Focus on Politics

On the campaign trail, week five: Luxon grapples with his 'last resort'

06 Oct 2023

Contributed by Lukas

TVNZ's multi-party debate this week illustrated key features of this election campaign: the minor parties' rising popularity, and the complicated role...

On the campaign trail, week four: The week of Winston Peters

29 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Call this the week of Winston Peters - with the New Zealand First leader, riding a wave of renewed relevancy. In not one, but two TV polls, New Zeala...

On the campaign trail, week three: Debates, polls, sausage and cheese rolls

22 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The minor parties gave glimpses of their own cooperation styles at the Newshub Nation Powerbrokers' debate, while polls continued to signal Labour on ...

On the campaign trail, week two: Tax plans and spending

15 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The second week of the election campaign has been all about the economy. There was the pre-election opening of the books, with National's tax plans an...

On the campaign trail, week one: False claims and ad campaigns

08 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

One week into the official election campaign and the hyperbole is flying thick and fast. Distractions persisted throughout the week, with protesters ...

Political parties talk strategy as campaigning begins in earnest

01 Sep 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The Parliamentary term came to an end this week after a tumultuous term, and Labour and National's election campaigns are launching this weekend - wit...

Labour sells its vaping crackdown - but is it too late?

25 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The government's pointed to vapes as a key weapon in the war against cigarettes. In the rush to reach its smokefree targets, however, there are fears...

Labour's GST-free fruit and vege strategy falls foul of the experts

18 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Set the table for bread and butter - or in this case, fruit and veg: Labour fired its opening election campaign salvo on Sunday with a starkly populis...

ACT's top six candidates share their history and priorities

11 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

ACT has not only held onto the 10-fold increase in voter support it enjoyed last election, it's maintained a stable caucus and gained further traction...

Polls and fiscal holes put major parties on notice

04 Aug 2023

Contributed by Lukas

With recent polling giving both major parties cause for concern and the election less than three months away, the countdown is on - and the policies a...

Labour grapples with Kiri Allan's resignation, leak claims

28 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Tragic circumstances putting a halt to the political career of one of Labour's rising stars, East Coast MP Kiri Allan, was just the start of the party...

Focus on Politics for Friday 21 July 2023

21 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In Focus on Politics, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch breaks down Labour's law-and-order week and the tragic events which brought it to an...

Green co-leader Davidson touts party's 'healing' ahead of AGM

07 Jul 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says this election is the final chance to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, curb environmental degradat...

Hipkins passes diplomatic test with China's Xi

30 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' week-long trip to China centred on a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping, one of the world's most powerful men. A...

Ethnicity in health debate gets under MPs' skin

23 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Politicians went head to head on health equity this week, with opposition parties making a concerted effort to paint a waitlist prioritisation tool as...

Politicians pitch for rural vote

16 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson takes a look at the fight for the rural vote, and the politics around the Emissi...

Ministerial rule-breakers in hot water

09 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Two senior ministers have this week been under pressure for breaking rules in place to ensure ministerial transparency and accountability. Political r...

Politicians tackling AI regulation - but will it be too late?

02 Jun 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Warnings from those behind artificial intelligence (AI) technology have made lawmakers around the world take notice. The tech sector itself is engaged...

Hipkins juggles competing ideologies over PNG-US deal

26 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' whistlestop trip to Papua New Guinea sends a clear message: superpowers may come and go, but New Zealand is here to stay...

Budget 2023: bare bones, blowout, or both?

19 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

The 2023 Budget has proven difficult to define: neither the belt-tightening exercise that was promised, nor the blatant bribery sometimes seen in elec...

Meka Whaitiri rebellion hones parties' loyalties

12 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Meka Whaiti's defection brings Labour's solid 65-strong majority down to 62, opening it up to accusations of disunity and instability. Lumping in Eliz...

Staffing woes menace Te Whatu Ora winter health plan

05 May 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Covid-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses are on the rise as we inch towards winter, so Te Whatu Ora launched its winter preparedness plan th...

Parties navigate fresh tax debate ahead of 'no frills' Budget

28 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Expectations are being kept very low for the 18 May Budget, so any surprises can have maximum political impact. With a tight election looming, Labour...

Focus on Politics for 5:10p Sat 22 Apr

21 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In Focus on politics, we take a detailed look at the report of the police watchdog into last year's parliamentary occupation. Go to this episode on rn...

Three Waters rebrand: Bitterness remains despite refresh

14 Apr 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Labour's new PM and new minister this week dumped the contentious Three Waters policy in favour of a rebranded "Affordable Water". A not-so-subtle at...

New Police Minister Ginny Andersen in opposition's sights

31 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Police Minister is a tough gig: focusing on social issues leads to 'soft-on-crime' criticism while going too hard can look like populism. With four m...

National's policy aims to school Labour on education decline

24 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

National's leader Christopher Luxon ditched Parliament for the playground this week, touring schools to sell his party's solution to declining student...

Making a Nash of it: The self-destruct sequence of a police minister

17 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Stuart Nash's rapid resignation from his treasured police portfolio - just two months after getting it back - is one of the clearest examples of a po...

Do public service consultancy criticisms stack up?

10 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

Consultants and contractors are a favourite punching bag for opposition parties - of all colours - and National is just the latest to land a solid blo...

National's three waters plan leaves councils to carry the can

03 Mar 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While National's solution to the Three Waters problem may please the councils steadfastly opposed to the government's plan, it remains plagued by a fi...

Cyclone makes Robertson's Budget balancing act perilous

24 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

While somewhat bound politically by Labour's promise of no new taxes this term, Finance Minister Grant Robertson is keeping all options open in his se...

Co-governance debate heats up at Rātana, Waitangi

10 Feb 2023

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson parses the co-governance rhetoric of the past few weeks.Co-governance, co-mana...

National, ACT, Greens and Te Pāti Māori on the year ahead

16 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ's political team interviews the leaders of National, ACT, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori. National Party leader...

Ardern weighs spending priorities and Cabinet line-up ahead of election year

08 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

A newly prioritised spending plan and fresh ministerial line-up are part of Labour's plan to reset the political landscape for the start of 2023 - ele...

Hamilton West by-election offers teaser for 2023

02 Dec 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Hamilton West polling for a new MP closes on 10 December - a litmus test for next year's general election. Crime and the cost of living are top of min...

Recession prediction leaves Labour with a labour problem

25 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Dire economic predictions and high interest rates from the Reserve Bank this week have increased the pressure on Labour, and given National a chance t...

Poland missile crisis dominates amid summits in Asia

18 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern returned to the international stage this week, even as the war in Ukraine threatened to spill beyond its borders. The AS...

Under-fire Labour turns sights on bank profits and fuel

11 Nov 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Labour faithful were in fine form at the party's annual conference last weekend, but an unflattering political poll on Sunday soon soured the mood. P...

Labour, National cross swords over tax, social insurance

30 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Labour claims New Zealand's economy is holding up well compared to many others, but global pressures and new policies may threaten its re-election cha...

Three waters on the boil as elections loom

23 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, RNZ Digital Political Reporter Russell Palmer wades into the three waters debate, assessing the situation ahead ...

Queen's death reignites discussions over constitution and Te Tiriti

16 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast NZ Political Reporters Katie Scotcher, Anneke Smith and Giles Dexter explore what the debate about the role of th...

Focus on Politics for Sun 11 September

10 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In Focus on Politics, our political reporter Giles Dexter takes a look at the Government's response to youth crime and talks to those on the ground tr...

How government's youth crime rhetoric misses the bigger picture

09 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Giles Dexter reviews the government's approach to youth crime, and examines what is missing fr...

New Zealand democracy on 'shaky foundations': Electoral law ripe for change

02 Sep 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Anneke Smith exposes the vulnerable state of New Zealand's democracy and examines the politica...

EU-NZ trade agreement 'by no means a done deal'

26 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher looks back on a trade deal both sides found fault with, and ahead to the challenges it...

Law and order policies 'no magic bullet' on crime and gangs - experts

19 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Law and order seems a likely hot topic again in next year's election, but experts say many proposed policies would be ineffective, Political Reporter ...

Uffindell exposed: National, Labour grapple with bullying accusations

12 Aug 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Katie Scotcher examines one of the fastest political downfalls in New Zealand's history."...

Focus on Politics: an extended interview with Christopher Luxon

10 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Investigative journalist Guyon Espiner sits down for an extended interview with National leader Christopher Luxon. Can a man some thought might join t...

United States trip proves Jacinda Ardern's pulling power

27 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch assesses the Prime Minister's American odyssey."It's incredibly...

A Budget searching for balance

20 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch runs the numbers on the Budget and its political implications. "The ...

Immigration angst pervades border reopening

13 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Anneke Smith explores the border reopening, immigration changes, and the response."The ca...

Budgeting during a cost-of-living crisis

06 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson sits down with the Finance Minister Grant Robertson and National's Nicola Willis...

Covid-19 variants: Government resurgence plan

29 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher assesses where the government's planning is for new and potentially more deadl...

Regional security weighs on Ardern's Asia trade trip

22 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson looks past the spectacle of Ardern's first official trip since Covid-19 to the g...

Finding solutions to Russia's Putin in diplomacy and law

08 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson examines the state of play in Ukraine, and the legal and political instruments b...

IPCA constrained: How independent is NZ's police watchdog?

01 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, investigative journalist Guyon Espiner talks to a leading defence lawyer, the chair of the IPCA and the commissi...

Media merger raises stakes for NZ journalism

25 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, the government is pressing ahead with its planned mega media merger. Political reporter Katie Scotcher explores ...

Russia's war, New Zealand's sanctions, and the question of China

18 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson interrogates the ramifications for New Zealand of Russia's war against Ukraine.&...

Cost of living crisis: Luxon's cuts put Labour on guard

11 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

National's tax plan, and the highest inflation in decades has the government feeling the pinch. Political Editor Jane Patterson counts the costs for b...

Border breakthrough: Ending the siege of Fortress New Zealand

04 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch recounts the siege of Fortress New Zealand and reckons with its reconnec...

Red light and rapid antigen requisition

28 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson assesses the government's readiness for the Omicron variant."We know that t...

An end-of-year chat with the minor party leaders

17 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Focus on politics, RNZ's political team catch up with the minor party leaders to discuss 2021, potential allies, and Covid-19.RNZ's political ...

A sit-down with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern

10 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch talks with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the year that's been.&quo...

A sit-down with National leader Christopher Luxon

03 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson talks to National's leader Chris Luxon in his new office to assess what his lead...

Collins, National's nuclear option, self destructs

26 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch delineates the nuclear destruction of Judith Collins' leadership and ass...

Intensive care: Can New Zealand weather the surge?

19 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson and Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn examine New Zealand's ICU and health capaci...

Family Court frustrations stoke calls for deeper change

12 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Anneke Smith looks into the Family Court system as it nears its 40-year anniversary."It&...

Will traffic lights see Covid hitting the gas?

05 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson hits the brakes and looks ahead to the traffic light system, and what it means f...

New Zealand's UK and EU free trade ambitions

31 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher takes a deeper look at New Zealand's free trade ambitions with the UK and Euro...

Leaving lockdown at the traffic lights: Is New Zealand ready?

22 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Focus on politics, Is New Zealand ready to move to the new Covid future?"The whole of the system is already under pressure ... they're an...

Focus on Politics: The road ahead for transport

15 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Focus on politics, Katie Scotcher explores the challenges and priorities in the inherently political transport sector.The government is at a transp...

Viral inequality and ganging up on Covid-19

08 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson takes politicians' temperature on Covid-19 and the economic response, and how th...

Three waters: Councils tapping out as minister steams ahead

01 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson dives into the three waters debate, plumbing the depths of local governments' op...

Focus on Politics: Is New Zealand moving away from elimination?

25 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Focus on Politics, is New Zealand moving away from elimination? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Lockdown: Delta outbreak raises the stakes

20 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch details the latest Covid-19 outbreak, the government's response, and how...

Aotearoa referendum debate fuels racist abuse

13 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Long Form Journalist Te Aniwa Hurihanganui explores the harm caused when politicians question Māori values and ...

Focus on Politics: Conversion therapy

06 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Legislation banning gay conversion therapy, a practice described as monstrous and traumatising, is making its way through Parliament but not everyone ...

Education system grapples with te reo Māori, tikanga and systemic racism

30 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Māori News Journalist Jamie Tahana and Education Correspondent John Gerritsen look at a suite of new initiative...

Hate speech debate gets mired in politics

23 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Anneke Smith explores how the conversation on hate speech shifted - from an effort to curb te...

Focus on Politics: NZ’s not-so-healthy homes

16 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government is feeling the heat from those left in the cold. RNZ political reporter Charlie Dreaver takes stock of New Zealand's not-so-healthy hom...

Focus on Politics: Goodbye Muller

14 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The National Party is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, with revelations former leader Todd Muller was pressured to retire after being...

Focus on Politics: OT back under-fire

09 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Leaked footage of a young person being manhandled at an Oranga Tamariki care and protection unit has put the agency back under the microscope. RNZ pol...

Focus on Politics: Defence under Labour

25 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In Focus on Politics, RNZ political editor Jane Patterson digs into Labour's plan for the Defence Force, now it is unshackled from last term's coaliti...

Focus on Politics: Stage Four

18 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week brought some more clarity to the country's Covid-19 vaccine programme as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed the first details of the wid...

Focus on Politics: Nurse Strike

11 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

About 30,000 nurses, midwives and other health workers have been on a seven-hour strike after nurses voted to go ahead with a strike having rejected a...

Focus on Politics: ScoMo in Town

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison made use of the Trans-Tasman travel bubble, flying into Queenstown for a sit-down meeting with NZ Prime Minist...

Focus on Politics: Samoa in Turmoil

28 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Samoa is in the grips of a constitutional crisis: a bitter power struggle between two competing governments and two political heavyweights. Both sides...

Focus on Politics: Budget 2021

21 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Beneficiaries will reap the rewards of this year's Budget with a welfare boost billed as the "biggest in a generation".Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz...

Focus on Politics: Race Relations

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Race relations have been a flash point for conflict and reconciliation in NZ politics over the years. National leader Judith Collins reignited the fir...

Focus on Politics: The China Question

07 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson asks: how is New Zealand's relationship with China?Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Focus on Politics: Emergency Housing

30 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson takes a deep look into the state of emergency housing across the country.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more ...

Focus on Politics: DHBs on the Scrap Heap

23 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Health Minister Andrew Little this week announced an extraordinary overhaul of the health system, scrapping all 20 DHBs and putting a new entity in th...

Focus on Politics: The Bubble and the Border

11 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government has placed a temporary ban on all travel from India, leaving Kiwis there stranded, unable to come home. In the same week, it has begun ...

Focus on Politics: The Housing Solution?

28 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government has announced a raft of measures to try and tackle the housing affordability crisis to tilt the market towards first home buyers and in...

Focus on Politics: Trans Tasman Tensions

21 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson asks: what's behind the latest Trans-Tasman tensions? And what do they mean for ongoing relations?Go to this episo...

Focus on Politics: The Vaccine Rollout

12 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ political reporter Yvette McCullough looks into the details of the government's Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for ...

Focus on Politics: Covid rule-breakers

05 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson asks: Is the Government being too soft on Covid-19 rule-breakers?Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Focus on Politics: An Immigration Rethink

26 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson takes a look at what immigration might look like in a post-Covid New Zealand.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for m...

Focus on Politics: Locked Down Again

25 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Three new cases of Covid-19 in the community forced Auckland back into lockdown for 72 hours this week, but should New Zealand's largest city have sta...

Focus on Politics: Repeal & Replace the RMA

14 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The Government is taking on one of the most complex pieces of law in New Zealand - the RMA. It will be replaced with three new laws, with the Environm...