Tim Watkin The campaign proper is still weeks away, but the campaign in real…
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Explaining The Red Tide: Kiwis hug Jacinda back as Labour breaks records
The crew open their envelopes and reveal their picks, as they make sense of Labour's govern-alone victory, National's much-needed rebuild, the return of te Pati Maori and the Greens' delight in the face of powerlessness Election 2020 By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here…
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Wealth, weight, winners and the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard
Two days out, we hear surprise calls on wealth taxes and obesity and the Caucus crew debate the seats to watch, highs and lows, winners and losers. And we put our picks in an envelope. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here Whenever Sir Edmund Hillary was asked about whether he...
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Collins & Peters on thin ice as Ardern finds her feet
The New Zealand First Foundation in court, Judith Collins pays a price on Ponsonby Rd, Jacinda Ardern finds some form & a chance for Te Pati Maori. Election 2020 By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here National's not having the week Judith Collins would have prayed for. After a...
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Collins goes vote plucking, while Peters makes 'last stand'
Caucus rates a fired-up leaders' debate as Collins looks to bring voters 'home', while Winston Peters rages as he's 'exonerated'. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here You could almost see the basket in Judith Collins' arm during last night's Newshub Leaders' Debate, as she…
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Sending out the political assassins as National shoots itself in the foot
With eight days, 18 hours, two minutes and 10 seconds until voting starts, party leaders are calling up hit-jobs as they scrap for their political lives. Plus, the debate debacles, ACT's rise and National's steady run of own goals. By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here As the...
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Gulliver's Election... and is Labour angling to govern alone?
Welcome to the recession, with giant debt, spending and unemployment that make previous campaigns look like Lilliput. How are New Zealand First are trying to recover & does Labour really want to govern alone? Election 2020 By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here After a week of...
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Timid tax, debating debates and say hello to Kinder Collins
Labour's tax policy is tentative, but is it also 'right for right now'? And is it negotiable? Judith Collins' policy releases point to less Crusher, more Kinder. Plus, how to mess up TV debates and the Matariki mood. By Tim Watkin It was one of the big unanswered questions every political junkie...
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The naughty prefect and the 'single source of truth'
Greens leader James Shaw has been under the cosh for his Green School decision, but what's going on behind the scenes and will it cost votes? Social media rears it's sulky head, vaccination lies and debate over 'the single source of truth'. Plus, is Winston Peters in cabinet or not? By Tim Watkin...
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Lockdown let-downs, leg-ups & two swing seats
As Auckland struggles through a "tricky" extended lockdown, who are the political winners & losers? We debate covid fatigue, who's won from the wage subsidies (hint: not women) and two up-for-grabs electorates - Ōhāriu and Whanganui. By Tim Watkin It's been a tricky week for the country…
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Test fail: Is Labour bordering on trouble?
Parties try to look tough as border policies are rolled out, Labour fails its testing test and what are the implications of delaying the election? By Tim Watkin These are testing times for New Zealanders, as Auckland spends two weeks at level three. But news over the past week that the testing at...
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'Didn't that escalate quickly?'
What impact will the return of Covid in the community have on Election 2020? Plus Gerry Brownlee's conspiracies, Labour's Ardern-astic launch, and Merv & Mellow in Auckland Central. Election 2020 By Tim Watkin Campaigns suspended just as they began. Election day in doubt. And - following the…
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This election is brought to you by the letter C
Caucus returns for Election 2020 talking about the state of the parties, Covid debt and problems with our political culture. By Tim Watkin Campaigns. Culture. Character. And perhaps most of all, Covid-19. As the House rises today and politicians hit the road to pitch their woo to voters, those...
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We're Coming Back
The election's getting close and that can only mean one thing... Caucus is coming back. Presented by Guyon Espiner, Lisa Owen, Tim Watkin and Scott Campbell. The election's getting close and that can only mean one thing... Caucus is back. And this election RNZ journalists Guyon Espiner, Lisa Owen...
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Coalition negotiations, THAT press conference & the supermarket dash
In our 13th Caucus, it's negotiation time. So we look at Winston Peters' post-election posturing, 'constitutional conventions' and what New Zealand First needs from the next three years. Plus, we unpack the election results and what they mean for the parties. Election 2017 By Tim Watkin That...
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How to win elections & influence things
We make the big calls two days from E-Day. What are the scenarios that could lead to forming a government, a last look at the polls & debates, & our highs and lows from the campaign Election 2017 By Tim Watkin So it all comes down to this: It's close. While the lack of polls this election means...
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Tax attacks & the price of Winston
Lisa Owen, Tim Watkin and Guyon Espiner discuss the fallout from Labour's sudden tax u-turn, the volatility of polls and the cost and bottom-lines of Winston Peters. By Tim Watkin Politicians and u-turns go together like taxi divers and, well, u-turns. But a u-turn 10 days out from election day?…
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The truth hole, debates in the dock & what a government looks like
The panel discuss why both National and Labour seem to be having trouble with their sums, and why it's time to ask the minor parties what they really want. By Tim Watkin Financial credibility and leadership. That's what this week's Caucus boils down to, with both National and Labour struggling…
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Where's Winston: Super stuff-ups & inside the leaders debates
It's all about Winston - his Super spin, bottom lines and how he chooses coalition partners. But it's also about the scrap for the family vote and what it's really like behind the scenes at a leaders debate By Tim Watkin It's been Winston week, so far. That changes tonight, with the first...
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Everybody was PREFU fighting...
Lisa, Tim and Guyon discuss how PREFU has changed the campaign, how Dunne's departure may signal a changing of the generations, and how the minor parties want to change the conversation. By Tim Watkin Put the clubs down and back away. That's what Labour and National tried to do after the...
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Aus Wars, The Empire Taxes Back & The Return of the Parker
National starts its fight back as Bill English goes to boot camp, Jacinda Ardern negotiates her first international stoush and Grant Robertson opens the door to a Capital Gains Tax. By Tim Watkin It's been an in-between week in New Zealand politics - between the fall of both Andrew Little and...
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How Metiria Turei saved the Labour Party
In this week's Caucus, the team discuss the Green Party strategy that may have (inadvertently) saved Labour. Was it OK to put Metiria Turei under such scrutiny? What next for the Greens? Election 2017 By Tim Watkin Three weeks ago, Metiria Turei rolled the dice with nothing less at stake than all...
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The Jacinda Effect: What’s really changed?
It's all about Jacinda. Labour's late leadership change has turned Election 17 on its head. But can Labour seize the moment and how will other parties respond? Election 2017 By Tim Watkin What had been looking like a campaign that was being driven by the minor parties, has now pivoted back to…
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Dirty(ish) deals, the nerdy truth about immigration & poverty… & more Metiria
Guyon Espiner, Lisa Owen and Tim Watkin discuss Bill English's Epsom and Ohariu urges, whether the Greens are losing control, the link between New Zealand First's vote and immigration, plus the Perry incomes report. Election 2017 By Tim Watkin This time there's no cup of tea and little intrigue....
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Tax & spend, Māori seats and the confessions of a co-leader
Labour's fiscals, Winston's growing spending tab, who wants the Māori seats, what a Green Party voter looks like and whether it's OK for Metiria Turei to have deceived WINZ (oh, and the Greens' actual family policy!). Election 2017 By Tim Watkin Labour and National are doubling down on the...
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Fighting for families and the Greens' secondary explosive device
We talk about Barry Coates being "nuanced when he should have been unequivocal" on coalition agreements, as well as the battle over National and Labour's families packages. Election 2017 By Tim Watkin In today's episode, Green MP Barry Coates' ill-considered suggestion that the Greens might…
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Coalition building and bashing
The team discuss who's making nice with whom, the return of Shane Jones, a Greens apology, Todd Barclay implications and Māori Party-Labour fisticuffs. Election 2017 By Tim Watkin Watch the video version of the episode here Why is New Zealand First assumed to be the king maker? Is everyone a bit...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Top political commentators unpick and make sense of New Zealand's election campaigns with frank and forthright discussion.
HOSTED BY
RNZ
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Caucus have?
Caucus currently has 41 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Caucus about?
Top political commentators unpick and make sense of New Zealand's election campaigns with frank and forthright discussion.
How often does Caucus release new episodes?
Caucus has 41 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Caucus?
You can listen to Caucus on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Caucus?
Caucus is created and hosted by RNZ.
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