Podcast appearances and mentions of Willie Jackson

Labour's leader says Te Pati Māori should focus on the issues most New Zealanders care about. Parliament last week voted to hand down the harshest suspensions in history to three MPs over a haka performed during the Treaty Principles Bill vote. Labour's Willie Jackson and Adrian Rurawhe argued the punishments were too harsh, but also suggested the Party could compromise or say sorry. Chris Hipkins told John MacDonald housing, health, and education are the main things Māori around the country raise with him. He says that Te Pati Māori made their point around the haka, but he thinks people want to see them get back to debating the big issues now. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Brooke van Velden, Willie Jackson and Tākuta Ferris

Well that was as chaotic as you'd expect. I caught the first half of Parliament's debate on the haka-gate: Winston Peters went full attack dog, Willie Jackson fought back, Waititi brought a noose into the chamber, and Adrian Rurawhe, former Speaker and Labour MP, had the most sensible and respectable take of the debate. I've had the pleasure of interviewing him a few times. He's a humble, quiet and observant sort of guy. He's quick to a smile and enjoys a good argument. Not that you could hear it in the House yesterday. Loads of interjecting. Lots of noise. Adrian gets respect because he shushed his own Labour colleagues while he was up on his feet. He made two decent points. 1. The Privileges Committee is meant to be bipartisan. The fact this punishment was not, is a bad thing. Why? Because now it's open season, governments —of any persuasion— can weaponize its punishments against their political opponents. This is not a good thing. As he points out, this was the government punishing MPs, not the Parliament. Which it ought to be. Herein lies the problem with Parliament these days - there is no agreed standard of behaviours that's universal to all MPs. Getting physically up in somebody's grill is considered okay by some. The House is meant to be about what comes out of your mouth, not how close another MP is to it. 2. Rurawhe scolded the Māori Party for not apologising for their bad behaviour. He spoke of his cousin Dame Tariana Turia. She never skipped a vote, worked hard for her people and spoke on every bill before the House. The question really is whether Te Pati Māori actually wants to be in Parliament or whether it wants a separate one. If it wants the latter, which its website says it does, and doesn't turn up half the time or gets suspended for breaking rules, you've got to ask yourself why they're there in the first place. All in all, aside from Adrian's wise words, there's a few hours wasted the House won't get back. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, announced her ‘growth' Budget for 2025. In the Budget, multiple initiatives received a boost in funding.  Operational funding and capital funding for Māori education received a $54 million boost and $50 million boost respectively for Māori learner success, with a $14 million injection for Māori wardens, Pacific wardens, and the Māori women's welfare league. However, a variety of Māori initiatives have faced substantial cuts. The Māori Development Fund has had $20 million cut over four years, $32.5 million has been cut from Māori housing initiatives, and $375.5 million cut to the Kāhui Ako programme. Labour's Māori Development spokesperson, Willie Jackson, claims that overall, in Budget 2025, Māori initiatives are seeing cuts of roughly $750 million. For our weekly catchup, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Te Pāti Māori's Takutai Kemp about Budget 2025 and it's impacts on Māori initiatives. They also spoke about the debate on the potential suspension of Te Pāti Māori co-leaders, Rawiri Waititi, and Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and MP Hana Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke, being pushed back prior to the Budget debate.  As well as this, notably, during the Budget debate itself, both Waititi and Ngarewa-Packer were absent. However, they first discussed the 2025 Budget and Māori initiatives

New sanctions marking the next phase of the government's Traffic Light welfare system, mean beneficiaries who fail to meet their obligations can have half their benefits restricted to being spent on essentials-only for a month. Labour social development spokesperson Willie Jackson spoke to Corin Dann.

Now, listen, I hope that this ACC business is a Scott Simpson problem and not a National problem, but I'm starting to get a little worried about it - because this is at least the 3rd case of race-based stuff still happening under National when we thought National was going to put a stop to it. I mean, with the free GP visits in Hawke's Bay for Māori and Pasifika kids and no one else - at least that stuff could be blamed on rogue public health staff, and it was killed as soon as we discovered it was happening. And at least with the co-governance stuff that's going on in the Waitakere Ranges - at a stretch, we may believe that the Government didn't know about it. Maybe. But this ACC stuff, the minister knows about. And even though he was told about it, he's not gonna stop it because as I told you in the Newsroom article, he stands by ACC - and he thinks it's okay.Now, I reckon this is gonna be just a little disappointing to a whole bunch of voters who put this Government in power to stop this race-based stuff that Willie Jackson and the Labour Party were pushing. And who would have thought that that directive to the public service that went out last year telling the public servants to stop the race-based stuff was actually going to stop the race-based stuff? National needs to cut the stuff out. They need to stop this. They either need to stop it themselves or they need to go along to to Scott Simpson and tell him to stop it, because otherwise, a lot of voters are gonna wise up to exactly what ACT was warning us at the election - which is that National is not actually going to change anything. National is just Labour in blue clothes. And if you think I'm going too far saying that, just take a look at what is going on. I'll remind you, Nicola Willis has spent more in her last budget than Grant Robertson ever spent. Scott Simpson clearly loves himself a little race-based target. Now, what did we complain about ad nauseam with Labour? We complained about too much spending, but we've still got that going on. We complained about too much racial division - we've still got that going on. So how is this any different currently? As I say, National needs to cut this out, or it needs to risk losing voters to its coalition partners, because the coalition partners at this stage are actually taking a tougher line on this stuff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My ongoing advice to the Government is: don't make big announcements on a Friday. I watched the Prime Minister from Waikato at the Ruakura Superhub. This is what the Government lives for. It's what they dream of. It's what they preach. The Superhub by the way is one of the great visions for this country. It services 45% of the population and 55% of GDP. It's part of what they call the "Golden Triangle" when it comes to business, servicing Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland. Anyway, at the press conference was a representative from the company with a trillion dollars in assets under management. I'm talking about the local tribe, Waikato-Tainui, with the Prime Minister. Tuku Morgan from the tribe, who in another life became famous for expensive taxpayer funded underwear, spoke eloquently about what the Superhub means, how big it is, how massive the vision is and how transformational it all could be. So, not just a miss for the Government in terms of coverage for exactly what this country needs, but also the chance for us to see a part of the so-called Māori economy we don't often see. Waikato-Tainui are a wonderful success. The sadness for me is I don't see them as Māori. I see them as a business, and a good one. Race should not be part of business because performance is the key to business, not race. But there is no denying their money came out of the Treaty settlement process and they have taken it and run with it. Not only don't we get to see the successful side of the Māori economy, we don't ask often enough how it is you can have that much success and yet still have so much Māori deprivation? That's the news we do hear a lot about - poverty, addiction, violence and bad health. It's all bad news. Why? If Māori can do well why are we so obsessed with why they aren't? And if there is a way out for those who need it, and Māori have provided the blueprint, why is it still an issue? Māori are held back, we are told. Are they? Why haven't Waikato-Tainui been held back? Or Ngai Tahu? If you listen to the Willie Jackson's of the world, he will tell you colonialism has ruined the Māori dream. I didn't see that on Friday. Quite the opposite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister talks trade, Trump, inflation and Willie Jackson. Plus, is he going to vacate the “naughty chair” on May 31?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Treaty Principles Bill is dead, voted down by all parties except ACT - 11 to 112 - before a packed gallery. Fiery moments included Labour's Willie Jackson being kicked out for calling ACT leader David Seymour a liar. The Speaker reminded people multiple times not to clap, sing, or interject during speeches - in which the Bill was labelled 'embarrassing', 'grubby', and a 'stain on our country'. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped a memorable day in the House. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ali was one of NZ's most high profile broadcasters and journalists for more than two decades and worked for One News, Breakfast, Fair Go, Seven Sharp, Radio Live, Close up and many more.In this episode we talk about her rise to the top of NZ Media and all of the twists and turns along the way, getting made redundant five times and how she kept bouncing back, why her relationships became front page news of every media outlet, working with Paul Holmes, Mike Hosking, Paul Henry and Willie Jackson, leading the charge on NZ's MeToo movement - and what she's doing now.We also talk in detail about her new book No Words for This, where she talks for the first time about the monster that haunted her childhood. As young girls, Ali and her sister were sexually abused by their father on multiple occasions, and it's revealed in the book that he also repeatedly raped his grandson. It's a shocking, and confronting story that is told with the hope of helping others.Ali's story is complex and powerful and she does such a great job of articulating it. And she is brilliant company, warm fun and engaging.And a content warning: This episode deals with sexual abuse and may not be suitable for all listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ACT's David Seymour believes the opposition has drifted too far to the left - and it's dragged the party down. Seymour has fired back at Labour after a full week of scrutiny and calls to resign following his letter advocating for Philip Polkinghorne and the Land Rover on Parliament's steps incident. He says Labour used to stand for equality and democracy and fairness, but they've gone adrift over the years. "They've given up on the idea of one person, one vote. If you take Willie Jackson, one of their most prominent ministers, who says - oh democracy has changed now, one person, one vote's not that important . Actually, one person, one vote is the whole point of democracy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's episode, Willie Jackson calls for an extension for Treaty Principles Bill submissions, a child advocacy group calls for change and Australian scientists develop a revolutionary new pest control method. Plus, the latest from Tibet following a deadly earthquake and the proposal to create a walkway in Gisborne inspired a famous Spanish walkway.

The Labour Party is calling for the deadline for submissions on the Treaty Principles Bill to be extended. It comes after an unprecedented number of submitters overloaded the website, causing some submissions to fail. Tuwhenuaroa Natanahira spoke to Willie Jackson on Morning Report

Christopher Luxon's made the right call not going to Waitangi next year. He's probably going to cop it from the press gallery for being a wuss but most of us have been around long enough to see the logic in this. We know by now that Waitangi is volatile and unpredictable at the best of times. You can cop a dildo in the face for doing nothing. So imagine how intense it will be next year with the Treaty Principles bill debate in full swing and the select committee progress already underway. Already Willie Jackson has warned the Prime Minister about his safety if he goes up there because apparently Māori are angry. And as Willie Jackson says, "you just never know". It's hardly as if Luxon is being made to feel welcome. He's apparently been told he's allowed to come on the 6th but not on the 4th because he's not welcome at the big meeting the National Iwi Chairs Forum hosts every year. He's had a letter from the hikoi organisers telling him he's not welcome at Waitangi at all. Luxon loses nothing by giving it a miss. I doubt very much he'll win votes by going. But he could actually lose votes by going and standing there like a piñata, taking a verbal bashing over a bill that's actually not his. He's better off leaving the defending to the guy who's actually responsible for the bill, David Seymour, who says he is going. So Luxon I think can say he's done enough, he's been there two years in a row already, he's shown respect and defended his corner and he's not being made to feel welcome. He's been threatened. Right-minded people will absolutely, I think, understand why he may not want to go and why he frankly shouldn't. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government's plan for the Interislander ferry was light on detail - we don't know what new ferries we're getting, nor how much it will cost. Did the government drop the ball? Also, the Fair Digitial News Bargaining Bill that forces social media giants to pay for their use of NZ news still hasn't been introduced to Parliament - when will we see it, or is it on ice completely? To answer those questions, Justice and Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith and Labour's media and Maori Development spokesman Willie Jackson joined Nick Mills for Politics Thursday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party wrapped up its conference yesterday, was a big deal because it was the first time the members had got together since losing the election last year. And if you listen to Andrew Little and Chris Hipkins with Mike this morning, you would hear from them that the conference went very well, the party is in good heart and Chris Hipkins is going to lead the Labour Party to victory in 2026. Will he be able to do that based on the promises he made at the conference? This was Chris Hipkins talking to Mike Hosking on the Mike Hosking Breakfast this morning: CH: I think AUKUS ultimately is a nuclear submarine pact, if you look at Pillar 2 of AUKUS it's not something that we think is going to be in New Zealand's best interest to be involved with and you know ultimately we've made the decision that New Zealand's best interests will be best be served through our existing international arrangement, including things like the five country partnership that we have (Five Eyes) and any access to things like new technology should come through that avenue not the AUKUS arrangement. MH: Dunedin Hospital – to what extent will you build it no matter what the bill? CH: We said that we'll build it to the specification that we agreed to at the last election or before the last. MH: No matter what the cost? CH: Well, I mean, bearing in mind that the current government before the election was saying we're going to build a hospital that was even bigger than the one that we were committing to. MH: Yeah, but forget that, this is your promise, at no matter what cost, you were, whatever it was going to be specification-wise, you will pay that bill. CH: We will build a hospital to the spec that we had agreed to before the last election, that's right. So that's pretty much at whatever cost. So, what did you make of it? If you were one of those who are middle-of-the-road voters, you'll go where the policies are, you're not absolutely tribal, you're one of the 30 percenters – you'll go if you think that there is a vision that party has, be they Labour or National. If you like the cut of the leaders jib, if you find policies that resonate with you, you can swap your vote between blue and red. So among the promises: Labour will build the new Dunedin hospital as you heard. Pledge to keep New Zealand out of AUKUS, announced Kieran McAnulty as the party's 2026 campaign chairman. Good idea keeping him close. And promised a publicly owned InterIsland ferry connection, including some form of rail transport. Is that enough to turn dissatisfied Labour and centrist voters away from National and NZ First and towards Labour? I wouldn't have thought so, but I would say I wouldn't have thought so yet. We all know that parties seldom give away their big policies two years before an election, so it is very early days. But there's going to have to be a little bit more forward-thinking than what they came up with at the conference. Willie Jackson when he spoke, criticised the coalition leaders for their respective roles in the Treaty bill. But he did say that there needs to be, an appeal to middle New Zealand. He said that the Labour Party conferencegoers had to remind their friends and fellow members that Labour was not under the influence of the Māori Party. He said working-class Labour values are to work together, not just for one's own interests, but everybody's interests. He said a middle-class New Zealand would support some policies from the Greens and Te Pati Māori, but they'd never agree he said about a Māori Parliament. He said we need to have Māori and Pakeha and middle New Zealand together with us so we can be the next government. Which is remarkably conciliatory for Willie Jackson, I think you'll agree. So they understand they need to appeal to the middle, they need to appeal to that 30 percent, those people that will switch where they see the best policies for New Zealand or for themselves where they see the most sensible and capable members of Parliament will be. And hopefully though, the issue of who is going to lead the Labour Party to the next election is done and dusted. Because we do not want to see a repeat of the David Shearer, David Cunliffe, Andrew Little, Jacinda Ardern shenanigans. Because it still blows me away that Chris Hipkins said, yeah, we weren't really ready for Parliament. After nine years in opposition you're not ready to be in Parliament? What were we paying for? Why were we funding your wages? If you're going to use all of your taxpayer-funded salaries to faff around and spend the time trying to find a leader that is not money well spent, that is not a good return on investment for the taxpayer. So if what they're going to be doing is looking at flaws in the Coalition Government's plan for New Zealand and coming up with a better alternative, if they're looking at bold, innovative ways to grow the economy, to protect vulnerable New Zealanders, to create a more robust health system, great. But if all you're doing is faffing around doing third-form schoolyard politics to choose your leader, that is not a good return on investment. So, so far so good. Chris Hipkins said well, yes, I might be tainted by the last regime, but hey, I'm here for the long haul, I'm basically the best guy for the job, prove otherwise. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Jan Tinetti says consequences for rule-breaking in the House should apply across the aisle. Tinetti claims Education Minister Erica Stanford called her a 'stupid b....' after a fiery exchange during Question Time. Stanford withdrew and apologised. Last week, Labour's Willie Jackson was forced to leave the House when he wouldn't apologise for calling David Seymour a liar. Tinetti says it's fair to also call out Stanford. "Willie got thrown out of the House by the Speaker for that. So, you know, there is a consequence to that, that's why we have the rules and that's why we have consequences." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link.  Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog. Joining me tonight: Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism. Duncan Garner - New Zealand broadcaster and journalist Willie Jackson - Politician, former unionist, broadcaster and Urban Māori leader Tonight's Issues: Hikoi and protest in Parliament - End of Western Civilization or real Democracy? David Seymour's response to Treaty Principles Referendum Critics seemed a tad churlish. Accusations of bias in TVNZ covering Hīkoi - fair criticism or the Political right strangling free speech again? What now for Treaty Principles Referendum Bill? Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------TEXT: Working to 3598  Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

A former Parliamentary Speaker says standards of the House have slipped in recent years. During debate around ACT's Treaty Principles Bill, Labour's Willie Jackson called David Seymour a liar, while Te Pati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi compared the party to the KKK. Former Speaker of the House, Sir Lockwood Smith told Mike Hosking that this is “as bad as he's ever seen the House”. He said it was “really sad” to see Parliament. “The whole standard of the place has been lowered in recent years. “Once you start letting it slip, another inch happens, another centimetre.” Smith argued standards had been slipping in the house for a while. “Parliament is meant to be where people we chose to represent us… they are meant to be the leaders of our communities. “Parliament is the highest court in the land, our most respected citizens.” Smith said Brownlee should not be blamed and he had “no choice” but to clear the House. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you watched Parliament, as I did yesterday afternoon, you could feel it building. Question Time focused largely on the Treaty Principles Bill. There was a growing angst, Gerry Brownlee the Speaker spent far too much time calling for order, it was low rent, which isn't unheard of, but full of needless aggro. Then came the so-called debate. There were 11 speeches, lead off by architect of the bill David Seymour who spoke, as he has through this whole shambolic process, very eloquently. He was followed by Willie Jackson, who also spoke very passionately, until he called Seymour a liar and got booted out of the House. Most of the rest of the speeches were boring and said what you thought they might say, depending on what side of the House the speaker came from. National were in the invidious position of defending their position while not defending the bill. They can blame Christopher Luxon for this because how he let it find its way to the place it has is beyond me. As a coalition deal you either let it ride or kill it before you sign a deal in the first place. But this half-way House is the worst of all possible worlds, and it looked like it, as he was on a plane to South America and the poor sods, he left behind had to do their best. The whole affair, sadly, was not what you might want, or expect, from our House of Representatives. Beyond anything else, we appear to have lost the ability to debate cordially, to agree to disagree, to listen to other views, to be mature, to be adult and to accept that we don't all have to be on the same page. By the time the Māori Party burst into a haka and wrecked it all, Gerry rolled his eyes and suspended proceedings for the day. I caught up with the fall out on Sky TV. God knows what the Australians make of it. This sort of stuff also goes global, so more embarrassment there as well. We look ridiculous. We look like amateurs, we look like petty, little children b*tching at each other. We look like Kamala Harris supporters on TikTok. I think, and hope, we are better than this. That lot yesterday in the House of Representatives is not us. It's not representative. Because if they are, we are buggered. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These are the political winners and losers from a bombastic day in the House yesterday: Labour: loser. Willie Jackson did his best to take the headlines, didn't he? But Te Pāti Māori's choreographed stage production well and truly stole his thunder and with it, they've probably stolen any hope of Labour regaining the Māori seats they lost at the last election. Why would you vote for Te Pāti Māori-lite in Labour, when you can have the real deal? It's highly unlikely Labour will need to lead the next government for a number of reasons, which we've canvassed on this program many times, so why wouldn't you protest vote Te Pāti Māori in 2026? Despite Willie's protestations about the Nats supporting ACT's bill in the first reading, Casey Costello made a really interesting point in the debate about Labour's own track record on Treaty principles. They did a deal with New Zealand First, the Treaty Principles Deletion Bill, back in 2005 on first reading and then later voted it down. Does that sound familiar? Yes, that's because it is. It's because the same thing is happening now on the right. Te Pāti Māori, they are a winner. They have shrewdly led this debate for their base from premeditated, dramatic Instagram ops in the House, to fronting the party adjacent led protest across the Harbour bridge, to encouraging voters to sign up to the Māori roll during Waititi's speech against the bill yesterday. They have outmanoeuvred and outgunned Labour on all fronts, and they won't care what Middle New Zealand's reaction is to the antics in the House. Therefore, politically, it's a win. Luxon: winner, of sorts. Flying the coop to Peru and avoiding all this chaos turned out to berpobably the best idea he's had in a little while. Seymour: winner, for his base who support this bill the result speaks for itself. It passed, even if only the first reading. The biggest loser: Parliament and decorum. Barry Soper, on with Heather yesterday, said this was an unholy mess, the likes of which he had not seen in the House before. It's hard to argue with that. The question now is whether the same antics will be used to disrupt the Justice Select Committee. And if so what, if anything, will and can be done about it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson says the appointment of Richard Prebble to the Waitangi Tribunal is "shocking and disappointing". Richard Prebble is a former Labour Minister and ACT Leader, and is one of two new members. He declined our invite to come on the show this morning. Jackson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

On today's episode, the ambulance workers union is warning someone could be killed if stab proof vests aren't made more widely available to all staff, Labour's Maori Development spokesperson Willie Jackson says the appointment of Richard Prebble to the Waitangi Tribunal is "shocking and disappointing", with just twelve days until the United States elects its new president, the candidates have intensified their attacks on one another, political reporters joined us for their weekly panel, and it's Friday so we spoke to Kerry Anne Walsh.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party Wire Host Caeden spoke to Willie Jackson about the independent commissioner being appointed to Wellington City Council, the government's review of Ihumātao, and the cuts at Whakaata Māori.

For our weekly catch-up with the Labour Party, Wire Host Caeden speaks to Willie Jackson about an independent commissioner being appointed to Wellington City Council, the government's review of Ihumātao, and cuts at Whakaata Māori.  For States of the States this week they speak to Andre Fa'aoso from the Yale Daily News about polling numbers less than two weeks out from the election and they speak to Tom Unger, political activist and former political show host at Radioactive, about political violence in the US ahead of the election. And they speak to Amanda Turnbull, Lecturer in Cyber Law at the University of Waikato, about the negative environmental and social impacts of AI.  News and Editorial Director, Joel, speaks to Associate Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Auckland, Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, about the concerns surrounding New Zealand's lax regulations regarding cross-breeding companion animals. And for City Counselling, Tuesday Wire host Castor speaks to Councillor Julie Fairey about progress on Maungawhau train station and power outages on the Western line. 

Job cuts are likely at Whakaata Maori, with the broadcaster's chief executive citing reduced funding as a key challenge. Labour's Maori development spokesperson Willie Jackson spoke with Ingrid Hipkiss.

Today on the show... 230 people are losing their jobs in small town NZ meanwhile  the government ploughs on with this pointless exercise of tabling a law to define the principles of the treaty. So what's the damn point? Willie Jackson joins me shortly. And my live show keeps getting banned from Tiktok! What have I done wrong? How can we get this back up? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour MP and Māori development spokesperson Willie Jackson spoke to Corin Dann on the death of Kiingi Tuheitia.

Do I need to remind you that politics is show business? It's all about seeming to be the best instead of necessarily being the best. This is why politicians often say the most ridiculous things and make the most outlandish promises. It's also why they boil complex issues down to simple catchy slogans which are repeated ad nauseum until they gain their own reality. But eventually, reality catches up. Yesterday's backdown over the Fast-Track legislation is proof of that. Under the coalition's original proposal Simeon Brown, Shane Jones and Chris Bishop had the power to green-light anything, even if all advice was against it. This was all in service of the thesis that New Zealand is bogged down in red tape. A slogan hammered time and time again in the election until a significant number of electors believed that giving 3 ministers such power was without risk - and possibly good for the country. The coalition's answer was totalitarian. I was flabbergasted when I first read the policy and astounded that there was not more outrage. It was immense power in the hands of 3 men. Imagine if Michael Wood, Megan Woods, and Willie Jackson had been granted such power in the last Government. You'd be up in arms saying it was undemocratic and dictatorial. It was much more undemocratic than any co-governance plan. But we all heard silence. We'd been well trained and well indoctrinated and no one complained. Now the National-led coalition has seen sense and now the new Fast-Track legislation means a panel of experts in the field will have more say. Which looks almost the same as Labour introduced before the last election - because it is. So in other words, this Government is no more committed to fast tracking as the last lot. So then you ask yourself - what was all that about? It's all about politics, it's all about getting your vote. Meanwhile, the credit agency Fitch came out with their assessment of our credit rating and with it our economy. And despite the widely distributed idea that we're stuffed for generations - the credit agency called us an advanced and wealthy economy. Excuse me? They paid credit to macroeconomic corrections that started during Labour's reign. I beg your pardon? They said New Zealand has a long-standing commitment of fiscal prudence. This is all running against the popular mantra that the last Government left an economy in tatters. It's not in good shape but it's also not in tatters. Fitch pointed out that the real problem with New Zealand's economy is our high level of household debt and a high current account deficit. In other words, we save less than we spend and make up the difference by borrowing foreign capital. That's on you and me and the long-running housing crisis rather than any crisis in Government spending. But you know, politics. Good politics says it's all the fault of the last lot and the best Government policy is to do less. We've become wet, scared, and lacking mojo and confidence. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The company that owns Facebook - Meta - says the government misunderstands how its platform works. The Government has flipped from opposing the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, which started under Labour, to now supporting it - saying on balance, it's worth doing. The Bill would encourage companies such as Meta and Google to negotiate with local media outlets to pay for news content shared on those platforms. But after Canada introduced a similar law in 2023, Meta blocked news content from appearing on Facebook there. Meta has also said it plans to stop paying Australian media companies for news. Labour's broadcasting and media spokesperson Willie Jackson spoke to Corin Dann.

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog. Joining me tonight: Willie Jackson & Max Harris, alongside Host Martin (Bomber) Bradbury and panelist Damien Grant. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TEXT: 'Working' to 3598 Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroupSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben Troupe sits down with Willie Jackson Jr this week on 84 Reasons. Willie and Ben talk about the legacy of 3 generations of Jacksons at UF, Willie's playing career and what life after football has looked like for the Gator great. 

With Willie Jackson and Anne Tolley

Our political correspondent comments on Julie Anne Genter and Willie Jackson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duncan Garner has an unapologetically frank conversation with Willie Jackson and finds out his thoughts on the state of the media and Melissa Lee's tenure as Broadcasting Minister. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Willie Jackson helped turn around the life of baby Moko's Mum after the world had turned its back on her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's broadcasting spokesman says the Government cannot afford not to help Newshub. Media Minister Melissa Lee is facing growing questions about how she'll support the embattled industry, with Newshub closing in July. Labour's Willie Jackson says turning to New Zealand On Air could be a stop-gap solution. He says the Government could mediate with other parties on supporting the station- and that propping up the business would cost about $35 million. "It has such an iconic history- that you don't just give up. It's about talking with business interest." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Willie Jackson's launched a broadside attack on the Broadcasting Minister, saying she's missing in action. With Newshub's closure announced this week and four shows chopped at TVNZ, Melissa Lee's under pressure to offer a plan for levelling the media playing field against the likes of Facebook and Google. ZB political correspondent Barry Soper says it was interesting that Willie Jackson didn't offer any supplementary comments.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Shortland Street is the latest program set to be cut, as TVNZ considers the fate of the series. Is this proof our viewing habits have changed? Could it be saved? Labour's Willie Jackson has fired off against Minister Melissa Lee in the House today- what do we think of this? Was this out of line? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A little bit of good news- The Government is restoring democracy to councils around the issue of Māori wards. The Government's made the announcement this afternoon that the rules are going back to the way they were. If a council wants to set up a Māori ward, ratepayers will again have the option to petition and force a referendum and potentially, if they want to, overturn that plan altogether. And also, all the councils who did set up Māori wards under the Labour Government in the last three years will either have to remove those Māori wards or hold a referendum next year. By my count, that's about 45 councils that are going to have to do that. This includes Hamilton Thames-Coromandel, Tauranga, South Taranaki, Stratford, Napier, Wellington City, Nelson, Masterton- the list goes on. Now, why I'm pleased about this is that it actually looked like this wasn't going to happen. It was in the coalition agreements last year, but then last week there was a leak that Cabinet had decided to put this on the backburner. Now either that leak was wrong, or the leak created drama-  and the Government decided it was better to go ahead with it. The second reason I'm pleased about this is because ratepayers should call the shots on what happens on their councils- don't you think? The only reason those 45 councils were able to set up those Māori wards in the last 3 years is because Labour stopped ratepayers from having that ability to petition and force a referendum. Willie Jackson and Nanaia Mahuta (who was the minister at the time) weren't even ashamed of the fact that they were removing a democratic trigger. They knew that's what they were doing, they said that they disagreed essentially with the principle of majority rules. Now, this is not to say that the ratepayers of all 45 councils will necessarily veto the Māori wards. In some areas, the ratepayers might love it. More power to them. It's not an idea I think has any merit, but as I say, that's the call for the ratepayers of that region. Already though, the shrill stuff has started. Waatea News is reporting that the Government is bringing 'back the white veto on Māori wards'. So expect that that's the tone that's coming on this. But really, what this is actually about is ratepayers telling councils what to do, not the other way around. And that's exactly how it should be. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sgt. Willie Jackson was an exemplary Soldier, someone who was looked up to and counted on until an accident changed the course of his life. With the help of his good friend, Lt. Col Joe Spangler, Jackson is trying to find new purpose in his changed world. In the second half we hear from some experts on how to help others stay resilient despite their circumstances.

Just weeks after it took office, the government was warned news organisations would soon be asking for bailouts if a bill winning back crucial revenue didn't move forward. The Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill would force Google and Facebook to pay local media companies for using their news content. The advice came from the Ministry of Culture and Heritage in November, months before the announcement of Newshub's shutdown. Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee declined our request for an interview. Former Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson spoke to Corin Dann.

Newshub bosses did not ask the government for any financial assistance before they announced a proposal to shut down their news production. As many as 300 staff members will lose their jobs by the end of June if the proposal goes ahead. The company reported a $34 million loss for 2022, and Warner Brothers Discovery NZ boss Glen Kyne says that trajectory wasn't sustainable. Broadcasting Minister Melissa Lee declined our request for an interview. Former Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson spoke to Corin Dann.

Top stories for Monday 5 February 2024: We are on the broadcasting from Waitangi ahead of the Crown being welcomed onto the ground today. Minister for Maori Development National's Tama Potaka, Waitangi National Trust Board Chair Pita Tipene and Labour's Willie Jackson spoke to Corin Dann live from Waitangi. Firefighters in Canterbury have spent the night battling a huge forest fire which broke out just before 10 o'clock near the small town of Kirwee. We're celebrating 50 years of the RNZ birdcall, we've got the full story of how it began

Opposition parties, and other iwi, were welcomed at Waitangi over the weekend. Te Pāti Māori was welcomed separately to Labour and the Greens, saying it is joining forces with other mana motuhake-led groups, such as the Kiingitanga to stand in unity against the Coalition Government which they're calling a three-headed Taniwha. Labour's spokesperson for Māori development Willie Jackson spoke to Corin Dann.

Today we welcome Willie Jackson all the way from Hobart Tasmiana to share some of his great Australian country. If you enjoy Dollar Country please consider supporting the show by joining the patreon or sending a tip. Patreon.com/dollarcountry Venmo: @dollarcountry Paypal: host@dollarcountry.org Cashapp: $dollarcountry

In this week's Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about a much-reported recording of Wellington's mayor which made many headlines recently - but has not yet appeared in the real world. Also: a report into New Zealand's media landscape - and what will replace The Project in the 7pm current affairs slot on Three - and Dunedin set to lose its local TV news.

TONIGHT: You read me right! David Seymour, Willie Jackson and Libertarian Darth Vader Damien Grant in our special last show of the year! We bring actual debate to the NZ Political Panel circuit. You can't get this on The Spinoff, NZME, Newshub Nation, AM Show, RNZ, TVNZ – you can only get it on The Working Group! ISSUE 1 – Review the first week of the new Government ISSUE 2 – Review the Political Year (Crime/Environment/Poverty/Public Services) ISSUE 3 – Political Predictions for 2024 (Economy/Politically/Internationally) It's Politics done unlike anywhere else.   The podcast broadcasts from our purpose built studio bunker ADJACENT to Mediaworks studios on YouTube &  The Daily Blog and posted up afterwards on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Rova & YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has questioned the independence of state broadcasters RNZ and TVNZ, saying the outgoing government bribed the media. That $55 million Peters referred to there was the contestable Public Interest Journalism Fund, introduced by Labour Government in 2020 and administered by New Zealand On Air. The fund came to an end in June this year. Winston Peters hasn't responded to our request for an interview - neither has his deputy Shane Jones. RNZ's charter requires the broadcaster to be independent, including providing "reliable, independent, and freely accessible news and information". Willie Jackson was the broadcasting minister for the previous government. Jackson spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Māori leaders from the six leading political parties battled it out over race, health, climate change and employment in a debate on Thursday night.   The Hui's Māori Policy debate hosted by Julian Wilcox aimed to get each party to reveal what they would do for Māori if elected.  Taking part were Labour's Willie Jackson, National's Tama Potaka, the Greens' Marama Davidson, Act's Karen Chhour, New Zealand First's Shane Jones and Te Pāti Māori's Tākuta Ferris.   Jemima Huston reports.