One in five Kiwi young people are overweight, and the stats are getting worse. Last year, tuck shop guidelines came into force, which prevented New Zealand schools from selling unhealthy foods. Labour created the policy, National recently scrapped it, and the Greens are petitioning to get it back again. Health experts thought banning junk food was a good way to get young people’s eating habits on track. So, why has there been harsh public reaction to the idea? Jehan Casinader is a Wellington-based journalist and youth affairs commentator.
Listen/Download Jehan Casinader on the Junk Food Debate
The opposition leader is having a tough time getting noticed and recognised as the new leader of the Labour Party and as a viable option for Prime Minister.
In a TV3 poll Phil Goff rated below Helen Clark as preferred PM. So what is he going to do to lift his ratings? The Labour campaign for the Mt Albert seat has begun in earnest but there is currently no candidate. And did the Labour Government do enough to protect New Zealand against the Swine?
Listen/Download Phil Goff on being the Leader
Watch on Kiwi TV
Labour leader Phil Goff says the Pacific Island’s forum needs to step up and carry through on it’s threats of smart sanctions against Fiji.
Mr Goff made the call after Fiji authorities expelled three foreign journalists and arrested a local reporter in a crackdown on reporting of the nation’s political upheaval. Mr Goff also called on Fijian peacekeepers to be withdrawn from their duties outside of Fiji but stopped short of calling for economic sanctions against the rogue state though suggests John Key enter into talks with partners in the EU and the US who provide aid money to Fiji.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on the problem with Fiji
The Labour leader say that the party will be selecting a strong candidate to face off whoever National chooses to run in the soon to be vacated Mt Albert seat when Helen Clark takes up her new job at the United Nations. Mr Goff also answers the accusation from investigative journalist Ian Wishart that Helen and the Labour Government effectively bought Helen’s job at the UN through increased Aid donations over their term in power. Mr Goff also reports that he has just returned from a progressive solution summit in Chile.
Listen/Download Phil Goff on the progressive solution
The National party cabinet is shaping up and coalition agreements are being set in stone, giving us a better idea of where policy is headed, in particular investment in broadband infrastructure. How will new policies and investment in new technologies affect the creative economy? Vincent ponders this and more.
Listen/Download Vincent Heeringa on Uncertain Times
Despite a new government in New Zealand the right-wing blogs are still moaning post election. Russell wonders how much influence ACT is having in negotiations to form the National government this week and why Rodney Hide has been able to get away with being so bullish towards John Key. This and a whole lot more in today’s chat. Russell Brown is chief blogger at publicaddress.net.
Listen/Download Russell Brown on Post Election dancing
Prime Minister Helen Clark has said she will “play opposition” to what John Key stands for “to the grave”
When asked if she was prepared to face John Key and National from the opposition benches Miss Clark was optimistic that a Labour-Green ticket will win this week’s election.
Helen also clarified that the recently announced Redundancy policy will become a permanent component to the social welfare system.
Listen/Download Helen Clark on fighting to the grave
Could the Maori Party still go with National? Even with so many political polls coming out on almost a daily basis now its hard to get a clear picture of what the current trends are in New Zealand politics. Russell points us to a couple of useful aggregate polls including one at the Standard. Yet again Winston Peters is in the firing line but is the latest issue serious enough? And with one week to go before the US election can we call it this early?
Russell Brown is chief blogger at publicaddress.net
Listen/Download Russell Brown on Poll Dancing
Prime Minister Helen Clark doubts the truth in figures out today that say National plan to spend more than Labour on Infrastructure initiatives if they win the election on November the 8th
Helen is hoping a spend up on public works will offset the negative effects of an economic downturn. At the same time the downturn is helping those trying to get into a first home.
Despite the benefits of having many coalition partners Helen says the official strategy for a Labour led government is two ticks for Labour.
Is she expecting a television attack ad? Find out…
Listen/Download Helen Clark two weeks out
The Prime Minister says she is still talking to indie media despite her rival John Key cutting weekly interviews with smaller media outlets in the lead up to the election.
The Government has announced it is guaranteeing all New Zealand bank deposits in order to keep confidence in the banking sector. Helen has also announced that she intends to bring forward infrastructure spending. Is this the ‘New Deal’ policies that Russel Norman from the Green Party was talking about last week? Helen also explains whether or not New Zealand can keep up its assistance programmes in these tough times.
Helen gives her thoughts on the the polls that are are swinging wildly and finally the PM reveals her New Zealand Music Awards highlight.
Listen/Download Helen Clark and Wammo on Guarantees
