Neale, Brigitte and Kathryn talk about National leader Todd Muller's handling of the Boag leaks, the ACT party's conference and they discuss how Tiwai Point's planned closure adds to the Government's economic concerns. Also, more border breaches.

Neale, Brigitte and Kathryn talk about National leader Todd Muller's handling of the Boag leaks, the ACT party's conference and they discuss how Tiwai Point's planned closure adds to the Government's economic concerns. Also, more border breaches.

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Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations.

Brigitte Morten is a senior consultant with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. During the election campaign Brigitte is volunteering on the National Wellington Central campaign for Nicola Willis.

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How will the revelations that former National Party president Michelle Boag was responsible for passing the highly sensitive and private health information to National MP Hamish Walker, who subsequently leaked it to media organisations affect National's election campaign.

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Labour's annual conference, National's reshuffle and more.

Labour's annual conference, National's reshuffle and more.

Stephen Mills is the executive director of UMR Research, which is the polling firm used by Labour. He is former political adviser to two Labour governments.

Brigitte Morten is a senior consultant with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. During the election campaign Brigitte is volunteering on the National Wellington Central campaign for Nicola Willis.

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Stephen Mills and Trish Sherson talk to Lynn about the latest Colmar Brunton poll, Judith Collins' memoir and the scrapping of Kiwibuild.

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Neale, Brigitte and Kathryn discuss the government's shocker week with Covid-19 quarantine management, and there's mixed reviews of the major health sector reform proposals.

Neale, Brigitte and Kathryn discuss the government's shocker week with Covid-19 quarantine management, and there's mixed reviews of the major health sector reform proposals.

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations.

Brigitte Morten is a senior consultant with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. During the election campaign Brigitte is volunteering on the National Wellington Central campaign for Nicola Willis.

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Neale Jones and Trish Sherson about New Zealand First's Shane Jones' candidacy for Northland, what's happening within Greens and the grassroots and are we nearing 10 percent unemployment? Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations. Trish Sherson is from corporate affairs firm Sherson Willis, and a former ACT press secretary.

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As the Prime Minister is due to announce today an expected move to Level 1, Stephen and Trish discuss the country's economic outlook.

As the Prime Minister is due to announce today an expected move to Level 1, Stephen and Trish discuss the country's economic outlook.

Stephen Mills is the executive director of UMR Research , which is the polling firm used by Labour. He is former political adviser to two Labour governments.

Trish Sherson is from corporate affairs firm Sherson Willis, and a former ACT press secretary.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations. Trish Sherson is from corporate affairs firm Sherson Willis, and a former ACT press secretary.

Neale Jones and Trish Sherson talk to Kathryn about what to expect from the political week including mounting calls to move to alert level one, as deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters breaks ranks to criticise the continuation of level two. Also, it's early days for the new National party leadership, how is Todd Muller doing?

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of Capital Government Relations. Trish Sherson is from corporate affairs firm Sherson Willis, and a former ACT press secretary.

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Politics commentators Matthew Hooton and Neale Jones talk to Kathryn about the results of the latest Newshub Reid-Research, which show that Labour leader Jacinda Ardern could comfortably lead alone. The poll has Labour on 56.5 percentage points - up 14 - while National slumps down 12.7 percentage points to 30.6. The Greens sneak in just above the 5 percent threshold while New Zealand First falls to 2.7 percent.

The latest Newshub Reid-Research poll puts Simon Bridges' leadership on notice, and National Party itself in an unenviable position, say commentators Matthew Hooton and Neale Jones.

The poll shows Labour leader Jacinda Ardern could comfortably lead alone with Labour on 56.5 percentage points - up 14 - while National slumps down 12.7 percentage points to 30.6.

The Greens sneak in just above the 5 percent threshold while New Zealand First falls to 2.7 percent.

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It is expected at a time like this the opposition would see a slump in polling figures, Matthew Hooton says. But the numbers make particularly grim reading for National.

"This is a 25-point gap between National and Labour and that's simply extraordinary. And the National Party has to take that very seriously, they are taking it seriously, although they do expect another poll to come out on Thursday from TVNZ by Colmar Brunton, and they'll just see what that has to say.

"If it is as bad as this, I would expect there would be enormous pressure on the current leader and deputy leader to at least offer their resignations to the caucus.

However, a better showing in the Colmar Brunton polling might give Simon Bridges a lifeline, he says.

"There's a chance that some of the more personally conservative members of the National Party caucus will think well we were 30 in one poll now we're 35 that's not too bad."

A "hunk" of National MPs are reluctant to be responding to polls, Hooton says.

"Their views on this is what's going to decide Simon Bridges future."

The numbers are even worse if you put them together with voting blocs, Neale Jones

"The governing parties are on 65 percent and National and ACT are on 32. That's more than double.

"National has had a pretty solid base of at least 40 percent ever since they consolidated the centre right vote under Don Brash all those years ago. This poll suggests that Ardern is carving deeply into National's core voter support."

Neale believes Bridges has damaged his brand too badly to come back from this position.

"The question they've got to be asking themselves is 'is Simon Bridges the leader to take them out of this hole.'…

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Political commentators Stephen Mills and Brigitte Morten talk about the expectations of a nation as the Prime Minister is about to announce when we move to alert level two, also a look ahead to Thursday's budget.

Political commentators Stephen Mills and Brigitte Morten talk about the expectations of a nation as the Prime Minister is about to announce when we move to alert level two, also a look ahead to Thursday's budget.

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Stephen Mills is the executive director of UMR Research and former political adviser to two Labour governments.

Brigitte Morten is a senior consultant with public and commercial law firm

Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details