Podcast appearances and mentions of chris hipkins

Chris Hipkins joins us LIVE in his only long form interview today post the release of the COVID-19 Inquiry report on what the report said and how it is being covered in the mediaNicola Willis has learned well from fellow Ministers the art of not answering questions as she ducks and dives on HeraldNow questions about removing tax off fuel and our current debt to GDP ratioMariameno Kapa-Kingi's expulsion from Te Pati Maori has been ruled illegal by the High Court today and Kapa-Kingi must be able to return to TPM++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

The Prime Minister's leadership within his own party is being questioned after he didn't fare well in a Taxpayers' Union poll this week. It has National down 2.9 points to 28.4% - but most notably, it suggests that the centre-left bloc could form a government in November. It'll be very tight though, with 61 seats for the left and 59 for the right. Luxon sits at 21% for preferred prime minister, while Hipkins is at 22.7%. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has stated that the United States and Israel breached international law with their bombing of Iran, especially with the strike that killed 150 people at a primary girls' school.  While former Labour Prime Minister Helen Clark says New Zealand should not provide military support for “an illegal invasion” of Iran. And the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey has published its latest results for the year leading up to October 2025. For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden spoke to MP Shanan Halbert about both of these topics.

If you ever want an example of why Chris Hipkins is not going to be the next Prime Minister, watch Question Time yesterday. He has made a twofold mistake. Mistake number one is being a Labour MP obsessed with esoteric, wonky subjects like United Nations treaties and charters. The second mistake is being obsessed with making a global issue all about New Zealand, when in reality we have nothing to do with it. The Prime Minister has kind of got trapped by it as well. The reality is the attack on Iran will affect us all, whether through petrol prices or possibly some inflationary issues and our ability to travel to Europe through Dubai. Outside of that it is not our war, we did not start it, we are not participating in it, and we are a world away from it. The Prime Minister and the Government can answer questions, as far as anyone can answer questions, on what it might mean for our economy, or our travel, or our petrol bill. But what they can't do, and yet are being asked to do, is explain why the Americans did what they did and how that may or may not tie into the United Nations and various charters. Luxon got bogged down in the legalities of it on Monday and walked back some of his comments about all actions to eliminate a regime being good actions. But then Hipkins started banging on about the UN as though New Zealand is the boss of the UN, New Zealand was exclusively given details of the material the United States acted on and has insight that no other country has as to whether there is a so-called "imminent threat". Labour, Hipkins, and the media do this every time. They try and place New Zealand, a tiny, insignificant country at the bottom of the world, into the centre of all global action as though we somehow affect it, can change it, explain it, participate in it or stop it. Esoteric international law is of little interest to most of us on a daily basis. Arguing over United Nation's charters is the stuff of chardonnay and Thorndon and people far removed from regular New Zealander's lives and thought patterns. It's a dumb game trying to trap a government into saying random stuff in the hope they get a headline, or an apology, or a scalp. This has nothing to do with us. Like the weather, it will affect us, but we don't drive it, influence it, or even know a lot about it. Also, for what it's worth, by arguing the way Labour does they are hopelessly out of step with your average New Zealander who I suspect, if you asked the simple question "is getting rid of the crazies in Iran a good idea", the answer would be yes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins believes that the strikes on Iran from the US and Israel were illegal, and the Government needs to be clearer on its position. Speaking to John MacDonald, The Leader of the Opposition said he thinks a regime change is required in Iran, but legal avenues should've been considered. "It needs to be in adherence with international law, which this is not." If you're talking about a regime change, you need to have a plan to affect that" On the news that the Governments bootcamps for young offenders are restarting, Hipkins says he does not support them. "The first one was an abject failure, all of the evidence suggests they don't work." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report. Correction: In the interview, Ingrid Hipkiss said Wellington's mayor supports the move on orders; however, it is Deputy Mayor Ben McNulty who supports the changes.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins, Extensive coverage from the conflict in the Middle East; The Auckland school embracing AI; A lifeline for lions at a Northland wildlife enclosure.

We have a new issues poll out this morning. It's from IPSOS. 1000 people. Was taken after Waitangi weekend. The numbers are bad for National, because they should be winning on more issues. But Luxon won't hate the numbers because they're going in the right direction of a few key issues. A significant increase on Cost of Living - after a period of trending in the wrong direction. Another 'significant' increase on healthcare/hospitals- closing the gap from 19 to 12 points since October. After being overtaken on the economy, they've come back to draw with the reds. Interestingly, concern from voters about poverty and inequality is trending down - despite the big push in the media last week. The reality is that Labour is still ahead on three of the five issues. But no election is won or lost on a single issue, is it? Although Covid in 2020 and cost of living in 2023 were dominant. What the election will come down to, as I've always said, and everyone already knows, is Winston Peters. He has told me that he will not form a government with Labour if 1. Hipkins is in charge. And 2. it needs propping up by the Greens or TPM. He says they're nuts. So, as long as the polls, stay roughly where they are, the National party strategists will stick largely to the same script and wait for Winston at the alter. Barring, of course, nay campaign snaffus that might get any of the above into trouble and offside with us, the voters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are we holding Kiwi farmers to gold-plated standards while waving cheap imports straight through the border? This week we take on what Duncan calls the double standard threatening to force local producers out of business. From pork and eggs to animal welfare rules, farmers say they're being hammered at home while competing against products made under standards we've already banned. Then it's politics. Ani O'Brien and Maurice Williamson join us to dissect Chris Hipkins' “state of the nation” speech, the cost of living reality facing households, and whether voters are actually feeling any economic bounce. We also get into billion-dollar power company profits, Air New Zealand's big loss, and whether selling it is the answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We don't hold back in this one. First, we deliver the brutally honest speech Chris Hipkins should have given. No spin. No tidy slogans. Just debt, KiwiBuild, light rail, inflation, energy policy and the reality of trying to do too much and delivering too little . It is satire, but it is grounded in real frustration. Then David Farrar joins us to talk numbers. A genuine dead heat in the polls. Sixty seats to the centre right, sixty to the centre left . We break down what that means, why Labour is playing it cautious, and why Winston Peters is polling higher during a term in government than almost anyone expected. Election year is here. If you want another shot at running the country, words are not enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labour's calling for caution, while agreeing with National that Auckland needs a new harbour crossing. The Infrastructure Commission last week suggested a toll as high as $9 to fund the new crossing - and also tolling the existing bridge. But Chris Hipkins ruled out tolling Auckland Harbour Bridge at his State of the Nation speech yesterday. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained why this position doesn't quite match Labour's earlier stance on extra costs for road users. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for the 24th of February 2026, Chris Hipkins delivered Labour's State of The Nation address yesterday and we wondered how it was received. Then, there's a scarcity of air traffic controllers and we went looking for solutions. Bunnings are planning deliveries by Uber - this could be a game changer! And to finish - pushback over the idea of asking guests to pay $75 a head for a wedding dinner. 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.

Isn't it amazing that, after all the time spent wringing our hands over the price of electricity, we still haven't bitten the bullet and gone full boar with solar energy? You might have heard Chris Hipkins hinting yesterday that, if Labour forms the next government, solar will be on the agenda. He isn't giving too much away but says, yes, ramping up the use of solar power will be one of Labour's election policies. There'll be no details, though, until after the Budget in May. That's because he wants to get a better idea of how much money he's got to play with. But, if last election is anything to go by, it looks like Labour might be resurrecting the policy it had back then of providing $4,000 grants to help people install solar panels. In my mind, it is ridiculous that we don't require new houses to be fitted out with solar panels. It would add to the cost of the build but, long-term, I think it would be a game changer. I'm not the only one who thinks this. Sir Ian Taylor is saying today that electrification is the future and solar is how we get there. Solar on homes. Solar on farms. Solar on commercial buildings. And I couldn't agree more. He says the cheapest electricity is the electricity you don't have to move. So his version of full-boar solar includes storage capacity - not just solar panels - at our houses, on our farms and on our commercial buildings. He says: “Every kilowatt generated where it is used is one that does not need to be transmitted across the country. that reduces losses. it reduces strain on the grid. and it reduces the need for expensive new transmission infrastructure that ultimately pushes power prices higher.” No argument from me. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins delivered his State of the Nation speech in Auckland yesterday, with a promise a new Labour government would run an affordability lens on everything it does. Our political reporter Giles Dexter was at the speech and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins delivered his State of the Nation speech in Auckland yesterday, with a promise a new Labour government would run an affordability lens on everything it does. Our political reporter Giles Dexter was at the speech and spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

This morning Chris Hipkins joined us for his weekly chat following his state of the nation speech yesterday; Plus, we spoke to RNZ's National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood who has uncovered some new details about the Jevon McSkimming investigation; Police minister, Mark Mitchell joined us responding to claims from the Police Association that officers aren't equipped to deal with rough sleepers; We spoke to the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists which says the country's neurologist shortage is a symptom of an unwell health system; And, Wellington Zoo has been inundated with injured birds since the region was hit by wild weather.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has just delivered his State of the Nation speech. But with no new policies announced is this really going to get him over the line in an election year? Bryce Edwards joined Jesse.

Listening to Chris Hipkins' State of the Nation speech today, I found it really hard to take him seriously. The speech was mostly just a list of things wrong with the country right now, most of which anyone who can remember back five, six, seven years, knows were caused by him, Grant, Jacinda and Adrian Orr. Take this line, for example: “I see young New Zealanders - smart, hardworking, full of potential - making calculations that no young person should have to. Do I stay in the country I love, or do I leave to build the life I've worked for? It breaks my heart.” Well, it shouldn't break his heart - because he was warned about this. When he, Jacinda and Grant were contemplating those long Auckland lockdowns at the tail end of the pandemic, Treasury explicitly warned that young people would suffer the most. I quote: “The negative consequences are that low employment and income rates are shown to persist for young people well after recessions have waned.” - Treasury advice, 13 May, 2021. Now, we've already spent more than enough time debating whether the lockdowns should have happened - we don't need to do that again. But the consequences of those lockdowns are there in black and white. Young people would bear the brunt. So he can hardly complain now that young people are leaving the country. It was predicted. He complains about affordability. Well, it was during his Government that inflation spiked to 7.3 percent. Yes, some of it was global. But a lot of it was Grant Robertson allowing Adrian Orr to print billions of dollars. Again - right or wrong - we can debate that. But it was the actions of his Government that created the affordability crisis he now laments. He complains about unemployment. Unemployment is up because of the recession Adrian Orr engineered to bring down the inflation that, as I've just said, was created by him and Grant. Now, I'm not defending the National-led Government - that's not my job. Frankly, I think they could have done a lot more to tidy up the Government's books, that part has been woeful. But they did not create the mess that Chippy is complaining about. And it is beyond ironic to have him standing there saying, “Oh, look what a mess this is,” and proposing to be the man to fix it - when he was part of the team, in fact right up there in the top three of the team, that created the mess in the first place. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Remuneration Authority says more responsibility attracts more pay, as more local councillors see bigger pay rises. What do we make of this? The Government has proposed giving police more powers to move rough sleepers along. This has generated some backlash, but do we think this change is needed to improve New Zealand's city centres? Labour's Chris Hipkins has delivered his State of the Nation address in Auckland at a Business Chamber event. Did this make you feel more or less confident in Labour? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says he doesn't want to make promises he'll have to change - announcing no new policy in Labour's State of the Nation address today. He says policies can wait until after the Budget, and he explained that he's made Labour's political priorities clear to the voters. Hipkins explained they party's not going to be making big sweeping promises ahead of the election this time round. "We're going to be promising things that we know we can deliver on, that are actually going to make a difference - but are actually going to solve the problems we've got as a country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's promising to be realistic as it shapes up election year ideas. Leader Chris Hipkins has delivered his State of the Nation address in Auckland at a Business Chamber event. The speech lacked new policy - but addressed concern around people leaving the country and the state of our tax system. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper voiced disapproval with the speech, and questioned whether Labour would be able to deliver on anything for Kiwi voters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 23 February, 2026, the Genesis chief executive tells us why the energy company needs nearly $200 million from the Government. A Wellington councillor on whether the Government's "move-on" orders for homeless people will work. Chris Greenacre becomes interim coach of the Wellington Phoenix for a fourth time - should he just get the job? And on the Huddle, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani give us their assessment of Chris Hipkins' State of the Nation speech. 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.

Tensions in Parliament today - with barbs traded between the Prime Minister and Opposition leader. Chris Luxon took a swipe at Labour's Chris Hipkins at Question Time over inflation. Speaker Gerry Brownlee told numerous MPs to cool down, after heckling from both sides. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the action from today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I watch Chris Hipkins, presumably gleefully, mess about with the India Free Trade deal, I'm reminded this is not the Labour Party that did the FTA with China. Hipkins is no Helen Clark and in that is a great sadness. For all those who occasionally contact me and ask of the possibility of a so-called “grand coalition” —a relationship between the Labour and National parties— before you ask, next time look at the way Hipkins plays these games and there is your answer. Even in areas of broad agreement, they still can't act like grownups. It's also a lesson in name vs substance. The Labour Party of the past few years is nothing like Labour of the late 90's and early 2000's. That was a centrist version. Yes, they still handed out free money to people like students to bribe them in election year. But the rest of the time they actually ran the economy in growth. Compared to Barbara Edmonds, Michael Cullen was a conservative. In the early parts of 1984 Labour, with David Lange, was similar, and here is your irony that Hipkins fails to recognise: when Labour are, broadly speaking, middle of the road they are actually popular. Ask Bob Hawke or Paul Keating or Tony Blair – centrist Labour is successful Labour. By the time you take modern Labour with Hipkins and Sepuloni, and add the Greens in the mix, you are seeing the left wing “group think” that not only keeps them out of office, but leads to the sort of game playing we have with an FTA. Yes, the Government probably shouldn't have to rely on them and for all the games Labour plays, New Zealand First is just as bad with their xenophobic nonsense. But Labour once had a global view. It's not like the Chinese weren't thought of with great suspicion prior to 2008. But the bigger picture was at play. The realisation that large countries and their economies could be good for everyone was a driving force. What Labour would do well to do is put this country first. Not score points, not look like children, and not pretend they actually had anything to do with negotiating this thing at all. FTAs are big picture, not a three-year electoral cycle game. I don't think I'm alone in wishing there were more adults in the room. Labour 1999-2008 put the current lot to shame. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

This morning we spoke to Labour leader Chris Hipkins; Plus, business owners around Eden Park told us why hosting the State of Origin is a golden point win for the city; We spoke to the CEO of Contact Energy as it looks to raise millions for its renewable energy projects; The iconic Queen's Arcade in Auckland is set for glow up; And, fresh from his big night at the Halbergs, Supreme award winner Hamish Kerr joined us.

Labour's issued a list of demands for the Government before it will sign up to the Free Trade Agreement with India. Chris Hipkins says the FTA needs stronger safeguards against exploiting migrants. He wants the full official advice on the deal released to Labour. He says the Party's particularly concerned around the expectation Kiwi businesses will invest $33 billion in India over 15 years. "I think it's almost entirely impossible, and that's why I'm surprised that they're trying to sign us up to that. To put that into context, I think that over the last 25 years, less than $1 billion NZD has been invested in India." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says Labour's concerns with the India Free Trade Agreement is "politicking", and Chris Hipkins wanting attention. Labour's saying they want the un-redacted advice about the deal and greater protection for migrant workers. In a letter to Chris Luxon, Chris Hipkins wants more clarity about the clause which requires New Zealand business to invest $33billion into India. Luxon told Mike Hosking that none of their concerns are real problems. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Mark Warren, Mike Casey, Nathan Guy, Chris Hipkins, Winston Peters, and Christopher Luxon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duncan dives into the trust problem currently rotting New Zealand politics. Whether it is Chris Hipkins flipping on capital gains or Chris Luxon introducing a new power "levy" that looks suspiciously like a tax, we ask if anything said before an election actually survives. Plus, economist Craig Renney and the Taxpayers Union's Jordan Williams join us to debate the state of the economy and why Wellington is feeling so flat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Finance Minister's rejecting an accusation it's using Covid as an election tactic. Nicola Willis announced an independent review this year of the monetary policy the Reserve Bank delivered during the pandemic. It'll be released just weeks before the election, and Labour's Chris Hipkins claims the Government's aiming to revive pandemic conspiracies. Willis told Mike Hosking she suspects it wouldn't have mattered what the timing is, the reaction would've been the same – their political opponents saying they shouldn't be asking these questions. But she says when the Reserve Bank did its own review, the results showed there hasn't been enough examination into their decisions. The Finance Minister is also insisting she's keeping an eye on the banking space as ASB reports higher margins. The bank saw modest growth in the second half of last year, reporting a net profit of $765 million. Its net interest margins ticked up six basis points to 2.35%. Willis says told Hosking more people are already looking for better banking deals, and she's working to improve competition. She says she's comparing our regime internationally, especially with the banks' Australian counterparts, and looking at whether we're getting our settings right. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don't blame Chris Hipkins and Co. for a moment, calling it a gas tax. That's politics when you are in Opposition, especially when you have no policies yourself. What I despair about is yet another chapter of myopic nonsense around dumb words for cheap points. The truth is comparatively simple and most of it is indisputable: we need more power supply than we have. We need more reliable power supply than we have. We got caught dangerously short in the winter of 2024. Labour, in turning off the gas, wrecked the industry and caused untold damage. The Huntly coal deal is part of the solution. An LNG importation facility is another part. We need a power supply tap because hydro, wind, and solar isn't it. Even if it's the bulk of supply, it's reliant on things we can't control. So far so good, we all agree. The cost of LNG is a billion-ish. Someone has to pay. The Government could pay by borrowing more but, wisely, they choose not to. The industry could pay through a levy. That is what we have chosen. Will they pass it on? Yes, why wouldn't they? Do you like that? No, why would you? But at all times we come back to the basic issue: do you want heating in winter, every winter, like a first world country? Do you want business to be able to operate at full capacity like a first world country? So it isn't a tax. A tax is a forced payment by Government, that's not what this is. It's an increased power bill to eventually get a power bill that wouldn't have been as high if we hadn't built a back stop for supply. It's the cost of rectifying an embarrassing wrong. You might want to remember that when you vote. Fixing broken stuff costs money. It's human to want others to pay for stuff but that's not how life works. If you want a spot price of $800 in the dead of winter, the highest price in the world, then doing nothing will work well. We need more emphasis on the future, and on improvement, and less on the petty and the political point-scoring. I wouldn't have thought any of that is complicated. You might not be thrilled, but it's not complicated. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Nathan Guy, Chris Hipkins, Winston Peters, Christopher Luxon, Kate Acland, Todd McClay, David Seymour, Jono Pemberton, Steve Abel, and Todd Charteris.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour leader on the India Free Trade Agreement, which he calls a "botched process by the government".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This morning, we spoke to Energy Minister Simon Watts about the government's plan for a new liquified natural gas import terminal. and we had our weekly interview with Labour Leader, Chris Hipkins. We spoke with Wellington mayor Andrew Little about what any independent inquiry into the Moa Point Waste Treatment plant failure could look like. Plus, Kiwirail front after faults are discovered on Auckland's train network. And we joined friends of Zoi Sadowski-Synnott as they cheered her on toward her Silver medal at the Winter Olympics.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins joined Andrew Dickens to chat about Waitangi Day hecklers, co-governance, and equal opportunity. He also spoke about moving back towards using te reo for official titles, something the National coalition has moved away from. "There's nothing to be scared of by embracing te reo Māori and having, Māori names for government departments," Hipkins said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour and the Greens joined forces at Waitangi today to make their priorities clear ahead of the upcoming general election. Labour leader Chris Hipkins describes the party as fractured, and says the parties need to work through their internal issues. Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says there's a lot of things the parties can work together on and they'll stand side by side to prove that to voters. "New Zealanders are going to be paying attention. That is a really exciting proposition for us as a country, and I don't think politicians or any political party is entitled to absolutely anything and I make that point, particularly, about the legacy parties." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a Pharmac advisory panel provisionally recommending funding weight loss drug Wegovy, we spoke with Auckland University Professor of Global Health and Nutrition Boyd Swinburn. Plus, we asked Labour leader Chris Hipkins what he does and doesn't like about the proposed free trade agreement with India. The opposition is calling for more transparency over New Zealand's talks with the United States about the supply of rare and critical minerals, we spoke with Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick. Lucy Naylor from the Auckland Primary Principals Association talked us through the changes to school reports, and major insurance company AA has confirmed it isn't offering new home insurance policies in Woodend; we spoke with Amanda Newson.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins speaks to Ingrid Hipkiss about the party's push to win all the Māori seats

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Thursday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) You're Damned If You Do.../There's a Box for You if You Want One/Where Hipkins Goes Wrong/Not Mystery Liquid Again/Five Degrees of SeparationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simeon Brown and Carmel Sepuloni joined Morning Report this morning for the Weekly Political Panel; Labour leader Chris Hipkins is getting little clarity from voters on which governing partners he should shut out, with a new poll showing the electorate divided on his post-election options; It's been 100 years since the establishment of the Australasian Performing Right Association - known as 'APRA.'; How do you get the best deal to keep your power bill down; Almost a third of Auckland's recycling now ends up in landfill - with the council bringing in AI to help sort through bins.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins is getting little clarity from voters on which governing partners he should shut out, with a new poll showing the electorate divided on his post-election options. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann.

Parliament returned today for the first session of 2026, and the focus has turned to campaigning for the upcoming election. Hipkins and Luxon made their statements, with Luxon applauding the coalition's track record and Hipkins accusing the Government of being all about slogans, not delivery. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the debate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

The RNZ-Reid Research poll surveyed one-thousand-people from January the 15th through to the 22nd; A mix of cameras, drones, and human spotters are providing constant monitoring of the Mount Maunganui landslide, as recovery efforts continue; Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report; Shifting more of our electricity use to off-peak hours could save the country up to $3 billion; Raglan will host one of the world's biggest surfing events this year, after being added as a stop on the World Surf League Championship.

Labour's ranks are meeting in West Auckland today where they are expected to outline their priorities heading into this year's election. Party leader Chris Hipkins spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.