In this week's episode of Raw Politics: the Prime Minister declares himself wealthy and sorted, Darleen should say goodbye even though she's Green, plus a bad retweet.Chris Luxon can't win. When he owns seven houses he's a capitalist rack renter. When he sells some of them he's exploiting Government policy changes and saving on tax.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy ask if the political risk of the selldown, now, of the Luxon housing portfolio is as bad as the Prime Minister's response to media queries of: "I'm wealthy and I'm sorted".The panel also discusses if former Green MP Darleen Tana should leave Parliament of her own accord before her ex party is forced to act hypocritically and have her removed as an MP. Either way, the damage to the Greens will be transitory and all but forgotten at the election in two years.Our reader question asks how Labour MP Damien O'Connor could get away with retweeting an indefensible tweet on Palestinians and Israel. We wonder if the returning Labour leader Chris Hipkins might take another view.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead:--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: A story from The Press on former E-Can chair Peter Scott’s vehicle caught speeding 678 times this yearLaura: Marc Daalder's Newsroom scoop on the unredacted legal advice regarding the Govt’s oil and gas exploration policy that would breach international trade obligationsTim: Sam Hayes’ exclusive Stuff/3 News interview with John Key on his preferred winner of the US Presidential race--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and here on YouTube.Read more on Newsroom - https://newsroom.co.nz

This week on Raw Politics: Are we being governed now by a cadre of middle managers? People who won't stay in their lanes but need to be dipping into the detailed operations of government agencies and making the small decisions, well.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, Newsroom national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss the coalition's forked tongue approach to 'operational matters' in government departments and in relation to the boards of state companies.When the Prime Minister, no less, devotes his post-Cabinet press conference to whether public servants are working from home or gathering at offices, and shareholding ministers in Crown entities are wanting to be consulted on all manner of small value decisions, there's been a change of approach.Ministers will, with some justification, argue that an interventionist, hands-on management is needed given they can't trust the deep state to change itself adequately, fast enough.The panel discusses the sensitivities over New Zealand's foreign affairs stance on the latest UN vote on Israel - and whether in a three-party coalition if such vote-by-vote decision-making could, or should, be consulted on among party leaders before being actioned.Our reader question asks why the leader of a big bank has waded into the political quicksand of advocating a capital gains tax.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead:--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: Eloise Gibson's story on RNZ on the gas industry claiming it successfully lobbied to kill the Climate Change Commission's recommended ban on new residential gas connectionsSam: Thomas Manch's great story on The Post about NZ officials "war-gaming" the US election outcomeTim: Jonathan Milne's story on Newsroom simply setting out a growing list of those arguing in favour of a capital gains tax, and two important voices speaking against.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and here on YouTube.Read more on newsroom.co.nzhttps://newsroom.co.nz

This week on the Raw Politics podcast: Is the Minister of the Week, Paul Goldsmith, an ideologue? Plus, awkward business closures for the coalition and Chris Hipkins' leadership.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, Newsroom Pro managing editor Jonathan Milne and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss the minister's harder line push this week on laws cracking down on gangs, changing his mind to allow police to search private homes for evidence of patches.We ask if he is a natural anti-crime hardman or if he's being egged on by the fringe parties in the coalition and is enjoying their approval.The Waitangi Tribunal report on the Government's planned amendments to the Marine and Coastal Areas (Takutai Moana) Act would have shamed any other minister at any other time, but its criticisms of Goldsmith for his motivation, facts, process, consultation and evidence have been ignored by the Government.The panel discusses the latest industrial closure, of the Oji mill at Penrose, and how these kinds of events can unfairly, or fairly, lie at the feet of an incumbent government.  Could the coalition have done more to save jobs here and in earlier regional closures, and would a Labour government have done anything differently?Our reader question asks if Chris Hipkins is taking a risk heading to the UK for that country's Labour Party conference when a poll shows his personal rating plummeting for preferred Prime Minister.  The panel is unmoved, despite Government MPs delighting in teasing Labour's caucus this week about a coup.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead.--------------------This week's recommendations:Marc: Our own Jonathan Milne’s piece at Newsroom delving into a major fisheries Treaty case brewing in the backgroundTim: Audrey Young’s timely explainer on all the Government’s law changes targeted at things MāoriJonathan: The Economist reports on a British Medical Journal study on why Australians live so long.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz.

In this week's episode of Raw Politics, Christopher Luxon must wake up some days with the Sound of Music song of exasperation playing in his head. How does he deal with the problem of ACT leader David Seymour and his will-o-the-wisp coalition contrarianism?Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss Seymour's carefully calibrated political agitation, externally on the Treaty Principles Bill and internally in the coalition, sticking his ACT Party's view into other minister's portfolios, other parties' business.Politics doesn't come any bigger globally than Wednesday's presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, and the Raw Politics panel assess the fallout, and the media and social media verdicts on an historic face-off.Our reader question asks where and why public servants have been made to sign additional Non-Disclosure Agreements under this Government. The panel has fears for growing secrecy in the machinery of state.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead.--------------------This week's recommendations:Laura: Andrea Vance’s latest piece in The Post on the $410k spend on contractors and consultants at the Ministry for Regulation;Tim: RNZ’s Eloise Gibson’s report on Climate minister Simon Watts distinguishing between ‘coal and coal’ to defend opening up to mining;Marc: A piece by the second-best writer with the surname Daalder, in The Atlantic on the US election.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz

In this week's episode of Raw Politics, we discuss the response of our political leaders to the demands of the week-long tangihanga for Kiingi Tuheitia.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy discuss how coalition leaders faced the Kiingitanga movement and wider Māoridom at a time of acute political sensitivities.Then, the panel pulls a handbrake turn on Transport Minister Simeon Brown's spin about raising road speeds, cutting out speed bumps and funding future roading promises.  Can the economy really be saved by drivers speeding up around town and on the highways?Our reader question asks if the Wellington Hospital proposal to cut out free toast and Milo for mothers who have just given birth was a serious plan or if it was bureaucrats employing the famous "Washington Monument" tactic to shame politicians.Finally, the panelists recommend something to read, listen to or watch on the weekend ahead.--------------------This week's recommendations:Laura: the deleted Working Group podcast episode, in which Matthew Hooton unleashes on Don Brash and Hobson’s PledgeTim: RNZ digital journalist Russell Palmer’s story revealing that the Govt’s formal communications with Korea before cancelling the Cook Strait ferries deal amounted to two late text messagesMarc: Newsroom political journalist Fox Meyer’s scoop on the origins within NZ First of the fast-track legislation--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz

Laura Walters, a political editor, and Marc Daalder, a senior political reporter, join co-editor Tim Murphy and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for a lively discussion. They dive into the coalition's ambitious infrastructure plans and the potential impacts on the economy. The panel critically examines Luxon's casual approach to ministerial misbehaviour, questioning if he's developed a bond with underperforming colleagues. They also ponder Winston Peters’ fixation on historical Māori figures, revealing insights into political narratives and biases in contemporary governance.

This week, Raw Politics discusses Christopher Luxon the wannabe details man, Chris Hipkins the nowhere man and David Seymour the man with 91 highly paid new staff.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy first assess the Prime Minister's repeated instances of misusing, misquoting or misunderstanding numbers, facts and comparisons.The panel then looks at the Labour Party 10 months on from its electoral hiding. The red side is being careful not to bark at every passing car, but its caution is leaving a void that a coalition that has been fast, and at times loose, is continuing to exploit.Our reader question asks how many staff will work in David Seymour's new Ministry of Regulation. And the answer is not the 30 or so indicated by the ACT leader.--------------------This week's recommendations:Laura: The piece on Christopher Luxon’s bold speech to local government from Newsroom Pro editor Jono Milne: PM goes to war on council waste – and on councilsTim: The Australian’s daily podcast The Front for its coverage of the gobsmacking defamation case in Perth where the former defence minister is suing her former staffer Brittany Higgins, who was raped in that minister’s office.Marc: A scoop from Stuff's Tova O'Brien on Shane Jones’ attacks on “communist judge" during a meeting with the seafood lobby over Māori rights.Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.--------------------Read more on newsroom.co.nz.https://newsroom.co.nz

In this week's episode of Raw Politics, we discuss if ministers crowing about the drop in interest rates deserve all, much or any of the political praise.Newsroom senior political reporter Marc Daalder, political reporter Emma Hatton and co-editor Tim Murphy weigh the coalition's claims to having started to beat the ravages of a high cost of living.We also assess this week's two big restructures of government agencies – one responsible for Crown-Māori relations and the other for services for the disabled community.Our reader question asks why the Government is dipping back into old fashioned welfare policies again, one of the core staples for the National Party over generations.--------------------This week's recommendations:Emma -  The Spinoff’s Joel MacManus on the shady conspiracy-aligned group setting itself up to influence the 2025 Wellington local council election. Tim - A revelation by Andrea Vance on The Post that David Seymour’s new regulation ministry is looking to hire a senior communications person at up to $170,000 a year.Marc - Jono Milne’s scoop on the new Health NZ commissioner’s waning confidence in his chief executive.--------------------Raw Politics will be available every Friday, and you can watch it on YouTube too.Read more on newsroom.co.nz.

Another week, another series of hot political issues involving policies affecting Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi.This week, Raw Politics looks at why the Government is pushing ahead 'at pace' with such a broad range of measures looking to change the accepted status of the Treaty in laws and in public services.Newsroom political editor Laura Walters, senior political reporter Marc Daalder and co-editor Tim Murphy examine the moves on Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act, the amendment of the Marine and Coastal Areas (Takutai Moana) Act and everything from use of te reo by a minister to the Act Party bill coming down the line to re-state the Treaty's principles.We ask whether the reaction of Māori both at Parliament and around the country will reach the level of resistance to the original Foreshore and Seabed Act in the early 2000s and what motivates the Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in allowing all these changes at once.Our reader question is on how much more cutting and restructuring can be expected under a new public service edict.-------------------------------This week's recommendations:Tim: Laura’s Newsroom story on the senior public servants on notice after the Royal Commission into abuse in state care.Marc: A New York Times story - Inside the petrostate hosting this year’s global climate negotiations.Laura: Harris Chooses Walz - The Daily - A guide to the career, politics and sudden stardom of Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota, now US Vice President Kamala Harris' running mate.-------------------------------Read more on newsroom.co.nz.https://newsroom.co.nz

This week, Raw Politics examines what has become a regular point of weakness for the coalition and asks why National, Act and NZ First can't seem to get on top of the health system's political risks.--------Recommendations:Marc: David Williams' Newsroom story disclosing finance minister Nicola Willis overruled advice on a South Island waste-to-energy facility.Tim: Another in-house one here, for Laura Walters' Newsroom story analysing the wholesale changes at the top of the public service.Laura: The Guardian’s two-part analysis with in-depth interactive looking at all of the coalition Government’s policies that are expected to have a negative impact on Māori.