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Focus on Politics
A weekly analysis of significant political issues.
On RNZ National, Friday after 6.30pm and Saturday at 5.10pm. Online article publishes 10am on Saturdays.
Navigation for Focus on Politics
Latest audio
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Hipkins juggles competing ideologies over PNG-US deal
27 May 2023Prime Minister Chris Hipkins' whistlestop trip to Papua New Guinea sends a clear message: superpowers may come and go, but New Zealand is here to stay.
The US and PNG signing a security deal is the… Read more Audio
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Budget 2023: bare bones, blowout, or both?
The 2023 Budget has proven difficult to define: neither the belt-tightening exercise that was promised, nor the blatant bribery sometimes seen in election years.
Certainly, it is no election… Read more Audio
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Meka Whaitiri rebellion hones parties' loyalties
13 May 2023Meka Whaiti's defection brings Labour's solid 65-strong majority down to 62, opening it up to accusations of disunity and instability. Lumping in Elizabeth Kerekere's resignation from the Greens… Read more Audio
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Staffing woes menace Te Whatu Ora winter health plan
6 May 2023Covid-19, flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses are on the rise as we inch towards winter, so Te Whatu Ora launched its winter preparedness plan this week with the aim of easing the pain for… Read more Audio
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Parties navigate fresh tax debate ahead of 'no frills' Budget
29 Apr 2023Expectations are being kept very low for the 18 May Budget, so any surprises can have maximum political impact.
With a tight election looming, Labour will want to offer a proverbial carrot to voters… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics for 5:10p Sat 22 Apr
22 Apr 2023In Focus on politics, we take a detailed look at the report of the police watchdog into last year's parliamentary occupation. Audio
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Three Waters rebrand: Bitterness remains despite refresh
15 Apr 2023Labour's new PM and new minister this week dumped the contentious Three Waters policy in favour of a rebranded "Affordable Water".
A not-so-subtle attempt to take the heat off and reclaim the… Read more Audio
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New Police Minister Ginny Andersen in opposition's sights
Police Minister is a tough gig: focusing on social issues leads to 'soft-on-crime' criticism while going too hard can look like populism.
With four ministers in eight months it's ended up a… Read more Audio
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National's policy aims to school Labour on education decline
National's leader Christopher Luxon ditched Parliament for the playground this week, touring schools to sell his party's solution to declining student performance with a back-to-basics focus on… Read more Audio
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Making a Nash of it: The self-destruct sequence of a police minister
18 Mar 2023Stuart Nash's rapid resignation from his treasured police portfolio - just two months after getting it back - is one of the clearest examples of a political own-goal.
It's highlighted poor… Read more Audio
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Do public service consultancy criticisms stack up?
11 Mar 2023Consultants and contractors are a favourite punching bag for opposition parties - of all colours - and National is just the latest to land a solid blow, leaving Labour off-balance.
The numbers show… Read more Audio
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National's three waters plan leaves councils to carry the can
4 Mar 2023While National's solution to the Three Waters problem may please the councils steadfastly opposed to the government's plan, it remains plagued by a financial fishhook.
But, as journalist Bernard… Read more Audio
Focus on Politics
About Focus on Politics
A weekly analysis of significant political issues.
On RNZ National, Friday after 6.30pm and Saturday at 5.10pm. Online article publishes 10am on Saturdays.
Follow this podcast.