VoterTorque - New Zealand Politics in Plain English

Labour, NZ First and Maori parties are promising to take goods and services tax off fresh fruit and veges if they win the upcoming election. Most experts think it is a bad idea. Heather and Simon discuss this. 

 In the last week, the New Zealand government has released three documents relating to national security: Aotearoa’s National Security Strategy: Secure Together Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki Defence Policy and Strategy Statement Future Force Design Principles These were preceded by a public consultation exercise, a long-term insights briefing and a foreign policy assessment.

In the coming week, we expect the release of an updated threat assessment. Since Defence Minister Andrew Little’s announcements last week, there has been at least a dozen stories a day ranging from the importance of New Zealand’s ‘first ever’ national security strategy, to an upcoming major cash injection into defence and a complete sell-out to foreign interests – notably those of the USA. A strategy it is not. It is what academics would call a ‘meta-policy.’ By its own admission it sits over the country’s:

• Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy
• Cyber Security Strategy
• Maritime Security Strategy
• Transnational Organised Crime Strategy
• Pacific Resilience Strategy
• Mass Arrivals Prevention Strategy
• Defence Policy Statements and White Papers
• National Space Policy
• Border Security Strategy

A strategy is contested. Its success can be measured. This is a policy dressed in strategy clothes. The best thing to potentially come out of this process is the creation of a National Intelligence and Security Agency. But that is not explicitly written only talked about.

Heather and Simon discuss these documents. 

Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie discuss current political issues that are front of mind for voters. These range from the economy and cost of living to crime and co-governance.

Issues episodes will recur throughout the season so send in your ideas or questions for discussion. You can send in questions for the podcast hosts through the ⁠contacts page at torquepoint.co.nz⁠

Heather and Simon answer questions from the VoterTorque audience. In this episode the questions addressed are:

1. What does TOP stand for?

2. Will Winston Peters get back into parliament?

3. What is an overhang?

4. What is meant by hard right and hard left?

Questions and answers will be published approximately every 5th episode. You can send in questions for the podcast hosts through the contacts page at torquepoint.co.nz

 Do political polls reflect or shape public opinion in New Zealand? With an election due on 14 October, this is an important question that is discussed by Heather and Simon. What’s important are the trends and other questions like whether people think the country is headed in the right or wrong direction. 

In this episode, Simon Ewing-Jarvie and Heather Roy work their way through the TorquePoint political compass quiz and discuss how to interpret it.

You can download a copy of the quiz from our website at torquepoint.co.nz to position yourself on the NZ political spectrum.

 Former ACT Deputy Leader and Government Minister, Heather Roy, and TorquePoint CDO Simon Ewing-Jarvie update their political spectrum for the 2023 New Zealand General Election. The series is also available as a slideshow on YouTube. It examines the merits of commentators and journalists referring to parties and politicians as simply left or right. 27 June 2023. 

 Simon Ewing-Jarvie and Heather Roy from TorquePoint are back for the run up to New Zealand’s 2023 General Election to bring you their analysis of each of the political parties, what they’re offering and how they compare. This introductory episode outline the main topics to be covered in season 2.