VoterTorque - New Zealand Politics in Plain English Simon Ewing-Jarvie & Heather Roy

Heather and Simon discuss health policies in the final week of the election campaign. There is general agreement that nothing being offered will result in the structural reforms and workforce solutions needed to get New Zealand's health system working properly. Although proposed increases to Medical School outputs for doctors will help, the numbers are tiny compared to the shortage of clinicians the country is facing. And it's not just doctors and nurses but every clinical specialisatio...

With the beautiful Havelock marina and the Tui Coffee cart as a backdrop, Heather and Simon discuss the differences in approaches to law and order issues offered up by parties in election 2023.It seems the left (both liberal and conservative) are focussing their policies on harm minimisation, rehabilitation and alternative approaches The parties of the right (both liberal and conservative) are more focussed on answering public calls to feel 'safer' including more police, tougher courts,...

This episode is recorded 'on the road' along State Highway 6 between Havelock and Blenheim. Easy Vote cards and party lists have started appearing in letterboxes around the country.Heather and Simon discuss some of the so-called micro-parties like Animal Justice, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Democracy NZ, Freedoms NZ, Leighton Baker, New Nation, NewZeal, NZ Loyal and Women's Rights.The discussion is mostly about party lists and how important it is for voters to do their research on the c...

This is the third episode in the season where Heather and Simon answer questions submitted by the audience. In this episode, they discuss:1. Immigration - effects on housing, infrastructure and the workforce.2. The so-called "bellwether" seats of Hamilton East and West, Northcote and a general chat about some other interesting electorates like Hutt South, Auckland Central, Wellington Central, Ikaroa Rawhiti, Te Tai Hauauru, Ilam and Tamaki.3. What can be implied from the recent resignat...

Heather and Simon discuss the latest developments. National's Chris Luxon has been busy ruling out some of ACT's policies. Meanwhile, ACT's David Seymour fired a shot back across the bow with the suggestion of providing confidence and not supply in order to change the government. Serious negotiation or just political pre-wedding jitters? Who is the creepy uncle and who is giving away the bride? A light-hearted look from Wellington railway station just to get everyone back on track.