Focus on Politics

In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Lillian Hanly examines the coalition policy of repealing section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act, and the resulting backlash.

"I don't know why we ended up going to select committee if there was no intention to listen to the experts" - Tracey Martin

The repeal of Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act was front and centre at Parliament this week, with former Minister in charge of the legislation Tracey Martin telling the government to rethink its approach.

After the mammoth Abuse in Care report, she and many other voices are calling for 7AA to remain.

Reports and studies over the years have outlined how the state child protection service had been failing Māori especially. Section 7AA was added to the Oranga Tamariki Act in 2019 to directly address this harm.

It imposes an obligation on the ministry's chief executive to recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and to develop strategic partnerships with iwi and Māori organisations. This means aiming to prevent Māori children coming into care, or ensuring those who do retain connection to their whakapapa - and reporting publicly on that each year.

The move to repeal 7AA is ACT party policy, its website calling for "colourblind, child-centric state care". It claims children have been removed from safe homes because their foster parents were "the 'wrong' race" due to 7AA. But analysis by Oranga Tamariki says that is not the case.

Submitters to the select committee argue the problems ACT points to are caused by a lack of funding, not legislation or policy. Children's Minister Karen Chhour (ACT) says the ministry is going through a restructure to help with that, and "what they also need to be very clear is that safety and wellbeing comes first". …

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In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Giles Dexter speaks with Chlöe Swarbrick after the Green Party's AGM about the challenge she gave members to go through some growing pains, and the ongoing fallout of the Darleen Tana party-hopping saga.

"We are going through growing pains, I think that we are needing to constantly look at ourselves" - Chlöe Swarbrick

The Green Party is trying to find ways to grow for the future, while doing its best to leave this year's problems in the past.

That laundry list of challenges has been thoroughly aired - but the membership still faces a crucial question that goes to the heart of its values, and could yet prove a barrier to its ambitions.

Political parties' annual meetings are meant to be straightforward. The leader does a speech, members agree on remits, tidy up constitutional niggles, and discuss strategy for the year ahead before spilling out of the venue inspired and ready to spread the word.

Unlike the Green Party's AGM in Christchurch last weekend, they don't typically include member resignations.

Three Pasifika members walked out on the party on the Sunday, saying they felt culturally unsafe, and the rush to kick Tana out was over concerns about the party's budget, not her alleged behaviour.

Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick speaks to RNZ about what went down, and what she has planned to turn the party into the world's largest Green movement - if they can just get rid of the Darleen Tana-shaped thorn in their side…

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In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith speaks to Aaron Smale and explores the initial response to New Zealand's inquiry on abuse in care.

"Maybe the government just needs to listen" - Aaron Smale

The Royal Commission of Inquiry's report into abuse in state and faith-based care unveiled this week lays bare an ugly history, offering damning evidence and denouncing leaders for silencing or ignoring survivors for decades.

The government has promised to listen, but how it responds and whether justice is served remains to be seen.

Survivors gathered on Wednesday to march to Parliament, carrying a long banner of colourful ribbons bearing the names of the children abused.

"You are heard and you are believed," was the key message from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, who spoke directly to survivors sitting in the public gallery that evening. He acknowledged that what happened at Lake Alice amounted to torture, and promised redress would come - though it would take time.

The speeches that followed from all parties promised unity in responding to the Inquiry's findings and 138 recommendations, though some used their time to question some of the coalition's policies.

Opposition leader Chris Hipkins admitted Labour had not done enough when in power. Greens co-leader Chloe Swarbrick's speech criticised the coalition policy of boot camps, and drew the loudest applause from survivors watching from above. Children's Minister Karen Chhour (ACT) - who is responsible for those military academies - told those gathered the report only made her more determined to keep children safe. …

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In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith looks at why New Zealand's ability to meet its climate targets is on shaky ground.

"The projections for 2050 show, at this point, we won't be net zero by then" - RNZ climate change correspondent, Eloise Gibson

The government's draft emissions reduction plan - out this week - puts New Zealand's ability to meet its climate targets in jeopardy.

That was the key takeaway for RNZ's climate change correspondent Eloise Gibson, who pored over the document and gave it a two out of 10.

"The government has delivered on its commitment to give us really clear numbers about the plan and say what it's going to do.

"The issue is that when you add it all up, it's pretty clearly not enough."

The coalition's plan includes more EV chargers, making emissions-cutting tools available to frames and investigating carbon capture and storage.

It also wants to slash red tape for renewable energy consents, invest in public transport and improve organise waste and landfill gas capture.

Read more:

• Opposition parties slam government's plan to reduce emissions
• Critics fear carbon capture will be used as a smokescreen, but government says no
• Climate strategy 'as useful as teats on a bull', Greenpeace says
• Climate Minister Simon Watts outlines 3-page climate strategy

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts is unapologetic about doing things differently and says National is still committed to the country's emissions budgets.

"We've been very clear around what we're starting, what we're stopping and the impact of that. A lot of the stuff we're stopping did not have a significant emissions reduction profile.

"We're on track in terms of our first two stepping stones...and we're absolutely focused around making sure that we're set up for success in the future."

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In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Giles Dexter looks at Australia backtracking on its commitment to New Zealand over 501 deportations.

"It's been pure politics. And it's been an unedifying spectacle" - Greg Barns, Australian Lawyers Alliance

New Zealand has been hit by a 501 boomerang, with Australia backtracking this month on its commitment around deportations.

As successive Prime Ministers swapped sports jerseys and talked up the special relationship, the issue of people in Australia who have practically little to no connection to New Zealand being deported here has nagged away.

Four and a half years ago, Jacinda Ardern memorably took Scott Morrison to task.

"Do not deport your people and your problems," she said.

While the issue of 501 deportations - named after the section of the Australian Migration Act - applies to any non-citizen, New Zealand had lobbied for change due to our proximity, our close relationship with Australia, and the disparities in pathways to citizenship.

A move to a 'common sense' approach to deportations from the Anthony Albanese government meant those fractures were starting to heal.

Primary consideration was given to the person's ties to Australia, in weighing up whether to deport them.

Australia also providing a pathway to citizenship for New Zealanders was seen as a further step to play fair.

Read more:

• Andrew Giles issues replacement to 'direction 99' which he says prioritises community safety
• Luxon calls Albanese to express ire over 'direction 99' criminal deportation change
• Mess engulfing Australia's immigration minister harks back to goodwill gesture towards New Zealand
• 'A blimmin' good day for Kiwis living in Australia' - Hipkins on citizenship changes

But this year, across the ditch, it has blown up into a political headache.

Several non-citizens with criminal records were escaping deportation, including people with child sex abuse and murder convictions…

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In this week's Focus on Politics, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch takes a closer look at National's broken cancer commitment - and considers how the government could put it right.

"Every minute counts in the battle against cancer" - Christopher Luxon (21 August 2023)

Government ministers hoping to bask in a post-Budget glow this week have instead been trying to tamp down the backlash to a big broken promise.

The clock is now ticking for the coalition to correct its failure to fund 13 potentially life-extending cancer treatments.

This fiasco can be traced back to National's initial campaign promise last August - $70m a year, starting this year, for 13 specific cancer treatments. The funding was accounted for in the party's fiscal plan which both coalition partners signed. NZ First's agreement even specifies "giving Kiwis access to 13 more cancer treatments" as part of the policy programme.

On Budget Day, however, there was no sign of the promised funding.

"We regret that it hasn't been possible in this Budget," Finance Minister Nicola Willis said.

Willis cited "significant challenges with the policy" given it overrode Pharmac's independence.

"Regardless, our government is committed to delivering on this policy through future Budgets."

The backlash came swiftly, as cancer patients appeared on TV and radio saying they felt "let down", their "hope wiped away" by a clear broken promise in circumstances that are "literally life and death".

Willis that evening told RNZ's Checkpoint: "I don't think anyone expects that we would tick off every single campaign commitment in our first Budget. We've got two more Budgets to go."

By the next morning, she was speaking with more urgency, promising an announcement "very soon".

On Morning Report on Tuesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said work was underway on a solution which would be made public "as quickly as we can"…

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In this week's Focus on Politics, RNZ Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch examines the first Budget of the coalition government.

"This year's Budget is the clean-up job New Zealand needs" - Nicola Willis

At last, the tax cut tease is over, the full details on full display. The Budget's headline was only ever going to be tax cuts - and they arrived almost exactly as promised.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis kept her promise, but will voters thank her?

The tax package was almost identical to what National campaigned on, excepting a slightly delayed start date, and no change to Working for Families abatement thresholds, a promise abandoned in coalition negotiations.

What people receive varies widely depending on their circumstances. Treasury suggests about 730,000 households will get at least $75 a fortnight and about 190,000 will get at least $100. Fewer than 3000 will receive the much-publicised $252 maximum.

Pensioners are in line for just $4.30 every two weeks.

Willis is adamant she did not borrow for the $14.7b tax package - but keen observers will note $12b in new borrowing for the total Budget.

She insists the tax cuts were "fully funded" through cuts across the public sector and some revenue measures.

Read more:

• National unveils Budget 2024, keeps tax cut promises
• 'Fired up' protesters oppose government's Budget
• Budget 2024 at a glance: What you need to know
• Budget 2024: Try RNZ's tax calculator

About two-thirds of new spending went towards health, education, and law and order, but those core areas also show signs of strain.

The biggest broken promise was the lack of Pharmac funding ring-fenced for 13 specific cancer treatments. Willis promised that was yet to come - but the next two Budgets are looking very tight with allowances of just $2.4b in new spending. Treasury officials estimate that won't even cover regular inflation and wage pressures.

The opposition labelled it a Budget with misplaced priorities: tax cuts over public services, landlords over first home buyers, promises ahead of prudence. …

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In this week's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Anneke Smith explores the government's fast-track legislation and the responses to it.

"Inclusion of ministerial override is an overreach and dangerous" - Helmut Modlik

A law giving ministers sweeping powers to greenlight infrastructure projects has attracted a wave of criticism and responses at select committee.

With ministers beginning to soften their language, the bill could yet see changes before progressing through Parliament.

The government's Fast Track Approvals legislation is a big part of the coalition's "get things done" agenda, aiming to short-cut the consenting process for big projects like mines, roads and wind farms.

It is based on similar legislation introduced in 2020 to stimulate the economy at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of giving an independent panel the final signoff however, it gives the Infrastructure, Transport and Resources ministers - in this case National's Chris Bishop and Simeon Brown, and NZ First's Shane Jones - sweeping powers to select and greenlight those big projects.

It could certainly speed up needed infrastructure consenting, but critics have raised concerns about how the environment might fare. The topic has even caught the attention of the UK government due to concerns it could violate free trade agreements.

The Environment Committee has received about 27,000 submissions on the bill. With so many wanting to be heard in person, the committee had to set up a ballot system.

RNZ data and long-form journalist Farah Hancock has extensively covered political donations, and says her interest in the bill was piqued by the potential for corruption. She says environmental NGOs are aghast the law could allow projects otherwise prohibited under the Resource Management Act or rejected in the courts, and gives limited opportunity for public input into individual projects. The projects to be included in the legislation also remain secret.

Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment Simon Upton - a former National Party Cabinet minister - has voiced concerns about the concentration of powers with those three ministers, and Auditor-General John Ryan has  sounded the alarm over how potential conflicts of interest are managed. Chief Ombudsman Peter Boshier has warned unchecked executive powers could put New Zealand on a "slippery slope". …

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In Focus on Politics, political reporter Katie Scotcher looks at the latest funding boost for the Defence Force and how much more investment is needed.

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In Focus on Politics, RNZ deputy political editor Craig McCulloch chews over the coalition's school lunch announcement, as well as the opposition's somewhat muted reaction.

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