The Government's legislating of new powers for police to force homeless people in city centres to “move on,” is being attacked from all sides. Reserve Bank Governor Anna Breman is bullish on inflation coming down to within the Bank's 2-3% target zone over the next 12 months, but it appears the emphasis is on tightening. Ironically Penny Simmonds, the Environment Minister who has been MIA so far, was on hand to put her stamp of approval on the amalgamation of her Ministry into the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT). While it was part of the National NZ First coalition agreement, and thus guaranteed to get Parliamentary time, the Bill to make English an official language was widely recognised as a waste of time and a joke. And I'm joined by Christchurch central Labour MP Duncan Webb, to talk about move on orders, and making English an official language.

NZ First leader Winston Peters has put a stake firmly in the ground, with a call to hold a referendum on Māori seats in Parliament. A row has blown up over revelations Judith Collins' appointment as Law Commission President did not follow procedure and is a blatant political decision. The PSA is calling for an independent review of the appointment after evidence emerged it was done without any recruitment process, selection panel or consideration of rival candidates. The latest OneNews Verian poll shows  there are clear signs the public isn't happy with the way the Government is performing. With NZ First not prepared to support the India FTA, the Government will need Labour's support to get the deal across the line. Now Labour has upped the pressure on the coalition to come clean about what is a rather secretive deal, before it will give its backing. The Government's plan to build an LNG terminal and pay for it with a levy has raised a lot of eyebrows. I'm joined now by Auckland University Professor Nirmal Nair an expert in energy policy and power systems, who says the responsibility for ensuring a reliable fuel supply should fall on power companies who generate and sell energy, not households. 

The Government was forced to issue a robust defence of its fast track legislation in the wake of jubilation among conservationists after an expert panel rejected Trans Tasman Resources’ application to mine the seabed off Taranaki for various minerals...Last the week, the US announced a stockpile of rare earth elements, and plans for a critical minerals trading bloc. New Zealand is set to be part of this, with fears already being raised over US companies getting involved in extraction, and the bulk of the profits being moved offshore...The latest Taxpayers Union Curia Poll shows the Centre-Right and Centre-Left blocs with pretty much equal support as the election looms. Labour is still the most popular party with 34.1% support, down slightly, while National is also down a fraction to trail on 31.3% - a wake up call for the Government...The experts were expecting unemployment to hold steady at 5.3% in the December quarter, but in a blow for the Government, the headline rate rose to 5.4%...And we're joined by Informetrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan to talk about how the economy will run as the coalition looks to be re-elected for another term.

It's Waitangi week, and while Maori are still getting the short end of the stick across virtually every measure in society and the economy, but without the hated and derided Treaty Principles Bill, don't expect too many fireworks. NZ First is flexing its election muscle, with Winston Peters targeting the NZ India FTA. He sees it as an immigration issue...right up NZ First's street. Meanwhile there have been calls for the full text of the deal to be released to allay fears about immigration. NZ is finding its feet as a lower ranking power in a changing world. This country has decided not to join Donald Trump’s coalition of the ill fitting – the so called Board of Peace, although Winston Peters clearly sees a potential role for New Zealand at some point, presumably when the US decides to finally pull the plug on the UN, but Labour's Chris Hipkins says even considering joining is a disgrace and an embarrassment for the country. The cosy relationship between farmers and the coalition Government could be on the rocks over water. Federated Farmers has found a few barbs in the Government’s RMA reforms and it doesn‘t like them. The question is whether the Government will bend over like it usually does and make it right for the rural sector. And this week we're joined by Manurewa MP Arena Williams to talk about some key Auckland issues.

This is the last edition for 2025 - we'll be back in February. Meantime this week the Government has revealed its two new RMA replacement Bills - well telegraphed, and not much different from the changes people expected...The Greens are on the warpath after it became clear the Government is paying no more than lip service to its Paris Climate obligations.  Bank economists are talking up the economy, saying the big turn about is underway - but they've been saying that for some time, so we'll have to wait. The Government is going into year's end on a high with new polling showing it in a strong position. The Government has been warned by no less a forecaster than the illustrious S&P its rates cap will hurt the financial abilities of councils, and we're joined in this final edition of the year by Opposition leader Chris Hipkins:

There's reportedly been a leadership coup within National's ranks which has failed. The challenger, Chris Bishop, not able to get the numbers to roll PM Luxon - Luxon survives and National may well consider itself lucky to have escaped having a leader who may well have turned out to be less popular than Luxon. Meanwhile Labour is ending the year on a high, and in the box seat to form a Government next year. The Government's desperation to get the cost of living down has seen it targeting not greedy businesses like Fonterra or the power gentailers, but local councils. It's going  to impose a rates cap, despite clear evidence of it being a failed policy overseas. And we're joined by political columnist Janet Wilson to unpack the the extraordinary failed leadership coup attempt by Chris Bishop and look at where the other parties sit as election year looms.

The Government has been scrambling this week to pass legislation before Parliament rises for the year, and maybe because there's a risk of the coalition not being returned at next year's election....There were some big calls, with a big change to KiwiSaver, a Social Housing plan, and the biggest changes to local Government in many decades as Chris Bishop made his presence felt, riding roughshod over local democracy. This week Susan St John, an expert on pensions and intergenerational equity at the University of Auckland joins me  to unpack some of the pros and cons of the Government's  decision to up the KiwiSaver contribution to 6% by 2032.

The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor Survey is more bad news for National and the coalition, with ranking of the Government's performance hitting another new low, and the latest Talbot Mills/Anacta Poll shows the Labour Party rising to 38% and likely holding the balance of power, if the results were reflected at an election. Labour says it will will repeal the Government's Regulatory Standards Bill in its first 100 days in office. The Bill waltzed through its 3rd reading, despite massive opposition at the Select Committee stage, once again making a mockery of “consultation.” This week we're joined by Labour's Health spokeswoman Ayesha Verrall. Labour has made some significant health announcements recently, going under the radar for the most part, while the Government has re-announced its portable hospital ward policy. Verrall knows there is still much work to do in health.

The report on the pilot run of the Government's boot camp programme for young offenders is out, and it has mixed news. The Government's latest Sunday announcement is a law & order policy - always a good diversion if other things aren't going well. This time it's a crackdown on Meth use. The Government is still pushing ahead with its goal of getting an India FTA in the bag by the end of its first term - and on the surface things appear to be going well. The Treasury has published its investment statement for 2025, and is once again pushing an asset sales message, which will no doubt be music to the ears of the current Government. Joining me this week is Meredith Kennett, president of the New Zealand School Boards Association, to talk about Education Minister Erica Stanford's decision to remove the Te Tiriti o Waitangi clause from s127 of the Education and Training Act 2020.

The Government's economic policies are still failing to deliver, with unemployment up again, and the highest number out of work since 1994, but some research shows "green shoot" are appearing. A new argues this country’s 3-year Parliamentary term is too short for effective Government – few would argue with its view there, but calling for more MPs to keep politicians accessible to voters may be a step too far. A report, written by members of the Aotearoa Centre for Indigenous Peoples and the Law (Te Wai Ariki), is set to tell the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination a significant, ideologically driven attack on Māori rights, Te Tiriti o Waitangi and racial equity is occurring here.The country’s Iwi are losing patience with Te Pāti Māori and its internal ructions, and are pushing the party to get its act together as the country heads into election year. Te Pāti Māori is in disarray heading into 2026. Joining us this week is Labour's Finance Spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds, to talk Capital Gains and other economic issues: