Q+a

Erica Stanford: NCEA, immigration and "anti-Māori" criticism Minister for education and immigration Erica Stanford joins Jack Tame to discuss the new scheme replacing NCEA, facing down public criticism over removing school boards' Treaty of Waitangi obligations, and why the National Party is toughening its rhetoric on immigration. She also pushed back on education ministry plans to remove ESOL funding for year 0 and year 1 students in the second half of this year, saying the ministry had “got ahead of itself” and that wouldn’t now be happening. Stanford also touched on the government’s pause in rolling out a social media ban for under-16s, saying there was a legislative programme still under way, and that the National Party was still committed to moving something on age verification. Where's the policy? Chris Hipkins on Labour's election plans Less than six months out from a general election, New Zealand's highest-polling party has only revealed a handful of policies. On big issues like the cost of

David Kirk: Why rugby can weather storms around finances and fans NZ Rugby chair David Kirk sat down with Q+A’s Simon Mercep to discuss the state of rugby’s grassroots, whether NZR’s finances are in the sort of shape they need to be, and player retention issues. Kirk also revealed NZ Rugby is “considering” buying private equity firm Silver Lake out of their $262 million investment, and reflected on the state of modern politics. Why Green candidate Tania Waikato believes she can beat Rawiri Waititi Lawyer Tania Waikato helped mobilise hundreds of thousands of submissions against the Treaty Principles Bill and Regulatory Standards Act. Now, she's ranked 13 on the Green Party list - the highest of any new face, and higher than some sitting MPs. She's also challenging the Māori electorate of Waiariki, currently held - by a considerable margin - by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi. Tania joins Simon Mercep to discuss her vision for constitutional reform in New Zealand, and how she will work with MPs

Wayne Brown: NZ being run 'like a wrecking yard' Running on a strident anti-Wellington platform, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown was re-elected to a second term in 2025 by a more than 100,000-vote majority. In April of this year, he signed New Zealand's first-ever city deal with central government, an agreement which contains no new funding arrangements for Auckland, and kicks one of Brown's biggest campaigns - a bed tax - into discussions for 2027. He joins Jack Tame to discuss Auckland's City Deal, Auckland Transport, and his pitch for a grand coalition between National and Labour in 2026 - a path he describes as the only way to reverse the long-term decline of New Zealand. Behind the scenes of Auckland's $5.5 billion rail project When Auckland's City Rail Link opens for business in the second half of 2026, the city will boast New Zealand's longest escalator, three brand-new stations, and a whole suite of costly but essential improvements to existing infrastructure. The price tag sits at $5.5 billion, split

Chris Bishop: National leadership and his policy ambitions Chris Bishop's name has repeatedly been raised in media reports about discontent with the National Party's leadership. Despite being stripped of his campaign chair and leader of the house titles, the Hutt South MP continues to carry some of the most important portfolios in government: transport, housing, and infrastructure. Just over six months until the election, he joins Jack Tame to discuss the top job and how the $49 billion gap in funding New Zealand's roads of national significance will be addressed. Former Labour minister on building back trust after scandal Michael Wood was once a rising star in the Labour government's Cabinet, but after he failed to act on advice to divest himself of his shares in Auckland Airport, he resigned from his Ministerial portfolios in transport, workplace relations, immigration, and as minister for Auckland, and was not returned to his electorate seat in 2023. Three years on, he joins Jack Tame to discuss whethe

Iranian ambassador: New Zealand no longer stands up for peace The representative of the Iranian government in New Zealand says the small Pacific nation is now seen as a country that supports unilateral military action, having refused to condemn the United States' actions on the world stage. After weeks of fighting, and days after ceasefire negotiations began, Jack sat down with Iranian ambassador Reza Nazar Ahari to discuss when the Strait of Hormuz will re-open and how Iran defends calling upon international law after perpetrating independently-verified human rights abuses in its own country. This interview was recorded on Friday 10 April. Anna Breman: How the Iran war will affect inflation When Anna Breman became New Zealand's Reserve Bank Governor in December of 2025, she promised greater transparency in how the bank makes monetary policy decisions. Formerly First Deputy Gobernor at Sweden's Riksbank, Breman took over the reins of New Zealand's central bank after a year of high-profile resignations and

The representative of the Iranian government in New Zealand says the small Pacific nation is now seen as a country that supports unilateral military action, having refused to condemn the United States' actions on the world stage. After weeks of fighting, and days after ceasefire negotiations began, Jack sat down with Iranian ambassador Reza Nazar Ahari to discuss when the Strait of Hormuz will re-open and how Iran defends calling upon international law after perpetrating independently-verified human rights abuses in its own country. This interview was recorded on Friday 10 April. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

When Anna Breman became New Zealand's Reserve Bank Governor in December of 2025, she promised greater transparency in how the bank makes monetary policy decisions. Formerly First Deputy Governor at Sweden's Riksbank, Breman took over the reins of New Zealand's central bank after a year of high-profile resignations and criticism from central government. After holding the OCR at 2.25 percent this week, she expands on what the global uncertainty caused by the Iran war means for New Zealand's economic future. This interview was recorded on Friday 10 April. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

NZ’s foreign policy response to Iran falling short: Labour The government is breaking with long-held norms in foreign affairs in how it is approaching the Iran crisis, says Labour’s new foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters. She tells Q+A that the government must be stronger in standing up for human rights and international law, and sets out what she’d do differently. The AI startup that could radically change legal profession Amid the disruption being caused by AI, the legal profession could see massive changes in the next few years. Leading the charge is Ivo, whose founder Min-Kyu Jung spoke to Q+A about the potential for AI to take a much greater role how lawyers operate. The Kiwi former lawyer also talked about why getting massive scale in tech isn’t possible in New Zealand, forcing a move to Silicon Valley. Will fuel price blowouts push us toward electrification? ReWiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey joins Q+A to talk about what the fuel crisis means for the future of energy, and why attentio

Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest countries, facing some of the world’s most challenging crises. The low-lying atoll nation faces huge threats from climate change, particularly rising sea levels, and many of its citizens are considering taking up the option of leaving. At the same time, Tuvalu’s diplomatic relationship with Taiwan leaves it increasingly isolated among its neighbours. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Amid the disruption being caused by AI, the legal profession could see massive changes in the next few years. Leading the charge is Ivo, whose founder Min-Kyu Jung spoke to Q+A about the potential for AI to take a much greater role how lawyers operate. The Kiwi former lawyer also talked about why getting massive scale in tech isn’t possible in New Zealand, forcing a move to Silicon Valley. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

ReWiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey joins Q+A to talk about what the fuel crisis means for the future of energy, and why attention is increasingly turning towards electrification, rather than relying on precarious fossil fuel supply chains. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The government is breaking with long-held norms in foreign affairs in how it is approaching the Iran crisis, says Labour’s new foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters. She tells Q+A that the government must be stronger in standing up for human rights and international law, and sets out what she’d do differently. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

“Extreme risk”. How Iran war exposes NZ’s national security vulnerabilities The world has fundamentally changed, and New Zealand is not yet grappling with what that means for our national security, says Retired Major-General John Howard. After a distinguished 40 year career in the military, Howard is now speaking out about what the war in Iran represents, the limits of New Zealand’s military capabilities, and the lack of strategic thinking around our military and economic vulnerabilities. In particular, Howard highlights the potential for fuel shortages, and that it is unclear how fuel will be allocated between the population at large and critical industries if necessary. Mayors speak out against road funding changes They’re lifelines for small communities, but special purpose roads are about to lose their full government funding. Whena Owen meets a group of regional mayors who are raising the alarm. Meet the urban planner who wants less planning World leading urban planner Alain Bertaud speaks to Q+A

World leading urban planner Alain Bertaud speaks to Q+A about his vision for how cities should be allowed to develop through organic choices and markets, rather than central planning. Bertaud is renowned for his work in cities around the world, and famous for long walking tours of cities to get a sense for them. He has been in Auckland as a guest of the NZ Initiative, and intends to walk as much of Auckland as he can. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The world has fundamentally changed, and New Zealand is not yet grappling with what that means for our national security, says Retired Major-General John Howard. After a distinguished 40 year career in the military, Howard is now speaking out about what the war in Iran represents, the limits of New Zealand’s military capabilities, and the lack of strategic thinking around our military and economic vulnerabilities. In particular, Howard highlights the potential for fuel shortages, and that it is unclear how fuel will be allocated between the population at large and critical industries if necessary. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Nicola Willis: How petrol will be prioritised in worst-case scenarios Finance minister Nicola Willis spoke to Q+A about how the war in Iran and unfolding fuel crisis could affect New Zealand in worst case scenarios, including if there are widespread cancellations of deliveries on force majeure grounds. She discussed how the government is considering prioritisation if that happens. She also discussed other scenarios in which there’s a much longer term issue with higher prices, and what that will mean for the wider economic position for the country. How CEOs are preparing for Iran war fallout Q+A canvassed a group of CEOs for a business insight into how they’re preparing their companies in case the fallout from the Iran war gets worse. We spoke to Port of Auckland CEO Roger Gray, Mainfreight Managing Director Don Braid, and Ballance Agri-Nutrients CEO Kelvin Wickham. The district with nowhere for elderly to go Q+A reporter Whena Owen goes to Wairoa where the district is facing an acute shortage of rest h

Nuclear risk rises: Why Iran war is so dangerous for the world With the United States and Israel claiming their attack on Iran is to prevent the Islamic Republic getting their hands on a nuclear weapon, can war be used to stop countries getting nukes? And why has Iran been attacked while North Korea – a nuclear armed state – has been left alone? Amid the world descending into conflict, more countries are arming themselves more heavily with the weapons of mass destruction. Tim Wright is the Treaty Coordinator for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. He tells Jack Tame why his organisation is pushing for a treaty that will require all states to reduce and eventually eliminate their nuclear arsenals. Iran war: Concerns for critical Hormuz Strait supply route Auckland University professor Ismail Golgeci is an expert on international supply chains and the Gulf region. He tells Q+A why the Strait of Hormuz is so critical, and why commodities like fertiliser, food, and fuel are now in trouble. Ne

Q+A covers the dramatic developments in the Middle East overnight, with claims that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in American and Israeli airstrikes. What are the chances this leads to regime change in Iran? And were the strikes legal? Q+A speaks to Otago University professor Robert Patman, and 1News US correspondent Logan Church. Gary Stevenson: Harsh warning for future if inequality worsens Economist, author, and former Citibank trader Gary Stevenson from Gary’s Economics joins Q+A to warn against sharply rising inequality, wealth and asset concentration among the super-rich, and what the world of the future could look like. Jack Tame puts his arguments to the test, and asks whether Stevenson’s personal story of being Citibank’s most profitable trader in 2011 is true, ahead of Stevenson’s speaking tour of New Zealand. Being in Iran during brutal regime crackdown When protests erupted in Iran in January, Iranian New Zealander Irene was trapped. She tells 1News In Depth re

Infrastructure: How we need to change our choices Te Waihanga Infrastructure Commission CEO Geoff Cooper joins Q+A to lay out the details of a sweeping new report into how New Zealand chooses to build and maintain infrastructure, with major recommendations that could make politicians uncomfortable. Human rights expert: Putting pressure on Israel, Iran, China Former executive director of Human Rights Watch Kenneth Roth speaks to Q+A about his decades of work protecting human rights, and how different types of pressure can be applied to governments that violate them. Professor Margaret Mutu: What democracy can learn from Māori decision-making More than a decade after it was first published, Auckland University Professor Margaret Mutu has released an updated edition of The State of Māori Rights. In an extended interview, she discusses the current political moment, and how consensus-based democracy could be a greater influence on how politics is practiced in New Zealand. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team a

Will government get India trade deal in the bag? Trade minister Todd McClay joins Q+A for an in-depth discussion of the free trade agreement with India, as Labour releases a letter outlining their conditions on what might be needed for them to consider voting for it. It comes amid tensions in the government over the deal, with NZ First leader Winston Peters raising concerns about what the deal will mean for migration. LNG or solar? What solves NZ’s energy crisis debated Andrew Eagles from the New Zealand Green Building Council joins Q+A with an exclusive new analysis that outlines why his organisation believes the Liquefied Natural Gas import terminal plan is a mistake, and why a different plan for massive uptake of solar and heat pump hot water systems would work better. Insurance retreat: Where’s the safest bet for cover? With insurance companies starting to pull out from offering new policies in severely flood or seismic vulnerable areas, which area has the lowest risk? And should the government