The Trans Tasman Pol Pod

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 commits $12bn over four years, including $9bn of new spending, new money risks being absorbed into a system too slow and fragmented to deliver modern capability without institutional reform. The National Party seems to have forgotten the first lesson in politics – don't attack the media. It appears to be using a minor incident at Parliament to throw a media wall up around the gaffe prone Prime Minister, keeping him away from tough set piece TV interviews. A new report from the left wing Helen Clark Foundation is warning the “country’s social fabric is fraying on almost every measure,” amid growing isolation, financial stress and institutional distrust. And we're joined this week by new Defence Minister Chris Penk, to talk about the future for the country's armed forces.

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:

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 the regular and widespread contamination of drinking water elsewhere in the country. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell and Chris Luxon again helped prove the Government has the chops in a crisis, with their calm and considered approach to the “cyclone” Vainunu situation. BusinessNZ and leaders across the export sector are calling on all political parties to back the India FTA, warning the country cannot afford to miss a major economic opportunity.Associate Education Minister David Seymour has been talking up the “success” of the Charter school programme he has championed. He's pushing data showing there are 1,471 students enrolled in 16 charter schools – a microscopic proportion of the close to 860,000 students enrolled in schools across the country. Te Pāti Māori has expressed deep concerns the Electoral (District Boundaries) Amendment Bill will restrict the representation of Māori roll voters until 2032 and beyond if it is not amended. And with the Iran war dragging on and the global situation more tense than it has been for years, foreign policy is a crucial issue. I'm joined now by Labour's Vanushi Walters, the party's Foreign affairs and intelligence agency spokeswoman:

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% - its lowest level of support since being elected in 2023, and potentially a 16 seat loss in the House. The latest Taxpayers Union Curia poll also has National below 30%, but up 1.4 points compared with last month to 29.8%. NZ First jumps 3.9 points to 13.6%, its highest ever level of support in this poll and 11% in the Roy Morgan.More than a year of tension between the Governments of this country and the Cook Islands, which began with the Cooks entering into an agreement with China without telling the New Zealand Government, appears to have been resolved with the signing of a Defence & Security Declaration between the two countries. ASB economists have warned the current Middle East crisis is set to add $55 a week to household living costs this year, in what is certain to be a big obstacle to this Government’s re-election plans. And we tap into the Reserve Bank's presentation on the OCR decision as Governor Anna Breman outlines what seems a very optimistic view of the inflation track.

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 line. Despite global analysts declaring supplies could be sketchy after April 20, Prime Minister Luxon is calling on people not to worry, saying fuel deliveries are on schedule. The Government has taken the first major step in rebuilding the senior secondary qualifications system, with Cabinet agreeing after “consultation,” to the structure of a new qualification system to replace NCEA. Reserve Bank Chief Economist Paul Conway says this country’s cost-of-living challenge is ultimately about purchasing power – what people can buy with their incomes – not just how high prices are. He says the inflation surge during and after the pandemic pushed prices sharply higher, but while inflation has since eased from the highs of the pandemic, many people are still asking why things feel so expensive. The Iran War is of course continuing to dominate headlines, and while not everyone is fighting, we're all feeling the effects of it, with higher fuel prices the most obvious early source of pain, but high inflation, higher prices and perhaps even recession are expected to be part of the ongoing fallout. Now to talk about the war and its progress, I'm joined by Associate Professor of Global Studies at Auckland University, Chris Ogden:

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 Government’s programme of fiscal consolidation more important than ever. KiwiBank says latest GDP numbers showing a meagre 0.2% annual growth are not enough to encourage much hope for the uncertain recovery ahead. Winston Peters has announced some policy which indicates what National will have to accept to have him on the coalition benches after November. A wry smile of satisfaction likely creased the faces of tens of thousands of women when they heard Brooke Van Velden, gender traitor, nemesis of workers across the country, and seen as simply mean and vindictive, will step away from politics at the election. And as the election approaches the polls are tightening, but some trends remain – National trailing Labour, Chris Luxon’s popularity fading and the overwhelming feeling the country is heading in the wrong direction. Our guest this week is ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley who helps us delve into the effects of the Middle East conflict on our economy.

The Government has established a Ministerial Group to oversee fuel security as it tries to navigate through what could be its most testing time since coming to office. Some analysts optimistically say the crisis gives the Government a chance to recover some of the credibility it has lost. But this would imply the Government has a workable plan to deal with the situation. At this stage it appears not to. Backing economists' claim of a nascent recovery, latest Stats NZ data on businesses shows the numbers are up across most of the measured criteria. The coalition took great delight in castigating Labour when the budget for the cancelled iRex project was forecast to blow out – it promised a cheaper alternative to be delivered on time and on budget. But documents obtained by The Post show the current cost estimate is now $1.867bn, already exceeding the $1.7bn Crown-tagged contingency approved by Cabinet a year ago. All eyes will be on Winston Peters to see whether the Rail Minister can actually deliver the project on time and on budget – odds are he can't. We're joined this time by Auckland University Emeritus professor of economics Basil Sharp, to discuss the current fuel crisis.

Chris Luxon believes he and his Government are doing a good job, despite the evidence to the contrary, and that he will steer the coalition to another election victory. It’s not altogether impossible. If he really can withstand the pressure, the parties of the right are far from out of the race, with just a few points dividing the major ideological blocs. Economists are coming down on the side of caution for the Reserve Bank as Governor Anna Breman navigates her first major crisis in charge. There are fears of a big inflation spike due to the war in the Middle East, but the feeling among experts is the Bank will have to “look through” the short-term effects of the conflict and keep rates on hold. The rather pointless Covid Inquiry part 2 has reported back, and the saga can now be put to rest, with the Labour Government at the time getting a reasonable pass mark for its handling of the crisis. Of course, there were things which could have been done better. And to talk further about the concerns in the National Party following the latest poll and questions over Chris Luxon's ability to survive as leader, I'm joined by political analyst and columnist Janet Wilson.

The Government is under fire for the nature of its response to the US-Israeli led attack on Iran, which is clearly against international law. The Government may soon start to feel the economic pressure as well if the conflict causes a spike in inflation. It may not be the Government's fault, but it will certainly have to take the blame. If the election is to be fought on fiscal credibility and economic management, the coalition is being sent a major warning in the latest The Post/Freshwater Strategy poll. It shows 55% of voters believe the country is heading in the wrong direction, up 3 points since December, while only 28% say it is on the right track. The Government's overall performance rating has also rebounded from its record low in the previous survey but is still sub par. It is the only Government since 2017 not have had a rating above 5. The Government's quarterly action plans which were supposed to help drive the coalition's agenda and keep focus, appear to have been dropped. However, the plan idea is not quite dead. The Prime Minister's office says they're looking at a broader plan for the remainder of the year, which will be revealed in due course. Perhaps winning an election will be in it. And we're joined by Auckland University Associate Professor Maria Armoudian, a foreign policy expert, who'll help us try to understand why the US and Israel have started a new middle east war.

The Government's legislating of new powers for police to force homeless people in city centres to “move on,” is being attacked from all sides. Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman is bullish on inflation coming down to within the Bank's 2-3% target zone over the next 12 months, but it appears the emphasis is on tightening. Ironically Penny Simmonds, the Environment Minister who has been MIA so far, was on hand to put her stamp of approval on the amalgamation of her Ministry into the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT). While it was part of the National NZ First coalition agreement, and thus guaranteed to get Parliamentary time, the Bill to make English an official language was widely recognised as a waste of time and a joke. And I'm joined by Christchurch central Labour MP Duncan Webb, to talk about move on orders, and making English an official language.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has put a stake firmly in the ground, with a call to hold a referendum on Māori seats in Parliament. A row has blown up over revelations Judith Collins' appointment as Law Commission President did not follow procedure and is a blatant political decision. The PSA is calling for an independent review of the appointment after evidence emerged it was done without any recruitment process, selection panel or consideration of rival candidates. The latest OneNews Verian poll shows  there are clear signs the public isn't happy with the way the Government is performing. With NZ First not prepared to support the India FTA, the Government will need Labour's support to get the deal across the line. Now Labour has upped the pressure on the coalition to come clean about what is a rather secretive deal, before it will give its backing. The Government's plan to build an LNG terminal and pay for it with a levy has raised a lot of eyebrows. I'm joined now by Auckland University Professor Nirmal Nair an expert in energy policy and power systems, who says the responsibility for ensuring a reliable fuel supply should fall on power companies who generate and sell energy, not households. 

The Government was forced to issue a robust defence of its fast track legislation in the wake of jubilation among conservationists after an expert panel rejected Trans Tasman Resources’ application to mine the seabed off Taranaki for various minerals...Last the week, the US announced a stockpile of rare earth elements, and plans for a critical minerals trading bloc. New Zealand is set to be part of this, with fears already being raised over US companies getting involved in extraction, and the bulk of the profits being moved offshore...The latest Taxpayers Union Curia Poll shows the Centre-Right and Centre-Left blocs with pretty much equal support as the election looms. Labour is still the most popular party with 34.1% support, down slightly, while National is also down a fraction to trail on 31.3% - a wake up call for the Government...The experts were expecting unemployment to hold steady at 5.3% in the December quarter, but in a blow for the Government, the headline rate rose to 5.4%...And we're joined by Informetrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan to talk about how the economy will run as the coalition looks to be re-elected for another term.

It's Waitangi week, and while Maori are still getting the short end of the stick across virtually every measure in society and the economy, but without the hated and derided Treaty Principles Bill, don't expect too many fireworks. NZ First is flexing its election muscle, with Winston Peters targeting the NZ India FTA. He sees it as an immigration issue...right up NZ First's street. Meanwhile there have been calls for the full text of the deal to be released to allay fears about immigration. NZ is finding its feet as a lower ranking power in a changing world. This country has decided not to join Donald Trump’s coalition of the ill fitting – the so called Board of Peace, although Winston Peters clearly sees a potential role for New Zealand at some point, presumably when the US decides to finally pull the plug on the UN, but Labour's Chris Hipkins says even considering joining is a disgrace and an embarrassment for the country. The cosy relationship between farmers and the coalition Government could be on the rocks over water. Federated Farmers has found a few barbs in the Government’s RMA reforms and it doesn‘t like them. The question is whether the Government will bend over like it usually does and make it right for the rural sector. And this week we're joined by Manurewa MP Arena Williams to talk about some key Auckland issues.

This is the last edition for 2025 - we'll be back in February. Meantime this week the Government has revealed its two new RMA replacement Bills - well telegraphed, and not much different from the changes people expected...The Greens are on the warpath after it became clear the Government is paying no more than lip service to its Paris Climate obligations.  Bank economists are talking up the economy, saying the big turn about is underway - but they've been saying that for some time, so we'll have to wait. The Government is going into year's end on a high with new polling showing it in a strong position. The Government has been warned by no less a forecaster than the illustrious S&P its rates cap will hurt the financial abilities of councils, and we're joined in this final edition of the year by Opposition leader Chris Hipkins:

There's reportedly been a leadership coup within National's ranks which has failed. The challenger, Chris Bishop, not able to get the numbers to roll PM Luxon - Luxon survives and National may well consider itself lucky to have escaped having a leader who may well have turned out to be less popular than Luxon. Meanwhile Labour is ending the year on a high, and in the box seat to form a Government next year. The Government's desperation to get the cost of living down has seen it targeting not greedy businesses like Fonterra or the power gentailers, but local councils. It's going  to impose a rates cap, despite clear evidence of it being a failed policy overseas. And we're joined by political columnist Janet Wilson to unpack the the extraordinary failed leadership coup attempt by Chris Bishop and look at where the other parties sit as election year looms.

The Government has been scrambling this week to pass legislation before Parliament rises for the year, and maybe because there's a risk of the coalition not being returned at next year's election....There were some big calls, with a big change to KiwiSaver, a Social Housing plan, and the biggest changes to local Government in many decades as Chris Bishop made his presence felt, riding roughshod over local democracy. This week Susan St John, an expert on pensions and intergenerational equity at the University of Auckland joins me  to unpack some of the pros and cons of the Government's  decision to up the KiwiSaver contribution to 6% by 2032.

The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor Survey is more bad news for National and the coalition, with ranking of the Government's performance hitting another new low, and the latest Talbot Mills/Anacta Poll shows the Labour Party rising to 38% and likely holding the balance of power, if the results were reflected at an election. Labour says it will will repeal the Government's Regulatory Standards Bill in its first 100 days in office. The Bill waltzed through its 3rd reading, despite massive opposition at the Select Committee stage, once again making a mockery of “consultation.” This week we're joined by Labour's Health spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall. Labour has made some significant health announcements recently, going under the radar for the most part, while the Government has re-announced its portable hospital ward policy. Verrall knows there is still much work to do in health.

The report on the pilot run of the Government's boot camp programme for young offenders is out, and it has mixed news. The Government's latest Sunday announcement is a law & order policy - always a good diversion if other things aren't going well. This time it's a crackdown on Meth use. The Government is still pushing ahead with its goal of getting an India FTA in the bag by the end of its first term - and on the surface things appear to be going well. The Treasury has published its investment statement for 2025, and is once again pushing an asset sales message, which will no doubt be music to the ears of the current Government. Joining me this week is Meredith Kennett, president of the New Zealand School Boards Association, to talk about Education Minister Erica Stanford's decision to remove the Te Tiriti o Waitangi clause from s127 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

The Government's economic policies are still failing to deliver, with unemployment up again, and the highest number out of work since 1994, but some research shows "green shoot" are appearing. A new argues this country’s 3-year Parliamentary term is too short for effective Government – few would argue with its view there, but calling for more MPs to keep politicians accessible to voters may be a step too far. A report, written by members of the Aotearoa Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law (Te Wai Ariki), is set to tell the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination a significant, ideologically driven attack on Māori rights, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and racial equity is occurring here.The country’s Iwi are losing patience with Te Pāti Māori and its internal ructions, and are pushing the party to get its act together as the country heads into election year. Te Pāti Māori is in disarray heading into 2026. Joining us this week is Labour's Finance Spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds, to talk Capital Gains and other economic issues:  

Was this the long awaited Labour party tax policy, or is it a health policy? After the Future Fund's rather confused and detail poor launch last week, Labour needed a strong policy launch to put it back on track and help end the year strongly. Te Pāti Māori's implosion continues, with news the party’s leadership is trying to suspend MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. She is at the centre of a variety of controversies, including allegedly overspending her office budget by a reportedly significant amount. Aged care is next in the queue for an overhaul, with concerns already being raised about how it will affect pensioners. The Government has agreed to an integrated approach to reform the aged care system including the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Group to recommend changes to the funding model. The Marine and Coastal Area Takutai Moana Amendment Bill has been likened to a new confiscation and joining me now to discuss its implications is Associate Professor Andrew Erueti, from The University of Auckland Law School

Labour has launched its first 2026 policy initiative, but its Future Fund announcement left as many questions as it gave answers, and political opponents quickly dismissed it. Winston Peters and David Seymour have traded verbal blows over Fonterra's sale of its retail brands, with both accusing the other of having not milked cows. The country's first National Climate Change Adaptation plan hasn't been received too well, and inflation is up, but economists aren't too concerned - yet. We're joined by Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan to talk about this and take a bit of a look at Labour's Future Fund idea.

The Government has reawakened the old right silver bullet bogey of asset sales, to cries of indignation across the country. There was shock as the Government cut the farm methane emissions target in half, letting farmers off the hook while mythical technological advances are touted to do the job for them.  Many Māori Wards, mostly in provincial areas, were among the losers in the local body elections which has another miserable turnout, prompting calls for change to the way they're run. The latest cut to the OCR is being touted as the Reserve Bank cleaning up the economic mess the Government has created, and record numbers of people are still leaving the country - probably taking Luxon's advice to go where the jobs are - because they're not here. We're joined this week by Professor Jaqueline Beggs, co-director of Nga ara Whetu at the University of Auckland, to unpack some of the reasonings and pitfalls behind the Government's decision to cut methane emissions targets for farmers

The business sector seems to be realising this Government is not what they signed up for, with the latest blow to their corporate well being set to strike not at their profits, via mismanagement of the economy, but at them personally through reforms to fair trading rules. The latest Roy Morgan poll shows an effectively even split between the National-led Government on 48.5%, up 2 points from a month earlier, marginally in front of the Labour-Greens-Te Pāti Māori Opposition now on 47.5%, down 2.5 points. National will be pleased to see its support up 2.5 points to 31.5%. The Government has released the Defence Industry Strategy, which optimistically details how Defence and industry will work together to deliver the Defence Capability Plan (DCP) while building a strong, resilient industry delivering economic growth and growing export markets. And we're joined by University of Auckland Academic Dr Sasha Maher to discuss the Government's lack of leadership on the increasingly important issue of climate change adaptation.

The Government's decision not to recognise Palestine raised a few eyebrows and caused a lot of political dissent with the left accusing Winston Peters of putting the country on the wrong side of history. The Government's bid to cut energy prices and boost supply was described as underwhelming and unlikely to cut prices for householders hard hit by the cost of living crisis. Prospectors can apply for new permits to search for oil and gas, but there's not expected to be a huge rush. The Treasury was asking some hard questions in its latest 4 yearly 40 year outlook on the country's economy, but most politicians will find it hard to deliver the medicine Treasury says the country needs. Our guest this week is Dr Ritesh Shah from the University of Auckland co director of the center for Asia Pacific Refugee studies to unpack some of the reasoning behind the Government's decision on Palestinian recognition.

Nicola Willis has been well and truly under the pump after last week's atrocious GDP numbers. The 0.9% dip in growth, with an even larger dip in per capita GDP, shows her growth policies are not working. There have been calls for her resignation, but Chris Luxon has expressed confidence in her – what else could he do? National has been under heavy Opposition fire in recent weeks over the parlous state of the country's social housing.The Government's concerns about the construction sector and its clearly wilting support among younger males, many of whom are tradies, is clearly part of the reasoning behind the decision to bring forward investment in school infrastructure. While the economy in general is stagnating, one sector is doing well...the Maori economy. To talk about how it is managing to do this while the general economy seemingly can't and some of the lessons to be learned, I'm joined by professor of Maori Management Jason Mika, from the University of Auckland's business school

The Government’s growth policies are clearly not working the way they were intended, as growth is stalling, and the electoral consequences for the coalition could be dire. The latest NZIER Consensus Forecasts point to a downward revision in the pace of the recovery over the coming year. The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll has Labour still narrowly ahead of National but neither bloc able to govern on its own. Labour is up 1.1 points to 34.3%. National is close behind on 32.5% up 1.8 points. As the Government struggles to control the cost of living, Growth Tsar Nicola Willis has come up with a new suite of moves which she believes will help boost competition in the market – by increasing regulation. ACT’s attacks on local democratic rights is being stepped up as the party’s local body candidates target “unelected” appointees in a bid to remove their voting rights on council committees. This week's guest is Associate Professor and Director of Global Studies at the University of Auckland Chris Ogden, who is a proponent of New Zealand joining the BRICS grouping of countries.

Labour is clearly looking to make the next election about economic management, and the pressure is mounting on Chris Luxon and Nicola Willis to stop the rot and turn the country around, despite the fact they have very little control over the economic levers. The latest Roy Morgan poll suggests voters really have had enough, with support for Labour surging to its highest point in this poll since the 2023 election. The Labour-Greens- Te Pāti Māori Opposition now has 50% support - up 4 points from a month ago.  While Chris Luxon laughs off polls which show his Government under pressure, he will not be able to ignore them for much longer. His administration's credibility and competence is under question, while his own personal leadership skills are also being put under the blow torch. The Government appears to be taking lessons on immigration from Nigel Farage and Donald Trump, launching a new crackdown as it again looks to divert attention away from the real economic issues affecting the country. And we're joined by Roy Morgan Poll Manager Julian McCrann to talk about their latest poll.

This time businesses are clinging to hope the clueless coalition can pull the economy around, but in Auckland confidence is collapsing, and it's local issues to blame. KiwiBank economists say the Budget's flagship policy, "Investment Boost" has had only marginal results so far, with most businesses saying they have no plan to use it and those who have saying they were going to invest without it anyway. The Reserve Bank is looking a little rudderless, after the chairman  followed the Governor and resigned. The Government clearly understands it has to do something about the cost of food before the next election, but its plan to boost supermarket competition looks unlikely to create any real change. And this time we're joined by Labour's Rachel Brooking to talk about the coalition's RMA changes and its seeming contempt for the environment.

Brooke Van Velden's anti union, anti worker crusade is under fire after she says she expects new members of the Employment Relations Authority to reduce compensation awards to workers. The Government's desperation to encourage “growth” through infrastructure has again been demonstrated with the passing of the Public Works Act Amendment Bill. It says infrastructure projects mean higher wages - we're still waiting. While the Government lauded the Reserve Bank's decision to lower the cash rate to 3% with a hint of 2 further cuts to come by year's end, there's no evidence at this stage the cuts are boosting spending, investment or employment, and the RBNZ says the economy likely slipped back into negative growth in the June quarter. Meanwhile questions have been raised as to whether the Government is trying to force the Reserve Bank's hand on OCR decisions despite its operational independence. And our guest this week is Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, who talks about changes to consenting regulations.

The Government's full and final settlement with Hyundai over the cancelled Cook Strait Ferries has ignited a new war of words over the project, although Rail Minister Winston Peters counts it as a win. The Government won't want to hear it, but can't be surprised its pay equity move is being challenged in court by 5 unions. The challenge argues the legislation breaches three key rights of those workers affected. Economic woes continue to mount for the Government as the cost of living continues to balloon and citizens leave the country like rats off a sinking ship. Tinkering with the RMA continues as various pressure groups and lobbyists vie to have their sector exempted from environmental protections, and we're joined by Labour's Transport spokesman Tangi Utikere as we unpack the Government's universal road user charges policy.

Voters seem to be losing confidence in the Government with the latest Taxpayers Union Curia poll showing Labour opening up a lead on National, and all the coalition parties slipping, National and NZ First by 2 points each. FInance Minister Nicola Willis didn't win many friends when she said the latest unemployment figures weren't bad, as they were better than forecast, and those who lost their jobs shouldn't take it personally. The Government's boot camp programme for young offenders looks like it will need a reset after 80% of the graduates reoffended, and Treasury's final 2025 Long-term Insights Briefing is critical of Labour's response to the pandemic saying it spent too much, drawing a strong reaction from our guest for this edition Professor of Macro Economics at Auckland University, Robert MacCulloch.

Chris Luxon may have secured his legacy if the Government's changes to NCEA announced this week prove effective. The secondary school qualification has not been serving students well, and it is time for change, but the Government will have to be careful business doesn't get too much influence and turn schools into nothing more than vocational colleges. The Government copped some real flak for being asleep at the wheel when the US made a surprise decision to slap a 15% tariff on our exports - it could cause significant hurt in some sectors, such as beef and wine. A draft strategy to boost the country's geothermal energy output in the next 15 years is positive thinking, but its lifting of the ban on offshore oil and gas exploration provides no more than a forlorn hope another mother lode will be discovered. Joining us this week to talk energy and resources is Labour's Megan Woods.

The Government is copping some flak overs its decision to stop same day enrolment for voters, and its petty decision to change the cover of the New Zealand passport so the English words are placed above the Te Reo. The Reserve Bank warns global turmoil could affect the economy, with weaker demand for exports and increased uncertainty.  Farmers are more confident, but why wouldn't they be, with a Government which appears to be at the beck and call. And the education system is set for more tinkering - to discuss this, we're joined by Education expert, Professor Gavin Brown from Auckland University.

This time, inflation is on the rise again, with the prospect of stagflation looming, and the Government looks set to take the blame. The Government is continuing its attack on local democracy, with David Seymour bemoaning increases in rates. The argument over the voting age has brewed up again with the UK allowing 16 and 17 year olds to vote. Labour's jobs strategy is under fire and its latest infrastructure announcement has been panned as simply the re-announcement of the same old work. This time we're joined by political columnist and analyst Janet Wilson to look at dynamics within the coalition and other issues.

NZ First has surged in the latest Taxpayer's Union Curia Poll, becoming the third highest ranked party for the first time - it begs the question - will Winston Peters use his improved electoral position to force David Seymour into collapsing the coalition by calling for amendments to the Regulatory Standards Bill? A plan has been put forward to replace income tax with private savings, effectively privatising the welfare system, and the Government plan to attract more international students hasn't exactly found favour with ACT. The reserve Bank has put the OCR on hold - we talk about this and other economic issues with ASB Chief economist Nick Tuffley.

This time, opposition to the Regulatory Standards Bill is reaching a crescendo, but the backroom deals have been done and the Bill will pass, despite its undemocratic nature. Chris Luxon releases another set of KPIs for the coalition, none of them particularly challenging. The FamilyBoost programme has received a boost, but opposition parties are dismissing it as too little too late. Businesses are getting stronger powers to trespass people, but as with the shoplifting fines, enforcement will be crucial, and while the Government says it is focussing on the cost of living, nothing it is planning is likely to give any relief soon. Our guest this week is Professor Emeritus Jane Kelsey, who talks about this Government's rather troubling view of democratic process.

This time, some of the Government's law and order policies have come into effect, with tougher sentencing...There was shock at Parliament with the passing of Takutai Tarsh Kemp, but another MP also departed the House, with NZ First's Tanya Unkovich quitting. When the Government talks about fairer policies, it usually means someone's hard earned rights are set to disappear, especially when Brooke van Velden is involved, and we talk with Labour's local Government spokesman Tangi Utikere as the Government continues its apparent war on local councils.  

This time foreign policy has been the big issue in the past week, with Winston Peters and Chris Luxon at times seeming to be pursuing different agendas.  The GDP print surprised just about everyone, but forecasters are saying the next quarter's numbers won't be nearly so uplifting. The Government has been touting the success of its investment summit and the "golden visa" as it pushes its growth agenda, and David Seymour's Ministry for Regulation has a new target - the costs of winding up a deceased person's estate. And as foreign policy is such a major issue at the moment, we have Professor of International Relations at Otago University Robert Patman join us to mull over the implications of latest events.

The parties of the coalition still garner the most support in latest polls, but there are some worrying signs for the Government. KiwiBank has lowered its growth forecasts as the Government's "laser focus" om growth appears not to be having the desired short to medium term effect. The Health Minister is tinkering with the system again, this time enshrining in legislation the importance of patients - as if the health service does not realise this. Primary produce exports are booming, but large chunks of farmland are still being turned into carbon sinks, mostly overseas owned. Our guest for this edition is Labour's Finance spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds:

This week a bit of a rural focus as farmers head to Fieldays - The Government has been accused of being too timid in its response to the Trump Tariffs and threats to the global trade system, and there are big changes on the way to hunting and fishing regulations, with farmers set to benefit. Our guest, Federated Farmers President Wayne Langford, talks about developments in the agricultural sector. Also this week some key economic indicators are looking up, and there's a new visa on offer, which will supposedly help boost productivity.

The Budget wasn't quite as damaging to the coalition Government as it might have been, and a new TVNZ poll is showing the pay equity changes didn't hurt too much either - but the standout party in the coalition is NZ First. There's concern over what will happen with David Seymour as Deputy Prime Minister - time will tell whether holding more responsibility will tone down his rhetoric. The Government has opened consultation on a new raft of regulatory changes to do with the environment, and it's making changes to the way Worksafe operates, including launching another tip line - this time for "over compliance" in temporary traffic management. The Government has been in power 18 months now, and for a look at how it has performed, we're joined by right wing commentator, David Farrar.

The no BS Budget is being called BS by some sectors as support for the Government's financial blueprint divides along ideological lines...The Government has rushed a new Finance Amendment Bill into Parliament, doing away with Wellbeing Budgets and "enhancing the transparency and accountability of the public finance system."  KiwiBank is pressing the RBNZ to make faster cuts to the OCR and as people struggle with the cost of food, farmers are coining it on international markets - but they're still getting more Government support with a new 2 million dollar fund to support the Wellbeing of rural communities. Our guest this week is BusinessDesk founding editor Pattrick Smellie, who talks about the no BS Budget.

The B word and the C word made headlines this week...the less said about the C word the better, but the B word - Budget - is on everyone's lips. Many questions swirl around it and we're joined this week by ASB Chief Economist Nick Tuffley to talk about what is a key moment for this Government. And of course, there have been a few other issues ticking around as well.

The Government's decision to move the goal posts on pay equity is still reverberating through the country, and while its support is holding in the latest polls for April, there are concerns, with a majority believing the country is headed in the wrong direction, while females are still strongly opposed to the Government. In another callous move the Government is sidelining victims of abuse in state care, and the latest unemployment numbers look good on the surface, but a deeper dive shows some worrying trends. The Australian election is over, and we're joined by expert Dr Jill Sheppard from ANU for a post mortem.

The Government puts its money where its mouth is on defence, ACT leader David Seymour wants fewer Ministers in cabinet, the Greens release a new Green Jobs policy, and there's continuing gloom around the economy, with a fall in business confidence, the road transport sector downbeat, continuing huge borrowing, and a warning on the linkage between austerity and crime.  Joining us this week to help put the economic situation in perspective is Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan.

This time the Government warns people to get set for a grim Budget, vocational education changes come under fire and Mayors around the country are asked to help get children to attend school regularly. This week's guest is Dr Jill Sheppard from the Australian National University who talks politics, as the election campaign there reaches its climax.

There are growing challenges for the economy,  and the Government is set to face an election year in which growth is slowing and inflation is rising. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is remaining optimistic. The struggle to get beneficiaries back into work continues with little success, and  Simeon Brown's Health Infrastructure plan comes under scrutiny. Our guest this week is Labour Health spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall.

This time we look at some data from the latest round of polls, check out the political response to the Trump Tariff war as well as touching on child poverty and trust in the media, and we're joined by CTU President Richard Wagstaff to talk about his organisation's new policy manifesto, Aotearoa Reimagined.

This time we look at wages, polls and tariffs, as well as housing and the report into the sinking of the Manawanui. And our guest is the new National Secretary of the PSA, Fleur Fitzsimons who talks public sector cuts and the future of unionism.

Food, ferries and future growth are at the centre of this episode, while our guest is Local Government, Revenue and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, who talks about the state of our councils, where the Government is going to get the extra revenue it needs, and  where to for New Zealand if Donald Trump starts a stampede out of the Paris Agreement.