TENA TATOU KATOA, WELCOME TO OUR FAMOUS NEWSHUB NATION LIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOW. SO WHAT IF THERE'S A BY-ELECTION IN HAMILTON! WHO CARES! WE ARE PARTYING IN AUCKLAND WITH THE POLLIES AND THE PUNDITS. THEY'RE WAITING INSIDE WITH HOT TAKES, SHARP TONGUES, LAUGHS AND FESTIVE CHEER, READY TO WRAP THE YEAR IN POLITICS. CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2022 YES, WELCOME INSIDE AND WHAT A YEAR. IT STARTED WITH A PARLIAMENTARY PROTEST AND ENDS WITH THE PREDICTION OF A RECESSION. IT'S A GOOD THIS MORNING WE'VE BROUGHT THE REFRESHMENTS. WE'VE GOT BEER, WINE, AND ORANGE JUICE. AND FACING OFF THROUGH IT ALL, LABOUR'S MICHAEL WOOD AND NATIONAL'S NICOLA WILLIS. THIS IS A SPECIAL TIME OF YEAR FOR YOU, BECAUSE ONCE UPON A TIME, YOU USED TO BE A CHRISTMAS TREE SALESMAN. DO YOU PINE FOR THAT JOB? YOU ARE NEEDLING ME FOR THAT. I PAID MY WAY THROUGH UNIVERSITY BY SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES. AND IT WAS BEFORE LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE TRAILERS ON EVERY STREET CORNER. WE BASICALLY HAD THE MONOPOLY FOR SELLING CHRISTMAS TREES IN PAKURANGA. AND PRETTY MUCH PAID OUR UNIVERSITY FEES FOR IT. SET UP A SMALL BUSINESS AND SOLD THEM IN PAKURANGA. I CAN TELL YOU A LOT ABOUT GETTING A GOOD CHRISTMAS TREE. IT SOUNDS LIKE A LUCRATIVE BUSINESS. YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT THAT LATER. YOU ARE THE IMMIGRATION MINISTER. SANTA ON THE GREEN LIST THIS YEAR? THERE WAS ONLY ONE CENTRE. BUT HE HAS PUT THE REQUEST TO PUT THE ELVES ON THE GREEN LIST. SO WE'RE CONSIDERING THAT AT THE MOMENT. HE COME BACK TO YOU IN SIX MONTHS OR SO. WE'RE NOT PLAYING TOO MUCH POLITICS THIS MORNING. I WILL ASK YOU, AS YOU ARE THE FINANCE SPOKESPERSON, WE ARE TRYING TO REIN IN INFLATION AT THE MOMENT WHICH MEANS WE CAN'T GO TOO CRAZY THIS CHRISTMAS. I WANT YOU TO CHOOSE ONE COLLEAGUE. CHOOSE WISELY, TELL ME WHO YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A PRESENT FOR AND WHY. MIKE, YOU DESERVE A GIFT. I WANT TO GIVE YOU A POLITICAL BRAVERY AWARD FOR STANDING NEXT TO THAT BIG RED ZERO COS THAT IS AN ICONIC PHOTO. IT'S GONNA REWARD YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR CAREER. I THINK IT'S UP THERE WITH COLIN CRAIG IN THE LONG GRASS. MAYBE A TRAIN SET TO GO WITH IT. LIGHT RAIL'S NOT HAPPENING, BUT YOU CAN HAVE YOUR TRAIN. I THINK YOU MIGHT DESERVE THE RIGHT OF REPLY. I CAN ONLY RETURN SUCH A GENEROUS GIFT BY GIVING BACK. IT WOULD BE A GOLD STAR FOR THE TOP OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE. SHE IS DEFINITELY THE TOP PERFORMER IN THE NATIONAL PARTY. AND I'LL ALSO THROW IN A SEASON PASS TO GO ON TO TE HUIA, SO SHE CAN SEE WHAT A GOOD JOB WE'RE DOING WITH PASSENGER RAIL. WHAT ABOUT ADRIAN ORR? HE IS GIVING YOU A RECESSION. I THINK SOMETHING HOMEMADE. HE CAN HAVE A BIG SLICE OF HUMBLE PIE FOR CHRISTMAS. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH YEAR NEXT YEAR. UNEMPLOYMENT IS SET TO RISE. I WANT YOU TO START THINKING OF SOME OTHER CAREERS IF YOU FIND YOURSELF OUTSIDE OF POLITICS. BACK TO CHRISTMAS TREES? I HAVE A SIMPLE GO TO. THE DREAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN TO BE A ROVING INTERNATIONAL TEST CRICKET COMMENTATOR. I'M SURE THAT'S REALLY EASY TO BREAK INTO. I WISH YOU WERE VERY WELL WITH THAT. I'D LIKE TO WRITE SOMETHING AND DO THE GREAT WALKS WITH THE KIDS. I HOPE IT DOESN'T COME TO THAT. LET'S ENJOY THE FESTIVITIES, MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANKS FOR JOINING US. MERRY CHRISTMAS. THANKS, CONOR. NEWSHUB NATION HAS BROUGHT YOU 42 HOURS OF LIVE POLITICAL TV THIS YEAR. I AM TIRED. TOUGH QUESTIONS, REVEALING ANSWERS AND INCISIVE COMMENTARY... IN THEORY. BUT SOMETIMES, THINGS HAVEN'T GONE QUITE ACCORDING TO PLAN. E NGA MANA, TENA KOUTOU KATOA. KO ORIINI KAIPARA AHAU. AND I'M CONOR WHITTEN. I AM REBECCA WRIGHT. I'M SIMON SHEPHERD, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING NEXT. BRILLIANT. ANY BOOGERS? NO, WE'RE GOOD. I FEEL LIKE... YEAH, (CHUCKLES) I KNOW. WHY DON'T I JUST STAY BACK HERE. (LAUGHS) WELL, I'VE GOT REALLY HIGH SHOES ON TODAY. YOU HAPPY? YOU READY? AND JUST ONE QUESTION ABOUT, UM... WE'RE DOING A WOMEN'S... YEAH. ...POLITICS... GREAT. SHOW ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY NEXT WEEK. AND YOU'RE REALLY ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT IT (!) I'M JUST READING THE QUESTION FOR THE FIRST TIME. (LAUGHS) IT'S GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH MY ENTHUSIASM. NO, IT'S FINE. (LAUGHS) THAT'S THE THING ` THEY'RE HIGHER THAN NORMAL. VERY SIMILAR TIE TO ME UNDER THERE. I'M SIMON SHEPHERD. NAU MAI, WELCOME TO NEWSHUB NATION. RUGGED... RUGGED? FAR OUT. IT'S RUGGED IN HERE. VERY RUGGED. (LAUGHS) I'LL DO THAT AGAIN. THAT'S RIGHT. REVEALED. HE IS A FEMINIST. LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT AFTER. BUT SOON, MUCH OF WHAT YOU READ, HEAR... OH, SORRY. (BLOWS RASPBERRY) THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING URBAN TREE PROTECTION AS PART OF THE NATURAL` OH. THAT'S NOT GOOD. WILL SHE SECURE A MEETING? (STUTTERS) BLAH-BLAH-BLAH. DID YOU RECORD THAT? WE GOT IT. YEAH, PERFECT. (UPBEAT MUSIC) YEAH. JUST IGNORE THAT. PRETEND THEY'RE NOT THERE. I KNOW THAT'S A BIT TRICKY. (LAUGHS) SHOULD I KEEP GOING? ARE WE GOOD? (LAUGHS) HOW'S MY HAIR LOOKING, THOUGH, MORE IMPORTANTLY? IT'S NOT GOOD? YES. (INSTRUMENTAL VERSION OF DUA LIPA'S 'LOVE AGAIN') THERE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN A LOT OF POLITICAL DRAMA THIS YEAR. WAS IT A BOX-OFFICE SMASH OR A B-GRADE FLOP? HERE FOR THEIR INSIGHTS ARE LABOUR'S PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN, NATIONAL'S CHRIS PENK AND NEWSHUB'S ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR KATE RODGER. SWIMMING IN A STRANGE SEA, I LOVE IT. LOVELY TO HAVE YOU HERE. IF 2022 WAS A MOVIE, THE POLITICAL YEAR, WHAT WOULD IT BE? IT WOULD BE A BOX OFFICE FLOP. I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO GO BACK IN TIME. JACK NICHOLSON'S ONE OF MY FAVOURITE ACTORS AND ONE OF MY FAVOURITE FILMS IS A FEW GOOD MEN AND HE BASICALLY SAID, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH! I FEEL LIKE THAT IS A TAGLINE FOR THIS YEAR. AND WHO WOULD PLAY CHRISTOPHER LUXON? HE WOULD HAVE TO PLAY HIMSELF. ACTING PM AND PM MAYBE. DOUBLE DUTY. AND WHO WOULD PLAY JACINDA ARDERN? I'M GOING TO SAY JENNIFER LAWRENCE IN DON'T LOOK UP ` LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE. WHO WAS THE YEAR'S BEST VILLAIN? THERE ARE SO MANY. THERE HAVE BEEN MORE VILLAINS THAN HEROES. NEXT YEAR, WE'LL HAVE` YOU KNOW HOW WE LIKE A CHARACTER ARC AND SOME REDEMPTION? I WANT SOME OF THOSE VILLAINS TO BECOME HEROES NEXT YEAR. WHAT MOVIE DO YOU THINK BEST DESCRIBES WHERE WE'RE AT AS A COUNTRY RIGHT NOW? THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS. DOUBLE STARRING GRANT ROBERTSON AND ADRIAN ORR. WHAT ABOUT YOU? I'M GOING TO SAY WHALE RIDER. THERE'S BEEN A LOT AROUND WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT. 50% OF THE PARLIAMENT ARE WOMEN. LOOKING AT WOMEN SPORTS AS WELL. A TOSS-UP BETWEEN WHALE RIDER AND BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM. AND HOW ABOUT THE PARLIAMENTARY PROTEST? DID WE FEAR IT WAS THE SEASON FINALE OF OUR DEMOCRACY? IF THIS YEAR WAS A GENRE, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE'S BEEN A THAT OF ELEMENT OF FEAR THE WALKING DEAD. AND THAT'S WHAT IT KIND OF LOOKED LIKE FOR ME, NOT A GOOD WAY. WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FOCUS OVER THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS? WE ARE WINDING DOWN AND GETTING TO THE END OF THE YEAR. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO BE DOING OVER THE SUMMER? I HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A BIT OF A BREAK OVER THE SUMMER. IT'S BEEN A BUSY AND STRESSFUL YEAR FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, INCLUDING POLITICIANS, DARE I SAY. A BIT OF TIME TO UNWIND, IT IS GOING TO BE A BUSY YEAR NEXT YEAR. MOVIE-WISE, I'M THINKING AVATAR. THE BLUE TEAM SAVES PARADISE. THAT'S MY PITCH. PRIYANCA, WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHAT IS THE RESET YOU ARE HOPING TO HAVE? I'D LIKE TO WIND DOWN AS WELL, GET A BIT OF A BREAK. MAYBE THIS SUMMER I CAN FINISH THE LUMINARIES. I'M ALSO GOING TO SEE MY DAD. WITH MANY OF US WITH FAMILY OVERSEAS, IT HAS BEEN TOUGH, SO I'M GOING TO GO SEE HIM. I MAY FINISH THE LUMINARIES TOO. YOU NEVER KNOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AT THE END OF THE YEAR. STILL TO COME ` BIG RECESSION ENERGY FROM OUR ECONOMIC PANEL. STAY WITH US. WAIHAPE MAI, WELCOME BACK TO NEWSHUB NATION'S LIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOW. WITH ME, SOME POWERFUL POLITICAL WAHINE, AND ONE GREEN TANE ` NATIONAL'S ERICA STANFORD, ACT'S BROOKE VAN VELDEN AND THE GREENS' RICARDO MENENDEZ-MARCH. FIRST UP, ERICA, YOU ARE A CONFESSED NERD. THAT IS VERY TRUE. AND YOU DID BASSOON AT SCHOOL AND DEBATE TEAM CAPTAIN. AND I WAS CHAMBER GROUP AS WELL. BUT I DID PLAY HOCKEY SO THAT IS THE ONE THING THAT REDEEMED ME. WILL THOSE KIND OF SUBJECTS BECOME COMPULSORY IF YOU BECOME EDUCATION MINISTER? I DON'T THINK I WOULD INFLICT THAT ON THE POOR YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY. THEY MIGHT END UP AN ADULT NERD AS WELL. I'M SURE THERE ARE BETTER THINGS THEY COULD DO. DEBATING DOES SET YOU UP FOR POTENTIAL POLITICAL SUCCESS. MOST PEOPLE IN THE DEBATING CHAMBER ARE ACTUALLY FORMER HIGH SCHOOL DEBATERS. IS IT TRUE, RICARDO? I'VE NEVER DONE DEBATING TEAM. I ACTUALLY THINK WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN PARLIAMENT THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN ON A DEBATING TEAM. MAKE IT 16 IS GOING OFF AT THE MOMENT. WHAT WERE YOU DOING WHEN YOU WERE 16? I THINK IF YOU ASKED ME WHEN I WAS 18, I'D BE IN TROUBLE. BUT THE WORST I CAN THINK OF IS FAILING PE CLASS AND JUST WAGGING IT. NO POLITICAL CAREER IN YOUR MIND? JUST GET THE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO DO. VERY ON-BRAND. THESE GUYS HAVE JUST HAD THEIR POLITICAL MELTDOWNS AND LEADERSHIP KERFUFFLES. ACT HASN'T HAD THE MELTDOWN THAT WE HAVE EXPECTED. ARE YOU AS SURPRISED AS WE ARE? NOT AT ALL. WE HAVE A GREAT TEAM AND I AM PROUD THAT PEOPLE ARE STUCK TOGETHER. THAT IS SO ON-MESSAGE. IS DAVID SEYMOUR HOLDING YOU HOSTAGE? BLINK TWICE IF HE IS. WE GENUINELY GET ON WELL. WE WANT TO REPRESENT PEOPLE ACROSS NEW ZEALAND. IT IS THE SEASON OF GIVING. ERICA, YOU FIRST. IN WARM CROSS-PARTY GIVING, WHAT WOULD YOU GIVE BROOKE AND ACT? IF I WAS GIVING A PRESENT TO ACT, TO BROOKE IN PARTICULAR, I WOULD GIVE HER SOME SHOES. WE BOTH HAVE A LOVE OF GREAT SHOES. I WAS THINKING SOMETHING SERIOUS LIKE A COALITION AGREEMENT. LET'S NOT GO THAT FAR. SHOES TO START WITH. FOR RICARDO, A TRIP HOME, BECAUSE I KNOW HE MISSES HIS FAMILY. IF MONEY WAS NO OBJECT... A TRIP HOME, AND WE'D LET HIM BACK IN THE COUNTRY. WOW. OPEN BORDERS. OPEN BORDERS. RICARDO, DO YOU HAVE A CROSS-PARTY GIFT FOR ACT? WINSTON CHURCHILL PAINTING TO PUT IN THE CORRIDORS AFTER ALL THE GRIEF WE GOT FOR TAKING THE WINSTON CHURCHILL PAINTING AWAY. AND BROOKE, A NICE COALITION GIFT FOR NATIONAL? OR GREENS? IN THE SPIRIT OF KINDNESS, I WOULD ENROL ALL OF THE GREEN PARTY IN ECONOMICS 101 AS THAT WOULD BE MY GIFT TO NEW ZEALAND. BUT ALSO I THINK FOR ERICA, I KNOW SHE'S GOT A GREAT FAMILY, SO I'D PROBABLY JUST GIVE A VOUCHER TO A GREAT MOVIE NIGHT FOR A FAMILY. WE TALKED POLITICS, SO I WANT TO KNOW NOW IF YOU HAVE A NON-POLITICAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR. I BECAME AN AUNTIE AGAIN. I HAVE A NEPHEW THEO OVER IN LONDON. I CANNOT WAIT FOR WHEN HE COMES OVER IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR. AND WILL IMMIGRATION STILL LET YOU BACK IN IF YOU GO? A LOT OF FAMILIES HAVE BEEN KIND OF SEPARATED WITH THE BORDERS, AND I HAVEN'T SEEN MY FAMILY OVER THERE FOR YEARS. SO I CANNOT WAIT FOR THEM TO COME BACK THROUGH THE BORDER. DO YOU HAVE A NON-POLITICAL HIGHLIGHT? THE BLACK FERNS WINNING. THAT WAS PRETTY AWESOME. AND GETTING TO STILL PLAYED DUNGEONS & DRAGONS WITH MY FRIENDS. SO YOU'RE GOING BACK TO 16 ARE YOU? THERE ARE MANY 30-YEAR-OLDS WHO ARE PLAYING. YOU THOUGHT I WAS A NERD. THERE'S A LITTLE COMPETITION NOW. I DO THINK YOU ARE A NERD. I CAN PLAY DUNGEONS & DRAGONS WITH YOU. DO YOU HAVE A NON-POLITICAL HIGHLIGHT? SEMI-POLITICAL, BUT IT HAS TO BE THE BORDERS OPENING. AND HEARING AMERICAN ACCENTS IN BARS AND RESTAURANTS AND OUT IN NEW ZEALAND AGAIN. THE TOURISTS COMING BACK AND BEING ABLE TO TRAVEL AND BE FREE. THAT'S GOT TO BE THE HIGHLIGHT OF THIS YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. ERICA, RICARDO AND BROOKE. THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE BIGGEST ISSUES OF 2022 AND IT IS BOUND TO DOMINATE AGAIN IN 2023. WITH ME TO DISCUSS WITH ALL THEIR ECONOMIC INSIGHT AND ANALYSIS ARE STUFF BUSINESS REPORTER DILEEPA FONSEKA, WELCOME. KIA ORA. NZME'S HEAD OF BUSINESS FRAN O'SULLIVAN. AND TE PATI MAORI PRESIDENT JOHN TAMIHERE. WELCOME. SO THE ECONOMY HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BUBBLING ALONG ALL YEAR THIS YEAR. DO YOU THINK ANY OF THE PARTIES HAVE GOT A HANDLE ON WHAT TO DO AND HOW TO MANAGE IT AS WE CLOSE UP THE YEAR? NOT REALLY. I THINK YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF COMPETING POLITICAL PRIORITIES HERE. YOU'VE GOT NATIONAL RUNNING A SMALL TARGET. TRYING TO PROMISE AS LITTLE AS THEY CAN. LABOUR IS TRYING TO COME TO TERMS WITH A VASTLY DIFFERENT FISCAL SITUATION THAN BEFORE. I THINK THAT THERE ARE JUST A LACK OF SORT OF SOLUTIONS. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK THERE ARE PARALLELS POLITICALLY TO WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008 WHERE WE HAD PROTESTS AROUND LAW AND ORDER. WE HAD A FINANCIAL CRISIS. SO THIS IS A CHANCE FOR PARTIES TO REHASH AT ELECTION. AND WILL WE GET A DIFFERENT RESULT? IT IS GOING TO BE THE DEFINING ISSUE OF 2023. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PARTIES NEED TO BE DOING OVER SUMMER? I GUESS THEY NEED TO BE MAKING CLEAR WHAT THEIR POLICIES ARE QUITE EARLY IN THE PIECE. I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT BUT ALSO, AND I'M SURE THE PARTIES WILL BE TEMPTED TO BIT OF A LOLLY SCRAMBLE IN THE WAY THEY DO, BUT I THINK THEY HAVE TO HOLD THE COURSE. THEY HAVE TO HAVE SENSIBLE FISCAL POLICY, NOT GIVE IN TO THROWING CASH AROUND. I THINK THAT IS QUITE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOT HOUSE PRICES SLIPPING, COST OF LIVING RISING, AND WE'VE ALSO GOT PROBLEMS GETTING WORKERS. IT IS A REALLY RICH COCKTAIL AND NOT EASY TO DEAL TO. BUT THE SOONER EVERYBODY ADMITS THIS PROBLEM, THE SOONER WE GET OUT OF IT. AND THE COST OF LIVING CRISIS HAS BEGUN TO HURT MANY FAMILIES YEAR. THERE WILL BE FAMILIES HEADING INTO CHRISTMAS. WHAT ARE YOU SEEING THAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE? I THINK FROM THE RAM RAIDS ALL THE WAY THROUGH, WE KNEW THAT THOSE POPULATIONS OF KIDS HAVE FALLEN OUT OF DISCIPLINED EDUCATION OVER THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS. SO THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE NOT IN EDUCATION TRAINING OR SKILLS. THEY'RE JUST TAILOR-MADE FOR GANG PROSPECTS. WE KNOW THEY'RE THERE, BUT WE HAVE ALL THESE CROWN AGENCIES THAT HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES BUT WAIT FOR THE CAR CRASH. WE HAVE TO GET A LOT BETTER AT LOOKING AFTER OUR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. THE OTHER THING IS ON ECONOMY GENERALLY, TO BE FAIR TO EVERYBODY, WE SHOULD LOOK AT INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICE AND WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE OECD AND RATE OUR KIWI APPROACH TO THAT MEASURE AS OPPOSED TO TEARING OURSELVES APART INTERNALLY. WE'VE BEEN REALLY SLOW OFF THE MARK WITH COST OF LIVING PRICES, INFLATION AND RAM RAIDS. I FEEL LIKE WE'VE SPENT THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR IN DENIAL AND THE SECOND PART OF THIS YEAR SCRAMBLING TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. DO YOU THINK THAT'S FAIR? I THINK THAT'S A FAIRLY FAIR SUMMATION. WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH LONG-TERM COVID PANDEMIC, AND I THINK YOU CAN ONLY HIT PEOPLE WITH SO MUCH. WITH PEOPLE GETTING BACK TO WORK, THEN HAVING TO CHANGE PACE, IT HAS BEEN VERY DIFFICULT. THERE ARE PEOPLE LOOKING AT THEIR OWN SITUATIONS, BUT I'M LOOKING AT WHAT I CAN TRIM, WHAT IS ESSENTIAL, AND I THINK IF WE SEE THAT ACROSS THE ECONOMY, PEOPLE COME OUT OF THIS QUICKER BECAUSE THAT IS THE ACTION THE RESERVE BANK WANTS FROM US. IT IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT, AND THERE ARE GOING TO BE WINNERS AND LOSERS. I WAS A WINNER YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD A PROPERTY CRASH BACK IN THE '70S AND '80S, AND I BOUGHT A HOUSE AT 60% OF WHAT THE VALUE WOULD BE. THERE WILL BE WINNERS THIS TIME AROUND AS WELL BUT THERE WILL BE PEOPLE WHO REALLY FEEL IT. THEY WILL HAVE TO SELL UP. IT WON'T BE EASY. THERE'S TALK WE MAY BE HEADING FOR RECESSION. AND THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD POUND PEOPLE THAT ARE ALREADY FEELING IT. JOB LOSSES IS SOMETHING WE WILL FEEL IF THAT DOES HAPPEN NEXT YEAR FOR THE VOTING PUBLIC. YEAH. I MEAN, THIS IS THE THING. WITH THE DIRECTION THAT ADRIAN ORR HAS KIND OF SET, IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW HE WILL GET INFLATION TO THEIR TARGET BAND WITHOUT HOLDING THE OFFICIAL CASH RATE AS HIGH FOR LONGER THAN MANY PEOPLE ARE EXPECTING. IF YOU DO THAT, YOU START TO SEE THOSE PROBLEMS IN THE ECONOMY. YOU SEE A NATIONAL DOWNTURN. THAT'S HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS. WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT SOME OF THESE OVERSEAS EXAMPLES AROUND THE PAIN AROUND INFLATION WAS, WHAT YOU FOUND WAS ONE OF THE PAIN POINTS COMES FROM THE REBOUND AFTERWARDS. HOW QUICKLY THINGS CHANGE ONCE THE CENTRAL BANK STARTS HIKING INTEREST RATES. IT'S THAT QUICK CHANGE THAT TAKES PEOPLE BY SURPRISE. WE HAVEN'T REALLY FELT IT YET BECAUSE OF` YOUR WAITING FOR PEOPLE TO ROLL OVER ON DIFFERENT MORTGAGE RATES, BUT NEXT YEAR IT COULD BE THE POINT. THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS DESIGNED ` IT HAS TO BE THAT WAY. THE BIG FACTORS IN THAT ARE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN CHINA AND WHAT THE FEDERAL RESERVE IS GOING TO DO. THOSE ARE ALSO GOING TO BE PLAYING PARTS IN OUR ECONOMY AS WELL. IT IS GOING TO BE THE DEFINING ISSUE OF 2023. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING. WE'VE ALREADY SHOWN YOU SOME OF THE OCCASIONS WHEN THINGS DIDN'T GO TO PLAN. BUT THERE WERE SOME STANDOUT MOMENTS TOO THIS YEAR. HERE THEY ARE. WELCOME TO NEWSHUB NATION. AND WELCOME TO NEWSHUB NATION. UP FIRST ON THE PROGRAMME TODAY ` WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS WHEN YOU FIRST HEARD THE BOMBS WERE DROPPING ON UKRAINE? OH, I WAS IN ABSOLUTE DESPAIR. WE ARE CROSSING NOW TO OUR COLLEAGUE LISETTE REYMER IN KHARKIV. HAS THE AGGRESSION CONTINUED WHERE YOU ARE OVERNIGHT? IT HAS, REBECCA, WHICH I GUESS IS PART OF THE REASON WHY WE ARE INSIDE AT THE MOMENT. THERE ARE SUCH STRICT CURFEWS IN PLACE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NEW ZEALAND FREELANCE JOURNALIST TOM MUTCH IS IN THE UKRAINIAN CAPITAL OF KYIV. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT MANY DIFFERENT BUNKERS LIKE THIS. WHATEVER YOUR VIEWPOINT, COVID-19 HAS MADE DR ANTHONY FAUCI ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS SCIENTISTS ON THE PLANET. I DON'T THINK WE'RE GOING TO ERADICATE OR ELIMINATE, BUT I THINK WE CAN GET IT TO THE LEVEL OF CONTROL. THE TWO WAHINE WITH THE TASK OF OVERHAULING OUR LUMBERING HEALTH SYSTEM. SO WOULD YOU USE THE WORD 'CRISIS' FOR MAORI HEALTH? WE'VE GOT WORK TO DO IN MAORI HEALTH. AND THIS IS THE STARTING` THAT'S A VERY DIPLOMATIC ANSWER. ARE YOU THE RIGHT PERSON? ARE YOU THE RIGHT CHAMPION FOR THE JOB? ABSOLUTELY. WHERE'S THE PLAN FOR THE UNDRIP? WELL, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION. I JUST GOT THE DRAFT YESTERDAY FROM OUR TEAM WORKING ON IT. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT IT? WHAT'S IN IT? WELL, NOTHING. (CHUCKLES) HAVEN'T READ IT? I'VE GOT TO HAVE A READ. WELCOME BACK TO OUR NEWSHUB NATION AUCKLAND MAYORAL DEBATE. (LAUGHS) DID YOU WANT TO APOLOGISE TO SIMON FOR THOSE COMMENTS? OH, IT WAS OFF-THE-RECORD ONES, AND I DIDN'T EXPECT THOSE TO BE COVERED. YOU HAVE SAID IN AN AUCKLAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DEBATE THAT BOARDS ARE CURRENTLY SELECTED FOR WEIRD REASONS, INCLUDING DIVERSITY. WHAT DID YOU MEAN BY THAT? IF THEY ALL LOOKED LIKE YOU, THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER. BUT... I'M NOT SURE OF THAT'S A COMPLIMENT OR NOT. IT'S NOT ABOUT THAT. TAXING THE GANGS ` YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT ASSET FORFEITURE ` THAT WE SHOULD INCREASE THAT. NOW YOU WANT TO TAX THEM. I THINK YOU'RE CONFUSED ABOUT THE FACT I USED TAX AS A METAPHOR BACK THEN. A METAPHOR? YEAH. OK. SO, I DON'T` I'LL TRY AND MAKE IT SIMPLER FOR YOU. THAT'S OK. LET ME ASK YOU THIS QUESTION ` WELL, I ASKS THE QUESTIONS HERE, DAVID. WHY DO THESE PEOPLE NEED A TAX BREAK? THE REALITY IS THIS IS A GOVERNMENT THAT'S CREATING A HUGE` BUT WHY DO THESE PEOPLE NEED A TAX BREAK? NO. ALL NEW ZEALANDERS ACTUALLY NEED TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A TAX BREAK. YEAH, SO WHY DO THESE PEOPLE? THEY KEEP MORE OF THEIR MONEY IN THEIR POCKET SO THAT THEY CAN ACTUALLY NAVIGATE THIS COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS. BUT THE PEOPLE OVER $180,000 AREN'T THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NAVIGATING THE COST-OF-LIVING CRISIS, ARE THEY? DO YOU COMMIT TO STAYING FOR THE FULL THIRD TERM IF YOU WIN THE NEXT ELECTION? LIKE CONTINUALLY SAID, I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE. JACINDA ARDERN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. AS WE PUT THE POLITICAL YEAR BEHIND US, WHO WERE THE WINNERS AND LOSERS OF 2022? WITH ME TO NAME NAMES ARE MARG JOINER, WELCOME, POLITICS LECTURER DR LARA GREAVES, THE SPIN-OFF'S TOBY MANHIRE. IT'S BEEN A TOUGH YEAR. WHO WAS THE BEST PERFORMER FOR YOU POLITICALLY? I THINK NICOLA WILLIS PROBABLY COMES OUT AS THE BEST PERFORMER. CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAD A FEW WOBBLES. SHE PROVIDED THAT BALANCE AND MADE LIFE DIFFICULT FOR GRANT ROBERTSON. SHE'S A VERY SOLID DEPUTY, ISN'T SHE? WHAT ABOUT YOU, LARA? I WOULD SAY SOMEONE LIKE SUE GREY BECAUSE SHE IS CONSISTENTLY KEPT COVID IN THE PRESS. AND THERE'S NOT A LOT OF EVIDENCE THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR THOSE FRINGE PARTIES ACTUALLY CONSOLIDATED, BUT SHE MANAGES TO POP UP TIME AND TIME AGAIN. AND WHAT ABOUT YOU MARG? WHO WAS YOUR BIG WINNER? IT WOULD HAVE TO BE KIRI ALLAN. SHE'S SHOT UP THE RANKS IN CABINET IN JUNE. SHE'S MANAGED ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROGRAMS IN THE JUSTICE PORTFOLIO REALLY WELL. WORKS WELL ACROSS THE HOUSE AND ALSO GOT THE MAORI ELECTORAL OPTION LEGISLATION ACROSS THE HOUSE, WHICH IS MAJOR AND DID IT WITH NOT MUCH FUSS. IT'S A BIG STEP UP FOR HER INTO THOSE BIG PORTFOLIOS. LUXON CLOSES OUT HIS FIRST YEAR AS LEADER. HE'S PERFORMING PRETTY WELL AS THE NATIONAL PARTY LEADER, BUT HE'S NOT LANDING BIG BLOWS AGAINST JACINDA ARDERN IN THE HOUSE YET. NOT IN A BIG WAY. I THINK THAT HE HAS GONE BETTER. HE HAS TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO LACK IN CERTAINTY ON SOME OF THE FACTS. I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO PLAY A SMALL TARGET STRATEGY. HE DOESN'T WANT TO BE OUT THERE MAKING BIG BOMBASTIC SPEECHES. HE JUST WANTS TO LOOK SOLID AND STATESMANLIKE. WHAT DO YOU THINK HIS PERFORMANCE IS LIKE, LARA? I'M PRETTY UNDERWHELMED WITH POLITICS IN NEW ZEALAND IN GENERAL AT THE MOMENT. I'VE BEEN STRUGGLING, LIKE MANY NEW ZEALANDERS, TO GET INTO IT. WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF HOPE AND CHANGE, ORIGINAL ARDERN VIBES GOING ON AT THE MOMENT. I'M INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO TO TURN OUT IN 2023. NOT HOPEFUL. BOTH PARTIES NEED A RESET AS THEY GO INTO THE SUMMER? AND TALKING ABOUT WINNERS, THE WINNERS THIS TIME ARE LOOKING LIKE THE MINOR PARTIES AS THE MAJOR PARTIES HAVE TO FIGHT FOR THAT CENTRE GROUND, SOFTEN AMBITION, AND THE MINOR PARTIES ARE IN A GOOD POSITION. SO I THINK IT'LL BE BEST PARTY WINS HERE. THAT IS SO FAR WHERE WE ARE SEEING THE VOTES GO. THEY ARE NOT TRANSFERRING STRAIGHT FROM LABOUR TO NATIONAL FOR EXAMPLE. THEY SEEM TO BE LEAVING LABOUR OR SOFTENING. BUT IT'S NOT TURNING UP FOR NATIONAL AS IT? I THINK THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT. THAT IS KIND OF WHAT WE WILL SEE NEXT YEAR, WHICH IS A BIT OF A PROXY WAR, NATIONAL ATTACKING GREENS AND LABOUR WILL ATTACK ACT. SOME OF THE SMALLER PARTIES ` THERE'S A GENERAL AIR OF DISGRUNTLEMENT. AND THAT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF THE SMALLER PARTIES TO HAVE A BIT OF A RUN. WINSTON IS GOING TO BE BACK NEXT YEAR. WHAT ABOUT THE GREENS? I THOUGHT THEY'VE BEEN MISSING IN ACTION A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, BUT I THINK YOU MIGHT DISAGREE. I THINK THAT THEY WEREN'T MISSING IN ACTION. THEY KEPT POPPING UP. THERE WAS GOLRIZ GHAHRAMAN ON THE ELECTORAL LAW RELATED STUFF AND OF COURSE THERE WAS THAT POTENTIAL LEADERSHIP SPILL. THEY KIND OF HANDLED IT AND STILL TOGETHER IN ONE PIECE AREN'T THEY? WHAT ARE THEY MEANT TO DO AT THIS POINT IN THE CYCLE? WHAT IS THE MOST DEFINING MOMENT OF 2022 FOR YOU? IT'S TRICKY BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THERE HAS BEEN SO MUCH HAPPENING, AND WITH COVID IT IS ALSO BLURRED INTO ONE. THE MOMENT WE LIFTED OUR COVID RESTRICTIONS WAS A DEFINING MOMENT FOR NEW ZEALAND POLITICS. IT WAS OVERSHADOWED BY THE LATE QUEEN'S PASSING I THINK. SO JUST PULLING THAT ONE BACK FROM THE SHADOWS AND I THINK WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MORE. IT'S INTERESTING TO REFLECT ON WHERE WE'VE COME IN JUST A YEAR. THIS TIME LAST YEAR, AUCKLAND WAS JUST EMERGING FROM A LOCKDOWN. COVID IS KIND OF A DISTANT MEMORY FOR US. AND THAT'S HAVING AN IMPACT POLITICALLY, ISN'T IT? THE DIFFICULTY IS, POLITICALLY, THEY WANT TO SHAKE IT OFF, BUT IT IS STILL HERE. SUMMER IS NOT GOING TO BE COVID FREE. IN TERMS OF A POLITICAL MOOD THERE IS ALMOST A CONSENSUS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO THROW AWAY THAT MALAISE. IT MIGHT BE THAT COVID HAS OTHER IDEAS. LABOUR ` WE'VE SEEN GRANT ROBERTSON TALKING ABOUT IN HIS SPEECHES 'WE LED THE THROUGH THE COVID CRISIS. NOW WE CAN DO THIS FISCAL CRISIS.' I'M NOT SURE PEOPLE ARE CONNECTED TO THAT IDEA SO MUCH ANYMORE. WE TEND TO KNOW THAT VOTERS PERCEIVE THAT NATIONAL ARE GOOD AT RUNNING THE ECONOMY. THAT'S THE REALITY ` VOTERS THINK IT'S THAT WAY, SO GRANT ROBERTSON'S CHALLENGE IS TO PLAY UP HIS CREDENTIALS IN THAT AREA. BECAUSE HE IS THE NEXT POTENTIAL FINANCE MINISTER. THAT'S HIS KEY JOB ` TO LOOK LIKE HE CAN DO FINANCE REALLY WELL. JUST TO FINISH UP TODAY, WHO IS THE BIGGEST LOSER OF THE YEAR POLITICALLY, MARG? TRICKY. PROBABLY GIVEN THE ENVIRONMENT IS REALLY GOOD FOR OPPOSITION, PROBABLY CHRISTOPHER LUXON. AS TOBY SAID, I THINK HE IS IMPROVING, BUT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE HITS ON THE GOVERNMENT BY NOW. PAUL EAGLE. HE DIDN'T WIN THE MAYORALTY, DESPITE BEING AN INCUMBENT MP AND HAVING ALL THOSE ADVANTAGES. HE IS PROPERLY ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS. I JUST SAY WE ARE ALL LOSERS. TOBY? PAUL EAGLE'S QUITE A GOOD SHOUT. JUST GENERALLY OPTIMISM. THAT DAY WHEN ADRIAN ORR LAID OUT THE YEAR AHEAD FOR ELECTION YEAR, WE KNOW IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH. AND SO THE ARGUMENTS ARE GOING TO BE AROUND WHO IS BEST PLACED TO GUIDE US THROUGH SOME REALLY CHOPPY, TRICKY TIMES. THEY HAVE TO COME OUT WITH ACTUAL PLANS DON'T THEY? THAT IS THE BIG CHALLENGE FOR 2023. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. COMING UP ` POLITICAL REPORTERS BRING OUT THEIR POLITICAL CRYSTAL BALLS AND ELECTION YEAR PREDICTIONS. STAY WITH US. NAU MAI HOKI MAI, AND WELCOME BACK TO THE NEWSHUB NATION LIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOW. IT IS ELECTION PREDICTION TIME. WILL NATIONAL BE HANDED IT BY ADRIAN ORR AND ACT, AND ALSO WILL LABOUR PULL A GREEN RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT OR WILL TE PATI MAORI HOLD THE BALANCE OF POWER? TIME NOW FOR OUR PANEL ` BEN THOMAS, EFESO COLLINS AND DITA DE BONI. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. FIRST OF ALL, GUYS, BEN THOMAS, THERE IS A NEW GUY ON THE BLOCK. HIS NAME IS WINNIE PETERS. ANY CHANCE? WINSTON PETERS' TRADITIONAL CONSTITUENCY HAS BEEN REALLY, KIND OF, GOBBLED UP BY ACT. WINSTON'S CUT HIMSELF OUT OF BEING THE DEAL-MAKER, WHICH IS WHERE HE LIKES TO BE AND HE'S RULED OUT GOING WITH LABOUR. HE DOESN'T HAVE REALLY ANY AVENUES LEFT EXCEPT THE CONSPIRATORIAL, ANTI-VAXX STUFF, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S ENOUGH FOR 5%. ALL RIGHT. WINNIE, SORRY, BUDDY. EFESO, ARE YOU TALKING TO LABOUR AT THE MOMENT ABOUT WHAT NOT TO DO AT THIS COMING ELECTION? I HAVE BEEN TALKING TO EVERYONE ABOUT WHAT NOT BUT WHAT TO DO. I THINK THE ELECTORATE IS GOING TO BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING ASPIRATIONAL. I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE WILL BE WATCHING OUT FOR IS JUST HOW ACRIMONIOUS A VERY TIGHT ELECTION COULD BECOME. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO KEEP IT TO THE ISSUES. BECAUSE IT'S SO TIGHT, ON ALL ACCOUNTS, THIS IS GOING TO BE A VERY TIGHT ELECTION AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU KEEP IT CLEAN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. DON'T GO ON THESE DIRT-DIGGING EXPLORATIONS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST AND MAKE SURE PEOPLE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THE AGENDA IS NEXT YEAR. ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL EXPERIENCE FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, FROM YOUR MAYORALTY BID? NO, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE AGAIN WAYNE BROWN. I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING TO THE ISSUES THE COST OF LIVING'S BEEN A HUGE ISSUE ` THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AND THAT'S WHERE WE'VE GOT TO PITCH THIS ARGUMENT WHEN WE GO INTO THE NEXT ELECTION. DITA DE BONI ` A RECESSION PREDICTION BY ADRIAN ORR, NO LOLLY SCRAMBLE FOR NEXT YEAR. THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DIFFERENCE. I THINK THE ECONOMY IS GOING TO TANK TO A DEGREE. PROBABLY BETTER THAN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD BUT IT WILL. THAT WILL LEAD INTO IT. ELECTIONS ARE NOT WON, THEY ARE LOST. LABOUR MIGHT BE HEADING THAT WAY SIMPLY BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE HAVE WHIPPED UP SUCH ANIMOSITY TOWARDS THE PRIME MINISTER THAT I THINK THAT WILL CARRY THEM THROUGH. THEY'RE GOING TO INHERIT AN ECONOMY THAT IS STRUGGLING POTENTIALLY. BEN THOMAS, YOUR PREDICTION FOR NEXT YEAR ` IS IT GOING TO BE JUST ABOUT THE ECONOMY STUPID? THERE WILL BE OTHER ISSUES THAT PLAY AS B-ROLL TO THAT MAIN PLOTLINE. BUT WHAT YOU SEE IS THAT WHEN THE ECONOMY IS DOING BADLY, WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT CONFIDENT ABOUT THEIR FUTURES, THEY ACTUALLY FEEL WORSE ABOUT A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING AROUND. THEY'LL START GETTING MORE WORRIED ABOUT CRIME, THEY'LL START GETTING MORE WORRIED ABOUT SOME OF THESE NASTIER ISSUES THAT YOU SOMETIMES SEE COME UP. REAL HEADWINDS FOR THE GOVERNMENT. THERE WILL BE A LOT OF PRESSURE ON JACINDA ARDERN, WHO'S REALLY THEIR BIGGEST ASSET COMING INTO THE CAMPAIGN, TO BASICALLY TAKE ON LUXON ONE-ON-ONE. IS IT GOING TO COME DOWN TO THAT POLITICS OF PERSONALITY? YOU KNOW, THE RECESSION'S STUFFED, WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT? IT'S GOING TO BE WHO DO YOU WANT AS PRIME MINISTER, EFESO? IN ANY TIGHT ELECTION, IT BECOMES VERY PRESIDENTIAL. I THINK WE'LL SEE A REAL DRAG RACE BETWEEN JACINDA ARDERN AND CHRIS LUXON. AGAIN, IT'S ABOUT THE ISSUES, MAKING SURE PEOPLE FEEL INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION. LIKE WHAT'S ALREADY BEEN SAID, CRIME IS GOING TO BE AN ISSUE. IT'S IMPORTANT PEOPLE ADDRESS THESE THINGS, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE A DRAG RACE BETWEEN THE LEADERS IN THE END, AND THAT'S GOING TO DETERMINE THE OUTCOME. DITA, ON THE SIDELINES, IT IS MMP, WE COULD HAVE TE PATI MAORI HOLDING THE BALANCE OF POWER, WE'VE GOT ACT AND GREENS JOSTLING FOR THOSE EXTRA POSITIONS. HOW DO YOU SEE THAT PLAYING OUT? WINSTON PETERS AND CHRIS LUXON HAVE ALREADY SAID THEY WOULD WORK TOGETHER, AND YOU'VE GOT DAVID SEYMOUR TIGHTLY ALIGNED WITH THAT. THE RIGHT-WING BLOC APPEARS TO ME TO HAVE MORE SEATS ANYHOW, JUST NATURALLY. IT'S GOING TO BE A FIGHT TO THE DEATH BUT WE SHALL SEE. IF THE DOG WHISTLING AND THE DIRTY POLITICS CONTINUES, THEN IT WILL BE A ROMP HOME FOR NATIONAL, I THINK. I WANT YOU TO CONSIDER IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A POLITICAL YEAR. WHAT HAS BEEN ONE HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU? I THINK WE HAVE COME THROUGH COVID OK. A DOWNLIGHT OF THAT IS THAT OUR HEALTH SYSTEM IS IN CRISIS NOW. BUT WE HAVE AVOIDED THE WORST OF IT AND I THINK OUR ECONOMY IS ACTUALLY DOING QUITE WELL AND BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE DOING WELL, SO... THAT IS QUITE POSITIVE. I DON'T KNOW IF ADRIAN ORR AGREES WITH THAT ONE. EFESO, WHAT'S THE POLITICAL HIGHLIGHT FOR YOU? I JUST THINK` WELL, FIRSTLY, THE MAYORAL CAMPAIGN FOR ME. BUT I THINK WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR LOOKING BACK ON THE YEAR HAS BEEN THE WAY IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO PITCH THEMSELVES. I THINK THE ACT PARTY HAS COME OUT REALLY STRONG. THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR STAND, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE FROM THE GREENS. I THINK THE GREENS HAVE REAL POTENTIAL. AND LET'S GIVE SOME FOCUS TO THOSE WHO ARE SLIGHTLY ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE MAIN PARTIES ` THAT CAN BE A HIGHLIGHT. SO WILL THE MINOR PARTIES HAVE A REAL BIG IMPACT ON THIS ELECTION, BEN? LOOK, WE HAVE PROBABLY NEVER SEEN A SITUATION WHERE BOTH MAJOR PARTIES HAVE BEEN AS WEAK RELATIVE TO THE MINOR PARTIES AS THEY ARE NOW. LABOUR WON'T BE ABLE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT THE GREENS AND PROBABLY TE PATI MAORI AND NATIONAL WON'T BE ABLE TO FORM A GOVERNMENT WITHOUT ACT. SO, IN TERMS OF` WE KNOW WHAT THE BLOCS ARE ` THERE WON'T BE THIS SWIRLING CONFUSION LIKE THERE WAS WITH NEW ZEALAND FIRST, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THESE MINOR PARTIES WILL HAVE MORE LEVERAGE THAN IN THE PAST. BEN THOMAS, EFESO COLLINS, AND DITA DE BONI ` THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHTS AND YOUR TIME. REBECCA IS STANDING BY WITH ORIINI KAIPARA, ISOBEL EWING AND JO MOIR. I'M HERE NOW WITH THREE WAHINE WHO LIVE AND BREATHE POLITICS EVERY DAY ` THAT IS ISOBEL EWING, WELCOME; JO MOIR, WELCOME; AND ORIINI KAIPARA, WELCOME. ORIINI, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU. IF YOU HAD TO INVITE ONE POLITICIAN TO YOUR CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR, WHO WOULD IT BE? THAT IS A HARD QUESTION. I SUPPOSE I WOULD GO WITH... I DON'T KNOW. I DUNNO. MAYBE THE PRIME MINISTER BECAUSE I'M REALLY FASCINATED WITH ONCE UPON A TIME, SHE WAS A DJ, SO I THINK SHE'D MAKE A GREAT ENTERTAINER. YEAH. ISOBEL? OK, I'M GOING TO GO WITH RINO TIRIKATENE, BECAUSE WE SAW HIM DO KARAOKE AT THE LABOUR MAORI CAUCUS NIGHT, AND HE WAS GOOD, AND MY BROTHER'S A BIT OF A MUSICIAN, SO I RECKON THERE COULD BE A FUN LITTLE VIBE ON CHRISTMAS DAY. I THINK SO FAR WE HAVE THEM BEING THE ENTERTAINMENT. JO? I THINK AS THE PERSON WHO IS IN WELLINGTON WITH THEM ALL OF THE TIME AND HAS BEEN FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, DO I GET TO SAY, I DON'T WANT TO HAVE CHRISTMAS WITH ANY OF THEM. NO ONE, SORRY. YOU DO, YOU DO. THAT RESET OVER SUMMER IS SO IMPORTANT. NOT JUST FOR POLITICIANS BUT ALSO FOR THE POLITICAL REPORTERS, AND EVERYBODY WHO WORKS IN AND AROUND PARLIAMENT, ISN'T IT? IT 100% IS. THEY JUST SEEM TO BE GOING AT A COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS PACE AT THE MOMENT, AND I'D LIKE EVERYONE JUST TO HAVE A CUP OF TEA AND A LIE DOWN. IT'S ALL A BIT MUCH AT THE MOMENT. WE ALL NEED IT. WHO HAS BEEN YOUR STANDOUT PERFORMER OF 2022, ISOBEL? I'M GOING TO GO WITH THE ACT PARTY BECAUSE THOSE GUYS HAVE HAD SUCH DISCIPLINE. THEIR CAUCUS HAS BEEN TIGHT AS A DRUM. NOT A SNIFF OF A LEAK. NO WEIRD AGENDAS OR ANYONE GOING OFF PIECE WITH ANY EGOMANIAC DIRECTIONS. I THINK THERE'S SOME KUDOS TO BE GIVEN FOR THAT. ALSO, THEY SEND OUT PRESS RELEASES AT A RATE OF KNOTS WHICH IS UNPARALLELED AT PARLIAMENT. SO SHOUT OUT TO THE ACT PARTY STAFF, AND I THINK THE STANDOUT ACT MP FOR ME IS KAREN CHHOUR. SHE EMBODIES, I THINK, WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A POLITICIAN DRIVEN BY VALUES AND EXPERIENCE AND IS REALLY THERE FOR REASONS THAT YOU CAN SEE COME THROUGH WHEN SHE SPEAKS IN THE MEDIA. WHEN SHE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE ORANGA TAMARIKI OVERSIGHT BILL AND THE CHANGES, GOVERNMENT PUSHED THAT THROUGH DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM EVERYBODY, SHE WAS SO ELOQUENT ON DRAWING ON HER EXPERIENCES AS A CHILD GROWING UP WITH CHILD, YOUTH AND FAMILY AND SO I THINK KAREN CHHOUR. YEAH, SHOUT OUT TO KAREN. WHAT ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S PERFORMANCE, ORIINI? HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE GOVERNMENT'S PERFORMANCE THIS YEAR? THEY HAVE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO. YOU KNOW, I THINK THEY` THEY HAVEN'T REALLY PERFORMED VERY WELL. YOU KNOW? AND YOU CAN GAUGE THAT FROM PUBLIC BACKLASH IN A LOT OF THE THINGS. LIKE ISOBEL WAS SAYING ` OR, ACTUALLY, BOTH OF THEM WERE SAYING ` THERE'S JUST FAST-TRACKING EVERYTHING WAY TOO FAST. IT FEELS LIKE A KNEE-JERK REACTION SO I'M NOT GOING TO RATE IT VERY HIGHLY AND I'M SORRY TO SAY, THEY'VE GOT A LONG WAY TO GO IF THEY WANT TO MAKE GOVERNMENT NEXT YEAR. THEY HAVE GOT WORK TO DO. THE OPPOSITION, JO ` HOW WOULD YOU RATE THE OPPOSITION? IN PARTICULAR, I SUPPOSE, IT'S ALL ABOUT LUXON IN THIS MOMENT, REALLY, ISN'T IT? IN TERMS OF NATIONAL, I GUESS, ANYTHING BETTER THAN TERRIBLE IS REALLY GOOD FOR NATIONAL AT THE MOMENT GIVEN WHAT THE LAST FEW YEARS HAVE BEEN LIKE. IT'S GOOD TO REMEMBER THAT, ISN'T IT? MOST WOULD SAY THEY'RE DOING REALLY, REALLY WELL IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES. I WOULD SAY THERE'S A FAIR AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITY FOR CHRIS LUXON TO CAPITALISE PARTICULARLY OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS WITH THE GOVERNMENT UNDER PRESSURE AS AN INCUMBENT GOVERNMENT, AS ALL ARE GLOBALLY AT THE MOMENT WITH THE COST OF LIVING AND INFLATION SITUATION. I DON'T THINK CHRISTOPHER LUXON HAS NECESSARILY CAPITALISED EVERY TIME ` THERE'S BEEN A FEW GAFFES, WE SAW THIS WEEK WITH THE SUPERANNUATION, NOT KNOWING THE BASIC NUMBERS... LIKE, THAT'S EASY STUFF. HE NEEDS TO GET ON TOP OF THAT STUFF IF HE WANTS TO ACTUALLY HAVE A GOOD YEAR NEXT YEAR. ABSOLUTELY, AND BUILDING TRUST WITH VOTERS AS WELL AND HAVING POLICIES THAT YOU STICK TO SEEMS TO BE A REALLY IMPORTANT WORK-ON FOR BOTH PARTIES NEXT YEAR. IN NATIONAL'S CASE, JUST HAVING POLICIES. WE HAVE NOT REALLY SEEN ANY AND I WOULD GO BACK TO IZZY'S POINT EARLIER ABOUT ACT BEING A REALLY GOOD PERFORMER. ACT HAS PUT A LOT OF POLICY OUT THIS YEAR AND HAS JUST BEEN PART OF THE DISCUSSION. NATIONAL HAS COMPLAINED AND CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT BUT NOT NECESSARILY COME UP WITH SOMETHING OF THEIR OWN. CHRISTOPHER LUXON SAYS WE'LL SEE THAT NEXT YEAR BUT VOTERS NEED TO SEE THAT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT HELPS YOU DECIDE WHO YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR, RIGHT? THEY WILL HAVE TO COME OUT OF THE GATE HARD WITH THAT POLICY AT THE START OF 2023, WON'T THEY, IN TERMS OF THE ELECTION YEAR. IF YOU HAD TO GIVE A POLITICIAN ARE PRESENT, ISOBEL, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? I THINK JAMES SHAW DESERVES A PAT ON THE BACK AT THE VERY LEAST, FOR GETTING ALL THE CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION, THE ARCHITECTURE, IN PLACE. WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ACTUAL PROGRESS IN TERMS OF MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION BUT GETTING THAT ACTUAL ARCHITECTURE IN PLACE HAS BEEN A HUGE MISSION FOR HIM AND HE'S HAD THE SHEMOZZLE OF GETTING VOTED OUT AS CO-LEADER. THAT WHOLE DISTRACTION THAT HE'S HAD TO NAVIGATE THROUGH AND HE HAS KEPT HIS EYE ON THE BALL. I AM NOT SURE ABOUT A GIFT. THE GREEN PARTY IS OBVIOUSLY INTO SUSTAINABILITY, SO MAYBE SOMETHING SECOND-HAND OR A PAT ON THE BACK OR A HIGH FIVE. I THINK HE WOULD LIKE SOMETHING SECOND-HAND. I THINK THAT WOULD GO WELL UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE FOR JAMES. THANK YOU SO MUCH ALL OF YOU FOR JOINING US HERE THIS MORNING, FOR YOUR INSIGHT AND YOUR ANALYSIS AND ALL THE WORK YOU DO COVERING OUR POLITICIANS ALL YEAR. COMING UP, WE ARE HEADING DOWN TO OUR PRESS GALLERY TO TALK TO OUR OWN POLITICAL EDITOR JENNA LYNCH AND GET HER POLITICAL READING OF HOW THE YEAR WENT FOR ALL OF THE PARTIES IN PARLIAMENT. WELCOME BACK. WELL, WHAT A YEAR TO BECOME A POLITICAL EDITOR. THAT'S WHY WE'VE GOT THE FABULOUS JENNA LYNCH STANDING BY AT PARLIAMENT. SHE'S JOINING US FROM THERE BECAUSE SHE'S CONSERVING HER ENERGY FOR THE EXCITEMENT OF HAMILTON-WEST BY-ELECTION (!) KIA ORA, JENNA, HOW ARE YOU? MORENA, SIMON. I AM BRILLIANT. VERY GOOD. I HAVE GOT A QUICK QUESTION FOR YOU ` THIS YEAR, HAS IT BEEN TOUGHER WRANGLING 120 MPS OR TOUGHER WRANGLING A NEW BABY? I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE THAT DISSIMILAR, SIMON. THEY'RE BOTH VERY LOUD; THEY HAVE TEMPER TANTRUMS WHEN THEY DON'T GET ENOUGH ATTENTION; THERE'S FAILURE TO ACCEPT PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY... EXCEPT THE MPS DON'T COME WITH ANY OF THE GOOD BITS LIKE THE SMILES AND THE CUDDLES AND THE GIGGLES. LOOKING BACK ON YOUR FIRST YEAR, WHAT HAS BEEN THE STAND OUT MOMENT? IT HAS BEEN A YEAR. THE GOVERNMENT HAS BOUNCED FROM CRISIS TO CRISIS TO CRISIS THIS YEAR ` COST OF LIVING, CRIME, HOUSING, HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, AND THEY'RE NOT THE SORT OF CRISES THAT WE HAVE SEEN JACINDA ARDERN RISE TO IN THE PAST LIKE THE COVID CRISIS OR THE CHRISTCHURCH TERROR ATTACKS. AMONG ALL THAT DOOM AND GLOOM, THERE HAS BEEN SOME POLITICAL HILARITY ` THE GREENS' OH-SO-GREEN COUP THAT WASN'T A COUP; THE SHARMA SPIRAL INTO POLITICAL OBLIVION; CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S TROPICAL GETAWAY TO TE PUKE... BUT THE STAND OUT POLITICAL MOMENT FOR THE YEAR REALLY HAS TO GO WAY BACK TO THE BEGINNING TO THOSE PARLIAMENTARY PROTESTS, THE MONTH-LONG OCCUPATION OF THE FRONT LAWN OF THIS PLACE. THE SPEAKER TRYING THAT EXCRUCIATING MIX OF BABY SHARK, JAMES BLUNT AND THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM TO TRY AND CLEAR THEM OUT OF HERE, AND ALL CULMINATING IN THAT DAY OF ABSOLUTE BEDLAM. YEAH. SO MANY MOMENTS, AS YOU SAY, JENNA. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FOR 2023, THEN? IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE THE CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY BEGUN. THESE GUYS ARE CIRCLING EACH OTHER IN THE RING, TRYING TO STAUNCH EACH OTHER OUT WITH THESE PRESS RELEASES FIRING OFF FROM THE CAMPAIGN CHAIRS ALREADY. THE FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT OUT OF THE BLOCKS IS PROBABLY LIKELY TO BE AROUND THAT FUEL TAX CUT, WHETHER OR NOT TO EXTEND IT. IT'S DUE TO COME OFF IN JANUARY, AND THAT'S GOING TO BE AN INCREDIBLY HARD MANDATE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO RIP IN AN ELECTION YEAR. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR A BIG OLD ELECTION BRIBE FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET, THOUGH IT'LL PROBABLY BE DRESSED UP IN DISGUISE IN SOME KIND OF RESPONSIBLE FISCAL MANAGEMENT COSTUME. UNLESS HE GOES INTO SOME SERIOUS, SERIOUS POLICY OBEDIENCE TRAINING OVER THE SUMMER, EXPECT SOME POLICY ON THE FLY FROM CHRISTOPHER LUXON. WE GET OUR FIRST REAL TASTE ` OUR FIRST REAL TASTE ` OF HOW THE ELECTORATE IS FEELING ABOUT THESE GUYS NEXT WEEKEND. EVERYONE ELSE'S ADVENT CALENDARS ARE COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS; MINE IS SEVEN SLEEPS UNTIL THE REAL EVENT OF DECEMBER ` THE HAMILTON WEST BY-ELECTION. THE REAL EVENT. OK, I'M SURE THE WHOLE NATION IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT. JENNA LYNCH, THANK YOU SO MUCH. LIVE FROM PARLIAMENT. THANKS, SIMON. WELL, WE'VE LIVED THROUGH SOME CURLY AND COMPLEX ISSUES THIS YEAR. AND WITH ME TO TALK ABOUT THEM ALL IS CARMEN PARAHI, WELCOME; BRIGITTE MORTEN AND MAI CHEN. MAI, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU ` WHAT DO YOU THINK HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST LEGAL ISSUE THAT WE'VE DEALT WITH THIS YEAR AS A COUNTRY? WELL, WHETHER IT'S GROUNDED KIWIS, THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN, THE ENTRENCHMENT OF THE THREE WATERS LEGISLATION, OR HATE SPEECH ` HEY, OUR CONSTITUTION IS WORKING. IT'S THREE TICKS. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE GOT A SINGLE PARTY MAJORITY GOVERNMENT, IF YOU'RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE COVID REGULATIONS, YOU CAN GO TO COURT AND THE COURT WILL INTERVENE AND WILL UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW. YOU KNOW, THE QUEEN DIED. WELL, ACTUALLY, THE SYSTEM SAILED SMOOTHLY ON. WE TRIED TO ENTRENCH THE THREE WATERS LEGISLATION ` IT'S JUST A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION THAT YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT UNLESS IT'S CONSTITUTIONAL AND YET, THERE WAS AN OUTCRY. 'THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING.' WITH HATE SPEECH, THEY HAD TO PULL BACK THE LEGISLATION. SO I SAY, THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT ACTUALLY, WE HAVE A WELL-FUNCTIONING CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM AND A HEALTHY DEMOCRACY. THAT'S REALLY GOOD TO HEAR AT THE END OF THE YEAR. CARMEN, WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH SOME BIG ISSUES, HAVEN'T WE? WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THREE WATERS AND CO-GOVERNANCE; HOW DO YOU THINK THE POLITICAL MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN ON THOSE ISSUES? I DON'T THINK IT HAS BEEN THAT GOOD, ACTUALLY, AND WHAT I DON'T LIKE IS I DON'T WANT TO HEAR DOG WHISTLING IN POLITICS AND DOG WHISTLING RACISM IN POLITICS. WE HAD CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES AROUND THE QUEEN, WE'VE HAD STUFF AROUND THREE WATERS, BUT ALL I HEAR IS A LOT OF DOG WHISTLING AND THAT RACISM THAT'S PERVADING ` AND IT'S ACTUALLY IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY; THAT ACTUALLY NEEDS TO BE SORTED OUT AS WELL ` AROUND CO-GOVERNANCE. BE CAREFUL ABOUT THAT. WE HAVE BEEN DOING CO-GOVERNANCE SINCE 1840, ALTHOUGH ONE OF THOSE PARTIES, ACTUALLY, THEIR POWER WAS DIMINISHED BY ANOTHER PARTY, THAT BEING THE CROWN, SO THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO DO. I THINK NEXT YEAR IS NATIONAL'S TO LOSE. IT IS GOING TO BE TIGHT AND WILL DEPEND ON THE MINORITY PARTIES BUT NEXT YEAR IS GOING TO BE HARD FOR OUR PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE IN AN ENFORCED RECESSION NEXT YEAR, SO IT'S GOING TO BE HARD. IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH ONE NEXT YEAR. BRIGITTE, WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NATIONAL'S BIGGEST PRIORITY AS WE HEAD INTO SUMMER AND LOOK AT 2023? WITHOUT A DOUBT, IT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, WHICH IS THE COST OF LIVING AND IMPENDING RECESSION, WHAT THEIR MORTGAGE RATES ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE. NATIONAL NEEDS TO REBUILD THE TRUST THAT THEY ARE THE BEST FISCAL MANAGERS FOR THE COUNTRY AND DEMONSTRATE THAT. I THINK THEY ALREADY HAVE. THEY'VE MADE SOME SIGNALS AROUND THE FACT THAT THEY'RE REALLY CONSIDERING THEIR POLICIES BUT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE THE SAFE PAIR OF HANDS THAT PEOPLE WANT. JUST BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE SOME WORK TO DO, THE REST OF US, DON'T WE, ON SOCIAL COHESION, THERE'S BEEN SOME POLARISATION AND DIVISION THIS YEAR... WE ALL NEED TO TAKE SOME LOOK AT OURSELVES, DON'T WE? WE DO, AND IT'S THE POLITICS THAT NEED IT, RIGHT? THEY DO INFLUENCE THE WAY PEOPLE THINK. SO DOES THE MEDIA, SO THAT'S OUR ROLE. WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK REALLY HARD AT THAT THROUGH POU TIAKI AT STUFF, BUT THE POLITICIANS REALLY NEED TO JUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE WORDS THEY USE NEXT YEAR. IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT HOW WE CAN AFFORD TO LIVE NEXT YEAR. DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THE RACISM THAT CAN COME THROUGH ON CO-GOVERNANCE AND THREE WATERS. THAT IS A SIDE ISSUE. BE CAREFUL, JUST FOCUS ON THE PEOPLE. NGA TANGATA, NGA TANGATA, NGA TANGATA. THAT'S A PERFECT NOTE TO LEAVE IT ON. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE THIS MORNING, AND STAY WITH US, BECAUSE AFTER THE BREAK, WE HAVE A BITTERSWEET ANNOUNCEMENT. HOKI MAI ANO, WELCOME BACK TO OUR NEWSHUB NATION CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. WELL, IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE OUR PROGRAMME. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT AND OUR SENIOR REPORTER CONOR WHITTEN IS ONE OF THOSE. HE'S ONE OF THE VERY BEST. THROUGHOUT HIS TIME ON NEWSHUB NATION, HE'S DONE SOME INCREDIBLE STORIES. BUT, AFTER THREE YEARS, HE'S MOVING ON. TENA KOUTOU KATOA. I'M CONOR WHITTEN. NAU MAI ` WELCOME TO NEWSHUB NATION. WELL, SENIOR REPORTER CONOR WHITTEN WAS IN THE THICK OF THE ACTION OF PARLIAMENT ON THURSDAY. CONOR WHITTEN IS RIGHT THERE. SENIOR REPORTER CONOR WHITTEN SPENT THE NIGHT AT APEC. AND, CONOR, WHAT DO THE LEADERS AGREE? WELL, SIMON, IT ISN'T EASY TO AGREE ON ANYTHING WHEN YOU'RE HOSTING THE U.S, CHINA AND RUSSIA. THEY ARE THE MOST AWKWARD OF PARTY GUESTS. WELCOME BACK TO OUR NEWSHUB NATION WELLINGTON MAYORAL DEBATE SPECIAL. THAT COMMENT WAYNE BROWN MADE ABOUT YOU PERSONALLY ` WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? IT STILL ISN'T KNOWN HOW THE LATEST OUTBREAK MADE ITS WAY FROM MANAGED ISOLATION. THERE'S BEEN NO CHANGE TO THE MANDATE FOR RECOVERY OF THE PIKE RIVER DRIFT. IN A STATEMENT, AMBASSADOR JAVIER PRADO CONFIRMED HE'S UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN PERU. 17,000 NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN HAVE A PARENT BEHIND BARS. MANY LEFT WITHOUT A CARER, A PROVIDER, A HOME. HOW HARD WAS THAT? VERY HARD. VERY HARD. HEY, I'M LAURIE. I'M 43. THEY ARE NORMAL, EVERYDAY KIWIS. THEY'RE TAKING PSILOCYBIN FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES. ITS USERS SAY IT'S ALL THAT HELPS. IT SAVED MY LIFE. BEHIND THE GLASS IN HIS AUNT'S LIVING ROOM ARE ALL OF MALACHI'S FAVOURITE THINGS. THOSE THERE ARE HIS SOCKS AND SHOES. THIS IS HIS FAVOURITE MOVIE. CONOR WHITTEN, THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. CONOR WHITTEN, OUR SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER... CONOR WHITTEN REPORTING THERE. (FUNKY MUSIC) JUST NEED A MIC CHECK. DO YOU WANT TO TELL US WHAT YOU HAD FOR BREAKFAST? IF YOU HAD IT. OK. (LAUGHS) YEAH, I CAN DO THAT. OR IF YOU WANT TO DO IT. (LAUGHS) DO YOU? I'LL DO IT. I'LL DO IT. YEAH, I'LL LOOK LIKE THE DICK. THAT'S FINE. THAT'S MY JOB. (MUSIC CONTINUES) OK, THIS IS WHERE I JUST SMILE AND NOD. (CHUCKLES) SORRY, THIS IS WHERE I JUST NOD AT YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME TO SAY SOMETHING. I'LL JUST... (LAUGHS) WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE. JUST GET A FEW MORE SHOTS. COOL, THAT'S US. SO, CONOR, THESE ARE FOR YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ENERGY, FOR YOUR REPORTING, FOR YOUR ENTHUSIASM. YOU'RE ONE OF THE BEST. WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM SO MUCH. THANK YOU, GUYS. IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE. THANKS TO EVERYONE BEHIND THE SCENES WHO MAKES THIS HAPPEN AS WELL. I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU GUYS DO IN ELECTION YEAR. I WILL BE WATCHING, SO DON'T BE A STRANGER. IT'S GOING TO BE FUN. THAT IS A WRAP FROM ME AND THAT IS A WRAP FROM US FOR 2022. WE'RE GOING TO LEAVE YOU NOW WITH OUT MERRY BAND OF CHRISTMAS MPS ` CHRIS BAILLIE, BROOKE VAN VELDEN AND SHANAN HALBERT, TAKE IT AWAY. MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE. (TRUMPET PLAYS) (THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN'S 'SNOOPY'S CHRISTMAS' PLAYS) # THE NEWS HAD COME OUT IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR # THE BLOODY RED BARON WAS FLYING ONCE MORE # THE ALLIED COMMAND IGNORED ALL OF ITS MEN # AND CALLED ON SNOOPY TO DO IT AGAIN. # 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, 40 BELOW # WHEN SNOOPY WENT UP IN SEARCH OF HIS FOE # HE SPIED THE RED BARON, AND FIERCELY THEY FOUGHT # WITH ICE ON HIS WINGS, SNOOPY KNEW HE WAS CAUGHT. BROOKE, SHANAN: # CHRISTMAS BELLS, THOSE CHRISTMAS BELLS, # RING OUT THROUGH THE LAND # ASKING PEACE OF ALL THE WORLD, # AND GOOD WILL TO MAN. # CAPTIONS BY JESSIE PURU AND SAM BAKER. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2022 HE MEA TONA KI TE HOTAKA NEI NA TE PUBLIC INTEREST JOURNALISM FUND.