Podcasts about nz first

On the four-year anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion into Ukraine, we need to give credit where it is due and say that this Government, or at the very least the National Party and NZ First, are saying the right things around the reality of Russia illegal actions in Ukraine and where NZ's support needs to beRyan Bridge is either a useful idiot, or maybe just an idiot, as he tried to trap Chippy again and again over the cost of a new harbour crossing in Auckland and untruths about Genisis Energy.A group of female ex-MPs from the left and right of politics have taken the Government to task over the way it hurried through changes to pay equity reforms last year. The People's Select Committee called it a 'flagrant and significant abuse of power', which amounted to 'orchestrated subterfuge'.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Anti-immigration political parties have been boosted in many countries. Now NZ First forcing the issue onto the news agenda. Also: is streaming eating itself? And why did one friendly umbrella gesture end up heavily analysed in our media? Read more about this episode of Mediawatch on the RNZ websiteLearn more: Mediawatch: Immigration amping up in election year | RNZ NewsIn this episode:0:55 Immigration as a political wedge issue around the world4:55 NZ First puts immigration on the agenda over its objections to an FTA with India - giving the media a headache with the prospect of more to come.19:45 HBO leaves Sky TV to launch its own HBO Max subscription service here. Are we already over-subscribed?22:56 Tech writer Peter Griffin on streaming hitting the ceiling worldwide - and what it might mean for Sky TV (without HBO)Guests: Peter Griffin, BusinessDeskFollow Mediawatch and listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or any podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode.Find more RNZ Podcasts at the new section of the RNZ website at rnz.co.nz/podcastsGo to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

National's Matt Doocey and Labour's Megan Woods joined John MacDonald for Politics Friday this week. They covered some of the biggest topics from the week from the Infrastructure Commissions report, NZ First pushing for English to become an official language, and they reflect on the February 2011 earthquake sixteen years on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest dog attack in Northland has sparked calls for urgency around manging savage canines. Northland 62-year-old, Mihiata Te Rore, was killed by three dogs yesterday as she visited a home in Kaihu. NZ First's Shane Jones has suggested penalising owners of dangerous dogs with prison sentences. Northland MP Grant McCallum says councils need to enforce regulations to keep people safe - but some law changes are in order. "We've got too many dogs out there and you have to question some of the breeds, so the question becomes - do we look at a stronger de-sexing policy going forward? And also, some of the breeds of these dogs...are there just some breeds we don't need?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing calls for additional regulations around feral dogs - and a recent attack has sparked renewed debate. A woman was killed in Northland's Kaihu yesterday by dogs, and the attack has prompted concern and outrage. NZ First MP Shane Jones says the character of the owners involved is more feral, and there needs to be a no-tolerance policy. "What else do we need to happen, before we as a community - quite apart from the politicians - move in and do what my dad used to do? If you have a stray, feral dog, it got shot." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says we need to take the politics out of the Infrastructure Commissions National Infrastructure Plan. The Leader of the Opposition told John MacDonald that he thinks the Commission has done a "really good job" on their recent report, and we need to focus on the basics. "They've pointed out we have an over reliance on shiny new things, and we haven't done the basic maintenance of the things we've already got." "We need to take the politics out of it and focus on a long-term plan." On the rise of Winson Peters and NZ First in the polls, he said that Peter's lifetime in politics has given some unique political skills of reinvention. "At the moment, he's trying to be an opposition MP while also trying to be the third highest ranking minster in the current government." When asked if he has considered working with Peters to form the next government, Hipkins said that's something they will look at closer to election day. "We'll set out closer to the election where we've got common ground with other parties." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats with us about a new solar solution, the periodic table anniversary, and the latest research on human senses For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamlilton about Wellington's wastewater treatment plant failure, the State of the Nation, and NZ First's call for a Māori seats referendum For Green World, news-teamer Alex spoke to Nikolai Siimes, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Auckland, about Biodynamic Alternatives to Fungicides Producer Vihan spoke to the University of Auckland's Shahper Richter on balancing AI and human values.

In Wellington, failure at the Moa Point wastewater treatment plant has led to millions of liters of wastewater being sent into the Cook Strait.  The incident has shed light on what scientific experts have been saying for years — that water infrastructure in New Zealand is out of date and incapable of handling the growing effect of climate challenges without deeper investment. The Salvation Army released their State of the Nation report which has found an increase in issues across the justice system, child welfare, and poverty contributing to declining social equality in Aotearoa. As well, NZ First leader Winston Peters is campaigning on a referendum on Māori seats in New Zealand. Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamilton about all of these topics, starting with Moa Point. 

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

NZ First is on the up, according to the latest 1News Verian poll. The result out last night had Winston Peters' party on 10 percent - its highest rating in that particular poll since August 2017. It comes just a few weeks after a Taxpayers' Union poll ranked NZ First the third most popular party in Parliament. Ask NZ Herald chief political reporter Jamie Ensor and he'll tell you more and more voters are liking the party because of its cautious approach on immigration and climate change policies. That it's a party that is seen as anti-establishment and has, as he puts it, “a charismatic no-nonsense leader”. That bit about Winston Peters being anti-establishment is a reference to his flirtatious relationship with the conspiracy theory brigade. Which tends to be the Winston Peters we see here at home. When he's running around community halls up and down the country barking into microphones. When he jumps on a plane, though, and heads overseas as the Foreign Affairs Minister, he's a completely different guy, isn't he? Nevertheless, whatever version we get on any given day, more people seem to be liking it. My theory is that NZ First is only on the rise because all the other options are so bad. I can't believe that two-and-a-half years on from the last election, I'm still in the same boat and have no idea who I want to vote for. That's how I felt at the last election and that's how I'm feeling now. I've spoken to plenty of people recently who say they're looking seriously at NZ First. People of all ages. What has surprised me most, is the number of young people who seem to like what the party is saying about immigration. These are people who aren't just seeing NZ First as an option because they don't think any of the other parties are offering anything. They're actually liking what the party is saying. And that's what we're seeing in the polls. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For Dear Science this week, our expert, Professor Allan Blackman chats with us about a new solar solution, the periodic table anniversary, and the latest research on human senses For our weekly catchup with the National Party, Wire Host Sara spoke to National MP Ryan Hamlilton about Wellington's wastewater treatment plant failure, the State of the Nation, and NZ First's call for a Māori seats referendum For Green World, news-teamer Alex spoke to Nikolai Siimes, a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Auckland, about Biodynamic Alternatives to Fungicides Producer Vihan spoke to the University of Auckland's Shahper Richter on balancing AI and human values.

Will government get India trade deal in the bag? Trade minister Todd McClay joins Q+A for an in-depth discussion of the free trade agreement with India, as Labour releases a letter outlining their conditions on what might be needed for them to consider voting for it. It comes amid tensions in the government over the deal, with NZ First leader Winston Peters raising concerns about what the deal will mean for migration. LNG or solar? What solves NZ's energy crisis debated Andrew Eagles from the New Zealand Green Building Council joins Q+A with an exclusive new analysis that outlines why his organisation believes the Liquefied Natural Gas import terminal plan is a mistake, and why a different plan for massive uptake of solar and heat pump hot water systems would work better. Insurance retreat: Where's the safest bet for cover? With insurance companies starting to pull out from offering new policies in severely flood or seismic vulnerable areas, which area has the lowest risk? And should the government step in when insurance companies step back? Rent controls, eviction protections: MP wants to change tenant rights Green MP Tamatha Paul explains her Member's Bill, which would impose rent controls, and make it harder to evict tenants. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

This week on Politics Friday John MacDonald was joined by National MP for Banks Peninsula Vanessa Weenick, and Labour List MP Tracey McLellan. They covered the latest national and local issues, including NZ First's announcement to campaign on a Māori electorate referendum, whether all events at One NZ Stadium should have a levy, electric e-trail bikes that are speeding around the city, and more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First MP Casey Costello has told a Judicial Conduct Panel that the judge accused of disrupting a political party event must have known she was yelling at the then-Deputy Prime Minister. District Court Judge Ema Aitken is accused of yelling at Winston Peters during an event at Auckland's exclusive Northern Club, calling him a liar describing his comments disgusting. Today, the panel for the first time heard from the judge herself. Finn Blackwell reports.

Winston Peters won't say if a referendum on abolishing the Māori seats would be a post-election negotiations sticking point. He's announced the NZ First policy today - reigniting its 2017 campaign, which didn't make it into the coalition agreement with Labour that year. Peters says things could be different this election. "No use saying it's the bottom line if they don't give you the tools - how can it be a bottom line? If you walk in here with not enough votes, you're not going to be able to get there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's growing calls to regulate blind cords following a toddler's unfortunate death. The Government has ruled out establishing new rules around this - do we agree? Are more safety regulations needed? RMA Minister Chris Bishop has confirmed the Government will not be implementing a 'water tax' following outrage from Federated Farmers. Do we think this is the right move? NZ First's Winston Peters is now campaigning on a referendum on abolishing the Māori seats in Parliament. Do we think this will get votes? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There has been a lot of noise around a possible Free Trade Agreement between New Zealand and India.  The National party is keen to get it approved, but NZ First leader Winston Peters has been very vocal in his opposition to any deal. Many claims have been bandied around by many politicians, but we wanted to know what's the actual agreement likely to look like? RNZ Senior Journalist Gaurav Sharma chats to Jesse.

NZ First’s leader reckons there’s still a dairy deal for New Zealand in the Indian FTA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Is there anything about the Government's free trade deal with India that anyone likes? The prime minister and the trade minister love it. Winston Peters doesn't. And it seems Labour leader Chris Hipkins is coming around to thinking that he doesn't like it, either. He's concerned about the prospect of an unlimited number of Indian students being allowed to come here and work and the impact that could have on the job market. Which the trade minister is poo-pooing. Because we don't actually have any limits on the number of students who can come here from anywhere. Not just India. But I think we should. I know the trade minister will tell us until he's blue in the face that this is a trade deal - not an immigration deal. But he's pushing that one uphill with the likes of Winston Peters, who is picking up on the immigration side of it because there is no shortage of people who love to complain about foreigners “taking over”. Do you really think NZ First would be making as much of a noise if this was a deal with the UK or the US? I don't think so. So they're just tapping into some good old-fashioned xenophobia. That said - since the government announced the deal just before Christmas - whenever I've been speaking with young people especially about it, I've been surprised how strongly some of them feel about students coming here from other countries. And how many of them think there should be limits. Which I agree with, for several reasons. First of all, students don't come here with any skills. They come here to get skilled. I know they spend money and it's great for the tertiary sector because they pay higher fees being international students. But they don't come here and fill the workforce skill shortages we're dealing with. Secondly, the more students from overseas, the higher the demand for accommodation. Which means student rents going skyward. What's more, if we have no limits on the number of students coming here, then that increases the risk of students getting ripped off by employers. It also makes it tougher for domestic students to find the work they need to pay for their studies. But what do you think? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waitangi 2026 has come and gone, and all we got was noise, anger, and performance. Duncan breaks down why Māori politics looks broken and asks who is actually looking out for the aspirational Kiwis worried about jobs and housing. Plus, NZ First's Shane Jones joins us to discuss the "pantomime" at Waitangi and a major new minerals deal with the US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an opinion piece in Newsroom, former United Future leader and Political Commentator Peter Dunne writes about "How to stop NZ First from playing the two main parties off against each other". Under our MMP system, NZ First often holds the "kingmaker" position, allowing them to leverage the two main parties, National and Labour, against each other during coalition negotiations. Currently, NZ First is polling strongly (between 9% and 12%), suggesting they may again be in a pivotal position for the November 2026 election. Former MP and Political Commentator Peter Dunne joined Kerre Woodham to discuss what NZ First's position as 'kingmaker' means for this years' election.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

The Minister for Trade's attempting to put to bed concerns about our Free Trade Agreement with India, repeatedly voiced by the NZ First leader. Winston Peters claims it will let tens of thousands more Indian migrants enter the country. The Prime Minister has denied the assertion. Todd McClay told Mike Hosking there are no rights around migration in the agreement – instead it allows skilled workers to come to New Zealand for a limit of three years. He says trade deals are complicated and complex, but we do very well out of this deal. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters claims our proposed trade agreement with India would let visa holders bring family members with them. The Trade Minister denies the FTA could allow 20,000 to 25,000 more immigrant arrivals. Peters says Todd McClay admitted the loophole himself to a select committee. "He had to concede that there were those people who had the right to bring their spouses and their children right away." In the hearing, McClay said the FTA extends standard visa settings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister for Trade's attempting to put to bed concerns about our fair trade agreement with India - repeatedly voiced by the NZ First leader. Winston Peters claims it will let tens of thousands more Indian migrants enter the country. The Prime Minister has denied the assertion. The full agreement is still not publicly available, but Trade Minister Todd McClay has detailed visa numbers to Parliament today. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked today's discussions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are reasons to ignore political polls this year. And some reasons not to. 1) There have been two polls since the election was called, the RNZ-Reid Research one yesterday and the Taxpayers-Curia poll last week. Both tell you the Government, as it stands, will be re-elected, so there's a consistency to them. 2) Both tell the same story, and both don't. Labour is on 35%-ish in both polls. That reassures you in terms of accuracy. But is NZ First on 10% or 11.5%? And in a crowded field where a point matters, far less being inside or outside the margin of error, that makes polls look ropey. 3) A theme. This is where polls are effective. Both polls have NZ First materially going up. Whether accurate or not, that creates noise, and noise is momentum and momentum is gold in election year. 4) The imponderables of Te Pati Māori. All polls are based on the idea that Te Pati Māori has six seats i.e. they are in Parliament. But given their current state, will they even survive? And from what we know of the sort of shift we have seen historically, both with the Māori vote generally and Te Pati Māori's vote specifically, it's entirely possible they will be gone. Unless you win a seat your 2-3% support is put in the bin. That is Labour's worst nightmare and, I'm assuming, Te Pati Māori aren't that keen on it either. 5) The other commonality between polls is the Greens are down, and their hopeless and hapless disposition easily explains that. 6) Just to back up what I was saying yesterday, TOP would need to more than double their vote to get in. They won't do it. Can things change? Of course. That's what makes this year so exciting. The real figure to watch is the right way, wrong way numbers. Governments don't win elections, they say, when more people think things aren't going well. Hence the runway, hence the date of November, and hence the hope stuff gets material and fast and the mood changes with it. But that's the great reminder all pollsters give you – these are snapshots of a moment, the here and now. So look at it this way: if the Government can be re-elected when the majority think we're heading in the wrong direction, which both these polls show, what will their margin be like when that mood has turned? Or this: if Te Pati Māori can't resurrect themselves and the mood swings positive, will November 7th even be close? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and AUT Chancellor Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's growing calls to phase out branded uniforms as parents grapple with rising costs. Do we need to ban uniforms altogether - or figure out an affordable solution? The Government has indicated that they want to launch their own inquiry into the Mount Maunganui landslide tragedy. Should this replace the one being run by Tauranga Council - or should they work together? More polls out today, and the date shows NZ First's Winston Peters is on the up. Why do we think this is? What will this mean for the election? New data shows a quarter of young men don't have any close friends - and more young people feel pessimistic about the future. What do we make of this? Should we be concerned? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is going to sign this free trade deal with India. The massive boost we got and still enjoy from Phil Goff's signing of the China FTA is still very much fresh in mind. Hipkins sounds pretty upbeat about it, with a few questions to be asked, but he says caucus will look at it and make a decision. Of course, it'll need support across the aisle because NZ First isn't keen. The Europeans have just done a massive deal with Delhi overnight. Ursula von der Leyen is in India, getting the red carpet treatment from Modhi. Combined they make up 25% of the world's GDP and the market size? Two billion people. They've been negotiating for years and years, but finally have a deal, in part because of a Trump's tariffs but also because India has managed to secure protections for dairy. They say Delhi "has prudently safeguarded sensitive sectors, including dairy…”. We generally treat trade as a bipartisan issue and there's little reason to think this deal will be any different - barring any major red flags with the details, many of which we the public don't know yet but that the Opposition's being consulted on. But if that checks out, it's probably going to be a rubber stamp. After all, we're like the world's FTA cheerleaders. We basically go round international meetings with a clipboard trying to sign people up. We now have 70% of our global trade covered by FTAs. It's reasonable to only expect that will increase. And perhaps easier once Trump leaves office, too.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ First leader Winston Peters is questioning whether New Zealand should continue to fund the World Health Organisation. Mr Peters spoke to Corin Dann.

NZ First leader Winston Peters is questioning whether New Zealand should continue to fund the World Health Organisation; Travel agents are worried British-New Zealand dual nationals may get turned away at the airport or UK border when new passport rules come into force; Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Morning Report; Rescue crews have halted recovery efforts at the Mount Maunganui landslide overnight after workers spotted potential instability in the slip; Economists say it might be time to recalibrate our expectations for inflation and interest rates following higher-than-expected inflation figures on Friday.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day -and more! Families of young children with cystic fibrosis are celebrating a Pharmac proposal to widen access to the drug Trikafta, which is out for consultation. How good is this? Donald Trump has laid the groundwork or a future deal involving Greenland and dropped proposed tariffs on NATO countries. What do we make of this? Do we see Trump getting his way here? A new Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll dropped - and it indicates the current coalition Government could get re-elected. NZ First took a leap to 11.9 percent, what can we take from this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ First is starting the election on a high note, recording its best-ever result in the Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll out today. The poll results, if reflected on election day, would see the current coalition Government re-elected, but National continues to trail Labour in the party vote. The highest jump in the poll has been recorded by NZ First, who are up 3.8 points to 11.9 percent - its highest-ever result since the poll began in January 2021. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says this is a significant development for NZ First. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We ask the NZ First leader and Minister of Foreign Affairs about “survive to ’25” and “the fix for ’26”. We also discuss the latest polls, RMA reforms, an FTA with India, and Stuart Nash. Plus, how many more elections does the 80-year-old have left in him?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MMP is all about compromise but it appears some serious rifts are appearing in our coalition government. 

Matua Shane, the Prince of the Provinces, dismisses David Seymour's claims that NZ First is "getting ready to go with Labour again". Plus he has Sam Neill, James Cameron, Debbie and Rawiri, and the "demonic eggbeater" Chloe squarely in his sights! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Friday 21st of November, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith discusses the drop in victims of violent crime and how the campaign against gangs is going one year in. Winston Peters explains his changed stance on the Regulatory Standards Bill and what happens under MMP. And Kate Hawkesby and Tim Wilson Wrap the Week, talking Winston and the media. 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.

Tonight on The Huddle, Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! NZ First is looking to repeal the Regulatory Standards Act ahead of the election. ACT's David Seymour isn't thrilled - what do we make of this? What's Winston's plan here? The Government has officially recognised feral cats as pests and added them to the Predator Free 2050 list. Do we think this is a good idea? What are the risks here? New research shows the ban on phones in schools is working - but the ERO recommends the Government can go further. Do we need social media restrictions next? Heather was at last night's Metallica concert and she saw a fan in the stands rocking out - before he was encouraged to sit down. Heather says fans should be able to stand and move at concerts if you want - do we agree? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

The Prime Minister has responded to Winston Peters' fears over potential asset sales. Chris Luxon has ruled them out this term, but is again suggesting it needs discussion. Meanwhile, the NZ First leader has told RNZ it's a silly argument - and claimed the party will stop the country's assets from being sold. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the discussions further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute and CTU economist Craig Renney joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government says it is taking significant steps to improve police oversight after a damning IPCA report on the handling of complaints against former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Can Andrew Coster come back from this? The Government is set to roll out roadside drug tests from December. What do we make of this? Is this the right move? Prime Minister Chris Luxon and NZ First leader Winston Peters are clashing over the idea of asset sales ahead of next year's election? What do we think will come from this? US President Donald Trump is threatening to sue the BBC for over $1 billion over their misleading edit of his speech that appeared to encourage the Capitol Hill riots of January 2021. How much trouble is the BBC in? What does this mean for our trust in media? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 11 November 2025, a new bombshell IPCA report has revealed serious misconduct by senior police leadership in the Jevon McSkimming saga. Herald investigative journalist Jarod Savage speaks to Heather with the latest. Drivers will soon be tested for drugs as well as alcohol in roadside tests - Transport Minister Chris Bishop explains who will be pinged. NZ First leader Winston Peters is firmly rejecting the idea of asset sales in a public clash with Prime Minister Chris Luxon. Former White House Chief Information Officer Theresa Payton tells Heather what scares her about AI and how we need to do to be able to trust it. Plus, the Huddle reacts to the damning IPCA report and when is Craig Renney going to announce he's running for Labour? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of Guy Fawkes Day last week, the NZ First Party has launched a member's bill that aims to ban the public sale and use of fireworks in the country.  Party Leader, Winston Peters, in announcing the member's bill, says the reason for this proposed move stems from its possibility to cause fires, and its harm to pets. News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, an Associate Law Professor at the University of Auckland, about the member's bill, and the impact fireworks season has on animals, both companion and non-companion. They also touched on why we have seen so many member's bills come from the party, in light of an opinion piece by Spinoff journalist Joel MacManus.

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about government ministers announcing they are considering banning rough sleeping in Auckland's CBD and the Regulatory Standards Bill passing its second reading. Producer Alex spoke to  Dr Iresh Jayawardena, a lecturer in Architecture and Urban Planning and lead researcher for the Future Cities Research Centre about Earth Science New Zealand's new Flood Risk Map, and what it says about our infrastructure's exposure to climate based harms. And Joel spoke to Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, an Associate Law Professor at the University of Auckland, about NZ First's members bill proposed a ban on the private sale and use of fireworks, touching on why we are seeing so many members bills from the party. Whakarongo mai!

The Labour party has launched its first new policy this term - and it hasn't taken long for its opponents to start taking swipes at it. Today opposition leader Chris Hipkins announced a future fund which would invest in New Zealand infrastructure and businesses only. It is being welcomed by Infrastructure NZ and supporters of small-business but the government and its coalition partners have been quick to pile in - with the NZ First leader calling it a cheap knock off of its own policy and a National MP calling it a "total joke". Lillian Hanly reports.

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

NZ First has said major changes need to be made to the government's Gene Tech bill. Acting political editor Craig McCulloch spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.