Raw Politics

Epizódok

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  Raw Politics: Labour grabs the defibrillator, Greens think outside the (red) square 11.09.2026 32p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: Labour’s search for its second wind, hands up for a public supermarket, and Paris in election timeEight weeks until the election and Labour gets shocked out of its sleepwalk to possible defeat.Today, the Raw Politics panel discusses how Labour can and will react to one, yes, one poll placing it at 25.9 percent public support but its own internal polling obviously drifting lower as well.Join senior political reporter Marc Daalder and associate editor Sam Sachdeva at Parliament and Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy in Auckland for analysis of Labour’s acknowledged shift on to the front foot and concentrating on its policies now rather than its years of “oppositional” politics.The panel also examines a steady strengthening of the Greens’ polling and the party’s bold – and much criticised on the right – policy to create a state-owned supermarket chain by forcing the two big players to give up stores and distribution centres across the country. Is it a Soviet-style dead hand of government or a breakthrough?Our third topic is the politics of climate change. A big conference this week brought the main parties to the same stage and indirectly led to sharp accusations from Labour over “National and its mates” wanting to withdraw NZ from the Paris climate agreement, and an aggressive denial.Finally, we offer recommendations for you to read, watch or listen to over your weekend:Tim: An important interview on Stuff by Patrick Gower with the family of the man who died in a bathroom at the waiting room of Waikato Hospital’s A&E earlier this year.Marc: The NZ Herald’s team coverage of the Government’s late Thursday dump of its documents related to the development of the May Budget.Sam: Analysis of Labour new AI policy, by Newsroom’s own Fox MeyerRaw Politics will be available wherever you get your podcasts at the end of each week, and to watch on YouTube.
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  Raw Politics: Draining the swamp and entrenching the Treaty 03.09.2026 28p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: the coalition eyes drastic change in the public service, Te Pāti Māori eyes drastic change in our constitution, plus why health imperils every governmentThe Government's making no secret of its plan to cull, reshape and redirect government departments and ministries if it gets a second chance after November 7. Today, the Raw Politics panel discusses the scale of the planned abolitions, mergers and straight out headcount cuts ministers want to line up through 2027 and beyond.Join senior political reporter Marc Daalder and political editor Laura Walters at Parliament and Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy in Auckland for analysis of the radical overhaul planned for the public service in a potential second term. The panel also examines Te Pāti Māori's plans for constitutional reforms and paramountcy of the Treaty and how big an appeal its announcements will have among Māori voters, with the risk of likely coalition partner Labour copping any electoral backlash from voters on the general roll.  Our third topic is the perennial political landmine of the health system, a threat to the prospects of any government. While National and Labour feud over the number of additional nurses in the system under this administration, real world events like a death in an A&E waiting room and a hospital's nurses declaring a state of emergency have the potential to derail any minister's bid to talk up health investments. Finally, we offer recommendations for you to read, watch or listen to over your weekend: Marc: Azaria Howell of Newstalk ZB's scoop on the Brian Roche cutting the public service letter.  Laura: Māni Dunlop of Te Ao Māori News' in-depth explainer on TPM’s bottom lines, where other parties sit, and the history and future of constitutional reformTim: Our own Marc Daader's magisterial piece on Newsroom on the latest UN environment report: Global warming will pass 1.5C - what are you going to do about it?Raw Politics will be available wherever you get your podcasts at the end of each week, and to watch on YouTube. 
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  Raw Politics: The kids bring National and Labour together 26.08.2026 29p

  The country’s two biggest political parties found common ground this week not once, but twice. Well, kind-of, temporarily, with not much grace or real commitment.Today, the Raw Politics panel discusses Labour’s decision to back National’s bill on limiting social media access for under 16s, and Labour’s grudging acceptance of a move to force a legislative cap on council rates.Join senior political reporter Marc Daalder and associate editor Sam Sachdeva at Parliament and Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy in Auckland, for analysis of the two big blue-red (purple) agreements of this campaign.Both big parties have correctly read the public mood in belatedly proposing, then agreeing to back at the outset, a social media ban. Polls show support for measures to protect young people from social media harm.The rates cap probably has strong public support as well – who wouldn’t want increases in their rates bills forced under 4 percent? But that policy is fraught with risks for both reducing council services to the public and cutting local government’s investment in maintenance and infrastructure.Our third topic is the National Party’s walking away from a Government-Auckland Council deal to “explore” an accomodation bed levy to fund tourism promotion, events and infrastructure. Such 30-year-deals are often all talk and this one is already fraying after just four months.Finally, we offer recommendations for you to read, watch or listen to over your weekend:Marc: Our Newsroom colleague Andrew Bevin’s story on the under-funded wildlife hospitals on the frontline of the bird flu outbreak.Sam: Henry Cooke’s profile of a legend of political journalism Richard Harman, in The PostTim: Phil Smith of RNZ’s excellent piece analysing the number of extra nurses added under this Government.Raw Politics will be available wherever you get your podcasts at the end of each week, and to watch on YouTube.
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  Raw Politics is back: 11 weeks of tax attacks ahead 20.08.2026 27p

  The election is 78 days away so it’s over time to start tuning in to what’s going on in the world of politics.Our Raw Politics podcast is here to help. From today, Raw Politics returns every Friday to dissect the major issues in politics and the political strategies playing out around them.Today, join senior political reporter Marc Daalder and associate editor Sam Sachdeva at Parliament and Newsroom co-editor Tim Murphy in Auckland, who look ahead into this perpetual election campaign and pick the people and moments to watch.Finally, we offer recommendations for you to read, watch or listen to over your weekend:Sam: Our press gallery colleague Hanna’s interview with long-time Opportunity Party candidate Jessica HammondMarc: The NZ Geographic feature West Side Story, about the youth in Huntly who have ditched dirt bikes for horses.Tim: Lilian Hanly’s piece on RNZ asking a very pertinent question: Can one Minister handle 11 portfolios?
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  Raw Politics picks the best and worst of 2024 – and 2025 12.12.2024 42p

  On this week’s Raw Politics podcast: We honour the standout performances and policies, good and bad, of this year, plus make our predictions for 2025Four different MPs are nominated by our four Raw Politics panelists for the honour of standout politician of 2024 – and consensus is hard to come by for many of our other accolades.The Raw Politics podcast weighs the good and bad for 2024 – leaders, new MPs, policy pushes, controversies and cringeworthy moments. A sneak preview: the cringe of the year is shared by two big names in Parliament, both for their actions captured on video.A full bench this week of Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder, national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy shows we don’t succumb to groupthink on this podcast.The nominations, and the predictions for next year, are broad and varied, including a preview of the Newsroom press gallery’s more considered ‘Awards of the State’.The panel pitches forward into 2025 with predictions of big Budget cuts, exits for parliamentary heavyweights, failure on international deals, and critical moments in climate policy. --------------------This week's recommendations:Tim: Predictable, I imagine, but mine is Aaron Smale’s big series at Newsroom on the Crown-cover-up over the legal cases taken by victims of abuse in careMarc: Joel MacManus’ Budget debate dispatch – I laughed when I read it in May and I laughed when I read it this morning tooSam: Guyon Espiner’s reporting on Casey Costello and tobacco policyLaura: Marc Daalder’s fantastic early scoop on the PM claiming the $52k accommodation allowance. It was the story that kept on giving, and continues to be referred to in the context of whether the PM is in touch with struggling, everyday NZers--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  Throwing in the towel on climate and the foreshore 05.12.2024 41p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: what voters want on climate change policy, will ministers ditch the foreshore repeal, plus Ayesha Verrall's faux pasClimate change is hard and changing New Zealanders' attitudes and behaviour seems harder still for this Government and its predecessors. Should the coalition accept that's the reality and go slow and low in its ambitions for change?The Raw Politics podcast looks at the coalition's latest report on methane from farm animals – a dense scientific fig leaf that could allow ministers to let NZ do less to cut emissions.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy ask if the national and international mood on dealing with climate change is enabling National, Act and NZ First to give up, even if just a little, on our national targets.For our second topic, Murphy recaps the short history of the foreshore, seabed Māori customary rights and the Marine and Coastal Areas Act. And he explains the Government's latest options to either withdraw its urgent repeal Bill or stay staunch and restrict Māori from winning claims in the courts.Would the ruling coalition get egg on its face if it backs down, or would that act to lower tensions that exist in Crown relations with Māori over other controversial measures like the Treaty Principles Bill?The panel asks if Labour's Ayesha Verrall went too far in her personal comments against Health NZ chair Lester Levy – and whether that took the focus off the actual scandal of the health commissioners trying to game their annual budgets.--------------------This week's recommendations:Tim: Jonathan Milne’s scoop revealing Health NZ and Lester Levy were stopped by the auditor-general from shifting costs from this year into last, in what could have been embarrassing for the last, Labour governmentMarc: RNZ’s story on the oil and gas lobby asking the Government to underwrite fossil fuel explorationLaura: A piece by Tom Hunt from The Post on the Vision for Wellington lobby group and their communications with the PM and other senior Government ministers --------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  Labour's year of living anonymously 28.11.2024 33p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: Remembering Nikki Kaye, assessing the Labour Party one year on, and Christopher and Winston's nostalgia trip on foreign affairsLabour's MPs and party members gather in Christchurch this weekend, a year after a humiliating defeat took them from the historic, first majority MMP government into the wilderness, watching a centre-right coalition dismantle their legacy.The Raw Politics podcast assesses where the party finds itself, with the electorate and members of the public still not answering the phone, but too early to reveal a new strategy, policies or even a new leader.  Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy ask if Labour can do anything to beat the NZ aversion to throwing out one-term governments and if Chris Hipkins is the leader to pull off such a stunning upset.For our second topic, the panel assesses New Zealand's new foreign policy, Sam Sachdeva delivers his views having watched Christopher Luxon's impact at Apec in Peru, and we ask if Winston Peters' exhaustive travel schedule means he's effective at his job.  Raw Politics also marks the death of former National MP and minister Nikki Kaye, a politician with a real difference, unmatched energy and a weakness for long, long phone calls with journalists. --------------------This week's recommendations:Tim: A lovely, poignant podcast chat between Nikki Kaye and the Island Stories host Tim Higham, on politics, life, cancer and hope for the environment.Sam: Newsroom's Laura Walters and Fox Meyer's detailed analysis of Regulatory Impact Statements about new laws and policies from the Govt’s first year.Laura: Our colleague David Williams' story analysing the Brexit possibilities of a referendum here on the Treaty. --------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  Six months in a leaky Bill 21.11.2024 37p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: The hikoi’s over, now for a half year of claim and counterclaim, dissent and debate. Plus: NZ speaks out of both sides of its mouth at COP29.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon did not meet the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi crowd, sees “nothing” of merit in the Act-proposed law but the Parliament his Government dominates will spend six months debating a “divisive” measure.That’s because he has accepted there needs to be “aeration” of people’s views on the Treaty, and his party acceded to Act’s pressure to include the Bill in the coalition agreement. So, having made this legislative bed, Luxon will now have to lie in it.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters and co-editor Tim Murphy look at how Luxon has played his cards so far, and how he might withstand an ongoing storm of criticism from Māori and others.For Act’s David Seymour, a possible nominee for most effective politician of the year before this latest play, the hearings on his Bill will finish just as he receives his coalition-deal-bauble of becoming Deputy Prime Minister until 2026.While he’s successfully grabbed the political ground this year, and will no doubt use the new position to continue pushing his policies and views, is there a risk that Act will repeat the sins of its own past in straying away from economic reform, personal freedoms, minimising the state and ending waste, and be diverted by race and stunts?For our second topic, Laura talks to regular Raw Politics panelist Marc Daalder who is reporting for Newsroom at the COP29 climate summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. He describes the pressures and expectations facing the 60,000 attendees in seeking answers on carbon finance and agreements to hold the world to the Paris targets.And we hear how the New Zealand climate minister Simon Watts has performed, with messages for an external audience that might not fly so easily to the domestic crowd.--------------------This week's recommendations:Tim: A story from Stuff’s Tony Wall who was with the Mongrel Mob in Ōpōtiki on the eve of the ban on gang patches and consorting. A rare example of hearing direct from the gangsters on such a policy.Laura: Also crime-related, the NZ Herald’s Jared Savage profiled the new police commissioner Richard Chambers and revealed where he’d come from and his path to the top.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  MPs face-off over the Great Divide 15.11.2024 37p

  On this week’s Raw Politics podcast: The Act and Māori parties at point-blank range, plus the risk of the Crown apology petering outParliament saw two historic days this week, one of great solemnity and unity, the other a raucous and high-stakes stand-off between political foes over the Treaty of Waitangi.Raw Politics looks first at the volatile reception for Act’s Treaty Principles Bill at its first reading, how parties performed to their voting bases, and what lies ahead now in select committee hearings over the next six months.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters and co-editor Tim Murphy, co-piloting the panel with both Marc Daalder and Sam Sachdeva on assignment overseas, look beyond the heat of Thursday’s drama to search for any light in the arguments both ways for a law change.Before the first reading, Act leader David Seymour had claimed the bill was not “divisive”. National leader Christopher Luxon responded that it was divisive. Parties traded allegations over the origins of division.The optics of the three opposition parties standing together in haka, but the three parties of government divided by Act’s proposed law, were a first this parliamentary term.The panel discusses the motivation of the National speakers who spoke from remarkably similar talking points, dissing Act while seeking credit for their party’s approach to individual Treaty and race measures.Then it’s onto the milestone moment of the Crown Apology to victims of abuse in state care – an occasion unlike the Treaty Principles Bill first reading, that could be the beginning of meaningful, lasting change.But will it? Or might the goodwill and hope and promises of Tuesday dissipate as the bureaucracy, politicians and voters tire of the complexity and burden of creating a just system of redress.--------------------This week's recommendations:Tim: A report by the US broadcaster ABC on satirical site The Onion swooping in and buying from liquidators the assets, brand and database of the far-right InfoWars site that went bankrupt after owner and shock jock Alex Jones claimed the Sandy Hook school massacre was fake.Sam: Marc’s morning-after opinion column on the US election and the threat of Trump to democracyLaura: Tim’s story with David Williams on Newsroom revealing Parliament’s Speaker Gerry Brownlee relented on Monday to allow journalist Aaron Smale to attend the Crown apology.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  Act finally gets its shot at the Treaty 08.11.2024 40p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: David Seymour floats a new law labelled the single greatest breach of the Treaty of Waitangi. Plus political editor Laura Walters joins us from the US.Each time the tide comes in, it comes further up the beach. Well, that appears to be the Act Party’s strategy launching its Treaty Principles Bill in Parliament with not a single vote in support of it passing likely from any of Parliament’s other five political parties.Raw Politics looks at the political motivations behind a Bill widely judged to be dead-on-arrival and the challenges it presents to everyone from the Waitangi Tribunal to the National, NZ First and opposition parties.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss the introduction of the Bill, with no fanfare and in the absence of its solo advocate Act leader David Seymour.Parties have undermined their coalition partners in the past, withdrawing support for proposals or making untenable conditions to prevent their passing. But Act’s prize of a select committee hearing and then a dead end could be an unprecedented event in our coalition politics under MMP.In our second topic, we welcome in our usual host political editor Laura Walters from the US where she’s been reporting on the election’s final week and outcome.She joins Marc to discuss what it is like right now in an America stunned or relieved simultaneously and how voters from either side move forward now.Our home panelists offer some distant thoughts on takeouts for the rest of us from a country rocked again by Trump.--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: An analysis piece from Politico Europe on Trump’s effect on global climate action:Sam: Marc’s morning-after opinion column on the US election and the threat of Trump to democracyTim: RNZ reporter Ella Stewart’s story looking at the people behind Toitū te Tiriti, the activist group leading protest action against Govt policies--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  America’s final election? 31.10.2024 33p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: Who’s closing it out best ahead of next week’s US election; Act’s education wins; plus relaxing the checks on your new houseThe end of the country, or the end of its democracy. That’s what the two camps are predicting if their candidate doesn’t win the US presidential election next week.Raw Politics, from the great safety of half a world away, weighs in on the neverending American campaign, which many predict will go on in the courts, on the streets and in Congress even after polls close, voting is counted and the preliminary result declared.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy assess the closing arguments of vice-president Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump and the shows of confidence by their two campaign teams.Who to believe? What to trust?And how a statistical tie in the current pre-election polls nationally could end up perversely giving one or other candidate a substantial victory, with just minor movements in voter behaviour.In our second topic, the panel returns to home territory, marking the Act Party’s homework on its two populist education policies, cut-price school lunches and rounding up the truants.Our reader question asks if there are risks from the Government relaxing who can sign off building work on certain types of new homes under construction, and the panel hears echoes from the privatisation of building inspection a generation ago.--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: The 2024 film Civil War, which is about journalism but also maybe a preview of what’s to comeSam: Newsroom’s Jonathan Milne’s new investigative podcast Powder KegTim: Trump’s ‘secret’ plan with US House Speaker Mike Johnson to overcome an election loss, from progressive US site The Nation--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  Send in the Crown(s) 24.10.2024 31p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: This Govt was going to be push localism but is instead pushing in on cities and regions. Plus: Time for the Greens to rediscover the environment. And what's cooking with Brooke van Velden?Both Wellington and Otago councils lost a little of their political souls this week as the coalition Government grabbed control of the local levers of power.Raw Politics asks if the National ministers who promised 'localism' and devolving of power have now drunk the Bowen St kool aid and believe that only they can put things right for cities and regions as well as the nation.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss the twin interventions and some contradictions offered by Local Government Minister Simeon Brown in justifying central government stepping in.How did it come to this, and should other councils with high debt, high rates and political divisions be worried that their masters in Wellington will claim to know best.In our second topic, the Raw Politics panel looks at how the Greens regather themselves after the resolution of the Darleen Tana saga - and how they can start to make an impact for their voters on issues that they've been missing in action on.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead.--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: Nate Cohn in the NYT on polling misses in 2020 and what they mean for 2024Sam: Newsroom political editor Laura Walters' interview with Cabinet minister Erica Stanford ahead ofthe Crown apology to abuse victimsTim: Maiki Sherman's 1News disclosure that the complainant against MP Andrew Bayly is ex-military--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday here on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  Shame on them all 17.10.2024 33p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: There were two scandals over abuse of kids in state care - one was run from some of the highest offices in the land. Plus, the new NZ First party, polls and Nimbys vs the fast-trackOne of the biggest political and government scandals in NZ history - the abuse of thousands of children in state care - will soon be subject to a formal Crown apology.Raw Politics examines if this generation's politicians and mandarins can make it right.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss the enormity of not only the actual abuse but the state's campaign to silence and defeat court actions from victims, as set out in a powerful new series by Aaron Smale on Newsroom.His series - Crown cover-up? - forensically pieces together the findings of the Royal Commission with the who, what, when, where and why of the establishment, from Prime Ministers and Attorneys-General to police, justice, welfare and Crown Law leaders.The Raw Politics panel looks at the huge political challenge thrust onto Cabinet minister Erica Stanford to resolve this injustice, the steps forward for the Luxon government, what real justice and truth might seem like for victims and whether anyone could yet be held accountable from the state.In our second topic, we run our eye over the New Zealand First Party's conference and its policy focus in 2024 as against its foundation planks and populist and nationalist heritage, and ask if you can teach an old dog new tricks.Our reader question is on whether Nimbys might get in the way of the Government's 149 listed fast-track development projects and should landowners and residents be worried about something large and disruptive landing on their boundaries.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead:--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: Two articles on misinformation after Hurricane Helene and ahead of the US electionLaura: A piece from Madeleine Chapman of the Spinoff on how the controversial appointments to head the human rights commission weren’t recommended by the panelTim: No contest this week. Aaron Smale’s formidable news series on Newsroom this week on the Crown cover-up over abuse in care--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  A year on the Right’s track 10.10.2024 38p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: We mark one year since the election by rating the parties, MVPs and duds, and weighing their risks and opportunities for the next two years.Next week marks 12 months since the election that ejected the left from power and ushered in Christopher Luxon’s three-headed coalition of the right.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss how the parties of government and opposition have performed, and what their political risks and opportunities might be between now and the 2026 election.It has been a year of thunderous, cascading political change and the panel marks the high and low points for the government and Labour Party.We come up with a potential MP to succeed Luxon as PM, nominate most valuable politician, least valuable MP, the figure most likely to break up the coalition and MP most likely to get the boot.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead:--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: Laura Walters’ piece on Christopher Luxon’s email font choice – blue comic sans. No, seriously, her fascinating piece on the PM’s redrafted speech for the KoroneihanaLaura: Stuff’s Bridie Witton’s look at the lack of open and transparent process around the Government’s $24m of funding given to Mike King’s mental health charityTim: The Working Group podcast episode of David Seymour debating Helmut Modlik on Treaty Principles. Special shout out to the person who branded it “Iwi vs Peewee”--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube too.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  Luxon's wealthy, get over it 02.10.2024 30p

  In this week's episode of Raw Politics: the Prime Minister declares himself wealthy and sorted, Darleen should say goodbye even though she's Green, plus a bad retweet.Chris Luxon can't win. When he owns seven houses he's a capitalist rack renter. When he sells some of them he's exploiting Government policy changes and saving on tax.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy ask if the political risk of the selldown, now, of the Luxon housing portfolio is as bad as the Prime Minister's response to media queries of: "I'm wealthy and I'm sorted".The panel also discusses if former Green MP Darleen Tana should leave Parliament of her own accord before her ex party is forced to act hypocritically and have her removed as an MP. Either way, the damage to the Greens will be transitory and all but forgotten at the election in two years.Our reader question asks how Labour MP Damien O'Connor could get away with retweeting an indefensible tweet on Palestinians and Israel. We wonder if the returning Labour leader Chris Hipkins might take another view.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead:--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: A story from The Press on former E-Can chair Peter Scott’s vehicle caught speeding 678 times this yearLaura: Marc Daalder's Newsroom scoop on the unredacted legal advice regarding the Govt’s oil and gas exploration policy that would breach international trade obligationsTim: Sam Hayes’ exclusive Stuff/3 News interview with John Key on his preferred winner of the US Presidential race--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and here on YouTube.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz
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  When ministers know best 26.09.2024 27p

  This week on Raw Politics: Are we being governed now by a cadre of middle managers? People who won't stay in their lanes but need to be dipping into the detailed operations of government agencies and making the small decisions, well.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, Newsroom national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss the coalition's forked tongue approach to 'operational matters' in government departments and in relation to the boards of state companies.When the Prime Minister, no less, devotes his post-Cabinet press conference to whether public servants are working from home or gathering at offices, and shareholding ministers in Crown entities are wanting to be consulted on all manner of small value decisions, there's been a change of approach.Ministers will, with some justification, argue that an interventionist, hands-on management is needed given they can't trust the deep state to change itself adequately, fast enough.The panel discusses the sensitivities over New Zealand's foreign affairs stance on the latest UN vote on Israel - and whether in a three-party coalition if such vote-by-vote decision-making could, or should, be consulted on among party leaders before being actioned.Our reader question asks why the leader of a big bank has waded into the political quicksand of advocating a capital gains tax.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead:--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: Eloise Gibson's story on RNZ on the gas industry claiming it successfully lobbied to kill the Climate Change Commission's recommended ban on new residential gas connectionsSam: Thomas Manch's great story on The Post about NZ officials "war-gaming" the US election outcomeTim: Jonathan Milne's story on Newsroom simply setting out a growing list of those arguing in favour of a capital gains tax, and two important voices speaking against.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and here on YouTube.Read more on newsroom.co.nzhttps://newsroom.co.nz
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  National's hard-ass golden boy 19.09.2024 29p

  This week on the Raw Politics podcast: Is the Minister of the Week, Paul Goldsmith, an ideologue? Plus, awkward business closures for the coalition and Chris Hipkins' leadership.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, Newsroom Pro managing editor Jonathan Milne and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss the minister's harder line push this week on laws cracking down on gangs, changing his mind to allow police to search private homes for evidence of patches.We ask if he is a natural anti-crime hardman or if he's being egged on by the fringe parties in the coalition and is enjoying their approval.The Waitangi Tribunal report on the Government's planned amendments to the Marine and Coastal Areas (Takutai Moana) Act would have shamed any other minister at any other time, but its criticisms of Goldsmith for his motivation, facts, process, consultation and evidence have been ignored by the Government.The panel discusses the latest industrial closure, of the Oji mill at Penrose, and how these kinds of events can unfairly, or fairly, lie at the feet of an incumbent government.  Could the coalition have done more to save jobs here and in earlier regional closures, and would a Labour government have done anything differently?Our reader question asks if Chris Hipkins is taking a risk heading to the UK for that country's Labour Party conference when a poll shows his personal rating plummeting for preferred Prime Minister.  The panel is unmoved, despite Government MPs delighting in teasing Labour's caucus this week about a coup.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead.--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: Our own Jonathan Milne’s piece at Newsroom delving into a major fisheries Treaty case brewing in the backgroundTim: Audrey Young’s timely explainer on all the Government’s law changes targeted at things MāoriJonathan: The Economist reports on a British Medical Journal study on why Australians live so long.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz.
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  How do you solve a problem like David Seymour? 12.09.2024 30p

  In this week's episode of Raw Politics, Christopher Luxon must wake up some days with the Sound of Music song of exasperation playing in his head. How does he deal with the problem of ACT leader David Seymour and his will-o-the-wisp coalition contrarianism?Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss Seymour's carefully calibrated political agitation, externally on the Treaty Principles Bill and internally in the coalition, sticking his ACT Party's view into other minister's portfolios, other parties' business.Politics doesn't come any bigger globally than Wednesday's presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and the Raw Politics panel assess the fallout, and the media and social media verdicts on an historic face-off.Our reader question asks where and why public servants have been made to sign additional Non-Disclosure Agreements under this Government. The panel has fears for growing secrecy in the machinery of state.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead.--------------------This week's recommendations:Laura: Andrea Vance’s latest piece in The Post on the $410k spend on contractors and consultants at the Ministry for Regulation;Tim: RNZ’s Eloise Gibson’s report on Climate minister Simon Watts distinguishing between ‘coal and coal’ to defend opening up to mining;Marc: A piece by the second-best writer with the surname Daalder, in The Atlantic on the US election.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz
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  A humble Seymour and overspun Simeon 05.09.2024 30p

  In this week's episode of Raw Politics, we discuss the response of our political leaders to the demands of the week-long tangihanga for Kiingi Tuheitia.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss how coalition leaders faced the Kiingitanga movement and wider Māoridom at a time of acute political sensitivities.Then, the panel pulls a handbrake turn on Transport Minister Simeon Brown's spin about raising road speeds, cutting out speed bumps and funding future roading promises.  Can the economy really be saved by drivers speeding up around town and on the highways?Our reader question asks if the Wellington Hospital proposal to cut out free toast and Milo for mothers who have just given birth was a serious plan or if it was bureaucrats employing the famous "Washington Monument" tactic to shame politicians.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead.--------------------This week's recommendations:Laura: the deleted Working Group podcast episode, in which Matthew Hooton unleashes on Don Brash and Hobson’s PledgeTim: RNZ digital journalist Russell Palmer’s story revealing that the Govt’s formal communications with Korea before cancelling the Cook Strait ferries deal amounted to two late text messagesMarc: Newsroom political journalist Fox Meyer’s scoop on the origins within NZ First of the fast-track legislation--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz
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  Arrested development and misbehaviour 29.08.2024 36p

  This week, Raw Politics looks at the coalition's all-consuming commitment to development, from the fast-track to energy to infrastructure.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy examine the breadth and pace of the blizzard of development initiatives that could change what and how the country builds in the short and long term.Then, the panel tries to understand the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's light heart and light hand when it comes to his ministers breaching the norms of ministerial behaviour and speech. As opposed to his "this is how I roll" dismissal of colleagues for average performance in portfolios. Has he got a form of Stockholm syndrome and now identifies with his partner party captors?Our reader question asks why NZ First leader Winston Peters is so obsessed lately with the 20th Century Māori politician Sir Āpirana Ngata. Turns out he is citing Ngata incessantly, alongside other Māori leaders from back in the days just before Winston was born.--------------------This week's recommendations:Laura: Labour Party police spokesperson Ginny Andersen ends up red-faced in this Benedict Collins 1 News report on her refusal to back down from her cherry-picked data on police foot patrolsTim: Anneke Smith of RNZ’s story from the suppressed political figure’s court case in which she reports a victim’s wife complained to the person’s party and leader months before the accused person stepped aside from officeMarc: Laura’s eagle-eyed spotting of a major last-minute change to the Government’s gang laws--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz.