IT'S FINALLY HERE ` OUR WEIRD AND ALWAYS A LITTLE WILD NEWSHUB NATION CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. POLITICIANS, COMMENTATORS AND JOURNALISTS ARE ALL INSIDE, WAITING TO DISSECT THE BIG STORIES OF 2023. ALL THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF WHAT HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY POLITICAL YEAR. CAPTIONS BY KATE HARRIS AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 (PEOPLE CHATTER) AND WHAT A YEAR IT'S BEEN. ENDING WITH A HISTORIC COALITION GOVERNMENT THAT SWEPT BOTH PAUL GOLDSMITH AND ERICA STANFORD INTO CABINET. WELCOME, GOOD MORNING, GUYS. GOOD MORNING. CHRISTMAS CAME EARLY FOR YOU GUYS THIS YEAR, BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ALL ROSES, PAUL, BECAUSE THE GRINCH STOLE THE FOREIGN BUYERS TAX. YES, BUT THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BY 100 DAYS OF DELIVERY. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. ERICA, IT HAS BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY POLITICAL YEAR. WE HAVE HAD THREE PRIME MINISTERS, WHICH IS JUST CRAZY. WE'VE HAD FLOODS, CYCLONES, POLARISATION AND DIVISION DURING THE CAMPAIGN. HOW DO YOU THINK WE REACH THE END OF THE YEAR AS A COUNTRY? PEOPLE HAVE HAD A TOUGH TIME THIS YEAR IF YOU ADD INFLATION AS WELL, IT HAS BEEN ROUGH FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. I THINK KIWIS ARE READY FOR A GOOD BREAK. ALSO, PROBABLY, FROM US, AND POLITICIANS, QUITE FRANKLY, BECAUSE WE HAVE HAD A WHOLE YEAR OF CAMPAIGNING AND A GENERAL ELECTION, AND COALITION NEGOTIATIONS, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING INTO PARLIAMENT. SO I'M SURE THEY'RE WELL SICK AND NEED A BREAK FROM US FOR A FEW MONTHS AS WELL. BUT WE WILL BE GOING EARLY NEXT YEAR. ABSOLUTELY, IT'S BEEN A LONG SLOG FOR THE POLITICIANS, PAUL. IS CHRISTOPHER LUXON GOING TO LET YOU OUT OF THE BEEHIVE? THERE ARE RUMOURS HE WILL, BUT WE DON'T HAVE EVIDENCE YET. WE HAVE THREE HARD PARLIAMENT WEEKS BEFORE CHRISTMAS, THEN HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET TO THE BEACH AND HAVE SOME FUN. YEAH, I WAS THINKING THIS MORNING, ERICA, YOU ARE BACK IN PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK ON THE GOVERNMENT BENCHES, AND THE FUNNY THING ABOUT THAT TIME IS YOU WILL BE GETTING QUESTIONS FROM THE NEW OPPOSITION, AND THEY KNOW WHERE ALL THE BODIES ARE BURIED. THEY EVEN BURIED SOME THEMSELVES. THEY DID, THEY BURIED THOSE BODIES THEMSELVES. THEY WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN QUESTIONING AS TO WHAT THEY ASK, BECAUSE A LOT OF WHAT WE ARE DISCOVERING AT THE MOMENT ARE THINGS THAT THEY HAVE BURIED. THEY WILL HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IN THAT LINE OF QUESTIONING. THIS, ERICA, IS YOUR FIRST TIME IN CABINET, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN IN POLITICS FOR A WHILE, AND YOU STARTED WITH MURRAY MCCULLY, WHO IS KNOWN AS A SUPREME POLITICAL OPERATOR. WHAT IS ONE THING YOU CAN TAKE FROM THAT EXPERIENCE INTO CABINET? MCCULLY WAS A VERY GOOD POLITICAL OPERATOR. BUT WATCHING HIM OVER FIVE OR SIX YEARS, HE WAS HEAD DOWN, TAIL UP, DO THE WORK, AND ALWAYS HAVE A BOTTLE OF CHARDONNAY IN THE FRIDGE. (LAUGHS) I THINK THAT'S GOOD ADVICE FOR LIFE, ACTUALLY. PAUL, SOMETHING PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW IS THAT YOU ARE A BLACK BELT IN TAE KWON DO. HAVE I GOT THAT RIGHT? YES. WILL THAT BE HANDY IN CABINET? I HAVEN'T DONE A LOT OF TRAINING RECENTLY, BUT ANYWAY... YOU HAVE TO LET OFF STEAM AT THE END OF THE DAY IN POLITICS. A GOOD CHOP AND A BAND INTO SOMETHING IS GOOD. WILL IT HELP IN THE CABINET ROOM KEEPING NZ FIRST AND ACT IN LINE? NO, WE'RE ALL GOOD FRIENDS IN THE CABINET. NO NEED FOR THAT. WHAT GOES ON IN CABINET STAYS IN CABINET. IT'S KIND OF LIKE FIGHT CLUB. IF IT'S TAE KWON DO. ERICA, IF YOU HAD TO INVITE ONE POLITICIAN TO YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY, FROM ANOTHER PARTY, WHO WOULD IT BE? IT WOULD BE A NEW POLITICIAN, STEVE ABEL, WHO IS WITH THE GREENS. HE HAS COME TO EVERY GREEN-BLUE CONFERENCE WE HAVE HAD AS LONG BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER. HE USED TO WORK FOR GREENPEACE. AMAZING MAN. PROBABLY ONE OF THE ONLY ENVIRONMENTALISTS ACTUALLY IN THE GREEN PARTY. AND HE HAS A KID THE SAME AGE AS MINE. HE WOULD BE QUITE FUN AND INTERESTING. I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HIM. WONDERFUL. WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST OVER SUMMER, AND YOUR RETURN TO PARLIAMENT NEXT WEEK. IT'S BEEN AN EXTRAORDINARY YEAR FOR YOU BOTH. PAUL GOLDSMITH AND ERICA STANFORD, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. ALL RIGHT. IT WAS AN ELECTION CAMPAIGN LIKE NO OTHER, SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK NOW AT HOW WE GOT HERE. (JAY-Z'S 'SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT') YEP, POLITICS IS A BRUTAL BUSINESS, AND LABOUR WAS REMINDED OF THAT THIS YEAR. CARMEL SEPULONI AND PEENI HENARE, IT'S A TOUGH TRANSITION INTO OPPOSITION, ISN'T IT? ALTHOUGH YOU HAD 5 WEEKS, I SUPPOSE, WHILE THE OTHER SIDE GETS THEIR ACT TOGETHER, TO GET USED TO THE IDEA. YEAH, WE HAVE. WE ALSO KNOW COMING INTO THIS ROLE THAT YOU ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO BE IN GOVERNMENT. OPPOSITION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF DEMOCRACY. WE ARE IN IT FOR THE FIGHT. YOU GET TO FIGHT A LOT IN OPPOSITION. YOU HAVE BEEN IN OPPOSITION BEFORE, AND WERE EFFECTIVE, BUT WHY DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK? WE DON'T CHOOSE TO BE IN OPPOSITION, WE PREFER TO BE IN GOVERNMENT, I HAVE LEARNED A LOT DURING MY TIME IN GOVERNMENT. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO DOING THINGS LIKE SITTING ON SELECT COMMITTEE AND HOLDING THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT IN A WAY I DON'T THINK I COULD HAVE DONE BEFORE, NOT HAVING BEEN IN GOVERNMENT. WE GOT INTO POLITICS FOR THE FIGHT. THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING. PEENI, IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH TIME FOR THE LABOUR CAUCUS. WHAT STAGE OF GRIEF` HOW IS THE HEART OVER THERE? I THINK THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS 'E MANAWA RU ANA'. FOR THE GOVERNMENT AND THE WHANAU OUT THERE, THAT MEANS A STRONG BEATING HEART. I'M PROUD OF THE CAUCUS WHO HAVE COME THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME. AS MY COLLEAGUE HAS SAID, WE ARE FOCUSED ON WHAT WE HAVE TO DO, AND OPPOSITION IS AN IMPORTANT ROLE. WHAT WILL THIS SUMMER BE LIKE FOR YOUR PARTY? WHEN YOU COME OUT OF GOVERNMENT, THERE IS A REORGANISATION THAT HAS TO HAPPEN. BUT WILL PEOPLE BE REFLECTING OVER THE SUMMER, CARMEL? COULD WE SEE MORE RESIGNATIONS NEXT YEAR? WE WILL BE REFLECTING. I DON'T THINK POLITICIANS ARE ABLE TO TURN THEIR BRAINS OFF. THEY'LL BE THINKING ABOUT THE YEAR AHEAD. AS FOR RESIGNATIONS, WE HAVEN'T HEARD OF ANY MORE COMING OUR WAY. OUR COLLEAGUES ARE VERY FOCUSED ON WHAT THEIR SPOKESPEOPLE ROLES ARE AND THE WORK THEY WILL UNDERTAKE NEXT YEAR. PEENI, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE GREATEST WEAKNESS IN THE GOVERNMENT? IT IS UNITY. WE HAVE BEEN IN A COALITION GOVERNMENT IN 2017, WHEN BOTH CARMEL AND I WERE MINISTERS. WE KNOW THAT IT CAN BE CHAOTIC. IT IS DIFFICULT WITH THREE DIFFERENT PARTIES TOGETHER. IT'S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT WITHIN YOUR OWN PARTY. I THINK THAT IS A CHALLENGE, BUT TO MY COLLEAGUE'S WORDS, HAVING BEEN SO BUSY OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS, I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A BIT OF A SUMMER. WE HAD A STINK SUMMER LAST YEAR. MAYBE SOME FISHING, SOME CRAYFISH. LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. I WONDER IF THERE WILL BE MORE TIME FOR THE PARLIAMENTARY RUGBY TEAM FOR YOU, ALTHOUGH I HEARD YOU PULLED A COUPLE OF HAMSTRINGS. BUT YOU CAN COMMENTATE IN TE REO. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, AND THEY HAVE ALREADY CALLED OUT TO ME TO PLAY. I DON'T KNOW IF MY KNEE IS UP TO IT, BUT IT IS ALL THOSE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT BEING IN PARLIAMENT. I WAS IN OPPOSITION IN 2014 AND GOT TO CUT MY TEETH THERE. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK TO IT. CARMEL, WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE TO KIWIS WHO ARE HEADING OUT OVER THE SUMMER, WHO MAY HAVE OVERDOSED ON POLITICS THIS YEAR? FOR ALL NEW ZEALANDERS, INCLUDING US, IT'S ABOUT SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH LOVED ONES, PEOPLE YOU MAY NOT HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH OVER THE COURSE OF WHAT HAD BEEN A BUSY YEAR. HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET SUNSHINE, BECAUSE WE MISSED OUT LAST YEAR. LOOKING FORWARD TO THE WEATHER. THERE WILL BE POLITICAL CONVERSATIONS AROUND THE BARBECUE, BUT WE ALL NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO CUT THOSE OFF, AND TALK ABOUT THE OTHER THINGS THAT MATTER, SUCH AS OUR WHANAU, OUR GARDENS, EVERYDAY THINGS OUTSIDE OF POLITICS. I WANT TO ASK YOU, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR NON-POLITICAL HIGHLIGHT OF THE YEAR? PROBABLY TWO. THE FIRST WOULD BE GETTING MY TRADITIONAL SAMOAN WOMEN'S TATTOO, THE MALU, WHICH I HAD BEEN TRYING TO ORGANISE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. IT HAPPENED THIS YEAR. THE SECOND IS I'VE GOT MOKOPUNA NUMBER TWO ON THE WAY. IT'S A LITTLE GIRL, SO I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT. THAT IS EXCITING NEWS. THANK YOU SO MUCH, CARMEL SEPULONI AND PEENI HENARE, FOR JOINING US, NOT JUST AT THIS SHOW, BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AS WELL. WELL, 2023 BEGAN WITH A POLITICAL EARTHQUAKE ` THE RESIGNATION OF JACINDA ARDERN. IT SET THE SCENE FOR A MASSIVE YEAR ` BIG ISSUES, BIG PERSONALITIES DOMINATING THE HEADLINES. LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS. IT IS HARD TO COMPREHEND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN ESK VALLEY. HAVE YOU GOT A GRASP YET ON THE SCALE OF THIS DISASTER? THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BIGGEST NATURAL DISASTER THAT WE'VE SEEN, PROBABLY THIS CENTURY. HAVE YOU SEEN OFFICIALS? YOU HEARD FROM ANYBODY? NO, NOT A SOUL. NOBODY. YOU KNOW, IT'S` YOU'RE THE CLOSEST THING TO AN OFFICIAL WE'VE HAD OUT HERE. THE FRIDAY THAT AUCKLAND FLOODED. IT'S REALLY HARD TO IMAGINE THAT IT'S COME UP SO FAR OVER THIS EMBANKMENT AND ALL THE WAY OVER THIS GROUND AND INTO RAKESH'S HOUSE. YOU HEAD OUTSIDE, I MEAN, HAVE PEOPLE BEEN RECEPTIVE? YES. WELL, OTHER THAN HIM. YEAH. SO FAR, SO GOOD. THIS IS THE 32-PAGE DOCUMENT... CORRECT. ...YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ISN'T IT? CHRISTOPHER, THIS IS A BROCHURE. IT'S FULL OF PICTURES OF YOU. I THINK THAT'S UNFAIR. THERE'S QUITE A LOT OF TABLES IN THE BACK THERE, REBECCA. WELL, THERE'S ALSO SOME PICTURES OF YOU HAVING A CUP OF TEA. THESE ARE PICTURES OF YOU CUDDLING A BABY. WHAT ABOUT INEQUALITY? WHAT ABOUT IT? HOW ARE WE GOING TO FIX THAT? (BOTH TALK OVER EACH OTHER) NEXT TOPIC! NEXT TOPIC IS... YOU'RE GONNA ALLOW` MY NEXT TOPIC IS, EVERYBODY, JUST CUT TO ME, DREW, OK? THANKS. PARTICULARLY WITH OUR YOUNGER CHILDREN... WHAT DATA CAN YOU POINT TO SHOW THAT ANYTHING'S BETTER? ERICA, YOU SHOULD HAVE A LOOK AT IT SOME TIME. OH, THE STRUCTURED LITERACY APPROACH. GUESS WHAT? NO, IT'S NOT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. (CHORTLES) THAT'S THE PROBLEM. IT'S NOT STRUCTURE LITERACY. OK, OK. I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN IMPASSIONED. WE'RE NOT HERE ON AN ETHNIC MISSION. WE ARE ON A MISSION FOR ALL NEW ZEALANDERS. BUT THIS IS` THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE. THIS IS CODED RACIAL LANGUAGE. IT'S DESIGNED TO WHIP UP ANGER. NO, I'M SORRY. I'M SORRY. EVERYBODY CAN SEE THAT. I'M SORRY, WITH THE GREATEST RESPECT, I'M NOT PUTTING UP WITH IGNORANT COMMENTATORS LIKE YOU... (CHUCKLES) SAYING THAT I, FOR EXAMPLE, HAVING SPENT MY WHOLE CAREER WORKING FOR MAORI, ANOTHER GREAT CAUSE. MR PETERS, ATTACKING ME IS JUST A DEFLECTION. WELL, I'M NOT TRYING TO BE A... WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE THE FOREIGN MINISTER? I SENSE A RELISH FOR THE JOB FROM YOU. AND YOU HAVE BEEN THE FOREIGN MINISTER BEFORE IN THE PREVIOUS NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. I WAS ANTICIPATING YOU ASKING THAT RIGHT UP FRONT, ACTUALLY. SO YOU'VE SHOWN REMARKABLE RESTRAINT, AND I THINK... I'M FAMOUS FOR IT. DO YOU WANT TO BE LABOUR LEADER? UH, I DON'T HAVE ANY AMBITIONS TO BE THE LABOUR LEADER. NOT INTERESTED AT ALL? NAH, NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST. WHY NOT? WELL, NOT EVERYBODY THAT COMES IN HERE WANTS TO BE PM. SMOKERS WILL FUND THE TAX CUTS BECAUSE NEW ZEALAND FIRST AND ACT WANT THE SMOKERS TO HAVE ACCESS TO CIGARETTES. OK. CAN YOU TWO WORK TOGETHER? I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING TO DECIDE THIS DECISION. AND` AND THE ANSWER IS ` THIS COUNTRY IS AT SUCH A SERIOUS CRISIS. I'LL WORK WITH ANYONE` I'M ACTUALLY ASKING IF YOU CAN WORK WITH DAVID. AND ME AND MY COLLEAGUES` LISTEN UP. 'LISTEN UP.' WE'LL WORK WITH ANYONE TO TRY AND FIX IT NOW. SO THAT'S A YES. DAVID, WILL YOU WORK WITH WINSTON? LOOK, I THINK ULTIMATELY, IF A PARLIAMENT IS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE, THEN YOU MAKE IT WORK. BUT I JUST SAY IT'S NOT CREDIBLE FOR THE GUY WHO'S HAD MORE CHANCES TO FIX NEW ZEALAND'S PROBLEMS THAN ANYONE... HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON, HANG ON. ...PRESENTS HIMSELF IN` HERE WE GO AGAIN. REBECCA, REBECCA, I'M SORRY. (ALL TALK OVER EACH OTHER) IT'S LIKE AN ARSONIST SHOWING UP DRESSED AS A FIREMAN, SAYING, 'I'M HERE TO HELP AND FIX IT ALL FOR YOU.' I'M BEGINNING TO PITY CHRISTOPHER LUXON... BUT HE'LL LEARN. HE'LL LEARN. ...AFTER THE ELECTION. I'M WITH TWO OF OUR OTHER BEST BITS, POLITICAL COMMENTATORS, THE NAUGHTY AND NICE BEN THOMAS AND JOSIE PAGANI. GOOD MORNING TO YOU BOTH. KIA ORA, GOOD MORNING. WE ARE WRAPPING UP THE POLITICAL YEAR, BUT CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS ONLY JUST GETTING STARTED. HOW WOULD YOU RATE HIS FIRST TWO WEEKS AS PM? ENERGIZER BUNNY. I THINK HE HAS LOOKED QUITE ASSURED. EVERYBODY HAS BEEN SAYING IT HAS BEEN A DISASTROUS BEGINNING, IT'S BEEN A MESS, WINSTON'S BEEN BEHAVING BADLY, BUT I THINK HE HAS DONE ALL RIGHT. I THINK HE IS RESISTING THE PUSH FROM THE MEDIA TO GO, 'OH, YOU BETTER TELL WINSTON OFF.' I THINK THE BIGGER PROBLEM IS CONTENT, AND THE COALITION AGREEMENT IS KIND OF A WEIRD MIXTURE OF VERY HIGH LEVEL STUFF, LIKE MAKE THE PUBLIC SECTOR BETTER, AND THEN REALLY DETAILED STUFF, LIKE REVERSING THE THERAPEUTIC MEDICINES ACT, WHICH REGULATES NATURAL MEDICINES, OR BRING BACK PSEUDOEPHEDRINE. YOU THINK, 'WHAT THE? WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?' I THINK IT WILL BE DIFFICULT. I DON'T THINK THEY YET KNOW WHAT KIND OF A RIGHT PARTY, RIGHT GOVERNMENT THEY ARE ` POPULISTS, PRUDENT MANAGEMENT OF THE STATUS QUO, OR ARE THEY LIBERTARIANS GETTING RID OF REGULATION? I THINK THAT IS STILL UP IN THE AIR. IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THEM TO GET A COHERENT... A COHERENT VISION, AND A COHERENT PROGRAMME. BEN, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WINSTON. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE WERE TALKING ON A PANEL, AND YOU SAID THAT PEOPLE EXPECTED WINSTON PETERS TO ELEVATE INTO THE STATESMANLIKE PERSONA, BUT YOU WEREN'T SURE HE WOULD DO IT AGAIN THIS TIME. I THINK WE KNOW KNOW THE ANSWER ` IT IS NO. EVERY TIME WINSTON PETERS HAS GONE INTO GOVERNMENT WITH A BIGGER PARTY, NEW ZEALAND FIRST HAS FAILED TO REACH THE THRESHOLD. TWICE THAT HAS LED TO THEM BEING DUMPED OUT OF PARLIAMENT. HE IS ALWAYS LOOKING TO CHANGE THINGS UP, DO THINGS BETTER. I THINK HE HAS REALISED HE LEFT IT TOO LATE IN 2017 TO 2020 TO DIFFERENTIATE HIMSELF FROM THE GOVERNMENT. AND HE WILL BE A THORN IN THE SIDE ALL THE WAY THROUGH TALKING DIRECTLY TO HIS VOTERS, WHICH INCLUDE ` NOT ENTIRELY, BUT INCLUDE ` SOME OF THE MORE UNUSUAL PEOPLE IN NEW ZEALAND, WITH MORE UNUSUAL PRIORITIES. THERE IS A BIG QUESTION... I THINK WE KNOW HOW HE WILL CONDUCT THEMSELVES AS A PARTY LEADER. THE MUCH BIGGER QUESTION IS ABOUT HOW YOU ARE THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF A SMALL TRADING-BASED NATION THAT RELIES ON A... A MULTILATERAL RULES-BASED GLOBAL ORDER, IF YOU ARE ALSO TRYING TO INDULGE CONSPIRACY THEORISTS ABOUT HOW THE W.H.O. IS TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE COUNTRY. THAT IS GOING TO BE A TOUGH TIGHT ROPE, PARTICULARLY OVERSEAS. WE'VE SEEN HIM WALKS THE TIGHT ROPES BEFORE, SOMETIMES SUCCESSFULLY, SOMETIMES NOT, JOSIE. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS WILL WORK OUT FOR HIM, AND FOR THE PRIME MINISTER, AND DAVID SEYMOUR? I THINK EVERYBODY IS FALLING FOR THE BAIT AT THE MOMENT. THAT IS THE THING ABOUT WINSTON. HE BAITS PEOPLE, AND THEY FALL FOR IT. HE'S BEING WELCOMED LIKE THE LATEST COVID-19 VARIANT BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR, BY THE MEDIA, AND IT IS EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTED. I THINK THERE'S A BIGGER ISSUE. HE IS WRONG ABOUT BRIBING THE MEDIA, COMPLETELY WRONG, BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH A PERCEPTION OF BIAS. I SAY THAT AS SOMEONE FROM THE LEFT. ON THE RIGHT, THEY THINK THE MEDIA IS BIASED TOWARDS THE LEFT. THAT'S A PROBLEM IN A DEMOCRACY. HE HAS ACTUALLY COTTONED ON TO SOMETHING THAT I THINK PEOPLE FEEL, AND THAT IS POWERFUL. ON THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS STUFF, BEN, I THINK WHAT WE ARE SEEING IS A PITCH TO AMERICA AWAY FROM CHINA. HE IS TALKING ABOUT JOINING AUKUS PILLAR TWO. THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR OUR PERCEPTION IN THE PACIFIC AS BEING INDEPENDENT. THE PACIFIC LIKE US TO BE HEDGING BETWEEN CHINA AND THE U.S., NOT PICKING SIDES. SO IF WE GO FOR AUKUS PILLAR TWO, IT COULD BE A PROBLEM FOR THEM IN THE PACIFIC. WE SAW RESISTANCE FROM HELEN CLARK TO THAT TOO. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT DAVID SEYMOUR FOR A MOMENT. HE DIDN'T HAVE THE GREATEST CAMPAIGN, HE SORT OF LOST HIS MOJO HALFWAY THROUGH. BUT HE IS BOUNCING BACK, AND THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM IN THIS GOVERNMENT, WITH WINSTON, THE NEW PRIME MINISTER LEARNING THE ROPES, THERE IS A REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ACT, ISN'T THERE? YES, I THINK HE TRIED TO PLAY IT SAFE A BIT, BE A BIT CONSERVATIVE IN THE CAMPAIGN, TRYING A LITTLE UNSUCCESSFULLY TO KEEP THE ACT VOTE UP. PLAY A LOW-RISK GAME. IN GOVERNMENT, HE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE ADULT IN THE ROOM, AS WINSTON PETERS SOUNDS OFF. I THINK JOSIE IS RIGHT ` HE LAYS THE BAIT FOR THE MEDIA AND KNOWS THEY'LL WANT TO REPORT ABOUT THEMSELVES, WHICH DIVERTS THE DISCUSSION. SEYMOUR IS RELENTLESSLY ON MESSAGE ` 'HERE ARE THE WINS WE ARE GETTING FOR OUR VOTERS.' TALKING ABOUT GETTING THE REFERENDUM OVER THE LINE THROUGH A SELECT COMMITTEE, STAYING ON MESSAGE, GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT GOVERNING. THERE IS A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO BE SEEN AS A STABLE PARTNER. I WANT TO TALK FINALLY ABOUT LABOUR. THEIR IMPLOSION WAS EVITABLE, WASN'T IT? RIGHT NOW THEY'RE N SHOCK, A BIT OF GRIEF, HOLDING ON TO EACH OTHER, PERHAPS, AND STEELING THEMSELVES FOR OPPOSITION. BUT IT IS GOING TO GET ROUGH, ISN'T IT? CHRIS HIPKINS LOOKED QUITE HAPPY AND EBULLIENT, ACTUALLY. HE HAS SPENT MORE TIME IN OPPOSITION THAN IN GOVERNMENT. HE MIGHT RISE TO THE OCCASION OF BEING AN OPPOSITION LEADER. THE PROBLEM FOR THEM, AND YOU LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID THIS WEEK, THEY RESELECTED ALL THE SAME PEOPLE IN THE SAME PORTFOLIOS. YOU COULD SAY THAT MAKES SENSE, BECAUSE THEY KNOW THOSE PORTFOLIOS BETTER THAN THE MINISTERS COMING IN. BUT IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE THE STATUS QUO, DOUBLING DOWN ON PEOPLE WHO LOST THEM THE ELECTION. SO THAT COULD BE A PROBLEM. WE HAVE RUN OUT OF TIME, BUT I THINK THAT IS THE PROBLEM GOING THEY'RE GOING TO RUN INTO. BUT JOSIE, BEN, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. HERE ON OUR SPECIAL. THANK YOU. I HOPE YOU'RE ENJOYING NEWSHUB NATION'S LIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOW. STAY WITH US FOR SOME BIG FISCAL HOLES AFTER THE BREAK WITH FRAN O'SULLIVAN AND KIRK HOPE. (TWINKLING CHRISTMAS MUSIC) (TWINKLING CHRISTMAS MUSIC) HOKI MAI ANO TO NEWSHUB NATION'S LIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOW. I'M WITH EFESO COLLINS ROM THE GREENS AND BROOKE VAN VELDEN FROM ACT. MORENA. WELCOME TO THE SHOW. YOU BOTH RECEIVED YOUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, A SEAT IN PARLIAMENT. YOU'RE A MINISTER, BROOKE. TWO PORTFOLIOS, A NEW WEALTHY, DEMANDING ELECTORATE ` HOW WILL YOU HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE? I THINK IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE TO HAVE A SOCIAL LIFE IN TAMAKI. I HAVE ENJOYED WALKING THE STREETS, I WAS AT THE STONEFIELDS CHRISTMAS MARKETS LAST SATURDAY. THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE STOPPING TO HAVE A CHAT. THERE'S A LOT OF SOCIAL ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENS. RIGHT, SO YOUR SOCIAL LIFE REVOLVES AROUND DOING YOUR JOB? PRETTY MUCH, BUT FOR MY DOWN TIME, I TRY TO PLAY TENNIS. I MIGHT HAVE TO PULL THAT BACK A BIT, BUT I AM STILL GOING TO TRY. TENNIS SOUNDS VERY TAMAKI TO ME. (LAUGHS) EFESO, SO, YOU TRIED TO CONVINCE AUCKLAND YOU WERE GONNA BE MAYOR, IT DIDN'T WORK. BUT YOU CONVINCED THE COUNTRY TO GET INTO PARLIAMENT. HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? I THINK THEY LIKED US, AND THEY LIKED OUR POLICY. SO I'M REALLY GLAD. WE HAVE THE BIGGEST CAUCUS EVER, 15 MPS, REALLY STRONG CAUCUS, AND THIS IS ABOUT WHAT WE CAN DO IN OPPOSITION TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT TO ACCOUNT AND STILL LISTEN TO PEOPLE. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE YEAR AHEAD. LET'S TALK ABOUT THE YEAR AHEAD. YOUR COLLEAGUE, CHLOE SWARBRICK NAMED THE COALITION DOCUMENT UNHINGED HOT TAKES FROM THE UNCLE AT THE CHRISTMAS PARTY. WHO WAS SHE TALKING ABOUT? I'LL LEAVE THAT TO YOUR VIEWERS TO GUESS. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT BE THINKING IT WAS WINSTON. IT'S JUST RANDOM, AND THAT'S WHAT SHE WAS REFERRING TO. JUST HOW RANDOM THESE HOT TAKES WERE, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF UNCLE` WE ALL HAVE THAT UNCLE OR GRANDAD WHO IS LIKE THAT. SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE THOUGHT I'M A BIT LIKE THAT. I CAN BE A BIT RANDOM SOMETIMES. ARE YOU A FUTURE HOT TAKE UNCLE? I AM PRETTY RANDOM IN THE GREENS CAUCUS. THEY ARE GETTING USED TO THAT. AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING, BEING RANDOM IN THE GREENS CAUCUS? RANDOM MEANS WE TAKE A LOT OF COOL IDEAS AND THROW THEM OUT TOGETHER. DO YOU THINK THAT UNCLE WINSTON MIGHT OVERSHADOW DAVID SEYMOUR? I DON'T THINK SO. I THINK THE LEADERS WILL WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVEN DIFFERENT PORTFOLIOS TO FOCUS ON. I THINK THIS IS AN EXCITING TIME FOR THE COUNTRY. WE HAVE A CLEAR MANDATE, A CLEAR 100 DAY PLAN ABOUT WHAT WE AIM TO ACHIEVE, AND A LOT OF POLICIES IN THE COALITION AGREEMENT, AND THAT GIVES CERTAINTY GOING INTO THE NEXT THREE YEARS. LET' STALK ABOUT THOSE POLICIES ` 200 OF THEM, SOME OVERLAPPING IN THE COALITION DOCUMENT ` WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE NEW ZEALAND FIRST POLICY? IT MIGHT BE A SURPRISE TO SOME, BUT I ALIGN WITH WINSTON ON FOREIGN POLICY. ONE PART OF THEIR COALITION AGREEMENT THAT I AM EXCITED FOR IS A FOCUS ON GROWING THE ECONOMY THROUGH FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS BY FOCUSING ON INDIA, AN AREA WE NEED TO SEE MORE WORK DONE. WHAT ABOUT THEIR POLICY ON GENDER EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS? I THINK YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE THE DETAILS COME OUT. NOT EVERYTHING HAS GONE THROUGH CABINET YET. SO YOU AREN'T UNWRAPPING THAT FOR CHRISTMAS YET? NO, NOT YET. THERE IS A LOT OF DOCUMENTS DETAILS IN THE AGREEMENTS. ALL OF THAT DETAIL WILL HAVE TO BE WORKED OUT IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS. EFESO, CAN YOU NAME ME YOUR TWO FAVOURITE COALITION POLICIES? I THINK THERE'S LENIENCY FOR PETS IN RENTALS. SO THAT COMES OUT IN A POLICY, AND HOPEFULLY THEY'LL START TO THINK ABOUT PEOPLE AND PLANET. MY INTEREST IS HOW THEY WILL KEEP THE COALITION TOGETHER. THEY HAVE SOME REAL CHALLENGES IN HOW THE LEADERSHIP WILL FORM, HOW THEY WILL WORK TOGETHER, I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING TO WATCH. OK, LET'S JUST LOOK AT THE LINE-UP. BROOKE, NOT A LOT OF FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN TERMS OF THE LEADERS. IS THAT A DISAPPOINTMENT? NOT FOR ME. I AM NOT LOOKING AT THE GENDER OF THE LEADERS, BUT AT THE OUTCOMES WE CAN DELIVER FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. IF WE CAN SAY THAT THE COST OF LIVING IS BETTER IN THREE YEARS, THERE IS LESS CRIME AND PEOPLE FEEL SAFER, AND PEOPLE FEEL UNITES AS A COUNTRY, THOSE ARE GOOD OUTCOMES. SO YOU'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT HAVING THREE MALE AMIGOS UP THERE? WE HAVE FEMALES IN CABINET. I WILL BE THERE MYSELF THROUGH PRESENTING WOMEN. TO ME, THAT DOESN'T MATTER. IT IS ABOUT THE OUTCOMES FOR NEW ZEALANDERS. ONE OF THE OTHER ISSUES ABOUT REPRESENTATION, EFESO, IS NOT A LOT OF PACIFIC FACES. YEAH, WE'VE SAID THAT ALREADY, IT HAS BEEN DISAPPOINTING. IN THE GREENS, HALF OF OUR CAUCUS IS MAORI AND PACIFIC. IT REPRESENTS THE DIVERSITY NEW ZEALANDERS WANT TO SEE. IT IS ABOUT ALL OF DOING THIS TOGETHER, MAKING DECISIONS TOGETHER, AND I THINK THEY ARE PROUD OF THAT DIVERSITY. I WILL ASK A COUPLE OF CHRISTMAS QUESTIONS. IF YOU HAD TO INVITE SOMEONE FROM THE OPPOSITION TO A CHRISTMAS PARTY, WHO WOULD IT BE? OH MY GOODNESS. I HAVE ENJOYED SITTING NEXT TO JAMES SHAW IN THE CHAMBER. I DON'T KNOW WHERE I'LL BE SITTING THIS YEAR ` I DOUBT IT'S NEXT TO JAMES ` BUT I HAVE ENJOYED OUR CONVERSATIONS. OK, SO HE CAN EXPECT AN INVITE. I THINK SO. EFESO, WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE BESIDE YOU AT THE DINNER TABLE? CHRISTOPHER LUXON FOR SURE. I THINK THERE'S A LOT IN COMMON. WE BOTH LIVE IN AUCKLAND, WE ARE BOTH A BIT CHALLENGED WITH HAIR, HE SAID THAT ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL. AND I'M PRETTY SURE WE WOULD LIKE SOME HAM. HAVING THE PRIME MINISTER AT THE TABLE MEANS I COULD GET IN A FEW WORDS IN TO SEE WHAT HE THINKS ABOUT GREEN POLICIES. I'M SURE HE'D BE TAKING YOU UP ON THAT OFFER. EFESO AND BROOKE, THANK YOU SO MUCH, HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS. I AM HERE WITH MAI CHEN AND JULIAN WILCOX, WHO ARE ALSO GOING TO HELP US SUM UP THIS POLITICAL YEAR. JULIAN, WE HAVE ONLY HAD THIS GOVERNMENT FOR A WEEK. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE DAYS? I THINK THEY WANT TO BE A GOVERNMENT THAT WANTS TO GET THINGS DONE, GET ACTIONS AND IMPLEMENT. BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HEADLINES HAVE BEEN USURPED BY THE RAGING BULL IN THE FORM OF THE CURRENT DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER FOR THE NEXT 18 MONTHS, THE RIGHT HONOURABLE WINSTON PETERS. THAT HAS SUCKED UP A LOT OF THE HEADLINES. THEY WANT TO BE APPEAR TO BE IN CONTROL, YET WINSTON PETERS HAS STOLEN MUCH OF THE MEDIA LIMELIGHT. I THINK IT'S JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAS SAID, THE MEDIA HAS GRABBED ON TO. A LOT OF POLICY HAS BEEN INTERESTING. IF EVERYONE KNEW, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT A CHANGE IN SMOKING LEGISLATION WOULD DRIVE TAX CUTS, AND CAMPAIGNED ON THAT, I THINK WE MIGHT HAVE SEEN SOME DIFFERENT RESULTS. IT IS INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE. IT'S BEEN FORCED AS A RESULT OF THE COALITION AGREEMENTS AND COALITION ARRANGEMENTS. IN THE WORDS OF PORTIA TO BASSANIO FROM THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, 'WE PRAY YOU PARRY BEFORE YOU HAZARD,' ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT DOING. ONE OF THE THINGS DAVID SEYMOUR GOT OVER THE LINE IN THE AGREEMENTS IS THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL TO SELECT COMMITTEE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT? HOW IS THAT GOING TO GO? IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT IN A DEMOCRACY, YOU CAMPAIGN ON A DETAILED POLICY, WHICH ACT DID ` IT WAS CALLED DEMOCRACY IN CO-GOVERNANCE. THEY HAD A MANDATE BECAUSE THEY GOT VOTED IN. THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING THAT POLICY. THE COALITION AGREEMENT TALKS ABOUT THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL, AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT THE REFERENDUM IS OFF, BUT IT IS NOT ` PARLIAMENT IS SOVEREIGN. AS IN THE DYING WITH DIGNITY CHOICE ACT, SECTION 2 SAID THERE WOULD BE A REFERENDUM. YOU COULD PUT THE REFERENDUM INTO THE TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL, AND THE REASON WHY THE DEFINITION OF TREATY PRINCIPLES IS DIFFERENT IS BECAUSE ACT SS SAYING IT DOES NOT AGREE WITH AFFIRMATIVE ACTION, OR INDIRECT DISCRIMINATION, THAT YOU HAVE TO TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY TO GET THE SAME RESULT BECAUSE THEY SUFFER DISADVANTAGE. BUT NEW ZEALAND'S BILL OF RIGHTS ACT IN SECTION 19, SAYS YOU CAN HAVE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IF IT IS IN GOOD FAITH. SO THEREFORE, YOU CAN HAVE A DECLARATION OF INCONSISTENCY IF IT IS A BREACH, IF THE BILL IS A BREACH, YOU CAN ALSO GO TO COURT, BUT IF YOU INTRODUCE THAT TREATY PRINCIPLES BILL TO PARLIAMENT, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS TO FILE A SECTION 7 REPORT. IF THERE IS AN INCONSISTENCY, IT HAS TO SAY SO TO PARLIAMENT. IT WILL BE A FASCINATING TIME WHEN THE BILL GOES THROUGH PARLIAMENT AND MAKES IT TO SELECT COMMITTEE. HOW DO YOU THINK IT WILL GO FOR THE GOVERNMENT? IT'S ALREADY AN INTERESTING TIME. WHEN YOU ARE PART OF THE COMMUNITIES I AM, THERE IS A LOT TALK ALREADY. THERE IS A LOT OF PLANNING FOR ACTION. WAITANGI IN 2024 IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT FROM PREVIOUS WAITANGI DAYS. PEOPLE WILL MAKE IT VERY CLEAR TO THIS GOVERNMENT THEIR VIEWS ON SOME POLICIES, SUCH AS WHAT MAI JUST TALKED ABOUT. PEOPLE WILL BE IN THEIR FACES AT WAITANGI DAY. THERE IS ALREADY ACTION BEING PLANNED IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. WAITANGI DAY IS GOING TO BE EXPLOSIVE. AND I DON'T THINK THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE DEPTH OF FEELING WITHIN PARTICULARLY MAORI COMMUNITIES ON SOME OF THE THINGS THAT COULD ACCRUE AS A RESULT OF THE REVIEW ON THE TREATY PRINCIPLES. PEOPLE HAVE READ REPORTS ` WE HAVE A STAGE 1 REPORT ON TE PAPARAHI O TE RAKI, YOU'VE GOT WAI 2575, MAORI HEALTH INEQUITIES, WHEN THEY KEEP HEARING THINGS ABOUT NEED NOT RACE WHEN THE NEED IS RACE, THIS IS THE KIND OF NARRATIVE THAT WILL BE MADE CLEAR TO THE GOVERNMENT AT WAITANGI NEXT YEAR. THAT'S WHEN POLITICIANS AND THOSE COMMITTEES COME FACE-TO-FACE. MAI, I KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING AT THE COALITION AGREEMENTS. WHAT IS YOUR ANALYSIS OF HOW THE GOVERNMENT WILL HANG TOGETHER BASED ON THOSE, AND WHAT KIND OF GOVERNMENT WE WILL GET? VERY PRESCRIPTIVE AGREEMENTS, AND A PRIME MINISTER VERY FOCUSED ON GETTING STUFF DONE, IF YOU LOOK AT THE 49 ITEMS IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS. THIS IS WHAT YOU WILL SEE. YOU WILL SEE THE ITEMS IN THOSE DETAILED AGREEMENTS DONE, AND THEY WILL BE DELIVERED. BUT IF YOU WANT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE, IT'LL BE HARD TO GET ANYTHING ELSE ON THE AGENDA. THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN IN THIS THREE-YEAR TERM. IT'S GONNA BE DIFFICULT TO FIND TIME TO PUSH THOSE THROUGH. IF YOU WANT TO TRY AND GET THINGS DONE, THEN YOU SHOULD GO TO THE INDIVIDUAL MINISTERS. THEY SHOULD TRY AND DO THINGS WITHIN EXISTING LEGISLATION. TRYING TO NEGOTIATE ANY MORE LAW REFORM THAN WHAT IS ALREADY IN THE COALITION AGREEMENT IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD, WALK ON WATER TASK. JULIAN, FINALLY, THIS GOVERNMENT IS A CENTRE-RIGHT GOVERNMENT, BUT IT LOOKS REALLY DIFFERENT TO THE LAST ONE WE HAD WHEN TE PATI MAORI WERE IN THE TENT. IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CURRENT TE PATI MAORI TO TAKE THAT FIGHT INTO PARLIAMENT? WE'VE SEEN THEM BEING ACTIVIST OUT IN THEIR COMMUNITIES OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, BUT IS IT TIME TO BRING THAT FIGHT INTO THE CHAMBER? IT WILL BE STAUNCH ADVOCACY IN PARLIAMENT. TAKE FOR EXAMPLE, THE USE OF TE REO. THERE HAS BEEN GENEROSITY FOR MAORIDOM IN THE WAY IT WAS USED IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS. THESE AREN'T FLY-BY-NIGHT MEETINGS THAT OCCURRED TO COME UP WITH NAMES. AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT WAKA KOTAHI AND THE LIKE. MAORIDOM WORKED WITH THE CROWN TO COME UP WITH THESE NAMES. THROUGH GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT, THE LOVE FOR THE LANGUAGE, TO WANT TO SHARE THE LANGUAGE WITH REST OF NEW ZEALANDERS, THAT IS WHY WE HAVE THOSE NAMES. PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT WAKA KOTAHI ` YOU DON'T HAVE A WAKA ON THE ROAD... BUT WAKA MEANS CAR, DOESN'T IT, OR VESSEL? WE USED TO HAVE WAKA KONEKE, WHICH YOU'D DRAG KIDS ALONG IN. IT IS A VESSEL THAT CARRIES PEOPLE. WE ARE GETTING INTO THE INTRICACIES OF THE LANGUAGE. AGAIN, OUT OF THE GENEROSITY AND LOVE FOR THE LANGUAGE THAT THIS HAS BEEN GIVEN. WE HAVE SEEN A CHANGE IN APPROACH TO THAT, I HOPE WE HAVEN'T GONE TOO FAR. THAT WOULD BE OF LITTLE BENEFIT TO THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU SO MUCH, JULIAN WILCOX AND MAI, FOR JOINING US HERE THIS MORNING. WELL, WE'VE SHOWN YOU SOME OF NEWSHUB NATION'S STAND-OUT MOMENTS THIS YEAR. THEN THERE WERE OTHER TIMES WHEN THE PROGRAMME DIDN'T QUITE GO TO PLAN. TENA TATOU KATOA. I AM REBECCA WRIGHT, AND I'M SI` (UPBEAT MUSIC) OH, COME ON. (LAUGHTER) YOU CALL THAT A CLAP? THIS IS GOING TO BE TOO TRICKY. CAN I GET ONE? OH SHIT. THIS IS A SHIT-SHOW. (UPBEAT MUSIC) WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING, DON'T WE? WE WERE BOTH PROFESSIONALS. UH, WELL, I DO. YOU KNOW, JURY'S OUT AT YOUR END. GOOD. WELL, I'VE TAKEN MY MEDICATION THIS MORNING, SO WE SHOULD BE IN GOOD SHAPE. (LAUGHS) OK, RIGHT. CHRISTOPHER LUXON IS MORPHING. (UPBEAT MUSIC) # I FEEL SO GOOD. # (LOUD DRONING NOISE) OH, JESUS. WHY IS THAT? UH, IT SHOULD BE` IT SHOULD BE` IT SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT. PRODUCER: THANK YOU. BEAUTIFUL. (LAUGHS) WELL, AS EVER, THE ECONOMY WAS A BIG STORY THIS YEAR. WELCOME FRAN O'SULLIVAN AND KIRK HOPE. FRAN, THIS WAS A TOUGH ECONOMIC YEAR FOR THE COUNTRY. BUT THERE WEREN'T THOSE MASSIVE JOB LOSSES OR A DEEP RECESSION. DOES THAT MEAN THINGS WILL LOOK A BIT BRIGHTER IN 2024? I THINK IT WILL BE A BIT HICCUPPY. A LOT OF COMPANIES ARE STILL LOOKING AT MORE JOB LOSSES. IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE POCKETBOOK OF PEOPLE, PEOPLE HAVE COME OFF THE FIXED INTEREST LOANS OF NOVEMBER, THEY MAY HAVE A LITTLE LESS MONEY IN THEIR POCKET UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT KICKS IN WITH THE TAX CUTS. KIRK, WE KNOW THAT BUSINESSES PREFER THE CENTRE-RIGHT GOVERNMENT. WHAT IS THE FEELING OUT THERE AMONG THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY? I THINK CERTAINLY CONFIDENCE HAS LIFTED. I THINK THE GOVERNMENT'S COME OUT PRETTY QUICKLY WITH ITS 100 DAY PLAN, WHICH IS BUSINESS FRIENDLY. A LOT OF I THINK CAN UNDERPIN SOME ECONOMIC GROWTH. IN GENERAL WHAT YOU ARE SEEING IS A BIT OF A LIFTING IN TERMS OF THE CONFIDENCE OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY. I THINK THE OTHER THING ABOUT IT IS CHRIS HAS HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS A LEADER AND PUTTING TOGETHER A COALITION, DESPITE WHAT WE ALL THOUGHT, IN QUICKTIME RELATIVELY, AND RELATIVELY COMPREHENSIVELY. SO THAT PROGRAMME ACROSS THOSE COALITION DOCUMENTS IS PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE. LUXON HAD TO KILL THE FOREIGN BUYERS TAX AS PART OF THIS COALITION AGREEMENT. IT WAS A LARGE PART OF THEIR MAJOR CAMPAIGN POLICY. WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY HAVE LEARNED FROM THAT? IT'S ALWAYS DIFFICULT WHEN YOU TRY AND PUT TOGETHER A TAX CUTS PACKAGE WHEN YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE A WHOLE LOT OF EXISTING POLICIES. THEY'VE TRY TO DO IT FROM OUTSIDE. YOU WOULD NORMALLY DO IT IN GOVERNMENT. FROM THAT, JUST LEARNING WHERE THE FLASH LINES ARE WITH THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, WINSTON PETERS OF COURSE IN NEW ZEALAND FIRST WERE THE ONES THAT TOOK A LINE ON THAT. MORE GENERALLY, IF YOU LOOK AT AUCKLAND IN PARTICULAR, $2M IS NOT A LARGE AMOUNT. IT'S HALF THE PRICE OF A NICELY MADE GREY LYNN OR PONSONBY VILLA. IT WOULD'VE PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THE MARKET. SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING IN THE LONG RUN. WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN 2024 WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY? GETTING CONTROL OF THE PURSE STRINGS AND GETTING THE FISCAL POSITION UNDER CONTROL. NOT HAVING TO DEAL WITH FISCAL HOLES MIGHT BE A GOOD START. AND ALSO DEALING WITH THOSE COST OF LIVING AND INFLATION ISSUES FOR NEW ZEALAND. AND HOW DO THEY BUILD MOMENTUM IN THESE THREE SHORT WEEKS AT THAT THEY HAVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO HIT 2024 RUNNING? THEY NEED TO BE IN FRONT OF THE PUBLIC A BIT MORE. I HAD THEM AT THE U.S. BUSINESS SUMMIT ON THURSDAY. CHRISTOPHER LUXON WAS GREAT IN THE SUMMIT. HE HAD WINSTON PETERS GIVE A GOOD FOREIGN POLICY SPEECH. HE HAD TODD MCCLAY, AND THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE GOING TO DO ` GET OUT AND HUSTLE IN THE WORLD, BUILD AN AGENDA IN NEW ZEALAND, AND THEY NEED TO START DOING IT. THEY NEED TO BUILD MOMENTUM. THAT IS SO IMPORTANT. WHO IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE PLAYER IN POLITICS? IT WOULD HAVE TO BE CHRISTOPHER LUXON. OVER THREE YEARS AGO, HE WASN'T IN PARLIAMENT. HE'S BECOME THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION AND PUT TOGETHER A GOVERNMENT IN OVER THREE SHORT YEARS. IT WOULD HAVE TO BE CHRISTOPHER. I WOULD ALSO SAY I JUST HAVE TO GIVE A BIT OF A SHOUT OUT TO JAMES SHAW FOR PUTTING TOGETHER, NOT JUST FOR THIS YEAR, BUT PUTTING TOGETHER A BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT AROUND CLIMATE. HE DESERVES SOME CREDIT FOR THAT. AND FRAN? SAME THING, CHRISTOPHER LUXON. HE IS BUILDING MOMENTUM. AND AGAINST ALL ODDS, HE HAS ACTUALLY NEGOTIATED A DEAL WITH DAVID SEYMOUR AND WINSTON PETERS. NO ONE WOULD'VE PREDICTED THAT. HE'S PULLED IT TOGETHER. ANOTHER SHOUT OUT FOR ME IS GRANT ROBERTSON. A LOT OF PRESSURES TRYING TO PULL TOGETHER A LEFT OF CENTRE GOVERNMENT WITH ALL THAT THEY HAD. I WISH HIM WELL. IT'S BEEN A HUGE POLITICAL YEAR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. COMING UP ` GUYON ESPINER AND ANNABELLE LEE-MATHER WITH THEIR POLITICAL PREDICTIONS FOR 2024. WELCOME BACK TO NEWSHUB NATION'S FINAL SHOW OF THE YEAR. WE HAVE ANNABELLE LEE-MATHER AND GUYON ESPINER, TO DO ALL OF THEIR WINNERS AND LOSERS. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE EXTRAORDINARY POLITICAL YEAR? GRUMPY IS HOW I WOULD DESCRIBE IT ` WHEN JACINDA ARDERN STOOD DOWN, WHEN LABOUR GOT THROWN OUT. NOW THE NEW GOVERNMENT HAS STARTED AND WINSTON PETERS IS NEVER SO GRUMPY WHEN HE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL. INSTEAD OF CELEBRATING THAT INCREDIBLE RETURN TO PARLIAMENT, HE STARTED WITH A BIT OF A WAR. IT'LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW LUXON HANDLES THAT. CAN I BE WOKE AND USE A TE REO MAORI TERM AND SAY WHAKAHAEHAE, WHICH MEANS A TIME OF DEEP DIVISION, WHICH I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE FEELING ABOUT SOME OF THE POLICIES BEING PROPOSED. WHO WAS YOUR BEST PERFORMER AND ON YOUR NAUGHTY LIST? THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE VYING FOR POSITION ON MY NAUGHTY LIST. YOU TWO AREN'T AMONG THEM. BUT I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT THE NEW PRIME MINISTER DIDN'T CALL OUT HIS DEPUTY WHEN IT CAME TO THE OUTLANDISH CLAIMS OF BRIBERY BEING MADE AGAINST THE MEDIA. I THINK IN THE POST-COVID ENVIRONMENT, IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC CAN CRITICISE THE MEDIA BUT ALSO HAVE TRUST IN THEM. NATURAL DISASTERS, WE KNOW WHAT ROLE JOURNALISTS PLAY. SO TO SOW SEEDS OF DISTRUST AT THIS TIME IS POOR BEHAVIOUR. WHO IS YOUR STANDOUT PERFORMER? I WOULD HAVE TO SAY MARAMA DAVIDSON. SHE RAN AN INCREDIBLE CAMPAIGN, AND SHE DID THE MAHI AND GOT THE TREATS. AND SHE'S WASTED NO TIME WITH THE LAUNCH OF THEIR NEW PETITION AGAINST ROLLING BACK OUR OIL AND GAS DRILLING. SHE WOULD HAVE TO BE THE STANDOUT FOR ME. GUYON, WHAT KIND OF PRIME MINISTER DO YOU THINK CHRISTOPHER LUXON WILL BE? YOU'VE PROFILED MANY OF OUR LIVING PRIME MINISTERS. HE FEELS DIFFERENT, DOESN'T HE? HE DOES. HE HAS THE CAPACITY TO BE A GOOD PRIME MINISTER. HE IS IN IT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND IS COMPETENT ENOUGH. THE DIFFICULTY HE HAD IS FALLING SHORT WITH ACT. AND THE THREE OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE A VOLATILE COMBINATION. YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN HIM BEING OVERSHADOWED AT TIMES BY WINSTON PETERS AND POSSIBLY DAVID SEYMOUR. SO THE STRUGGLE FOR HIM` AND LET'S NOT FORGET THAT HE IS A FIRST TERM MP. INCREDIBLE ACHIEVEMENT, LET'S GIVE HIM THAT. NOW HE FACES A DIFFICULTY OF MANAGING THIS THREE-WAY CABINET. DOES HE HAVE TO DO BETTER WITH THE MEDIA? I THINK HE NEEDS TO DO MORE TO CAPTURE THE ZEITGEIST. HE'S BEEN TELLING US WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO AND HE HAS TO SHOW US TO SOME DEGREE. YOU ARE STILL GETTING SOME OF THAT CORPORATE SPEAK WHICH DOESN'T REALLY RESONATE AND GETS SHOWN UP BY THE TWO POPULIST POLITICIANS, WHO ARE REALLY HIGHLIGHTING THAT HE'S NOT A POLITICIAN. I THINK HE'S GOTTA WORK ON THAT. THERE IS SOME GROWTH INVOLVED. LABOUR IS HEADING FOR A LONG NIGHT OF THE KNIVES AT SOME STAGE. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE CHATTER IS GOING TO BE OVER THE SUMMER? I DON'T THINK THAT WHATEVER HAPPENS NEXT IS GOING TO BE A STIFF COMPETITION BECAUSE MOST OF THE CHESS PIECES HAVE BEEN KNOCKED OFF THE BOARD. IT'S ALSO A BIT OF A POISONED CHALICE AT THE MOMENT. I IMAGINE THAT HIPKINS IS FAIRLY SAFE UNTIL SOME SORT OF NATURAL LEADER COMES TO THE FORE. I KNOW ALL EYES ARE ON MCANULTY. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT MCANULTY? HE IS A STRAIGHTFORWARD TALKING POLITICIAN THAT CAN CONNECTS WITH THE GRASSROOTS OF LABOUR. HE IS, BUT YOU ALWAYS END UP FIGHTING THE LAST WAR WHEN YOU TRY AND DO THAT. MY VIEW IS THAT` AND THIS MIGHT SOUND MEAN TO CHRIS HIPKINS, HE HAS REACHED HIS TRUE POSITION IN LIFE, WHICH IS OPPOSITION LEADER. AND I THINK HE COULD BE QUITE GOOD. I THINK HE IS FIRED UP AND HAS SOME FUEL IN THE TANK. I DON'T THINK IS GOING TO BE A PRIME MINISTER. IF I WERE THEM, I WOULD KEEP HIM ON FOR A YEAR OR 18 MONTHS. I HEAR THAT PEENI HENARE ` HE MIGHT WANT THE JOB. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE MOST TAPU SECRET IN THE WORLD, THAT PEENI HAS LEADERSHIP AMBITIONS. IF YOU LOOK AT HIS LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP AND HIS FAMILY, IT MAKES SENSE. I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK BECAUSE OF ALL OF THEM EXPERIENCING GOVERNMENT IN CABINET AT THE MOMENT THAT THIS COULD BE A PRETTY ROUGH TEETHING PERIOD AS THEY GET BEHIND THOSE SEATS. WHAT DO YOU THINK? I THINK SO. I HAVEN'T SEEN A GOVERNMENT START SO BADLY IN 30 YEARS, ONE THAT HASN'T HAD A HONEYMOON AT ALL. PART OF IT WAS THE FACT THAT DEPUTY PM STARTED FIRING SHOTS AT PEOPLE, BUT ALSO THE INITIAL AGENDA, THERE IS A LOT OF FEEL-GOOD STUFF IN THERE. THEY ARE BUYING INTO A LOT OF CULTURE WAR STUFF THAT, WHETHER YOU'RE SUPPORTIVE OR NOT, WHERE EVEN A WIN, WHAT DOES THAT REALLY LOOK LIKE? YOU ARE GOING TO UNPICK A LOT OF SCABS THAT COULD BE QUITE DIVISIVE, AS ANNABEL SAYS. I THINK THAT ANY HOPE TO CAPTURE A SORT OF MOOD OF CHANGE HAS NOT GOT OFF TO A GOOD START. THOSE CULTURAL WAR ISSUES JUST QUICKLY, THEY ARE HEAT AND NOISE. THAT IS NOT THE SUBSTANCE OF GOVERNMENT. IRONICALLY, I THINK THEY WILL PLAY INTO TE PATI MAORI'S HANDS. THEY ARE PROVIDING THEM A LOT OF MATERIAL TO RIFF OFF THAT WILL CONSOLIDATE AND MOTIVATE THEIR SUPPORT BASE. THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE HARDEST JOB IN NEW ZEALAND POLITICS AT THE MOMENT IS SHANE RETI, HOLDING THE GAZE OF NEW ZEALAND AND TELLING US HOW IT'S GREAT THAT WE'RE ROLLING BACK OUR SMOKING LEGISLATION. AND TAMA POTAKA, WHO HAS TO HOLD THE FORT FOR TE TIRITI AND MAORI IN ONE OF THE MOST REGRESSIVE GOVERNMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO INDIGENOUS ISSUES SINCE THE MULDOON ERA. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE THIS MORNING. COMING UP ` POLITICAL PREDICTIONS FOR 2024. WELCOME BACK TO NEWSHUB NATION'S LIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY SHOW. WHAT DOES NEXT YEAR HOLD? THAT'S A PRETTY BIG QUESTION. TIME FOR SOME CRYSTAL BALL GAZING FROM TOBY MANHIRE AND MARK JENNINGS. WELCOME. TOBY, DOES CHRISTOPHER LUXON'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT COME IN A WINSTON-SHAPED PACKAGE? I DON'T THINK THAT WOULD BE THE ONE HE'D BE EXCITED ABOUT UNWRAPPING. WE'VE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS THAT WINSTON PETERS THRIVES ON OPPOSITION. FOR CHRISTOPHER LUXON, THERE'S A RELIEF THAT THE OPPOSITION ` THE INSTITUTION HE'S RAGING AGAINST IS THE MEDIA MORE THAN THE NATIONAL PARTY. 546 DAYS FROM NOW, IF I GOT IT RIGHT, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER HANDS OVER, AND THEN WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD HAPPEN AT THAT POINT? THAT IS THE DAY TO GO ROGUE FOR WINSTON. WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF HIS DEBUT? LUXON AND SEYMOUR ARE ON A HONEYMOON, AND WINSTON IS THE CRANKY UNCLE WHO HAS TURNED UP. THEY'D LIKE TO TELL HIM TO SHOVE OFF BUT THEY CAN'T AT THE MOMENT. HE HAS RUINED THIS HONEYMOON. HE ROBBED THEM OF IT. WHETHER LUXON CARES, I DON'T KNOW. GOOD POINT. DOES HE SAY, 'I'M JUST GOING TO GET ON WITH IT 'AND WINSTON'S RIGHT TO HAVE HIS OWN OPINION'? WHAT WINSTON IS KIND OF SAYING IS THAT, 'I CAN CONTROL THIS. 'I CAN UPEND YOU AT ANY POINT.' BUT I THINK LUXON WILL BE MORE INTERESTED IN MOMENTUM. IF YOU CAN'T, THERE WILL BE A PROBLEM. IS THIS A SIGN OF THE WAY THE MEDIA WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH WINSTON, THE WAY HE WILL DEAL WITH THE MEDIA FOR THE NEXT` WHAT IS IT` 546 DAYS? COULD WELL BE. THERE ARE SOME INTERESTING QUESTIONS THAT THE MEDIA HAS TO CONFRONT TOO AND BE OPEN TO CRITICISM. LIKE THAT FUND IS THE THING HE TARGETED, IT'S NOT PERFECT. THAT SAID, THERE IS A DANGER THAT YOU FEED AN UNHEALTHY CONVERSATION, AND WE'RE SEEING THAT AROUND THE WORLD. SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER TO JUST TO KIND OF LEAVE IT AND MOVE ON TO SOMETHING MORE IMPORTANT. I THINK IT IS A GOOD POINT. WINSTON, BY TALKING ABOUT HIM, THAT'S HOW WE GOT ELECTED. IF THE MEDIA INDULGE IN THIS ALL THE TIME, THAT IS GOING TO HELP WINSTON. IS HE JUST TRY TO TALK TO HIS BASE THE WHOLE TIME? I THINK HE DOES. GOING BACK TO THE HONEYMOON POINT, HE WAS ALWAYS GOING TO DO THIS. IT IS THE FACT THAT HE DID IT LITERALLY WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING SWORN IN. IT'S GOT TO BE FRUSTRATING TO LUXON. SURELY ON THE INSIDE, LUXON IS GOING, OH PLEASE. HE WILL BE. HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, DID HE? HE IS THINKING, 'DO I TRY TO PULL THIS GUY INTO LINE?' OR, 'I DON'T THINK SO.' THERE IS A THIRD PLAYER, DAVID SEYMOUR. WHAT WILL HE BE THINKING ABOUT WINSTON'S ANTICS? WILL HE BE TAKING THE STATESMAN-LIKE OPPORTUNITY? INTERESTING QUESTION. I THINK HE'LL BE DISINCLINED TO TRY AND GET INTO THAT. THERE IS AN ATTENTION DEFICIT THAT KEEPS HAPPENING THAT MAKES YOU THINK YOU'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING TO GET SOME OF THE SPOTLIGHT. HOW HE DEALS WITH THAT, I DON'T KNOW. WE'VE GOT THE ISSUE OF THREE PARTIES IN, TWO SMALLER PARTIES, KEEPING THAT DISCIPLINE AROUND NOT ONLY THE CABINET TABLE BUT THE PARTIES THEMSELVES. DO YOU HAVE ANY PREDICTION OF WHO IS GOING TO GO ROGUE FIRST? I DON'T THINK IT WILL BE AN ACT MP. LAST TIME, BROOKE AND SEYMOUR SHOWED THAT THEY CAN CONTROL THEIR CAUCUS. I WAS AMAZED AT THE DISCIPLINE. I THOUGHT ONE OF THEM WOULD GO ROGUE. I THOUGHT IT WOULD'VE BEEN THAT NORTHLAND FARMER. MARK CAMERON. BUT THEY STAYED CLOSE. I THINK MY PERSONAL PICK WILL BE NATIONAL. WHY? JUST SHEER NUMBERS. SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN IN THERE AND SOMEONE WILL FLAME OUT. WINSTON'S PARTY, NEW ZEALAND FIRST, IT IS GOING TO BE CRAZY ANYWAY, BUT I THINK IT WILL BE NATIONAL. I THINK THE ACT POINT IS AN INTERESTING ONE. WE ALL SAID LAST TIME THAT SOMEONE WAS GOING TO IMPLODE. THEY DIDN'T, AND WHAT THE SMALLER PARTIES COULD TAKE FROM THAT, THEY HAD AN OPEN-PLAN OFFICE. THEY HAD A FLAT HIERARCHY. THEY COLLECTIVISED ALL THE RESOURCES. AND IT'S WORKED FOR THEM. SO THERE'S NO INDIVIDUALS INSIDE THE ACT PARTY. THE ACT PARTY ` IT'S BORDERLINE COMMUNISM. IT'S KIND OF A MERITOCRACY TOO. THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE IN THEIR CAUCUS THOUGHT THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE GONE HIGHER THAN THEY DID. WELL, I'M GOING TO CUT YOU GUYS OFF. IT WAS A HARD FIVE MINUTES. THAT'S ALL YOU GET. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. THANKS, SIMON. WELL WE PROMISED A PARTY SURPRISE AND WE'RE ABOUT TO DELIVER. AN MP WHO NOT ONLY SCRAPPED HER WAY TO A BATTLEGROUND ELECTORATE WIN, BUT WHO IS ABOUT TO UNLEASH HER CLASSICALLY TRAINED SINGING VOICE ` RIGHT HERE ON THE NATION, AFTER THE BREAK. WELL, THAT'S ALMOST ALL FROM US THIS ELECTION YEAR. WE'VE LOVED DELVING INTO THE ISSUES AND COVERING WHAT HAS BEEN AN AT TIMES CHAOTIC BUT ALWAYS FASCINATING PARLIAMENTARY TERM. AND A LITTLE BIT WEIRD. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE BRINGING YOU THE BEST, THE WORST AND THE WEIRD MOMENTS OF THIS ELECTION YEAR. I'M WONDERING IF WE HAVE TO TAKE UP SMOKING FOR A TAX CUT, SIMON. DO YOU BIT FOR THE TAX CUTS. HERE'S ACT DEPUTY LEADER BROOKE VAN VELDEN WITH HER XMAS GIFT TO US ALL. (APPLAUSE) # JINGLE BELL, JINGLE BELL, # JINGLE BELL ROCK. # JINGLE BELLS SWING # AND JINGLE BELLS RING. # SNOWING AND BLOWING # UP BUSHELS OF FUN. # NOW THE JINGLE HOP HAS BEGUN. # JINGLE BELL, JINGLE BELL, JINGLE BELL ROCK. # JINGLE BELL CHIME IN JINGLE BELL TIME. # DANCING AND PRANCING IN JINGLE BELL SQUARE # IN THE FROSTY AIR. # WHAT A BRIGHT TIME # IT'S THE RIGHT TIME # TO ROCK THE NIGHT AWAY. # JINGLE BELL TIME, # IT'S A SWELL TIME # TO GO RIDING IN A ONE-HORSE SLEIGH. # GIDDY UP, JINGLE HORSE. # PICK UP YOUR FEET. # JINGLE AROUND-THE-CLOCK. # MIX AND MINGLE # IN THE JINGLING BEAT. # THAT'S THE JINGLE BELL ROCK. # CAPTIONS BY KATE HARRIS AND JESSIE PURU. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ COPYRIGHT ABLE 2023 HE MEA TAUNAKI TE HOTAKA NEI NA TE PUBLIC INTEREST JOURNALISM FUND.