Heather and Simon discuss health policies in the final week of the election campaign. There is general agreement that nothing being offered will result in the structural reforms and workforce solutions needed to get New Zealand's health system working properly. Although proposed increases to Medical School outputs for doctors will help, the numbers are tiny compared to the shortage of clinicians the country is facing. And it's not just doctors and nurses but every clinical specialisatio...

With the beautiful Havelock marina and the Tui Coffee cart as a backdrop, Heather and Simon discuss the differences in approaches to law and order issues offered up by parties in election 2023. It seems the left (both liberal and conservative) are focussing their policies on harm minimisation, rehabilitation and alternative approaches The parties of the right (both liberal and conservative) are more focussed on answering public calls to feel 'safer' including more police, tougher court...

This episode is recorded 'on the road' along State Highway 6 between Havelock and Blenheim. Easy Vote cards and party lists have started appearing in letterboxes around the country. Heather and Simon discuss some of the so-called micro-parties like Animal Justice, Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party, Democracy NZ, Freedoms NZ, Leighton Baker, New Nation, NewZeal, NZ Loyal and Women's Rights. The discussion is mostly about party lists and how important it is for voters to do their research on t...

This is the third episode in the season where Heather and Simon answer questions submitted by the audience. In this episode, they discuss: 1. Immigration - effects on housing, infrastructure and the workforce. 2. The so-called "bellwether" seats of Hamilton East and West, Northcote and a general chat about some other interesting electorates like Hutt South, Auckland Central, Wellington Central, Ikaroa Rawhiti, Te Tai Hauauru, Ilam and Tamaki. 3. What can be implied from the recent resi...

Heather and Simon discuss the latest developments. National's Chris Luxon has been busy ruling out some of ACT's policies. Meanwhile, ACT's David Seymour fired a shot back across the bow with the suggestion of providing confidence and not supply in order to change the government. Serious negotiation or just political pre-wedding jitters? Who is the creepy uncle and who is giving away the bride? A light-hearted look from Wellington railway station just to get everyone back on track.

What are the possible party combinations that could form a government in election 2023?

The second episode covering questions from the audience. You can send yours in via the contacts page on our website torquepoint.co.nz or add them to the comments section on YouTube

Heather and Simon go on a field trip in Wellington to discuss the election billboards and slogans.

Labour, NZ First and Maori parties are promising to take goods and services tax off fresh fruit and veges if they win the upcoming election. Most experts think it is a bad idea. Heather and Simon discuss this.

In the last week, the New Zealand government has released three documents relating to national security: Aotearoa’s National Security Strategy: Secure Together Tō Tātou Korowai Manaaki Defence Policy and Strategy Statement Future Force Design Principles These were preceded by a public consultation exercise, a long-term insights briefing and a foreign policy assessment. In the coming week, we expect the release of an updated threat assessment. Since Defence Minister Andrew Little’s anno...

Heather Roy and Simon Ewing-Jarvie discuss current political issues that are front of mind for voters. These range from the economy and cost of living to crime and co-governance. Issues episodes will recur throughout the season so send in your ideas or questions for discussion. You can send in questions for the podcast hosts through the ⁠contacts page at torquepoint.co.nz⁠

Heather and Simon answer questions from the VoterTorque audience. In this episode the questions addressed are: 1. What does TOP stand for? 2. Will Winston Peters get back into parliament? 3. What is an overhang? 4. What is meant by hard right and hard left? Questions and answers will be published approximately every 5th episode. You can send in questions for the podcast hosts through the contacts page at torquepoint.co.nz

Do political polls reflect or shape public opinion in New Zealand? With an election due on 14 October, this is an important question that is discussed by Heather and Simon. What’s important are the trends and other questions like whether people think the country is headed in the right or wrong direction.

In this episode, Simon Ewing-Jarvie and Heather Roy work their way through the TorquePoint political compass quiz and discuss how to interpret it. You can download a copy of the quiz from our website at torquepoint.co.nz to position yourself on the NZ political spectrum.

Former ACT Deputy Leader and Government Minister, Heather Roy, and TorquePoint CDO Simon Ewing-Jarvie update their political spectrum for the 2023 New Zealand General Election. The series is also available as a slideshow on YouTube. It examines the merits of commentators and journalists referring to parties and politicians as simply left or right. 27 June 2023.

Simon Ewing-Jarvie and Heather Roy from TorquePoint are back for the run up to New Zealand’s 2023 General Election to bring you their analysis of each of the political parties, what they’re offering and how they compare. This introductory episode outline the main topics to be covered in season 2.