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This week's Politics Friday Election Special focused on the Ilam electorate. The candidates, Labour's Rata Jamieson and National's Hamish Campbell made their pitch to become the next local MP. They discussed their backgrounds before entering politics and outlined how they would tackle the key issues facing the Ilam electorate, from student housing to the noise contour that peaks through the electorate, courtesy of Christchurch International Airport. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT Leader David Seymour said it's "very possible" he'd ask to be Finance Minister if the coalition was re-elected.  Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Seymour told John MacDonald it's possible the current holder of the Finance portfolio, Nicola Willis, may not be returned to Parliament. "First of all will she get another term? That's why we've actually got to win the election first".  Seymour served as Associate Minister of Finance this term. They also discussed his party's policies, what he thinks about a Christchurch school that's won a Ministry of Education contract to cook their own free school lunches, and what ACT can offer Canterbury voters. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A controversial review of Wānaka’s FitGym has made headlines this week, criticising the way some female gym-goers were dressed.  As well as complaining about the $59 sign-up fee, the reviewer declared that “too many women dressed like they’re working in a strip club”. Carla De Nijs is the founder of the women-only gym Tru The Real You, which recently opened a Christchurch location. She joined John MacDonald to react to the review and discuss why dedicated spaces for women continue to play an important role in helping people feel comfortable and confident while exercising. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rollickin’ Gelato founder Jed Joyce joined John MacDonald in studio to give him a taste of the seven pun-filled flavours competing in the 2026 Rollickin’ Scoop Poll. Some of the flavours include Blueberry Lux (Christopher Luxon), Orange Choc Chippy (Chris Hipkins), and the current leader of the poll, David Smore (David Seymour). Joyce told Canterbury Mornings the Scoop Poll is all about having a bit of fun while encouraging people to vote in the upcoming election. He said his biggest takeaway from running the poll has been the chance to meet politicians in person to see what they're really like. "When you actually meet them in real life it kind of demystifies them, you see that they are just real people, and they do believe that they're making a difference in New Zealand". LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I could be wrong, but I reckon Labour leader Chris Hipkins might have already had a tip-off about this new poll result out today when he dropped-in for a chat yesterday. Because he was fired up. And, during the ad breaks, he told me he was enjoying our somewhat robust discussion. Even though some people thought I was giving him too much of a hard time. But, if he didn’t know about the poll results when I saw him yesterday, he’ll be even more fired up today. With the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll result painting a pretty rosy picture for Labour. But it will have some people scratching their heads. Especially, in relation to National - which is already writing this result off, saying it’s rogue. Because today’s poll has support for the National Party dropping below 25 percent to 24.8 percent. Remembering it was just a week ago, when the 1News-Verian poll had National on 32 percent. So I agree, in part. I think today’s result for National is rogue. Because how can you have one poll one week saying they’re at 32 percent and another the next week saying they have less than 25 percent support? Granted. A different poll. But, even then, that’s too extreme for me to believe. But what is consistent in today’s numbers, is Labour coming out on top as the most popular party - with 30.6 percent support. The Greens, by the way, are on 14.5 percent; ACT is on 10.1 percent; NZ First is on 9.9 percent; and Opportunity is on 7.2 percent. But how do these results compare to how you’re seeing things? Or where you see things going in terms of how people are actually going to vote? My pick is that, despite what they might be telling the polling companies, most people will get into the polling booth and decide to give the current lot another three years. That’s my gut instinct. I reckon the majority of voters will think to themselves that, generally, here in New Zealand we give governments two terms to prove themselves. And I think most people will be mindful of that and vote to keep the current coalition. That doesn’t mean, though, that National will be as much of the top dog that it has been for the past three years. The mix will be different. It also doesn’t mean that I think the majority of voters have loved everything the current coalition has done since the last election. But that’s what I’m anticipating. As for the Opportunity Party, which is sitting somewhat comfortably above the 5 percent threshold in today’s poll results at 7.2 percent, I don’t think that part of today’s poll result is rogue. And I’m going to say right now that I think they’ll make it into Parliament. I know there’s no shortage of people writing them off. Saying they’ve already peaked and they won’t make it over 5 percent. But I disagree. So that’s how I see it. My gut tells me that, despite today’s poll result, the current coalition will be in government for the next three years. With Opportunity in the mix in some way, shape or form. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour’s idea of helping people living in state houses get into the property market is one of those things that might sound good or feel good, but doesn’t take into account a whole lot of practicalities. Which anyone who has actually owned a home will know about. Anyone taking part in Labour’s scheme would have $100 from their state house rent deposited into a trust account each week and, once there was enough for a 5 percent deposit, they could use it to buy the house they live in. Murray Edridge runs the Wellington City Mission. He’s quite enthusiastic about it because he reckons the deposit is the big hurdle. But saving for the deposit through this scheme is one thing. Paying the mortgage off on an ongoing basis is another. That’s if someone living in a state house could even get a mortgage in the first place. Not to mention the other costs that come with owning a home. Rates. Maintenance. Insurance. Because, let’s say someone did get enough for a deposit through this scheme, they would have done it with a portion of their rent being kept aside by the state. Very different when you’re the one with the mortgage. Tell that to Murray Edridge from the City Mission in Wellington, though. He says he’s seen something similar to this work before and he reckons it could work again. This is the Family Benefit Capitalisation Scheme, which let families with kids get their Family Benefit payments in advance in a lump sum, which they could then use for either a deposit on their first home, put towards building a new house, or use for necessary structural additions or repairs. The difference to what Labour is proposing is that scheme, which ran from 1958 until 1986, was available to everyone, not just people living in state houses. By the way, in case you’re wondering how this fits with Labour’s criticisms of state houses being sold, its housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says they’ve thought about that. And, for every state house sold to a tenant, they’d replace it with three new ones. He reckons there are 1,100 tenants who could, eventually, be in a position to buy. So that would be 3,300 new state houses that Labour would have to build over time as well. While I would like to like this policy, I think it’s one of those feel-good ideas that promises way more than it can deliver. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour Party Leader Chris Hipkins joined John MacDonald as he hits the campaign trail in Christchurch. Hipkins discussed what Labour is offering voters in Canterbury, including the party's key policies and its latest rent-to-buy scheme for state house tenants. He also outlined where Labour's policies align with those of the Green Party if they are to form a potential coalition with them after Novembers election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins spent two hours with Mike Hosking this morning and did nothing to convince me to vote Labour. He’s had a political week from hell. Just when he probably thought Labour’s gang connections were so 2023, MPs and candidates from Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have been caught hanging out with gang members during the current campaign. Mike asked him if it had blown his chances. Not surprisingly, he said it hadn’t, saying he had handled the situation “decisively”. He would say that, of course. But I agree with him. Sort of. I don’t think it’s going to be enough to put people off voting Labour if they had already been thinking of voting for Labour. But anyone undecided may be thinking twice. Especially given the defiant way the Greens and Te Pāti Māori have dealt with it. And given the reputation Labour had last time it was in Government, rightly or wrongly, that it was sympathetic to gangs. Which is why the biggest job for Chris Hipkins is to convince voters that Labour is worth another shot. Hipkins said this morning that it is. Because he’s not going to over-promise, acknowledging that that’s what Labour did last term, and isn’t going to bite off more than the party can chew. And good on him for admitting that. I also think that’s something every Government can be accused of. But that, right there, is also the problem with Chris Hipkins and Labour this election. It’s not selling the sizzle. None of the parties are, to be fair. But this morning was Chris Hipkins’ chance to do it. But all he told us was that his top priority, if he forms the next Government, is to stay on top of the workload. Would you ever have heard that kind of talk from Barack Obama or John F. Kennedy? Or, even, David Lange? He was never going to get away with Covid not coming up for discussion. He said he had fully co-operated with the inquiry into the Covid response. Saying several times that he did actually turn up to the inquiry. It’s just that the cameras weren’t necessarily there. And he said he didn’t think he could have done any more. Yes, he did. The question now, though, is whether Hipkins has done enough to convince you that Labour is worth your vote. He hasn’t convinced me. What about you? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The operator of One New Zealand Stadium admits work needs to be done to keep guests cool when events are held on warmer days. Concerns were raised after areas of the roofed stadium reached 32 degrees over the long weekend, despite the temperature outdoors being in the mid-twenties. Venues Ōtautahi CEO Caroline Harvie-Teare denied there's any design flaws with the 656-million-dollar stadium, and told Newstalk ZB's Canterbury Mornings her team is looking at ways to make the stadium experience cooler for fans. "Maybe we do need to look at certain times of the day which we make the venue unavailable, you know, if it is going to be warmer, we can't be playing sport in the daytime." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong joined John MacDonald to discuss her party's chances of entering Parliament and potentially holding the balance of power after the election. They also discussed Opportunity’s flagship policies, potential coalition negotiations as Christopher Luxon continues to rule her party out, and what the party can offer Christchurch voters. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's Politics Friday Election Special focused on the Wigram electorate. The candidates, Labour's Dominik Yanzick and National's Tracy Summerfield made their pitch to become the next local MP. They discussed their backgrounds before entering politics and outlined how they would tackle the key issues facing the newly redrawn Wigram electorate. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are two types of people in the world. There are the ones who would run a mile if someone was breaking into their house. And there are the ones who would stick around and take them on. My house, my castle. All of that. They’re the ones NZ First is trying to appeal to with its promise to look into strengthening self-defence laws. So people can defend themselves and their property without fear of prosecution. It’s part of the party’s overall law & order policy for next month’s election. Which includes things such as ‘life means life’ prison sentences. But it’s the self-defence bit that I think this is very dangerous. Of the two types of people I mentioned before, I’m somewhere in the middle. I know right now that if someone was breaking into my place, generally, I’d get out of there. But if any members of my family were being threatened, then, of course, I would stick around and do whatever I needed to do or could do to protect them. Nevertheless, I’m not a fan of what Winston Peters wants to do. Pretty much for the same reason I’m against the change to the citizens arrest laws. By making it easier for people to carry out a citizens arrest, we are putting people at risk of getting injured or worse when they take on an offender. The exact same thing if we go changing the self-defence laws, that will only lead to people putting themselves in very dangerous situations. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t give two hoots about the crims getting injured. It’s the self-defenders that NZ First is going into bat for, that I’m concerned about. Because you think about your average burglar or home invader. What’s their motivation? You can pretty much guarantee that a lot, if not most, of the people who break into other people’s houses are doing it to support a drug habit. Which means the only thing they care about is doing whatever they can do or need to do to get their next hit. How do you think they’re going to react if the person living in the house they’re breaking into takes them on? They’re not going to take kindly to it. Because all they care about is the drugs. What’s more, even with the self-defence laws as they stand at the moment, we have people taking things too far. Remember the case of the farmer who cut off the finger of a teenager who broke into his property? Remember too that there have been cases where homeowners have taken burglars on and have come off second best. Why would we ever consider encouraging that sort of carry-on? Which is exactly what NZ First wants to do. It might sound good to some. But I think it would be a very dangerous move. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon’s ongoing refusal to work with The Opportunity Party is looking sillier by the day. Maybe it’s reached peak-silliness with this new poll out today, which shows that Luxon’s own supporters think he’s doing the wrong thing. As well as nearly 50 percent of business leaders who took part in the NZ Herald’s Mood of the Boardroom survey. The Freshwater Strategy poll found that 57 percent of National voters want him to change his position. And just 35 percent of his supporters want him stick to his position, even if it means costing National the election. How pig-headed is that? But then if those 35 percent are seeing their man being so pig-headed, we probably shouldn’t be surprised that they are too. But the majority of National voters, according to this new poll, think that Luxon is doing the wrong thing. I think he is too. I don’t give two hoots about his political career. But I think, at the very least, he should be saying that he’ll let the voters decide who they want him to work with. I think he should go further than that and go whole hog and rule-in Opportunity. Because it’s not just National voters talking to the polling companies who want him to have a re-think. When he was at an event in Wigram, a National voter was telling him straight that he was doing the wrong thing ruling-out Opportunity. Yesterday, he was having his ear chewed again at a cowshed meeting with farmers. Iain Wright was one of the local farmers and he was saying he wanted Luxon to come out and say that he would work with Opportunity, to avoid National ending up in opposition. He said if Luxon doesn’t change his tune, he sees Opportunity forming a government with the left. And that’s the last thing he wants. Remember, though, that Christopher Luxon is the guy who was asked during one of the leaders debates to say when he’d last changed his mind on something. And he said he couldn’t remember. That’s the kind of attitude that I bet has his National colleagues at their wits end. He’ll be getting under the skin of his coalition partners too. Especially, when they see the latest NZ Herald poll of polls saying that the likelihood of Labour, the Green Party and the Opportunity Party being able to form the next government is almost as likely as the current coalition being re-elected. What’s more, this new poll doesn’t just show that the majority of National voters think he’s doing the wrong thing. Many ACT and NZ First voters do too. In the same poll out today, 56 percent of ACT voters and 51 percent of NZ First voters spoken to said they were in favour of the door being opened to Opportunity, as well. Because they can see it all going pear-shaped for them and seeing their parties out in the cold come the day after the election. All because the leader of the National Party can’t see that he’s boxing himself into a corner. And can’t bring himself to change his mind. But what good is a mind, Christopher, if you can’t change it? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joined John MacDonald to chat about the current campaign. They discussed the party's view on gangs, their incoming fiscal plan, and why the party believe they can turn the Christchurch Central electorate green. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger says he is sceptical of modelling which claims councils could face billions of dollars in funding shortfalls if they proceed with the Government's proposed 4% rates cap from 2027. Speaking to Canterbury Mornings, Mauger said his council is constantly looking at cheaper ways of competing projects. "We're not having any reductions in the levels of service." The modelling commissioned by the Public Service Association suggests Greater Christchurch could see revenue reductions of between $80 million and $458 million over a seven-year period from 2027. Mauger also discussed his eagerness to build a commuter rail platform in the city, the councils work to open up car parks for hospital workers at Parakiore, and how the city is preparing to capitalise on the 2032 Brisbane Olympic games. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.