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Recent items from Focus on Politics
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Focus on Politics: the 'Reeferendum'
6:38 PM.Voters will have the chance to say yes or no to legalising cannabis for personal use at the 2020 election. While that appears to be a relatively straightforward question, it covers a potentially… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: National's leadership rumbles
11:00 AM.After a strong nine years in government, the National Party is now experiencing the trials and tribulations of life in opposition - that often centre around the leadership. Audio
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Focus on Politics: Social media crackdown
6:38 PM.This week New Zealand and France joined forces as world leaders try to put an end to the use of social media for acts of terrorism. Next month Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: NZ's gun control crackdown
6:38 PM.MPs are moving swiftly to implement a gun ban and buy-back scheme in the wake of the Christchurch mosque shootings. But some have criticised the pace of change, arguing it risks making mistakes or… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: An Intelligence failure?
6:38 PM.As New Zealanders try to make sense of the Christchurch terror attack, questions persist about the role of the intelligence agencies, both past and future. Audio
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Focus on Politics: NZ's darkest day
6:35 PM.On 15 March 2019, a gunman opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch, killing 50 people, and changing New Zealand forever. RNZ political reporter Craig McCulloch looks back on how politicians… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Bunny boilers and belligerence
6:38 PM.NZ First MP and government minister Shane Jones has found himself in the hot seat this week, facing accusations of a conflict of interest, "pork-barrel politics", and general buffoonery. But while the… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: 'Kiwi Jihadi' Mark Taylor
6:38 PM.News the so-called Kiwi jihadi Mark Taylor had been discovered in a Kurdish jail in Syria has prompted a broader debate about an issue many countries are grappling with - should citizens who left… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Property woes
6:38 PM.This week the Opposition has put the boot into the government over the increasing costs being imposed on landlords. Our Political Reporter Jo Moir looks at the effect of new rental property standards… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Tax proposals
6:38 PM.Recommendations for an overhaul of the tax are out, but it will be at least two months before the plan the coalition government intends to adopt is made clear. Audio
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Focus on Politics: NZ-China relations
6:38 PM.The spotlight has sharply turned this week on to the relationship between New Zealand and China after a series of apparent snubs by the rising superpower towards this country. Our Deputy Political… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Waitangi 2019
6:38 PM.Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has kicked off her so-called year of delivery with another extended trip to Waitangi. A year ago she told Maori to hold her and her Government to account on whether they… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Feet back under seats
6:38 PM.The political year is picking up pace with the caucus retreat for Labour this past week, a State of the Nation speech from National's Simon Bridges and the first Cabinet meeting of 2019. The problems… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: KiwiBuild or KiwiBust?
6:40 PM.KiwiBuild was supposed to be the coalition government's answer to the housing affordability crisis, but it has hit the rocks before the end of its first year. Housing Minister Phil Twyford this week… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: 2018 in review
9:00 AM.Political reporter Craig McCulloch takes an irreverent (by RNZ standards) look back at the biggest stories of a year which included a Prime Ministerial baby, the collapse of two Ministerial careers… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Sitting down with Jacinda Ardern
2:00 PM.As Parliament closes for Christmas MPs have been reflecting on a turbulent political year, and the first year under the coalition government. At the helm is Jacinda Ardern, who as well as becoming… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Sitting down with Simon Bridges
6:38 PM.Simon Bridges ends the year as National Party leader, but how secure is his position? Elected after the resignation of Bill English at the start of the year, Mr Bridges inherited a large caucus stung… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Mental health inquiry
6:38 PM.The government now has a challenging plan for improving New Zealanders' mental health, having received the 200 page report from the Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction. Audio
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Focus on Politics: Karel Sroubek backflip
6:40 PM.The Karel Sroubek saga came to a head this week with the Immigration Minister forced into an embarrassing about-face. Iain Lees-Galloway effectively over-ruled his earlier decision to let the Czech… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Women in sports
6:40 PM.The Minister of Sport and Recreation job isn't one of the most coveted, or controversial. But Grant Robertson has taken up the role this past year with some clear ideas about what he thinks being a… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Abuse in state care
6:38 PM.The Government this week formally announced the Royal Commission into abuse in state care, including that it will be expanded to include faith-based institutions. Our Deputy Political Editor, Chris… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Māori expectations
6:38 PM.If the government doesn't deliver specifically for Māori in next year's wellbeing Budget the 13-strong Labour Māori caucus is going to have a lot of questions to answer. That's the reality according… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Moral minefield
6:38 PM.Abortion, adoption and cannabis law are all political hot potatoes but the coalition government is in the midst of dealing with all three, starting with abortion, which the Law Commission reported… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Government's first birthday
6:38 PM.The coalition Government is now a year old - a year which has seen intense activity for the new administration, but one which has also had its share of turmoil. RNZ's Political Editor, Jane Patterson… Read more Audio
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Focus on Politics: Bombshells and blowback
6:30 PM.There was only one story in town this week and that was the exposure of the National Party and its leadership to a range of hugely damaging accusations by its former MP Jami-Lee Ross. He has unleashed… Read more Audio