Chlöe Swarbrick, Mark Mitchell, David Seymour, Shane Jones, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer and Chris Hipkins.
Get ready, New Zealand ... this year is an election year.
As such, politicians of all stripes will be returning from their summer holidays prepped, primed and ready to campaign.
It was already a topic of conversation in 2025, when a slew of the Beehive’s best spoke with The Front Page about everything from wealth taxes, climate change, human rights and trust in police.
Should the ultra-wealthy pay more tax?
It’s a debate that’s continued for decades, even centuries. From ancient Athens to the present day, the idea has been a constant when it comes to addressing inequality.
Yet, no government has been brave enough to impose one.
It’s a staple of the Green Party’s proposed Budget, which promises bold moves to make sure everyone has a warm home, decent kai and the care and support for a good life.
But who pays? And is leaning even more left than centre, doing wonders for the party’s polling?
Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joined The Front Page to discuss whether it’s time for the wealthy few to fund.
A self-described “Prince of the Provinces”, there are few politicians like Shane Jones.
He’s Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, Regional Development and Resources and has been in the spotlight for spearheading a restart and expansion of oil and gas in New Zealand.
Over the years, he’s faced criticism for his close relationships with industry leaders over the environment. Comments like “Goodbye Freddy” when talking about whether an endangered frog stood in the way of mining construction probably don’t help.
Jones joined The Front Page in August to take us through his latest push for oil and gas, changes to oceans and fisheries and whether New Zealand’s power crisis is fixable.
Debbie Ngarewa-Packer is known for unapologetically fighting for the rights of Māori.
Since becoming co-leader of Te Pati Māori in 2020, and MP for Te Tai Hauauru at the last election, she’s been suspended from Parliament and criticised the coalition’s “intent to dismantle indigenous rights”.
At the last election, the party won six electorate seats – its best result yet.
Ngarewa-Packer joined The Front Page in September to take us through how the party’s gearing up for Election 2026 and how they’ll appeal to the masses – or, if they even want to.
From entering Parliament in 2008 to leading the country in 2023, Chris Hipkins is no stranger to the spotlight.
During Covid’s beginnings, he was known as a safe pair of hands, tackling education, health and becoming the minister in charge of the Covid response for a time.
Now, he’s firmly setting his sights on election 2026. But, is he confident he’ll still be in Labour’s driving seat when it rolls around?
In July, Hipkins joined us to discuss the cost of living, vibes in parliament, and whether he’ll ever be able to shake Covid.
Act Party leader David Seymour stepped up to become New Zealand’s deputy prime minister, taking over from Winston Peters, in May.
He became the 19th person to be the country’s second in command.
First elected to Parliament in 2014, the past decade and a bit has seen Seymour’s meteoric rise from being his party’s sole MP to now sitting alongside 10 colleagues after Act’s best-ever result in the 2023 election.
That result has allowed him to push through big changes around issues like regulation and government spending. But championing legislation such as the Treaty Principles Bill has also made him a lightning rod for controversy and backlash.
Seymour joined us to talk about his new role, backlash, regulations, and his thoughts on the opposition.
Mark Mitchell has heralded the Government’s promise to be tough on crime.
He’s been incredibly clear from the get-go that his primary goal is to make New Zealand an uncomfortable place for gangs to operate.
He holds five portfolios: Police, Corrections, Emergency Management and Recovery, Ethnic Communities and Sports and Recreation.
So, how does an MP with so many hats feel about how his government has tackled the big issues?
In November, Mitchell joined us to talk cops, corrections, and communities.
The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am. The podcast is presented by Chelsea Daniels, an Auckland-based journalist with a background in world news and crime/justice reporting who joined NZME in 2016.
You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.