Focus on Politics
Weekly insight into the political issues that matter from RNZ's gallery team.
Produced by RNZ Political Reporters
Get this podcast straight from the source in the free RNZ app: Apple App Store or Google Play
Methamphetamine use has exploded over the past year and the government is "actively" looking at ways to respond. At the same time, Associate Police and Customs Minister Casey Costello is looking at how to tackle the wider network of organised crime in New Zealand. Political Reporter Lillian Hanly takes a closer look at the Ministerial Advisory Group on Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime and how the increased availability of illicit drugs in the country is having an impact.
Coalition turfed out in latest RNZ Reid-Research poll
Coalition turfed out in latest RNZ Reid-Research poll
The latest RNZ-Reid Research Poll shows the left-bloc would have enough seats to govern. Is this a punishment for the pay equity changes? And what about the punishment for a haka? Political Reporter Lillian Hanly goes through the results.
Trading places: Seymour steps up, Peters gears up
Trading places: Seymour steps up, Peters gears up
In Focus on Politics, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch sits down with the incoming and outgoing deputy prime ministers to mark the historic handover. David Seymour is vowing to keep speaking freely, while an unshackled Winston Peters shifts into campaign mode.
A Budget of give and take, cuts and credits
A Budget of give and take, cuts and credits
In Focus on Politics this week, the coalition debuts its second Budget - taking the knife to numerous government programmes in order to boost health, education and defence. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch takes a deeper look at the Budget of trade-offs.
From urgency to uproar: a House of Chaos?
From urgency to uproar: a House of Chaos?
In Focus on Politics, RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch walks through the week at Parliament, a week featuring C-bombs and unprecedented punishments.
Pay equity shake-up: billions saved, trust lost
Pay equity shake-up: billions saved, trust lost
In Focus on Politics, RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch breaks down the government's shock shake-up of the pay equity regime - the changes, the fallout and what's next.
The pros and cons of public-private partnerships
The pros and cons of public-private partnerships
The coalition is pushing for more public-private partnerships (PPPs) in an effort to boost infrastructure investment. Political reporter Anneke Smith takes a closer look at the government's plan and asks one expert about the pros and cons of PPPs.
Defence Capability Plan spend-up shows the new strategic normal
Defence Capability Plan spend-up shows the new strategic normal
The government has finally released its Defence Capability Plan, with phrases like 'enhanced lethality' and 'force multiplier' laying bare how much the strategic outlook has changed. For Focus on Politics this week, political reporter Giles Dexter digs into the plan, where the money's going, and how New Zealand's partners might respond.
Razor-sharp race in first RNZ-Reid Research poll
Razor-sharp race in first RNZ-Reid Research poll
The new RNZ-Reid Research Poll shows the political race has tightened since the election, but the coalition parties are still holding on to a slim lead. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch breaks down the numbers as RNZ ventures into the province of polling.
Politics and the police
Politics and the police
There was outrage from across the political spectrum this week, following comments by Green MP Tamatha Paul about police beat patrols making people feel "less safe". It came the same week a Justice Select Committee report stated public trust in the police is at about 68 percent. Political reporter Lillian Hanly looks back at the different perspectives on the issue.
Government ups engagement with India, United States during global volatility
Government ups engagement with India, United States during global volatility
In Focus on Politics, Anneke Smith examines the Prime Minister’s performance in India and takes a look at what the Foreign Affairs Minister got out of his talks with top US officials in Washington DC.
The beleaguered school lunches programme battles through another week
The beleaguered school lunches programme battles through another week
In Focus on Politics, RNZ's political editor Jo Moir breaks down a bad poll for the coalition, and the ongoing fallout from the school lunches programme, including new liquidation woes.
The impact of tougher access to emergency housing.
The impact of tougher access to emergency housing.
Housing advocates and those supporting homeless youth say it's now near impossible to get into emergency housing. The coalition celebrated reducing the number of households in emergency motels by 75 per cent - a target it's met five years early. But critics say homelessness has increased as a result of tougher rules. In Focus on Politics, RNZ Political Reporter Lillian Hanly takes a look at access to emergency housing, after the government tightened its criteria last August.
Winston Peters' takes NZ's defence and security concerns direct to Beijing
Winston Peters' takes NZ's defence and security concerns direct to Beijing
In Focus on Politics, RNZ's political editor Jo Moir takes a look at New Zealand’s relationship with China as three Chinese warships sit off the coast of Australia, and the Cook Islands signs new agreements with the superpower, without first consulting New Zealand. Foreign Minister was in Beijing this week for high-level meetings, and RNZ's Corin Dann was there to report from the ground.
Shaken trust in the public service's data safeguards
Shaken trust in the public service's data safeguards
A damning report has found the safeguards government agencies have to protect data they share with third party providers to be sorely lacking, and wide open for misuse. Allegations Census and vaccination data shared at Manurewa Marae was misused are up for further investigation, but the trust in the public service has taken a hit. For Focus on Politics this week, political reporter Giles Dexter looks at the report and its findings, and what steps the public service will take to win that trust back.
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