1 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: Kyoda. 2 00:00:05,840 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels and this is the Front Page, a 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 2: daily podcast presented by the New Zealand Herald. Today marks 4 00:00:17,000 --> 00:00:20,639 Speaker 2: a year since the coalition government of National Act and 5 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 2: New Zealand first took office. The coalition hit the ground 6 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 2: running by reversing the previous Labor government's agenda in a 7 00:00:28,680 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 2: policy bonfire, slimming down the public service and reverting many 8 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 2: Crown organizations back to their English names. This and the 9 00:00:38,280 --> 00:00:42,640 Speaker 2: scrapping of the Malti Health Authority kickstarted tensions between this 10 00:00:42,840 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: government and Maldydom, with the backlash on the Treaty Principal's 11 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 2: Bill only adding fuel to the flames earlier this month, 12 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 2: but with wins around tax carts, benefits for families, more 13 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 2: regional investment and new laws to tackle crime, there's plenty 14 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: for the government to celebrate, with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon 15 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 2: saying this week he is aspirational for New Zealanders and 16 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:15,119 Speaker 2: energized for the next two years. To discuss how the 17 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 2: coalition government has fared with all this in mind. Today 18 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 2: on the Front Page, we're joined by political commentator and 19 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 2: researcher Bryce Edwards. Bryce, what do you think of being 20 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:32,200 Speaker 2: the dominant themes for the first year of this government. 21 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,520 Speaker 3: Undoubtedly, when new governments come in, they want to roll 22 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 3: back some of the more unpopular or problematic policies of 23 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 3: the previous government. After all, a new government sees that 24 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 3: they have a mandate and they have been elected to 25 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 3: change things, and so, you know, reversals and rollbacks have 26 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 3: been the main theme for the first year, particularly that 27 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 3: first hundred days, in the first six months. And so 28 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 3: when not yet seeing a full picture of what this 29 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 3: government stands for beyond just changing what labor had done 30 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 3: and making some I guess reforms, especially in the economy. 31 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 3: And you know, it's got a character of a general 32 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 3: right wing government. But as we've seen from a lot 33 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 3: of critics from the right, this government isn't even necessarily 34 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 3: appealing to all of its traditional supporters because we don't 35 00:02:27,880 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 3: really see in this first year of government that there's 36 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 3: necessarily a bold and strong vision for where they're going. 37 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 3: So it's a year of yea, reforms, rollbacks, but nothing 38 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:45,919 Speaker 3: yet is clearly staking what this new government is about. 39 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 2: Do you think that's because there are three of them, 40 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: and with three of them in government, all of their 41 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: hands are a bit tired. 42 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean that's MMP that different parties have to 43 00:02:55,680 --> 00:03:00,639 Speaker 3: work together, and of course there's areas where New Zealand 44 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:04,720 Speaker 3: First Act and National do have disagreements and therefore, yeah, 45 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 3: some areas of reform are being ruled out essentially, yes, 46 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 3: And of course you've got Christopher lux and the leader 47 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 3: of the biggest party and Prime Minister is much less 48 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 3: experienced than essentially his co leaders in the government. So 49 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 3: it means that there's not the kind of hierarchy that 50 00:03:26,560 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 3: you saw, for example, under the last Labor government when 51 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 3: you had Jessindra a Durn clearly head and shoulders above 52 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 3: all the other ministers. It's a bit flatter this government. 53 00:03:38,080 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think the dynamics of the coalition do 54 00:03:42,600 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 3: mean that the colors aren't as clear as they might 55 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 3: have been in a different government. 56 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: Nikola Willis will deliver the half yearly Economic and fiscal 57 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 1: update in about three weeks. She says that will illustrate 58 00:03:58,520 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 1: the latest forecasts for a surplus and seems to caution 59 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: against unrealistic expectations. 60 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,480 Speaker 4: I'm not going to chase a surplus at all costs, 61 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,280 Speaker 4: for casts move up and down. What I've committed to 62 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 4: New Zealanders is that we will make sensible, prudent fiscal 63 00:04:13,880 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 4: decisions to get the books back in balance over time. 64 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 2: When it comes to the economy, look, Luxon looks to 65 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:27,599 Speaker 2: be taking credit for inflation dropping to two point two percent, 66 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: saying I'm pleased with the progress we've made in just 67 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:35,279 Speaker 2: one year to deliver the outcomes kiwis deserve. Can you 68 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 2: really take credit for that? 69 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 3: Look, all prime ministers will take credit for positive things 70 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:45,920 Speaker 3: and try to blame the negative things on external factors. 71 00:04:46,560 --> 00:04:49,840 Speaker 3: So it's no surprise. And I think it'd be fair 72 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:55,359 Speaker 3: to say that the government has focused on measures that 73 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 3: will reduce inflation, and yeah, I think we have to 74 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,320 Speaker 3: give them some credit for that. But of course it's 75 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 3: not just due to his finance minister. There were some 76 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 3: changes happening in the global economy and inflation would have 77 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 3: gone down even if the government hadn't have changed. 78 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: So it's a bit cheeky that he's taking credit for it. 79 00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 3: Oh look, I know, I don't think so, because it's 80 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 3: just what we expect from prime ministers. Any other politician 81 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 3: would do the same thing. I think there is Yeah, 82 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 3: definitely some some parts of the inflation for is due 83 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 3: to some of the more austerity and some of the 84 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 3: cutbacks and budget that the government have done. So no, 85 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 3: I don't think it's entiny cheeky, but it's not the 86 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:39,040 Speaker 3: full story. 87 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 2: No. Apparently eighty three percent of kiwis are benefiting from 88 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 2: the tax relief package introduced earlier this year, at least 89 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 2: according to Luxon. But we've also seen a group of 90 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: economists come out last week criticizing the government's economic measures 91 00:05:54,960 --> 00:06:00,240 Speaker 2: and as I quote, needlessly exacerbating the current recession. How 92 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 2: is the government handling the economy? 93 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 3: Do you think it's the economy that the three coalition 94 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 3: partners rarely did ride to an election on. It's what 95 00:06:10,920 --> 00:06:15,960 Speaker 3: they focused on of the last labor administration in their view, 96 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 3: mismanaging it, and they managed to convince voters of that. 97 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 3: And certainly the government has prioritized austerity measures and fixing 98 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 3: the economy in their view. So yeah, yeah, I think 99 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:35,160 Speaker 3: the economy is rarely the one area that this government 100 00:06:36,040 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 3: has a bit of an identity on that they are 101 00:06:38,080 --> 00:06:41,839 Speaker 3: seen as strong managers. But the big question is about 102 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 3: what they're going to do on the bigger picture with 103 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 3: the economy, and that's where you've got a lot of economists, 104 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 3: and some of those economists that spoke out last week 105 00:06:50,839 --> 00:06:53,159 Speaker 3: tended to be on the left, but there are a 106 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:56,880 Speaker 3: number of more sympathetic economists or those on the right 107 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 3: that are also incredibly critical of the economics of this government, 108 00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:05,799 Speaker 3: especially because of their failure to deal with productivity, failure 109 00:07:05,839 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 3: to deal with some of the monopolies, and lack of 110 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 3: competition in some of the sectors now, especially in terms 111 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:17,640 Speaker 3: of banking, supermarkets, construction, and so there's a feeling that 112 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 3: the government's been too mild and doesn't rarely have hasn't 113 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:29,080 Speaker 3: really arrived with any blueprint for actually reforming things rather 114 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 3: than just tinkering. 115 00:07:30,920 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: In September twenty twenty three, ram raids hit a two 116 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 2: year low, with a seventy percent reduction in RAM raids 117 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 2: since the peak of one hundred and sixteen a month 118 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: in August twenty twenty two. Now, Luxon's including the reduction 119 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 2: of RAM raids in his kind of Wins list as 120 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,600 Speaker 2: he reflects on the last year in government. Is he 121 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:51,480 Speaker 2: right to do that? 122 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:56,800 Speaker 3: Again? That's entirely unsurprising. This is a win for the government, 123 00:07:57,160 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 3: and there's a bigger picture about whether it's all due 124 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,080 Speaker 3: to this current government, But it's what you expect from 125 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 3: politicians that they will claim the credit and yeah, there's 126 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,800 Speaker 3: a large amount of truth that they have redeployed efforts 127 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,840 Speaker 3: to get those areas of crime down and again after 128 00:08:16,880 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 3: the economy. It's law in order that this government and 129 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 3: the three parties have rarely banged the drum on to 130 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:27,559 Speaker 3: get into power and now have put the resources into 131 00:08:28,040 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 3: So yeah, by and large it is a bit of 132 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 3: a success three for the new government after the one 133 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:34,520 Speaker 3: year in power. 134 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 2: After one year, how are the three of them getting along? 135 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:52,520 Speaker 2: David Seymour this week told The Herald he was wrong 136 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:55,880 Speaker 2: about Winston Peters and that they have worked well together. 137 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 2: Have you been impressed by the coalition's collaboration at this stage? 138 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:03,760 Speaker 3: Well, after a year, there isn't sign of a meltdown. 139 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:07,720 Speaker 3: There isn't really the sign of the chaos that its 140 00:09:07,760 --> 00:09:12,280 Speaker 3: opponents and its critics were forecasting. So I mean, I'm 141 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 3: not so surprised about that because I always thought that 142 00:09:15,480 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 3: a lot of the beef and arguments between the likes 143 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:23,239 Speaker 3: of Winston Peters and David Seymour were more about politicking. 144 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:27,440 Speaker 3: They were more for an audience, and I've always thought 145 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,280 Speaker 3: they'd be able to work together once they were in 146 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:33,160 Speaker 3: the cabinet room, and it seems that they have. So 147 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 3: there's no real signs of instability, no more than any 148 00:09:37,679 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 3: usual coalition government. 149 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 2: There have naturally been a few scandals for this government 150 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:45,720 Speaker 2: would have been the biggest scandals in your opinion. 151 00:09:45,720 --> 00:09:51,040 Speaker 3: Well, it's probably the Casey Costello and tobacco reforms that 152 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 3: I think have probably resonated and hurt the government the most. 153 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 3: And so it brings up this idea of the government 154 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 3: perhaps being in the pocket of the tobacco industry, of lobbyists, 155 00:10:04,679 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 3: of vested interests, and I think people have been quite 156 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 3: surprised to see that the government rolling back reforms on 157 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 3: smoking and vaping, and whether it's the government failing to 158 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:21,440 Speaker 3: communicate why they've done that, or whether they are truly 159 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 3: in the pocket of business interests, that's where they've been vulnerable. 160 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:33,160 Speaker 3: And I think there's a public feeling that Casey Costello, yeah, 161 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 3: certainly hasn't one of the strongest cabinet performers. And yeah, 162 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:42,960 Speaker 3: I think she's been lucky to survive, largely because she's 163 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 3: not a National Party minister, and so Luxon hasn't had 164 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:51,800 Speaker 3: the ability to demote her like he might have if 165 00:10:51,800 --> 00:10:56,120 Speaker 3: she was a national MP. Essentially she is protected by 166 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,240 Speaker 3: being a protege or under the wing of Winston Peters. 167 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 2: What about Luxeon, do you think he's ever going to 168 00:11:03,679 --> 00:11:07,839 Speaker 2: live down taking that accommodation allowance so early on that was. 169 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 3: Indeed quite a tarnishing of his reputation, and of course 170 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:15,880 Speaker 3: in the biggest scheme of things, you know, it might 171 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:20,719 Speaker 3: seem like a small amount of money that he was 172 00:11:20,760 --> 00:11:24,560 Speaker 3: saying he was entitled to and initially claiming, but it 173 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:28,560 Speaker 3: did resonate with people that worried that the government might 174 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 3: be too arrogant and too focused on personal aggrandizement or 175 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:40,319 Speaker 3: their own financial interests. And Luxeon himself was obviously quite 176 00:11:40,400 --> 00:11:46,880 Speaker 3: shocked by the public reaction and he moved quickly eventually 177 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:51,320 Speaker 3: on it. But yeah, I think it is unfortunate for 178 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 3: him because he is a very wealthy individual and he owns, 179 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,600 Speaker 3: you know what was at least seven houses at one stage, 180 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:01,800 Speaker 3: and so it builds into this public image of him 181 00:12:01,880 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 3: being above society, richer than everyone else. And that's something 182 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:11,320 Speaker 3: that never really hampered John Key when he was Prime Minister. 183 00:12:11,600 --> 00:12:14,960 Speaker 3: He was able to exude an ordinariness that I don't 184 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 3: think Christopher Luxen quite has the ability. 185 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:21,960 Speaker 2: To do so tensions with Maldy. Is this probably the 186 00:12:21,960 --> 00:12:25,120 Speaker 2: biggest fail by the government. I guess more so for 187 00:12:25,240 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 2: lux and for agreeing to table the Treaty Principal's Bill 188 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:29,680 Speaker 2: in the first place. 189 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 3: Right Yeah, I think in the media and the commentariat 190 00:12:34,440 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 3: we have to be very careful about judging this government 191 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 3: on the Treaty Principal's Bill and the recent HIKOI because 192 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 3: they've been so big and colorful and it's dominated the media. 193 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 3: We still don't really know how much that has affected 194 00:12:52,559 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 3: ordinary voters. We still don't know whether having fifty or 195 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 3: eighty thousand people marching in Wellington life, you know, whether 196 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 3: it has tarnished this government or perhaps it might have 197 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:09,880 Speaker 3: even given some sympathy to the government, because you know, 198 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:13,400 Speaker 3: this is an issue that most voters don't really care 199 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:19,680 Speaker 3: that strongly about. Treaty issues. Race relations ethnicity aren't, according 200 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,840 Speaker 3: to any polls anyhow, very high on the lists of 201 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 3: people's main concerns. Mostly they're concerned about the economy, healthcare, education, 202 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,880 Speaker 3: and it's become a bit of a cultural of course, 203 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 3: But we still don't know how that affects the more 204 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:41,840 Speaker 3: centrist or swing voter. And yes, there's a lot of 205 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 3: us that are very interested in this issue, but it 206 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 3: could be the case that most New Zealanders don't rarely 207 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 3: have a strong opinion or necessarily see this as the 208 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,720 Speaker 3: big mistake on either David Seymour or Christopher Luxon's part. 209 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:02,199 Speaker 2: Matthew Hordon wrote a scathing critique of Luxon last week 210 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 2: that generated a lot of debate Amongst Harold readers. Here's 211 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 2: just one quote. He said he will remain Prime Minister 212 00:14:08,760 --> 00:14:12,040 Speaker 2: only because he lacks the self awareness to know it 213 00:14:12,080 --> 00:14:14,640 Speaker 2: would be better for New Zealand and his own reputation 214 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 2: to accept he is completely out of his depth. Is 215 00:14:18,400 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 2: any of that fair? 216 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely, especially from the point of view of those 217 00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 3: on the right of politics that feel this government has 218 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:31,360 Speaker 3: not lived up to its reputation. And you know, there 219 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 3: are people in the National Party and around ACT that 220 00:14:35,640 --> 00:14:40,080 Speaker 3: feel that Luxon is far too centrist, far too much 221 00:14:40,160 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 3: underperforming in terms of creating bold new changes. So yeah, 222 00:14:45,800 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 3: I think what Matthew Houghton said will resonate with a 223 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 3: lot of people on the right, but also yes, people 224 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,800 Speaker 3: on the left as well like to see the Prime 225 00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 3: Minister being criticized by someone like Matthew Houghton. So even 226 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:01,720 Speaker 3: though we've got a whole situation at the moment in 227 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:04,600 Speaker 3: New Zealand and this has been a very polarizing year 228 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 3: in politics, it's not necessarily a simple left right polarization. 229 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 3: There are people in all parts of the political spectrum 230 00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 3: that aren't necessarily thinking that this government has delivered. 231 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,120 Speaker 5: I think it's gone. We've done a good job. Actually, 232 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 5: I think over the last year there's been a lot 233 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 5: of challenge for us. We've inherited and we're working through 234 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:30,280 Speaker 5: some pretty tough and difficult times. But you know, the 235 00:15:30,280 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 5: way that the coalition government has been formed, the way 236 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:34,880 Speaker 5: that we've got the right ministers and the right assignments 237 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,680 Speaker 5: for the right clarity about what they're there to do. 238 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:39,800 Speaker 5: I knowledge it's tough, but I think we're making progress 239 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:40,800 Speaker 5: and I think the plan's working. 240 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:45,960 Speaker 2: And what do you think are the big challenges in 241 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 2: the next couple of years ahead. 242 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 3: Well, this government still hasn't really stamped its mark to 243 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 3: say what they're about. We still don't really have any 244 00:15:58,160 --> 00:16:04,080 Speaker 3: great kind of ideological indepinds, branding or vision of what 245 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 3: this government's going to achieve. I mean, we hear that 246 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:09,960 Speaker 3: Nikola willis and the next budget is going to deal 247 00:16:10,120 --> 00:16:13,240 Speaker 3: with economic growth. They're going to bring in a lot 248 00:16:13,320 --> 00:16:17,080 Speaker 3: more of the social investment program. It's yet to be 249 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:20,040 Speaker 3: seen whether that's going to resonate with people. And in 250 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 3: the end, you know that they're going to be fighting 251 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:25,840 Speaker 3: some of those cultural wars that we've seen, especially around 252 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 3: the Treaty. You know that's going to give this government 253 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 3: a lot of challenges because we're now seeing where the 254 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,120 Speaker 3: resistance is coming to this government. 255 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 2: Now. 256 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 3: When they first came into power, I sort of wondered, well, 257 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 3: who's going to be leading the fight back against this government. 258 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:47,760 Speaker 3: To some extent, it's been the parties in Parliament, but 259 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 3: I don't think they've been particularly strong. I wondered whether 260 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 3: it was going to be the public service, the government 261 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,720 Speaker 3: departments that would feel aggrieved about some of the reforms 262 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,200 Speaker 3: this government are doing and as well as that all 263 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 3: the cutbacks to departments. But it hasn't really been the 264 00:17:01,840 --> 00:17:06,719 Speaker 3: public service. Likewise, academia, there's a lot of unhappiness in 265 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 3: the universities, etc. And the education system about this government, 266 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:14,320 Speaker 3: but they don't really seem to be leading it. Leading 267 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 3: the resistance that is the media I think leading it 268 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 3: to some extent, but in the end it's turned out 269 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:24,040 Speaker 3: to be Ewi Tiao Mai in general are the main 270 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:28,120 Speaker 3: sort of focus for challenging this government, and of course 271 00:17:28,160 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 3: you're having lots of other sectors that are sort of 272 00:17:30,520 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 3: piggybacking on. But on top of the Hecoy etc. That's 273 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,199 Speaker 3: going to continue over the next two years, I'm not 274 00:17:37,359 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 3: sure it's going to be a huge disadvantage to the government. 275 00:17:41,480 --> 00:17:45,480 Speaker 3: Sometimes governments like to have enemies that they can then 276 00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:50,359 Speaker 3: I guess demonize or get some sympathy because they're being 277 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 3: hated on by those movements. So yep, the next two years, 278 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 3: I think critics are going to point out some of 279 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:05,120 Speaker 3: the vested interests, the lack of integrity in the way 280 00:18:05,160 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 3: that this coalition government is operating. Those on the right 281 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 3: are going to complain about the lack of reforms, so 282 00:18:12,240 --> 00:18:15,000 Speaker 3: the government really has to be more than a do nothing, 283 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:16,159 Speaker 3: tinkering government. 284 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:24,280 Speaker 2: Thanks for joining us, Bryce, Thanks Chelsea. That's it for 285 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:27,440 Speaker 2: this episode of the Front Page. You can read more 286 00:18:27,440 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 2: about today's stories and extensive news coverage at enzadherld dot 287 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 2: co dot nz. The Front Page is produced by Ethan 288 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:39,720 Speaker 2: Sells and Richard Martin, who is also a sound engineer. 289 00:18:40,240 --> 00:18:44,639 Speaker 2: I'm Chelsea Daniels. Subscribe to the front page on iHeartRadio 290 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 2: or wherever you get your podcasts, and tune in tomorrow 291 00:18:48,480 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 2: for another look behind the headlines.