The Trans Tasman Pol Pod

tony2g
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This podcast looks at New Zealand’s political week, and talks with key figures about the events of the day. Packed with analysis, it gives you some insights into politics today.

  1. MAY 20

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 126

    Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered a pre-Budget speech launching a new blast of austerity described as “public service reform.” This will involve slashing the number of Government agencies, cutting thousands more public sector jobs and boosting the use of AI. Winston Peters is working hard to put NZ First in pole position for when the campaign proper kicks off in October, with the announcement of several significant policy initiatives – KiwiSaver from birth for all New Zealanders, and the purchase of the BNZ from its Australian owners, to merge it with KiwiBank. Three polls in a row have now shown National with support at the critical 30% level or below, with the Roy Morgan sample putting the party at around 25%. It continues to leach support to NZ First in particular. Winston Peters and David Seymour have both tried to outdo each other with their anti migrant policies in recent weeks, now National, which has been leaching support to its minor coalition partners is doing the same, just without the vehemence and vindictiveness of ACT and NZ First. And we're joined this week by Auckland University Economist Emeritus Professor Tim Hazledine, who's not too convinced by Winston Peters' plan to buy the BNZ and merge it with KiwiBank.

    15 min

  2. MAY 13

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 15

    The latest set of polls to emerge shows voters aren't really sure of their opinions as the election approaches. The Government has provided details of changes to the Fuel Response Plan following what it calls extensive consultation and engagement with business and industry, and other stakeholders. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the priority is to ensure the country continues to have sufficient fuel supply so “we never need to implement restrictive fuel savings measures.” The OECD, has released its 2026 report on New Zealand’s economy. It blows hot and cold, with some aspects of the Government’s programme getting the thumbs up, and others not cutting the mustard. The report picks out the ageing population and energy supply as the biggest concerns, while arguing the tax system is holding productive investments back by encouraging investment in housing above productive assets. In another blow for the steadily disintegrating Te Pāti Māori, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi is quitting and forming her own party. She says she believes other colleagues will also leave the party before the election telling The Hui she believes they’ll create a network of independent Māori MPs answering to their electorates, not a central political machine.  And we're joined by Professor Robert MacCulloch from Auckland University, who is concerned the Government is set to ignore the key findings of the OECD's report on the New Zealand economy.

    19 min

  3. MAY 11

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 14

    The Herald's Poll of Polls research has been gushing about the margin of victory the right will achieve on November 7, suggesting the current coalition Government will be returned to power. The research however shows the parties of this current coalition will have the numbers to form a Government, if in fact they can, not that the coalition as it stands will govern again. Labour, the Greens and other environmental groups lined up to take potshots at the Government's Conservation Amendment Bill, which Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says will allow faster decisions, more jobs, at the same time as providing stronger protection for nature. The Government has confirmed it will scrap the fees-free university scheme, after 2026. Nicola Willis was put in an uncomfortable position on the Budget measure after Winston Peter revealed it, calling it a Budget leak. The Government's decision to scrap the Broadcasting Standards Authority has merit, but it also carries barbs – self regulation is not always effective and the lack of a statutory body to look at complaints and deliver remedies may result in more concerned citizens being forced to use the courts as a last resort. And we're joined by Labour's Conservation spokeswoman Priyanca Rhadakrishnan to talk about the Conservation Amendment Bill.

    14 min

  4. APR 30

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 13

    There's much speculation about whether the coalition can survive until November – it's likely it will, but internal pressure is building, with Winston Peters at the centre of it as he tries to differentiate himself from what he sees as a weak and failing administration. A new report from right wing think tank The New Zealand Initiative warns while the Government’s 2025 Defence Capability Plan commits $12bn over four years, including $9bn of new spending, new money risks being absorbed into a system too slow and fragmented to deliver modern capability without institutional reform. The National Party seems to have forgotten the first lesson in politics – don't attack the media. It appears to be using a minor incident at Parliament to throw a media wall up around the gaffe prone Prime Minister, keeping him away from tough set piece TV interviews. A new report from the left wing Helen Clark Foundation is warning the “country’s social fabric is fraying on almost every measure,” amid growing isolation, financial stress and institutional distrust. And we're joined this week by new Defence Minister Chris Penk, to talk about the future for the country's armed forces.

    17 min

  5. APR 24

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 12

    Chris Luxon is nothing if not supremely confident, and he showed it this week, facing down dissent in his caucus with a self called leadership vote, which he won. MPs leaving the party’s caucus meeting on Tuesday refused to reveal the outcome of the vote, and Luxon told reporters he has the support of caucus, refusing to answer questions, and blaming media for creating a “soap opera.” New Zealand’s operations in waters off China as it pursues its UN sanctioned mission to police North Korean sanctions has put this country seriously offside with China.  ACT will campaign to amend the Local Government Act to prohibit voting rights for unelected appointees on local council committees. ACT Leader David Seymour says “if you’re voting on council decisions, you should be accountable to the people paying the bills. That means facing free and frequent elections.” The India FTA will be signed in New Delhi next week. The agreement has the backing of the business sector, but NZ First is against it due to migration clauses it contains, while Labour, which has caved in and belatedly offered its support, is concerned over clauses which commit $30bn in investment from New Zealand to India. And to talk more about Chris Luxon's extraordinary move to initiate a caucus vote on his leadership and what it means going forward, I'm joined by political columnist Janet Wilson:

    14 min

  6. APR 15

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod Episode 11

    The Government went into overdrive to hype up the city deal it has agreed with Auckland, but Mayor Wayne Brown is less impressed, saying the best Auckland has achieved is it might prevent stupid ideas from being implemented by the Government. The Green Party says while it is relieved the cause of the recent 'boil water' notice in Auckland was easily addressed, more action is needed to deal with the regular and widespread contamination of drinking water elsewhere in the country. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell and Chris Luxon again helped prove the Government has the chops in a crisis, with their calm and considered approach to the “cyclone” Vainunu situation. BusinessNZ and leaders across the export sector are calling on all political parties to back the India FTA, warning the country cannot afford to miss a major economic opportunity.Associate Education Minister David Seymour has been talking up the “success” of the Charter school programme he has championed. He's pushing data showing there are 1,471 students enrolled in 16 charter schools – a microscopic proportion of the close to 860,000 students enrolled in schools across the country. Te Pāti Māori has expressed deep concerns the Electoral (District Boundaries) Amendment Bill will restrict the representation of Māori roll voters until 2032 and beyond if it is not amended. And with the Iran war dragging on and the global situation more tense than it has been for years, foreign policy is a crucial issue. I'm joined now by Labour's Vanushi Walters, the party's Foreign affairs and intelligence agency spokeswoman:

    18 min

  7. APR 9

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod episode 10

    New Zealand has started to get involved in the Iran war at a diplomatic level, meeting with 40 other nations to try to get the Strait of Hormuz opened, while Winston Peters has been in the US talking with officials. The latest polls are still a depressing read for Chris Luxon, with National still mired below 30% support. The March Roy Morgan sample shows support for National dropped 4.5% to 26.5% - its lowest level of support since being elected in 2023, and potentially a 16 seat loss in the House. The latest Taxpayers Union Curia poll also has National below 30%, but up 1.4 points compared with last month to 29.8%. NZ First jumps 3.9 points to 13.6%, its highest ever level of support in this poll and 11% in the Roy Morgan.More than a year of tension between the Governments of this country and the Cook Islands, which began with the Cooks entering into an agreement with China without telling the New Zealand Government, appears to have been resolved with the signing of a Defence & Security Declaration between the two countries. ASB economists have warned the current Middle East crisis is set to add $55 a week to household living costs this year, in what is certain to be a big obstacle to this Government’s re-election plans. And we tap into the Reserve Bank's presentation on the OCR decision as Governor Anna Breman outlines what seems a very optimistic view of the inflation track.

    17 min

  8. MAR 31

    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod, Episode 9

    The Government has further progressed its plan to deal with a fuel crisis if one eventuates. Meanwhile some economists are calling for diesel allocation to be prioritised now, so essential industry is not affected by what they say will inevitably be a shortage. They’re saying the fuel plan should be escalated immediately and early rationing will help ease what could be a serious crisis down the line. Despite global analysts declaring supplies could be sketchy after April 20, Prime Minister Luxon is calling on people not to worry, saying fuel deliveries are on schedule. The Government has taken the first major step in rebuilding the senior secondary qualifications system, with Cabinet agreeing after “consultation,” to the structure of a new qualification system to replace NCEA. Reserve Bank Chief Economist Paul Conway says this country’s cost-of-living challenge is ultimately about purchasing power – what people can buy with their incomes – not just how high prices are. He says the inflation surge during and after the pandemic pushed prices sharply higher, but while inflation has since eased from the highs of the pandemic, many people are still asking why things feel so expensive. The Iran War is of course continuing to dominate headlines, and while not everyone is fighting, we're all feeling the effects of it, with higher fuel prices the most obvious early source of pain, but high inflation, higher prices and perhaps even recession are expected to be part of the ongoing fallout. Now to talk about the war and its progress, I'm joined by Associate Professor of Global Studies at Auckland University, Chris Ogden:

    21 min
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About

This podcast looks at New Zealand’s political week, and talks with key figures about the events of the day. Packed with analysis, it gives you some insights into politics today.

Information

  • Creator
    tony2g
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    62
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Trans Tasman Pol Pod