Politics Central

The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll has the Labour Party up 4.0 points at 30.9%, while National sinks 4.6 points to 29.6%. Although dropping 2.2 points, ACT is still ahead of the Greens, at 10.8% and 9.5% respectively.  Perhaps the most concerning for the National Party, 39% said the country was moving in the right direction, while 53% said it was moving in the wrong direction.  Regardless, Christopher Luxon still leads significantly as preferred prime minister.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 marks this coalition Government's first year in power, and will be one to remember.  They got straight to work repealing and introducing legislation, some being so controversial they triggered unprecedented responses in the way of protests.  Gang patches were banned, the first youth offender bootcamp trial was completed; this year truly had a bit of everything.  Former Speaker of the House and National MP, Lockwood Smith, and former Prime Minister Helen Clark join Tim Beveridge to wrap the year in politics.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Politics Central, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts opens up about the Government's new action plan set to increase the use of hydrogen energy  Later, Fleur Fitzsimmons from the PSA addresses the backlash towards the Government's new working-from-home policies. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens have today unveiled their new Emissions Reduction Plan, and taking a hit at the current Government's plan while they're at it.  They claim their plan would reduce carbon emissions more than five times the Government's draft Emissions Reduction plan by 2030.  Some of the proposed policies include the reintroduction of the clean car discount, clean heating subsidies for rooftop solar, and reinstating the oil and gas ban. Green Party MP Steve Abel joins with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two participants of the youth offender bootcamp were missing after attending a tangi.  Police were responding to a carjacking in Hamilton when they found the two teens, who now look to be in some legal trouble.  The first youth to go missing was on bail following a court hearing, and was to be accompanied by two Oranga Tamariki stadd.  The Labour Party's Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen joins with her take.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party have just wrapped up their AGM in Christchurch, where they had some big decisions to make.  The party has been in conversation about whether a capital gains tax would be on the cards for the next election, and what that may look like.  Labour leader Chris Hipkins joins with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has released Phase One of the Covid inquiry - all 700 pages of it. Here are some key points:  There was an issue with focusing on people's health rather than all aspects of their lives. Vaccine requirements were too broad and were in place for too long. Ardern's "single source of truth" comment was found unhelpful. Former Director-General of Health Sir Ashley Bloomfield joins with his thoughts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Local Government Funding Authority has allowed "high-growth" councils to borrow more.  The move is in hopes that councils will be able to deliver projects more efficiently. Auckland, Tauranga, and Hamilton are just a few of the councils thought to be eligible for the increase.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ban on gang patches came into force at midnight on Thursday, with the first arrest only three minutes later.  Police report there were 12 gang insignia-related arrests within the first 24 hours. Richard Chamber is announced as the new Police Commissioner, after serving as an officer since 1996.  One of the ten youth offender bootcamp participants have been arrested.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Those participating in the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi have reached Palmerston North today, just days away from Parliament.  On Thursday, Te Pati Maori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke ripped a copy of the legislation in hald at the Bill's first reading and launched into a haka, soon joined by more MPs.  The haka has gone viral worldwide, and international media and commentators did not have much in the way of kind words in response.  ACT Party Leader and Bill architect David Seymour joins with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hikoi against the Treaty Principles Bill has reached Palmerston North today, putting pressure on the Government to throw out the Bill.  Despite this, the Bill passed its first reading on Thursday which was followed by a dramatic haka by some Maori Party MPs in protest.  Labour Party's Justice spokesperson Duncan Webb joins with more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States is one of New Zealand's most significant partners, and the big question is what Donald Trump's win means for Kiwis.  Maurice Williamson is the former New Zealand Consol-General in Los Angeles and he joins to discuss the impact for New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States election has wrapped up this week with a landslide victory for Donald Trump.  It came as a bit of a shock after nearly all reputable pollsters predicted a very close race to presidency.  Marco Rubio's former Chief of Staff Matt Terrill joins Tim Beveridge to discuss the impact and what's to come for the States.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced a new charter to improve access to public conservation land for fishing and hunting.  The charter will help the Department of Conservation to provide consistent guidance across the country.  Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Todd McClay, joins Tim Beveridge with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the United States just days out from the presidential election.  Henry Olsen is a pollster and is well-known for being one of the most accurate analysts, correctly forecasting the past two elections.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaders from around the world gathered this week in Samoa for the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting.  Our own Prime Minister had the chance to meet the King and Queen in person and was full of praise for Queen Camilla after sitting beside her at a gala dinner to mark the end of the meeting.  Luxon also announced the New Zealand Government will contribute $20 million for the Pacific Resilience Facility, to help the Pacific prepare for natural disasters and support resilience against climate change.  Newstalk ZB's Political Editor Jason Wall joins Tim Beveridge with more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Israel Defence Force carried out multiple strikes on Iranian military targets this weekend, killing four soldiers.  Israel's army has said the attacks are in retaliation to continuous attacks from Iran.  U.S. President Joe Biden says he's hopeful this will mark the end of a months-long cycle of escalation, but many experts are concerned this will worsen the conflict.  Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller joins Tim Beveridge with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ten teenagers signed up to the Military Style Bootcamp trial for youth offenders have just finished their three months in the bootcamp portion, learning basic skills like ironing and cleaning.  The teenagers are about to begin the next phase of the trial - transitioning back into the community.  Each child will now have nine months with an individual rehabilitation plan tailored to what they need to best transition them into the real world.  Youth worker Aaron Hendry joins Tim Beveridge to discuss whether this is where it all falls apart.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ First have just finished up with their 31st Annual General Meeting in Hamilton.  The party and its members discussed everything from reliable energy, to the future of the Interislander.  This is their first AGM since they joined the coalition that formed the Government almost a year ago, and a lot of ground was covered.  NZ First leader Winston Peters joins Tim Beveridge to debrief the weekend.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced changes to the Hauraki Gulf Protection Bill, including 19 new marine protection areas, while allowing limited ring-net fishing to continue for some fishers.  The new areas would almost triple the number of spaces protected, but the Government has come under fire for still allowing ring-net fishing.  Opposition parties and conservation groups have pushed back, saying allowing ring-net fishing would undermine a decade of work.  Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka joins Tim Beveridge to discuss further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.