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Focus on Politics

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

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes256Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Focus on Politics

Latest Episodes

National made its first major election year policy announcement this week. If elected, it would make KiwiSaver compulsory, including for those over 65 still working, automatically enroll babies and provide government contributions to those on parenta... more

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A failed immigration technology project has left taxpayers more than $30 million out of pocket. Immigration Minister Erica Stanford says officials misled Cabinet. Now an independent investigation is being launched into what went wrong. RNZ deputy pol... more

YouTube

Labour has finally joined the election campaign, unveiling its first major policy of the year: a public transport fare cap. But questions remain over the numbers, the funding, and whether already-stretched bus and rail networks can cope. RNZ Deputy P... more

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In Focus on Politics, Russell Palmer recounts how and why a debate about nuclear free policy ended before it began, links to defence spending, and the impact on the relationship with Australia.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

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Key Facts

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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Jill Day
Labour Party President
Labour Party
Episode: Labour joins election race with fare cap promise
Rakesh Naidu
Labour candidate (newly announced)
Labour Party
Episode: Labour joins election race with fare cap promise
Chris Penk
Defence Minister referenced in discussion
New Zealand Government
Episode: Penk's verbal nuclear bomb inflames defence debates
Al Gillespie
Law professor cited in commentary
University/academic commentator
Episode: Penk's verbal nuclear bomb inflames defence debates
Robert Patman
Otago University international relations expert
University of Otago
Episode: Penk's verbal nuclear bomb inflames defence debates
Te Anu Tuiono
Green Party MP
Green Party
Episode: Penk's verbal nuclear bomb inflames defence debates
Lillian Hanley
RNZ political reporter
RNZ
Episode: Penk's verbal nuclear bomb inflames defence debates
Ingrid Hippkiss
Morning Report commentator
RNZ/Morning Report
Episode: Penk's verbal nuclear bomb inflames defence debates
Sharon Zollner
ANZ chief economist
ANZ
Episode: The deliberately boring election-year Budget

Hosts

Lillian Hanly
Host of Focus on Politics
Craig McCulloch
Host of Focus on Politics
Giles Dexter
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 Zealand6 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.

A few critique perceived bias or airtime given to certain figures.
Listeners often mention the show as a solid way to understand NZ politics without heavy sensationalism.
Some listeners praise the concise policy summaries and practical framing of issues.
Feedback ranges from calls for tighter production to appreciation for straight reporting.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#75
New Zealand/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Iran war dominates Winston Peters’ US trip
Q: Is it acceptable for a US president to make such threats targeting a civilisation?
Peters avoided judgment on individual statements, but the discussion reflected broader concerns about rhetoric and the impact on international relations and regional stability.
Iran war dominates Winston Peters’ US trip
Q: What do you want from the Americans in this ongoing relationship and dialogue?
The host pressed for insight into NZ's expectations from the US, and Peters described a two-way street approach, underscoring ongoing cooperation while maintaining NZ's independent foreign policy.
Iran war dominates Winston Peters’ US trip
Q: Are you optimistic that this war is going to end shortly?
Peters indicated that while there were briefings on progress and conditions for peace, it remains premature to declare a quick end, emphasizing cautious optimism and the need to watch for follow-through.
Peeni Henare farewells Parliament after 12 years
Q: Why are you leaving Parliament now, and how do you hope your legacy will be viewed?
I am leaving for personal reasons, especially time with my family and to allow the kaupapa to continue moving forward with new energy and leadership.
Peeni Henare farewells Parliament after 12 years
Q: What would you say your greatest achievement is during your time in Parliament?
I am proud of the policy work and the ability to advocate for Māori within a mainstream party, even when that required balancing competing interests and navigating complex caucus dynamics.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Focus on Politics

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

A current-events oriented political show that covers New Zealand policy, governance, and diplomacy through a mix of ministerial, opposition, and expert voices. Recent episodes spotlight public-service reform and AI adoption, health system workforce challenges, housing and urban policy, and international issues like trade deals and NZ's stance on global crises. The conversations tend to balance policy detail with political strategy, offering pragmatic takes on how decisions affect everyday life—from frontline services to energy, inflation, and regional impacts. Noteworthy is a consistent emphasis on coalition dynamics and real-world implications of reforms, plus a willingness to feature voices from government, opposition, and stakeholder com... more

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How many subscribers and views does Focus on Politics have?

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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. Mediawatch
3. The Detail
4. Nine To Noon Politics
5. Politics NZ

How many episodes of Focus on Politics are there?

Focus on Politics launched 20 years ago and published 256 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Focus on Politics?

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What guests have appeared on Focus on Politics?

Recent guests on Focus on Politics include:

1. Jill Day
2. Rakesh Naidu
3. Chris Penk
4. Al Gillespie
5. Robert Patman
6. Te Anu Tuiono
7. Lillian Hanley
8. Ingrid Hippkiss

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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