Podcasts about New Zealand First

If I was asked whether I'd back Defence Force professionals over politicians on Defence protocols and training, I'd back the professionals every time. ACT and New Zealand First, Winston and David, have asked questions of the Defence Minister Judith Collins on the amount of Māori culture, lore and language which is part of the Defence Force's preparation for combat. This is not a new complaint. Questions about Karakia and haka come up from time to time. Some see this a against the old God, King and country ideal. But the Defence force has always used Māori tikanga to build cohesiveness. They use haka to bring the forces together. It's a war dance after all. They use Karakia, Powhiri and other tikanga Māori a lot because a lot of Māori serve in the defence forces. Proportionately more than other segment of the population. It's part of their organizational identity because the culture is unique to New Zealand and therefore beneficial in bonding the team. And when serving in multi-national military actions it differentiates us from all the other grunts with guns. The question is whether all this multi-cultural woke stuff detracts from making us fighting fit. Well, I'd like to see David Seymour say that to a Māori SAS officer. And we've had race-based military before. The Māori battalion. And they made us proud and the world take notice. The military has always embraced Māori culture because they see it as a strength and not a weakness. It's only performative politicians in their shiny suits in election year that sees Māori culture in the Defence Force as a problem. As any of the 150,000 people at the Edinburgh Military tattoo over the weekend will tell you. The Māori stuff is well liked and is respected. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, finally Chris Bishop has done the right thing and made the u-turn on the two million new houses he had planned for Auckland. It's not altogether a surprise that he did this and announced it this afternoon, because it's been rumoured for months - for the obvious reason that it's election year. Auckland is a key battleground. Aucklanders are obsessed with houses. Auckland voters who own their homes were already stressed about this plan, and if it turned into a full election issue with proper media coverage, even more of them would've become stressed. That would mean blue Auckland voters heading straight to New Zealand First, ACT or Labour. So it was a political problem for National and Bishop had to back down. But in reality, it's not just politics, is it? It's basic common sense. I think it's reasonable for an Aucklander who has sunk one to two million dollars - maybe more, maybe a bit less, but still a lot of money - into their home to feel stressed at the idea of a multi‑storey apartment block popping up next door, blocking their view, blocking their light, ruining their privacy. Whatever it is. We mock these people as NIMBYs, but actually, I think it's fair for them to want to protect the place they live in. Don't you want to protect the place you live in? This battle, though, is far from won. Anyone looking at this and thinking, “That was a close call, thank God that's over,” - it's not over. All Bishop has done is reduce the number of new houses to the point that it shouldn't impact on suburbs. But whether it does affect suburbs is a decision for Auckland Council, and that decision hasn't been made yet. So while it should, on balance, be okay, nothing is certain until the Auckland maps are released. What this is, then, is one u-turn down, and one more to go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for the 18th of February 2026, New Zealand First's Shane Jones wants tough sentences for owners of dangerous dogs after a woman in Northland was killed in an attack. Then, a please explain from our Afternoons duo at the suggestion we toll the old Auckland Harbour bridge already paid for by tolls to build a new crossing. Get the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Podcast every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

This week Lara Greaves joins the Breakfast team to chat about New Zealand First's proposed referendum on Māori seats in parliment, and The Opportunity Party emerging in local politics, particularly that of the Mount Albert electorate. 

My summation of what we have heard so far in the Judge Aitken case. The “Did I yell at and interrupt and disrupt Winston?" case. Aitken was on the stand, so to speak, yesterday, remembering none of this is criminal. In fact, I would describe it as outrageously political. Judge Aitken shouldn't be here. No one should. It's a storm in a judicial teacup. Should she have had a pop at Winston at the Northern Club? Of course not. The incident, much disputed in terms of angst, animosity, and volume, shows the judge in a poor light. It was none of her business and you don't go around running commentary on other people's evenings. Then again you don't go dobbing interlopers in to the Attorney General, which is what has happened, and next thing you know you have a legal circus where a person's career is potentially about to be blown up. Also disturbing for me as the casual observer, is the Chief District Court Judge's role in the apology by Judge Aitken. He involved two media advisors and amended Aitken's wording so it wouldn't offend New Zealand First. At all times the Chief Judge seemed to be obsessed with not offending political parties. His overt weakness worries me, not to mention Judge Aitken's inability to have her voice heard. She's not 13-years-old, she's a judge. My sense of where we are at is we will never get to know the full story because the versions vary. Therefore, the panel doing the deciding won't come to a definitive conclusion, therefore whatever they put before Paul Goldsmith will go nowhere. So maybe what we are seeing currently is the actual punishment. In other words, a judge, her reputation, her drinking habits, her words all being dissected, is the punishment. It is the humiliation. Overall the insight in the legal fraternity, not forgetting the good judge's celebratory doctor partner and the KC on video, does not come off reputationally well. If you wanted to think of them broadly as a bunch of champagne-swilling, self-serving snobs, they haven't done a lot to dissuade us. But then New Zealand First look like a petty, point score-y, loser group of narks, who don't mind wrecking peoples lives. The hearing continues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Lara Greaves joins the Breakfast team to chat about New Zealand First's proposed referendum on Māori seats in parliment, and The Opportunity Party emerging in local politics, particularly that of the Mount Albert electorate. 

High rents, rising food costs and a perceived lack of opportunities are driving young people out of New Zealand. Last year, more people left than ever before. What can be done to improve living conditions and stop the loss of young talent? The current government has opened the question of Māori land rights in a quest to exploit New Zealand's natural resources. An attempt to overturn a historic treaty failed last year, but as New Zealand faces an election in the autumn, the issue will not go away. There is much to debate for Jonny Dymond and a panel of political leaders as they face questions from across the country.The Panel: Chris Bishop, MP, National Party and Minister for Housing, Transport and Infrastructure and Leader of the House.Ginny Andersen, MP, Labour Party's Spokeswoman on Jobs, Income, Police and Treaty of Waitangi negotiations.Shane Jones, MP, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First and Minister of Oceans and FisheriesMarama Davidson, MP, Co-leader of the Green party and Spokeswoman on Conservation, Child Poverty Reduction and Social investment.Producer: Charlie Taylor Sound engineers: Tim Heffer, Ian Mitchell and Joe Lawrence

Mangakahia sisters Leah Timoko and Kirsty Tuhiwai join us tonight to talk about their new employment platform that aims to flip the recruitment model on its head. Instead of jobseekers having to submit one “soul-sucking” job application after another and employers having to sift through hundreds of applications, You Will Find is a candidate-focused database where employers can search through candidates and approach the most appropriate. Check out the site at www.youwillfind.co.nzFinance Minister Nicola Willis has denied playing politics with her announcement that a review into the Reserve Bank's Covid response would be released in September, just months before the election. Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick described the timing as “a bit sus”.New Zealand First will campaign on a referendum to determine the future of the Māori seats in the lead-up to November's general election. Party leader Winston Peters said in contemporary times, the seats built a more representative Parliament but with record levels of Māori MPs in the House, they were redundant.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Friday the 13th of Feburary 2025, The Government says Kainga Ora has exceeded savings targets, delivering $211 million in operating cost reductions, Associate Minister of Housing tells Ryan how they've made savings. New Zealand First's announced they'll be campaigning for a referendum to put an end to Māori electorate seats, former Te Pati Māori co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell shares his thoughts. The Sail GP is back in Auckland, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited CEO Nick Hill tells Ryan how big of a boost this will be for the city. Plus, UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on Sir Jim Ratcliffe apologising for saying the UK is 'colonised by immigrants' and US President Donald Trump's multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC has been scheduled to go to trial in February 2027, according to court documents. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having spent two weeks in Australia, post New Year, Leighton & Carolyn are pleased to be home. Sydney was sweltering as is the political scenery. Nevertheless a good time was had. Now it's back to business for 2026, the eighth year of the podcast. Interestingly there was much inquiry about two politicians by our Australian media friends; Shane Jones & Erica Stanford. So we begin the year, as we did in '25 with Shane Jones, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First. He's not shy about being honest, at times brutally so. As usual Mrs Producer joins the Mailroom followed by some intelligent comment by Gary Judd KC. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@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.

Ah, Winston. Winston, Winston, Winston. He is the embodiment, as his namesake Winston Churchill famously said of Russia, of a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. The canny campaigner knew exactly what he was doing when agreeing to job share the Deputy Prime Minister role with ACT leader David Seymour during the Coalition Government's startup. He, Winston, would take the first 18 months, positioning himself as a senior statesman and Foreign Minister par excellence. And indeed, he has done a very good job as Foreign Minister. Then after that 18 months, he would step aside, making way for David Seymour, more importantly, making time to campaign right up to the next election, which is just a matter of months away. It's exactly what he's doing, stirring up xenophobia in the wake of the Government, or rather National and ACT, securing a Free Trade Agreement with India. A Foreign Minister that doesn't like foreigners, all of a sudden, just in the last year. As Toby Manhire says in his piece in The Spinoff, that Winston Peters and New Zealand First are opposing the Free Trade Agreement with India is no surprise. They also opposed the Free Trade Agreement with China 18 years ago. Then as now, says Manhire, Peters was Foreign Minister. Then as now, he said it was a bad deal for New Zealand. Then as now, he invoked an agree to disagree provision in the governing arrangement. So without New Zealand First support, National will need Labour to get the Free Trade Agreement across the line. Surely that should not be a problem – although you can't blame Chris Hipkins for playing hard to get and maximizing the political capital out of the situation. As far back as 2004 Helen Clark was leading trade delegations to India, although formal negotiations only began in earnest in 2010. It has taken a long, long time and much work from our trade delegates to get to this point. And Trade Minister Todd McClay says although it's inevitable that there will be politicking around the agreement, New Zealanders should understand that this is a very important, very big deal. “Number one, there was always going to be a bit of politics around this because it is a very big deal. It's 1.4 billion people. You know, I've seen a lot of speculation about tens and tens of thousands of Indians just having the absolute right to come to New Zealand. Mike, this is a trade deal, it's not an immigration deal. They do not have that ability. The New Zealand Government has reserved the right to change visa settings as we need to. And the final point would be, we have now a trade deal, one of the best India's done with anybody. We're 5 million people, they're 1.4 billion. This is a very good deal for New Zealand, and each party in Parliament's going to have to decide how they're going to make the case of where their support lies.” And on the point of Winston's claims that New Zealand will be overrun with Indian families, Todd McClay had this to say: TM: The debate at the moment has moved to students, whether or not we can cap the number of students. And actually, there has never been a cap on the number of students. We've never said we want them from Australia, we don't want them from the UK. And I don't think any future government would ever do that. It makes no sense to. But what we have always done is we have changed the visa settings, the conditions that you have to meet to be able to get a visa to come and study in New Zealand. If we jump back to when we were in government previously, there were a very large number of students in New Zealand. As a result of COVID, it went down, but the previous government and we have changed those settings to make sure that actually the number of places and students coming in matches our requirement and what we do. And we can continue to do that.” MH: But this is general, Todd, this is just immigration policy the way it's always been. Yes? TM: That's exactly right. Of course, we need to be aware of making sure the settings are right, that immigrants to New Zealand are coming to fill jobs and maximize opportunities. We don't need more Uber drivers. We need people who are able to come here and who are able to make most of the opportunities that New Zealand has to offer. But as Todd McClay says, if we feel things are getting out of whack, we can adjust settings accordingly. I mean, that happened when, remember all the hue and cry over far too many people arriving on the parent's visa, the parent category. All these people were arriving, didn't understand a word of English, were isolated, dependent on their families, some of whom we heard buggered off to Australia and left them here, isolated, alone, you know, it was a nightmare. So back in 2016, 2017 the number of people approved for residence fell by 8%, the decrease driven by parent category approvals, which fell 63% because the settings were getting out of whack. People realized there was a loophole and so it was plugged. It's election year, and I suppose you have to expect it. And those who have followed politics for a very, very long time, as Toby Manhire points out, have seen this happen before. This is what New Zealand First does. This is what appeals to their voters. From the outside looking in, the Free Trade Agreement with India is a very good deal for New Zealand. We are fundamentally a trading nation. From the outside looking in, this is Winston doing what Winston does, doing what he does best, coming up to an election with a sail full of hot air, pounding the populist drum of anti-immigration. Where do you stand on this one? Is the Free Trade Agreement with India a good deal or not? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A District Court Judge has faced a Judicial Conduct Panel for the first time today, after being accused of disrupting a New Zealand First function at Auckland's exclusive Northern Club. Judge Ema Aitken is before a panel in Auckland, over claims she called party leader Winston Peters a liar, during an event in 2024. Special Counsel today presented the allegations to a panel made up of a former Governor-General, a retired Court of Appeal Judge, and a sitting Court of Appeal Judge. Finn Blackwell was there.

Senior Labour MP Peeni Henare announced he was leaving politics yesterday, but some speculate there's more to the story than that. New Zealand First's Shane Jones has claimed that that's not the full story and it's 'important the whole story comes out'. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks these claims. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now, listen — I think it's a little early in the year to be making too many predictions about election year. But having said that, I do think there is a very strong chance that Winston Peters might be the story of the year. If he carries on the way he is in the polls, he could well be in the double digits — well into the double digits — by the time November's election rolls around. He's already sitting somewhere between 10 and 12 percent in the past couple of polls, and generally minor parties go up in polling the closer we get to election day because of the extra attention they get during the campaign. Commentators are already talking about the possibility of the next government being just National and New Zealand First — no ACT in there — with the two of them together potentially being enough. That could happen if Winston keeps climbing the way he is, and obviously if National can get its act together and lift its vote share. If you don't believe it's possible that Winston will climb further, just look at what he did this week. He pulled out that classic Winston trick of whipping up the anti‑immigrant rhetoric again. I honestly didn't think there was much of that sentiment around at the moment — until he started talking, and suddenly the texts about immigrants started rolling in. Winston can sniff out an election platform like no one else. He knows there's probably an increased number of people who are gagging for a conspiracy — like “the government is trying to hide the FTA documents they're trying to roll on us". And what we were also reminded of this week is that he's completely unencumbered by the facts. A lot of what he said was just complete nonsense. Here's a question for you: if it does end up being just New Zealand First and National, and Winston is 81 years old, is this the election where he finally pushes for a turn at being Prime Minister? Like I said, he could become the story of this election year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This one lit a fire. We dig deeper into the India free trade deal and the uncapped student numbers that have sparked huge backlash. An immigration insider speaks out about fraud, weak controls, and the real pressures being felt on housing, jobs, and schools. It's raw, detailed, and confronting. We also break down the first major poll of the year, and it's a warning sign National voters should not ignore. Labour leads, New Zealand First is surging, and the government is bleeding support in places it cannot afford to lose. The panel unpacks why expectations haven't been met and why that disappointment matters. Plus, Ashley Church and Maurice Williamson join Duncan to talk leadership, broken promises, co-governance frustration, housing policy, and why Winston Peters is finding his moment again. A big, wide-ranging conversation about politics, trust, and what voters are really saying. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So we've got an election date, and it's the date pundits have been picking since late last year - November 7th. This election is National's to lose. The only question really is how much influence ACT and or New Zealand First will have in any future Government. Don't get me wrong - it'll be a close race. Here's some easy picks - National will get more votes than Labour, New Zealand First will outperform ACT, New Zealand First will steal from Labour and nip at their heels, Te Pati Māori's reputation is already in the bin so the Māori seats are anyone's guess at this point. And Winston Peters, as always, will decide who actually wins the election. He's ruled out working with Chippy but not Labour. Here's the crucial point. Winston Peters cannot, politically, enter a deal propped up by or supported by the Greens or Te Pati Māori. In pretty much every poll this term, Labour has needed both of them to get close to the magic 61 seats. Now, you could argue that National might stumble and Labour could surge. But the chances of this happening - I would put at around 20-30 percent. So very unlikely. The economic recovery's underway. Summer will be round the corner come November. But most importantly, people won't switch horses mid-stream when that recovery has been so hard fought. The memory, particularly in Auckland, is too short for voters to forget about Labour's Covid mess and unbridled spending on outrageous and expensive things. Chris Hipkins today also announced a date - his wedding. He says it'll be held in 2027. That means Toni is likely going to marry an unemployed bloke from the Hutt. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says sticking to the basics has led to NZ First's position in the polls. Based on current polling, the party is set for another term in government, one of the first times it will have a consecutive run. Peters told Andrew Dickens that there's a whole lot of things going on in New Zealand that New Zealanders do not like, and they've sought a voice to express their concerns – NZ First. He their position has been on the rise in other parties' internal polls is because they've stuck to the basics and the essentials. Peters says they're focusing on trying to get the economy turned around while still remembering that the country is comprised of all sorts of workers, all of whom need to have a future in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The leaders of ACT, New Zealand First, Te Pāti Māori, and the Green Party sit down with RNZ's press gallery team to share their thoughts on 2025, and what they've got up their sleeves for election year.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Time for some more Christmas messages from political party leaders. We hear from New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and Te Pati Maori co-leaders Rawiri Waititi and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.

Falls for the Greens and Te Pati Maori in the latest 1 News Verian Poll - which gives the coalition more than enough seats to govern. National is on 36 percent, up two - while Act is also up two to 10 percent, and New Zealand First steady on nine. In the left bloc, Labour was up three to 35, but the Greens dropped four to seven, and Te Pati Maori - after weeks of infighting - fell two points to one percent. Finance Minister Nicola Willis told Ryan Bridge they're focused on doing things to make sure people are better off, can get ahead, and have strong public services. She says it's positive to see that most people, if given the chance to vote tomorrow - would re-elect the current Government. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First is against the Regulatory Standards Act they just voted for. Maybe National is too. Judge Aitken spoke up against Winston Peters and is now in a kangaroo court process. Most schools in the country have committed to giving effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.This episode's co-hostsPhilip, Stephanie, SimoneTimestamps0:00 Opening / Introductions1:50 Regulatory Standards and Leadership23:00 Attacking Judicial Systems42:46 Double Standards48:17 Critical Assessments54:02 Bigger Picture58:54 ClosingsIntro/Outro by The Prophet MotiveSupport us here: https://www.patreon.com/1of200

The days of regional councils could soon be over. It's understood the Government will announce a proposal for a local government shake-up later this afternoon. It comes after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hinted on Sunday that a major reform is coming. Earlier this year, regional development minister and New Zealand First deputy leader Shane Jones told a forum there was "less and less of a justifiable purpose" for keeping regional government once the RMA reforms went through. Which got us thinking about regional councils and their purpose... To help explain that and what today's announcement could be, political reporter Russell Palmer joins me.

New Zealand First is denying claims the party's lining up to work with Labour next election, despite David Seymour suggesting the idea. Seymour made the claim after New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters announced he'd campaign on repealing the Regulatory Standards Bill. Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell says it's unclear where this will go from here, given how Seymour championed the bill. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says the Coalition is doing just fine after his change of position on ACT's Regulatory Standards Bill. The NZ First Leader says next year he will campaign on getting rid of the legislation, despite supporting it just last week. ACT Leader David Seymour finds that worrying. But Peters told Mike Hosking he rejects any claim the Coalition is crumbling. He says their number one responsibility is providing a stable Government, which it is doing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour isn't impressed with New Zealand First's promise to campaign on repealing ACT's Regulatory Standards bill. The Bill passed last Thursday - supported by New Zealand First, National and ACT - and became law two days ago. NZ First leader Winston Peters has since called it a 'terrible overreach' and 'not fit for a modern democracy'. Seymour gave his opinion on this move. "People want to play politics - I mean, it's not even an election year yet." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens' new mining policy isn't just bold. Duncan calls it what it is - reckless economic sabotage. In today's episode, he breaks down exactly what it would mean if a future government tore up mining permits that companies had already spent years and millions securing. Investor confidence falls through the floor, regions lose jobs, and Kiwi workers head to Australia because the opportunities here get pulled out from under them. New Zealand First's Shane Jones joins the show to unpack the scale of the damage, from constitutional overreach to the reality of what foreign investors are saying behind closed doors. If the Greens want to scare off capital before projects even start, Duncan argues, this is exactly how to do it. We also hear from a government worker offering rare insight into real public sector cuts, despite claims to the contrary. It's all part of a bigger question - how do we build anything in this country, when every long-term project becomes a political football? Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Well, welcome back Opportunity. I think I have that right. Opportunity is the former "The Opportunities Party". Now it's just "The Opportunity Party". It has a new leader and a new tax policy. They have been looking for a leader for ages and they even advertised. None of this is a good sign. Their biggest problem is the market is full – there is no room for another political party. There was no room 10 years ago and there's even less room now. Now, I don't, but you could argue that as the MMP environment evolves and matures some nuance is sought by a frustrated electorate. A boutique operator if you will. The major parties have faded and the days of National and Labour cracking 40% are gone. The days of a two-party Government might well be gone as well. So as it all fragments, surely there must be room for a small operator wedging its way in between, say, National and Labour as a sort of mid-way, subtle alternative. The trouble is, and I argued this years ago when Gareth Morgan was running the joint, 5% is actually a lot of votes and very few, if any, crack it. Look at ACT's journey – for years they needed a deal in Epsom to work the system and the coattail. There is a reason United vanished. What they should have done is run Morgan in an electorate. Name recognition would have helped, and he may have got the seat, got 2%, and had a party of 2-3 MPs. Being in and staying in is easier than getting there in the first place. Here is their other issue: nuance is not what we do. That's why radicals are gaining support all over the world, from Pauline Hanson in Australia to the minor players who make up Government's in the likes of Holland and Germany. You need to be more left, or right, than centre. Could we also argue that New Zealand First is centrist, given they are the only party that can legitimately claim the ability to deal with either National or Labour? So good on them for keeping the Opportunity dream alive. They're still here after a decade. They're either visionaries whose time is yet to come, or dreamers who can't read the room. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coalition differences were aired at volume today - with Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters at loggerheads over the prospect of asset sales. The Prime Minister says it's a conversation worth having. The New Zealand First leader says it's a failed economic strategy. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

As one coalition partner speaks against asset sales, another is keen to welcome them with open arms. The Prime Minister reiterates he's ruled them out this term, but is keen to reconsider them in future, saying legitimate conversations should be held. New Zealand First's Winston Peters says he's going to stop the country's assets from being sold. "The reality is, the name of this game is getting an asset and extracting the maximum amount of value out of it for your your workforce, for your wealth, for your economy. Other countries do that, why don't we?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mood appears to be souring between coalition parties over the sale of well-known New Zealand's dairy brands to French multinational Lactalis. New Zealand First says the move to sell Fonterra brands like Mainland and Anchor is not in the country's best interests. But ACT's leader David Seymour is championing a free market approach, saying it's the farmers that should be making the decision. Political reporter Russell Palmer has the details.

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has doubled down on his criticism towards Fonterra's plan to sell Mainland and Anchor to the French company Lactalis. In an open letter to the company Peters threatened new regulations if the sale goes ahead. ACT leader David Seymour hit back saying the decision should be up to the farmers, not the Government, a sentiment echoed by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Monday. Peter's claims the letter was not a threat and he did not intend to interfere with the farming community or Fonterra. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Simeon Brown was met with booing at the senior doctors' annual conference before accusing doctors of "crossing an ethical line" and threatening compulsory arbitration. New Zealand First leader Winston Peters fired off some threats of his own suggesting regulation for Fonterra if the Lactalis sale proceeds. ACT leader David Seymour hit back at Peter's threats saying the decision is for the farmers, not the Government. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says 'politicking' tiffs like Peters and Seymour's will become more common as elections approach next year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour is welcoming New Zealand First's changes to his Regulatory Standards Bill as a 'win-win'. Political reporter Russell Palmer reports.

New Zealand First has started to voice concerns over the proposed Gene Technology Bill, breaking away from fellow coalition partners. NZ First claimed it wouldn't support the current bill - unless National agreed to some significant changes. The Country's Hamish McKay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National has dipped into the twenties, while New Zealand First has hit double-digits, in a new poll. The latest Taxpayers Union-Curia poll has National down 3.5 percentage points to 29.6%. Labour has also taken a bit of a hit- but the left bloc would have 21 seats in total - which would be enough to form a government. Political reporter Giles Dexter spoke to Lisa Owen.

New visa residence pathways for skilled workers has caused a rift between the government coalition, New Zealand First invoking the "agree to disagree" provision over "serious concerns". The Economic Growth and Immigration ministers today announced new visa pathways today, hoping to plug workforce shortages. But New Zealand first leader Winston Peters is refusing to back the policy, saying it will mean New Zealand turns into a stepping stone for people wanting to move to Australia. Giles Dexter reports.

Celebrations for a big and bodacious Oriini Kaipara byelection victory were shortlived for Te Pāti Māori thanks to Tākuta Ferris's decision to double down on a social media post aghast at a multicultural group of Labour supporters for Peeni Henare on the campaign trail. That was compounded by party president John Tamihere entering the breach, and a mysterious reollaction of the role of party whip. Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire talk through the fallout and ask what it means for TPM and their relationship with Labour. Plus: a bigger-than-expected contraction in the economy has seen GDP shrink by 0.9%: is the government running out of time for the weather to change? In other defeat from the jaws of victory news, New Zealand First's new champion Stuart Nash enjoyed about 10 minutes of acclaim before putting his foot in it. And as Winston Peters gives David Seymour yet another dressing down, what explains the government's refusal to simply announce its position on a Palestinian state? Oh, and we issue a formal apology for propagating disinformation in last week's audiocast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There were plenty of political attacks flying around New Zealand First's annual general meeting last weekend and it's government partners weren't spared from some friendly fire. Roughly one year out from the election, government parties are making a real effort to differentiate themselves for votes. RNZ political reporter Russell Palmer examines how this is going and what impact it might have on coalition relationships. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Former Labour MP Stuart Nash has resigned from his job at recruitment agency Robert Walters, after a formal review was initiated by the company. It comes after Mr Nash apologised for using vulgar language to describe women's body parts on an interview on the digital broadcaster, the Platform. It is also just days after Mr Nash spoke at New Zealand First's annual conference, and did not rule out campaigning for the party at the next election. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand First minister Shane Jones wants his party to consider re-nationalising the gentailers. Jones spoke to Corin Dann.

In today's episode, we have our weekly political panel; New Zealand First minister Shane Jones wants his party to consider re-nationalising the gentailers; Israel has carried out a strike on senior Hamas leaders in the Gulf state of Qatar; An organisation that aims to get more New Zealanders exercising says a new initiative to make fitness more affordable could save the country billions in health costs.

Sacked Labour minister and former MP Stuart Nash has said if he was ever going to stand for parliament again then it would be with New Zealand First. Nash spoke at New Zealand First's Annual conference over the weekend, claiming Labour has strayed from its core values and is acting as an arm of the union. Stuart Nash spoke to Lisa Owen.

New Zealand First wants to make KiwiSaver compulsory, and increase contributions to eight, then 10 percent. Political reporter Russell Palmer has more.

New Zealand First held its annual meeting over the weekend, and with election year ahead, hints of campaign rivalry are beginning to creep into the coalition. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

New Zealand First held its annual conference over the weekend with compulsory KiwiSaver and a migrant values contract put on the table. Leader Winston Peters spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In today's episode, New Zealand First held its annual meeting over the weekend, and with election year ahead, hints of campaign rivalry are beginning to creep into the coalition; The Black Ferns now who have sent an emphatic message as they seek to defend their Rugby World Cup title, as they beat Ireland 40-nil; University students in Auckland are feeling the pinch when it comes to the cost of public transport; We cross the Tasman for the latest from Kerry-Anne Walsh.

The New Zealand First Conference is being held this weekend in Palmerston North. 

The government has announced changes to the foreign buyers ban, letting some wealthy foreigners back into the housing market, but only if they're spending at least $5 million. It is a significant turnaround for New Zealand First, which helped put the ban in place back in 2018 when it was in a coalition government with Labour. Acting political editor, Craig McCulloch spoke to Lisa Owen.

High value foreign investors will now be able to buy a home in New Zealand, as long as it's worth $5 million plus.The government today loosened the foreign buyers ban that was introduced in 2018 by Labour with New Zealand First's help. Caleb Paterson from Paterson Real Estate spoke to Lisa Owen.