Podcasts by Focus on Politics
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Māori dissent sets the scene as Parliament returns from 2023-12-08T19:00
The resumption of Parliament this week has been underlined by outcry from Māori, soon matched by fury within the debating chamber. With just two weeks before the Christmas break and Waitangi Day fa...
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Distractions assail coalition as it lays out ambitious agenda from 2023-12-01T19:00
The new government's first week in office saw it get straight to work, setting high expectations and unveiling its 100-day plan - but it's not exactly been smooth sailing. Fixing the economy and m...
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Bonus episode: The meaning of Tāmaki from 2023-11-28T05:00
When ACT's Brooke van Velden won the Auckland seat of Tamaki at the election, it was a triumph of shrewd campaigning. But it was also a failure for Christian conservatism in mainstream politics. In...
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Coalition deals signed and sealed, now it's time to deliver from 2023-11-24T19:00
It took 40 days and 40 nights - but at long last, the country knows what its new government will look like. New Zealand's first-ever three-way coalition: National, ACT and New Zealand First finally...
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Te Pāti Māori plans for future as it reflects on success in Māori seats from 2023-11-18T09:00
After its most successful election - taking all but one of the Māori seats - Te Pāti Māori is amping up for the next three years as "the only true opposition". It's a dramatic turnaround for a par...
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Coalition talks pick up pace behind closed doors from 2023-11-10T19:00
With National's potential partners ACT and NZ First finally getting together in Wellington this week, a sense of momentum is building for the trio to form a government. Labour's Chris Hipkins mean...
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Peters' stock rises on final vote count, how much will Luxon pay? from 2023-11-03T19:00
The final act of the 2023 election has reset the calculus, blowing apart National's dream scenario and driving up the price for forming government. With NZ First's support now a requirement, Winst...
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Labour faces vexed reset and return to opposition from 2023-10-28T10:00
After a devastating collapse in their vote on election night, the Labour Party is examining what went so wrong and who is best to lead them from the opposition benches. Current and former MPs alik...
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Election results in a clear winner, a clear loser, a complex path to power from 2023-10-21T10:00
The battle for the hearts, minds and votes of New Zealanders is over - nearly - with the preliminary results on Saturday putting National in a position to form the next government and Labour consig...
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On the campaign trail, final week: The highs and lows from 2023-10-13T19:00
It has been a rollercoaster campaign, fiscal fights, feisty debates - all with the aim of taking the government benches. In Focus on Politics this week, a look at the campaign as it all comes down ...
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On the campaign trail, week five: Luxon grapples with his 'last resort' from 2023-10-07T10:00
TVNZ's multi-party debate this week illustrated key features of this election campaign: the minor parties' rising popularity, and the complicated role of NZ First. With polls they would need Winst...
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Covid-19 variants: Government resurgence plan from 2022-04-30T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher assesses where the government's planning is for new and potentially more deadly variants.
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Regional security weighs on Ardern's Asia trade trip from 2022-04-23T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson looks past the spectacle of Ardern's first official trip since Covid-19 to the geopolitical tensions beneath.
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Finding solutions to Russia's Putin in diplomacy and law from 2022-04-09T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson examines the state of play in Ukraine, and the legal and political instruments being brought to bear against Russia.
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IPCA constrained: How independent is NZ's police watchdog? from 2022-04-02T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, investigative journalist Guyon Espiner talks to a leading defence lawyer, the chair of the IPCA and the commissioner of police about whether the police watchdo...
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Media merger raises stakes for NZ journalism from 2022-03-26T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, the government is pressing ahead with its planned mega media merger. Political reporter Katie Scotcher explores what it will mean for RNZ and TVNZ, as well the...
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Russia's war, New Zealand's sanctions, and the question of China from 2022-03-17T12:26
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson interrogates the ramifications for New Zealand of Russia's war against Ukraine.
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Cost of living crisis: Luxon's cuts put Labour on guard from 2022-03-12T10:00
National's tax plan, and the highest inflation in decades has the government feeling the pinch. Political Editor Jane Patterson counts the costs for both parties.
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Border breakthrough: Ending the siege of Fortress New Zealand from 2022-02-05T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch recounts the siege of Fortress New Zealand and reckons with its reconnection to the world.
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Red light and rapid antigen requisition from 2022-01-29T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson assesses the government's readiness for the Omicron variant.
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An end-of-year chat with the minor party leaders from 2021-12-18T10:00
In Focus on politics, RNZ's political team catch up with the minor party leaders to discuss 2021, potential allies, and Covid-19.
A sit-down with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern from 2021-12-11T11:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch talks with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the year that's been.
A sit-down with National leader Christopher Luxon from 2021-12-04T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson talks to National's leader Chris Luxon in his new office to assess what his leadership will look like.
Collins, National's nuclear option, self destructs from 2021-11-27T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch delineates the nuclear destruction of Judith Collins' leadership and assesses the fallout.
Intensive care: Can New Zealand weather the surge? from 2021-11-20T10:03
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson and Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn examine New Zealand's ICU and health capacity as Covid-19 spreads, and eliminatio...
Family Court frustrations stoke calls for deeper change from 2021-11-13T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Anneke Smith looks into the Family Court system as it nears its 40-year anniversary.
Will traffic lights see Covid hitting the gas? from 2021-11-06T16:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson hits the brakes and looks ahead to the traffic light system, and what it means for Covid-19 in New Zealand.
New Zealand's UK and EU free trade ambitions from 2021-10-31T16:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher takes a deeper look at New Zealand's free trade ambitions with the UK and Europe.
Leaving lockdown at the traffic lights: Is New Zealand ready? from 2021-10-23T10:00
In Focus on politics, Is New Zealand ready to move to the new Covid future?
Focus on Politics: The road ahead for transport from 2021-10-16T10:00
In Focus on politics, Katie Scotcher explores the challenges and priorities in the inherently political transport sector.
Viral inequality and ganging up on Covid-19 from 2021-10-09T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson takes politicians' temperature on Covid-19 and the economic response, and how that impacts efforts to combat inequalit...
Three waters: Councils tapping out as minister steams ahead from 2021-10-02T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson dives into the three waters debate, plumbing the depths of local governments' opposition to the centralisation of wate...
Focus on Politics: Is New Zealand moving away from elimination? from 2021-09-25T17:10
Focus on Politics, is New Zealand moving away from elimination?
Lockdown: Delta outbreak raises the stakes from 2021-08-21T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch details the latest Covid-19 outbreak, the government's response, and how that's been received by the public an...
Aotearoa referendum debate fuels racist abuse from 2021-08-14T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Long Form Journalist Te Aniwa Hurihanganui explores the harm caused when politicians question M?ori values and language.
Focus on Politics: Conversion therapy from 2021-08-06T18:38
Legislation banning gay conversion therapy, a practice described as monstrous and traumatising, is making its way through Parliament but not everyone is on board.
Education system grapples with te reo M?ori, tikanga and systemic racism from 2021-07-31T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, M?ori News Journalist Jamie Tahana and Education Correspondent John Gerritsen look at a suite of new initiatives being brought in to improve M?ori ach...
Hate speech debate gets mired in politics from 2021-07-24T10:00
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Anneke Smith explores how the conversation on hate speech shifted - from an effort to curb terrorism to a political bunfight - and ...
Focus on Politics: NZ’s not-so-healthy homes from 2021-07-16T18:38
The Government is feeling the heat from those left in the cold. RNZ political reporter Charlie Dreaver takes stock of New Zealand's not-so-healthy homes and the standards meant to improve ...
Focus on Politics: OT back under-fire from 2021-07-09T18:38
Leaked footage of a young person being manhandled at an Oranga Tamariki care and protection unit has put the agency back under the microscope. RNZ political reporter Katie Scotcher examine...
Focus on Politics: Goodbye Muller from 2021-07-02T18:38
The National Party is back in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, with revelations former leader Todd Muller was pressured to retire after being dobbed in for anonymously criticising...
Focus on Politics: Defence under Labour from 2021-06-25T18:38
In Focus on Politics, RNZ political editor Jane Patterson digs into Labour's plan for the Defence Force, now it is unshackled from last term's coalition constraints.
Focus on Politics for 25 June 2021 from 2021-06-25T18:38
In Focus on politics, what will defence look like under a Labour government?
Focus on Politics: Stage Four from 2021-06-18T18:40
This week brought some more clarity to the country's Covid-19 vaccine programme as Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed the first details of the wider roll-out to the general population....
Focus on Politics: Nurse Strike from 2021-06-11T18:35
About 30,000 nurses, midwives and other health workers have been on a seven-hour strike after nurses voted to go ahead with a strike having rejected a revised pay offer from district healt...
Focus on Politics for 11 June 2021 from 2021-06-11T18:35
In Focus on politics, Anger over public sector pay reaches the steps of Parliament.
Focus on Politics: ScoMo in Town from 2021-06-04T18:35
Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison made use of the Trans-Tasman travel bubble, flying into Queenstown for a sit-down meeting with NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern - one of her first s...
Focus on Politics for 4 June 2021 from 2021-06-04T18:35
The government has placed a temporary ban on all travel from India - leaving Kiwis there stranded, unable to come home. In the same week it has begun to ease border measures, announcing it...
Focus on Politics: Samoa in Turmoil from 2021-05-28T18:38
Samoa is in the grips of a constitutional crisis: a bitter power struggle between two competing governments and two political heavyweights. Both sides are claiming power and accusing the o...
Focus on Politics: Samoa’s election turmoil from 2021-05-28T18:38
Samoa is in the grips of a constitutional crisis: a bitter power struggle between two competing governments and two political heavyweights. Both sides are claiming power and accusing the o...
Focus on Politics: Budget 2021 from 2021-05-21T18:40
Beneficiaries will reap the rewards of this year's Budget with a welfare boost billed as the "biggest in a generation".
Focus on Politics Friday 21 May 2021 from 2021-05-21T18:40
In Focus on Politics today, we look at the 2021 budget.
Focus on Politics: Race Relations from 2021-05-14T18:40
Race relations have been a flash point for conflict and reconciliation in NZ politics over the years. National leader Judith Collins reignited the fire this week with her speech to party f...
Focus on Politics for 14 May 2021 from 2021-05-14T18:40
In Focus on politics, we look at the race debate - separatism or partnership?
Focus on Politics: The China Question from 2021-05-07T18:30
RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson asks: how is New Zealand's relationship with China?
Focus on Politics: Emergency Housing from 2021-04-30T18:30
RNZ Political Editor Jane Patterson takes a deep look into the state of emergency housing across the country.
Focus DHBS from 2021-04-23T18:30
Health Minister Andrew Little this week announced an extraordinary overhaul of the health system, scrapping all 20 DHBs and putting a new entity in their place. RNZ health correspondent Ro...
Focus on Politics the bubble and the border from 2021-04-09T18:38
The government has placed a temporary ban on all travel from India - leaving Kiwis there stranded, unable to come home. In the same week it has begun to ease border measures, announcing it...
Govt targets speculators in housing affordability package from 2021-03-26T18:40
The Government has announced a raft of measures to try and tackle the housing affordability crisis, to tilt the market towards first home buyers and increase supply. But not everyone is co...
Focus on Politics for 19 March 2021 from 2021-03-19T18:40
In Focus on politics, looks at the latest trans Tasman tensions
Focus on Politics for 12 March 2021 - Vaccine Rollout from 2021-03-12T19:35
In Focus on politics, we look at the details of the government's Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan.
Focus on Politics for 5 March 2021 from 2021-03-05T19:38
In Focus on politics, is the government being tough enough on Covid rule breakers?
Focus on Politics for 26 February 2021 from 2021-02-26T17:10
In Focus on politics, we look at what immigration might look like post Covid.
Focus on Politics Locked Down Again from 2021-02-19T19:35
Three new cases of Covid-19 in the community forced Auckland back into lockdown for 72 hours this week, but should New Zealand's largest city have stayed in level three longer? Or were the...
Focus on Politics - Repeal & Replace the RMA from 2021-02-12T19:35
The Government is taking on one of the most complex pieces of law in New Zealand - The RMA. It will be replaced with three new laws, with the Environment Minister describing it as a once i...
Focus on Politics for 6 February 2021 from 2021-02-06T18:05
In Focus on politics....we look at the political lead up to the official Waitangi commemorations.