GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO Q+A. I'M SUSAN WOOD. ON THE PROGRAMME THIS SUNDAY ` THE BLOODSHED CONTINUES AFTER A CEASEFIRE FAILS IN GAZA. WE SPEAK TO FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER MURRAY MCCULLY, PLUS LABOUR'S SPOKESMAN AND FORMER UN WORKER DAVID SHEARER. ALSO ON THE PROGRAMME ` DOES MONEY BUY HAPPINESS? THE ECONOMISTS SAYING WE SHOULD LOOK BEYOND GDP TO MEASURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS AND START FOCUSSING ON HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING INSTEAD. WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK WITH DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR MICHAEL PARKIN AND ANALYSE ALL THE ISSUES WITH OUR PANEL ` POLITICAL SCIENTIST DR CLAIRE ROBINSON, BLOGGER DAVID FARRAR AND FIRST UNION GENERAL SECRETARY ROBERT REID. DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF Q+A, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. GOOD TO HAVE YOU WITH US. TO THE WEEK IN POLITICS ` AND, MICHAEL, AFTER BEING SNUBBED ON MONDAY, THE CONSERVATIVES HIT BACK ON FRIDAY. HERE'S LEADER COLIN CRAIG. A COUPLE OF HOURS OUT OF TOWN IS THE LOCHINVAR STATION. SOME OF YOU MAY KNOW IT. LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S GONE ON IN SECRET. IT'S BEEN SOLD WHO TO? SHANGHAI PENXIN. MICHAEL, COLIN CRAIG IS TAKING ON WINSTON PETERS HERE, ISN'T HE? Colin Craig took the Winston Peters issue and took it to Winston Peters' audience. Winston Peters retains his relevance. AND THE GOVERNMENT'S FIX-IT MAN, STEPHEN JOYCE, ANNOUNCED HE WOULD TAKE OVER THE NOVOPAY SCHOOL PAYROLL SYSTEM AFTER YEARS OF TROUBLES. WELL, I THINK THEY GOT ABOUT AS FAR AS THEY COULD GO WITH IT AND WEREN'T PREPARED TO MAKE FURTHER CHANGES WITHIN THE CONTRACTS THAT WE HAD SET UP. THIS HAS BEEN A MESS FROM START TO FINISH, HASN'T IT, MICHAEL? It's done a lot of damage. They thought there was going to do more damage. This is not something Stephen Joyce wanted to deal with. Hopefully off the radar for awhile AND THE FAREWELL SPEECHES HAVE BEGUN IN PARLIAMENT THIS WEEK. HEALTH MINISTER TONY RYALL WAS ONE OF THOSE GIVING HIS VALEDICTORY SPEECH. he has kept the lid on the DHBs. AND HERE'S A TASTE OF WHAT TONY RYALL HAD TO SAY IN HIS VALEDICTORY SPEECH. THE PRIME MINISTER ALSO GAVE ME THE JOB AS MINISTER OF HEALTH. I'VE GOT TO SAY THIS HAS BEEN THE BEST JOB IN THE GOVERNMENT. YOU WORK WITH QUALITY PEOPLE EVERY DAY WHO ARE DEDICATED TO THE WELFARE OF NZERS. AND I WAKE UP MOST MORNINGS, AND I TURN TO MY WIFE AND SAY, (GROANS)... 'IMAGINE BEING MINISTER OF EDUCATION.' RAUCOUS LAUGHTER IT TOOK JUST THREE HOURS FOR THE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA TO FAIL AND THE BLOODSHED TO BEGIN AGAIN. ISRAEL HAS MADE IT CLEAR IT WILL CONTINUE ITS OFFENSIVE AS LONG AS IT DEEMS NECESSARY. LABOUR'S FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON DAVID SHEARER RAN HUMANITARIAN OPERATIONS FOR THE UN IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA. HE JOINS MICHAEL NOW. David Shearer, you spent four years in Jerusalem. One of my colleagues said he spent time in Gaza. It was so horrible. People can't understand the terror. Outside, bombs are falling. It is truly terrifying. It is completely unacceptable that the civilian areas and that of Gaza ` schools and other places ` I been targeted as a result of this campaign. What would you do as foreign minister? I said emphatically that what Israel was doing was in disproportionate and indiscriminate. Some of what they are doing is bordering on war crimes. We need a ceasefire. That ceasefire wasn't enough. You cannot keep and maintain people in a tiny little wee strip. What New Zealand needs to be doing is putting its four is out there. We are in the international community. We stand up for independent foreign policy and human rights. It's about taking those decisions and saying those things When events like this happen. The Greens are calling for the ambassador to be expelled from New Zealand. Do you support that? The disadvantage when you do that is that you don't have an avenue to voice your opinion back to the Israeli government. There is something to look down the track. New Zealand's position is that this is completely unacceptable. Is there a reluctance on the government's part to do that because Israel is supporting the Security Council? At the end of the day, we have to stand up for what is right. Something like this, which violates human rights law, if we are not a vocally saying this is completely unacceptable, I don't believe the government has done enough. To some extent, it is largely because of the mechanations of the US and Israel. New Zealanders in as a clean player in the world. We have to say this is unacceptable. We need to have a ceasefire. We need to address the fact that for nearly 50 years now, Palestine has been occupied by Israel. This is breeding the Extremism that we are seeing at the moment. Are we making noises to a satisfactory level? I don't think so. We need to be emphatic. We need to invest ourselves. Any products that come out of the occupied Territories which Israelis living illegally - we should be stopping those. The Malaysian diplomat ` if the diplomat had left the country, what difference does it make? Murray McCullyhas started an investigation into why he has left the country. He was told about it. He got an e-mail about it. He said there were problems about opening the e-mail because he was travelling. He was in New York. There was a is Visa card about Internet connection in the room. When you start making excuses about inability to cope with that situation, then those excuses are failing, you need to take a look at yourself andtake responsibility for it. This investigation is doing everything except looking at him. Do you think the government is delaying the return of the diplomats until after the election? It's difficult to understand what's happening within Malaysia. It is complicated. The government should be coming up and telling us what is going on, not justrefusing to answer. Some journalists have asked the question. We have asked the question. We haven't heard anything. Finally, you have been quite prominent because of this case and because of Gaza do you regret giving up the Labour leadership? We've got one leader. The have regrets in life, but you get on with it. SEND US YOUR THOUGHTS. WE'RE ON TWITTER AT NZQANDA. YOU CAN EMAIL US AT Q+A@TVNZ.CO.NZ. OR TEXT YOUR THOUGHTS AND FIRST NAME TO 2211. EACH TEXT COSTS 50 CENTS. FOREIGN MINISTER MURRAY MCCULLY IS HERE AFTER THE BREAK. AND LATER WE LOOK BACK IN POLITICAL HISTORY. THIS WEEK A FUNERAL FOR A NZ PRIME MINISTER WITH AN IMPROMPTU HAKA FROM A NOTORIOUS GANG. SO WE HEARD DAVID SHEARER BEFORE THE BREAK URGING THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A STRONGER STAND ON ISRAEL. MICHAEL'S WITH THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER MURRAY MCCULLY. A jetlagged Minister thank you for joining me. If the government holding back on this crisis between Hamas and Israel? What we're seeing in Gaza is a human tragedy unfolding. What's worse is that it's a man-made tragedy. The Israeli ambassador called in two weeks ago to convey formally the New Zealand government's views in we are concerned about toll of civilian casualties in Palestine. It's been sitting language that you're using. Shouldn't we put our hands up and take a leadership role in this? It's not about the Security Council seat. It's about a whole lot of people being killed in Gaza. We've been very clear that this is an unacceptable tragedy. When you see schools being shelled and being used to store Hamas rockets they are war crimes, aren't they? There is a legal definition around that so I'm not going to buy into it. It's a man-made human tragedy. The Security Council hasn't been able to deal with it. I'm hopeful we will see Israel take this into its own hands in terms of a unilateral withdrawal in the next few days. They are saying that's not going to be the case. I'm not sure that is what he is saying. It would be preferable to see the ceasefire stick, but it didn't. I expressed concern about the durability of it at the time. I'm hoping that Israel will pull out. The Israeli ambassador you spoke to him, and the Greens said to kick him out of the country. Would you entertain that? It requires a formal communication from the New Zealand government and formally conveying New Zealand's views. We are looking at updating our views with the Israeli ambassador. It's much better to have him here we are he can hear our views and express them back to Israel. We're afraid of being less than evenhanded and fear about the issue. We want to ensure that the killing stops. Using immoderate language doesn't solve anything. This is a time for people to exercise some calm diplomacy to try and find a way through something that has been unsolvable for a long time. The tragedy is that we were seeing real progress being made and that process has been pulled apart at the moment. The clock is ticking on this. There is only a fine out amount of time and that is running out. The security council campaign how was it going? We haven't talked numbers but we have a good brand and reputation in New Zealand. I weather front runner? No we're not we're up against two very big in much better resourced competitors Spain and Turkey. We had to do the yards to make sure our candidature is understood and appreciated. You mentioned resources - Australia had $30 million for the campaign. Is that what we have? No. We don't have a special budget for it. There must be some sort of figure via. It's inside our existing budget. In terms of our budget, we've been handing big 20 odd million a year. And it was a reduced budget to start with. We're doing this on an oily rag. We're a country that can't buy our way on to the Security Council. We need to use our assets which are good brand and reputation. We do have to compensate for weaknesses you mentioned people on the road and a reputation. MFAT has been found wanting over the case of this Malaysia and diplomat. Clearly there are some problems with the ministry. Mr Shearer and his comments are in danger of trivialising a very serious matter. The Ministry of foreign affairs was communicating with the Malaysians government. We believed this was taking place but at the end of the process that became clear that the communications were not being carried out in the way that we expected. We're having a formal enquiry to get to the bottom of that. It's a serious issue and we can't have it. We need to understand how it happened. The Malaysians diplomat will be back sometime soon in New Zealand. The Malaysians Minister and government are acting completely on the basis that they can have faith in the New Zealand judicial system. We understand that, but when will he return? This month, next month? There is a careful legal process. The Malaysians government needs to have confidence that we're going to follow this issue through carefully. I've told the Malaysians government he will get a fair trial in New Zealand. Are you concerned he might not? I'm concerned about ensuring people who comment on the matter leave it to the court. Have you given those assurances?When will he be back? The lawyers need to handle this matter. When will he be back in New Zealand? It's completely in the hands of the lawyers. I've been told it's something the lawyers are conducting very carefully. That's good enough for me. I was overseas travelling and working to secure the security council seat. Many of these things are on the Internet. My job is to try and make sure that the Malaysians government can have confidence in our system. I'm not getting tied up in a domestic debate. We should not trivialise what is an important issue here. She said it was embarrassing and but the sick the way you try to blame officials. What is your response? I accepted responsibility for the ministry's actions. I was going to go through a thorough process to find out what had gone wrong. She looks at this in terms of a wider issue. The system doesn't take sexual assault cases seriously. Is there a problem in the system? The ministry clearly communicated with the Malaysians government on the basis that was different from what was authorised by the New Zealand government. That is a serious matter and we should follow it through carefully. Your ministerial review doesn't actually call you or your office into account. It is focused on MFAT. The review will do whatever it wants to do. There is no constraints placed upon him. The fact is that I didn't know what had happened here. The ministry was doing something that was different from what the government believed is something that we should enquire into and make sure it doesn't happen again. Why didn't you open the e-mail? I didn't get the e-mail. An overworked staff member didn't open the e-mail until after the matter became a public issue. Is that good enough? I'm not going to criticise individuals on this. There is a formal process at the ministry should have used and they didn't use it. They can't expect all of my staff to open every e-mail when we're travelling. This is a proper process for communicating with my office. It wasn't followed. Do you think if there are serious shortcomings, your resignation may be in order? I've said from the beginning it's not time to talk about resignations or accountability until we know what the facts are. The review needs to be done without undue interference. The head of the protocol division was recently appointed as the next Brazilian ambassador. Would she still take on that role? That will be looked at in the review. I don't know what's in the review. We have a proper process but we can't prejudge it. A very senior public service will conduct the review. When the Ministry of foreign affairs communicates on the basis to another government which is different than the way the New Zealand government has mandated it. Finally, Colin Craig's statements about the Lochinvar station do they make New Zealand look like we're xenophobic? Mr Craig needs to take responsibility for his own statements. In the foreign world that you deal in, does that damage our appearance? Naturally. We have a set of rules which apply to people from all other countries. It is unfortunate when people decide to identify investors from one country and single out for attention. The same rules need to apply to all other countries. We do want to show international credibility. East coast bays - you could still pull out at the end of the month of the polls take a dive. I had a campaign launch about two weeks ago. I've made it pretty clear for a long time that I intend to do what I've done in previous elections which is campaign hard to win the confidence as far as I'm concerned, there's no chance of me pulling out of this race. I've been saying that for months and no one's taken any notice. Maybe people will accept the Prime Minister's definitive statement that we are campaigning to win East coast bays. OUR PANEL'S BACK AFTER THE BREAK. AND LATER ` HOW'S LIFE TREATING YOU? THE ECONOMIST WHO SAYS IT'S TIME NZ MOVED BEYOND GDP TO PROMOTE REAL HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING. LET'S GO TO OUR PANEL NOW ` POLITICAL SCIENTIST DR CLAIRE ROBINSON FROM MASSEY UNIVERSITY, KIWIBLOG EDITOR DAVID FARRAR, AND FIRST UNION GENERAL SECRETARY ROBERT REID. Let me start with you Roberts. David Shearer said the mouse that roared which is New Zealand's needs to roared louder with regard to Israel. What's your view? 8 New Zealand has to have a stronger line and make absolutely certain that's what is happening in Gaza is beyond the pale. 1500 people dead and 9000 injured. Being bombed every day of the week. New Zealand has to step up and say no more. They had to get over this thing about on one hand Israel, on one hand Hamas. Israel has to be made to account for what has happened. I disagree that it's all on one side. This is an area he's an expert on David Shearer. New Zealand might be going soft on Israel because of security council - it's quite the opposite. Israel is the pariah of the UN. We've forgotten about Syria we're more people are dying. The travellers at the long-term issues. The short-term issues came about... It was so unnecessary. Some conflicts were inevitable but this was not one of them. Claire, he's giving us the real package. He didn't rule out leadership David Shearer. When David Shearer was appointed as leader of the Labour Party, it was on the basis of the fact that he had a back story and a genuine commitment to a lot of Labour values articulated through his life and his experiences. He would be buoyed by the Labour Party's poor polling over the last couple of months because everyone is saying that under Shearer's leadership we were upper mid 30s. Keep watching David Shearer. If Labour doesn't make it into government after the election, there's a good chance he'll put his hand up the leadership. Absolutely. If you look at the polls, he went out high is preferred PM. It's not up to the caucus. If he stands, can he get the support from the members in the unions. The pole man and the spin woman are interviewing their typewriters. That was a great performance. David Cunliffe knows that he has a good performer in Shearer. Grant Robertson gave a good performance yesterday. Looking at the frontbench computer national's frontbench, Labour for once is sitting in a place where it can say it can match across the house every one of those people. It's great these people are performing well, but let's not try and invent another Coup will suggest that. I thinkPaul David Cunliffe. He has only been given 12 months to pull this party together. He is on notice within the party. There are lots of people out there trying to start positioning for a post-September when they are going to look at who will be the next leader. Murray McCully is also under pressure. Not only on Israel but the Malaysia and diplomat. Nothing has been good for the government about this. The longer it drags on without a breakthrough then people are thinking how many days will display. Now at this weeks and might be longer than that. The government would be very happy if that diplomat was returned. The more there is public talk in New Zealand, the lawyers for the Malaysians diplomat will be saying he cannot get at the trial in New Zealand. I still can't understand how the one Cabinet minister we have in the national party who is a micromanager doesn't even get to his department says he didn't know about this. It's beyond belief. Yes, here's a micromanager. He talked a lot in the interview about process. He talked about a calibrated process in Gaza. I think this is one of those bizarre instances we are his office was genuinely surprised by it. It does come back to McCully in a different way. A lot of the problems we've seen in this episode are a result of the restructure he did two years ago. A whole stream of really experienced people was removed from the Ministry. There has been a vacuum in some areas of expertise. Processes aren't understood as well as they were in the old days. Perhaps some people have been appointed to positions in which they weren't trained. I was reading something talking about the low morale and lack of levels within MFAT. There is still unhappiness there. They talked about how they have a need to know policy. The chief executive must always be in the loop. If it's more than just one department that thinks they don't have to tell the Chief Executive, there's definitely a need for change. The Chief Executive was the first non-diplomat to be the Sec of foreign affairs. And Simon Murdoch's days, nothing like this would have happened. When you bring in a manager or a leader is chief executive, that is when you expose the ministry to risks. AFTER THE BREAK ` LIVING THE GOOD LIFE. WHY ECONOMISTS ARE MOVING BEYOND INCOME TO MEASURE ECONOMIC SUCCESS. THE NZ PROFESSOR WHO SAYS NZ COULD LEAD THE WAY. THAT'S NEXT. YOU CAN'T BUY HAPPINESS, SO THEY SAY. BUT FOR YEARS, GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT ` HOW MUCH WE EARN AS A COUNTRY ` HAS BEEN THE KEY FOCUS FOR MEASURING HOW WELL WE'RE DOING. BUT IN RECENT YEARS, SOME ECONOMISTS HAVE BEEN URGING POLITICIANS TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A BROADER RANGE OF FACTORS THAT MAKE US HAPPY. WELLBEING OR HAPPINESS ECONOMICS IS TAKING HOLD IN MANY COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UK AND FRANCE. THE OECD HAS A 'BETTER LIFE INITIATIVE', AND OUR OWN TREASURY HAS BEGUN LOOKING AT WELLBEING MARKERS TOO. IN A NEW BOOK ` WELLBEING ECONOMICS ` LINCOLN UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS PAUL DALZIEL AND CAROLINE SAUNDERS ARGUE NZ COULD LEAD THE WAY IN PROMOTING THIS NEW WAY OF THINKING. PROFESSOR DALZIEL JOINS ME NOW. Good morning. HOW DO YOU DEFINE AND MEASURE WELLBEING ECONOMICS? If the capability of people to create the kind of life they value and have reason to value Being able to go money and productive work, raise their family, passing on values from previous generations being able to read the neighbours, able to carry on living a life that they have reason to value without always worry how they will pay the next bill. We measure a lot of markers, Like life expectancy or GDP. How is this different? That's exactly how it works. Statistics New Zealand has created a framework for this, with a kick Of key indicators like this well-being economics thinks about how communities are doing. So Auckland is doingparticularly well. If Manukau in South Auckland, people are living in poorly insulated houses, despite Auckland doing very well overall. we help those people help themselves to some extent, you are able to point out that people are living in overcrowded, poor isolated homes. That's right. This is not particularly new in other ways. Internationally, there are a lot of work being done in well-being economics. I think what is new is that we have a particular economic history with Rogernomics 30 years ago. We need to get the economy right and then we can think about social issues. You are talking about a reorganisation? an extension. It's about value led growth. Within that means exporting overseas or building new houses and tell. Australia has had for 10 years. Does it create better lives for people? We have actually fallen further behind. Australia has a wider vision of what is trying to achieve in economic policy. I think broadly speaking, there has been a wider understanding of the well-being of Australians, whereas we have concentrated on getting the economy right. The people of Manukau have waited for trickle down for 16 years. Overcrowding in that part of Auckland city has gotten worse. That is not objective. But happiness is. It's about people creating lives that they value. But they must Have reason to value those lives. It's not everybody doingwhat they want for themselves. It's about people in the communities talking to each other. To was the end of the book, we move away from a welfare state towards a well-being state. That is switching a mindset. Doesn't It take people to do that? We do tend to say in Christchurch that we are rebuilding the city. If we strike a problem, what will the government do to help us? We should be thinking about what we can do as a community to exercise leadership to create a city that we in Christchurch value and have reason to value. That's a perfect example of people who have mobilised citizens to help each other through a crisis. It was hard at the start to get the information they needed. How can we help them to exercise leadership in the community rather than the government taking over leadership in thinking it has to solve problemshalf of the people? Treasury have formed a good partenership with statistics New Zealand. This is not about the number of dollars in the economy. IT'S about people participating in schools this early days, but numbers are impressive THE PANEL'S BACK AFTER THE BREAK. AND WE LOOK BACK TO WHAT WAS MAKING POLITICAL NEWS IN 1992 ` A FUNERAL FOR A LONG-SERVING PRIME MINISTER. WELCOME BACK. That was interesting. A John Kennedy. What did you think? It was very interesting. It was interesting that the book came out at a time when a lot of TV programmes are talking about poverty and inequality. I mean, we had the Nigel Latta program last week. These books on inequality coming up as well. One of those books that said of the inequality debate and a spirit level was also talking about how you can't have happiness, even for the rich, if you have these gaps between the rich and the poor. One of the problems in this country is that we have, particularly with the government in power at the moment, inequality denial. If you cannot go to South Auckland and to Mission Bay and see there is a difference, there is something wrong with you. I can see there is a difference. But I am saying that the economy is saying that there is no different than they used to be. The difference came during the Rogernomics era. There is an increase between the rich and the poor cop in this country. Last week, we saw the rich list in the same week as the Nigel Latta program. It was interesting when he was talking and saying that maybe we we should have asked the government to donuts, but we should do it ourselves. That is what unions are. We are well being organisations. But we have a government who was pooh-poohing increasing the minimum wage. They are not letting us help people. At the same time as saying the government should not be helping. The government has increased the minimum wage, but the GDP is not happiness, that's the clear about that. It helps a lot that rich country have options. The question is, how do you make objective? The UN has the HDI. We're not the richest country in the world and GDP. I think we're 21st or something. We have been for six or seven years now, about six on the HDI. This is something that is getting traction. I think the notion of inequality is a concept that is definitely striking a chord, not only in New Zealand, but internationally. I think the thing about Paul's interview that was intriguing is about the things ` how you value other things ` statistics and Treasury are starting to think about how you count things. I know in my experience in the arts, it is hard for the current system to quantify the value of creativity, design ` how they contribute to the economy. This government says its GDP and export led growth. Because of measurable, it makes sense to them. But the un-quantifiable but getting missed out. What you measure is what you get. The great thing about the interview is what Paul is saying is that there is a complete antithesis to that party policy. That really gave us an insight toActs, who says we are all individuals, the community means nothing, and if you do for yourself, if you Cheat around the edges a bit, it doesn't matter because the community does well. Very nice. I was just about to move to act. HERE'S ACT LEADER JAMIE WHYTE ON BREAKFAST THIS WEEK. IF YOU DON'T HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALL JUST TREATED THE SAME AND THEY'RE ALL TRYING TO GET AHEAD ON THE SAME TERMS, SOME PEOPLE IN SOCIETY ARE GIVEN AN ADVANTAGE, AND AS I EXPLAINED IN MY SPEECH AS WELL, THAT ISN'T EVEN GOOD FOR THAT GROUP, OFTEN. Dog whistle politics. Colin Craig has stolen the anti-Asian from Winston Peters. There is some stuff in deal which is good for debate. But how good within the Dame Susan came out,attack them for it? When you are a party on 1%, doesn't matter if people are clobbering you. Act are struggling in the polls. They have been flatlining in the polls. Jamie Whyte is not going to make the cut. He is going to bang any drum he can to make some attention. I think he came third in the contest between Winston Peters and Colin Craig. That means he is going to bang a little bit harder. The Roy Morgan poll out this week ` the collective sigh of relief but a shot in the arm for labour. The thing about the polls is that they do bounce around a lot. The increase to the mean, and it is the mean they have to keep. Labour needs shot in the arm like this so that they` and actually, National needed to. The risk to national is that the gap is so wide and voters won't turn up. The polls, every two weeks. They don't poll one at a time. The poll everyday. Roy Morgan was the lowest for Labour two weeks ago. If you have good coalition partners, that is a shot in the arm. there is a margin of error. Going up and down 1% ` TV channels always talk about doom and gloom for the party. By the end of the campaign, the final polls are pretty accurate. It is not mumbo-jumbo science. Those parties react in terms of if there is a three button that number or if there is a two. How much do polls become self filling prophecy? It can. Don't worry about that poll. Forget the train. Is there a long-term trend? Thank you, panel. BEFORE WE GO, LET'S LOOK BACK AT WHAT WAS MAKING POLITICAL NEWS THIS WEEK IN 1992. AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TURNED OUT FOR THE FUNERAL OF SIR ROBERT MULDOON AT AUCKLAND'S TOWN HALL. HE DIED AGED 70, LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER HE STOOD DOWN FROM PARLIAMENT. RICHARD HARMAN WAS THE REPORTER. SON GAVIN MULDOON LED THE PALL BEARERS CARRYING THE CASKET FROM THE PRIVATE FAMILY SERVICE AT ST THOMAS' CHURCH AT THE TAMAKI ELECTORATE. LADY MULDOON COMFORTED THE FAMILY, AND SIR ROBERT WAS ON HIS WAY TO WHAT ONE CABINET MINISTER CALLED HIS 'LAST BIG AUCKLAND TOWN HALL RALLY'. MOURNERS HAD ALREADY BEGUN FILLING THE HALL AN HOUR BEFORE THE SERVICE. BIG NAMES FROM HIS TIME AS PRIME MINISTER ` MORRIE DAVIS, WHO HEADED AIR NZ; BRIAN TALBOYS, WHO'D BEEN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER; SIR EDMUND HILLARY; SIR HOWARD MORRISON; AND SIR WALLACE ROWLING, WHO LOST TWO ELECTIONS TO SIR ROBERT. INSIDE THE TOWN HALL, AN OLD FRIEND OF SIR ROBERT'S ` FORMER ANGLICAN DEAN OF AUCKLAND JOHN RYMER ` CONDUCTED THE SERVICE. WE HAVE COME TOGETHER TO REMEMBER BEFORE GOD THE LIFE OF ROBERT DAVID MULDOON, TO COMMIT HIS BODY TO BE BURIED AND TO COMFORT THOSE WHO MOURN, WITH OUR SYMPATHY AND OUR LOVE. ALL SING MAORI HYMN THE SERVICE WAS TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT MAORI COMPONENT. THE FIRST EULOGY WAS FROM LONGTIME MAORI COUNCIL CHAIRMAN AND NATIONAL PARTY VICE-PRESIDENT SIR GRAHAM LATIMER. HE REMEMBERED CAMPAIGNING WITH SIR ROBERT. IN THAT PARTICULAR TIME, THERE WAS QUITE A CROWD OF PEOPLE PROTESTING OUTSIDE. SO HE SAID TO ME, 'GO ON OUTSIDE THERE. GRAB AND RUFFLE THEM UP.' ALL CHUCKLE 'AND I'LL COME IN BEHIND AND SMOOTH IT ALL OVER.' ALL LAUGH AND HE REMINDED SIR ROBERT OF HIS SOFTER SIDE. INWARDLY, YOU WANTED TO SEE EVERYBODY SMILE. INWARDLY, YOU WANTED TO SEE EVERYBODY PROSPER. AND THEN A SURPRISE. ALL CHANT HAKA THIS HAKA FROM BLACK POWER, WHOSE PATRON WAS SIR ROBERT. HAKA CONTINUES MARAE IS NEXT, KICKING OFF THE FIRST OF THEIR STORIES ON THE MAORI ELECTORATES. THEY'RE LOOKING AT TE TAI TONGA ` WHAT VOTERS WANT FROM THEIR CANDIDATES. THANKS FOR WATCHING AND THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS. THOSE WERE THE QUESTIONS AND THOSE WERE THE ANSWERS. THAT'S Q+A. SEE YOU NEXT SUNDAY MORNING AT 9. CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND JESSICA BOELL. CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2014