Podcast appearances and mentions of chris hipkins

We ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Act Party leader, who’s really calling the shots in the Coalition government? Plus, we discuss Chris Hipkins’ capital gains tax, and Trump at Apec.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. Bill Gates: 8/10 When a disciple of the cause hits pause because he has worked out the hysteria outweighs the reality, he is to be congratulated. Chris Hipkins: 2/10 Sell a tax if you want. But the attack on the Prime Minister and houses is what these guys are really all about - they hate success. The All Blacks: 7/10 Ironically the biggest test is the first. I'm saying 4 from 4 and Merry Christmas. Fonterra: 8/10 A great week to be a dairy farmer and a great week to be a country with dairy farmers. Noeline Taurua: 8/10 The right call got made eventually, but... The Noeline saga: 1/10 We still don't understand what happened, why it's happened and why it got handled the way it did. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEWSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! National's Andrew Bayly has revealed why he resigned in February and attempted to clear up the situation with ZB's Barry Soper earlier today. What do we make of all this? Luxon and Trump had their first big face-to-face meeting today - how do we think it all went? The chat was about hair and golf, did we expect more? Is it okay for Chris Hipkins to take shots at Chris Luxon's wealth? Was that a low blow? Parents are struggling to get their babies vaccinated against measles and the Ministry of Health can't explain why they're making it so hard. Is this unreasonable? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 30 October 2025, National MP Andrew Bayly tells Heather he was misled and now thinks it was a mistake to resign from his ministerial portfolios. Why won't Health NZ make it easier for parents who want to vaccinate their babies against measles? Fonterra's CEO Miles Hurrell is stoked farmer shareholders have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a deal that will see a French company buy its consumer brands. Chris Luxon has invited Donald Trump to come to New Zealand for a round of golf with... former PM John Key! Key tells Heather which golf course he'd take the US president to. Air NZ boss Nikhil Ravishankar in studio with Heather... does he regret asking the Government for a subsidy in his first week? Plus, the Huddle debates Andrew Bayly and whether Chris Luxon's wealth is fair game for Chris Hipkins. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for the 30th of October, Chris Hipkins hits out at Chris Luxon for making over $600k flipping houses last year. Then - Matt has been called up for jury service. Get the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Podcast every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig Renney joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk in more detaill about the GCT announced yesterday by the Labour Party. We had Barb Edmonds last night for a very tightly timed interview and tonight we'll take a bit more time to delve into what it is, and what it means for NZ and Labour in 2026.Labour leader Chris Hipkins has had a crack at the Prime Minister's real estate portfolio while making the case for his party's new capital gains tax policy challenging Luxon on the tax plan to "Bring it On"The Ministry of Education has released a new draft curriculum for years zero to 10, with Education Minister Erica Stanford saying the overhaul will deliver a much needed “refresh” to the 20-year-old curriculum.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

It's the most progressive change to NZ's tax system in a generation according to Labour leader Chris Hipkins. The party's confirmed it will introduce a 28 percent Capital Gains Tax on commercial and residential properties, excluding family homes and farms, with the money used to fund GP visits. Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Lisa Owen.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 28 October 2025, Labour has confirmed its worst case secret: a Capital Gains Tax will be brought in if Labour wins the next election. Heather asks Chris Hipkins about all the ins and outs of the new policy. Netball NZ Chief Executive Jennie Wyllie says it wasn't a mistake to stand Dame Noeline Taurua down - but can't say what changes will be made when Taurua returns as coach. Teaching kids consent will be mandatory for schools soon, but sex education therapist Jo Robertson says we could go further. Finance Minister Nicola Willis encourages Air NZ's new boss to tidy his own house first before asking the Government for money. Plus, on the Huddle, Josie Pagani tries to convince Heather and Trish Sherson of the need for a CGT. Good luck Josie! Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's capital gains tax leak leaves Chris Hipkins on the ropes, and Te Pāti Māori implodes in full public view. Is this the moment Christopher Luxon takes control of the political battlefield? Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Hipkins is confident Labour's Capital Gains Tax policy can cover three free GP visits every year. The party's announced a policy for next year's election campaign, targeting commercial and investment properties, but not family homes. The revenue would go into health, and creating a Medicard scheme. The Labour leader says they've checked the numbers. "We've done them based on the independent tax working group that was set up when we were last in Government. So that's the modelling that we've used in coming up with the costings for this one." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So another ham-fisted announcement from the Labour Party. In fact, it wasn't even an announcement. Because of a leak, it was forced this morning to confirm its plan to include a capital gains tax in its policies for next year's election. Which looks to me like a very watered-down, scaredy-cat version of a capital gains tax that won't impress many. Because, if they were serious, they'd apply it to everything. None of these exclusions. Which I'll get to. Another fly in the ointment - aside from all the exclusions and the leak - is what the money from the tax would be used on. Three free doctor's visits a year for all of us. Which I think would create more problems than it would be worth. So, if Labour forms the next government, it will introduce a capital gains tax that, if it's to be believed, would only apply to what seems like a very short list of things. There'd be no capital gains on the sale of the family home and there'd be no capital gains on the sale of farms. But there would be a capital gains tax on the sale of rental properties and commercial properties. So the farmers would be happy and the landlords - residential and commercial - would be brassed-off. There would also be no capital gains tax on KiwiSaver, shares, business assets, inheritances, and personal items. Which, Labour says, would mean 90 percent of us not paying any tax on any property we own and all of us getting three free doctor's visits a year. That's because the revenue from this new tax would be funnelled straight into the health system But has Labour really thought it through? Because, as soon as you start telling people they can go to the doctor for free three times a year, what chance do you think they'll actually be able to get an appointment with everyone doing the same? What's more, Labour says “one in six New Zealanders cannot afford to visit their doctor when they are sick.” So why aren't they targetting those people? Why would you give free doctor's visits to the five-out-of-six who can afford to go to the doctor? That's why this tax proposal is Labour's second-worst policy idea in the last few years, coming a very close second to the non-sensical, last-minute GST-off-fruit-and-vegetables idea it cooked up before the last election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour had their Capital Gains Tax policy leaked earlier this week. The tax would only apply to residential and commercial property sales, not any other taxable areas. A decision which has led some to question if this is really a Capital Gains Tax. Labour leader Chris Hipkins had previously said that there would be no Capital Gains Tax under his leadership. However, he told John MacDonald that, 'after the election when we lost, I said, well, everything goes back on the table.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early this morning, the Labour Party made a surprise Capital Gains Tax announcement. The targeted tax would raise funds for the health system, including three free doctors' visits per year. The tax wouldn't apply to the family home, farms, KiwiSaver, shares, business assets, inheritances, and personal items. Dentons Tax Partner Bruce Bernacchi told Kerre Woodham that, "people will call it a capital gains tax when it's actually not, because it's extremely targeted just on property." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I was looking last night at things we could talk about, and there was plenty to talk about, all of which got superseded by Labour, Labour, Labour - having to release their capital gains tax, which is targeted to three free doctors' visits. Labour's been playing peekaboo with a capital gains tax for some time now. Oh, will we, won't we? Oh, what's it going to look like? Can't tell you. And now they kind of have. We finally get to hear the detail on what that CGT is going to look like, except #notreally. Because the release was made early because it was leaked, and so nobody got up to speak to the policy. Chris Hipkins, Barbara Edmonds, and Ayesha Verrall are doing that at 10:30am today, despite their press release having been out for the past five hours. With all news media going, what the dickens? What does it all mean? Does nobody actually talk to one another in the Labour ranks? Last week a health policy was announced and Chris Hipkins was taken by surprise. Today there's been the leak, not ideal. Anywho, from the press release, Labour will set up a Medicard for all New Zealanders, giving you three free doctors' visits per year, whether you need them or not, and will pay for it with a targeted capital gains tax. There was some detail included in the release. The tax will exclude the family home, Kiwi Saver shares, business assets, inheritances, and personal items. And the tax will only apply to gains made after July 2027. I heard Mike reading out a text saying, "Oh, I bought the batch in 56,1956. It's been in the family and now I'm going to have to pay a million dollars in tax." Well, no. The tax will only apply to gains made after July 2027. Back to the press release we go ... currently most profits from selling commercial property or residential property are tax-free. A new targeted tax would apply only to the sale of a commercial property or residential property, excluding the family home, and only on the gains made after the 1st of July 2027. There would be no tax on any gains made before that date. I don't think that was very clear this morning in the discussion. The tax would be set at 28% to align with the company tax rate. So some detail. So many more questions. I have some, and hopefully we'll be able to put them to Chris Hipkins, Ayesha Verrall, or Barbara Edmonds at some point. How much will three free visits for every New Zealand cost the taxpayer? Anybody? No. Related to that, how much does Labour anticipate collecting from a targeted capital gains tax? Anybody? Nope. Does it include dental, which is what a lot of primary healthcare researchers have been calling for, or just the GP visits? Why does everybody get three free visits? If one in six New Zealanders can't afford GP visits, why are taxpayers paying for the five in six who can? What if I don't need to visit the doctor three times a year, but my neighbour needs to visit 10 times? Surely it's better to look after people who are born with poor health or develop poor health over a lifetime, and look after them and keep them out of the hospital system. And not specifically related to the policy, but why are you having so much trouble releasing policy, Labour? Seems to be a bit tricky. You've had quite some time to develop it. Anyway, hopefully we can put these questions to them, but there has been much talk about a capital gains tax. We've been waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for Labour to release this. It's so targeted, so specific in terms of how the CGT will be applied, and then to tie it in with free GP visits, three per person per year, when five in six New Zealanders don't need free visits. What's the point? You might think it's amazing. If so, I'd love to hear from you. If this is an absolute game-changer for you, I'd love to know how and why. To me, it's a complete and utter head-scratcher. And I'm trying not to be biased against Chris Hipkins. But I am a bit, a little bit. But I'm open-minded to Barbara Edmonds and Ayesha Verrall, I quite like them in terms of the policy they announce. Chris Hipkins is a likeable chap, but I just think he's been a failure when it comes to delivering any kind of policy. I'm willing to keep a relatively open mind to Barbara Edmonds and Ayesha Verrall, but they're not doing much to convince me. Why give something to people they do not need? That's been a criticism of National with the tax cuts and the landlord rebates. Why give something to people they don't need? Why not target it to the people who do need it? And what's the point of bringing in a capital gains tax if it's going to be put into harness with three free GP visits to people who may or may not need them? I give this one a two out of 10. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the long weekend let's give the Labour Party a report card for their policy week. It will be one of the few report cards this week because we actually turned up to work. So overall a 'C-' for presentation. They had two years to organise this, to make a splash, to grab the headlines and run with them. Policy one didn't have any detail so it was just a thought bubble. Policy two was forgotten about, or sneakily given to a magazine ahead of time, or a combo of both. And policy three was fine but it was just an extension of an already existing idea and the problem with the existing idea is the existing idea isn't used, or needed. So a drone-type view of the “themes” is we have a lot of overarching Government control, a Government picking winners on the future fund, a Government telling doctors how much they can charge and some freebies for gaming. Now that's left-wing politics and some people like that and that's fine and that's democracy. That's why we have elections. So a 'B' for the theme. On specifically the future fund they get a 'C' because at no point can they escape the fact that whatever they give to the fund it won't go to debt repayment and, given we have less than no money, that must be a priority. And that's before you get to the bit where the world is awash with money for ideas anyway. The GP's committee gets a 'D'. A 'D' for dumb and dunce and fail. Telling already struggling GP's what they can and can't charge is a recipe for frustration, anger and resignation. It's got administrative cluster written all over it. The gaming subsidies get a 'B-'. Because it's already running. But here's the clue - gaming is booming. Is it booming because of subsidies? No. The subsides aren't used. They set aside $160 million but less than half has been applied for. It's a classic Government-looking-to give-away-money idea. They can't even give it away. But the truth is, as artificial as it is, Government's do offer tax deals on gaming and film, so you've got to compete. So of the three policies this was their best idea of the week and by quite some margin. Overall if this is them, if this is the sharp and ready to rock-n-roll alternative to run this country, they need to majorly sharpen up. Or if you're looking at this week and going "man that Hipkins is one slick operator", well I'll see you at the airport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a two year policy vacuum, Labour has debuted its second policy in just two days - surprising everyone - including its own leader. The whoopsie comes as Chris Hipkins defends the party's big Future Fund plan against critics lamenting a lack of detail. The Fund - which would invest in New Zealand businesses and infrastructure - would be seeded with 200 million dollars and the dividends of some Crown assets. But the party has not revealed which assets - or how large their dividends would be - nor has it explained how it would replace those dividends which currently go towards areas, like health and education. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

An unexpected Labour policy announcement was a bit of a shock for leader Chris Hipkins today. Health spokesperson, Ayesha Verrall revealed the policy in an op-ed for New Zealand Doctor magazine. It proposes to create an independent body to estimate and allocate GP funding increases, rather than the Government. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Labour 'botched up' the rollout of this announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was always going to be a risky strategy but it's backfiring quite badly for Labour. The two-year policy drought is over. Then heavens have open. And a flood, or more like a few rain drops, of policy. It's gone haywire not just because Hipkins forgot his Health spokesperson was actually announcing a policy yesterday. But because of the contents of that policy. In a nutshell it's about letting some independent group of experts decide on health funding. And as I mentioned yesterday, a trend is now emerging. Labour doesn't trust itself to make wise choices. Or rather, it knows the electorate doesn't trust it make wise choices with their hard-earned money. That's why they've outsourced decision making to other people. They did it with the Future Fund and now they've done it on health. In some ways it's smart. They're trying to suggest National will sell off assets and de-fund doctors so there needs to be an independent group making decisions. But mostly it's dumb because if there's one thing kiwis don't like backing, it's a loser. And this strategy feels like a loser because it lacks confidence. It's the message its sending. It doesn't say here's where I'll put your money and here's how and here's why. It says, “I'm not too confident that you're confident in me so I'll give your money to someone else to decide”. It feels a bit weak. It's not a plan or a policy; it's an admission of guilt. Of failure. If the goal was in fact to box National into a corner during the election campaign, that also creates problems. Are these the best policies to grow NZ Inc and get the best outcomes, or are these just politically expedient policies designed to start fights on a campaign? All of this, of course, comes ahead of their capital gains tax announcement, which is apparently weeks away. What's next? They'll let a group of accountants decide who should pay what tax on what assets? Confidence is key in politics. You've got to know what you want and you've to go for it. Chippy's so far left his mojo at the door and it's showing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour party has launched its first new policy this term - and it hasn't taken long for its opponents to start taking swipes at it. Today opposition leader Chris Hipkins announced a future fund which would invest in New Zealand infrastructure and businesses only. It is being welcomed by Infrastructure NZ and supporters of small-business but the government and its coalition partners have been quick to pile in - with the NZ First leader calling it a cheap knock off of its own policy and a National MP calling it a "total joke". Lillian Hanly reports.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report; Reaction to Labour's Future Fund announcement; Auckland Transport brings back Pothole Promise; How prepared are we for a volcanic eruption?; Blue whale surprises dolphin watchers in Akaroa.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

There are concerns that Labour's trying to fix a capital problem that kiwis don't have. The party's pitching a $200million Future Fund that re-invests dividends from specified Crown assets, into businesses and infrastructure projects. It'll invest solely in local projects. Icehouse Ventures CEO Robbie Paul told Mike Hosking the policy is agreeable and directionally correct, but wonders if there's a gap in the capital market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More investment in New Zealand businesses is Labour's announced goal in a policy released today. It's modelling the Future Fund off the existing Super Fund, to be seeded with $200 million in Crown money and existing assets. It'll invest solely in local projects. Labour leader Chris Hipkins says this project is designed to create jobs and keep more wealth here at home. "We're focused on long-term investments, we own all of those existing public assets for a reason." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 20 October 2025, inflation is up three percent - driven by large increases to electricity and rates bills. Kiwibank's Jarrod Kerr says this shouldn't stop the Reserve Bank from cutting the OCR further. Labour's Chris Hipkins explains his party's first new policy in two years - the NZ Future Fund. The scandals keep coming. Prince Andrew has promised he won't use his royal titles but should the UK Government go further and completely take them off him? Wellington Phoenix boss David Dome explains why his club is supporting New Zealand's first sports school. Also - Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop on the cost of speeding ticket and ANZ boss Antonia Watson on having the rug pulled from under her by the Government. Plus, the Huddle debates Labour's Future fund and whether we really need a new giant blueberry. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apologies for the delay in uploading the latest episode, Spotify was part of the AWS outage overnight making it impossible to get you the episode soonerBarb Edmonds joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk about the first Labour Party policy release of the election cycle promising there is an alternative to taxation. Labour leader Chris Hipkins announced his party's “Future Fund” policy, pitching it as the way to grow the economy, pay the bills, and build local infrastructure.Sean Plunket's BSA meltdown continues over the weekend as be says he's not a broadcaster, while claiming he is one in his bios, claims The Platform is not a radio station while claiming it does 'talk radio' and we'll also cover off Plunket's remarkable hypocrisy of attending to inundate BHN with BSA complaint by setting his flying monkeys on us.Remember, we have not said the BSA is correct, we have not told people to complain to the BSA, what we have done is commented when the story was released, then responses to Sean Plunket attacks on Twitter over the weekend.Christopher Luxon was on ZB this morning talking, without an ounce of irony, about how NZ would of course pay nurses more if only we had the money and Mike Hosking was so very close to asking the correct question...which he did not.Judith Collins is in lock step with Simeon Brown and the PM claiming the mega strike was "politically motivated" and was not looking at what was best for the Union members saying that is early October, the secondary teachers' union, had "the number one item on their agenda for a meeting with Education Minister Erica Stanford was Palestine."=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Labour released some policies yesterday. Very late in the piece, and you can kind of see why. Just like that, we're back to 2017 with a cut and paste of lofty rhetoric, promises to spend lots of money, and little to no detail. It's a dud, I think it's fair to say. And it's not just me saying that. Oh, we'd expect you to say that, you hate Labour. No, I don't hate Labour. I just hate really, really dumb ideas. I hate the fact that they think that we're all idiots. I hate the fact that they're relying on the fact we have short memories. I hate the fact that apparently, they have been working on this idea since 2017, and this is all they can come up with. When you have Radio New Zealand's political analysts calling it a flop, it's a flop. You know, they are about as sympathetic as you can possibly get. Basically, if you missed it yesterday, it was the announcement of a Future Fund. The Future Fund will sit alongside and be operated by the New Zealand Super Fund, with the Minister of Finance acting as the sole shareholder. Chris Hipkins (and this terrifies me), Chris Hipkins said the policy would be one of the cornerstones of the next Labour government. We want to back New Zealand businesses and invest in New Zealand. We need to see more of our wealth being invested back here in New Zealand rather than flowing overseas. So by using some of our existing public assets, our existing state assets, putting them into a Future Fund, using the returns from them to reinvest in growing New Zealand businesses, we can create jobs and keep more wealth here at home. You're putting in $200 million in cash. Are you also putting in assets? That's right. So we're not being specific right now on which companies, which, you know, existing companies would go in because there are market disclosure issues and so on. Some of those are pub, you know, partially publicly listed companies. But we'll set all of that out in government. Set all of that out in government. Just trust us. We're not going to give you any detail. We'll just trust us to fix it in government. There is so much wrong with this thought bubble policy, I don't know where to start, so I'll let Chris Bishop do it. I thought it was a bit of a brain fart put to paper. I mean, honestly, like I had a read of it. Like my like there's more detail on my Uber Eats order than there is in what they've put in their document. I mean, honestly, it's just it's 11 pages - three of them are photos. One of them is like something that you take out of a clip art manual and chuck on the front page. I mean, honestly, it's there's nothing there. No, there's not. As Nat Rad said, Labour is most vulnerable to the criticism around the thin details, as it feeds National's well-established attack line that Labour is all slogans, no substance. The policy documents came with no figures and no list of assets. And that glib Chris Hipkins, ‘I will fix that in government', really? How did that work out last time? Not so well. To think that Grant Robertson began work on the Future Fund in 2017. Even allowing for the COVID years, that is the best they can do. Another concern is, as the PM pointed out, those crown assets provide profits that fund health and education. If the money is being diverted to the fund, where will the shortfall in funding come from? Probably increased taxation. And that's fine, but give us the details so that we can then make an assessment on it. If you're going to get the extra funding through a capital gains tax or through raising income tax or whatever - tell us, and then we can decide whether that's where we want the money to go. Is there even a need for this fund to back New Zealand businesses? What is this trope that, plucky little New Zealanders have to have a stake in amazingly successful New Zealand businesses? The CEO of Icehouse was on with Mike this morning, and he pointed out that capital investors are always available for good ideas. There is no shortage of professional investors awash with money who know a good idea when they see one and will pay for it. Is it the government's business to be picking winners when it comes to SMEs? Didn't work with the DFC, which was created in the 60s, the Development Finance Corporation, to support industrial development in New Zealand through loans and equity. It failed spectacularly in the late 80s, costing the country billions. Pattrick Smellie from BusinessDesk says Labour's claim that their future fund is comparable to Singapore's state investment house Temasek is completely and utterly unsustainable. Temasek has a mandate to trade in its assets and to invest offshore. Labour's proposal doesn't contemplate, he says, either of those things. He writes, the party remains wedded to an approach to public ownership that traps New Zealand in restricted choices about capital deployment, constrained returns, and a strategic straitjacket that says if the state already owns something, it should automatically continue to do so. The real concern here is that Labour is not worried about what informed commentators, like Pattrick Smellie, have to say about its policies. They don't care. Because they know that the vast majority of the voting public don't care. They're backing on people having short memories of its complete and utter ineptitude and failure to deliver on almost every metric the last time it was in government. All people know right now is that they're hurting. They're still hurting. This coalition government isn't setting them a fire. This coalition government promised a lot and really has yet to deliver. And I, you know, I know it's going to take time. But Labour is quite right to back on the fact that the vast majority of people just don't care. They won't read the detail. They won't even know that there is detail to look for. They won't even know that there is no detail. I think Pattrick Smellie put it brilliantly too. “The Labour proposal of the Future Fund suggests either that the party is economically illiterate or that its target audience is presumed to be”. Which is so true. The Future Fund criticises New Zealand Super Fund for only investing 11% of its assets in New Zealand. As Pattrick Smellie points out, the reason for that, and you know and I know, but the vast majority don't, is that the Super Fund's job is to fund pensions and get the best possible results from its investable capital, which means not overexposing itself to a small, vulnerable economy like New Zealand's. It is basic risk management. But no, this cornerstone of the next Labour government criticises the Super Fund for not investing all of the funds in New Zealand. It is really concerning if this is the best they can do. They know that everybody who cares has been waiting to hear what its policy is going to be so we can compare and contrast. The coalition government has not set us on fire -okay, let's see what Labour can do. Wow. That's it. That is simply not good enough, and it is quite frankly, for those of us who care, terrifying. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief that small businesses are the backbone of New Zealand but are under-served in current Government schemes. Labour has pledged to launch a Future Fund - that re-invests dividends from specified Crown assets into businesses and infrastructure projects. Prospa Managing Director Adrienne Begbie told Ryan Bridge her company helps small businesses get off the ground, and it's great Labour is taking steps forward for these Kiwis. She says hopefully this fund gives some different kinds of investment to help businesses grow and spark up New Zealand. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you want another example of Labour's ideology over pragmatism? I really, really hope that the previous Labour ministers have learned from their previous terms in government that thought bubbles and bright ideas do not sound policy make. Remember Fees Free? The policy was introduced in 2018 and was a key part of Labour's election campaign. The first year of tertiary study would be free for students. It would progressively roll out to cover three years, which never eventuated. We, the taxpayer, provided up to $12,000 in tuition fee payments for the first year of provider-based study or the first two years of work-based learning. The idea behind the objective was sound and worthy. The Labour Government, Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins, et al, billed it as improving equity and opening the doors to higher learning for disadvantaged people for whom the doors would otherwise be closed. Labour expected to see a first-in-family effect. There would be students who would be the first in their families to attend higher education, now a significant cost barrier would be removed. Did that happen? Thank you for asking, no, it didn't. Over the years 2017 to 2022, European, Māori, Pacific, and Asian participation rates stayed relatively steady. The failure to shift the dial, the New Zealand Herald reports, was so evident that in 2020, Labour shifted the policy's purpose to reducing student debt levels. All right, well we can't get disadvantaged kids to university, we can't get first in family. Oh, I know, we'll use the taxpayer money to reduce student debt level. The failed objectives were to increase participation in tertiary study, expand access by reducing financial barriers, and support lifelong learning. Nope. First year fees-free was limited to learners with little to no prior study, limiting lifelong learning support, the analysis said from the Ministry of Education. It described the scheme as a lot of money for little behavioural change, or as they put it, a high deadweight cost. From this year, the Coalition Government has changed the scheme so it applies to the final year of study, with payment following the completion of studies. The policy has three objectives: to incentivize learners, particularly disadvantaged learners, to finish their studies, to reward learners who complete their program of study, to reduce the overall cost of study. The Ministry of Education officials say this is going to fail too. Particularly for degree level study, once a learner reaches their final year, they are already far more likely to complete than those first entering study. So basically, they said it's a self-fulfilling prophecy. By the time you reach your third year, you're going to finish whether the taxpayer is paying for your final year of fees or not. You're motivated enough to stay. They say the second goal is essentially meaningless. Of course there's going to be a completion of qualifications. And the third objective, will most likely succeed, to reduce the overall cost of study. And it will at least help the government's books, the trade-off being an estimated $230 million a year in student debt or more debt repayments than would otherwise occur. So thought bubbles don't make sound policy. The thing that really concerned me in the early years of Labour was that they were ideas I'd think of – ‘Oh, I know, let's do this'. Which is great, but you have to think it through, and you have to listen to your advisors, and you have to listen when people say, "Mm, I'm not entirely sure that we're going to be able to build 100,000 houses." "Yeah, yeah, yeah, but what about if we do this?" And we just throw as much money as we possibly can at it. And on the face of it, taking away that first year of paying your fees – "Hey, gang, I've got an idea. Let's take away that first year of fees so that disadvantaged kids will see university as a great option." I mean, it doesn't take much scratching beyond the surface to see that's not going to work. And we all said that at the time, didn't we? We discussed it. And now it looks like according to the analysis that fees-free final year won't work either. At least not for getting disadvantaged kids through degrees. For those who are highly motivated and have families that go to university, it's like, "Hooray!" Excellent. We'll take the $12,000 off our student debt, thanks very much, and good. If it helps motivated kids get through their study with less of a financial burden around their neck, it makes it easier for them to move onto the next phase of their life, buying a home, starting a family, this is all good. You know, but in terms of the objectives, it's going to fail. But they have to keep it because of the coalition agreement with both NZ First and ACT. So they might have to do what Labour did and just rewrite the objectives. Our objective is that we reward kids who were going to go to university anyway, who are motivated, who are successful, who we want to keep in New Zealand. We'll take $12,000 off their overall student debt, so they'll stay here, buy a house, and have a family. And on the face of it, that's not a bad objective. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Opposition Leader's again expressing concern about Te Pati Maori, but not yet ruling out working with them. Toxic culture claims by Eru Kapa-Kingi were followed by the party releasing documents accusing him of threatening Parliamentary staffers. They also show his mother, recently demoted Whip MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi, was warned about risking budget overspend. Chris Hipkins says it's clear Te Pati Māori has some internal issues to work through before they'd be in a position to form a government. Chris Hipkins told John MacDonald any decisions about whether or not they'd form a coalition with Te Pati Māori will come closer to the election, as an awful lot can happen between now and then. However, he says, if there was an election today, he'd say they're not in a position at the moment to play a constructive role in future government. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rise and shine, it's time for Rāapa Brekkie on 95bFM with Rosetta and Milly! E whai ake nei, coming up on the show: What's Up with Chris Hipkins, an interview with Shamin Yazdani about her short film 'Frozen: My Eggs and Me', a kōrero with the team from the new Pike River film, and What's The Buzz thanks to The Level! Whakarongo mai nei! Thanks to eighthirty coffee roasters!

There's a warning for Hipkins as he plots higher taxes for Kiwi businesses, investors, and savers - it comes from across the ditch. Albanese's been having problems getting his super tax plan across the line, despite having a majority in Parliament. The Opposition to it has come not just from the usual suspects, but also former PM and Labor stalwart Paul Keating - even the Unions cried boohoo. So he's had to U-turn on unrealised gains, which have always been a stupid thing to try and tax. How can you pay tax on money you haven't earned? The Greens want to do this. David Parker wanted to it. Te Pati Māori wants it. And Debbie said at the weekend that she and Chippy are on the same page when it comes to a wealth tax. He denies this, but does anyone believe a guy who won't tell you what he's really thinking or what he really stands for? Until he rules something in or out, he looks like a guy plotting in secret. He and Barbara are squirrelled away with an abacus and a calculator quietly conjuring up a new and inventive revenue streams. We're left wondering whose business, whose property is ripe for the picking. The warning from Australia is pretty night and day, if you're going to tax something, and that's a big "if" here at home, but if you're going to do it, you'd better make sure it's a realised gain and not a tax on imaginary, on-paper earnings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is celebrating new structured literacy results for new entrants; Chris Hipkins discusses teachers strikes and latest political polls; Whale watchers are abuzz after the apparent sighting of the albino humpback "Migaloo" near Kaikoura; BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss as the situation in Gaza continues to develop; More questions raised over Fonterra selling iconic dairy brands.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Corin Dann.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 10 October 2025, Israeli hostages will return home and aid will be delivered into Gaza within days after Israel's Government has signed off on a peace deal. Heather asks Israel's Ambassador Alon Roth whether this paves the way for a Palestinian state. Kiwi flotilla protestor Samuel Leason speaks to Heather after touching down again in New Zealand after being arrested by Israel. Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the Government is breaking its asset sales promise. The Government is looking to sell off an investment in Chorus worth $700 million. New Zealanders are throwing away over 120 thousand tonnes of food every year .. and a new food rescue app is hoping to change that. Gone Good founder Tim Robinson explains how you can get your hands on heavily discounted cafe and bakery goods. Plus, the Sports Huddle ponders how much longer the Noeline Taurua saga will carry on - and does F1 show too many driver girlfriends instead of the track action? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour claims a promise isn't being kept - as the Government mulls selling its stake in Chorus. Finance Minister Nicola Willis today said the Government's considering selling the 61 percent stake in the telecoms infrastructure company - now rollout of ultra-fast broadband is complete. She says the money from a sale would be spent on hospitals and schools. But Chris Hipkins told Heather du-Plessis Allan that they've broken their word. He says National promised no asset sales - and this would fall into that category. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Socially Democratic, Stephen Donnelly sits down with Chris Hipkins, the 41st Prime Minister of New Zealand, to talk about his journey from the Hutt Valley to the halls of power. ​They dive into the highs and lows of leadership, lessons learned from nine years in opposition, and the challenges of rebuilding the Labour Party after a tough election loss.Chris also shares his thoughts on the complexities of tax reform, the need for bold leadership to address New Zealand's narrow tax base, and how Labour plans to tackle the cost of living crisis.Plus, stay tuned until the end for Chris's hidden talent.Tune in for a glimpse at what's next for the NZ Labour campaign.Support the showNew episodes every Friday. If you like the show, rate and review us on your favourite podcast app. Follow Us on Socials: Facebook (https://tr.ee/9jGIOy)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sociallydemocratic)LinkedIn (https://tr.ee/YxyYJh)Twitter (https://x.com/SocialDemPod)Bluesky (https://tr.ee/EqdapC)YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@DunnStreet) The presenting sponsor of the Socially Democratic podcast is Dunn Street. For more information on how Dunn Street can help you organise to build winning campaigns in your community, business or organisation, and make the world a better place, look us up at: dunnstreet.com.au

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. Attention seekers: 1/10 What a dreadful week as we gave far too much energy to narcissists who masquerade as people with causes, both at sea and on land. Noeline: 2/10 Still nothing. How badly handled can a badly handled scandal be handled? Winston Peters: 7/10 In between cleaning up the glass on his dog, his Pacific reset speech was a reminder of what a considered and sensible Foreign Minister he is. Chlöe Swarbrick: 1/10 The party under her leadership really has become farcical. If Palestine was a national park, it might make sense. Chris Hipkins: 3/10 Telling us how appalling it was that Winston's house got smashed but then didn't vote for the new protest law. H.Y.P.O.C.R.I.T.E. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has described protesters outside his Auckland home as 'truly gutless' after one smashed a window, which left glass on his dog. Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Leader of the Opposition on the bipartisan offer from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Plus, what are Labour’s plans for the farming sector?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hamish McKay talks to Harriet Bremner-Pinckney, Mark Ferguson, Chris Hipkins, Deanne Parkes, and Chris Russell.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, we dive into the recent political drama as Christopher Luxon offers a surprising invitation to Labour's Chris Hipkins: support oil and gas exploration again to help tackle New Zealand's energy crisis. After Labour banned oil and gas under Jacinda Ardern's government, Luxon is pushing to lift the ban—but Hipkins has firmly rejected the idea.Is Luxon trying to bind Hipkins politically, or is this a serious attempt to find common ground on energy policy? I break down why Hipkins' outright refusal feels more like political theater than pragmatic leadership, and why Luxon's move, despite some clumsy timing, signals a shift towards addressing the real-world energy challenges we face. Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has blasted the government's decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood, calling it "morally reprehensible" and a failure of leadership. Mr Hipkins spoke to Corin Dann.

In today's episode, Labour leader Chris Hipkins has blasted the government's decision not to recognise Palestinian statehood, calling it "morally reprehensible" and a failure of leadership, US President Donald Trump says a Gaza peace deal is "beyond very close", after meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the health minister says New Zealanders are now getting more timely access to care, a crucial meeting is expected today between Netball New Zealand and Dame Noeline Taurua as they try to solve a stand-off that's left the Silver Ferns without their long-time coach, more and more job seekers are using AI to write their CVs and cover letters.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has been quick to confirm his party would recognise Palestine as a state if Labour leads the Government after next year's election. On Saturday, while at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced New Zealand would not recognise the state of Palestine amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Hipkins says Israel's actions are 'unacceptable' and not recognising Palestine sends Israel a message that New Zealand is okay with the 'unfolding genocide.' "New Zealand cannot stand by and cannot turn our backs on what's unfolding in Palestine. It is unfolding genocide, people are being starved to death." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 29 September 2025, Building Minister Chris Penk reveals how his huge overhaul of earthquake building rules is going to re-balance risk and practicality. Labour leader Chris Hipkins says a Government he leads would recognise the state of Palestine. Silver Ferns star Grace Nweke has publicly called for coach Dame Noeline Taurua's return. Former All Blacks Sevens coach Sir Gordon Tietjens says it's a huge show of support and questions whether Netball CEO Jennie Wyllie should be in the job. Plus, the Huddle weighs in on the Palestine question and producer Laura's food scraps bin dilemma. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest RNZ-Reid Research poll showed a deadlocked Parliament and some uninspiring results for Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins. The public is increasingly pessimistic over the way the country's going, and more are blaming the current government for New Zealand's economic struggles. In this week's Focus on Politics, political reporter Giles Dexter digs into the poll results, and what the latest GDP figures mean for the government's growth agenda.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

I tēnei rā, kei te kōrero māua a Chris Hipkins mā runga What's Up. Kei te kōrero mātou i te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, rāua ko te by-election a Tāmaki Makaurau. Whakarongo mai nei!

Voters are souring on the leaders of National and Labour, with both Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins recording their lowest approval ratings yet in the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll. Political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann.

The latest RNZ Reid Research poll has the political landscape in a deadlock -- the Labour Party still a nose ahead of National, but neither side able to govern alone. Labour Leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Corin Dann. 

A new political poll shows Labour support hitting 33.8 percent, just ahead of National. Labour leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.