Focus on Politics

Fresh off a trip to the United Nations General Assembly leaders' week, the foreign minister Winston Peters is defending New Zealand's support for a resolution calling for Israel to leave occupied Palestinian territories within 12 months. That decision raised some eyebrows back home, as it was out of step with our Five Eyes partners, and Act leader David Seymour believes it was a big enough change in position to warrant having a conversation at Cabinet - but that did not happen. Political editor Jo Moir sat down with Peters this week and began by asking whether he left New York this year feeling anymore hopeful for change at the United Nations.

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Casey Costello is the Smokefree Minister accused of helping Big Tobacco - something she strongly denies. The pressure on her has only grown amid questions about the advice she's relied on to push through tax cuts on heated tobacco products. In Focus on Politics this week, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch lays out the latest revelations surrounding New Zealand's Smokefree strategy as overseen by the minister and NZ First MP Casey Costello.

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In December last year the Coalition government pulled the pin on the Interislander ferry replacement project, saying it was time to get real about what had been a significant budget blowout from $700m to about $3b. More than 10 months on, Cabinet has yet to discuss what will replace the project due to coalition disagreement about the best solution, as the ageing current fleet faces maintenance difficulties. In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Editor Jo Moir examines the government's rocky relationship with its Cook Strait crossing.

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The coalition campaigned on a return to law-and-order with a hardline approach emphasising personal responsibility and a crackdown on gangs. Nearly a year in power, many of the numbers seem to be going the wrong way - but statistics on crime and policing are notoriously difficult to draw conclusions from. In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch assesses how the government's tough-on-crime crusade is going, and what's ahead.

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Two mill closures in the central North Island this week leave at least 230 people out of work, devastating the local economy. Much of the blame has been placed on power prices and the gentailers raking in big profits. Political Reporter Russell Palmer looks into how the government responded and what the Electricity Authority plans to do next time there's a dry year.

The audio for this episode has been amended from the version which played on air, in which it was stated the Social Development Minister told Morning Report a long-term funding boost would be of little help. The minister was in fact talking about a short-term funding boost.

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Between 2019 and 2023, groceries went up in price by more than any other common household bill. High hopes were placed on new Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden to boost competition, but he says the current tools are still not enough. In Focus on Politics this week, RNZ's Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch digs into the first report card from the Grocery Commissioner - and considers what is to come.

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Tributes are flowing from across Aotearoa and around the world after Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII died early on Friday morning. Moe mai raa e te kiingi.

"It was never ceded, legally or legitimately" - Indigenous rights and constitutional law expert Claire Charters

He tai e! He tai e! He tai e tangi ana i waho o Rehua. He tai mate! Aue! E te Kingi! Te aroha nui o ō iwi, o tō waka, o te iwi Māori e māpuna ake nei i taku ngākau pōuri! Aue te mamae i te iwi e!

Tributes are flowing from across Aotearoa and around the world after Kiingi Tuuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII died early on Friday morning.

It ends a fortnight in which the question of whether Māori ceded sovereignty - a question as old as the Treaty itself - saw the major parties in Parliament taking stronger positions in the debate than ever before.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon last week stated in the Debating Chamber that Māori had ceded sovereignty, and "the Crown is sovereign". ACT and NZ First see the debate as a distraction, arguing what's important is moving forward. NZ First's Winston Peters constantly refers to the views of Sir Apirana Ngata as laid out in a 1922 thesis.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins takes the opposing view, saying while Parliament is sovereign, that's because it was taken. It's a position the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have long held but neither he nor his predecessor Jacinda Ardern ever put on the record while in power. …

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In the pouring rain and whipping winds, politicians arrived at Ngāruawāhia's Tūrangawaewae marae for te Koroneihana, the 18th anniversary of the Māori King's coronation. The typically apolitical event was instead this year full of challenges to the government and the man at the top, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

"You may have coalition mates but that only lasts three years, te ao Māori are forever" - Rahui Papa

In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch examines the wero presented to the coalition at a tempestuous Koroneihana.

In the pouring rain and whipping winds, politicians arrived at Ngāruawāhia's Tūrangawaewae marae for te Koroneihana, the 18th anniversary of the Māori King's coronation.

The typically apolitical event was instead this year full of challenges to the government and the Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon.

The speeches carried a consistent message - and nearly all of them wound back to the contentious Treaty Principles Bill.

The tone was set by Kiingi Tuuheitia's advisor Tukoroirangi Morgan, who said the government and its policies were throwing Māori under the bus and driving over them.

Ngāi Tahu chief executive Justin Tipa - yelling to be heard over the stormy weather - addressed Luxon directly, demanding clarity and accountability.

Waikato-Tainui's Rahui Papa continued the rebuke but offered an olive branch, saying coalition partners last three years, but Māori are forever. …

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With Parliament in recess this week, the coalition used the clear air to clear the decks, rattling through a laundry list of announcements - congestion charging, genetic engineering, and two separate ministry overhauls. But the announcement the government tried hardest to highlight was its new hardline approach to welfare.

"We will do everything - everything that we can - to support people off welfare and into work and ultimately a better life for themselves and for their families." - Christopher Luxon

In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch looks at the coalition's plans.

With Parliament in recess this week, the coalition used the clear air to clear the decks, rattling through a laundry list of announcements - congestion charging, genetic engineering, and two separate ministry overhauls.

But the announcement the government tried hardest to highlight was its new hardline approach to welfare.

Read more:

• How will the benefit changes be applied?
• Govt increases sanctions for beneficiaries
• 'We're not asking much: Luxon defends benefit sanctions
• National unveils traffic light system for beneficiaries

National campaigned on introducing a traffic light warning system, and on Monday, the government pressed go.

Jobseeker Support recipients will be required to re-apply every six months, as opposed to every year, and any blips will stay on their record for two years, instead of one.

First-time failures to meet obligations, such as someone not demonstrating they are actively looking for work or attending seminars, could result in a new sanction like enforced community work, or a money management card.

The traffic light system was canvassed during the election campaign, and came into play on Monday.

It applies to recipients of Jobseeker Support, Jobseeker Support Student Hardship, Sole Parent Support, and the Supported Living Payment.

At green, a client is complying with all of their benefit obligations.

At orange, the client has failed an obligation and has five days to make contact with the Ministry of Social Development to dispute the failure, or arrange how they will meet their obligation again…

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