Nicola Willis says she was never “a Young Nat or anything” during her time at Victoria University of Wellington. It's been a huge turn around for the MP vying to be New Zealand’s next Finance Minister, who says she “wasn’t even into politics” while studying a BA in English Literature in the early 2000s. The National Party Deputy Leader was, however, a champion debater while studying, and admits that the debating society is the “dorky” way she met her now-husband.

“He was the third speaker, I was the second speaker. We went to various international national tournaments together and fell in love, as you do.”

Nowadays, Willis is campaigning alongside Christopher Luxon for a change in government, and has her sights set on leading the country’s economy. Salient sat down with Nicola Willis in her office to hear her plan for students.

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

When it comes to Te Pāti Māori’s political ideology, co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says it’s complicated. While the party was formerly “comfortable with National”, she says they now “lean left” in the “Western-centric sense”. But Ngarewa-Packer thinks they’re best described as simply “indigenous”.

“We are an indigenous movement. [...] We are the only party that believes in Māori.”

It was a hectic day when we visited Te Pāti Māori. Ngarewa-Packer’s co-leader, Rawiri Waititi, was suspended from Parliament for allegedly breaching a court suppression order while speaking in the house, leaving her to pick up all his responsibilities. But she isn’t bothered—“we dont give a shit”, she laughs. Despite the chaos, Ngarewa-Packer invited us to park up on her couch and chat about their goals and aspirations for the upcoming election.

Website: salient.org.nz

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

*CW: Transphobic Comments.*

Winston Peters (Ngāti Wai) is a political warhorse: the 78-year-old has been in and out of Parliament since 1978 and held positions such as Treasurer, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Prime Minister. But after NZ First failed to make it back into Parliament in 2020, Peters has hitched his wagon to inflammatory culture war issues, flirting with climate change denial, vaccine skepticism, and anti co-governance rhetoric. 

Winston kindly came along to the Salient office for a robust and hostile 30-minute chat peppered with personal insults, including calling me ignorant, a hypocrite, and saying I need to find a new job. 

Website: salient.org.nz

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

The Green Party have hit the ground running this election, being the first party to release their full suite of policies, which they say are unapologetically student focused. The Party’s policies include a free universal student allowance, reforming student accommodation, and working towards a student debt write-off. 

Salient went along to Parliament to sit down with the Green Party co-leaders, Marama Davidson and James Shaw, who managed to squeeze in a hectic and fast-paced 20-minute chat about their top priorities this election.

Website: salient.org.nz

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

We met the Prime Minister at his office in the Beehive — Chippy was 15 minutes late, largely due to a tray of sausage rolls being wheeled into his office (Fair enough).

“Hi, I’m Chris,” the PM introduced himself, chipper if not a bit clammy, fresh from National’s tax policy announcement (and Labour’s worst polling results since 2017, dipping into the 20s). We took a seat on one of the sofas in his Beehive office and wasted no time getting stuck in. 

Website: salient.org.nz

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

It's the Wan Solwara issue of Salient!

Fran and Maia are joined by Porita Fruean, this week's guest editor, to talk about the guest edited issue that celebrates the Pacific Islands and those who hail from them! 

Website: salient.org.nz

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

Welcome back to Salient!

This week, Salient designer Bella (they/them) takes over as editor and joins the podcast to chat about this week's massive ART issue! 

Website: salient.org.nz

Magazine Instagram: @salientgram

Podcast Instagram: @salient_podcasts

This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

Fleur Fitzsimons is the picture-perfect Labour Party candidate—black blazer, red scarf, and all—with The Spinoff crediting her look to a Labour MP ‘laboratory’. Fitzsimons has been a Wellingtonian for 26 years, ever since she first moved to study Politics and Law at VUW. She joined the VUWSA executive, alongside the current Prime Minister, then VUWSA President, Chris Hipkins. 

Fitzsimons succeeded Hipkins' presidency in 2002. “I was Vice President when [he] was student President here,” she admits, “and we did call him Chippy.”

She stepped up to the Rongotai seat after the departure of current MP Paul Eagle, as she wants “to live in a New Zealand that has taken action on climate change and looks after the most vulnerable.”

After study, and for most of her working life, Fitzsimons worked as a trade union official before becoming a Wellington City councillor in 2017. Her roots in advocacy for both workers and students is something she promises to remember in her candidacy. 

Fitzsimons joined us in the Salient office to discuss her most important campaign issues: climate justice, housing, advocacy, and cost of living. 

Website: salient.org.nz

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

Karunā Muthu describes himself as a “political animal”. He's not lying; rocking up to our interview in his royal blue National Party branded jacket, he jokes that he’s going to be the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The National Candidate for Rongotai is optimistic he’s able to turn Rongotai blue, despite it being a safe Labour seat since 1996. 

“I'm the underdog, and I don't mind being the underdog. I didn't get to where I am today by being the front runner,” he said.

The lawyer and investor has lived in the Rongotai electorate for 23 years after immigrating from India in the 90s with only “$500 in hand” in search of a better life for his children. 

Ideologically, he’s a “compassionate conservative and social liberal”, and says he’s “always believed in social justice, and standing up for the underprivileged and downtrodden”. 

While door-knocking around his neighbourhood of Strathmore, Muthu said that people often tell him he’s in the wrong party. “All the parties want the best for the people, but I align myself with the values of the National Party: hard work, family, reward for your hard work, and so on.” He said some members of the community have not been so friendly, with some drivers even pulling the finger at Muthu and his volunteers while sign-waving in the area.

He’s keen to get stuck in and fix what he considers to be three biggest issues in the community: cost of living, transport, and employment.

Website: salient.org.nz

Magazine Instagram: @salientgram

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This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey

It's the annual Te Ao Mārama issue! 

Fran and Maia are joined by guest editor Huy to talk about this monumental issue and the production process behind prodcuing the issue in both English and te reo māori! 

Website: salient.org.nz

Magazine Instagram: @salientgram

Podcast Instagram: @salient_podcasts

This podcast is a Salient Podcasts Production. Produced by Alex Marinkovich-Josey