Podcasts about national act

I presume the lead story in the Herald on Sunday was welcomed by police and those behind our stronger gun laws.   An Auckland pensioner and his daughter have been caught for legally buying 13 guns for the Comancheros motorcycle gang.   It's the latest of dozens of discoveries by police of licensed gun owners buying for gangs who cannot legally purchase guns.   It was validation of good old-fashioned police work. Over the past 4 years the police have analysed more than 350,000 sales records looking for suspicious patterns of spending.    They then correlate the purchases with the records of gun owners, and they discover the gang's straw buyers.   But to me, it also validates the strengthening of the laws back in 2019 after the Christchurch mosque massacre.   That saw the banning of military-style semi-automatics, stricter rules on the “fit and proper” test to hold a license, the establishment of a gun registry, and a set of rules designed to ensure gun clubs and ranges are safe places.   At the time, gun owners made out that the laws criminalised legal gun owners which was a massive over-exaggeration.  It criminalised a type of gun only. A type of gun that non MSSA owners find intimidating and unnecessary. A gun that turns any idiot into a killing machine as long as they can handle the recoil.   And the new rules also told the citizens of New Zealand that ownership of a gun is not a right but a privilege that must be earned.     But they also say that once it's earnt there's no problem at all as long as it's not a military-style automatic.   And slowly it's beginning to make sense to even the law's hardest detractors.   Act campaigned on a full repeal of the legislation and the minister in charge is Act's Nicole Mckee   She is also the former spokesperson for the council of licensed firearms owners.   She was also interviewed in the paper yesterday where she said gun owners hoping for a rollback will be disappointed.   Act campaigned on greater access to MSSAs and scrapping the gun registry, but these didn't make it into coalition agreements.   Instead, the National-Act agreement committed to repealing the regulations around gun clubs and shooting ranges - which Mckee has now backed off from doing completely - a review of the registry and a rewrite of the arms act.   But, at the moment, the laws are being seen to work.  And here's the rub.  If you support getting tough on crime then you must also support getting tough on gun ownership.  LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers MARK CAMERON to the Associate Minister for the Environment: What announcements has he made recently regarding reducing the regulatory burden on primary industries? RT HON CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Finance: Has she seen any recent reports on the economy? HON MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Local Government: What recent announcements has he made about a financially sustainable model for water in Auckland? HON BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement that "tax reductions will be funded by reprioritisations, savings, and new revenue measures", and is she committed to delivering meaningful tax cuts as outlined in the National-ACT and National-New Zealand First coalition agreements? GRANT MCCALLUM to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about improving the way New Zealand children learn to read? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by his Government's statements and actions? HON GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by all of his statements and actions? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? JAMES MEAGER to the Minister of Corrections: What recent announcements has he made about investment in Corrections? DR TRACEY MCLELLAN to the Minister of Corrections: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that corrections funding announced yesterday was all operating allowance and not capital funding; if so, does he stand by all of his own statements yesterday?

A mere five months into the government's first term, the National-ACT-NZ First coalition has been voted out in a new political poll. Simon Wilson is a Senior NZ Herald writer with a focus on Auckland issues, and Ben Thomas is a political commentator and former National Party secretary. They spoke to Corin Dann.

The Coalition has instructed Kāinga Ora to take a tougher line on unruly tenants. The announcement follows through on a commitment secured in the National-ACT coalition agreement. RNZ political editor Jo Moir spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Minister for Māori Development is assuring iwi leaders that the Treaty is sacrosanct and the Government won't be trying to change the wording. Tama Potaka will be part of a delegation of ministers from National, Act and New Zealand First who will be formally welcomed to Waitangi on Monday. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann.

Dietrich Soakai is a Youth Development Worker based in Canterbury and joins us to talk about how to best help youth in at-risk situations. Is the National/ACT idea of ankle bracelets and boot camps the best idea to get what society wants from these young people, and give them the best chance to be fully part of society and living their best lives as well.

Chris Luxon says the three parties have figured out their mechanisms for working together in Government. National, ACT and New Zealand First recently signed a coalition deal, and Luxon will officially become the Prime Minister on Monday. The trio are expected to hold individual meetings and have set up a relationship where they can easily pick up the phone to one another. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says the three managed to reach a comprehensive agreement with several compromises and limited wiggle room.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National, ACT and New Zealand First will lead the country's first ever three party coalition government. Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has called the Governor General confirming he can form a government. Today the full details of the deals were released, revealing which policies survived negotiations and which didn't. And in another first, the job of deputy prime minister will be shared, with Winston Peters and David Seymour taking turns at the role. Political reporter Katie Scotcher reports. And political editor Jane Patterson joins Lisa Owen for analysis. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6341685386112

NZ has a new Government, announced today with Christopher Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters announcing to the country the make up of that Government. We'll jump on tonight, maybe with a guest or two (we'll see how the afternoon pans out) and have a look at what we have to lead the country for the next 3 years ================================================ Help us by nominating #BHN for the people's choice award at https://www.nzpodcastawards.com/nominate. As part of the nomination you need to share a link to the podcast. Please use this one https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast... Help us beat out the MSM podcast with huge budgets behind them. Thanks team ================================================ 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 Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

After 40 days, New Zealand has a new government. National, Act and NZ First have signed their agreements to form the country's first-ever three-party coalition government.  So who's deputy Prime Minister, who are the new Ministers, and what are the policy priorities? And NZ Herald politics editor Claire Trevett joins for her analysis on how this will all work. Host: Hamish FletcherProducer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 40 days, New Zealand has a new government. National, Act and NZ First have signed their agreements to form the country's first-ever three-party coalition government.  So who's deputy Prime Minister, who are the new Ministers, and what are the policy priorities? And NZ Herald politics editor Claire Trevett joins for her analysis on how this will all work. Host: Hamish FletcherProducer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's leader Christopher Luxon says the coalition deal-making is done; and there'll be a signing ceremony this morning with his party, ACT, and New Zealand First. Luxon says he's hoping he - and his ministers - will be sworn in by the Governor-General on Monday. He'll also be advising Dame Cindy Kiro to summon parliament to meet for the first time since the election on the 5th of December. Constitutional law expert Graeme Edgeler spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Tax policy is set to remain the main point of disagreement as coalition talks continue this morning between National, ACT, and New Zealand First.  Newstalk ZB understands that New Zealand First is taking issue with some elements of National's tax plan.  That includes the proposal to redirect money from the Climate Emergency Response Fund to tax cuts, and the proposed tax on foreign home buyers.  Deloitte tax partner Robyn Walker told Kate Hawkesby that National is committed to some form of tax cuts, but the specifics of those tax cuts may have to change.  She says National is proposing quite extensive tax cuts, but they may have to scale those back and make them more targeted.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incoming Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says coalition talks with NZ First and Act could take up to a week to complete and he's unlikely to make it to Apec. Luxon had stated his desire to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders' Summit in the United States this week, which would require a deal to be finalised ahead of a flight on Wednesday evening. Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking, the incoming Prime Minister said that was now not likely. An “awful lot of ground” had been covered in discussions with NZ First and Act, covering the manifestos and full policy positions of all three parties line by line. Discussing every single policy was a huge amount of work, he said. ”We're very aligned on the big goals but [we have] different policy mechanisms for how we deliver those goals.” Discussions were now into areas that were “a bit crunchier” and discussions about Cabinet posts were underway. But they hadn't really talked in terms of bottom lines, he said. ”It's been a bottom-up build of ‘Take us through your manifesto, we'll take you through ours'.” Speaking to both Hosking and TVNZ's Breakfast, Luxon repeatedly refused to commit to delivering a foreign buyers' property tax - claiming the confidentiality of negotiations. He said what voters cared about was the outcome of tax relief to lower and middle-income New Zealanders, and he was absolutely committed to that happening. It comes after various meetings took place over the weekend as National, Act and New Zealand First continued with talks in Auckland after spending time in Wellington last week. It's understood Christopher Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters are yet to meet all together but could have the opportunity to in the coming days with both Seymour and Peters indicating to the Herald on Friday they would return to Wellington at some stage this week. Seymour yesterday was predicting the next government could be formed in time for Luxon to head to Apec on Wednesday. He said representatives of the three parties had worked hard over the weekend but more work was still to be done. “We're narrowing the range of issues and that gets us closer to an agreement, but it would also be fair to say that we're not there yet.” Despite the progress made over the weekend, Seymour believed it wasn't guaranteed Luxon would make it in time for Apec. “Just the sheer amount of administrative stuff that has to happen, checking and cross-checking, makes it a really tight timeline.” However, he was optimistic Kiwis could have their next government decided in a matter of days. “I think there's every prospect of having a government by the end of the week, but like I say, [government formation] only happens once every three years, every time is different.” It has been speculated one aspect the parties were still working through was National's $14.6 billion plan to provide tax relief. To achieve that, National campaigned on partially removing the current ban on foreign buyers in the housing market so they could be taxed. Luxon intended to allow homes worth more than $2 million to be bought by foreigners but they would be taxed at 15 per cent. Council of Trade Unions economist Craig Renney said it was possible removing the ban could be a sticking point in negotiations. “I can't see a universe in which New Zealand First decides it wants to restart selling New Zealand houses to overseas purchasers. “I think one of the key reasons that New Zealand First possibly chose Labour in 2017 was because Labour had proposed a foreign buyers ban, so to do a complete 180 on that in that period of time would seem to be a bit of a stretch and it kind of runs completely counter to the economic philosophy of New Zealand First.” Renney, also a former staffer of Labour finance spokesman Grant Robertson, said some compromise could be found concerning overseas investment in new builds. However, Renney believed that was “pretty well covered” in current legislation. Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Certain policies could be sticking points in holding up negotiations between National, Act and New Zealand First.   National will need both parties to make a government after they lost two seats following special votes.   Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says it's hard to figure out how much progress was made over the weekend.   He told Kate Hawkesby while there seems to be agreement on infrastructure issues, race relations policy could be causing tension.  “Christopher Luxon – he hasn't ruled out, say for example, the Treaty referendum, but it sounds like he very, very, very much doesn't want that to be a thing because of how divisive he envisions that being.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So another week, another five days of negotiations it appears as National, Act and NZ First hammer out the conditions required for forming a government.   Christopher Luxon, the Prime Minister-in-waiting, was on with Mike Hosking this morning and he says while the three parties may agree on most issues, there are sticking points - tax and ACT's referendum on the Treaty clearly being two of them, given the pause of inner turmoil that occurred when Mike Hosking put the acid on Christopher Luxon.    He said is it the referendum on the Treaty and tax? And there was a long pause and then the Prime Minister-in-waiting started to reply. And Mike said nope, too long, given it away, to which he laughed.   Christopher Luxon says in all likelihood, he won't be heading off to APEC. The deadline for leaving would be midday Wednesday, and he says he doesn't think negotiations will be wrapped up by then. Besides, he says it's more important to put together a government that can stand the test of time than head off to APEC.   And I would agree. I think that it's more important that he be here forming a government than it is to head off to APEC. The gains will be greater for New Zealand if he stays here and gets that government together.   But there are going to have to be compromises. Even though National garnered the lion's share of the votes out of those three parties, they're still going to have to compromise. ACT is going to have to compromise. And I know it's not in Winston Peters' vocabulary, but he too will have to compromise.   So if you voted National, ACT or NZ First, what policies from your chosen party's manifestos would you be willing to ditch in order to reach a compromise? Are there some that you die in a ditch for? Others you think, all right, I can live with ditching that one, we'll live to fight another day.   Christopher Luxon, it appears has already considered reversing the ban on foreign buyers be sacrificed. Tax cuts, nonnegotiable for National for the middle to lower income New Zealanders, he said that time and time again, but there have been hints that reversing the ban on foreign buyers might be sacrificed if it means being able to form a government.   I'm sure National voters could live with that, could you not? If you voted National and all of a sudden because of Winston's intransigence, the ban on foreign buyers was not reversed could you accept that?   But you will have to find the money for the tax cuts somewhere else. And while MBI has already announced there will be redundancies, and the $27-a-head donation towards the Christmas party that is paid for on behalf of staff will be scrapped. There's going to have to be a lot more $27 donations to Christmas parties to be scrapped if you're going to make up the money required for the tax cuts.   Christopher Luxon said it was worth taking the time now to thrash out the principles of a new government because he was looking to establish a government that could stand the test of time, looking ahead to three terms or nine years.   So what could you live with? If you voted ACT and the referendum on the treaty proved to be a sticking point, could you live with the fact that they might compromise on it?   If perhaps, the commitment to licensed firearms owners that they would start again and rewrite the Arms Act if they said well, you know we're going to give them that, but we get to keep the treaty.   You know there is going to be horse-trading. And some of the promises made by the parties who are now trying to form a government will not be delivered on. So what can you live with? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to get a centre-right government that can stand the test of time? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having a look at the final numbers to form a government and showing why Winston Peters is completely in charge of the coalition negotiations. ================================================ Help us by nominating #BHN for the people's choice award at https://www.nzpodcastawards.com/nominate. As part of the nomination you need to share a link to the podcast. Please use this one https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/bhn-big-hairy-news/id1629215711 Help us beat out the MSM podcast with huge budgets behind them. Thanks team ================================================ 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 Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

The next phase of establishing a new Government is set to begin, as all the final ballots have been counted. National is in talks with ACT and New Zealand First, after special votes revealed all three are needed to form a Government. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says all three parties will need to have negotiations in person so Luxon can work around Seymour and Winston's complicated history with each other. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once again, thanks to MMP, we're back in a state of suspension and waiting for the conclusion of coalition talks. Which for all the parties' claims- are barely progressing. And I think it's important for our collective sanity that we concentrate on what we know, rather than all the ifs, buts, maybes and reckons which we might imagine to be the case. What is it that we actually know? We know that National and ACT and NZ First are willing to form a coalition, and that's pretty much it so far. The big thing we need to do now is to get the three to meet. Now what we know about that was revealed in Winston Peters' only interview thus far, with Sean Plunket- which was held on Friday. And he said two things- he said that all three parties should meet together at the same time. Not National-ACT, then National-NZ First, then ACT-NZ First. All three, at the same time, in the same room. We can also presume that based on his telephone tag with David Seymour this weekend, he would like all of that to happen face to face. No-one on the phones, no-one on the conference call- all three walk into the room at the same time. His other thing that he said in the interview was that the nuts and bolts of the coalition deal should be negotiated by chiefs of staff, and not by the leaders. Now, those two ideas came out first thing on Friday. I mentioned this to Chris Bishop. And I actually think they're good ideas. I think the leaders should be seen entering the same room, just to show that they're seriously considering a strong, stable, united Government. At the moment, I don't even know if they're in the same city. And this is all so important that a phone call really isn't enough to nail it. The other thing I feel is that NZ First is afraid of being thought of as an afterthought. Tacked on to the end of a National-ACT agreement. They feel they're just as important as the other two players. Numerically smaller, but without them- there will be no Government. Winston Peters believes he's an equal to the other two leaders. In fact, comparing his experience to the other two, he'll probably consider himself their superior. And his standing needs to acknowledge that, because we all know he has an ego. Leaving the chiefs of staff to thrash it out is a good idea too, it means the leaders don't get sucked into all these arguments about minor details and hate each other. Then at the end of the day, they all gather for a symbolic signing- it's all how international treaties are negotiated. All the chiefs of staff do it, and then the Presidents and Prime Ministers gather together to shake and wave. So far on those two ideas mentioned- first thing on Friday, there's been no movement from National. I asked Chris Bishop about party talks on Friday, he says it's too soon to discuss. All the other debates about what jobs the various MPs get in the coalition are still way down the track, which is why I didn't believe Andrew Williams' earlier claims on Mike Hosking. Now, the really important thing in this whole process is not to underestimate Winston Peters. It's not his first rodeo, he's a lawyer. And he may not have started his own business, but he started his own party. He hired all the staff, he chose all the candidates, he did all the branding, he made all the ads and got finance for the whole thing- that's a big job, and he's been the master of the rat king needed to be a political leader since he entered Parliament 45 years ago. Don't underestimate Winston Peters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Attorney General has faith the parties set to form the incoming Government will get over their differences. The final election result shows National will need ACT and New Zealand First, if it wants to govern. ACT leader David Seymour and New Zealand First's Winston Peters butted heads repeatedly during the campaign. But Former National MP Chris Finlayson says they have plenty of overlap in policy. He says there will be smart-aleck quips from time to time, but that's the way it is - and the system requires people to work together. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ First managed to earn themselves an important slot in Parliament after National and ACT lost their majority. National dropped two seats from 50 on election night to 48, while ACT remained on 11 after the special votes were counted- meaning another 3 seats will be needed to form a Government. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says the three parties will likely clash on several key areas as coalition talks get underway. "The tricky area could be around race relations, in which they all basically oppose co-governance- but ACT wants that referendum on the treaty, National thinks it would be very divisive and New Zealand First has gone against co-Governance." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The special votes are in and officially point to a National-ACT-NZ First coalition. They all ran on a similar election promise of turning the country around, including how they pledged to save the economy.  But what could this all mean for businesses? Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The special votes are in and officially point to a National-ACT-NZ First coalition. They all ran on a similar election promise of turning the country around, including how they pledged to save the economy.  But what could this all mean for businesses? Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DescriptionFirst current events back post-election as we wait for the final results to be counted with the special votes! We update on the atrocities in Gaza, do a bit of post-election coverage and discuss what the left need to be focusing on both electorally and on the ground during a National/ACT government.This episode's co-hostsKyle, Olivier, StephanieTimestamps0:00 Introductions2:21 The Bad to Worse Situation in Gaza12:06 Post-Election Media Coverage17:02 Stephanie's Rant on Labour's Issue19:10 Parasocial Relationships With Leaders and Problems With Media24:13 The Unreadiness of Media for ACT and Technobros30:57 Doubling of Green and Te Pāti Māori MPs43:27 Ōhāriu UpdateIntro/Outro by The Prophet MotiveSupport us here: https://www.patreon.com/1of200

National's Chris Luxon has kept coalition talks under lock and key following last week's election result. The Nats and ACT have a slim majority, but it's likely NZ First will be needed in a three-way majority arrangement once special votes are counted. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says these three parties will want to get a clear arrangement in writing before the special votes are confirmed.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has touched down in the capital, as New Zealand First seeks to position itself as a power-player in approaching government negotiations. Any official talks involving National ACT and New Zealand First seem to be waiting for the count to be finalised, but the preparation is well underway. And the Greens, with their expanded caucus in opposition, have a message for the three parties; thoughts and prayers. Here's our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch.

A former New Zealand First MP says the Party will be driven by its manifesto, and protecting past coalition gains. Incoming Prime Minister Chris Luxon is holding talks with potential partners, waiting for the final count on November 3. It could mean National and ACT need NZ First to rule. Now-Carterton Mayor, Ron Mark, says law and order and co-governance top the Party's list. "These things fit perfectly with National-ACT's manifesto- but there's going to be stuff that they won't agree with that's on National and ACT's radar, which is tax cuts." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While special votes are still to be counted, and a by-election needs to be held, it looks like National and Act are set to form the next government.   With Christopher Luxon as Prime Minister, he now has to build a Cabinet and start implementing his policies.   But without a full majority, Luxon needs to negotiate with Act and its leader David Seymour to decide what policies to adopt and how many of Act's MPs will sit around the Cabinet table.   The question of how involved NZ First and Winston Peters will be remains unanswered, as the often left-leaning special votes could bump National and Act below a majority.   So, what could this coalition look like, and how big of a swing to the right will Aotearoa experience?  Today, NZ Herald senior political writer Derek Cheng joins The Front Page to discuss the shape of politics to come.  Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Damien VenutoProducers: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What I enjoyed most about Saturday night was the message. What National and Act have argued for, and got support for, is to take this country back to what it was - aspirational, successful, outward looking and positive. For years we were the rockstar economy. When tragedy and upset struck as it did with the earthquake and the Global Financial Crisis, we didn't buckle and we didn't sink. We backed ourselves to work through and walk out the other side better off for the experience. What we have had for the past six years, and certainly three years, is a small-minded, inward-looking, miserable little country that lost its way. Top down leadership counts and when that leadership lacks any real grunt and fills that gap with slogans and one-liners, everyone under it suffers. The lack of leadership these past few years has been as depressing as it has been astonishing, and the sadness was you didn't have to look back that far to see it didn't have to be that way. Because until recently, it wasn't. There is nothing wrong with political divergence of thought or ideology. But extremism, which is in part what we have been delivered these past handful of years, never sits well in a country like ours. Mix that with arrogance, and an arrogance driven by incompetence, and you had a recipe for the sort of disaster we have had to endure. The National/Act message is not just about tax cuts and welfare settings and public service numbers. It's about vision. It's about being better, it's about incentive, it's about opportunity, it's about backing yourself and improving and it's about being relentless, positive and aspirational. These are powerful and useful qualities and, when applied well, can lead you anywhere you want to go. It applies to every single one of us individually, it applies to groups and companies and teams and it applies to countries. We have not been what we can be, or anywhere close. That, fingers crossed, is about to change. The adults are back, they seem to have thought about what they want to do and how they want to do it. The task is massive given the state of the place. But the attitude, at least to this point, is right. We are good when we want to be. We are winners if we are determined.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National has won the election, but what kind of victory is it? Will a coalition with Act be enough, or is Winston Peters' phone about to ring? Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire sift through the results the morning after, sizing up Christopher Luxon's achievement, the Labour plunge and the future for the Greens, NZ First and Te Pāti Māori. It was a night that produced some big surprises, in Auckland seats and across the Māori seats. Plus: what next for a wounded Labour, what kind of government would a National-Act coalition mean, and the task ahead for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Party has raising the prospect of a hung Parliament or even a second election, if voters don't deliver a clear National - ACT government. A few weeks ago, National leader Christopher Luxon said he could work with New Zealand First if he had to. Now, he and his colleagues are not so sure. This week, we sit down for an extended interview with the leaders of the two largest parties. We'll hear from Labour's Chris Hipkins on Tuesday. Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

Just under a week to go before polling day and National's raising the prospect of a hung Parliament or even a second election, if voters don't deliver a straight National - ACT government. A few weeks ago, leader Christopher Luxon announced he would work with New Zealand First if he needed to. But since then, National and ACT have been imploring voters for support - warning it could be a recipe for instability and chaos if that party is part of the mix. National's campaign chair Chris Bishop has now upped the ante, saying there's a growing possibility National, ACT and New Zealand First could fail to form a government - which could mean the country going back to the polls. Winston Peters says there is no way National would be purposefully treating New Zealand voters with such contempt and the "concerning" comments must be an "unfortunate misunderstanding". Political editor Jane Patterson has more.

Top stories for 9 October 2023: National warns there could be a hung Parliament - or even a second election - if voters don't deliver a clear National-ACT government. T the party's leader, Christopher Luxon, spoke to Corin Dann an extended interview. There is intense fighting in Israel with the militant group Hamas has left almost a thousand people dead

The ACT party is the biggest loser in the latest TVNZ Verian poll with just 10 days to go until the election. Whilst National remains steady on 36 percent, no change from last week, David Seymour's party is down two to 10 percent. On that basis a National/ACT coalition would get a combined 59 seats in Parliament- not enough to govern alone. It means it would need NZ First or to do that Epsom-style deal with Raf Manji's Opportunities Party in Ilam which is also up 1 percent to two. Labour remains steady on 26 percent in the poll, the Green Party is also steady on 13 percent, NZ First remains steady on 6 percent and Te Pati Maori steady on 2 percent - now polling the same as The Opportunities Party. Despite being in isolation, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins is up 2 to 25 percent as preferred Prime Minister, just behind Christopher Luxon who is up three points to 26 percent. Winston Peters remains third favourite on 4 percent and David Seymour has dropped two to three percent. The Verian poll would give National 46 seats, ACT 13, Labour 33,Greens 17, NZ First 8 and Te Pati Maori 3 if Rawiri Waititi wins Waiariki. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch speaks to Lisa Owen. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6338362263112

The latest One News/ Verian poll shows NZ First still holds the balance of power. Labour is stagnant at 26 percent, National's leading with 36 percent- but ACT has dropped two points to 10 percent, meaning they'll need NZ First to reach the threshold. National finance spokesperson Nicola Willis isn't confident Winston Peters will stand by a possible National/ACT coalition. "It's been 27 years since he's gone with us, so we've said- look, that's a last resort phone call we're prepared to make, but our message is really clear. If you want a change in Government, cast your vote for National." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National leader Chris Luxon says working with New Zealand First isn't their first preference, but they will if they have to.   After weeks of questions, Luxon's confirmed this morning he would work with them.   He's also suggested Chris Hipkins would do the same, despite Labour and NZ First both ruling each other out.   Luxon told Mike Hosking the election isn't done and dusted – it'll be extremely close.  He says his strong preference is for a National Act coalition.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says National would work with New Zealand First if it had to, and he thinks Labour would do the same.   He's confirmed his position this morning after weeks of questions.   Labour and New Zealand First have both ruled each other out, but Luxon believes both could still choose each other.   Luxon says David Seymour and Winston Peters would find a way to work with each other.  But the ACT leader told Mike Hosking he doesn't think he'll be able to sit around the same Cabinet table as Peters.  “If he's making those demands, it's because he is using the leverage that he might otherwise go with Labour. If that's the case, then I think people have everything they need to know that they can't trust the guy.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“At the end of the day it comes down to the economy,” Luxon said on what the big difference is between Labour and National after the two leaders agreed on several topics during the recent leader's debate.  Luxon told Mike Hosking that the party is working incredibly hard to pull the undecided 12% vote onto their side. When asked why Luxon wasn't being “upfront” on what his coalition plans would be if he won, Luxon said the nature of MMP meant he had to keep his options open. “David and I have a good personal relationship, we do catch up and talk regularly,” Luxon said of the ACT Party leader. Luxon would not confirm whether he would work with Winston Peters after being repeatedly grilled by Hosking. “All I can say Mike is it depends on what happens on the night. “I will work with whatever the New Zealand people give me, my preference is a National-ACT coalition,” Luxon.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's support has slipped, but a poll shows it's still miles ahead of the competition. The latest One News-Verian poll puts the National Party on 37 percent - down 2 points - and Labour on 27, down one. The Greens and ACT are both up two points - neck-in-neck on 12 percent - and NZ First is steady on 5. Only the centre-right bloc could form a Government- but Hipkins and Luxon are tied as preferred Prime Minister with 23 percent. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is proof NZ First will have to be part of a National/ACT coalition, because 61 seats is a very narrow majority. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multiple polls point to a change of government. Is National passing the sniff test? Do voters really want ACT's 'real change' or a handbrake? We ask what a centre-right government might look like.

Labour's leader Chris Hipkins is painting National, ACT and New Zealand First as a "coalition of fear". In a speech yesterday, Hipkins ruled out working with those parties, saying they would deliver "cuts, chaos and confusion". But he did say Labour would work with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori in Government. Labour's campaign chair Megan Woods spoke to Corin Dann.

Ban on surgical mesh 'long overdue' says patient; Attention focuses on potential National - ACT government; National on course for election victory according to polls; Retailers selling vapes to children under 18s says mother.

With the gap between the left and right blocs widening in the latest political poll, attention is shifting to what a possible National and Act government could look like. It has prompted National Leader Christopher Luxon to rule out some of ACT's policies, but he is being less definitive about his party's position on New Zealand First. Political reporter Katie Scotcher has more.

One political party is making a comeback. New Zealand First has gained popularity in the latest Taxpayers' Union Curia poll, gaining enough support to push over the five percent threshold to return to parliament. It comes after Act leader David Seymour says he refuses to partner with Winston Peters. But that may have to change as a National-Act government is looking more solid. Political commentator Brigette Morten joined Roman Travers to break down the latest numbers. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Roy Morgan NZ poll shows a National/ACT coalition has a clear lead over the current Government. The right-leaning coalition is up by 2.5 points to 47.5 percent, surging ahead of Labour's 26 percent and the Greens' 9 percent- a historic low for both parties. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is the beginning of the gap between the right and the left- with this poll representing a significant drop for Labour and the Greens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You don't hear the political commentators and political scientists put it this way, but Labour is toast. That's according to new analysis by the NZ Herald, which has found there is now almost no chance of Labour and the Greens getting over the line by polling day and a National-Act coalition is most likely to be in government after the election in October. Unless, something in particular happens. Something very specific. And I'll tell you what I think that is shortly. First though - what the Herald has done with its poll of polls, is take data from multiple public opinion polls and previous election results to get a feel for what might happen on election night. It includes the findings of the latest Talbot Mills corporate poll which has seen support for Labour fall five points to 31 per cent - its lowest rating in that particular poll since at least 2019. National is up one point to 36 per cent and it's the first time since the 2017 election that Talbot Mills has had the centre-right five points ahead of the centre-left. Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the result is “disappointing” and he's taking it seriously. He says the party needs to return to what he calls its "laser-like focus". Here's what he said about the poll result to reporters travelling with him in Europe. “It is an indication that New Zealanders don't feel like we've been focused on the issues that they want us to be focused on, and I think that's a message that the whole of the Labour Party will hear.” Well, he'll be hoping so, anyway. Although, there's no guarantee is there? Considering the way some of Chris Hipkins' ministers have seemed hellbent on de-railing things over the last couple of months. So that's the Talbot Mills poll. But back to the Herald's poll of polls which reckons that, once all the numbers from all of the polls and once all coalition possibilities are considered, a National-Act coalition is the most likely outcome on polling day, giving it a probability rating of 57 percent. And what does it say about the probability of Labour and the Greens forming the next coalition government? According to the Herald's analysis, it's just a 23 percent probability. How more stark could you get? It's saying - based on all of the analysis of polls and earlier election results - that if an election was held this weekend, there'd be a 57 percent probability of National and ACT being in a position to form a government; and just a 23 percent probability of Labour and the Greens having the support to form a coalition government. Which is why the only conclusion you can take from those numbers, is that Labour is toast and Chris Hipkins better be making the most of the European trip he's on at the moment. Because, based on this extensive analysis by the Herald, the next time Hipkins is over there - he'll be paying for everything himself and not getting to hang out with the type of people he's hanging out with at the moment. Unless, one particular thing happens. If it does, then I think Labour might just get another shot at government. But this, I reckon, is its only potential saving grace. And, unfortunately for Labour, it's not something it can control. It's not a new flagship policy, it's not money being thrown around left, right and centre. The only way I can see Labour defying the analysis and defying predictions from the NZ Herald's latest poll of polls, is if voters take just five minutes to consider what a disaster a National/Act coalition would be. That's the only way I see Labour making a comeback from this. Because if you're prepared to do it, and really think about the likelihood of Christopher Luxon and David Seymour being anything other than a coalition of chaos, then you may not be so quick to write Labour off. Seymour himself has said publicly that he's not hung up on being in government and would be quite happy to sit on the cross-benches. Because he's not going to support National on something if he thinks it's a dumb idea. But if he's in coalition with them - imagine the bunfights. And there will be bunfights because, so far anyway, when asked about its view on some of ACT's recent policy announcements, the National Party has been all vanilla and non-committal and told us that it'll wait until it's in a position to form a government with ACT before it decides what it thinks about its policies. Which is like saying to someone that you'll only tell them whether you love them or not once you're married. Which is why I'm in no doubt that a National/Act combo is a coalition of chaos-in-waiting. And if enough people wake-up and realise that, then Labour definitely has a chance of a third term in government. But that's the only thing that I reckon could save it, at this stage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finally, finally, it appears that the motley, bedraggled, half plucked chickens that are Labour policies are coming home to roost. For me, my belief has been beggared that there is still people who will say, when asked by pollsters, 'why yes, I do believe Labour is the party for me when it comes to managing the economy and the country.' When, surely, they have shown beyond a shadow of a doubt that the job of running the country is simply beyond them. If the inability to deliver on the vast majority of their election promises wasn't proof enough for you. Surely the sight of the little rodent scuttling off the leaking ship or being made to walk the plank or going AWOL when they're supposed to be on duty because it's all a bit hard, is an indication that all is not well on the SS Labour. The Herald Poll of Polls shows a National ACT mash-up as the most likely government, after the Talbot Mills poll results were leaked yesterday. That poll showed Labour returning its lowest result since 2019, its support slumped five points to 31 per cent of voters, but still 31 per cent. Chris Hipkins says he's received the message that New Zealanders don't feel the government has been focused on the issues that matter to them. And he's promised the Government will do that, will focus on issues that matter to voters over the next 90 something days till the election. Too little, too late, one would think. Christopher Luxon, the National Party leader, has echoed that old war horse Winston Peters in saying the only poll that matters is the one on October 14, and he is quite right.   I was talking to a mate last night who has worked around Parliament for years and we were both saying that all we want to see from the next government, whoever it may be, is a boring capable government. Make ordinary great again!   We want to see basics done well. Money put into programs that will improve the economy, the nation's health, children's education, social housing, crime reduction. And oh, I don't know, here's a novel idea Labour, have targets to show if those programs are working. If they are, carry on, if they're not, stop spending money on them, stop spending money on vanity or legacy programs, especially when you have no idea how to implement them - and you're not entirely sure that they're going to work anyway. We'd love to see a government that will be clear and transparent, not obstructive and masters in the out of gas lighting, and hiding behind the OIA at every single request for information.  We would love, and who would ever have thought it, to see a Government that is beige and unremarkable in every way, but that knows how to deliver and respects every dollar they take off the people that work in this country. A government that understands those tax dollars are not theirs to squander but to spend wisely -  with the objective of meeting the greatest need. Is that too much to ask?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The election is just a matter of months away, and although nothing is certain, one thing we can be fairly sure of is that no one party will win a majority the size Labour did last time round, and that the next New Zealand Government will be cobbled together with minor parties. We'll either see a National/ACT, maybe another minor party coalition government or a Labour/Greens/Te Pati Maori kind of government. So when the minor parties come out with their manifestos and public pledges, it's worth listening to what they have to say, as these policies may well become part of the makeup of the next government. The ACT party came out all guns blazing when David Seymour launched ACT's election campaign in Auckland over the weekend. They want all 17 year old defendants to face trial in the District Court, not the youth court and believe corrections should take over management of youth justice residences. At the moment, young people appear in the youth court until 17, and that had been a policy borne out of the theory that if young offenders were treated more kindly, there would be less crime. Since coming into force, one of two things has happened since the 1st of July 2019, either 17 year olds have halved their offending rate, or they kept on offending and are only prosecuted by police half as often. David Seymour told Mike Hosking on the Mike Hosking breakfast this morning ACT's policy would focus on victims rather than the offenders. The Greens too were busy. They released their election manifesto over the weekend and it was the usual stuff. An extra week of annual leave for all! Yay! Free lunches in every school. Extend citizenship to all Maori born overseas, and allow councils to introduce new taxes, and funding, music and community venues so organisations didn't have to rely on dirty pub charity grants to function. All good. Couldn't argue with much of it.   How would they fund it? Taxing the Super rich of course. ‘A tax on the richest few will raise money we can use to build a climate-friendly, wiser and more prepared Aotearoa that we can all be proud of' said Marama Davidson, co-leader of the Greens. So looking at ACT, looking at the Greens, are you paying attention to the policies that they are putting out? Or are you still going to vote for who you always voted for because really, it doesn't really matter. I cannot tell you how much it does matter. Just listening to people over the past couple of weeks going uh, whatever. It's not “uh, whatever.” We have an obligation to vote in a way that we believe is going to make a great New Zealand for our children and grandchildren. It's not all about us. And whichever side you go for, you've got to go in with the mindset that it's not about you, and it's not about the next three years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been resistant to change in life?Many of us have been resistant to changes our favorite bands have made in their music as they explore and evolve. But, like we should be, they are open to the opportunity to explore something new.Devin from the pop rock band Honey Revenge is with us today on the Chord Progression Podcast and with this band, you will discover:A band that got thrown into the live music scene head first, going from playing locally to playing nationally with their childhood favorite artists.The reason behind the importance being open to reflection and change, and why people stay angry with artists as the music evolves.Renewed themes of reflection, change, and life that appear in the band's debut album Retrovision.Keep up with all the great new music in the scene by hitting the subscribe button and joining our community.Find Honey Revenge Online:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/honeyrevengecaTwitter: https://twitter.com/honeyrevengecaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/honeyrevengeca/Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@honeyrevengecaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@honeyrevengecaWebsite: https://www.honeyrevenge.comMerch: https://www.honeyrevenge.com/#merch Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1DHMgO3IIYSYPJ6CFyDYnK?si=JM2s5uOFTi--bnAI-TBbGwApple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/honey-revenge/1589490332Thank you to our Sponsor FNX Fitness:Get 20% Off Using Promo Code: CPP20https://fnx.grsm.io/cppFollow us on social media!Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/chordprogressionpodcastTwitter:https://twitter.com/cppodofficialInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/chordprogressionpodcast/YouTube:https://youtube.com/channel/UCqRKZCDMcFHIYbJaLQMfDbQChord Progression Podcast (Spotify):https://open.spotify.com/show/53XWPGrIUvgavKF5Fm6SLkChord Progression Podcast (Apple Podcast):https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chord-progression-podcast-the-gateway-to-new-rock-and-metal-music/id1454876657Chord Progression Podcast (Amazon): https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/b8dad803-444c-4a73-8aa5-67b4fc43f4baChord Progression Podcast (iHeart Radio):https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-chord-progression-70632531/Podcast Webpage:https://mysongoftheday.com/my-song-of-the-day-rock-2000-today/chord-progression-podcast/Intro: (0:00)Welcome Devin from Honey Revenge: (2:55)Getting Thrown into the National Tour Scene & Cats Happen: (3:56)Honey Revenge from Fangirl to Touring with Favorite Bands: (12:08)Going 0 to 100 by Staying Open to Opportunity: (19:51)Why as Artists Evolve Do People Stay Angry at Them?: (26:29)Being Reflective and Open to Change, Resisting Comfort at Times: (28:30)When You're Young & Dumb, You Think You Know Everything: (34:18)Presave Retrovision: (37:49)Kevin's Final Thought; In Music & Life, Try to Be Open to Change: (41:24)Like, Subscribe, Closing It Out: (44:52)

Dunn Street founder and Community Organiser Stephen Donnelly was joined by former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Chief of Staff and Managing Director at Capital NZ, Neale Jones. Neale dials in from Aotearoa to provide an update on NZ politics as we prepare for the general election on 14 October.Neale talks about Labour's new policy direction under new PM, Chris Hipkins, and how he framed Labour's election campaign at the party's National Congress held this weekend in Wellington.He reflects on how New Zealand's current economic conditions will shape the election campaign, cost of living and framing National-Act alliance as the coalition of cuts.We also discuss polling, caucus deserters and sausage rolls.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

Economic experts are predicting an increase in house prices if National and ACT take over in October. Commentator Bernard Hickey says house prices could rise by 10-20 percent under a National-ACT Government after some key policy changes are implemented. Bernard Hickey reckons both parties will likely make changes to interest deductibility, bright-line property rules and introduce a tighter fiscal policy around spending and borrowing. "You'd likely see in the weeks after an election win, very busy auction houses, very busy open homes." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party wants bigger, better, and bolder climate action commitments this election year. In his State of the Planet speech yesterday, co-leader James Shaw expressed his frustration at the government's slow progress in climate policy. But he said the worst possible outcome of the election would be a "reactionary, race-baiting, right-leaning" National-Act coalition. He spoke to Corin Dann.  

The Green Party wants bigger, better, and bolder climate action commitments this election year. In his State of the Planet speech yesterday, co-leader James Shaw expressed his frustration at the government's slow progress in climate policy. But he said the worst possible outcome of the election would be a "reactionary, race-baiting, right-leaning" National-Act coalition. He spoke to Corin Dann.  

The Green Party wants a commitment to climate action from a potential coalition partner. Co-leader James Shaw voiced his distaste at the prospect of a National-Act alliance in a 'State of the Planet' address yesterday. He said it would be the most "reactionary, race-baiting, right-wing" government in decades. Clint Smith, a former advisor to Jacinda Ardern, says that the Greens aren't happy with the Prime Minister's policy bonfire either. He says they're concerned Hipkins' leadership is moving away from climate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

National and ACT have a majority to govern in the latest 1 News Kantar political poll, with the parties at 38 percent and 11 percent respectively. Labour, meanwhile, is down one percent to 33 percent and the Greens at nine percent. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson has the details.  

National, ACT and New Zealand First have all made gains in the latest 1News Kantar political poll. National is up one to 38 percent and ACT is on 11 - up 2. Together they could comfortably form a government with 64 MPs. For more on the numbers RNZ political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Corin Dann. 

The Act Party Leader's calling for a halt of the RNZ-TVNZ merger. The Government's plan to merge the two organisations is inching closer, as the select committee process is finished, with a report due back in January. The new entity is expected to receive 109 million dollars a year. Act's David Seymour says the project will be slashed if a National-Act government is elected next year. He says he can't think of a worse minister to be in charge of media than Willie Jackson.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President of Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association Pat Newman on Christopher Luxon's comment of truancy and children being absent from school. Pat also shares his views on boot camps and operating a school under a National government Dietrich Soakai is a Youth Development Worker based in Canterbury and joins us to talk about how to best help youth in at-risk situations. Is the National/ACT idea of ankle bracelets and boot camps the best idea to get what society wants from these young people, and give them the best chance to be fully part of society and living their best lives as well.

New Zealand is still at least 12 months out from a general election but the latest Newshub - Reid Research poll released on Sunday shows Labour down on just 32.3 percent, with National on 40.7 percent, ACT on 10 percent and the Greens on 9.5 percent. These poll results mean National and ACT could hypothetically govern together if an election was called today. Speaking to Tova O'Brien on Monday morning, ACT party leader David Seymour was asked if he would like the role of finance minister in a hypothetical National/ACT government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National ACT results just dropped, and they have fallen to a thirty-year low. The hosts talk standardized tests and break down the results by race and other important demographics. Dave and Marty also debate whether low scores are a sign of student failures or a need to change the tests themselves. Mark Peterson with the Utah State Board of Education tunes in to unpack whether ACT scores are accurate signposts of college readiness. Peterson and the hosts discuss the nuts and bolts of standardized tests in college applications and the current trend of universities removing it from their requirements. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

9:05 - Inside the polls:  FiveThirtyEight gives Sen. Mike Lee a 93% chance of winning against Evan Mcmullin  Tonight's the night! Sen. Mike Lee and challenger Evan McMullin face off in the last of the midterm debates. Despite neck-and-neck polls and millions of dollars spent on McMullin's side, FiveThirtyEight still gives a substantial edge to the incumbent. Guest host Marty Carpenter joins Dave Noriega to discuss why the media cares so much about this race and the involvement of a certain jedi on McMullin's behalf.   9:20 - 9:35 - Do Standardized Tests Still Matter? National ACT results just dropped, and they have fallen to a thirty-year low. The hosts talk standardized tests and break down the results by race and other important demographics. Dave and Marty also debate whether low scores are a sign of student failures or a need to change the tests themselves. Mark Peterson with the Utah State Board of Education tunes in to unpack whether ACT scores are accurate signposts of college readiness. Peterson and the hosts discuss the nuts and bolts of standardized tests in college applications and the current trend of universities removing it from their requirements.    9:50 - Orem-Alpine School District Split We return to the pending divorce between Orem City and Alpine School District. A recent study found nearly 40% of the school district's funds originated from Orem taxes, but only 13% of district funds went toward Orem city needs. Hosts Dave and Marty talk to JoDee Sunber, a former School Board member in the Alpine School District to discuss parents' and administrators' reaction and reasons against the split.    10:05 - Mike Lee seeks Mitt Romney's Endorsement Mike Lee went on the Tucker Carlson show last week to lambaste fellow Senator Mitt Romney for not endorsing him. It was a strange move, considering Tucker Carlson has spent a lot of airtime roasting Mitt. Marty and Dave talk about the importance, or lack thereof, behind political endorsements and the role Romney plays in this unique race.   10:20 - Student Loan Forgiveness Beta Application now available  Great news to all of you waiting for your student loan relief -- A “beta test” of the application for student loan relief has gone live.  This happened on Friday evening, the Biden administration's first step to the sweeping program to cancel student debt for tens of millions of Americans. JAY O'BRIEN, ABC NEWS CORRESPONDENT, WASHINGTON joins the show to explain what we know. Caitlyn Johnston, Producer of Dave and Dujanovic shares her experience with the beta application 10:35 -  10:50 Americans are increasingly worried about inflation  Americans are increasingly worried about inflation over other economic concerns -- That's according the American Family Survey conducted by BYU/Deseret News . This information comes along as Core US Inflation has risen to a 40-Year High - in new numbers released last week. Robert Spendlove, a Senior Vice President and the Economic and Public Policy Officer for Zions Bank joins the show to break down what core inflation means to individuals. Dave and Marty break down more data on inflation from the American Family Survey.  11:05 - Top moments of the Congressional District 2 debate  We're talking about Friday's debate, with incumbent Rep. Chris Stewart facing off with Democratic challenger Nick Mitchell and Constitution party candidate Cassie Easley. Boyd Matheson, Host of Inside Sources, moderated the debate. Boyd joins the show to discuss the top moments.    11:35 - Gov. Cox addresses parents and teachers about negative impacts of social media on youth  Gov. Cox addressed parents and teachers this morning about how social media is negatively affecting teen mental health, social connections and emotional well-being. KSL Newsradio reporter Aimee Cobabe helps expand the research findings he points to and the proposed ways parents and policymakers can better protect young people.    11:50 - The impact of moderators on debates  The role of debate moderator has drawn intense scrutiny in the last several years, as moderators are expected to fact-check candidates without putting the attention on themselves. Here to break down his own approach to that role is tonight's debate moderator, KSL Newsradio's Doug Wright. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The battle lines have been drawn in an ideological struggle between National and the ACT Party, ahead of any potential coalition arrangements. ACT wants to put the Treaty of Waitangi to a public and binding referendum and says it would be a bottom line in any governing negotiations. National is so far shying away from the 'rule in, rule out' game, but would be likely to need ACT if it's to form a Government next year. Political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

We ask the NZ First leader if history is going to repeat itself and whether he is going to be a spanner in the works of a National/Act government in 2023. He also comments on the state of our economy, RSE workers and Putin's nuclear threats.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's TVNZ poll night tonight and the Act Party leader says no news is often good news from One News. Plus, we ask him why he was the top-ranked politician in the recent Mood of the Boardroom Survey and what legislation a National-Act government would unwind. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National and ACT can form a government on their own according to the latest 1News Kantar Public Poll. However both National and Labour have dropped slightly in their popularity. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson discusses the results.  

The latest One News / Kantar political poll released last night suggests the National and ACT parties could govern together if support remains the same during the next election. Labour and National were both down two percentage points in the poll, but the ACT Party soared four percentage points on its last showing. RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson spoke to Corin Dann.

National and ACT are refusing to support changes to the political donations regime, saying they 'screw the scrum' in favour of the governing Labour party. A review of electoral laws is common after each general election but the problems around donations are in sharp focus, with Serious Fraud Office charges linked to both Labour and National being heard in the High Court in Auckland. Political editor Jane Patterson reports.

The Rats are back: Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas have been released from isolation and there's a lot to catch up on. With Toby Manhire, they discuss the surging winter COVID wave, the new measures and the health system; what Jacinda Ardern achieved at Nato, the EU and in Australia; and Christopher Luxon's own trip abroad and his response on abortion and policy as MP Simon O'Connor cheers the Roe v Wade overturn. And there's more: Te Pāti Māori's AGM and the petition on Te Matatini funding, plus Act's conference and David Seymour's demands for the first 100 days of a National-Act government. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Political commentators Brigitte Morten and Neale Jones discuss the PM's trip to Australia and developments on rights for Kiwis and 501 deportees, National leader Christopher Luxon's trip to the UK, the regional impact of Kiribati's decision to quit the Pacific Islands Forum and Act's weekend conference and what it revealed about the party's wish-list if it ended up in a National-Act government. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations.

Political commentators Brigitte Morten and Neale Jones discuss the PM's trip to Australia and developments on rights for Kiwis and 501 deportees, National leader Christopher Luxon's trip to the UK, the regional impact of Kiribati's decision to quit the Pacific Islands Forum and Act's weekend conference and what it revealed about the party's wish-list if it ended up in a National-Act government. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations.

Scott Long is a top-rated corporate comedian. He has been seen on NBC, FOX-TV, and The Bob and Tom Show. After 2 decades of headlining comedy clubs across the USA, Scott now focuses his talents to perform at corporate events. Since doing so, he has built up over 100 five-star company reviews, from Seattle to Orlando. Scott's greatest passion, is helping to raise money and awareness, for groups that work with people with developmental disabilities, by bringing his inspirational comedy show - which includes the story of learning so much from his daughter, who is on the Autism spectrum. Having performed in 46 states and 5 countries, Scott Long proves you can be a National Act, while not living on the extreme coasts! In this fun, hilarious, and insightful episode, Scott talks about growing up in Iowa, how he got his start as a comedian, cancel culture, singing karaoke, pivoting from an edgy to clean comic, and the moment when he found out that his daughter would be born with Autism, and how she continues to make such a positive impact on his life.  Learn more about Scott Long  Connect with Scott on LinkedIn Happy Mondays with Maddie 

Here's a question for you: are you just so sick and tired of everything at the moment that, when it comes to the election next year, you might just vote for a change of government even if, in the past, you've been a Labour supporter? I ask that because I've been reading about the phenomena emerging around the world at the moment called “incumbency fatigue” – people are just so over the pandemic and everything that they just want to get rid of the government that's in power, even if they're half decent. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the election date over there yesterday, and he's expected to have a battle on his hands to stay in office. Not that I'm saying he's half-decent. Elections are on in France at the moment for the presidency – they have several rounds of voting over there. It's looking pretty close and current President Macron isn't a shoo-in. And I've always thought he is half decent. And as for back here in New Zealand – well, where do I start? Let's start with some numbers. On Friday, the latest Roy Morgan New Zealand political poll came out and it had National at 38 per cent – 6 per cent ahead of Labour who is on 32 per cent. This is the equal highest level of support for National since January 2020. Support for a potential National/ACT coalition government was at 47 per cent in the poll – ahead of a potential Labour/Green coalition at 42.5 percent. So, what does that tell us? It tells us there's a brewing mood for some sort of change. Of course, polls are just polls and, as we learned after Trump was elected in the United States, people don't always say what they really mean when they take part in a poll and their actual vote can be quite different. Maybe because they change their mind at the last minute, who knows? But I don't think anyone would argue that Jacinda Ardern is going to have to work hard to stay in government next year – just like Scott Morrison is going to have to work hard to stay in office in Australia, and President Macron is going to have to work hard to stay in office in France. Three very different politicians – but all facing the same threat. And some people are putting it down to the fact that people everywhere are just so sick of their current leaders – that they want a change. I saw Scott Morrison was telling Australians yesterday when he announced the election date that voters had a choice between the devil they know and the devil they don't know. They weren't exactly his words but I did think he was showing quite a bit of humility. I think it also shows that Scott Morrison is well aware of the incumbency fatigue that is emerging around the world.  This came through too in an editorial I read at the weekend, which said that New Zealanders are fed up with everything at the moment. Which is not what a government wants to hear. The editorial said that after two years of being told to be kind, our empathy reserves have run dry and we're fed up and burnt out. It quoted a psychologist who said the “be kind” thing was great at the start of the pandemic, but we're all over it now. And so, we're seeing people losing it in places like the supermarkets – retail staff have probably never faced as much abuse as they are at the moment. The article quoted a 35-year-old woman who said that, after two years of being kind, she's now anything but kind. “It's like I've used up all my kindness and don't have anything left to give. It's made me a really bad person, which I never used to be.” This is where people start looking around for ways to fix things, and getting rid of the government-of-the-day is what people around the world are apparently seeing as the answer. Incumbency fatigue. Which brings me back to the question I asked right at the start: are you just so sick and tired of everything at the moment that, when it comes to the election next year, you might just vote for a change of government even if, in the past, you've been a Labour supporter? 

Both National and ACT have dimissed an open letter from the Cancer Society, urging them to rethink their opposition to the Maori Health Authority. The Cancer Society - along with more than a dozen other NGOs - have penned an open letter expressing it's support for the dedicated agency. It asks the opposition parties to reconsider their position but the move has only hardened their resolves. Our political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

The new Māori Health Authority to be in place from July could radically improve life expectancy for Māori - but two political leaders want it scrapped.    National leader Christopher Luxon and ACT's David Seymour say they would get rid of it if they win next year's election. Māori public health organisation Hāpai te Hauora chief executive Selah Hart says the leaders' reaction is disappointing.   She spoke to Corin Dann.  

Chris Luxon and National are up in the first 1 News-Kantar poll of his leadership, rising four points to 32 per cent - but he is unlikely to be celebrating as most of that support appears to have come from Act. It is the first time 1 News-Kantar (formerly known as 1 News-Colmar Brunton) has had National polling in the 30s since the 2020 election. Labour is down just 1 point to 40 per cent, with likely support party, the Greens, steady on 9 per cent. Act is down 3 points to 11 per cent, leaving the gap between National-Act and Labour-Green at 6 points, just two points narrower than the last poll, taken in early November when Judith Collins led National. This morning National Party leader Chris Luxon said his caucus was focused on building trust with the public and proving themselves as an alternative government. He told Newstalk ZB's Tim Dower the party needed to oppose the government strongly and propose new ideas. "We're off to a positive and encouraging start, we've got a lot more work to do, if we just do that job right, start to look like an alternative government, it'll be game on for 2023." Luxon said there were outstanding politicians in the National caucus with real world experience who were able to "take it to the government". On Harete Hipango, Luxon said recent actions she took over editing her Wikipedia page to remove controversies from her biography were silly and unwise but New Zealanders were much more interested in the cost of living and how to get hold of rapid antigen tests. He took issue at the Government spending saying it was up 68 per cent in five years and that it wasn't sustainable. "It's out of control and contributing to higher inflation. The only two things the Government has been running the economy with is increased levels of Government spending and lower interest rates." He claimed half the Covid fund had not been spent correctly citing the walking cycling bridge project. "We need to spend money, don't get me wrong, but we need to spend it in the right places." Te Pāti Māori and TOP were at 2 per cent, both up 1 point. NZ First was also at 2 per cent, but it had fallen 1 point. Eleven per cent of voters were undecided, up 2 points. Preferred Prime Minister rankings showed Jacinda Ardern at 35 per cent, down 4 points, her lowest result since becoming prime minister. Luxon polled 17 per cent, up 13 points. The large jump is likely because this is his first poll as leader. David Seymour is down 5 points to 6 per cent. Ardern reflected that some pessimism may have come from difficult decisions made recently. "When I reflect on the past six months, it has been a hard period for New Zealand and we have had to make some really hard decisions, but those are still decisions I absolutely stand by,…that ultimately mean we're on the best possible footing to take on this next wave," she told 1 News. Earlier Luxon described the result as "positive and encouraging". The poll showed voters were increasingly pessimistic about the economy, although not by much. Just under half of people, 49 per cent, thought that in the next 12 months the economy would be in a worse shape than currently, up 2 points. Twenty-two per cent of people thought it would be better, down 7 points, and 29 per cent thought it would be the same, up 4 points. The numbers align with other recent polls. In a Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll from January, Labour rose 1.7 points to 41.2 per cent with National at 33 per cent, up 0.4 points. Act was at 11.5 and the Greens 10.7. The Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll from December was also the first to show that National appeared to be taking support from Act, rather than Labour. However there has been a steady deterioration in support for Labour since the election. In 1 News polls, Labour had dropped from a high of 53 per cent in December 2020 to 41 per...See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act Party leader David Seymour says being Deputy Prime Minister isn't out of the question - but it's unlikely.During last night's second leaders' debate, National's Judith Collins said he'd be excellent in the role if her party won the election.Seymour says [told Kerre McIvor] it's not on his mind."Act has always been more focused on policies and what we can leave behind to make this a better place, than any particular job".He says John Key offered him the opportunity to be a minister in the past, which he turned down."I thought, look there's the limo, a pay rise, the title and everything else but at the end of the day, there are lots of people who've been ministers and they can't point to something they've done for New Zealand"."I'm really proud we got End of Life Choice across the line by me turning down being a minister and I'm pretty prepared to make that sort of decision again".Seymour's meteoric rise in the 1News/Colmar Brunton poll this week put Act up to 8 per cent, 1 per cent above the Greens. It means the party would secure 10 seats in Parliament.From a one-man band to potentially bringing nine other MPs back to Parliament with him, it could mean the biggest caucus for Act since 2002, when it had nine MPs under leader Richard Prebble.Seymour is live on NewstalkZB with Kerre McIvor for an hour from 10.07am.Seymour himself was at 2 per cent as preferred Prime Minister, ahead of Winston Peters' 2 per cent in the TVNZ poll.National leader Judith Collins said this morning she'd have no problem appointing Seymour as Deputy PM should a National-Act alliance hit the 51 per cent party-vote mark on election day.Collins told Mike Hosking this morning she thought Seymour would make an "excellent" Deputy Prime Minister in her government which was met with a "jeepers" from Jacinda Ardern during last night's MediaWorks leaders debate."David Seymour is a principled person in my experience and he and I have worked together before. I'd rather have him any day than what Miss Ardern has had," Collins said.Sunday's Newshub Reid Research poll put Act up three points to 6.3, which would give the party eight seats in Parliament.The stars have aligned for the party that's battled through successive leaders and scandals, to now be polling as the third-largest party behind National.In the past the focus on Act, come election time, has been whether or not it would get the nod from National in Epsom - the electorate seat that's been the party's lifeline for a number of election cycles.Seymour now mounts the argument he's able to secure that seat under his own steam.Not only that, but Act, as one of the smaller parties, has been polling over the 5 per cent threshold in recent months, meaning the Epsom seat is a "good to have" for Seymour, but not as crucial for the party's survival.The combination of Seymour's consistent and persistent campaign on the End of Life Choice Act, his sole opposition to the first tranche of firearms reforms and the woes of political ally National, mean Act is sitting pretty for the first time in two decades.- Additional reporting, Jo Moir RNZ

Act Party leader David Seymour says being Deputy Prime Minister isn't out of the question - but it's unlikely.During last night's second leaders' debate, National's Judith Collins said he'd be excellent in the role if her party won the election.Seymour told Kerre McIvor it's not on his mind."Act has always been more focused on policies and what we can leave behind to make this a better place, than any particular job".He says John Key offered him the opportunity to be a minister in the past, which he turned down."I thought, look there's the limo, a pay rise, the title and everything else but at the end of the day, there are lots of people who've been ministers and they can't point to something they've done for New Zealand"."I'm really proud we got End of Life Choice across the line by me turning down being a minister and I'm pretty prepared to make that sort of decision again".Seymour's meteoric rise in the 1News/Colmar Brunton poll this week put Act up to 8 per cent, 1 per cent above the Greens. It means the party would secure 10 seats in Parliament.From a one-man band to potentially bringing nine other MPs back to Parliament with him, it could mean the biggest caucus for Act since 2002, when it had nine MPs under leader Richard Prebble.Seymour is live on NewstalkZB with Kerre McIvor for an hour from 10.07am.Seymour himself was at 2 per cent as preferred Prime Minister, ahead of Winston Peters' 2 per cent in the TVNZ poll.National leader Judith Collins said this morning she'd have no problem appointing Seymour as Deputy PM should a National-Act alliance hit the 51 per cent party-vote mark on election day.Collins told Mike Hosking this morning she thought Seymour would make an "excellent" Deputy Prime Minister in her government which was met with a "jeepers" from Jacinda Ardern during last night's MediaWorks leaders debate."David Seymour is a principled person in my experience and he and I have worked together before. I'd rather have him any day than what Miss Ardern has had," Collins said.Sunday's Newshub Reid Research poll put Act up three points to 6.3, which would give the party eight seats in Parliament.The stars have aligned for the party that's battled through successive leaders and scandals, to now be polling as the third-largest party behind National.In the past the focus on Act, come election time, has been whether or not it would get the nod from National in Epsom - the electorate seat that's been the party's lifeline for a number of election cycles.Seymour now mounts the argument he's able to secure that seat under his own steam.Not only that, but Act, as one of the smaller parties, has been polling over the 5 per cent threshold in recent months, meaning the Epsom seat is a "good to have" for Seymour, but not as crucial for the party's survival.The combination of Seymour's consistent and persistent campaign on the End of Life Choice Act, his sole opposition to the first tranche of firearms reforms and the woes of political ally National, mean Act is sitting pretty for the first time in two decades.- Additional reporting, Jo Moir RNZ