Podcasts about national mp

The government may be keen to move on from the pay equity overhaul and the uproar it caused - But a cross-party group of former MPs is not letting it go quietly. Dame Marilyn Waring is leading the group which will hold its own unofficial 'people's select committee' process. The former National MP said women have become collateral damage in pursuit of balancing the budget. Political reporter Russell Palmer has the details.

Dame Marilyn Waring says a high-powered committee of 10 former MPs has the know-how to lead debate on the Government's revamped pay equity system. Waring's established the 'people's select committee' to do the job she says Parliament failed to carry out by passing impactful pay equity law changes under urgency. That includes receiving submissions, and interviewing oral presenters. She says it'll be in the interests of both the Government and the opposition to have the proper evidence going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rural community of members bill is looking to adjust the rules around KiwiSaver so that it can be used to buy a farm. The change would also allow defence force personnel to get access to a first home. National MP for Rangitīkei Suze Redmayne talks to Mike Hosking about the proposed changes. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minster needs to consult properly with young people about a proposed ban on social media for under 16's, not just shake hands and have surface level chat. The idea started as a private members bill in the name of National MP, Catherine Wedd. A bill ACT did not back, saying it was too simplistic and needed more work. 16-year-old Lola Fisher, Generation Z Aotearoa's co-executive director and co-founder spoke to Lisa Owen.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the government is letting down women across New Zealand by revamping the country's pay equity laws. Parliament is sitting under urgency today to change the law - expected to save the government billions of dollars. Hipkins joined Nick Mills to discuss the move, as well as a National MP's proposal to ban under-16s from social media, and former Labour leader Andrew Little's run to be Wellington's next mayor. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just when I thought the issue of pay parity couldn't get any more confusing, the Government has made it so. Yesterday, the coalition government moved under urgency in Parliament to raise the threshold for proving work has been historically undervalued when making a pay equity claim. Under the new legislation, any current claims would be stopped and need to restart under the new higher threshold to show genuine gender discrimination and make sure the comparator settings were right. So 33 current claims will be stopped as a result. ACT's deputy leader and Minister for Workplace Relations Brooke Van Velden, the architect of the bill, said she supported pay equity, but the legislation introduced back in 2020 was problematic. “At the moment, people can choose a comparator for sex-based discrimination across the entire workforce. We're saying let's start firstly at home. If you can find people within your own employer, that would be a good starting point. If that comparison can't be made with a similar employer, that comparison's not there within your industry, if you can't find one there you've got to stop.” Which all sounds perfectly reasonable, because I've always thought how on earth do you compare completely different occupations? As van Velden told Parliament, Health New Zealand admin and clerical staff, as an example, have been compared to mechanical engineers. Health New Zealand librarians have been compared to transport engineers and Oranga Tamariki's social workers have been compared to air traffic controllers. I can't get my head around that at all. Equally, van Velden makes an interesting case about how wide-ranging and unwieldy claims can be drawing in vast numbers of employers. But the Government is moving or has moved so quickly, there's no Select Committee on the bill and as Thomas Coughlan points out in the Herald, officials didn't have time to write up a regulatory impact statement – which is an irony considering the changes were made by Brooke van Velden who is responsible for creating the regulatory impact statement. So before MPs vote on a bill they can have a look at the regulatory impact statement. How much is it going to cost? What are the effects? What are the wide-ranging impacts of introducing this legislation? They don't have that, and didn't have that when they went to vote last night. And as Thomas Coughlan concludes in his piece in the Herald, if the government cannot publish official papers that explain why this is a good idea, the public can be forgiven for concluding this is because it isn't one. It's the optics for me. Absolute optics. How can National champion pay parity in 2020 and champion the very legislation that they're now amending, and then say no, it's unworkable, unsustainable? They actually thought it was a jolly good idea in 2017. National began the process of amending the equal pay legislation in 2016. There's excerpts from speeches to Parliament back in 2020 when the equal pay legislation was introduced doing the rounds on Facebook, and quotes Nicola Willis saying this was a process National kicked off in the last government. “A bill was drafted, things were ready to go, and then there was a change of government – that's when Labour and New Zealand First formed the coalition. So my colleague Denise Lee, who believes very passionately in the concept of equal pay and pay equity, took a member's bill to this Parliament to progress pay equity in the absence of the new government where National had left off.” So she's taken credit for legislation that she now says is unsustainable and un-workable. How can you do that? Well, you can do that when you've got a bloody great hole in your budget, can't you? Yesterday, she said what this is about is ensuring we're clear, transparent and fair to ensure that where those claims are made, they relate to gender based discrimination and that other issues to do with pay and working conditions are raised during the normal employment relations process. So either the bill that that she worked so assiduously on and took credit for in 2020 was drafted poorly, or she's completely changed her mind about its workability. Or they didn't see through what the implications might be? And again, when you pass bills under urgency, which that was in 2020 and which this is now, you get those gaps because you don't have time to look at the far-reaching consequences – remember, there's no regulatory impact statement. So it was passed under urgency in 2020. Maggie Barry, at the time a National MP, harrumphed about it and said, for heaven's sake with Covid going on, we're passing this under urgency, this is a nonsense. But she still voted for it, as did National. And now they're saying it's unsustainable and unworkable. What this looks like is National stepping back from legislation they worked on, recommended and pushed through the House, and in fact took credit for it when it passed, so they can balance their books. It gives their critics all sorts of opportunities to lambast the government for stealing from the poorest paid workers to give rebates to wealthy landlords and tax cuts to the wealthy pricks. I actually happen to agree with the restrictions that Brooke van Velden is imposing, I think that they make sense. But it's a unique gift that this government has to make something right look so very, very wrong. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the niche thing that makes you feel icky? A National MP on the National members bill on banning under 16s on social media Group Therapy: My neighbour keeps coming onto my property, I want her to stop! The mystery continues, who is leaving a can of sparking water in the bin in The Hits Studio every morning? Matty's turning 40 next year so we ask, what's the positives of getting older? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie speaks to MP Simon Court about the government's proposed changes to Early Childhood Education (or ECE) regulations, NZ First's proposed gender bill and ACC's ethnic outcomes target. Evie speaks to early childhood representative on the NZ Educational Institute National (NZEI) Executive Zane McCarthy about the proposed changes to ECE, and why they spark cause for concern. News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel speaks to Queer Endurance / Defiance member, Leliel Trethowen, about Winston Peter's proposed gender bill. Joel speaks to a board member of EPCAT Child Alert; an organisation aimed at ending child sexual exploitation Rebecca Kingi, about National MP, Greg Flemming, calling for cross-party support for anti-trafficking legislation. And Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in studio to discuss changes in the way AI is being used. Whakarongo mai.

National MP, Greg Flemming, is pushing for cross-party support for anti-trafficking legislation to expand on his members' bill. This comes as recent court documents and child welfare agencies have shown cases of adoptive parents with criminal histories abusing children who have been adopted from overseas. News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to a board member of ECPAT Child Alert; an organisation aimed at ending child sexual exploitation, Rebecca Kingi, about current anti-trafficking legislation in Aotearoa and what these proposed changes aim to do.

National MP, Greg Flemming, is pushing for cross-party support for anti-trafficking legislation to expand on his members' bill. This comes as recent court documents and child welfare agencies have shown cases of adoptive parents with criminal histories abusing children who have been adopted from overseas. News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to a board member of ECPAT Child Alert; an organisation aimed at ending child sexual exploitation, Rebecca Kingi, about current anti-trafficking legislation in Aotearoa and what these proposed changes aim to do.

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, Producer Evie speaks to MP Simon Court about the government's proposed changes to Early Childhood Education (or ECE) regulations, NZ First's proposed gender bill and ACC's ethnic outcomes target. Evie speaks to early childhood representative on the NZ Educational Institute National (NZEI) Executive Zane McCarthy about the proposed changes to ECE, and why they spark cause for concern. News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel speaks to Queer Endurance / Defiance member, Leliel Trethowen, about Winston Peter's proposed gender bill. Joel speaks to a board member of ECPAT Child Alert; an organisation aimed at ending child sexual exploitation Rebecca Kingi, about National MP, Greg Flemming, calling for cross-party support for anti-trafficking legislation. And Global Innovator, Matt Hart, joins us in studio to discuss changes in the way AI is being used. Whakarongo mai.

New Zealand Police are assisting the FBI in an investigation into a secretive religious group, which has operations worldwide. It’s a fringe, Christian sect that has no official name – but is commonly known as the “Two by Twos”, “The Truth”, “The Way” and “The Church With No Name”. The inquiries follow a BBC investigation last year into allegations of child sexual abuse spanning decades within the church, which is believed to have up to 100,000 members worldwide. And in a bizarre twist, it's been revealed National Party MP Hamish Campbell is a high-ranking member of the group. Today on The Front Page, Herald senior crime reporter Anna Leask has been delving into what exactly this group is – and joins us now. 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: Chelsea DanielsSound Engineer: Richard MartinProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm starting to wonder who isn't running for mayor in Wellington. Former Labour leader Andrew Little is the latest one joining the race to oust current mayor Tory Whanau. And, just in case you think so, I'm not endorsing Andrew Little in any way, shape, or form. But I do think having former MPs on local councils is a very good thing. Because whether we like it or not, local councils cannot operate in isolation and knowing how things in Wellington work is invaluable. Andrew Little isn't the first ex-MP wanting to get into local government. Former National MP Nick Smith is the mayor of Nelson. Phil Goff was mayor of Auckland. In Christchurch, former Labour politician Lianne Dalziel was elected mayor three times. Maurice Williamson —who was a National MP and minister— is on Auckland Council these days. John Banks. The list goes on. And they don't admit it at the time, but when these ex-MPs stand for their local councils, it's not just their political experience they're banking on. They also know full well that they're making the most of apathetic voters who look for a name they know and end up voting for them. When it comes to name recognition, I reckon an ex-MP has way more chance of being successful in the job than some of the other people you see milking their name recognition to get elected to their local council. People in my game do it. In fact, it seems to me that if media people don't go on to be marriage and funeral celebrants, they go on to be a local councillor. Not that you will ever catch me doing that. Last thing I'd want to do. Sportspeople milk their name recognition too. I'm not in Tauranga and don't know all the ins-and-outs, but I think it's pretty safe to say that the reason Mahe Drysdale is the mayor of Tauranga is because of his brilliant rowing career. He's got none of this so-called “business experience” that some people think is essential for someone to be good at running a town or a city. He's got no prior political experience. He's just a name. Voters obviously thought he was a good Kiwi bloke, he's done well in his sport, so they voted for him. Not that, from what I've seen, it's been all plain sailing for him so far. I've seen a few stories with him getting heat for stuff – and that is where people's lack of political experience shows. And why I think it's a very good thing to have people former MPs on our local councils. They're not perfect —Lianne Dalziel was far from perfect— but they know what they're getting themselves into. They generally don't set the world on fire, but I don't care about that. Because, whether we like it or not, local and central government are intertwined. Local government is way more dependent on central government than it would like to admit. Especially, when they're in the schtuck. When they need to get Wellington on their side. Which is why having people as mayors and councillors who know exactly how to get the government on side —because they've been there and done that— that's why it is so beneficial. And that's why I'll take an ex-politician over an ex-media personality or an ex-sporting hero any day, when it comes to who I want to see on my local council. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National MP Joseph Mooney has introduced a members bill that would remove people's right to take legal action against companies for their impact on the climate. The most prominent case this would impact is Mike Smith's (Ngāpuhi and Ngāti Kahu) Smith v Fonterra.  Wire Host Caeden spoke to Smith about this proposed legislation and the potential impact on his case, which remains ongoing.

The US has sided with Russia today voting down a UN resolution to condemn Moscow's actions and support Ukraine. Emmanuelle Macron also had to fact check Donald Trump live in the Oval Office when Trump suggested Europe was only lending Ukraine money for the war.Christopher Luxon was asked on Breakfast this morning if Andrew Bayly was sacked or if he resigned. The National MP has resigned from all of his ministerial portfolios after an incident of "overbearing" behaviour towards a staff member last week.David Seymour wants to force James Cameron to use more Kiwis in major acting roles in his Avatar movies. Seymour believes the Government must impose conditions on Cameron to get more value for money from the more than $200 million in taxpayer subsidies given to the series.Erica Stanford has announced fast tracking residency for overseas primary school teachers as a way to fill the shortfall i=we have in the teaching sectorThree senior figures in the Covid Inquiry team have resigned resign raising serious questions over the status of the Inquiry and the way it is being run.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Just four months after his first incident, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly has resigned from his portfolios, following an exchange with a staffer in his ministerial office last week. During the exchange, Mr Bayly say put his hand on the staffer's arm and was "overbearing." It follows another incident in October, when Mr Bayly - the National MP for Port Waikato - was removed as minister for small business after he repeatedly called a worker a loser while visiting a warehouse on a ministerial visit. The Prime Minister is being criticised by the Opposition for not acting sooner, and letting Mr Bayly resign instead of being sacked. Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

UFC star Israel Adesanya has thrown his support behind a new bill criminalising 'coward punches'. The bill would amend the Crimes Act to criminalise strikes to the head or neck in situations where the victim is not able to defend themselves. It would also amend the definition of murder in the Act if someone were to die from a coward punch. National MP Paulo Garcia first introduced the bill, and he says clear legal consequences will be a good deterrent to stopping these attacks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A National MP wants to raise the cut-off age for mandatory jury duty from 65 to 72. Under current legislation, anyone over the age of 65 can be excused from jury service. Whanganui MP Carl Bates spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

A National MP wants to raise the age for mandatory jury duty. Under current legislation, the court registrar must excuse anyone over the age of 65 who's been summoned for jury service if they request it. Whanganui MP Carl Bates has had his Member's Bill drawn today - proposing to raise automatic excusal from jury duty from 65 to 72. He says this would update a very old law. "There's been a big shift in societal expectations and the way we work - and I trust our seniors to be able to fulfil jury duty." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First-term MP James Meager is pledging to speak to those in the deep south - and the top of the Mainland. Meager is the first National MP elected in 2023 to become a minister, taking up the new portfolio of Minister for the South Island, alongside portfolios in Hunting and Fishing and Youth. James Meager says he wants to make sure the South Island can contribute to economic growth. "That's a big part of what the PM wants me to do - help us focus on what we can do to promote growth in the South Island." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 marks this coalition Government's first year in power, and will be one to remember. They got straight to work repealing and introducing legislation, some being so controversial they triggered unprecedented responses in the way of protests. Gang patches were banned, the first youth offender bootcamp trial was completed; this year truly had a bit of everything. Former Speaker of the House and National MP, Lockwood Smith, and former Prime Minister Helen Clark join Tim Beveridge to wrap the year in politics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After an acclaimed maiden speech, the new National MP for Rangitata faces his biggest test in politics yet: chairing the committee hearing Act's controversial bill. He sits down with Toby Manhire to discuss the hearings ahead, and his own path to politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Raw Politics podcast: Remembering Nikki Kaye, assessing the Labour Party one year on, and Christopher and Winston's nostalgia trip on foreign affairsLabour's MPs and party members gather in Christchurch this weekend, a year after a humiliating defeat took them from the historic, first majority MMP government into the wilderness, watching a centre-right coalition dismantle their legacy.The Raw Politics podcast assesses where the party finds itself, with the electorate and members of the public still not answering the phone, but too early to reveal a new strategy, policies or even a new leader.  Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy ask if Labour can do anything to beat the NZ aversion to throwing out one-term governments and if Chris Hipkins is the leader to pull off such a stunning upset.For our second topic, the panel assesses New Zealand's new foreign policy, Sam Sachdeva delivers his views having watched Christopher Luxon's impact at Apec in Peru, and we ask if Winston Peters' exhaustive travel schedule means he's effective at his job.  Raw Politics also marks the death of former National MP and minister Nikki Kaye, a politician with a real difference, unmatched energy and a weakness for long, long phone calls with journalists. --------------------This week's recommendations:Tim: A lovely, poignant podcast chat between Nikki Kaye and the Island Stories host Tim Higham, on politics, life, cancer and hope for the environment.Sam: Newsroom's Laura Walters and Fox Meyer's detailed analysis of Regulatory Impact Statements about new laws and policies from the Govt's first year.Laura: Our colleague David Williams' story analysing the Brexit possibilities of a referendum here on the Treaty. --------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz

A friend of Nikki Kaye has described her as an incredibly determined person. The 44-year-old former National MP died on Saturday after battling cancer. Her family says a private cremation service was held on Monday. Kaye served as Auckland Central MP from 2008 until 2020. Friend David Farrar told Mike Hosking that he and others in the National party told her she wouldn't win the nomination or seat for Auckland Central. He says Kaye had a belief in herself and thought she could win it, she knocked on every door in the electorate, and did win. Farrar says she did a lot of cross-party work. He says she was very much a National MP, but never thought all goodness came from one party and worked across the political spectrum to achieve things. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politicians from all parties are coming together to pay tribute to Nikki Kaye. The former National deputy leader and Auckland Central MP has died, aged 44. Kaye served as an MP from 2008 until 2020 - taking leave from the House in 2016 for breast cancer treatment. John Key, Helen Clarke, Jacinda Ardern and Chloe Swarbrick are among those who have shared tributes, and Prime Minister Chris Luxon says she was held in great respects across the political divide. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper also says she was a hard worker - and will be remembered fondly. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister John Key has fondly remembered Nikki Kaye as a brave warrior. The former National deputy leader and Auckland Central MP has died aged 44 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Kaye served as an MP from 2008 until 2020 - the only National MP to win the electorate. In her valedictory, Kaye recalled Prime Minister Key swearing and telling her she wasn't going anywhere, when she was diagnosed in 2016. Key says Kaye fought valiantly - and he recalled reminding Kaye her great motivation was helping people and told her she'd beat it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tributes have come from all sides of the political spectrum after from National Party MP and minister Nikki Kaye died at the weekend after a long battle with cancer.

Former National MP Nikki Kaye has died aged 44 after battling cancer. Kaye was the first National MP to win Auckland Central aged 28, holding it from 2008 to 2020. She also held Cabinet positions, including two-months as deputy to former National leader Todd Muller. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Kaye was ambitious and driven. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An absolute circus is one way to describe David Seymour's Treaty Principles Bill. Or you could say that the thousands at Parliament today to protest against it is what democracy is all about. Either way, if you want to point a finger at anyone for creating this shambles, don't point it at David Seymour. Point it at Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. Who kept telling us last year how much of an expert he was at negotiations. Mergers and acquisitions was what it was all about. And, as we know with negotiations, it often means all parties doing a bit of give and take to get something across the line. But for someone who likes to go-on about his real-world business experience, it amazes me that he's created this shambles by acting in a way that no chief executive would. More on that shortly. But I reckon people are thinking less about Christopher Luxon's negotiation skills and more about his leadership skills right now. And I bet he is ruing the day that he agreed to include this sham in his coalition agreement with David Seymour. I also bet he is losing a lot of people's respect. He'll know that. If he doesn't, then someone needs to tell him. His MPs won't say so, but I bet he's losing a lot of their respect, as well. It's obvious. You talk to pretty much any National MP about the Treaty Principles Bill and they'll shuffle uncomfortably in their seat. They'll look away. They'll say “oh yes, but not past the first reading” blah blah blah. They'll try not to let it show in their face. But look into their eyes, and you can see the dread. That's because they are embarrassed to be associated with this thing. And they have every right to be embarrassed when you consider that it was only agreed to, to get a deal across the line. Agreed to in a way which means it's not actually going to go anywhere. All it's going to do is give David Seymour a platform for the next election. Now before you start saying “hold on a minute, hold on a minute - it was only the other week mate that you were saying that we —as a country— seem to be incapable of discussing this sort of thing without it turning into a bunfight." Yes I did say that. I wasn't saying I supported the Bill, I was saying that, despite how advanced we think we might be as a society, when push comes to shove, we are incapable of having this “national discussion” that the pointy heads like to bang on about without it turning to custard. And we're seeing that play out today. Which Christopher Luxon knew would happen. He would have known full well that there'd be people who would go nuts over it. But he went with it and, as a result, his leadership is looking weaker by the day. Because if he had approached his negotiations with David Seymour in a way you would expect a seasoned chief executive to, then he would have done what any chief executive worth their salt does and determine whether a deal is going to do good things or bad things for the interests of the company. The best chief executives —and I'm talking the absolute best of the best— what they do, is they base all of their decisions on what's best for the business or organisation that they lead. And, if they're really good, that can sometimes mean making decisions that might even see them lose their job. I'll let you decide whether the company, in this case, is the National Party or the country. But this deal with Seymour isn't good for his party and it isn't good for the country. And, if Christopher Luxon is the leader he claims to be, then he needs to show some genuine leadership —some genuine backbone— and use his business skills to get us out of this mess. If he doesn't, he will be toast. He will be toast as far as his MPs are concerned and he'll be toast as far as the majority of voters are concerned. Because, if he did do what I'm saying he needs to do, then I would respect him infinitely more than I will if he does nothing. If he keeps on with this charade, if he keeps on banging on about how unhelpful the Bill is, how divisive it is. Keeps on trotting out that nonsense, and then sticks with the plan. I don't care about his leadership experience until I see some genuine leadership in the here-and-now. To get us out of this treaty principles mess. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson told Ryan Bridge that David Seymour has to realise this was never going to a civil debate due to the emotions involved. “The debate takes place against the backdrop of what I perceive to be hostile acts towards tangata whenua over the last year in terms of names and treaty principles… it's a culmination of a number of things.” He said he might not have gone into government with the bill on the table if he was still in office. Finlayson said he was “appalled” by the behaviour in Parliament from all sides. “You don't act that way in Parliament”. The former National MP also believes the party has moved away from its “conservative values”. Finlayson said he has had Māori approach him in public confused about who to vote for now as National no longer represents their values. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has won the United States presidential election by a surprising margin — but what will a second Trump presidency mean for New Zealand? Also, David Seymour's Treaty principles bill has been introduced to Parliament today, earlier than originally scheduled. Is this just a waste of time, and will we see "hikois from hell"? National MP and Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Labour's health and Wellington issues spokesperson Ayesha Verrall joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former National MP remains confident in citizenship bill.

Sign-off for a huge Government funding boost for Pharmac - which would allow for greater access to potential life-changing drugs for cancer patients - could come as soon as Monday.   Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed she would announce a policy “very shortly”, but wouldn't confirm the exact timing.   Willis was speaking to Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning, following reporting by The Post that an announcement of a $600 million boost for drug funding is imminent.   That money could allow National to keep its pre-election promise to fund life-saving cancer treatments, while also giving Pharmac more money for other drugs.   Willis told Hosking no announcement would be made today.   But she did not deny, when asked, that an announcement about drug funding would be made next week following Cabinet sign-off on Monday.   “We've been working very hard on this policy and we're going to make an announcement very shortly,” she told Hosking.   She did not specify whether the $600m figure was accurate.   Willis' comments come after the Government has been accused of breaking an election promise to fund 13 cancer-specific medicines, after this year's Budget did not include funding for the policy.   Health Minister Shane Reti has promised the drugs will still be funded and delivered this year.   That apparently put Reti at odds with Pharmac Minister David Seymour who this week said he could not guarantee funding for the specific 13 drugs listed in the National Party's election policy, partly because that would threaten Pharmac's negotiating ability.   However, an additional $600m would represent an almost 40 per cent increase in Pharmac's budget, which could give the drug-buying agency the freedom to buy the 13 cancer medicines along with other medications, maintaining its independence.   Health advocacy group Patient Voice Aotearoa described the pending policy as “excellent news, not only for terminally-ill cancer patients, but for many of the 330,000 New Zealanders who are waiting for one or more of the 90 medicines on Pharmac's Options for Investment List”.   “Today's news will put a significant dent in Pharmac's waiting list of medicines that they want to fund,” chair Malcolm Mulholland said.   “This is worth celebrating. I hope that today's news signals the end of New Zealand being the only country in the world with a waiting list of medicines.   “Having patients wait for years for a medicine not only leads to poorer health outcomes but is inhumane. It should be to our eternal shame that successive Governments underfunded Pharmac for over two decades which resulted in an ever-growing waiting list of medicines, and consequently, lives either being cut short or living in pain and misery.”   The policy, campaigned on by National ahead of the 2023 election, promised to fund 13 cancer treatments which were unavailable in New Zealand.   The list of drugs had been identified in a 2022 Cancer Control Agency report. Some experts and advocates, including those in that report, have questioned whether other or more modern drugs would be more effective.   The Budget this year didn't include funding for the policy, prompting widespread criticism and forcing the Government to come up with a solution to honour the commitment. No timeline has been offered regarding an announcement on the future of the policy, except that it would be implemented by the end of the year.   Reti, a National MP, earlier this week admitted the Government had poorly communicated the policy's future but he stood by his party's policy, guaranteeing the same 13 drugs would be funded.   “We had made a commitment to these people and they saw themselves in this policy and so we're going to deliver that policy.”  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The police have been referred to an investigation into National MP for New Plymouth David MacLeod's failure to report $178,394 in donations.  MacLeod - a backbench MP - unveiled this last month, and was stood down from the Environment and Finance select committees.  Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan “There's a lot of question to be answered – you can't just say ‘look, I've forgotten.”  LISTEN ABOVE.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Taranaki businessman who donated to David Macleod says the National MP is one of the most trustworthy people he knows. Bryce Barnett spoke to Corin Dann.

On today's episode, Labour leader Chris Hipkins discusses the government's plans to end the first home grants scheme, Taranaki businessman Bryce Barnett who donated to David Macleod says the National MP is one of the most trustworthy people he knows, two lines workers are being called heroes by their bosses, after they jumped into floodwaters to save a woman who was trapped in her sinking car, the New Zealand Rugby Players Association is threatening to split from New Zealand Rugby and set up a new body to control the professional game, and a huia feather has broken the record for the most expensive feather ever sold at auction.

Two MPs are facing electoral commission investigation after electoral paperwork blunders.  The Greens have referred suspended MP Darleen Tana to the Electoral Commission for failing to put a promoter statement on a magazine article about herself.  At the same time, National MP David MacLeod has lost his Select Committee positions after he failed to declare almost $200 thousand in donations.  Constitutional law expert Graeme Edgeler told Mike Hosking that the commission —and most likely the Police— will be investigating MacLeod.  Edgeler says the New Plymouth MP could be liable under the illegal practice charge for not taking enough care.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's MP for New Plymouth has been apologising after failing to declare 19 candidate donations.  David MacLeod claimed $168,000 of donations from 2022 weren't filed last year because he believed they already had been, an error the Party picked up last week.  He's been stripped of his roles on the Environment and Finance Select Committees - and been admonished by Prime Minister Luxon. MacLeod says he's 'disappointed' and 'embarrassed' in himself. "The Prime Minister expects his MPs to act in the highest standard. I've let him down, I've let the party down - as I've said, I'm absolutely gutted." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been revealed National MP David MacLeod failed to declare 19 candidate donations worth $178,000 to the Electoral Commission. 

A former National MP has revealed details of being targeted by Chinese state-sponsored hackers in 2021. Simon O'Connor and former Labour MP Louisa Wall claim they were specifically hit in the cyber-attack, revealed last month. Both say they weren't informed by the current or previous Government - and want an investigation. Both represented New Zealand on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. O'Connor says the hackers sent a dodgy pixel in an emailed image. "If we'd opened it, it would have sent information such as what browser we'd been using, what's our IP address - and that's then sort of the first steps for a further attempt to be made to extricate more information from our systems." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Victoria University has copped plenty of backlash over their decision to postpone a free speech event after pushback from the students. Should they have left the event alone? Paula Bennett is the latest former National MP to get appointed into a Government role - she's the new chair for Pharmac. Is she the latest case of the Government handing out jobs to mates? Was the opposition just as guilty of this? Today marks the first day of the Government's cell phone ban in schools. It seems to have gone off without a hitch-  what do we think of this? Should we bring back the fees to resit a drivers licence test?  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We catch up with the former National MP for Wallace, and former Prime Minister, who reckons Mackay had “a lot of guts” to stop farming and take up the mic. He reflects on a long political career and comments on the current government. He also reveals how his farming background helped him in politics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big changes need to be made to Premier House, according to one member of the building's board. Former National MP Annabel Young says the recent report into the state of the house shows it's in a sorry state. It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon revealed the building needs serious work. Young says earthquake strengthening needs to be done, as well as the restructure of some rooms. "It's not a functional space, it is pretty grim. I personally think the kitchen is dangerous." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auckland offices of several National MPs have been vandalised overnight by a pro-Palestine group calling for politicians to support a ceasefire of the conflict in Gaza. Tāmaki for Palestine splashed red paint on the buildings of six National MPs, including the shared office of Paul Goldsmith and Melissa Lee on Great South Road. Reporter Katie Fitzgerald spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Auckland offices of several National MPs have been vandalised overnight by a pro-Palestine group calling for politicians to support a ceasefire of the conflict in Gaza. Tamaki for Palestine splashed red paint on the buildings of six National MPs, including the shared office of Paul Goldsmith and Melissa Lee on Great South Road. Reporter Katie Fitzgerald spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Newly-minted National MP Cameron Brewer has apologized for celebrating the return of "stale, pale males" in his election night victory speech, having ousted Labour's Vanushi Walters from Upper Harbour. RNZ has been leaked a recording of the comments - which follows the National's leader attempts to improve diversity within his party. Our deputy political editor Craig McCulloch has the story.

The full election results are released by the Electoral Commission out at two-o'clock today with many MP's awaiting the final result in what have been close races. They include National's Vanessa Weenink who is 83 votes ahead of the Labour candidate Tracey McLelland in Banks Peninsula. Weenick spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

National MP Tim van de Molen will be censured by Parliament and has been stripped of his portfolios after it was found he acted in a threatening manner towards a Labour MP and select committee chair. The incident was at the end of a hearing in late June, where he took issue with the number of questions Shanan Halbert was allowing for opposition members. Here's our political editor, Jane Patterson.

On this week's podcast: Turbo-charged by Covid-19 and a poverty of basic intelligence, common sense and irreparably bad ideas, the New Zealand health care system is in dire straights. We are in crisis, and, as a result, it is at the forefront of election issues.Emeritus Professor Des Gorman levels his sights on the issues and how to resolve them; especially the increasing shortage of GP's.We pay tribute to a great man Merrill Fernando.The mailroom delivers a great collection of comment.And at the back-end of 207, an ex-National MP provides a written assault on the state of politics in NZ.  File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Party MP Sam Uffindel recently revealed he does the shopping, once a month, in order to "give his wife a break." In June, the Tauranga politician explained to Parliament that his monthly excursion involves donning his National party jacket, grabbing a list off his wife and heading to the supermarket. As well as taking a load off his partner, Mr Uffindell said this gives him some good publicity looking like an everyday man doing the chores. Video of the speech has attracted ridicule online for its assumptions about gender roles in the home. But how many New Zealand couples do actually still stick those assumptions about men and women's work? Reporter Louise Ternouth and Camera Operator Marika Khabazi went to the supermarket to find out. [embed] https://players.brightcove.net/6093072280001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6332769627112