Caucus

Top political commentators unpick and make sense of New Zealand's election campaigns with frank and forthright discussion.

Hosted by Guyon Espiner, Lisa Owen, Tim Watkin and Julian Wilcox

A logo reads Caucus, with the see composed of a diagram of the seats in parliament. In one corner is a logo which reads "Election 2023".

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All episodes:

Coalition building and bashing

Season 1 / Episode 1
The team discuss who's making nice with whom, the return of Shane Jones, a Greens apology, Todd Barclay implications and Māori Party-Labour fisticuffs.
Guyon Espiner, Lisa Owen and Tim Watkin

Fighting for families and the Greens' secondary explosive device

Season 1 / Episode 2
We talk about Barry Coates being "nuanced when he should have been unequivocal" on coalition agreements, as well as the battle over National and Labour's families packages.
Lisa Owen, Guyon Espiner and Tim Watkin discuss politics for the podcast 'Caucus'

Tax & spend, Māori seats and the confessions of a co-leader

Season 1 / Episode 3
Labour's fiscals, Winston's growing spending tab, who wants the Māori seats, what a Green Party voter looks like and whether it's OK for Metiria Turei to have deceived WINZ (oh, and the Greens' actual family policy!).
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Dirty(ish) deals, the nerdy truth about immigration & poverty… & more Metiria

Season 1 / Episode 4
Guyon Espiner, Lisa Owen and Tim Watkin discuss Bill English's Epsom and Ohariu urges, whether the Greens are losing control, the link between New Zealand First's vote and immigration, plus the Perry incomes report.
Dr Bruce Greyson is the world's leading expert on near-death experiences.

The Jacinda Effect: What’s really changed?

Season 1 / Episode 5
It's all about Jacinda. Labour's late leadership change has turned Election 17 on its head. But can Labour seize the moment and how will other parties respond?
Holy Trinity Cathedral

How Metiria Turei saved the Labour Party

Season 1 / Episode 6
In this week's Caucus, the team discuss the Green Party strategy that may have (inadvertently) saved Labour. Was it OK to put Metiria Turei under such scrutiny? What next for the Greens?
Metiria Turei after announcing she was resigning as Green co-leader.

Aus Wars, The Empire Taxes Back & The Return of the Parker

Season 1 / Episode 7
National starts its fight back as Bill English goes to boot camp, Jacinda Ardern negotiates her first international stoush and Grant Robertson opens the door to a Capital Gains Tax.
(From left) Barnaby Joyce, Chris Hipkins and Jacinda Ardern.

Everybody was PREFU fighting...

Season 1 / Episode 8
Lisa, Tim and Guyon discuss how PREFU has changed the campaign, how Dunne's departure may signal a changing of the generations, and how the minor parties want to change the conversation.
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Where's Winston: Super stuff-ups & inside the leaders debates

Season 1 / Episode 9
It's all about Winston - his Super spin, bottom lines and how he chooses coalition partners. But it's also about the scrap for the family vote and what it's really like behind the scenes at a leaders debate
Health department officials arrive to inspect a restaurant and bar in Melbourne on May 12, 2021.

The truth hole, debates in the dock & what a government looks like

Season 1 / Episode 10
The panel discuss why both National and Labour seem to be having trouble with their sums, and why it's time to ask the minor parties what they really want.
Jeff Burnett takes industrial junk and turns it into sculptures which decorate his coastal Wairarapa property

Tax attacks & the price of Winston

Season 1 / Episode 11
Lisa Owen, Tim Watkin and Guyon Espiner discuss the fallout from Labour's sudden tax u-turn, the volatility of polls and the cost and bottom-lines of Winston Peters.
Episode image

How to win elections & influence things

Season 1 / Episode 12
We make the big calls two days from E-Day. What are the scenarios that could lead to forming a government, a last look at the polls & debates, & our highs and lows from the campaign
Fila Fuamatu strategizing from the side line.

Coalition negotiations, THAT press conference & the supermarket dash

Season 1 / Episode 13
In our 13th Caucus, it's negotiation time. So we look at Winston Peters' post-election posturing, 'constitutional conventions' and what New Zealand First needs from the next three years. Plus, we unpack the election results and what they mean for the parties.
Winston Peters arrives at Wellington Airport, as he prepares to hold the first caucus meeting of his MPs after the election.