Raw Politics: Qiulae wants a mobile number, Labour wants a fair go

This week on the Raw Politics podcast: a major star in a minor debate, Labour’s rising star, and old political stars sharing the campaign limelight

New Zealanders watched a remarkable political moment this week, with the emergence of Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong as a stand out in the televised debate between minor party leaders.Today, the Raw Politics panel discusses Wong’s moment and the flip side, the diminishment of veteran NZ First leader Winston Peters, in what was a smart and testing debate format. Wong’s countering of an attack from the Greens’ Chlöe Swarbrick, and joking request to other panelists for Christopher Luxon’s mobile number, will stay long in the memory.

While the ‘minors’ debated, Labour and National soldiered on, bruised but unbowed by their shared 28 percent result in the latest 1 News-Verian poll. Labour continues to roll out consumer protections and cost of living measures, in a concerted effort utilising a rising star.

The panel also considers if the emergence of former party leaders John Key, Jacinda Ardern and Helen Clark into the campaign is a positive or negative for the major party leaders struggling to get out of their own shadows, let alone those of former PMs who won and won big.

Finally, we offer recommendations for you to read, watch or listen to over your weekend:

Tim: Joel McManus’ interview and campaign profile for the Spinoff on Chlöe Swarbrick

Marc: Sam Sachdeva’s Newsroom scoop on Winston Peters actions over the NZ abstention at the UN on future pandemics

Sam: Farah Hancock’s deep dive for RNZ on the multimillion-dollar hustle to fund election campaigns.

Raw Politics will be available wherever you get your podcasts at the end of each week, and to watch on YouTube.