VoterTorque - New Zealand Politics

On 2 November 2020, we should know who will be New Zealand's next Minister of Defence and Minister for Veterans' Affairs. This episode discusses the contenders for those roles as well as touching on the highly connected position of Minister of Foreign Affairs. Podcast 22 in the 2020 VoterTorque series and the first episode in the new post-election season published by TorquePoint Ltd, New Zealand.

In the 2020 New Zealand General Election, voters will also have the opportunity to have their say on two referendums relating to cannabis legalisation and assisted dying. This podcast is an overview discussion on the referendum relating to cannabis legalisation.

As well as voting in a general election on 17 October 2020, New Zealanders also have the opportunity to vote in two referendums regarding assisted dying and cannabis legalisation. In this episode, we discuss the basic elements of the End of Life Choice Referendum.

All politics is local. It was great to go along to a local candidates' meeting and hear six candidates put their case for this year's general election. Under MMP, some are genuinely contesting the electorate seat and others are standing to draw attention to their party's policies and to campaign for the party vote. A well run evening at Biddy Kate's bar in Blenheim organised by the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce and the Marlborough Express.

In this latest episode of the discussion of parties contesting the New Zealand General Election 2020 (which has just been delayed to 17 October 2020 due to COVID-19) we discuss the Opportunities Party (TOP) and the New Conservative Party.

In this latest episode of the discussion of parties contesting the New Zealand General Election 2020 (which has just been delayed to 17 October 2020 due to COVID-19) we discuss the Maori Party. The Maori Party has previously held 5 seats in the NZ Parliament but won nothing in the last election in 2017. Despite that, there is a possibility that they could re-emerge as a parliamentary party in 2020.

This episode continues our series that examines the major and minor parties contesting New Zealand's 2020 General Election. The NZ First Party is a small, list-only party that is currently in a formal coalition with the Labour Party in Government.

This episode is part of our discussion about the major and minor parties contesting the 2020 New Zealand General Election. The NZ National Party is the largest of the opposition parties. After a succession of recent leadership changes, it is now steadying itself to attempt to replace the current Labour Coalition government.

This episode continues the discussion on the eight major and minor parties (in alphabetical order) that are contesting the New Zealand General Election 2020. We look at a brief history of the New Zealand Labour Party, the key people and where we think they are on the political spectrum. Then we'll talk about their policy offerings for the election and how we think that might play out if they're in the next government.

This episode continues the discussion on the eight major and minor parties (in alphabetical order) that are contesting the New Zealand General Election 2020. We look at a brief history of the Greens, the key people and where we think they are on the political spectrum. Then we'll talk about their policy offerings for the election and how we think that might play out if they're in the next government.

In this episode, we begin the discussion of the eight major and minor parties contesting the New Zealand General Election 2020. Taking them in alphabetical order, we start with the ACT New Zealand Party. For each of the eight parties, we provide a brief history, look at the key people involved and where they sit on the political spectrum. We also talk about their websites, slogans and what they're offering in the upcoming election in terms of policy. We finish with an assessment of what we might expect if the party was to be in government following the election.

This episode is an introduction to the 18 parties registered to contest the New Zealand 2020 general election as well as a brief examination of the 10 "micro-parties." (i.e. those currently polling under 1%. There will be a dedicated episode for each of the other 8 parties. This episode has been posted on the day New Zealand discovered its first community transmission after 100 days COVID free. Watch this space!

We welcome questions from VoterTorque listeners sent via the contacts page at Torquepoint.co.nz . This episode is the first round of questions covering Parliament's Speaker, media treatment of political polls, big versus small parties and the terms 'Right Honourable' and 'Honourable.'

Many people want to support a new or small party but are concerned that their vote will be 'wasted' if the party doesn't reach the 5% threshold or win an electorate. In this episode, we discuss how we suggest people approach this and what happens when votes are re-distributed. The episode also covers different coalition combinations and Ministers in or out of Cabinet.

New Zealand's Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system is loved, hated and often poorly understood. This second episode in the VoterTorque MMP series discusses the pros and cons including different types of MPs, reaching consensus, diversity, the 5% threshold and 3 year electoral term.

Despite having had the Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) system for New Zealand general elections since 1996, many are still unsure about how it works. In this first of several episodes on MMP, we discuss the basics of proportionality in Parliament.

Media tend to provide a lot of coverage to political polls and many people are influenced by them. This discussion is about political polls in New Zealand and how to find and interpret them.

In this first episode, we discuss the range of topics that we will be covering between now and the New Zealand General Election on 17 October 2020. The election was originally set down for 19 September but, due to a COVID-19 outbreak in Auckland, the date was moved to Saturday 17 October.

When you see or hear something you feel is misleading, you're entitled to complain. But, with four agencies responsible for different aspects of election advertising it can be a little confusing. In this episode, we explain who looks after what.

This episode links with podcast 3 and describes how you can use a simple questionnaire to determine where you lie on the political spectrum. This is useful for working out which parties and policies you are most closely aligned with.

The hackneyed and frequently misunderstood descriptions of political parties being either left, centre or right is dissected and a better, two-dimensional model described. We also have a go at setting out where the parties that are currently in the New Zealand Parliament sit on this political spectrum.

The 'Orange Guy' is the New Zealand Electoral Commission's mascot. In this episode, we discuss how to enrol as a voter and some key dates regarding this year's election and referenda on euthanasia and cannabis law reform.