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Focus on Politics headlines with summaries.
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Queen's death reignites discussions over constitution and Te Tiriti
In today's Focus on Politics podcast NZ Political Reporters Katie Scotcher, Anneke Smith and Giles Dexter explore what the debate about the role of the monarchy in New Zealand - and the possibility of…
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How government's youth crime rhetoric misses the bigger picture
In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Giles Dexter reviews the government's approach to youth crime, and examines what is missing from the debate.
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New Zealand democracy on 'shaky foundations': Electoral law ripe for change
In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Anneke Smith exposes the vulnerable state of New Zealand's democracy and examines the political response.
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EU-NZ trade agreement 'by no means a done deal'
In today's Focus on Politics, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher looks back on a trade deal both sides found fault with, and ahead to the challenges it still faces.
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Law and order policies 'no magic bullet' on crime and gangs - experts
20 Aug 2022Law and order seems a likely hot topic again in next year's election, but experts say many proposed policies would be ineffective, Political Reporter Anneke Smith writes.
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Uffindell exposed: National, Labour grapple with bullying accusations
13 Aug 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Katie Scotcher examines one of the fastest political downfalls in New Zealand's history.
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Focus on Politics: an extended interview with Christopher Luxon
11 Jun 2022Investigative journalist Guyon Espiner sits down for an extended interview with National leader Christopher Luxon. Can a man some thought might join the Labour Party lead National to victory at the…
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United States trip proves Jacinda Ardern's pulling power
28 May 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch assesses the Prime Minister's American odyssey.
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A Budget searching for balance
21 May 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch runs the numbers on the Budget and its political implications.
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Immigration angst pervades border reopening
14 May 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast Political Reporter Anneke Smith explores the border reopening, immigration changes, and the response.
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Budgeting during a cost-of-living crisis
7 May 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson sits down with the Finance Minister Grant Robertson and National's Nicola Willis to preview this month's Budget.
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Covid-19 variants: Government resurgence plan
30 Apr 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Reporter Katie Scotcher assesses where the government's planning is for new and potentially more deadly variants.
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Regional security weighs on Ardern's Asia trade trip
23 Apr 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson looks past the spectacle of Ardern's first official trip since Covid-19 to the geopolitical tensions beneath.
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Finding solutions to Russia's Putin in diplomacy and law
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson examines the state of play in Ukraine, and the legal and political instruments being brought to bear against Russia.
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IPCA constrained: How independent is NZ's police watchdog?
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, investigative journalist Guyon Espiner talks to a leading defence lawyer, the chair of the IPCA and the commissioner of police about whether the police watchdog…
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Media merger raises stakes for NZ journalism
In today's Focus on Politics podcast, the government is pressing ahead with its planned mega media merger. Political reporter Katie Scotcher explores what it will mean for RNZ and TVNZ, as well the…
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Russia's war, New Zealand's sanctions, and the question of China
17 Mar 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson interrogates the ramifications for New Zealand of Russia's war against Ukraine.
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Cost of living crisis: Luxon's cuts put Labour on guard
12 Mar 2022National's tax plan, and the highest inflation in decades has the government feeling the pinch. Political Editor Jane Patterson counts the costs for both parties.
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Border breakthrough: Ending the siege of Fortress New Zealand
5 Feb 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch recounts the siege of Fortress New Zealand and reckons with its reconnection to the world.
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Red light and rapid antigen requisition
29 Jan 2022In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson assesses the government's readiness for the Omicron variant.
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A sit-down with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
11 Dec 2021In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch talks with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the year that's been.
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A sit-down with National leader Christopher Luxon
4 Dec 2021In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson talks to National's leader Chris Luxon in his new office to assess what his leadership will look like.
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Collins, National's nuclear option, self destructs
27 Nov 2021In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Deputy Political Editor Craig McCulloch delineates the nuclear destruction of Judith Collins' leadership and assesses the fallout.
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Intensive care: Can New Zealand weather the surge?
20 Nov 2021In today's Focus on Politics podcast, Political Editor Jane Patterson and Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn examine New Zealand's ICU and health capacity as Covid-19 spreads, and elimination shifts to…
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