Podcast appearances and mentions of chris hipkins

Legendary political journalist and broadcaster Barry Soper joins Nick Mills in the studio for the launch of his new book 'One Last Question, Prime Minister.' Soper takes your calls and Nick's questions about his time with the 12 Prime Ministers he has observed during his career. Hear about his experiences in Parliament, including the 2022 Wellington protest, changes over his career and insight into the leadership of Robert Muldoon, Helen Clark, Jacinda Arden and Chris Hipkins. His book is out now at most retailers including Paper Plus, Whitcoulls and Unity Books. LISTEN ABOVESee 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. Tourism: 7/10 This has been a good vibe week. TRENZ had them coming from everywhere, the sentiment is good, and the numbers are excellent. Kiwifruit: 9/10 This story is starting to outshine dairy. Not in numbers, but in terms of growth. At almost $6 billion and booming, this is mana from vines. Add it to dairy and we are laughing. Chris Hipkins: 2/10 This has been, far and away, his worst week of the year. Mystery policy detail and the arrogance to say we aren't interested in detail anyway. He is National's election year dream come true. Trump: 4/10 We still don't have a deal, but we do have a slush fund. He looks increasingly tawdry. But he's just as influential – just ask Thomas Massie. Newstalk ZB: 8/10 Guess who's popular? Ratings day yesterday was party day – the audience is up, and on some shows, up a lot. We thank you and appreciate you, as always, from the bottom of our hearts. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is playing a dangerous game of politics by camouflaging six months out from the election. Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni are refusing to front with any concrete policy, hoping voters will forget six years of failure. Plus, we reveal the exclusive results from our editor-in-chief poll on the proposed public service job cuts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes it feels like an easy thing to say that politicians have no idea what really matters to us. What's important to us - the people who put them in their positions of power. Today, it may be the easiest it's ever been to say that sort of thing. Let's start with Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Who, I think, said one of the most arrogant things I've heard any politician say. This happened yesterday. When he was talking about pretty much the only policy his party has been able to come up with since it was turfed out of government at the last election. The future fund. Which would use some of the profits from our state-owned enterprises to invest in new start-up businesses. Chris Hipkins has been saying that Labour's not going to be announcing any new election policies until after next week's budget. Until it has a better handle on the government's finances before promising things the country can't afford. Yesterday, he went next level. This was after he said earlier in the week that he wouldn't be giving any more detail about Labour's future fund policy until after the election. He almost sounds like he knows he's got no show of forming the next government and doesn't want his people putting too much work into policies and things that won't go anywhere. I genuinely think that's what he and Labour are starting to sound like. Because, after the election, they won't be needed. But that's not the worst bit. Yesterday, when he was asked if he thought voters might want to know more about the future fund before the election, he said New Zealanders don't really care about the detail. This is in relation to which state owned enterprises would have to contribute some of their profits to the future fund if Labour formed the next government and put this policy in place. When he was asked about that, Hipkins said New Zealanders don't really care about those key details. He said: “I don't think the public really care which companies are going to go in or not. I think the public care about the fact that we're going to keep state assets and National's going to sell them.” The arrogance. And, at the same time as we've got the Labour leader trotting out that nonsense, we've got MPs debating a bill that defines the meaning of man and woman. That one's courtesy of NZ First, which says it's fighting “cancerous social engineering” and “woke ideology”. Do you think, in the grand scheme of things, pointless legislation like that really matters? And, on top of that, public service minister Paul Goldsmith has told government departments they've got until the end of next month to make sure they prioritise the English version of their names over the Te Reo version. It beggars belief, doesn't it? The arrogance of telling us to wait until after the election for policy details because, apparently, that's not important to us. And the pointlessness of a law defining what a man is and what a woman is; and the pointlessness of government departments having to change their logos because some people can't handle a bit of Te Reo. All of the examples I've just given tell me that our politicians have absolutely no idea what's important to us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey of Automobile Association members' views on time-of-use charging has been presented to the Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee.  The survey found that members were open to congestion charging if it worked, even if they thought it was unfair. Labour leader Chris Hipkins gave a ‘State of Auckland' speech last week, focusing on the need for cross-party collaboration on infrastructure projects. Wire Host Caeden spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.

I asked yesterday whether Chris Hipkins thought we were stupid. And as luck would have it, he answered our question – yes, he does. First you have the Future Fund, a cornerstone policy, revelation that they aren't telling us who's money goes in and what sort of job creation they are expecting because they got bogged down in the Treaty issues, so we will need to wait until after the election. That's a massive problem given they only have one policy and that policy looks to be a huge waste of our money. Policy number two is a secret. But according to Chris, who appears to literally be melting in front of our eyes as the election year blowtorch gets pointed his way, he says on our behalf we "don't really care about the detail". That's what he said. Did he ask you? He didn't ask me. But he seems confident to suggest we don't really care about the detail. The breathtaking thing about that is I think he actually believes it. I think he has shown a side of the limousine left. They genuinely think we are a bit thick, that they are intellectually superior, and the complicated stuff really should be left to those who know what they're doing or think they know what they're doing. Can you name me any other party that takes their cornerstone policy and tells you that you don't need to know the detail? And further, to go on to suggest you're not really interested anyway. This would be bad enough if these guys hadn't been running the place for a while. But they ran the place three years ago and that very same "you're dumb, we know what we're doing" sunk them. Hipkins in Auckland last week says everyone is over lockdown except the Newstalk ZB audience. Hipkins this week says no one is interested in policy detail. So one policy on tax, one policy that's secret, and two observations that show the guy is literally either having a breakdown, or he is setting out to destroy his party in real time. If you're remotely connected to Labour and want to help, get to him fast and hose him down. Because he is the Government's greatest gift. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins doesn't think the public much cares about which companies would be in the party's Future Fund. It won't be revealing key details - including the cost to the Crown and which state assets would go into it - until after voters go to the polls. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacked the reactions to this announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins doesn't think the public much cares about which companies would be in the party's Future Fund. It won't be revealing key details - including the cost to the Crown and which state assets would go into it - until after voters go to the polls. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacked the reactions to this announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey of Automobile Association members' views on time-of-use charging has been presented to the Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Delivery Committee.  The survey found that members were open to congestion charging if it worked, even if they thought it was unfair. Labour leader Chris Hipkins gave a ‘State of Auckland' speech last week, focusing on the need for cross-party collaboration on infrastructure projects. Wire Host Caeden spoke with Councillor Shane Henderson about both of these topics.

So let me get this right, just so we know where we're at. The Labour Party —who, I'm assuming, still want to be taken seriously this election— have had a major issue up to this point. They have no policies. The one policy they do have is a new tax, and the money from that new tax will pay for all of us to go to the doctor three times. Even though a lot of us —to be frank, probably most of us— don't actually need the state to pay for a doctor's visit. Their other policy we sort of knew about was the Future Fund. It would contain SOEs, whose dividends would go into it to create jobs and grow the economy. Update on the Future Fund: we aren't going to know about that until after the election. The good news is they're not winning the election, so it sort of doesn't matter. But they will make it even harder to have a crack at winning the election now, given voters sort of want to know what stuff costs, especially large stuff. Further trouble is that the hold-up is they need advice on "Treaty obligations". That's right, bogged down yet again in matters Māori. Originally, they told us the SOEs involved were commercially sensitive, now it's Treaty troubles. Previously, Chris Hipkins said this fund would create jobs. Yesterday, Barbara Edmonds didn't know how many because that would depend on what the fund invested in, which SOEs were in the fund, and what advice they got around Treaty obligations. So no job stats, no cost stats, no real detail on who's in and who isn't on what they call one of their cornerstone policies. So no policies, until there is a policy. But it's sort of a secret policy that, if you vote for us, we'll tell you about after the election. Small question at this point: do they honestly believe we are that stupid? That this is any sort of way to conduct an election campaign? That this is any sort of excuse this close to an election? Are they smarter than we think and this is basically their white flag, because they don't want to be in Government anyway? Part of what haunts them from last time is their inability to actually do anything apart from spray money. They talk. They don't do. Three years on they have clearly learned nothing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Weekly interview with opposition leader, Chris Hipkins; Careers advisor responds to barista course criticism; More funding for reading, writing and maths; Researcher discusses rise in declined specialist care; NZ Rugby and Touch NZ partner to grow participation

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! Luxon's comments about immigration have raised a few eyebrows, especially from Labour's Chris Hipkins. What do we make of this? Winston Peters has expressed interest in buying back BNZ. Do we think this is a good idea? Will this really fix our economic issues? Is National right to scrap 'good character' assessment for sex offenders' sentencing? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon is firing back at Winston Peters over his latest comments about immigration. The New Zealand First Leader has been accusing his Coalition partners National and Act of being too slow on immigration. The Prime Minister and National Leader says he feels like there's a bit of anti-immigration cos-playing going on, whereby some politicians pretend to be Donald Trump, Nigel Farage or Marine Le Pen. He told Mike Hosking that the remarks by Peters are an example of that. Luxon says New Zealand doesn't have uncontrolled immigration, while the US has 13 to 14 million illegal immigrants. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We need to talk about what Chris Hipkins has said about immigration. First of all, Labour can frankly shut up accusing the Nats of anti-migrant rhetoric because this is a party that hasn't got a leg to stand on when it comes to migration. This is the party - and some of the very same people are still there - that campaigned on reducing immigration by up to 30,000 people in 2017, produced a list of Chinese-sounding names two years earlier and then shut down immigration completely, only to do the opposite by opening it up too much during and after COVID. So, on immigration - glass houses etc. But having said that, what National is proposing to do on immigration should worry businesses up and down this country that rely on migrants. And I'm looking at you - the aged-care sector wanting to bring in Filipino workers to look after our elderly; and I'm looking at you, Health New Zealand, needing to employ Indian nurses; and I'm looking at you, the construction sector, needing to bring in general labourers. Because Chris Luxon has made it clear in his speech he's shutting his door to businesses wanting to lobby him for migrant workers. He said: “My message to the business community is that when it comes to immigration, when I'm faced with a choice between social stability and your bottom line, I will choose the former every single time.” Now that begs the question to the Prime Minister: what does “social stability” mean? Is that basically you saying we've got too many Indian migrants? Which then begs the question: is National trying to match New Zealand First's anti-Indian rhetoric to avoid losing voters to them? Which then logically begs the next question: is Luxon putting his vote share at the election ahead of New Zealand's need to bring in the workers that we know we need? Because we've been through COVID, and we know that we do not do these low-skilled jobs - you need migrants to do them. So I think we should all be worried about this. I think businesses in New Zealand, in particular, should be very worried about this. And it begs a final question: if this is the position that National has taken, is there now even a single party in Parliament that is looking after New Zealand businesses? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Erica Stanford: NCEA, immigration and "anti-Māori" criticism Minister for education and immigration Erica Stanford joins Jack Tame to discuss the new scheme replacing NCEA, facing down public criticism over removing school boards' Treaty of Waitangi obligations, and why the National Party is toughening its rhetoric on immigration. She also pushed back on education ministry plans to remove ESOL funding for year 0 and year 1 students in the second half of this year, saying the ministry had “got ahead of itself” and that wouldn't now be happening. Stanford also touched on the government's pause in rolling out a social media ban for under-16s, saying there was a legislative programme still under way, and that the National Party was still committed to moving something on age verification. Where's the policy? Chris Hipkins on Labour's election plans Less than six months out from a general election, New Zealand's highest-polling party has only revealed a handful of policies. On big issues like the cost of living, fuel security and immigration, Chris Hipkins says the Labour Party will be sharing their vision for the country after Budget Day. Chris Hipkins joins Jack Tame for his first appearance of 2026 to discuss his flagship education policy of the previous government, Fees Free - now set to be cancelled, with a price tag to date of $2 billion. He also considers whether Labour in New Zealand can take any lessons from Sir Keir Starmer's turmoil in the UK. “Oligopoly”: How a lack of competition hurts public pockets OECD economist David Haugh joins Q+A with Jack Tame to talk about a major new report detailing the weak state of competition in the New Zealand economy, and why ordinary New Zealanders are being economically hurt by the structure of key markets. His report also critiqued the government's LNG plans, and he responds to an assertion from PM Chris Luxon that those sections of the report are “a load of rubbish”. The “global Goliath” and risk of worldwide societal collapse Cambridge researcher of existential risks Luke Kemp talks to Q+A about the threats facing the continued survival of humanity, why wealth inequality is such a major risk factor, and how in such a globalised world, a collapse would be much more difficult to survive than previous societal collapses. Kemp's book is Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse, and he's been in New Zealand as part of the Auckland Writers Festival. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Is Chris Hipkins missing a gene? Does he have a self-destructive predilection? Or is he just a pillock by nature? He rolls into Auckland to tell the nation's biggest city and engine room in election year that she's all good and everyone has moved on from the lockdowns. His lockdowns. The home handyman from the Hutt, telling Auckland what's what. What an arrogant twat. He was in Auckland to build rapport, to patch up the damage, to scope the joint and to see what sort of chance his party has come November. Love or hate Auckland, elections are won and lost in the city. No one gets to Government without a good day in Auckland. Even for a small country it is true to say there are countries within countries, or cultures and vibes within cultures and vibes. It took me a while to get a grip on Wellington before I moved there. It's different to Christchurch. It's different to Dunedin, and Auckland is different to each of the other urban centres. I think Chris Bishop has found that out by suggesting his two million home debacle. He's from Wellington too. If you are too entrenched in Wellington, you don't get Auckland. Hipkins suggested the only people who ever ask him about lockdown these days is Newstalk ZB. 1) That's not true and yesterday was an example given the person who asked wasn't from Newstalk ZB. 2) Newstalk ZB is the biggest game in Auckland and by a long way. Dismissing the biggest radio player in Auckland, and the country, is about as stupid as saying Aucklanders have moved on from lockdown. Ultimately, it's another example of why I have said all year that this election is over before it starts. Labour will not win. The pain, suffering and incompetence of 2020-23 is still too raw, real and recent to forgive and forget. Making it worse is the fact the very same people who did the damage are still there waiting for another crack. Judging by yesterday, they've learned nothing, want to learn nothing and are as arrogant as last time. Hipkins may well realise that, come election night when he loses and inevitably has to resign given he will have lost twice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says Aucklanders have moved on from long lockdowns, and don't hold a grudge against Labour. The Labour leader gave a speech today on the city's future, batting away questions on whether the Party kept the city too long in lockdown in 2021. Chris Hipkins clarified that more Aucklanders are focused on the future of the city than what happened years ago. "Covid-19 was a very difficult time for everybody, and Auckland bore a disproportionate brunt of the effects of the Covid-19 restrictions compared to the rest of the country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour's Chris Hipkins recently claimed no-one outside of Newstalk ZB is fussed about the Auckland lockdowns from 2021. Does he have a point? Will we find out come November? Yesterday, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said he'd always choose social cohesion over businesses bottom lines when it comes to immigration. Labour's Chris Hipkins has raised concerns, especially following some other comments from Winston Peters and Shane Jones. Does he have a point? How badly did we get ripped off if it's true we paid $3 million to get Robbie Williams here - especially if Singapore reportedly paid $3 million for six Taylor Swift concerts two years ago? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 May, 2026, we confront Labour leader Chris Hipkins on his claim not one person outside of Newstalk ZB is raising Covid lockdowns with him. Air New Zealand's chief executive tells us how it'll cope with a loss of nearly $400 million. A Christchurch City Councillor on his warning that Airbnb is turning parts of the city into "ghost communities". And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson tell us if they think Robbie Williams is worth a reported $3 million to bring to New Zealand. 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.

Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins wouldn't say whether his internal polling indicates he would need Te Pāti Māori's support to form a government if Labour is successful in this year's election. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, the Labour Party leader said the internal polling he receives shows Labour in the “high thirties”, and he is confident the party is on the right track to win in November. "My goal is to make sure Labour gets the most votes and is in the strongest possible position going into any post-election discussion." After it was revealed that an ex-Labour staffer is behind the social media account "luxury_marmite_sandwich", which has been trolling Government MPs, Hipkins said it had nothing to do with his party, and that some of the content posted by the page was objectionable. "To be very, very clear, that has nothing to do with us" "I have asked my office to go back to him (ex-staffer) and be very clear that no footage that he had access to from his time working for us should be used in any of the material that he is producing now." They also discussed proposed changes to climate change laws, whether Hipkins believes there should be any further public funding for Christ Church Cathedral, and his thoughts on Judith Collins as she bows out of politics this week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government announced on Tuesday it would amend climate laws to prevent companies from being sued over damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The change will prevent findings of liability in torts - a type of civil case where one person or entity claims another has caused them harm.Chris Hipkins was on Breakfast and NZ Herald this morning talking the cancellation of fees free, how NZ should fund infrastructure and the government's latest fuel announcementDespite previously denying any links to a Luxury Marmite Sandwich that ruthlessly takes the mickey out of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Labour leader Chris Hipkins now says it's a former staffer. It comes after Stuff asked questions about how the account could access raw footage shot in the Opposition area of parliament. Why does stuff find the content creator the story here, when last week, with a content creator linked to National, Stuff found the content the focal point, not the creator. We might also have a look at the latest Curia poll as well++++++++++++++++++++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 speaks to Ingrid Hipkiss; Finance Minister Nicola Willis explains the fuel rationing plan; Mariameno Kapa-Kingi discusses her exit from Te Pati Maori; Calls for more money for trades following fees free scrapping; Interview with NZ Rugby League's new boss, Andrea Nelson .

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins won't be loving the news out today that the coalition government is on its way to a second term, but Christopher Luxon shouldn't be either. According to the NZ Herald - Motu research Poll of Polls, there is an 88.3 percent chance of the coalition getting back in this year. Election results from the last 12 years have been run through 4,000 simulations, and it's shown there is nearly a 90 percent chance of us having the same government as the one we have now after November. The Poll of Polls says National would have 37 seats - down 12. That's 12 current National MPs without a job after November. But not just that, National losing 12 seats makes it even more dependent on Winston Peters. Which, given what Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis have been saying about NZ First these last few weeks, is the last thing they want. They might bang on about strong, stable government but the last thing National wants come November is to have to go into coalition talks again with Winston Peters. And that's why Christopher Luxon will be unhappy about these numbers today. And, if he's not unhappy, he should be. Because, according to this new Poll of Polls, NZ First would have twice as many seats - going from eight to 16. Which you won't hear me poo-pooing because I think it's a very real prospect. Not just because of what's happening in Australia with the One Nation party, and with Nigel Farage's reform party in the UK, but also because people here are so disillusioned with Labour and National. Nevertheless, going from 8 MPs to sixteen MPs would be amazing for NZ First, wouldn't it? Act would have 10 seats - down one from 11, so it would be NZ First saving the current coalition's bacon, which National will just hate. All up, the National/ACT/NZ First combo would have 63 seats. That's assuming, of course, that NZ First would stick with National and ACT. On the other side, Labour would have 43 seats - making it the largest party in parliament - up from 34 - but still not in Government. The Greens would have 11, down from 15, and Te Pāti Māori would have three seats, down from five. So, all up, the left would have 57 seats, and Labour would be sitting there, the largest party in parliament, but back in opposition for another three years. So, what do we make of that? I think it's pretty much inevitable. It doesn't excite me, but there's no way Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori deserve to be in government. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An election law expert says it could work in Labour's favour for it to not win many Māori electorate seats. Te Tai Tokerau MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has announced she is splitting from Te Pāti Māori and forming her own party. Otago University Law Professor Andrew Geddis says there could be overhang seats if either party wins electorates with a relatively small party vote. He says told Ryan Bridge it would then increase the number of MPs needed for a majority. Geddis says winning the Māori electorates could mean Labour falls short of being able to form a government. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekly interview with opposition leader, Chris Hipkins; Interislander increases fuel surcharges for commercial vehicles; Calls for bipartisan strategy to fix health sector; Calls for winter energy payments to extend to tertiary students; American butter now on some NZ supermarket shelves

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Weekly interview with opposition leader, Chris Hipkins; Weekly interview with Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon; League's growing popularity in New Zealand; Oamaru Octogenarian crosses the line in London; Changes made to blood donation screening rules

There has been a lot of talk about the free trade agreement between New Zealand and India this week. Winston Peters says it's an "utter unmitigated disaster of an agreement for New Zealand's future." However yesterday Chris Hipkins confirmed Labour will support deal but did express concern about the investment target that's been set - 33 billion dollars. The deal is set to be formally signed on April 27th in New Delhi, and the full text is expected to be made public the following day. We want to find out more about it, so BusinessDesk senior correspondent Dileepa Fonseka chats to Jesse.

We salute the Labour leader for supporting the Indian FTA, despite his reservations, but ask if he is electable with no policy and TPM as a stablemate?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay talks to Chris Brandolino, Chris Hipkins, Bruce Weir, Rachel Shearer, and Barry Soper.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tō Waha Media's Carmen Parahi and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The spike in fuel thefts has lead to police encouraging petrol stations to utilise pre-pay in order to bring crime down. Do we think this is a good idea? Chris Hipkins has apologised after making a comment Nicola Willis took objection to. Do we think this was out of line? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 April, 2026, Chris Hipkins tells us why Labour took so long to back the India free trade agreement. We talk to ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar about a haka by a former Te Pati Maori president that's been called anti-Indian. We get expert advice on "poo taboo" - children who avoid going to the toilet at school. And on The Huddle, Carmen Parahi and Jordan Williams on whether comments by politicians about Nicola Willis' weight loss is unfair. 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 leader is doubling down on his concern about the India-New Zealand free trade agreement's $33 billion Kiwi investment target. The party's finally agreed to support the FTA, but is warning businesses to proceed at their own risk. Chris Hipkins says the multi-billion-dollar target is unrealistic. He says down the line, it could affect businesses that redirect exports to India. "You've redirected product where you've developed a market - you could find that the constraints that have stopped you doing that until now are suddenly reimposed." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is still mulling whether to back the India free-trade agreement, despite it being set to be signed on Monday. Speaking to the Herald after Labour's caucus met on Tuesday, leader Chris Hipkins couldn't say how close the party was to finalising its position on the agreement, but said it was continuing to talk to the Government “in good faith”. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Labour's under increasing pressure to support the India Free Trade Agreement, but says it hasn't been given all the details it's asked for. Meanwhile, Politik reports officials are meeting with leader Chris Hipkins on Monday, in a last-minute attempt to convince him before the party's caucus meeting the following day. Trade Minister Todd McClay spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

National says Labour's sending mixed messages on tax. Yesterday, lobby group Tax Justice Aotearoa called for a comprehensive capital gains tax and wealth taxes. Labour's revenue spokesperson Deborah Russell says the group has 'really good suggestions', and refuses to say whether Labour's current capital gains tax policy goes far enough. Meanwhile, leader Chris Hipkins says the party won't be taking any new tax policy to the election. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Hipkins already broke his word on the proposed capital gains tax - and this creates additional confusion. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekly interview with opposition leader, Chris Hipkins; Transport Minister Chris Bishop speaks to John Campbell; Correspondent Simon Marks live from Washington DC; Retail NZ calls for immediate crackdown on illicit tobacco; Why a new Anthropic AI tool is being kept from public release

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

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! Labour's Chris Hipkins has confirmed the party won't reveal their stance on the FTA with India until next week. Why do we think they're waiting? ANZ has forecasted three OCR hikes before the November election as the Middle East conflict is likely to drive up inflation. How bad is this for the Government? Did we over-hype the effects of Cyclone Vaianu? Who's to blame for the panic? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 13 April, 2026, ANZ thinks the Reserve Bank will raise the OCR as early as July. Chief Economist Sharon Zollner gives us their reasons why. Labour is being coy on whether it will agree to support the Fair-Trade Agreement with India, Chris Hipkins explains. Did we over-hype the effects of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Vaianu? And if so, who's to blame? Plus, Trish Sherson and Josie Pagani tell Heather why they're so smitten with new RBNZ Governor Anna Breman. 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 leader is demanding clarity on spending commitments in the India free trade deal - and isn't sure whether the party will back it. The deal lives or dies on Labour's decision, with Coalition party NZ First refusing support. Chris Hipkins says he's concerned about a clause he claims requires Kiwi businesses to invest $30 billion in India over 15 years. He says he wants to see legal advice before making a final call. "If that is a binding commitment, that we have to spend $2 in India for every dollar we get back from India, then is that a deal we should be supporting? That's a very live question for us." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Our weekly interview with the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and opposition leader, Chris Hipkins; An update on New Zealand's fuel supply situation; EV dealers reporting dramatic jump in sales; Artemis II breaks record for human space travel

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins spoke to Morning Report.

Weekly interview with opposition leader, Chris Hipkins; Shane Jones discusses the current fuel situation in New Zealand; Whakatane's mayor discusses rate-capping plans; An update on the Middle East conflict from a US foreign policy expert; New advice from Health NZ over Covid boosters

Opposition leader, Chris Hipkins' weekly interview with Morning Report; The government is making changes to fuel supply standards to more closely align with Australia; Contact Energy boss responds to calls from Winston Peters to split the gentailers; Concerns airlines could cut New Zealand services by 80 percent; Will Auckland's new CRL live up to its expectations?