As the Labour Party goes into overdrive in an effort to acknowledge its woeful response to sexual assault claims at a youth camp, RNZ’s political editor Jane Patterson looks at the political mess that’s been left in its wake. No one disputes victims of sexual assault should be treated with respect and confidentiality, and offered … Read more
A year after the publication of a book alleging civilian deaths in a botched NZ raid in Afghanistan, the NZ Defence Force has quietly conceded its operation was in the same village depicted by the authors, and it makes the case for an inquiry overwhelming, argues Toby Manhire. “The central premise of Nicky Hager and Jon … Read more
New developments have emerged surrounding sexual assaults that took place at a Labour Party youth camp, how it happened in the first place, and how the party subsequently dealt with the allegations. Scroll to end for a timeline. Yesterday, when Newsroom broke the story about sexual harassment and assault taking place at a Labour Party … Read more
The PM famously called climate change her generation’s ‘nuclear free moment’. Branko Marcetic asks environmental critics of the original agreement whether the deal updated as CPTPP allays their concerns Climate change is here. It’s only March, and we’ve already experienced a record-breaking heatwave, a “revved up” tropical cyclone, and now scientists are freaking out over … Read more
Following his failed bid for the National Party leadership, Steven Joyce has announced his retirement from politics after almost nine years as an MP. He served as finance minister under Bill English but probably his most critical role was as the party’s chief strategist and longstanding campaign manager. In this revealing contribution to the Victoria … Read more
Danyl Mclauchlan makes the case that what the new leader of the opposition doesn’t say matters – and what he does say probably doesn’t. The new National Party leader Simon Bridges seems like a smart, talented guy who will only become prime minister through sheer dumb luck. For now he’s leader of the opposition and the … Read more
When he was in his early twenties, I used to joke with him about the Bridges administration, circa 2020. He can get there in three years, if he gets it right and things fall into place, writes former National Party cabinet minister Wayne Mapp. From the moment he declared himself in the contest, Simon Bridges … Read more
The PM gets the Backbencher treatment in DJ pose, Winston Peters gets a refit, but the publican is unsure whether it’s worth bothering with Simon Bridges yet, writes RNZ’s Craig McCulloch Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has been immortalised as a puppet DJ at the Backbencher pub across the road from the Beehive. But National’s new leader … Read more
The GBLT quartet chew over all the leadership changes. Coruscating analysis of the new leader of New Zealand’s biggest parliamentary party. Hot’n’smoky takes. Terrible but melodic puns. All that and more in a new audio content presentation from Annabelle Lee, Ben Thomas, Toby Manhire and a mostly grumpy, yet still comfortably most eloquent of the … Read more
On some scores, the National Party is streets ahead on Māori representation. But, asks Morgan Godfery, is it progress? Every politician keeps a list of regrets, and Labour politicians keep lists longer than most: they were the neoliberals, the foreshore and seabed thieves, and the slowpokes. If things were right and proper Simon Bridges would … Read more
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources exclusive Snapchat footage of Kiwi citizens and luminaries making the news. Today, new National Party leader Simon Bridges takes a victory lap. Click here for all our Kiwis of Snapchat videos This section is made possible by Simplicity, the online nonprofit KiwiSaver plan that only … Read more
Ahead of her debut at the Auckland Fringe on Thursday night, former Green MP Catherine Delahunty writes on the good, the bad and the toxic of nine years in parliament – and what needs fixing. Warning – the show I am describing contains swearing and explicit feminist content. I did nearly nine years of Question Time … Read more
Welcome to the Cheat Sheet, a clickable, shareable, bite-sized FAQ on the news of the moment. Today, the new leader of the National party, Simon Bridges. Who? Simon Joseph Bridges, former lawyer, came into parliament at the same time as former lawyer Amy Adams, whom he beat to the leadership. The former West Aucklander took … Read more
Has the government been too keen to go for working groups, panels and inquiries, over actual action? Alex Braae counts the announcements. As new ministers get their feet under their desks, they start to cast around for things to do. All of a sudden they have access to the comparatively vast resources of the public … Read more
With the crucial caucus meeting only hours away, Judith Collins and Steven Joyce top preferred leader numbers – but it’s a different story in assessing leadership chop. As National MPs descend on Wellington to cast their votes in the contest to succeed Bill English as party leader, most observers are calling it a two-horse race. … Read more
When GJ Thompson took leave from his lobbying firm to act as the prime minister’s chief of staff, he remained a director of the firm and his profile stayed in prime position on its website. How serious is the appearance of a conflict of interest, asks Asher Emanuel. The government lobbyist who served for several … Read more
A UMR Research survey puts the polarising MP in the lead – but only slightly, and her favourability numbers are dismal, an area in which Amy Adams holds bragging rights. The tussle to lead the biggest party in New Zealand’s parliament will be a tight one, if polling conducted largely prior to Bill English’s resignation … Read more
As founder of a multi-million-dollar private military and security company that operated in Iraq, Mark Mitchell needs to tells us where he stands on war-for-profit, argues Daniel Couch. Mark Mitchell’s announcement of his intent to run for National Party leader is a significant moment in New Zealand politics. Throughout his career he appears to have … Read more
Mark Mitchell and Steven Joyce have added their names to the ballot for the contest to succeed Bill English as party leader. With a week till MPs make their decision, here are five observations on the race. 1 The newbies What looked like a three-horse race featuring Amy Adams, Simon Bridges and Judith Collins has … Read more
The National MP’s leadership bid has put his broad Kiwi accent back in the spotlight. Henderson-Massey local board chair and ‘proud Westie’ Shane Henderson thinks we should all lay off the jokes. I can empathise a little with Simon Bridges. Not with his politics, but with his accent. Last week Bridges announced his intention to … Read more
As the contest unfolds, expect deals, departures and a determination to keep ructions away from public sight, writes former National government adviser Zach Castles. National’s leadership race has seen an endless stream of topline biographies on three heavy-hitting National MPs who want to lead the National Party and ultimately our country – Amy Adams, Simon … Read more
What are Amy Adams, Simon Bridges and Judith Collins trying to tell us? Manhire and Morris condense the National Party rivals’ messages In a fortnight, the New Zealand National Party will have a new leader, following Bill English’s very sensible decision not to get up again, again. The task for his successor, in combating a … Read more
With each passing week, a new international profile of Jacinda Ardern is published. Having studied them all, Madeleine Chapman presents a simple DIY guide. Dinosaurs. A robust exchange of views in the ACT caucus. An international story on New Zealand that doesn’t mention Middle Earth. These are three things that don’t exist in 2018. Profiles … Read more
The causes of the gender pay gap can be subtle, but their effects can be dramatic and long-lasting – to retirement and beyond. The gender pay gap in New Zealand is often discussed in terms of hourly wages or represented by the idea that women effectively work for free from 14 November until the New … Read more
In our video series Kiwis of Snapchat, comedian Tom Sainsbury sources exclusive Snapchat footage of Kiwi citizens and luminaries making the news. Today, Bill English looks to the future. Click here for all our Kiwis of Snapchat videos This section is made possible by Simplicity, the online nonprofit Kiwisaver plan that only charges members what it … Read more
As finance minister, his decisions were crucial to our quick recovery. In choosing his replacement as National Party leader, the question is whether to try to emulate Jacinda Ardern or reach for something very different, writes former National cabinet minister Wayne Mapp. What is Bill English’s political legacy? More than anything, it will undoubtedly be … Read more
???????????? Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire on the English legacy and the contenders to succeed him as National Party leader in this collectible special edition. In the historic third Gone By Lunchtime Emergency Podcast (the last two, following the departures of John Key and Andrew Little both also featured clever gone-by-x-based headline jokes), Ben Thomas and … Read more
In just 15 months New Zealand has witnessed a generational sea change in its politics and media, writes Duncan Greive. John Key. Mike Hosking. Bill English. In late 2016, little more than a year ago, this was New Zealand’s power structure: the two most powerful politicians, and the broadcaster who backed them to the hilt. … Read more
Once ’twere inevitable, ’twere best done quickly, and so it has passed. Bill English is leaving the National leadership and leaving parliament. That departure triggers a period of intense electioneering within the National caucus – unlike the expansive processes in Labour and the Greens, for example, only National MPs get to vote on their leader. Who … Read more