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Focus on Politics

RNZ
New Zealand
Labour Party
National Party
New Zealand First
Green Party
ACT Party
David Seymour
Christopher Luxon
Te Pāti Māori
Te Tiriti O Waitangi
Israel
New Zealand Police
Corruption
Regulatory Standards Bill
Auckland
Winston Peters
Homelessness
Iran
Chris Hipkins
Climate Change

Weekly insight into the political issues that matter from RNZ's gallery team.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes267Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Focus on Politics

Latest Episodes

National is campaigning to 'pursue' breaking up Foodstuffs, as the party of business surprisingly ponders intervening in private enterprise. Political reporter Giles Dexter shops around political parties' pledges to drive down grocery prices, and loo... more

YouTube

National has offered councils a peace deal after rebuffing their calls for a bed tax. Instead, it's offering to give them a share of the revenue raised by an existing "tourist tax". But some councils say it still falls short. RNZ's deputy political e... more

YouTube

The government has found itself cleaning up some legislative mess. Beneficiaries and pensioners having payments wrongly suspended forced a double apology from the Prime Minister and Social Development Minister, while a select committee has told the J... more

YouTube

In Focus on Politics, the major parties are finding more areas of agreement ahead of the election campaign - often to the frustration of their partner parties. Political reporter Russell Palmer examines the points of tension and the entrenched politi... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Pip Colgan
Volunteer with Auckland Action Against Poverty
Auckland Action Against Poverty
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister
New Zealand Government
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
Paul Goldsmith
Minister/Politician
New Zealand Government
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
Camilla Balich
Labour party member (opposition comment)
Labour Party
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
Tammatha Paul
Greens party member
Green Party
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
Steve Watt
President of the Police Association
Police Association
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
Carolyn Young
Chief Executive
Retailers Association
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
Aaron Hendry
Youth Advocate
Advocacy/NGO
Episode: Coalition in clean up mode
David Cunliffe
Former Labour leader; headed ministerial advisory group on aged care
Labour/Ministerial Advisory Group
Episode: An urgent call to fix the aged care crisis

Host

Craig McCulloch
Host of Focus on Politics

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 137 ratings
  • Love it

    Great summary of what is happening in nz politics

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reviewer SJ9
    Australia2 years ago
  • Good Summaries, but

    Why on earth must you give Simon Bridges so much air time? He’s got absolutely nothing of value to add

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Bloonspeare
    New Zealand7 years ago
  • Great for Aussies

    We hear almost nothing about New Zealand on Australian news. This podcast is a great way to understand that there are alternatives to Australia’s style of politicking.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Stapling King
    Australia8 years ago
  • Nope

    Biased

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    AshDawgles
    New Zealand9 years ago
  • Needs a little more producing

    Just a report on what happened, can be jolting because they go straight into the story with no intro, weird when you are listening to the end of another podcast and then a report starts

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Spyrash
    New Zealand9 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Mostly positive about straight, data-driven policy coverage.
Show is seen as clear on policy implications, though a few find it too results-focused or neutral.
Some listeners feel airtime for certain guests could be better balanced.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#145
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

National's olive branch: bed tax out, council cash in
Q: As it stands, would you support the policy that Nationals announced yesterday, and would you keep the accommodation levy as an option for councils on the table?
The host confirms support for the general direction of reallocating existing tourism revenues to councils and keeping the option of an accommodation levy under consideration; the guest indicates a preference for practical funding solutions that bypass new taxes, emphasizing quicker, targeted benefits for regions.
Outrage over emergency housing targets
Q: What happens to people who are left in precarious housing situations as targets aim to reduce emergency housing?
The discussion centers on providing pathways to sustainable housing and utilization of available supports to prevent end-stage homelessness, including negotiating with landlords and leveraging support programs.
Outrage over emergency housing targets
Q: What is being done to ensure people who don't qualify for emergency housing still receive support?
Officials note that about 70% of those declined receive some form of assistance or are referred to other services, with a dedicated funding package to support these outcomes.
Outrage over emergency housing targets
Q: Do you believe that these targets have in any way created an incentive for staff to decline people's emergency housing?
The MSD representative says declines are reviewed by a manager to ensure they are made against policy, emphasizing that the process remains focused on appropriate eligibility rather than punitive incentives.
National converts to KiwiSaver
Q: What are the key components National is proposing, and why now?
The guest outlines compulsory KiwiSaver with automatic enrollment for newborns, a Baby Boost starter, continued government contributions during paid parental leave, and a broader aim to increase overall savings, arguing it addresses long-term wealth creation and retirement security.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Household Income
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Frequently Asked Questions About Focus on Politics

What is Focus on Politics about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly briefing focused on New Zealand politics, delivering on-the-ground parliamentary reporting, leadership dynamics, policy debates, and budget politics. Episodes repeatedly cover party leadership, coalition tensions, electoral strategy, and how policy moves—like KiwiSaver, immigration IT projects, and public service reform—shape the political landscape. Notable throughlines include how media framing, caucus loyalties, and parliamentary maneuvering influence public perception and policy outcomes. The show often features a mix of MPs, ministers, and policy experts, offering clear, reporter-led context and diverse angles on current events. It's likely to appeal to listeners who want direct, issue-driven political analysis and practical i... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Focus on Politics?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Focus on Politics:

1. Gone By Lunchtime
2. The Detail
3. Mediawatch
4. At Large with Toby Manhire
5. Cross Party Lines

How many episodes of Focus on Politics are there?

Focus on Politics launched 20 years ago and published 267 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Focus on Politics?

Recent guests on Focus on Politics include:

1. Pip Colgan
2. Christopher Luxon
3. Paul Goldsmith
4. Camilla Balich
5. Tammatha Paul
6. Steve Watt
7. Carolyn Young
8. Aaron Hendry

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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