Podcast appearances and mentions of Nikki Kaye

This week, Paula's guest is Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, who last month returned to work after treatment for breast cancer. She discusses the turbulent period for her party and how her diagnosis and treatment clashed with all of this, and she gives insights into how she got through it all - including getting advice from Nikki Kaye. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the Gals mark the one-year anniversary of the Government thruple, chat about gangs and police stations and discuss a very confusing announcement about our Smokefree 2025 target.   The Gals also reflect on the death of former National Party Minister, and Brigitte's friend and old boss, Nikki Kaye.   Yass Queen to a media outlet for doing the hard yards and Brigitte has Georgie in tears over this week's Beehave Mate (clue – it's to do with discrimination against green people and talking animals).   Then Georgie sounds like a boomer in Question Time about IShowSpeed's visa.

The first phase of the inquiry into the government's response to Covid-19 is out - and it's critical of vaccine mandates, saying they caused social harm to a significant minority of New Zealanders. Were vaccine mandates the biggest mistake of the Covid-19 response? Also, the Labour Party is holding its annual conference this weekend. How have they performed in opposition, and how do they become more relevant? To talk through those issues, as well as reflect on the tragic death of former National MP Nikki Kaye, broadcaster Grant Walker and Curia pollster David Farrar joined Nick for Friday Faceoff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former National deputy leader Nikki Kaye has been crowned Matt and Tyler's New Zealander of the Week for this week. The late Auckland Central MP died of cancer on Tuesday aged 44. Kaye served as an MP from 2008 until 2020 — holding two Cabinet positions during her tenure. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

The Chair of NZPork says New Zealand is facing a significant influx of imported pork, much of it from countries that permit pig farming practices illegal in New Zealand (according to data from NZPork, between January and September this year, imported pork accounted for nearly 62 per cent of pork consumed in New Zealand). Plus he also adds sage commentary on carbon farming and Nikki Kaye. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former National deputy leader and cabinet minister died after a long battle with cancer. Sir John Key said Ms Kaye's initial breast cancer diagnosis in 2016 was much worse than either of them had let on publicly - but her dedication to politics had given her the strength to get through it and achieve a remarkable amount in her 44 years. Political reporter Giles Dexter has more.

Former Prime Minister Sir John Key says the late Nikki Kaye was a fierce, hardworking and wonderful friend and MP.

Politicians from across the political spectrum are remembering former National MP Nikki Kaye. Kaye died aged 44 on Saturday after a cancer battle. National's Mark Mitchell told Mike Hosking she was an amazing lady. He said that she was in the midst of her treatment when he was wanting to become a Minister, and she was sending him a full strategy on what he needed to do. Kaye served as the Auckland Central MP from 2008 until 2020, a seat Mitchell said she won through hard work and guts – a combination she lived her life by. Labour's Ginny Andersen told Hosking she will remember her energy. She said it was amazing to see a young woman who was so passionate and driven, but who wasn't afraid to laugh at herself. Andersen said she'll always be thankful for the stance she took on mining on Great Barrier Island, saying she has huge admiration for that strength. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 27th of November, the Reserve Bank has their final OCR call today, so will we see relief from that cut? Did you know it's illegal to serve any kind of drink when you are at the hairdressers? A bill has been added to the ballot to remove the law that is baffling hairdressers. Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk about the life and legacy of Nikki Kaye, and whether we should have four year terms on Politics Wednesday. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

Today on the show... Something a bit different today - we aren't live at 7pm because I wanted to get this out to everyone as fast as possible. Today we pay tribute to one of New Zealand's best, who has sadly passed away at the age of 44 - Nikki Kaye, former Deputy Leader of the New Zealand National Party.  Our thought's go out to Nikki's friends and family in this trying time. To pay tribute, we will be replaying a great interview I had with Nikki in August of 2023. Website: https://www.rova.nz/home/podcasts/duncan-garner---editor-in-chief.htmlInstagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcastTikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast

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.

Happy Tuesday! On todays show:  Front page news across the country, former MP Nikki Kaye passed away from breast cancer. Sarah is a cancer survivor and shared some thoughts.  Daves daughter ate the xmas presents + Flynny's son ain't much better! Jamaican 'blessing in the skies' is there a saying you get wrong. Flynnys surprise for Sarah involves eating something "creamy" North V South Number plates, who has the funniest one! Also if you have a great yarn for the radio or just want to get in touch, you can message us on Instagram, or Facebook! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morefmdrive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morefmdrive

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins have paid tribute to former National Party minister Nikki Kaye, who has passed away aged 44 following a long battle with breast cancer. Sir John Key, who was Prime Minister when Kaye was a minister, also spoke about her political and personal legacy.

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.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Tuesday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) Key Remembers Kaye/A New Police Station Is Nice, I Suppose/Please, Stop Talking Tax/Please, Stop Talking Parking/Are Nice Tattoos a Thing?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nikki Kaye is being remembered as a strong voice for the Auckland Central electorate. She died on Saturday aged 44 from cancer. Kaye served as Auckland Central MP from 2008 until 2020. She was also a cabinet minister and briefly deputy leader of the National Party. Former Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Michael Barnett told Ryan Bridge she took the seat as a young liberal. He says she was quite happy to have a different opinion around transport, where a port should go, or the LGBT community and same sex marriage. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former National Party Minister Nikki Kaye has died. She was 44 years old. 

Former National Party Minister Nikki Kaye has died at the age of 44, after a long battle with breast cancer. Tributes have been pouring in from across the political spectrum. In 2020, she gave her valedictory statement to Parliament after 12 years as the MP for Auckland Central.

The Labour leader says New Zealand needs an honest conversation about paying for its future. Our newsroom understands party delegates will vote on whether to support a capital gains or wealth tax at its annual conference this weekend. Chris Hipkins says about 70% of government tax revenue comes from personal income taxes - while the OECD average is half as much. He told Kerre Woodham that's because New Zealand doesn't have other forms of tax like capital gains, which is very common elsewhere. Hipkins says it's treated as if it's a big radical idea, but we are one of the only countries in the world without some form of taxation in that area. Labour leader Chris Hipkins has reflected on his ‘frenemy' relationship with Nikki Kaye. Reacting to news of her death while speaking to Kerre Woodham, Hipkins said the pair both had a passion for education and tended to agree more than they disagreed. He said he hadn't been in touch with her for a number of years and said her death was “a bit of a shock”. “Really sad news. I just heard about Nikki Kaye as I was coming into the studio this morning. Nikki and I arrived at Parliament at the same time. We had a lot of common interests. I think you could say we were ‘frenemies' for the time we were in Parliament. Opponents, but we actually got on well together.” Kaye was Minister of Education in 2017 under Sir Bill English. Hipkins would succeed her as the minister when Labour took power after the 2017 election. “I thought Nikki was a really passionate member of Parliament, very diligent, did her research, liked to know what she was talking about, didn't rush to decisions until she had actually done the analysis of understanding the situation,” Hipkins said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BEYOND THE BALLOT S2 E8   Embracing Illness: A Journey of Intentionality with Nikki Kaye Former Deputy Leader of the New Zealand National Party and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Leader, Nikki Kaye, shares her personal perspective on illness. She explains that while it can evoke feelings of anger and sadness, illness also prompts a heightened awareness of the preciousness of each moment. This understanding, she believes, has allowed her to live her life more intentionally, especially regarding relationships and communication. She suggests using illness as a reminder to not postpone important conversations and encounters. Remember to subscribe to The Bravery Academy podcast for more inspiring conversations. Access ad-free, early access content on Apple Podcasts and patreon.com/thebraveryacademy. And if you have a question get in touch with Emma on Instagram or Facebook  @thebreatheffect @drvictoriathompson MORE CONTENT or to simply support the Podcast: patreon.com/thebraveryacademy WANT AD FREE/ EARLY ACCESS APPLE PODCASTS SUBSCRIBERS MORE CONTENT or to simply support the Podcast: patreon.com/thebraveryacademy Subscribe to "The Bravery Academy" on Apple Podcasts to access early ad-free episodes and be part of a community dedicated to building resilience. WANT AD FREE/ EARLY ACCESS APPLE PODCASTS SUBSCRIBERS Check out Emma's website to access her free resources such as her breathing quiz and find out how you work with her one on one, in a group, with her Thrive Workshops or on retreat: THE BREATH EFFECT RESOURCES The Bravery Academy is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The episodes on The Bravery Academy discuss a range of topics from mental health, trauma, abuse, stress, loss and bravery.  If you are struggling please reach out for help.  If you are in New Zealand and need to talk free, call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counselor. The Depression helpline is on 0800 111 757 or free text 4202(to talk to a trained counselor about how you are feeling or to ask any questions).  Youthline call 080 0376 633 or free text 234.  You are not alone. PROUDLY PRESENTED BY Sarah Ferris Media on the EVERGREEN NETWORK  Check out more: CONNING THE CON KLOOGHLESS - THE LONG CON GUILTY GREENIE STOP THE KILLING    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this series of extended podcasts we revisit some of our favourite interviews from the first 200 DGEIC episodes. Part 1: Former National Party deputy prime minister, and breast cancer survivor, Nikki Kaye. Sick of the way big banks were treating people, Dave Fishwick from Burnley in the UK decided to open his own bank. They made a great movie about it called 'The Bank of Dave'. And outstanding Kiwi space entrepreneur and pioneer Peter Beck on competing with the big boys in the space race. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's episode is special. I am joined by former Cabinet Minister and Deputy Leader of the National Party, Nikki Kaye, as she opens up about her battle with breast cancer, the significance of self-care and balance in life, the battle to save the planet and her thoughts on New Zealand's socio-political landscape. A survivor in every sense of the word, Nikki has been through more in her 43 years than most people go through in a lifetime. Her story is inspirational and I am so pleased to be able to sit down with her to talk about her high's, low's and hopes for the future. Chapters: 4:38 - Slam Dunc 15:22 - Nikki Kaye 55:05 - Letters To The EditorSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the time of posting this bite size clip from my full podcast with Nikki Kaye, it is the breast cancer pink ribbon street appeal in New Zealand (If you go past a collector, please don't pretend you are reading something on your phone).  In fact, I'd urge you to look round the house or car for any actual money- preferably notes- that you could drop in one of the buckets. In this clip, Nikk Kaye, the former National party deputy leader, talks us through her devastating diagnosis back in 2016 and the entire journey that followed.  Its not an easy listen in parts, but I can't thank Nikki enough for being so open. Here are some other stats from Breast Cancer NZ.  The number on the left is age by decade.  The numbers on the right are the risk of breast cancer in the next ten years: 20s         1 in 1,314 30s         1 in 204 40s         1 in 50 50s         1 in 37 60s         1 in 29 70s         1 in 36 Here is a link if you wish to make a donation anytime you like: https://www.breastcancerfoundation.org.nz/donate/donate-now

This segment comes from Mondays podcast episode. If you want to hear more, feel free to go back and listen to the whole thing. As well as being a fierce former NZ politician, Nikki is a breast cancer survivor.   Like me, her medical procedure left her unable to have her own biological kids.  In this snippet we share our experiences and our feeling around the sense of loss.  Nikki has a fantastic attitude and I love her positivity and her way of looking at the situation. Thanks for listening,  Dom

Nikki Kaye is best known as being the former deputy leader of the National party while it was in opposition (and also a high profile cabinet minister during one of the parties most successful stints in power, under John Key). But she is so much more than that.  She's done the coast to coast multi sport event a few times and was even an age group running champ in her teens.  She is also a cancer survivor- this was a diagnosis she got when she was holding down the job of a Cabinet minister that saw her chalking up 100 hour work weeks. We cover alot of stuff in this conversation and she really opens up in the second half when we get to the real important stuff- like the cancer, mental wellbeing and therapy, she could not have been more open than she was.  And I really thank her for that. I really enjoyed this chat with Nikki and I hope you guys do as well. Dom.        

Nikki Kaye is best known as being the former deputy leader of the National party while it was in opposition (and also a high profile cabinet minister during one of the parties most successful stints in power, under John Key). But she is so much more than that.  She's done the coast to coast multi sport event a few times and was even an age group running champ in her teens.  She is also a cancer survivor- this was a diagnosis she got when she was holding down the job of a Cabinet minister that saw her chalking up 100 hour work weeks. Here is a small snippet from our conversation, out Monday.  Nikki recalls the moment her entire world was flipped upside down with the diagnosis of breast cancer. Hope to see you guys back on Monday for the full hour with Nikki. Dom.  

Paula Bennett's new podcast with the Herald, which launches today, is called Ask Me Anything, but when Kim Knight sits down with the former politician, she discovers some things are still off-limits - even for a self-confessed oversharer. A few days before nominations for the Auckland mayoralty closed, Paula Bennett had regrets. "I said to my husband - we do not talk about Auckland. You do not get to moan about anything. Because I feel guilty and I know I could do a damn good job and I'm dismayed at the direction I think they're heading." And now, on the day of this interview, the field has narrowed. Leo Molloy has gone and the polls have "undecided" as the frontrunner. Does Bennett wish her name were on the ballot sheet? "From a personal perspective, absolutely not. From a professional perspective, yes." Paula Bennett is launching a new podcast with NZME today. Photo / Dean Purcell. Ask her anything? Former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett is a self-confessed oversharer. Photo/Dean Purcell. She could have won, she says. And she would have done a good job. But: "I don't mean to be rude, but the thought of sitting for a day in a council meeting with 19 others who are more interested in their own ideology and getting voted in again, than actually doing what's right, just literally makes me want to poke my own eye out with a toothpick." At Bayleys Real Estate head office, near Auckland's Wynyard Quarter, the women wear black. They file out of a meeting room in black trousers, dresses and jackets; black heeled boots and stilettos - money and power, rendered monochrome. Bennett sails down the stairs in sneakers. She is full noise and full colour. On a scale of one to tomato-red-pants-and-matching-shirt, her confidence is off the charts. Love her, loathe her, but don't ignore this former Deputy Prime Minister. The reinvention of Paula Bennett is a work in progress. She recently said it took her a year to detox from politics, from the "kick in the guts" delivered by a majority of her own caucus, when she and National party leader Simon Bridges were rolled by the short-lived pairing of Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye ahead of the 2020 general election. "Look, people do go from being the deputy leader of the party to, you know, pretty much unranked - but I couldn't see that I would ever become the deputy leader again. Maybe I have contributed to the highest and best that I can? And there was definitely the age factor and definitely the fact that I wanted a professional life after politics." This brings us to a very fancy lounge on the second floor of a national real estate company's headquarters. Bennett's job title is "national director – customer engagement & advisory". What does she actually do here? The chairman of the board has just slipped in to make a coffee. He has some thoughts: "The square root of f*** all!" Bennett hoots. She loves this family-owned company - what she calls the "Kiwiness" of it. She's never sold a house. Her role is to connect things. People, money, policy. "We might look at a big, potential land development. Is there a way government housing can work with a local developer, can work with council to make sure the infrastructure is there? I am the glue that tries to put those pieces together." National Party deputy leader Paula Bennett fronts reporters at a 2019 media conference. Photo/Mark Mitchell Paula Bennett hosts charades game show Give Us a Clue on TVNZ. Photo/Supplied She fronts charity events and has a swag of side hustles - a newspaper column (Herald on Sunday), a television game show (Give Us A Clue), and an upcoming real estate reality show (Rich Listers). Perhaps the biggest surprise about Paula Bennett 2.0, is that she didn't find populist telly sooner. "I'm an oversharer, that's an absolute! I'm a talker. Although one of the things I taught myself is you don't have to fill the silence. I was an automatic 'fill the silence' person. I'm an oversharer, but I've become very good at saying 'no' and not even giving a reason." Her advice for nailing the "no comment"? "The fewer words you use, the less likely they are to pursue it." From today, Bennett adds "podcaster" to her portfolio. She's the host of "Ask Me Anything" a new New Zealand Herald show that "I'm really excited about in the context that, in another life, probably living in another country, I could have been an Oprah . . . that didn't happen for me, so this is a way for me to explore people and conversations that will go from everything from the frivolous to hopefully the very interesting". The former deputy PM had undergone a reinvention. Photo / Dean Purcell. Bennett, 53, says with a "mid-life crisis reinvention under my belt" she wants to share some of the things she's learned and ask others for their advice (first up, broadcaster Kerre Woodham on how to be bold with your opinions). The podcast's premise is simple. Bennett can ask her guests absolutely anything - but they don't have to answer everything. Turn the tables, and it might go something like this: Who was the best Prime Minister? Bennett: "Oh, I'm completely biased in that I had John Key for all of those years. He's who I know the most and worked with, so I'd have to say him." Who should have been Prime Minister? Bennett: "Bill English for longer. He would have just brought a level of humanity and intellect and experience into the role. I think the country would have gained a lot from another three years under him." Has she ever, as once rumoured, worked as a prostitute? "No. Never." (More laughter). How did she tell her parents that she was pregnant, aged 17? "Yeah, I think I'll leave that one." Sometimes in an interview, it's the question you least expect that people are the most reluctant to answer. Once upon a time, Bennett was a teen mum in small town Taupō. She was "that girl". Smart and scandalous. And her parents - a librarian and a shopkeeper - couldn't handle her. "I'm conscious that part of that is their story as well," says Bennett. "And there was so much stigma, and so much going on. We're talking the end of 1986. I went to have a scan and they wouldn't show me the screen because they didn't want me to get emotionally attached. They wouldn't tell me the gender of my baby. So weird, eh? Just very different times." Bennett is Reset magazine's second cover girl. Photo / Dean Purcell. Paula Bennett has said she needed a year to detox from politics. Photo / Dean Purcell Bennett's transformation from solo mother to high-ranking politician with 15 years in Parliament has been much documented (and scrutinised, particularly when access to benefits was tightened under her regime). She leans into the "woman who turned her life around" narrative and the "Westie" persona that's associated with her West Auckland postcode. She says she doesn't want to be interviewed at her "nothing special" home because she'd worry the reporter would leave covered in dog hair. And it suited her when, early in her political career, some people decided she wasn't that bright. (One national magazine, for example, reported officials were simplifying written material because she apparently preferred graphics and pictorial representations - a claim she says was ridiculous). "Big deep breath," says Bennett. "Ignore it and move on . . . Some people close to me would say that I played on it, that I quite liked being underestimated, and I think there is a degree of truth in that . . . in those early years, when they wrote you off as being a bit dumb, you could kind of get on with it." Consider this anecdote from a return trip to her old high school: "One of the teachers said to me, 'you know I almost want to apologise to you - we've got a gifted class now and we would have had you in that.' And I went 'oh, what a load of bulls***!'" But she also acknowledges: "There were definite points where I could use that strength and intelligence for good or evil. They tried to keep channelling it into good. They put me on the local youth council and they would try and give me little leadership roles and then I'd get bored and I'd organise a protest against the school uniform or get the boyfriend to come and pick me up on his motorbike off the school field . . . " Bennett claims she never wanted to lead the National Party and that we should believe her when she says that "because I honestly believe that if I'd really wanted to, I could have". When? Well, she notes with deadpan delivery, in her final years in Parliament, there were "a few changes". Eventually, that change came for her. And it was brutal. "I literally gave it 100 per cent . . . and then you're trying to find your place again in the world and literally every day people want to talk to you about what you've done in the past and it's like 'far out - I'm trying to work my way through this'. Bennett has a new business career. Photo / Dean Purcell "I was used to knowing pretty much everything . . . Parliament is a VERY complicated place. It's policy, government departments, people, everything. And I believe I was very good at it. You only get to a certain age that you're comfortable saying that, by the way. But, actually, I believe I was. So I went from being very good and knowing more than most people, to knowing the least." She suspects she'll never have another job like it - but knows she couldn't have done it forever. "You sleep less, you work longer hours, there is definite tiredness and a risk of burnout. I had moments of knowing that I was at breaking point and, actually, broke a couple of times . . . " Recently, at a Bayleys function, a man came up to her. Did she recognise him? "I'm sorry, I don't . . . ?" He was the doctor who treated her when she was hospitalised in 2011. Asthma attacks, pneumonia, and "I had kept pushing to the point of collapse". She began routinely spending days off by herself, solo decompressing at a family bach, watching the birds and the trees, listening to music. "But that's really hard on your family. They haven't seen you much, you're away more often than you're home …" And, then, suddenly, she was home. All. The. Time. "He was very excited to have me home. I was, um, what was I? I was pleased to be there, but I was still trying to work out what I was going to do and where I was and how this fit. But we just sort of got on with it. Worked out we could live together and we quite liked each other. It could have gone either way." Ten years ago, Bennett married Alan Philps, the former truck driver she first dated when she was a server at a truck stop. Why didn't they stay together back then? "That's one for the podcast," she promises. The pair have just returned from a short holiday in Fiji where she took a walk that turned into a hike that she says she couldn't have completed, pre-gastric bypass surgery and a frequently-headlined 50kg weight loss. Paula Bennett on the campaign trail in 2005, with then National Party leader, Don Brash. Photo/Paul Estcourt Sure, she'll talk about that some more: "You're still the same person, your body's a bit smaller, fashion's more fun. It's easier, right? You're not thinking, oh, is that top the right length to cover that." Equally: "Caroline Marr [owner and creative director of plus-size fashion label The Carpenter's Daughter] once said to me, 'you take up more room, why not dress it up?' I loved that. I used to remember that a lot. Yeah - why not own a room?" What can a reinvented Paula Bennett do with a room? Most recently, she's fundraised $2.2m for the National party. ("It turns out she's very hard to say no to," said one insider). At Bayleys, "I work a lot with private wealth. That's really interesting, and a lot of fun as well. I love them!" Yes, she agrees, "there are wonderful eccentricities" to be found in the upper echelons of societal wealth - but, she adds, you can meet that in the Pūhoi Tavern too. "Go in with no judgment, take people at face value and work with them to the best that you can. I think that gets you through in any walk of life, right?" Paula Bennett for mayor, circa 2025? "We've got a pretty incredible city here in Auckland. And as I said to my husband - it turns out I still give a damn."   Paula Bennett also talked to Francesca Rudkin on the Sunday Session to discuss her new podcast and reinvention.  LISTEN ABOVE   Ask Me Anything with Paula Bennett is a New Zealand Herald podcast launching today, with new episodes every Sunday. You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. - Kim Knight, NZ HeraldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gone By Lunchtime is taking a break over the summer holidays. We'll be back in the new year, but until then we're we're republishing some of our favourite interviews of 2020. This week: relive the 53-day reign of Todd Muller as National Party leader.First released July 14, 2020.At 7.30am, just 53 days after he replaced Simon Bridges as leader of the National Party, Todd Muller announced his immediate resignation from the job.How did it come to this, and who is likely to emerge as the new leader, with less than 10 weeks to an election? Will deputy Nikki Kaye be promoted by caucus tonight? Is it Judith Collins' time? Can Simon Bridges complete the great arc of redemption? What about Gerry Brownlee or Mark Mitchell?Or maybe just chuck a baby yak in charge. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Politicians are being advised to take a leaf out of Chloe Swarbrick's handbook.An energetic and innovative approach by Chloe Swarbrick is thought to be the reason she won Auckland Central against the odds.The Green MP has defied the odds and the polls to snatch Auckland Central - the first Green MP to win a seat without an arrangement with a major party.The seat had been held for 12 years by National's Nikki Kaye, who's resigned.Auckland University Associate Professor, Neal Curtis, told Kate Hawkesby Swarbrick managed to contact a third of voters in a direct way by calling 10,000 households."People appreciate the feeling that someone genuinely wants to speak to them. Many politicians don't activate that."Curtis says it was down to a mix of hard work and a multi-dimensional campaign."Chloe was working many fronts, using lots of techniques and got people very energised."LISTEN ABOVE

New modelling says Maori who catch COVID are 50% more likely to die from it than non-Maori. Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare - who has special responsibility for Maori health - joins us with his plan to stop that from happening. It ain't easy being Green - especially this week. We ask former Green Party communications and policy director David Cormack what James Shaw’s error of judgement has cost his party.Taiwan’s Covid response is among the best in the world: no lockdown and an epidemiologist for Vice President. We follow Kiwi drag queen Taipei Popcorn in Taipei to see firsthand how they do it. It’s been a National seat for 4 elections, but the resignation of Nikki Kaye means the Auckland Central electorate is up for grabs. Labour’s Helen White gives her five-minute pitch for why voters should give it to her. Plus, road tripping the East Coast with Kiri Allan, analysis from our political panel Marg Joiner and Shane Te Pou, and Vision New Zealand leader Hannah Tamaki on the campaign trail in Rotorua. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A month ago when National MP Nikki Kaye announced her shock retirement from politics, her breast cancer battle was at the centre of her decision.Kaye was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2016 at just 36.She had a lot on her plate, having been an MP since 28, at the time she was the Minister of Civil Defence, ACC and Youth Affairs as well as the National MP for Auckland Central.Kaye has opened up about her experience with cancer and how it has changed her life, as part of the Cancer Society's 30 years of Daffodil Day Campaign.She joined Francesca Rudkin to discuss quitting politics, what's next, and fighting cancer ahead of Daffodil Day this week.LISTEN ABOVE

Departing National MP Nikki Kaye shares some words of wisdom for incoming MPs and reflects on the highs and lows of her time at Parliament.

Departing National MP Nikki Kaye shares some words of wisdom for incoming MPs and reflects on the highs and lows of her time at Parliament.

There will be no deal on the left in Auckland Central. The Labour Party says it won't make way for the Green Party in the seat, which has been thrown wide open since National's Nikki Kaye announced her departure from politics. But the Greens' candidate - high-profile MP Chloe Swarbrick - doesn't want to be thrown a lifeline, even as her party hovers at about five percent in the polls. Last night, the candidates fronted up at the first electorate debate of the campaign at Freemans Bay School. Reporter Sarah Robson has more.

Three senior National MPs have made their valedictory speeches in Parliament, looking back at the challenges they faced during their tenure. Nikki Kaye and Amy Adams were elected into Parliament 12 years ago and between them have held a plethora of Ministerial portfolios. Former Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy who has been in Parliament 15 years also said his good-byes. Here's RNZ political reporter Charlie Dreaver.

Linda Clark and Richard Harman offer their thoughts on issues like euthanasia and cannabis, but primarily this week it's politics, and how the new-look National party is positioned with the New Zealand election now only two months away.

Linda Clark and Richard Harman offer their thoughts on issues like euthanasia and cannabis, but primarily this week it's politics, and how the new-look National party is positioned with the New Zealand election now only two months away.

Several National MPs have announced their departure - but their new deputy leader plans on sticking around. Gerry Brownlee became National's Deputy Leader after Todd Muller's shock resignation on Tuesday, prompting a caucus reshuffle that saw Judith Collins take over as leader.The new leadership only enjoyed Amy Adams has decided for a second time she'll retire from politics this year, alongside Nikki Kaye - who was rolled as the party's second-in-charge this week.National's new deputy leader Gerry Brownlee told Simon Barnett and Phil Gifford he wishes Kaye and Adams well."In-cue: You know when you wake up in the morning and you no longer have the position for doing a job like this, if you conclude 'I've done as much as I can or want to in this particular job', then it is the right thing to move on."It's not good being in a position where you're unhappy."Asked why he still sticks with politics after entering Parliament in 1996, Brownlee says it is a huge privilege to be part of legislature. "As an electorate MP, you get a hands on and tangible feel of the problems people have in their lives."You can't fix everyone, that's one of the things that's hardest, but you can become aware of problems." When it comes to their competition, Brownlee says that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is very personable, and she has done well at emphasising with people.However, the Government is very good at announcing things but not at delivering on them. 

Two high profile MPs have decided they don't have a future in a Judith Collins-led National Party.Nikki Kaye and Amy Adams have announced they'll retire at this year's election - having both served their respective electorates for 12 years.Former leader Todd Muller convinced Adams to rescind her original resignation, and lead the party's Covid response.But Adams told Kerre McIvor things have changed under Collins.“She is a different leader, with a different style and approach. The role she saw for me, which was a generous offer, wasn't what I came back for."Adams says now is the right time for her to move on and let Judith Collins put together the team she wants.LISTEN ABOVE

National leader Judith Collins has just announced her new shadow cabinet.She will be the Minister of National Security.Gerry Brownlee will be Minister for the SIS, GCSB and Covid recovery.Paul Goldsmith will retain the finance portfolio.Simon Bridges will be Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Justice.Shane Reti had already been confirmed as Minister of Health - and Nicola Willis has been given Nikki Kaye's education portfolio.Listen to the audio above as Newstalk ZB Political Editor Barry Soper joins Kerre McIvor to share his thoughts on the cabinet reshuffle. 

Bad news for Judith Collins to deal with this morning on day two as National Party leader.Nikki Kaye quits is the headline on the front page of today's Herald.It's the last thing the Nats need, after the turmoil of the past couple of weeks, the coup to oust Simon Bridges then Todd Muller's shock resignation.It felt as though things were settling when Collins and Gerry Brownlee stepped up.Audrey Young's story this morning suggests several of Nikki Kaye's colleagues tried to get her to change her mind.But apparently, she's adamant, she'll stay until the election on September 19th.You wouldn't have picked this from what she said on social media, right after the leadership contest.Congratulations to our new leader and deputy, a great team to lead National...praising Collins as a fighter and a fantastic local representative...blah blah blah.Losing Nikki Kaye isn't just bad timing for National...it's a bad look.Nikki stormed into Parliament 12 years ago when she beat the lazy incumbent who used to knit in the House of Representatives.Taking Auckland Central from Labour was about working her butt off in the electorate.And she's since beaten Jacinda Ardern twice to keep the seat.She's now 40 and you'd say we're yet to see the best of what Nikki Kaye has to offer in public service.Sadly, it seems we may never see that.We'll hear from Judith Collins later in the day...no doubt she'll wish Nikki Kaye well...and she'll put a brave face on things. But I'll bet the person having the feeling greatest regret will be Nikki Kaye herself...probably wishing she'd never had anything to do with Muller.

National MPs will meet this morning to discuss changes in the party, which will include some a reshuffle of some portfolios, new leader Judith Collins says.The future of health spokesman Michael Woodhouse is in question, after Collins today refused to publicly say he would be keeping the job.Asked if he would continue in the health portfolio, Collins would not say – "there are still a few things to work out," she said.Woodhouse said yesterday that he had no plans to follow Todd Muller and step down."My focus is entirely on the next 10 weeks," he said.Collins is downplaying the significance of the changes, saying it would only affect herself, her new deputy leader Gerry Brownlee and "a few other people".Speaking to media this morning, Collins would not elaborate on who these "other people" would be.She has confirmed Paul Goldsmith will retain finance and that former leader Simon Bridges will continue in foreign affairs.Last week, National MP Hamish Walker was forced to resign after he outed himself as the leader of sensitive and personal Covid-19 information.As it turned out, Woodhouse had also received the same information from former party president Michelle Boag.Speaking to media this morning, Collins said she would be "talking to Michael today"."We'll be getting some information on that and then I'll be making a call," she told RNZ.She said she was taking the issue "quite seriously" and was "absolutely not at all comfortable" about the leaking of patients' details.If Collins decides to strip Woodhouse of health, Whangarei MP Shane Reti would be the most likely candidate to take his place.Reti – a medical doctor – has been heavily involved in National's health response and policies.Speaking to MediaWorks, Collins said National would now look at "some of the mild changes we need to make"."Gerry and I have now got other jobs to do and we need to shift a few portfolios around.National MP Michael Woodhouse arrives prior to a caucus meeting at Parliament on May 22, 2020 in Wellington. POOL"We also have to take into account that Nikki [Kaye] is back doing education in such a big way but also just to make sure we've got something available for Todd as well."Collins said the party will be having a discussion about whether or not Muller would be on the front bench.She has not yet spoken to Muller about this – "but I think we will certainly be wanting to talk to Todd about his options".But she said there wouldn't be many changes, given the election is only in a few weeks."I don't want people having to chop and change portfolios right before and election – I think that's a bit foolish."

Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas reel at the announcement that Todd Muller has resigned as leader of the opposition. At 7.30am, just 53 days after he replaced Simon Bridges as leader of the National Party, Todd Muller announced his immediate resignation from the job.How did it come to this, and who is likely to emerge as the new leader, with less than 10 weeks to an election? Will deputy Nikki Kaye be promoted by caucus tonight? Is it Judith Collins' time? Can Simon Bridges complete the great arc of redemption? What about Gerry Brownlee or Mark Mitchell?Or maybe just chuck a baby yak in charge. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A former National cabinet minister says voting for a 'caretaker' party leader would be an injustice to the party and the country.The sudden resignation of Todd Muller will see the National Party caucus gather today to decide on a new leader.In the meantime, Nikki Kaye is the party's acting leader.Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce told Kerre McIvor his read of things is the mounting pressure was causing health concerns for Muller.Joyce told Kerre McIvor Muller's shock decision has to be respected."Part of these things in knowing it's not for you. Once you know in your heart that you cannot do this for whatever reason, then you have to put your hand up and walk away."Joyce says a 'night watchman' leader would be undermining the role of an opposition."The days of any caucus thinking, oh we we will put in a caretaker in and see how it goes, you are just consigning yourself to another three years."LISTEN ABOVE 

Clutha-Southland MP Hamish Walker has decided not to run for re-election after it was revealed he leaked the details of Covid-19 patients. Former National Party President Michelle Boag has resigned from her campaign and electorate roles in the Auckland Central seat, held by deputy leader Nikki Kaye. Boag has confessed to leaking the patients' details to Walker, who then leaked them to media. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer and conservative political commentator.

The National Party says it will undo parts of the government's tertiary reform package within 100 days of power.New Zealand's 16 polytechs are set to merge into one entity, but National say that's something they vigorously oppose and will reverse.Education Minister Chris Hipkins says it would be a momentum killer at a time of increased training.National's education spokesperson Nikki Kaye joined Kate Hawkesby to explain how National would go about making the changes to the government's tertiary reform package.LISTEN ABOVE

As Simon Bridges was brought back into the fold, David Clark was literally gone by lunchtime. Mr Clark has formally resigned from the job, after both he and the Prime Minister concluded he's become too much of a "distraction" to the government's pandemic response. Our political reporter, Katie Scotcher, was there when Mr Clark delivered the news.

National leader Todd Muller has brought Simon Bridges back into the fold - giving him the foreign affairs portfolio he was after - however he's kept him low in the party rankings. Mr Muller announced a minor reshuffle today - prompted by the retirement of Paula Bennett. Shane Reti has been bumped up the list, taking over Paula Bennett's number 13 ranking, and a new associate drug reform portfolio. Mr Bridges is assuming Dr Reti's number 17 spot on the list, and taking foreign affairs off Gerry Brownlee. The reshuffle means there is still just two Maori MPs in the top 20, and no non-Pakeha on the front bench.

National MP Paula Bennett is bowing out of politics, to pursue a career in "the business world". Mrs Bennett was ousted as deputy leader and the campaign chair in Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye's leadership coup last month. She says her decision to retire is not a sign of a lack of confidence in the new leadership - but rather the right time for her to move on to the next chapter. Her departure leaves only one Māori in National's top 20, and after coming under fire for a lack of diversity, Mr Muller says another reshuffle is on the way. RNZ's political reporter Yvette McCullough has the details.

The woman standing between us, and Covid-19 at the border. How does Dr Megan Woods feel about cleaning up another Minister’s mess? She joins us live. New Zealand First's Tracey Martin on scrapping for survival as her party loses popularity. Plus, head-to-head with Nikki Kaye in Auckland Central - Chloe Swarbrick on why the seat should be hers. A special report on the highest-stakes animal welfare case in New Zealand’s history And analysis from our political panel, Shane Te Pou and Trish Sherson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield is seeking to allay fears about catching Covid-19 from people in isolation in light of five confirmed cases in the past week in returnees in managed isolation or just having left isolation.It appears that fears of some residents living in 149 Stamford apartments about potential contact with returnees may have scuppered a new six-month deal the Stamford hotel had with the Government as an isolation facility.Hotel staff last night told some residents that they had been ordered to close the hotel and would be losing their jobs.The hotel and apartments have separate entrances, and the only shared space would have been the service lift and emergency exit.Two new Covid-19 cases were identified yesterday in a couple near the end of their 14 days in isolation at the Grand Millennium Hotel in Auckland, who had flown in from India on June 5 on a repatriation flight.They were tested as part of new routine testing on Day 3 and Day 12 of mandatory managed isolation for all arrivals.According to Bloomfield, they had no symptoms and have been transferred to a stricter quarantine facility at the Jet Park Hotel.Their positive result follows that of a returnee from Pakistan, confirmed on Thursday, and two sisters confirmed on Tuesday who had returned from Britain.They had been staying in the Novotel Ellerslie and after the death of their mother, were granted early release to drive to Wellington to comfort their father, but tested positive in Wellington.In a stricter testing regime, everyone at the hotels where the recent cases had been staying and everyone on their flights were now being tested.Bloomfield said cases were always expected as more New Zealanders returned home.Before routine testing was announced on June 9, a total of 35 people in managed isolation or quarantine had been confirmed as having had it. But he stressed that the cases had been expected as returnees increased and there was no evidence it had been spread within facilities.From the beginning of April when managed isolation started "we have not seen any further infections as a result of people in managed isolation either within the facilities or once they have left the facilities"."Our procedures are good."He said there was not a risk of infection of Covid-19 from a fleetingly interaction or walking past someone with it."You can take a photo which might show people passing each other. It doesn't mean there is a risk or it meets the definition of potential close contact."But those procedures were being audited to make sure they were "rock solid".The new head of managed isolation and quarantine, Air Commodore Darryn Webb, also moved to reassure the public about the safety procedures after a week of bad publicity about apparent lax rules.He set out all the procedures of getting the couple who were confirmed yesterday from their managed isolation hotel to the quarantine hotel – using a dedicated vehicle, driver and assistance in PPE gear, and their former room sealed for 10 days then given a deep clean.He said last night there had been no decision yet on whether to use the Stamford Plaza hotel and that it was still being assessed.However the Herald has learned that residents were told on Friday that the hotel would be an isolation facility for up to six months by order of the Ministry of Health.Local MP and National deputy leader Nikki Kaye has got involved and is planning to meet residents today with health spokesman Michael Woodhouse.Bloomfield also said that there should be no stigma attached to people with Covid-19."It is a virus that does not discriminate."Because New Zealand had such a small number of cases, those who did test positive received a lot of attention."Please remember it could be your relative, mother, brother or sister or father or it could be a friend who has returned home. Please be compassionate and kind."We are in this together." 

She's just been promoted to Deputy Leader of New Zealand's National Party just months out from an election. She's also aware of the battle her party has on their hands to take on one of the most popular Prime Ministers this country has seen in Jacinda Ardern. Nikki Kaye talks about how getting breast cancer in 2016 completely changed how she now operates as a politician and what motivates her to do what she does in a job many of us would stay well clear of. Nikki also revealed she grew a veggie garden during lockdown, and longs for the days to go camping with a pale ale and a fishing rod.

Today on your bFM Breakfast: Kicking off the show with our first chat with Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Nikki Kaye; followed by a lovely chat with Noah Slee about his newest single; Tim comes in with plenty to talk about in the mediascape; and Amelia reminds us that one word can have two meanings on Word Salad. Nothing like a good gig announce to get you through your Wednesday.

After some re-shuffling within the National Party, we've got our first chat with the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Nikki Kaye. Rachel chats to Nikki about the new National Party, and the Government's announcement to reform the DHB's.

Today on your bFM Breakfast: Kicking off the show with our first chat with Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Nikki Kaye; followed by a lovely chat with Noah Slee about his newest single; Tim comes in with plenty to talk about in the mediascape; and Amelia reminds us that one word can have two meanings on Word Salad. Nothing like a good gig announce to get you through your Wednesday.

National Party Deputy Leader Nikki Kaye was our guest for this weeks Six and a Song. She discussed her early interest in politics, her success as a endurance athlete, who she gets on with Jacinda Ardern, moving into the Deputy Leader role, and of course her favourite song. LISTEN ABOVE

The knitting community is split over whether National MP Paul Goldsmith's comments on Tuesday telling the Prime Minister to 'stick to her knitting' were offensive. It came after Jacinda Ardern expressed anger at The Warehouse for announcing 1,000 job losses, despite taking more than $65 million in government wage subsidies. Paul Goldsmith later conceded it was a poor choice of words and some people might have seen it as disrespectful. His own deputy Nikki Kaye says she had her own words with him about his words. So what do the knitters - men and women think about it all? Katie Doyle with this yarn.

The National Party got into something of a tangle yesterday after finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith said the Prime Minister should "stick to her knitting". Jacinda Ardern had said she was angry The Warehouse Group was announcing 1000 job losses after having taken at least $65 million in wage subsidies. Goldsmith responded that it was "not helpful" for the Prime Minister to criticise a struggling business. Usually on a Wednesday morning, we speak to the leader of the National Party but Todd Muller is recovering from minor surgery. Deputy leader Nikki Kaye speaks to Corin Dann in his stead.

With our tourism industry in tatters, is Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis the man to rebuild our biggest export earner? More on his $400 million plan. On the ground in Washington DC with Political Commentator Ameshia Cross as protests continue to rage across the US. Following a coup, a victory, a blunder and the shortest leadership honeymoon in memory, National's new deputy Nikki Kaye joins us live. Plus, new modeling from physics professor Shaun Hendy, who says there's still a risk of a large Covid outbreak. Are we really ready for Level 1? And analysis from our political panel...lawyer and AUT associate professor Khylee Quince and private investigator and former police detective Tim McKinnel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party are planning a select committee inquiring into student accommodation, which was exposed during the national lockdown.The sector has revealed to be crippling students with debt.Green MP Chlöe Swarbrick describes the situation as the wild west saying protections for student renters does not exist.President of the New Zealand Union of Students' Association Isabella Lenihin-Ikin told Tim Dower it is a relief people are looking into it."The New Zealand Union of Students' Association has been calling on this Education Workforce  select committee to undertake such an inquiry, and it is really pleasing to see that they've followed through."We've had such great cross-party support both Nikki Kaye form the National Party and Chlöe Swarbrick from the Greens have been great champions for students during this time."Ms Lenihin-Ikin says there are a myriad of issues, including poor employment conditions within student accommodation and accommodation being expensive, which she believes brings into question the accommodation service's main objective.

Māori National MPs say the party's list and shadow cabinet are selected on ability not skin tone and they're happy with their rankings. There's been criticism of new leader Todd Muller's rejig of the shadow cabinet - with one former national MP saying it is appalling there are only white faces on the party's front bench. The highest ranked Māori MP in National's caucus at number 13 - Paula Bennett. And then Todd Muller and his deputy Nikki Kaye made a major faux pas on Tuesday when they incorrectly labelled one of their senior MPs Paul Goldsmith Māori, when he is not. So Lisa Owen gave National's actual Māori MPs a call to see what they think.

The new leadership of the National Party found themselves in an embarrassing tangle over Māori representation at their first caucus today - before they'd even walked into the room. Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye were vigorously defending the lack of Māori MPs on the front bench - when they named senior MP Paul Goldsmith as Māori, which he promptly rejected. It was the first caucus meeting since the swift leadership change on Friday, and the first time Mr Muller went up against Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in the House - a rather low key affair. Here's RNZ political editor, Jane Patterson.

Simon Bridges must be licking his chops.If the Nats new team thought a new leadership would mean a cake walk to September, they’re sadly mistaken.Not only are they up against Jacinda, they’re up against a relentlessly unforgiving media who're obsessed with the current government. The Nats don’t just have to cut through the government, they have to get past the media first and they’ve formed a pretty formidable impenetrable wall around Saint Jacinda.Just ask Simon Bridges how tough that is to pierce.I’d hazard a guess Simon spent more time battling the bad press and the shabby headlines than he did the government.The media at the moment, is doing the government’s job for them.Let’s start with the MAGA hat – how that got traction as a news story for 3 days beggars belief, but Muller addressing it and indulging it probably didn’t help. His fatal move – acquiescing and backtracking by day 3. Harden up. If you’re going to give in to the luvvies and the perpetually offended within minutes of taking over as the allegedly 'strong' new face of leadership, you’ve already lost.The fact Muller allowed the media to stir it up and call it a.. “controversy”.. shows his naivety.He now says the hat’s packed into a box and won’t be back out.Hopefully he hasn’t packed his nerve into that same box.Then there’s the media’s other “controversy” ..quote unquote.That of Nikki Kaye trying to defend the diversity of the party’s front bench. “Diversity blunder” they called it.First of all, why are you trying to defend it? Who questioned the front bench’s diversity in the first place?A Labour MP known for not much more than attacking stuff and sounding off.. Willie Jackson.The best policy there? Ignore him.Or give the slap down Judith Collins did, 'is there a problem with me being white?' Give it the weight.If you were, say, the Green Party, hell bent on diversity, gender splits and assigning people jobs based on quotas, then sure, get upset about diversity. If you’re a party known for putting the best person in the job, not because they’re male or female or Maori, but because they’re the best person for that job, then see the Willie Jackson jibe for what it is.Sadly Muller and Kaye freaked out, engaged it, got it wrong, made dicks of themselves, turned the whole thing into a comedy.If this new lineup are going to fall over themselves responding to everything the government or media throws their way, then it’s just Simon Bridges 2.0. It’s an easy trap to fall into. You’re being baited, you’re being played, but you’ve got to get savvy.This is why Jacinda is so hard to beat. Politics is not just about cred and nous, it’s about street smarts.She has it in spades, this lot don't.

We can’t ignore the fact the winners in Muller’s new line up – are women.For a party accused of being pale male and stale, Muller has managed to surround himself with some strong women and in good high positions.Amy Adams – an undeniably strong talent has been bumped up to number 3, she’s a competent and extremely safe pair of hands. Nikki Kaye as we know is Deputy. Judith Collins.. picks up economic development, regional development and Pike River re-entry. She’s also been made the Shadow Attorney-General. Keep your enemies closer.And then there’s up and coming rockstar Nicola Willis. She‘s gone from unranked to number 14 and in the shadow Cabinet – by all accounts, a significant jump.The only woman to hit the downhill slide is Paula Bennett. Predictably demoted.. and I’m not sure replacing her with Gerry Brownlee as election campaign manager is the smartest move, but time will tell. My experience of Brownlee is that he can be perceived as quite negative, which would be at odds with Muller’s alleged desire to run a ‘positive’ campaign.I actually don’t believe all this positivity talk, as much as we didn’t believe it when Jacinda said it.Politicians who promise to be positive, usually find themselves fighting for their lives at election time and all ‘positivity’ seems to fly out the window. Ardern is famous for her slap downs, the fact she does it while smiling, doesn’t make it any less negative.Muller could be accused of beginners optimism and being a bit green around the gills if he thinks politics is all unicorns and rainbows. But back to his team.He described his caucus as ‘bursting with talent’.. but beyond talking about them, he needs to actually make them visible.Actions speak louder than words, and while Ardern defends her team and endlessly talks them up, she also gags them from speaking in public, answering reporters or fronting anywhere that she could instead.The ‘I’ve got the best team’ talk needs to see a bit of rubber hit the road.Where Key did well was he has happy to delegate, he was happy to let his team shine.. he deferred to his ministers and let them run their portfolios. The strength of his team was evident – he didn’t have to keep telling us they were solid.Rule of thumb.. the more you have to tell us something is so, the less it probably is.This is where National could get some much needed cut through against Ardern.But where in all of this, is Simon you ask?Simon Bridges is taking time to think.Fair enough. But he probably can’t afford to think for too long.For us to truly believe the Nats caucus is as tight and cohesive as Muller says, he needs everybody locked in and on message, quick sticks.

The National Party's newly crowned leader Todd Muller has started off by saying he was "incredibly upbeat" about his chances in the next election – and has left a door open to reverse the decision not to engage with NZ First after the next election.After successfully rolling Simon Bridges in a caucus Muller will now take on the task of trying to reclaim the ground National has lost in the polls over the Covid-19 crisis with just four months until the election.Muller was elected leader after a bitter showdown with Simon Bridges, and Nikki Kaye was elected deputy to replace Paula Bennett.The past three months have seen Labour and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern soar up to record levels of popularity in two polls while National's vote was decimated to around 30 per cent.Muller acknowledged the challenge ahead but said the polling was clearly related to the Covid-19 crisis and the Government's "impressive" handling of the health response to that.In an apparent reference to Bridges' leadership, Muller said he would talk about "what was right for families, not what was wrong about the Government."Columnist Liam Hehir and podcaster Frances Cook joined the Sunday Panel to discuss what's next for Muller, Bridges, and the party as a whole.LISTEN ABOVE 

Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye likely face a difficult challenge when it comes to the September election. The two have rolled Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett for the National Party leadership and deputy role respectively, after two polls showed National and Bridges' popularity had dropped. However, there are rumours that Muller won narrowly - with some sources claiming there was just one vote separating the leaders."It came down to a number of MPs very worried about their survival and about having a job in Parliament after the election."The issue now for Muller and Kaye is trying to make their mark before going to the polls in September.If they don't win, Bradford says the party could then be in the same position again at the end of the year."If National lose, can they hold onto those jobs, or will the party want to see someone else come in? And that's the risk Todd and Nikki have taken in doing this, is they know the task ahead of them now is massive." 

Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye likely face a difficult challenge when it comes to the September election. The two have rolled Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett for the National Party leadership and deputy role respectively, after two polls showed National and Bridges' popularity had dropped. However, there are rumours that Muller won narrowly - with some sources claiming there was just one vote separating the leaders."It came down to a number of MPs very worried about their survival and about having a job in Parliament after the election."The issue now for Muller and Kaye is trying to make their mark before going to the polls in September.If they don't win, Bradford says the party could then be in the same position again at the end of the year."If National lose, can they hold onto those jobs, or will the party want to see someone else come in? And that's the risk Todd and Nikki have taken in doing this, is they know the task ahead of them now is massive." 

The New National Party leader Todd Muller is wasting no time putting his stamp on the party's front bench with a caucus reshuffle that would be revealed as early as today. Muller took over the leadership, along with new deputy Nikki Kaye on Friday after a swift contest last week. Kaye speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Prominent political pundit Matthew Hooton has withdrawn from commentary for the time being because of a conflict caused by his link to the successful leadership bid of National MPs Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye. 

Prominent political pundit Matthew Hooton has withdrawn from commentary for the time being because of a conflict caused by his link to the successful leadership bid of National MPs Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye. 

The National Party's newly crowned leader Todd Muller has started off by saying he was "incredibly upbeat" about his chances in the next election – and has left a door open to reverse the decision not to engage with NZ First after the next election.After successfully rolling Simon Bridges in a caucus Muller will now take on the task of trying to reclaim the ground National has lost in the polls over the Covid-19 crisis with just four months until the election.Muller was elected leader after a bitter showdown with Simon Bridges, and Nikki Kaye was elected deputy to replace Paula Bennett.TVNZ journalist Mark Crysell joins The Panel on The Weekend Collective to discuss Todd Muller becoming the new leader of the National Party, along with the other big stories making news this week.LISTEN ABOVE 

I think Todd Muller can win the election. He has his work cut out, sure. I don’t think he’s the favourite, but I think there’s a reasonable chance Todd Muller will be Prime Minister by October, and any Labour supporters or strategists who think the election result is a sure thing, count their chickens, rest on their laurels, and put their feet up at their peril. Because it’s easy to look at the massive shift in the polls this week and get suckered in by the Covid effect. It’s easy to see a divided National caucus and a hugely popular incumbent Prime Minister and think September is sewn up. It isn’t.It’s true, we haven’t seen National’s new leader under much pressure. But Todd Muller has done a very good job of winning over a lot of people from a lot of different backgrounds. I interviewed him about climate change on Q+A last year, and at the time, he struck me as a very good communicator. Clear, confident, and sure-footed. True, he might not be quite as good as Jacinda Ardern, but his press conference yesterday afternoon was impressive and I’ve yet to see him really blunder an answer or misjudge his tone.There were little things yesterday... little shifts and choices of language that tell you about his strategy. For example, he said, “I am the first to admit and acknowledge that the government's handling of Covid-19 was overall impressive.”Would Simon Bridges have described anything associated with the government as being impressive? I doubt it. But overall, it has been impressive. And it’s not a binary thing... acknowledging the government has done something well doesn’t mean the opposition hasn’t. Good call, Todd. Todd Muller looked comfortable in front of the cameras. He didn’t blink much. He wasn’t nervous. He constantly referenced his family and he made self-deprecating jokes about his looks and his religious observance. When he was asked about his conservative social values, and the fact that he opposes legal abortion and euthanasia... he comfortably navigated through his response and noted that his deputy, Nikki Kaye, had completely different views. National’s a broad church, he said. Good answer.He did a couple of other things really smartly. He sought immediately to draw a line in the sand with the leadership debate. Whether or not he can do that, who knows? That may result on the shape of his caucus reshuffle. But if the last 15 years is anything to go by, National often does a better job of leadership changes than Labour. He also stayed on message with Labour’s two biggest weaknesses: their perceived lack of Ministerial talent, and their inability in this term to deliver on some of their biggest policies.Keep in mind... by the time the election rolls around, we’ll have endured one of our toughest winters in a very long time. Unemployment is forecast to be peaking. Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis will be without work and many of them will have never experienced being jobless before. It’s all well and good to be walking around in a Level 2 honeymoon but sadly this is unlikely to last.Over the next few months, just as he did yesterday, Todd Muller will remind voters about Kiwibuild. He’ll remind them about the grand promises for rail to the airport, about fees-free university, prisoner numbers, and stubborn poverty stats. He’ll praise Jacinda Ardern and say she was brilliant in the heat of a crisis and that she’s a really nice person, but when it comes to the aftermath of a disaster and rebuilding an economy... he’ll remind Kiwis who was in charge after the GFC and in charge after the Christchurch Earthquakes and say National’s the better bet. Thursday’s 1 News Colmar Brunton poll may have been the straw that broke the back of National’s last leadership team. It showed just 29 percent of voters supporting National. I can tell you now, more than 29% of Kiwi voters will back Todd Muller’s message on Election Day. 

The National Party's new leader Todd Muller and deputy Nikki Kaye faced media on Friday afternoon for their first media conference in their new roles. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson joins Lisa Owen with her analysis of the day.

COMMENT:It's a big day today for the National Party. Personally, I don't think this is a done deal.National MPs have a lot to consider ahead of the vote at midday.First of all, has Simon Bridges really done that poorly during a time when his opponent has had almost unlimited access to the media? You can't take anything away from Jacinda Ardern for the way she's handled herself.Once or twice I felt those daily media conferences were turning into party political broadcasts - especially leading up to the Budget - but, overall, she's maintained a steady hand on the tiller.Where did that leave Bridges? Between a rock and a hard place really, with very little wriggle room and running the risk of being accused of taking cheap shots if he criticised the Government.He was on the money early in the piece calling for tighter border controls. If we'd gone that way, the lockdown needn't have been anywhere near as severe as it was.Since then, chairing the Epidemic Response Committee, he's acquitted himself quite well.Sadly for him, Bridges is weakest where the Prime Minister is strongest - on presentation.Equally sadly, he's not done anything to help himself by taking lessons. Either that, or he's had a lousy teacher, or just hasn't learned.So should his caucus flip him now, and pin their hopes on a man who's untainted by any previous activity?Well, you could argue it worked for Labour last time around.If they do install a new man now and he goes on to fail in September, then what?And what of Nikki Kaye in all of this? For my money, she'd actually be a better choice. She's on the left of the National Party, with a track record in office and on the hustings. She's even beaten the PM in the Auckland Central electorate more than once.So far though, she hasn't publicly confirmed she's Muller's running mate. But she hasn't denied it either.

It's high noon for the National Party and MPs decide at midday who will lead them into the September election. Simon Bridges called the bluff of contenders Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye, forcing a vote on his position and that of his deputy Paula Bennett, following a disastrous poll on Monday. A second poll last night delivered even worse news, putting National at 29 percent - numbers not seen since the early 2000s under Bill English. Bridges also took a dive in that One News Colmar Brunton poll in the preferred Prime Minister stakes, dropping six points to 5 percent, against Jacinda Ardern on 63 percent. Labour's party vote also skyrocketed to a record 59 percent. National MPs have been converging on the capital for an emergency caucus meeting to vote on the leadership, the first time they've come together in person since the lockdown. Political editor Jane Patterson speaks to Corin Dann.

National MPs are arriving at Parliament this morning ahead of an emergency caucus meeting to decide if the party will change its leader.Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller told current leader Simon Bridges he planned to challenge him for the leadership, saying he did not have confidence that Bridges could lead National to victory in the next election.Bridges instructed all 55 National MPs to be in Wellington today to vote on the leadership.Political commentator Bryce Edwards said after the latest poll results, a lot of people in the National camp are drifting away from Bridges.He told Newstalk ZB's Tim Dower it would be too tough for him to survive.Edwards believes the difference in two political polls may have revealed shaky ground for National's economic mantra.He said Muller will have to re-recreate the National party front bench, bring in his own supporters and try to win over his opponents.In terms of a deputy, Edwards said Muller and Nikki Kaye are the best political duo to represent National at this year's election.He said National desperately needs Muller - because he's more politically centrist than Bridges, and will pull National towards the middle. National has become too socially conservative under Bridges and Paula Bennett.He said Kaye has the ability to bring voters back to the blue side - because of her urban and social liberal political style.

Ben Thomas, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Toby Manhire on Simon Bridges' fight to hang on to the top job in National. On Friday National MPs gather in Wellington to vote on the future of Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett. After miserable poll results a challenge has been launched, with Todd Muller and probably Nikki Kaye angling to replace them as leader and deputy.The Gone By Lunchtime team offers a bold and, frankly, mind-blowing verdict on what will go down.Plus: the budget, and other bits and pieces, such as the Covid-19 crisis. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Simon Bridges has called the bluff of his potential challengers, and has called National Party MPs to Parliament for a vote on the leadership midday Friday. It is still not clear where the votes would fall if there is a direct challenge, with one well-placed MP - a Bridges supporter - telling RNZ it was a "line call". The numbers were being done to see if there was enough support for an alternative ticket of Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye, but there had been no formal challenge. Muller and Kaye are yet to make any comment about whether they will front and challenge Mr Bridges on Friday. The phones have been running hot since a disastrous poll this week - putting the Opposition party at just 30 percent. During his morning media round Mr Bridges said there would be a vote to settle the matter once and for all. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson has the details.

Late on Wednesday afternoon Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller emailed his caucus colleagues signalling his intent to challenge for the National Party leadership. It came after current leader Simon Bridges called the party's MPs back to Parliament for an emergency caucus meeting on Friday. It's understood Todd Muller will run with Nikki Kaye as his deputy. In his email he said the country faces 'the most enormous challenge since the end of the Second World War'. He said Labour has failed to deliver on every measure it has set for itself in government, and that will not change.  Also in the email Muller said the consequences of Labour being re-elected would be catastrophic for two generations. Muller said he shares the view of a majority of colleagues that National winning the election is not possible under the current leadership. He said based on that, he is best placed to earn the trust of New Zealanders on September 19. It comes after a Newshub-Reid Research Poll on Monday night put National at just 30.6 percent and Simon Bridges on 4.6 percent as preferred Prime Minister. Checkpoint reporter Nita Blake-Persen and cameraman Simon Rogers went to Tauranga to see if they could track Mr Muller down.

The future National Party leadership will be decided at Parliament next Tuesday. Simon Bridges has admitted his leadership will be on the line next week when a vote for both the leadership and Paula Bennett's deputy will be held. Bridges' position is under increasing threat after a Newshub-Reid Research poll showed support for National had dropped to 30.6 percent. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson speaks to Susie Ferguson.

Golf courses across New Zealand are calling for an essential service exemption as they face the "risk of catastrophic turf death" amounting to $10 million.New Zealand Golf chief executive Dean Murphy says they have put in a request to the Government for an exemption that permits the "essential maintenance" of golf facilities.Sports facilities are not on the essential services list as it stands - and golf courses are not allowed to have a single maintenance worker tending to the course."There is a risk of catastrophic turf death on putting greens due to disease, insect activity and lack of water. If this occurs the consequences could be major for our golf facilities – the cost of repair plus loss of business could be well in excess of $10 million," Murphy said.'While the playing of golf is non-essential during this crisis, if critical parts of golf facilities do not receive some basic maintenance over the shutdown period, the task of repatriating to current conditions may not be achievable nor affordable for a great number of clubs."Growth on most of the grass surfaces can be brought back under control after a period of non-maintenance, however on fine turf surfaces this could be a difficult and protracted process."On March 31, the Minister for Sport and Recreation, Grant Robertson, responded to questions from National's Nikki Kaye on the possibility of golf course maintenance becoming an essential service.Robertson said he had been advised of the economic implications if golf courses and other turf based sports, including national stadiums, if turf maintenance was not regularly completed."My officials at Sport NZ have raised the issues with the Ministry of Innovation, Business and Employment (MBIE)," Robertson said."If maintenance of these areas were to become an essential service there will be clear restrictions for the health and safety of the community and turf management workers."Robertson said Sport NZ was expecting to receive a response from MBIE "shortly" on whether a golf course essential service exemption could be made.National's sport and recreation spokesman Nikki Kaye said yesterday the Government was taking too long in making a decision on the turf maintenance exemption."The minister said a week ago work was going on regarding this," Kaye said."The Government is effectively causing millions in damage when the reality is we are talking often one person being able to go onsite or in some situations lives on site to do essential maintenance."The Government needs to move on this issue – the current decision is not a smart one."If we don't, when restrictions are lifted around physical activity, a lot of people will not be able to go to their local club because there will have to be a whole lot of repairs which clubs can't necessarily afford."According to Golf NZ, over 2000 people are employed in the New Zealand golf sector and it contributes over $1 billion to the national economy each year.New Zealand has in excess of 400 golf courses, facilities and venues.All operations and play at New Zealand Golf courses, facilities and venues has now ceased for the Covid-19 shutdown period.

The Government spent almost half a million dollars on foreign advertising in a bid to woo overseas teachers to come work in New Zealand as the country grapples with a teacher "supply crisis".Teachers' Unions say the Government needs to be doing more to train additional Kiwi teachers.But the Government says it inherited major issues with teachers supply when it won power in 2017 and has blamed the previous National Government for not training enough teachers.National's Education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye disagrees and said the Government has had two years to sort this issue out and blaming National was not good enough.Information, released under the Official Information Act (OIA), reveals that since June 2016, the Government has spent almost half a million dollars on advertising in a bid to attract overseas teachers to work in New Zealand.In the year to June, 2019 the Government spent a whisker under $200,000 on an advertising campaign to attract foreign teachers to the country.And it appears the campaign was a success.According to the Ministry of Education, more than 500 formally overseas teachers have been placed into roles since September 2018.As well as this, more than 860 overseas-based teachers have received relocation grants to take up teaching positions in New Zealand."Following the campaign, there have been more than 17,000 applications from overseas teachers to work in New Zealand," the Ministry ofEducation's Deputy Secretary of Early Learning and Student Achievement Ellen MacGregor-Reid said.She added that there are currently close to 800 overseas teachers who have been screened and are ready for schools to interview.But NZEI President Liam Rutherford said the Government's focus should be on training teachers in New Zealand, not looking to bring in more from overseas.Although he welcomed overseas teachers coming to New Zealand, he said that should only be a short-term solution.Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) President Jack Boyle said although the advertising campaign was "well worth the money" it is disappointing that it has got to the point where the Government had to look offshore for teachers."Due to a range of factors, including people leaving the workforce and an increase in the student population, we found ourselves with some pretty desperate shortages, particularly in secondary schools in Auckland."He said the Government needed to do something to get sufficient teachers as quickly as possible to cover the shortfall.On behalf of the Minister of Education, Duty Minister Jenny Salesa said the Government inherited a "teacher supply crisis" when it came into office in 2017.Teacher enrolments were down by 40 per cent, she said.However, she said the Government has been working to turn that trend around and Education NZ's overseas requirement drive is part of that plan.She said that scheme was a "short-term measure to fill current gaps"."We also have a comprehensive set of teacher supply initiatives to grow the number of New Zealand trained teachers in the medium to long-term."Kaye said there has been "serious issues for some time" about how the Government attracts and retains quality teachers.She said if National wins this year's election, it will put in place financial incentives which would help address both of those issues.She added that there was a case to be made about having overseas teachers, but it is important that the balance is right. 

The Government spent almost half a million dollars on foreign advertising in a bid to woo overseas teachers to come work in New Zealand as the country grapples with a teacher "supply crisis".Teachers' Unions say the Government needs to be doing more to train additional Kiwi teachers.But the Government says it inherited major issues with teachers supply when it won power in 2017 and has blamed the previous National Government for not training enough teachers.National's Education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye disagrees and said the Government has had two years to sort this issue out and blaming National was not good enough.Information, released under the Official Information Act (OIA), reveals that since June 2016, the Government has spent almost half a million dollars on advertising in a bid to attract overseas teachers to work in New Zealand.In the year to June, 2019 the Government spent a whisker under $200,000 on an advertising campaign to attract foreign teachers to the country.And it appears the campaign was a success.According to the Ministry of Education, more than 500 formally overseas teachers have been placed into roles since September 2018.As well as this, more than 860 overseas-based teachers have received relocation grants to take up teaching positions in New Zealand."Following the campaign, there have been more than 17,000 applications from overseas teachers to work in New Zealand," the Ministry ofEducation's Deputy Secretary of Early Learning and Student Achievement Ellen MacGregor-Reid said.She added that there are currently close to 800 overseas teachers who have been screened and are ready for schools to interview.But NZEI President Liam Rutherford said the Government's focus should be on training teachers in New Zealand, not looking to bring in more from overseas.Although he welcomed overseas teachers coming to New Zealand, he said that should only be a short-term solution.Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) President Jack Boyle said although the advertising campaign was "well worth the money" it is disappointing that it has got to the point where the Government had to look offshore for teachers."Due to a range of factors, including people leaving the workforce and an increase in the student population, we found ourselves with some pretty desperate shortages, particularly in secondary schools in Auckland."He said the Government needed to do something to get sufficient teachers as quickly as possible to cover the shortfall.On behalf of the Minister of Education, Duty Minister Jenny Salesa said the Government inherited a "teacher supply crisis" when it came into office in 2017.Teacher enrolments were down by 40 per cent, she said.However, she said the Government has been working to turn that trend around and Education NZ's overseas requirement drive is part of that plan.She said that scheme was a "short-term measure to fill current gaps"."We also have a comprehensive set of teacher supply initiatives to grow the number of New Zealand trained teachers in the medium to long-term."Kaye said there has been "serious issues for some time" about how the Government attracts and retains quality teachers.She said if National wins this year's election, it will put in place financial incentives which would help address both of those issues.She added that there was a case to be made about having overseas teachers, but it is important that the balance is right. 

The Government spent almost half a million dollars on foreign advertising in a bid to woo overseas teachers to come work in New Zealand as the country grapples with a teacher "supply crisis".Teachers' Unions say the Government needs to be doing more to train additional Kiwi teachers.But the Government says it inherited major issues with teachers supply when it won power in 2017 and has blamed the previous National Government for not training enough teachers.National's Education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye disagrees and said the Government has had two years to sort this issue out and blaming National was not good enough.Information, released under the Official Information Act (OIA), reveals that since June 2016, the Government has spent almost half a million dollars on advertising in a bid to attract overseas teachers to work in New Zealand.In the year to June, 2019 the Government spent a whisker under $200,000 on an advertising campaign to attract foreign teachers to the country.And it appears the campaign was a success.According to the Ministry of Education, more than 500 formally overseas teachers have been placed into roles since September 2018.As well as this, more than 860 overseas-based teachers have received relocation grants to take up teaching positions in New Zealand."Following the campaign, there have been more than 17,000 applications from overseas teachers to work in New Zealand," the Ministry ofEducation's Deputy Secretary of Early Learning and Student Achievement Ellen MacGregor-Reid said.She added that there are currently close to 800 overseas teachers who have been screened and are ready for schools to interview.But NZEI President Liam Rutherford said the Government's focus should be on training teachers in New Zealand, not looking to bring in more from overseas.Although he welcomed overseas teachers coming to New Zealand, he said that should only be a short-term solution.Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) President Jack Boyle said although the advertising campaign was "well worth the money" it is disappointing that it has got to the point where the Government had to look offshore for teachers."Due to a range of factors, including people leaving the workforce and an increase in the student population, we found ourselves with some pretty desperate shortages, particularly in secondary schools in Auckland."He said the Government needed to do something to get sufficient teachers as quickly as possible to cover the shortfall.On behalf of the Minister of Education, Duty Minister Jenny Salesa said the Government inherited a "teacher supply crisis" when it came into office in 2017.Teacher enrolments were down by 40 per cent, she said.However, she said the Government has been working to turn that trend around and Education NZ's overseas requirement drive is part of that plan.She said that scheme was a "short-term measure to fill current gaps"."We also have a comprehensive set of teacher supply initiatives to grow the number of New Zealand trained teachers in the medium to long-term."Kaye said there has been "serious issues for some time" about how the Government attracts and retains quality teachers.She said if National wins this year's election, it will put in place financial incentives which would help address both of those issues.She added that there was a case to be made about having overseas teachers, but it is important that the balance is right. 

This week the trio really put there interviewing skills to the test when they sit down with media trained Labour politician, Jacinda Ardern. They talk politics, whisky and whether or not Jacinda could take Nikki Kaye in a street fight. If you want to help support the podcast head to https://www.patreon.com/HNTBAA

Survivors of abuse in state care reveal serious concerns about the Royal Commission of Inquiry's ability to deliver them justice - then a representative of the commission fronts up, live.ACT Party leader David Seymour reveals exclusive policy details ahead of the party's Sunday relaunch and rebrand. And we introduce our new series The Pitch, in which a member of the opposition tries to sell us on their ideas in five hot minutes. This week it's Nikki Kaye with a lesson on education. Plus we are joined by our panel: The Hui's Mihingarangi Forbes, Ben Thomas from Exceltium PR and Newshub political reporter Jenna Lynch.

Nikki Kaye is a member of parliament for the National Party. She is the MP for Central Auckland and the Spokesperson for Education, Sport and Recreation. Nikkikaye.co.nz has more information.

COMMENT"I'm a politician... but without the razzmatazz."You can say that again.Those were Simon Bridges words yesterday.He said he's not a celebrity politician like Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. He's a "family man", he said. And a politician "without the razzmatazz."I salute him for bringing the word "razzmatazz" back.Bridges also clarified that the rumour that Sir John Key's thrown his support in behind Judith Collins is utter bollocks. He said John had texted him to say so.But what we heard yesterday was Simon Bridges fighting. He came out swinging - revved up.Which begs the question: why has it taken so long to hear him sounding so stroppy?Perhaps these leadership rumours are the rocket he needed?Or is he just poking the bear? Is this renewed sign of strength pushing Collins to the brink and designed to flush her out?Here's the good point Bridges made though: there is plenty of fodder to attack the Government on.Correct. And he went for it in the House yesterday.But where has the Opposition been up until now? Where are the attack dogs?Where is Nikki Kaye on Tomorrow's Schools? Where is Paul Goldsmith on transport? Where is Paula Bennett on the meth drug stats?Actually come to think of it, where is the PM on those drug stats?$500 million spent on meth in this country every year - $1.4m cash on methamphetamine every single day. Those were the stats out of the first national police wastewater testing.And what does our Prime Minister have to say about that? Well who would know, because she's off to France to talk about social media.Which dovetails into my theory a few weeks ago that she's pursuing a longer term career on the world stage, not here.Ardern is so well received on the international stage and in the global arena, she's credible in that realm and gets good raps for it - so we have to wonder if jetsetting off to Europe is more of a priority than wading through detail on what's happening here at home. Time will tell.Meanwhile, the Opposition has had much scope to be doing its job, but just hasn't been doing it.Too much time spent getting whipped into the media circus around the leadership maybe? But you have to hand it to Bridges (odd as it may've seemed at times as he yelled in the House like a toddler jacked up on sugar) - if he can consolidate his caucus, and can continue to fire up the way he did yesterday, then the opposition may well grab the zeal to get back on track.

John Cowan interviews National Party MP, Hon Nikki Kaye. 

Whoever came up with the idea of goal setting really opened a Pandora’s box of wishful thinking.For the modern interpretation of goal setting, you can blame a bloke called Edwin Locke. He was an American psychologist from the University of Maryland who has studied the power of goal setting in the 1960s. He first suggested that employees were motivated by goals and feedback in his 1968 article "Toward a Theory of Task Motivation and Incentives”. In it he says individuals who set specific, difficult goals performed better than those who set general, easy goals.Since then athletes and business leaders have banged on about it and so eventually so did politicians and it seems to have spread like topsy amongst them. And to make them easy to understand our politicians have defined our goals by setting targets. So now we have a raft of targets to achieve. Smokefree 2025. Predator Free 2050. Possum free 2030. We target zero deaths on our roads. We have 3 goals on emissions reductions ending in 2020, 2030 and 2050. The Government has set a target of getting 50 percent representation of women on state sector boards by 2021. And on they go.But my problem with many of these targets is that they’re as achievable as me saying I’d like to be 2 inches taller in 2 years time. And the other problem is that many politicians think that just verbalising the goal or target is enough. That the target is the end in itself. And of course all these general targets go right against Edwin Locke’s theory that the goals must be specific and not general.So here we go again.Nikki Kaye has a private members bill in front of the house that would require every primary and intermediate school to offer at least one second language from a list of at least 10 "national priority languages". Its goal is to get every student able to converse in at least 2 languages. It’s a lovely thought however the bill is low on details of how to do this. Chris Hipkins estimates that to put a language teacher in every school would cost an extra $120 million a year. And that’s not even offering a choice. So it’s expensive. It also doesn’t look at where all these language teachers are going to come from. It’s a sort of chicken and egg situation. We need more language teachers so we can teach more language so we can have more language teachers.And now the Greens have predictably done it during Māori Language Week. The Green Party is pushing for te reo Māori to be a core curriculum topic in all schools by 2025. And when they say core they mean compulsory which raises all sorts of issues.Now the arguments against Nikki Kayes waffly bill exist for this one as well. To have a te reo teacher in every school would cost the same $120 million a year. And by putting a date on this it becomes ever more airy-fairy. 2025 is just over 6 years away. Good luck in finding 3000 odd new te reo teachers in that time frame.Let’s talk about realistic goals. In the last budget, an extra $20 million was given towards Māori language teacher education. Maybe we should be doubling the budget with the goal of doubling the teachers with another goal of doubling the literacy within 5 years. And when we get to a tipping point of capability then we can start talking about something more universal.And on a flippant note, could we have a goal of having goals that don’t have a mythical target date on them. And we could meet that target tomorrow.

Jo talks with the Hon Nikki Kaye who was elected as the Member of Parliament for the Auckland Central electorate in 2008, winning the seat for the National Party for the first time in New Zealand’s history. In 2011 and 2014 she was re-elected winning the seat against then Labour list MP Jacinda Ardern. http://www.nikkikaye.co.nz ☆ Giant Sisters: http://www.giantsisters.com ☆ Jo Brothers: http://www.jobrothers.com ☆ Contact Jo Brothers: jo@jobrothers.com

Kia ora! Alice and Lane chat to the woman behind the ‘Jacindamania youthquake’ — the new leader of New Zealand’s Labour party, 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern — ahead of NZ’s national election. We get some frank advice from National education minister Nikki Kaye on how Australia should get on with marriage equality. And DJ Max Key, son of former NZ PM John Key, drops by to throw down a DJ challenge (and decorate some pavlova). Choice, bro!

Steffan Browning, Green Party Member of Parliament. Spokesperson on:Organics, GMOs, Fisheries, Agriculture, Bio-security, Customs, Forestry, Security and Intelligence. Steffan has been a member of the select committee on the Food Bill and has been instrumental in promoting changes to the original document.A new law, replacing the Food Act 1981, was passed in Parliament on May 27th 2014. The bill introduces substantial reforms to the regulatory regime for the safety and suitability of food. This bill has been ten years in the making and has been sent to the select committee twice. It has just passed its third reading in the house and is to become law.This bill is about food that is for consumption.  It sets a new risk based bureaucratic structure that growers and producers will have to face but as consumers that may be a plus for us. Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye says it will reduce compliance costs. There will be exemptions for small growers. How much bureaucracy should a small grower have to comply with however?Laws governing the selling of seeds for growing have been changed and are no longer included in the bill. The bill is strictly about the safety of food that we are going to eat.Steffan Browning and Labour’s Damien O’Connor have both put up amendments to the bill on Country of Origin labelling but the government voted these down. The Green Party has still got Country of Origin labelling in the parliamentary ballot, as that now seems the only way to get the issue addressed.In January 2012, when Steffan was supposed to be on holiday, many people flooded him with letters concerned about this bill. One concern was, where did genetic engineering fit in all of this. After all, it is a food safety issue, since genetically engineered foods are not safe. If you doubt that statement is correct watch the movie that Steffan recommends,http://vimeo.com/68422959 'Genetic Roulette’. One concern was that genetic engineering had been removed from the draft bill. Steffan worked with the then food safety minister Kate Wilkinson, and more recently with  minister Nikki Kaye and has managed to include wording says that genetically engineered foods MAY be considered a food issue. This means that GE can be included under the umbrella of this food safety regulation, which would ultimately be beneficial, one would hope. The words are in the bill but the actions of this government are not supporting it.Minister Nikki Kaye has allowed into New Zealand a new Soyabean that has been genetically altered to make it tolerant to the herbicides glufosinate ammonium and 2,4-D  (an ingredient in agent orange) as well as roundup. This will undoubtedly create a health issue in the not so distant future. While each of the herbicides are not shown by industry’s own science to cause problems in the human body, there have been no tests on how all three work together. Independent science has shown some very concerning effects from herbicide resistant GE soy.This latest soy has not been approved by the FDA in the United States yet, which is saying something! Currently in New Zealand no GE food is grown but Steffan talks about the importing of GE food into this country and how we are unknowingly eating it, as our labelling laws have not been monitored or enforced since 2003. He explains why you are probably eating GE in your dairy and meat products via the animals’ food, that may include GE soy, cotton seed and canola.One of the concerns in this country is the lack of independent, not industry based, science. It appears that even our regulatory body FSANZ has some conflicts of interest amongst its advisors, so how do we ensure we actually are eating safe food?Steffan says the whole system needs an overhaul. If FSANZ – Food Safety Australia New Zealand – can’t do better than this then we need to bring control back into this country, again.Steffan is a tireless worker for a variety of food issues and is a major protector in Parliament of the integrity of our food. He is also quick to acknowledge the work of Claire Bleakley,  Jon Carapiet, Suzie Lees, and others from http://www.gefree.org.nz GE Free NZ.This programme was sponsored by The Awareness Party.http://www.theawarenessparty.com

National MP Nikki Kaye was just 36 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. After the shock announcement she had decided to retire after the election the C Word caught up with Nikki to talk about how breast cancer has impacted her life. October is breast cancer awareness month, Covid has impacted many cancer charities - if you can support a charity with a donation this month please consider Sweet Louise who support people with incurable breast cancer or Shocking Pink, a charity who support younger