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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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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
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Cyclone makes Robertson's Budget balancing act perilous
25 Feb 2023While somewhat bound politically by Labour's promise of no new taxes this term, Finance Minister Grant Robertson is keeping all options open in his search for a way to fund the recovery from Cyclone… Read more Audio
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Co-governance debate heats up at Rātana, Waitangi
10 Feb 2023In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson parses the co-governance rhetoric of the past few weeks. Read more Audio
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National, ACT, Greens and Te Pāti Māori on the year ahead
16 Dec 2022In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ's political team interviews the leaders of National, ACT, the Greens, and Te Pāti Māori. Read more Audio
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Ardern weighs spending priorities and Cabinet line-up ahead of election year
8 Dec 2022A newly prioritised spending plan and fresh ministerial line-up are part of Labour's plan to reset the political landscape for the start of 2023 - election year.
The political headwinds are… Read more Audio
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Hamilton West by-election offers teaser for 2023
3 Dec 2022Hamilton West polling for a new MP closes on 10 December - a litmus test for next year's general election. Crime and the cost of living are top of mind for most voters, but so far they're not rushing… Read more Audio
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Recession prediction leaves Labour with a labour problem
26 Nov 2022Dire economic predictions and high interest rates from the Reserve Bank this week have increased the pressure on Labour, and given National a chance to pitch itself as the solution.
The opposition… 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.