StrypeyApr 17, 2024

"In a modern democracy... You have to have responsiveness and you have to have public involvement in the decisions all the time, not just the time of elections.

What happens in NZ is we tend to go to sleep between the elections and there isn't enough public involvement in the decision-making system. We need in this country much more deliberative democracy if we are not to go the way they've gone in the US or Britain ..."

#JimBolger, 2017

https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor/story/201861258/the-book-launch-the-9th-floor

#podcasts #RNZ #The9thFloor

The Book Launch - The 9th Floor

In this final, bonus podcast, join Helen Clark, Jim Bolger, Dame Jenny Shipley and Sir Geoffrey Palmer in conversation with Tim Watkin and Guyon Espiner, as we launch the book of the series, The 9th Floor.  

RNZ
StrypeyApr 4, 2024

#GuyonEspiner: "You'd hoped for a majority in 2002. The polls said it was possible."

#HelenClark: "I think with MMP it was probably never realistic. Whatever the polls said... kiwis in the end quite like the government not having it all it's own way, having to talk with others..."

May 2017
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor/story/201842639/the-commander-helen-clark

Egg on your face Helen.

#podcasts #RNZ #The9thFloor

The Commander - Helen Clark

In part five of The 9th Floor, Guyon Espiner talks to Helen Clark about her three terms in power as she sought to draw a line under Rogernomics, unleash new social reforms and rethink New Zealand's place in the world.

RNZ
Show threadStrypeyApr 2, 2024

"[Mike Moore] would eventually rise to lead the WTO - the highest international position ever held by a NZer - and a respected champion of globalisation."

#GuyonEspiner, 2017
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor/story/201840181/the-trader-mike-moore

Even in 2017, "respected champion of globalisation" was an oxymoron. I'd argue that even then, Helen Clark's tenure as head of the United Nations Development Programme was a more respectable position.

#podcasts #RNZ #The9thFloor

The Trader - Mike Moore: Prime Minister 1990

In part two of The 9th Floor, Guyon Espiner talks to Mike Moore about his short stint as Prime Minister in 1990, followed by his miraculous near-comeback in 1993.

RNZ
StrypeyApr 1, 2024

"...we backtracked on our election pledge to remove the surtax on superannuation. Because morally I couldn't justify to myself that we would give a tax concession to the wealthy retirees - which removing the surtax would do - while we were taking some off those who were in much poorer circumstances."

#JimBolger, 2017
https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor/story/201840999/the-negotiator-jim-bolger

#podcasts #RNZ #The9thFloor

The Negotiator - Jim Bolger: Prime Minister 1990-97

In part three of The 9th Floor, Guyon Espiner talks to Jim Bolger, who steered New Zealand through a turbulent seven years that saw more economic upheaval, a resetting of race relations and the arrival of MMP.

RNZ
StrypeyFeb 26, 2024

"As one famous Australian constitutional lawyer said, and it remains the case even under MMP... NZ is an Executive paradise. The sovereignty of Parliament in NZ - which means Parliament can pass any law it likes - is actually the sovereignty of the Executive, not of the Parliament. And that is why so many Opposition MPs have such a frustrating life, because they have very little influence over anything."

Sir #GeoffreyPalmer, 2017

https://www.rnz.co.nz/programmes/the-9th-floor/story/201839427/the-reformer-geoffrey-palmer

#podcasts #RNZ #The9thFloor #NZPolitics

The Reformer - Geoffrey Palmer: Prime Minister 1989-90

In The 9th Floor, a landmark new series for RNZ, Guyon Espiner talks to five former NZ Prime Ministers, starting with reforming lawmaker Sir Geoffrey Palmer, who became our 33rd PM in 1989.

RNZ