The global coronavirus outbreak has continued to escalate this week with the World Health Organisation officially declaring Covid-19 a pandemic. But at home, where the number of cases still sits in single digits, the focus has turned to the economic turmoil being wrought. RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch assesses the damage and considers the Government's response.

Focus on Politics: Covid-19 and economic turmoil

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As global tensions escalated this week, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was touring South East Asia, strengthening defence and security ties. 
Back home, his government was accused of drifting away from New Zealand's independent foreign policy.

Luxon boosts defence amid rising global tensions

Andrew Hoggard might be new to Parliament, but he's certainly not new to New Zealand's screens and airwaves.
The Manawatū dairy farmer was president of Federated Farmers from 2020 to 2023, and one of the more prominent critics of the previous government's agricultural policies.
In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ Political Reporter Giles Dexter sits down with new MP - and new minister - Andrew Hoggard, to discuss the suite of reviews and replacements he's been tasked with.

From lobbyist to legislator: Andrew Hoggard's vision for reform

Public Service Targets are set for a comeback but with job cuts looming over ministries and agencies, unions fear public servants are only being asked to do more with less.
Originally introduced by the John Key National government, the targets have led to improvements in the past - but that experience shows there are also risks. 
In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Giles Dexter looks at the impending comeback of Better Public Services targets, one of the points in the government's new action plan.

Aim and fire? Public service targets return amid job cuts

New Zealand must pull its weight on defence and security, Foreign Minister Winston Peters says in a sit-down interview with RNZ, after talks with both India and China. 
While trade was a driving force behind those engagements, it is clear tension points - like the South China Sea, and potential involvement in AUKUS - are becoming more central to foreign policy discussions in the Indo-Pacific. 
In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Editor Jo Moir sits down with Foreign Minister Winston Peters after his visit to India, and a visit from his Chinese counterpart.

Winston Peters navigates troubled waters with India, China

Humiliated and humbled in last year's election, Labour has spent its first months back in opposition licking its wounds.
At the party's caucus retreat this week - a gathering of its MPs at a remote location to strategise for the year ahead - it promised a comeback.
In this week's Focus on Politics RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch takes a look at the difficulties and dilemmas facing Labour as it readjusts to life in opposition.

Focus on Politics: Covid-19 and economic turmoil

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