In this episode of Political Playback – should John Key and Helen Clark be rubbing shoulders with the leaders of Russia, North Korea & China if they’re concerned about human rights; the Law Commission prove they’ve been captured by gender nonsense; Te Pati Maori are accused of racism – by Labour; the TPM candidate for the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election makes some great and some disastrous comments in a media interview; the latest IPSOS poll shows the government not being seen as able to fix most issues; National voters don’t love NZ First voters; Stats NZ release the latest marriage rates which make grim reading; the ‘gender pay gap’ is at its lowest level for decades; Luxon loses control of the narrative; will they roll Chris Hipkins; and NZ First wants alternatives to digital IDs.
Show summary auto-generated by Descript app:
- Image of the Week: Former PMs at China Parade
- Context: Helen Clark and John Key, former New Zealand Prime Ministers, attended a military parade in China.
- Hosts’ View: Strongly critical. Simon O’Connor argues their presence legitimizes an authoritarian regime and is used as propaganda by President Xi. He highlights the parade as an attempt to rewrite Chinese history, downplaying the role of the communists in WWII.
- Human Rights Concerns: The hosts emphasize China’s human rights abuses (e.g., treatment of Uyghurs, Tibetans, Hong Kong activists) and criticize Clark and Key for not addressing these issues.
- Media Coverage: Bob notes the media’s double standard, comparing the coverage of Trump’s military parade to the Chinese event.
- Quote: “Clark and Key aren’t talking to Xi about his human rights abuses. They are part of a pantomime, a propaganda tool and a part of rewriting history.”
- Report: The Law Commission recommends legal changes to protect transgender, non-binary, and intersex people, including redefining who can be pregnant.
- Hosts’ Reaction: Highly critical, calling the report “bonkers” and “compromised by gender ideology.” They argue it erases the legal category of “woman” and creates a victim narrative.
- Potential Impact: Simon warns that if adopted, the report would make it discriminatory to oppose transgender participation in women’s sports or single-sex schools.
- Political Context: The report is seen as a holdover from the previous government. The hosts doubt the current government will adopt it but expect activist and media pressure.
- Quote: “If the Law Commission’s report gets adopted by government… the category of woman would effectively disappear from this country.”
- Incident: A Māori Party MP is accused of racism after criticizing non-Māori campaigning in a Māori electorate.
- Reactions: Even Labour politicians express discomfort. The hosts note the irony of a party often accusing others of racism being accused themselves.
- Analysis: Simon argues that those who frequently accuse others of intolerance often display it themselves. He describes the incident as “downright straight up racism.”
- Political Implications: Labour is seen as distancing itself from the Māori Party ahead of the by-election.
- Focus: Critique of Māori Party candidates’ poor media performances, especially those with media backgrounds.
- Examples: Candidates struggle to answer basic policy questions and appear unprepared in interviews.
- Hosts’ Advice: Emphasize the importance of preparation and understanding political processes.
- Broader Point: The transition from media personality to politician is not always smooth; substance and knowledge are essential.
- Polling Data: Recent polls show declining public confidence in the government’s ability to address the cost of living.
- Party Dynamics: Analysis of voter preferences and coalitions, especially the complex relationship between National, Labour, ACT, and New Zealand First.
- Key Insights: National voters distrust Winston Peters (NZ First), while Labour and Green voters are more closely aligned. Many NZ First voters previously supported Labour.
- Election Predictions: Discussion of by-election prospects and the impact of low voter turnout.
- Statistics: Marriage rates have dropped from 45 per 1,000 eligible people in 1969 to just 8. Fertility rates are below replacement level (1.58 vs. 2.2 needed).
- Concerns: The hosts link declining marriage and fertility to social instability, economic challenges, and future demographic problems (e.g., not enough workers to support retirees).
- Media Critique: The media is accused of only discussing marriage to redefine it, not to address its decline or societal impact.
- Quote: “We have a demographic collapse coming in the West… it is strongly linked or correlated to marriage.”
- Data: The gender pay gap is at its lowest since records began.
- Skepticism: The hosts question the significance of the gap, arguing it’s an arbitrary measure that doesn’t account for job differences or time taken off for family.
- Media Coverage: They note the lack of positive media coverage when the gap narrows, compared to criticism when it widens.
- Issue: New Zealand First opposes the move to digital-only IDs (e.g., driver’s licenses), advocating for continued access to physical documents.
- Hosts’ View: Mixed—while understanding privacy concerns, they acknowledge the inevitability of digital identification.
- Political Strategy: Winston Peters is seen as effectively appealing to voters wary of digital change.
