"As for the government, the plan is now clearer, and they're spending less than ... might have been expected under Labour."

#RussellPalmer, 2026

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=a06dda4a-e2dd-410a-8afc-bf71d5cfa749

I'm sorry, what?

Hasn't your colleague at TVNZ, Jack Tame, reported figures that show NatACT First spending and borrowing *more* than Labour, while *not* governing through a disease pandemic?! Instead giving away huge wads of public money to landlords, corporations, and white elephant projects

#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics

"NZers are fair-minded people, we're always focused on helping those in need. But we also need to reclaim our main streets and town centres for the enjoyment of people who live here, people who visit, people who work here, and want to be able to work and operate in a safe and welcoming environment."

#PaulGoldsmith, NZ Minister of inJustice, 2026

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=e5d39797-5bff-4381-96d5-9fbe3f883b83

This made me swear loudly at my longsuffering podcast app

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#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics #homelessness #MoveOnOrders

Intriguing how when it comes to a fossil fuel project, NatACTs can grasp the logic that increasing public spending on infrastructure in the short term can result in future savings for the public;

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=9fff2be2-c439-4427-93bc-2c43daf79584

A shame they didn't apply that logic to;

* canning prescription charges
* EV subsidies
* iRex
* hospital rebuilds
* public housing builds
* National Resilience Fund
* etc

... and particularly in this case climate change mitigation.

#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics #NZPolitics

"Councils will meet [the state-imposed rates cap], because they would be required to meet it under legislation. It will mean that we are saying no to our communities more often, and it will mean that we are deferring projects that they wanted to see go ahead.

But that might be ok, if it means they've got more money in their back pocket, because their rates bills aren't rising at such a significant rate.

#Tamah Alley, 2025

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=3ca9302f-cf98-42e3-b73c-a13df8cd06a5

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#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics

"I tried, I'm disappointed too, but I wasn't prepared to hold up the entire Arms Act [rewrite] to fight over it, when there's a good win for everybody in it."

#NicoleMcKee, 2025

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=cf65a0e8-c8c6-43a1-82a3-0d61c93372a4

I've made some very strong criticisms of this firearms industry lobbyist turned ACT MP. But credit where credit is due; this is a really generous and pragmatic way for a politician to describe not getting exactly what they wanted from a bill.

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#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics #GunLaws

"All Labour has done is chosen a group of people that can be marginalised and be taxed without - they hope - fear of electoral retribution."

#MattBall, NZ Property Investors Federation, 2025

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=72dfab42-b0de-46f3-9958-29494bf53211

You mean Māori? Beneficiaries? Women getting pay equity? Unionised workers? Trans people? Oops, sorry, he's taking about *Labour* there. My bad.

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#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics #CGT #NZPIF

The Tories are virtue signalling around climate policy to shore up their rural vote;

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics?share=0fdf10db-6e5c-4b60-a29d-0acfd02449e0

But considering all the things they could have done - and that ACT and Winston First would have done given the chance - what they've done is pretty weak tea. Which suggests a significant majority of kiwis support strong climate protection policy, and NatACT First know it.

#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics #ClimateChange #AgriculturalEmissions

Political talking points - or "key messages" as Nicky Hagar called them in The Hollow Men - are a cancer on political communication. Expressly designed to allow politicians to make public statements without actually *saying* anything.

There's some great examples in yesterday's FOP on RNZ, where CLuxon and Rimmer vomited up and ate the same verbal hairballs they've been retaining since 2023;

https://www.rnz.co.nz/podcast/focusonpolitics/2025/FOCUSDISCONTENT

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#podcasts #RNZ #FocusOnPolitics #TalkingPoints #KeyMessages