The RNZ Caucus podcast team - Julian Wilcox, Lisa Owen, Tim Watkin and Guyon Espiner. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
With just over a month to go until New Zealand heads to the polls, RNZ is promising to deliver "clear, current and comprehensive election coverage" across its platforms to meet voters wherever they are.
"From our key news and current affairs programmes like Morning Report and Checkpoint to our daily digital coverage on rnz.co.nz and social media, Kiwis can access detailed analysis of policy announcements or bite-sized summaries of the key happenings on the campaign trail," RNZ chief executive and editor-in-chief Paul Thompson said.
"Our political journalists, election unit and podcast and social media teams will deliver clear, current and comprehensive election coverage throughout the campaign, with a multi-media special on election night and a breakdown the following morning."
RNZ's website is running a daily live blog to bring readers the latest from the campaign trail, and all RNZ's election coverage - including interviews and analysis from political journalists and commentators can be found here.
Data journalist Farah Hancock will continue her weekly breakdown of polls, party Facebook ads and more here and two RNZ political podcasts - 'MATA with Mihingarangi Forbes' and 'Caucus', featuring "frank and forthright discussion" between Guyon Espiner, Lisa Owen, Tim Watkin and Julian Wilcox - will run weekly.
A video series - Grilled by Cook - launching on 18 September, will see Midday Report host Charlotte Cook interview the leaders of the top four polling parties as they cook her a favourite meal.
And on 25 September, the Pacific Issues debate - a joint presentation by RNZ Pacific and the Pacific Media Network - featuring Pacific candidates and party representatives will be livestreamed from the Checkpoint studio.
Meanwhile, reporters from First Up and Checkpoint will be out on the road talking to people around the country to gauge the pulse of the nation on key issues ahead of election day.
Checkpoint host Lisa Owen will also host a deputy leaders debate between Carmel Sepuloni and Nicola Willis live in the studio on Thursday, 5 October.
The freshly-launched IndoNZ and RNZ Chinese teams are reporting on key issues as they relate to the Indian and Chinese communities in Aotearoa, and a selection of political stories and explainers will also be translated into simplified Chinese.
And the political issues that matter to rangatahi will also be addressed via vox-pops, explainers and a countdown on 'The Tahi' podcast and social media channels.
Election week highlights
On the eve of the election - 13 October - Kathryn Ryan will hold long-form, wide-ranging interviews with the leaders of both Labour and National on Nine to Noon.
The following day, commentators, including former National Party general manager Chris Simpson, Māori academic Dr Ella Henry, former Labour MP Sue Moroney, South Auckland community advocate David Letele and former ACT MP Heather Roy, will be joined by journalists live from around the motu for the RNZ Election Special.
It will be anchored by Lisa Owen and Corin Dann, accompanied by RNZ's political editor Jane Patterson, and will be livestreamed on RNZ's website, YouTube channel and Facebook page, and on Freeview Channel 50, as well as being broadcast on RNZ National from 7pm until midnight.
A Post-Election Special, hosted by Ingrid Hipkiss and Guyon Espiner, accompanied by RNZ's deputy political editor Craig McCulloch, will also run on RNZ National from 8-10am on Sunday, 15 October.
