Gone By Lunchtime

Christopher Luxon sailed into NZ politics six years ago as a champion of localism. Since becoming prime minister, his government has fallen deeply out of love with devolution. Changes including a rates cap and National’s ruling out of a bed tax have especially irked Wayne Brown, mayor of Auckland and the most powerful local politician in New Zealand. He’s gone from denial to anger to … what exactly? Joel MacManus and Hayden Donnell – fresh from interviewing Brown – join Toby to tell the story.

Follow At Large with Toby Manhire now on ⁠Spotify⁠, ⁠Apple Podcasts,⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠, or wherever you get your pods.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the nine days since he stared down his second caucus uprising within just a few months, Christopher Luxon has really bounced back. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas assess that rebound and the rapidfire tax attack lines against Labour. Plus: thoughts on Te Pāti Māori's overhang strategy and the Opportunity Party has its feet held to the fire.But wait: here's a special guest. It's only Chris Penk, the MP for Kaipara ki Mahurangi. He joins the pod to discuss what he's been up to since Christopher Luxon sacked him for caucus insurrection, as he enters the baby-yak phase of his career. And he addresses, of course, the "elephant in the room".
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Luxon has survived a showdown vote in caucus, a lot like he survived a showdown vote in caucus in April. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas convene in the cause of making some sense of the failed coup (if that's what it was), where it fell apart, whether Luxon outsmarted the plotters, and where it leaves his leadership and the state of the election.

(Note: this podcast was recorded before Chris Penk was sacked from cabinet by Christopher Luxon.)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It should have been a good day for the National Party. Instead, it was derailed by the latest bit of riffing by Christopher Luxon, in declaring, prompted by a listener's text on Newstalk ZB, that he'd like a referendum next term on MMP. A big day for the CRL, for education and for decrying Labour saying it would nix Investment Boost, got lost in the debris.

Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire discuss the latest unforced error from the prime minister, which follows hot on the heels of a regrettable appearance before the Rotorua Business Chamber, questions around use of NZDF transport for excursions including National Party fundraisers, and yet another public display of coalition dysfunction, following Winston Peters' attack in parliament on Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan. Those comments, described by almost everyone as racist, prompted a diplomatic incident and international headlines, yet the PM felt he couldn't take any action beyond condemnation.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The resurrection of former Labour minister Stuart Nash has come to an end, much like Icarus, with Winston Peters accepting his resignation as a NZ First candidate. Ben Thomas, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Toby Manhire examine Nash's political ashes to assess how this will impact intra-coalition relations as salvos fly back and forth and Shane Jones accuses the prime minister of using "kneepads" to greet the Indian prime minister. And does it burst the bubble of nostalgia that has defined so much of the election year?Plus: Is the exhumed celebrity of Paul Henry, now an Act candidate, different to the rest? And why is the removal of Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements from the replacement bills for the RMA important?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices