Politics Central

A new report investigating the state of Premier House does not state the residence is uninhabitable, but it has raised questions about its suitability as a home for the Prime Minister.

The report catalogues a list of problems, from 30 year old fittings and furnishings, to a lack of insulation and draughty, leaky windows.

NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says other former Prime Ministers have claimed Premier House is 'substandard'.

"The trouble with Premier House is the political backlash that a Prime Minister gets if they look at even doing basic maintenance jobs- which means they don't do it."

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This week on Politics Central, University of Otago politics expert Robert Patman reflects on the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war and weighs in on what more can be done.

Later, Police Minister Mark Mitchell makes a case for the Government's proposed legislation targeting gang patches. 

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New legislation the Government hopes will curb gang crime could be written in a matter of weeks.

But we'll have to wait until at least the end of the year to see the ban on insignia pass into law.

The legislation also looks to stop criminal gangs from gathering in groups, by giving police the right to issue dispersal notices.

Non-consorting laws will stop specified members from associating or communicating with each other, for up to three years.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell, says in 2013, insignia was banned in schools, hospitals and public buildings, and it's been effective.

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Western leaders have touched down in Kyiv, to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the two year anniversary of war with Russia.

The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, estimates more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, including 528 children, have died in two years.

Otago University Politics professor Robert Patman, says the conflict seems to have arrived at a stalemate.

Patman says Ukraine has exceeded expectations in its counterattack, by stepping up drone and missile strikes on Russia's infrastructure.

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Labour has slammed the Government's plans to shake up sex education in schools.

National and New Zealand First have agreed to refocus the curriculum on 'academic achievement and not ideology' as part of their coalition agreement.

Labour's launched a petition to protect the guidelines, saying removing them will discourage conversations around sexuality, consent and gender.

Labour's Education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says we've become privy to an international culture war.

"We need to make sure that our kids are safe, that they're in an inclusive environment. And kids are working through gender diversity, the schools should be a safe place where they're able to do that."

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There's belief the Government will hit their 100 day plan target.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon celebrated what they've done in the first 81 days in today's State of the Nation speech, including abolishing Three Waters, banning cell phones in class and bringing back 90 day trials.

But Herald Deputy Political Editor Thomas Coughlan says some of the remaining 49 points shouldn't be rushed.

"Particularly in the justice sector, the gang patches legislation and the search powers for firearms- that's the stuff you want to get quite right when you're dealing with a fractured sort of relationship between the police and the gangs."

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Christopher Luxon gave his State of the Nation speech in Auckland, setting out his vision for the country and promising to be 'straight up' with Kiwis about the nation's 'fragile' situation. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins to discuss.

Later, National's coalition agreement with New Zealand First makes changes to the sex education curriculum.

It will focus on "academic achievement and not gender ideology, including the removal and replacement of the gender, sexuality, and relationship-based education guidelines” But what does Labour's Spokesperson for Education have to say about this?

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ACT have had a dramatic increase in their polling since the election in November.

Tim Beverage spoke to ACT leader David Seymour to understand why.

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As War in Ukraine continues to be a stalemate and US funding to the region seems in jeopardy. Tim Beverage speaks to Strategic Analysist Paul Buchanan to discuss the long term implications for the war.

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A law professor says New Zealand's deployment of troops to the Red Sea is a good first step.

The Government last week announced six Defence Force personnel would be deployed to support military action against Houthi militants.

Waikato University law professor Alexander Gillespie, says our actions are justified, but we need to be wary of possible escalation.

"One of the risks right now is that it appears that people think they're going up for one reason, when in fact it's something else. So we have to maintain as much as we can in clear, independent foreign policy- and take each step very carefully."

Earlier today, 36 targets in Yemen were hit in a joint US-UK airstrike, a day after the US hit more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria.

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Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka is confident Waitangi Day commemorations won't turn ugly.

The Government will be welcomed to Waitangi on Tuesday, while opposition parties have been visiting over the course of the weekend.

Some MPs used their visit to hit out some of the Government's policies they deem anti-Māori, with Labour's Kelvin Davis describing the Government as spiders, and a den of lions.

But Mr Potaka says despite the variety of concerns, he's not focused on the negatives.

"What we're really focused on is making sure that we really drive outcomes helping to improve situations around health, education and housing- not only for those Māori in need, but for all New Zealanders in need."

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