January 17, 2026 • 8 mins
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to give his State of the Nation Address tomorrow and being an election year, it'll be an important one.
The National Party will be trying to recover from their recent polling, while kiwis will be looking for some desperately needed economic recovery.
Health may also be one to keep an ear out for, after Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she'll be looking to shake up funding in the next budget.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
So, yes. Prime Minister Christoph Luxen is set to give
his State of the Nation addressed tomorrow, and being an
election year, it'll be an important one. The Nats are
looking to recover from recent polling, while keyw is going
to be looking for some desperately needed economic recovery. Our
health may also be one to keep an eye for
an eyear out for after Finance Minister Nikola Willis said
(00:31):
should be looking to shake up funding in the next
budget and anyway, lots of things to get on with.
New Zealand Herald political reporter Jamie Insaw joins me. Now, Jamie,
good afternoon, good hey. So the government's had that, you know,
fairly mediocre run in the polling. Do you expect this
address to be trying to reset the narrative or doubling
down on what Nationals wants to achieve or or was
(00:53):
it just more of a political clearing of the throat.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I think to start with, it's a bit of a
scene setter for the year, you know, putting out a
direction for how the government sees the startup election year going.
But in times of your question. I think it's more
of a doubling down on what National has been doing
over the last two years. They want to highlight to
New Zealanders that despite all the global headwinds and all
the two more we're seeing overseas relating to Donald Trump,
(01:18):
that the government's just getting on with the job and
just trying to do what it's promised it set out
it would set out to do. So that might sound
a bit boring. There's going to be no big radical,
new political message or vision. They're just going to focus
on three careers, which I highlight to you. Those are
going to be law and order, so you know, the
government's believes it has made a big difference in the area.
You've seen New Zealander's concern over law and order come
(01:40):
down over the last few years. Education and they're focused
on reading, writing and maths, those basic skills and also
cutting red tape. So the moves that I've made with
fast Track and resource management plans, those will be the
key focuses off the special tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well, I'll just listen to the news as well some
of the comments on but do you think National are
going to be feeling more confident sticking to that plan,
given that they will finally have a target because Labor
are going to have to start saying something, putting some
plans out of their own.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, that's right. I mean, as we get more into
the national will probably move into more of attack mode
and highlight the cable gain tax on the Labor Party
and try and focus New Zealand's attention on the differential
between the two parties. But to begin with, they want
to kind of seem a little bit boring. They don't
want to seem chaotic like we're seeing overseas that's really unpopular.
(02:32):
They want to seem like they're on track and keep
on doing what they said they were going to do.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
How important it's the state of the nation. I'm mean,
after all, I still get the sense that a lot
of people are still on holiday.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, you're right. I mean I've been back at Parliament
for the last week and it seems like everyone's still
a holiday. So yeah, whether it's important or not, I
think it just gives as Prime Minister an opportunity to
come out and say some stuff that's probably been wanting
to say over the last few weeks. We'll probably really
press them on New Zealand's position on some of those
international crises, like youth. I've said it's invasion of Benness
(03:04):
way and what's happening in Iran. Prime minister had anything
to say on that. So we're trying to get the
young position on all that sort of stuff. But yeah,
it's really a scene utiful what the Prime Minister wants
to see the year.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Being actually just out of curiosity. It sounds like a
trivial question, but you say you've been back in Parliament yourself.
Have there been some political figures who you've been like,
oh gosh, I've seen him or her around a lot.
They're getting into it, anyone who seems to be getting
into their knitting earlier than everyone else.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
There's been a few opposition politicians around. I had a
good conversation with the Labor House spooks that first help
spokesperson Asia Verel. Did hear a rumored that the Prime
Minister was back in the Behigh for one day and
we saw some social media videos that he posted this
week in his behive office, so he may have been there,
but most for the most part, no, there hasn't really
been any politicians around more just a few starts here
(03:53):
and there.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Is there anything new Zealanders need to hear in this
address or as you say, as it's just like steady
as she goes, nothing too exciting, kick the year off
and get on.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I think the Prime Minister will probably want to highlight
the economic recovery. Keys will be looking for that. They
want to hear what's the actual plan to make sure
that recovery doesn't just stagnate. He's actually going to be
some actions taken to energize it, I guess, so that
might be something that the primers looks to lay out.
But also one other key thing I should mention is
the election date. Don't expect that is going to be
(04:23):
announced tomorrow, but we probably want to be watching for Wednesday.
The National Party has its caucus retreat on Wednesday, so
we're expecting the date to be announced.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Dead Actually, I guess they're not going to announce the
election date because that would be the headline and that
would undermine what he's trying to get out there with
the state of the nation, isn't it one hundred percent?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
He wants his message to be really please tomorrow and
they'll be focused on policy. But yeah, Wednesday will be
the election date.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I mean, conversely, if he announces the election date, we'll
know that he doesn't really want us to pay attention
to anything else that he's said.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
That's a great point of you, so well, I.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Have a chuckle about that if that turns out to
be the cast. Now, look, you have alluded to this already,
and we've seen Fanis Sullivan among others, having a crack
about him being missing an action on the federal reserve issue,
as opposed to Winston who was having a crack at
Arner Bremen. Does Christopher Luxen need to put his head
above the parapet more on these international yet economic risks.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, I think you go real. I guess the difference
between being a political leader and just being a leader.
You know, Politically, for Christopher Laxon, he doesn't want to
put New Zealand and Donald Trump's radar. He wants to
keep us nice and quiet, as they've been doing over
the last few weeks. But as the leader of the country,
you know, we should be coming out and putting a
scouts on these sort of things. We should be saying
(05:38):
what we think about Donald Trump wanting to take over
a sovereign nation like Greenland, or a sovereign state. This
is really important for us to have an independent foreign policy,
to have our own views. But politically for the Prime Minister,
he doesn't really want to cause any chaos, cause the disruption,
do anything that's going to anger the US President.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Well that is the trick, isn't it, Because he's on
a bit of a hiding to nothing because idealistically he's
going to get a kicking if he doesn't say anything.
And yet it's a lot as New Zealanders are happy
to accept that if he wants to have his say,
there might be a bill that follows.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, that's right, where there might be consequences if we
want to go out on our own or put out
our view into the world, and that's a political consequence
that he just has to determine whether he's willing to
wear that or not.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Well, do you think he's going to bring it up
in his state of the nation or are you're going
to have to drag it out of him and the
questions and answers later on.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I think it's probably going to be the letter. He
may allude to it. You know, he wants to create
this contrast between the government just doing what it says
it's doing being a bit boring and what's going on overseas.
But I think to get Musion's actual position, we're going
to have to ask a few tricky questions.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
And are there any issues that you are you know,
I'm not personally, but you as a political reporter, what's
the thing that you're going to be looking for? And
in particular will you be paying attention to what he
doesn't say.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Yeah, I think if he doesn't go into those international
events that will be really interesting. He'll be trying to
keep keep a focus on the domestic stuff. I'll be
interesting to say here what he has to say about
the India STA. Has there been any development over the
last month on that? Have we heard anything more from
the Indians? Has the primers have spoken with the Labor
Party to try and seek their support. There'll be one
(07:21):
area that we'll be watching for. And also just you know,
how much does he try and distance the National Party
from the coalition? Do they try and have their own
message away from that of the overall governments? So yeah,
there'll be lots of watch for. It's going to be
a pretty interesting year.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And just I mean, what do you think will be
the right approach in terms of what the NATS need
to do to gain back some favor. Do you think
do you think that what you've anticipated steady as she goes,
we're going to double down on what's working and it'll
gradually get cut through. What do you think that they
what do you think they need to do to gain
back a bit more favor.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
I think, first of all, we're just hoping and praying
that the economic recovery does eventuates. We've been looking over
the last few months for it to happen. But again,
like as I mentioned, hoping that the government puts out
some actual measures to energize that to make sure it
doesn't stagnate. That will be the thing that I think
keVs will be really wanting and I think we'll be
(08:19):
watching for.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Excellent Hey, Jamie, I really appreciate your time this afternoon.
Have fun tomorrow, Okay, Cheerio.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talks be weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Collective podcast from News Talks'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
So, yes. Prime Minister Christoph Luxen is set to give
his State of the Nation addressed tomorrow, and being an
election year, it'll be an important one. The Nats are
looking to recover from recent polling, while keyw is going
to be looking for some desperately needed economic recovery. Our
health may also be one to keep an eye for
an eyear out for after Finance Minister Nikola Willis said
(00:31):
should be looking to shake up funding in the next
budget and anyway, lots of things to get on with.
New Zealand Herald political reporter Jamie Insaw joins me. Now, Jamie,
good afternoon, good hey. So the government's had that, you know,
fairly mediocre run in the polling. Do you expect this
address to be trying to reset the narrative or doubling
down on what Nationals wants to achieve or or was
(00:53):
it just more of a political clearing of the throat.
Speaker 3 (00:56):
I think to start with, it's a bit of a
scene setter for the year, you know, putting out a
direction for how the government sees the startup election year going.
But in times of your question. I think it's more
of a doubling down on what National has been doing
over the last two years. They want to highlight to
New Zealanders that despite all the global headwinds and all
the two more we're seeing overseas relating to Donald Trump,
(01:18):
that the government's just getting on with the job and
just trying to do what it's promised it set out
it would set out to do. So that might sound
a bit boring. There's going to be no big radical,
new political message or vision. They're just going to focus
on three careers, which I highlight to you. Those are
going to be law and order, so you know, the
government's believes it has made a big difference in the area.
You've seen New Zealander's concern over law and order come
(01:40):
down over the last few years. Education and they're focused
on reading, writing and maths, those basic skills and also
cutting red tape. So the moves that I've made with
fast Track and resource management plans, those will be the
key focuses off the special tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
Well, I'll just listen to the news as well some
of the comments on but do you think National are
going to be feeling more confident sticking to that plan,
given that they will finally have a target because Labor
are going to have to start saying something, putting some
plans out of their own.
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Yeah, that's right. I mean, as we get more into
the national will probably move into more of attack mode
and highlight the cable gain tax on the Labor Party
and try and focus New Zealand's attention on the differential
between the two parties. But to begin with, they want
to kind of seem a little bit boring. They don't
want to seem chaotic like we're seeing overseas that's really unpopular.
(02:32):
They want to seem like they're on track and keep
on doing what they said they were going to do.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
How important it's the state of the nation. I'm mean,
after all, I still get the sense that a lot
of people are still on holiday.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, you're right. I mean I've been back at Parliament
for the last week and it seems like everyone's still
a holiday. So yeah, whether it's important or not, I
think it just gives as Prime Minister an opportunity to
come out and say some stuff that's probably been wanting
to say over the last few weeks. We'll probably really
press them on New Zealand's position on some of those
international crises, like youth. I've said it's invasion of Benness
(03:04):
way and what's happening in Iran. Prime minister had anything
to say on that. So we're trying to get the
young position on all that sort of stuff. But yeah,
it's really a scene utiful what the Prime Minister wants
to see the year.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Being actually just out of curiosity. It sounds like a
trivial question, but you say you've been back in Parliament yourself.
Have there been some political figures who you've been like,
oh gosh, I've seen him or her around a lot.
They're getting into it, anyone who seems to be getting
into their knitting earlier than everyone else.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
There's been a few opposition politicians around. I had a
good conversation with the Labor House spooks that first help
spokesperson Asia Verel. Did hear a rumored that the Prime
Minister was back in the Behigh for one day and
we saw some social media videos that he posted this
week in his behive office, so he may have been there,
but most for the most part, no, there hasn't really
been any politicians around more just a few starts here
(03:53):
and there.
Speaker 2 (03:53):
Is there anything new Zealanders need to hear in this
address or as you say, as it's just like steady
as she goes, nothing too exciting, kick the year off
and get on.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I think the Prime Minister will probably want to highlight
the economic recovery. Keys will be looking for that. They
want to hear what's the actual plan to make sure
that recovery doesn't just stagnate. He's actually going to be
some actions taken to energize it, I guess, so that
might be something that the primers looks to lay out.
But also one other key thing I should mention is
the election date. Don't expect that is going to be
(04:23):
announced tomorrow, but we probably want to be watching for Wednesday.
The National Party has its caucus retreat on Wednesday, so
we're expecting the date to be announced.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
Dead Actually, I guess they're not going to announce the
election date because that would be the headline and that
would undermine what he's trying to get out there with
the state of the nation, isn't it one hundred percent?
Speaker 3 (04:40):
He wants his message to be really please tomorrow and
they'll be focused on policy. But yeah, Wednesday will be
the election date.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
I mean, conversely, if he announces the election date, we'll
know that he doesn't really want us to pay attention
to anything else that he's said.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
That's a great point of you, so well, I.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Have a chuckle about that if that turns out to
be the cast. Now, look, you have alluded to this already,
and we've seen Fanis Sullivan among others, having a crack
about him being missing an action on the federal reserve issue,
as opposed to Winston who was having a crack at
Arner Bremen. Does Christopher Luxen need to put his head
above the parapet more on these international yet economic risks.
Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, I think you go real. I guess the difference
between being a political leader and just being a leader.
You know, Politically, for Christopher Laxon, he doesn't want to
put New Zealand and Donald Trump's radar. He wants to
keep us nice and quiet, as they've been doing over
the last few weeks. But as the leader of the country,
you know, we should be coming out and putting a
scouts on these sort of things. We should be saying
(05:38):
what we think about Donald Trump wanting to take over
a sovereign nation like Greenland, or a sovereign state. This
is really important for us to have an independent foreign policy,
to have our own views. But politically for the Prime Minister,
he doesn't really want to cause any chaos, cause the disruption,
do anything that's going to anger the US President.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
Well that is the trick, isn't it, Because he's on
a bit of a hiding to nothing because idealistically he's
going to get a kicking if he doesn't say anything.
And yet it's a lot as New Zealanders are happy
to accept that if he wants to have his say,
there might be a bill that follows.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, that's right, where there might be consequences if we
want to go out on our own or put out
our view into the world, and that's a political consequence
that he just has to determine whether he's willing to
wear that or not.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Well, do you think he's going to bring it up
in his state of the nation or are you're going
to have to drag it out of him and the
questions and answers later on.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
I think it's probably going to be the letter. He
may allude to it. You know, he wants to create
this contrast between the government just doing what it says
it's doing being a bit boring and what's going on overseas.
But I think to get Musion's actual position, we're going
to have to ask a few tricky questions.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
And are there any issues that you are you know,
I'm not personally, but you as a political reporter, what's
the thing that you're going to be looking for? And
in particular will you be paying attention to what he
doesn't say.
Speaker 3 (06:59):
Yeah, I think if he doesn't go into those international
events that will be really interesting. He'll be trying to
keep keep a focus on the domestic stuff. I'll be
interesting to say here what he has to say about
the India STA. Has there been any development over the
last month on that? Have we heard anything more from
the Indians? Has the primers have spoken with the Labor
Party to try and seek their support. There'll be one
(07:21):
area that we'll be watching for. And also just you know,
how much does he try and distance the National Party
from the coalition? Do they try and have their own
message away from that of the overall governments? So yeah,
there'll be lots of watch for. It's going to be
a pretty interesting year.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And just I mean, what do you think will be
the right approach in terms of what the NATS need
to do to gain back some favor. Do you think
do you think that what you've anticipated steady as she goes,
we're going to double down on what's working and it'll
gradually get cut through. What do you think that they
what do you think they need to do to gain
back a bit more favor.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
I think, first of all, we're just hoping and praying
that the economic recovery does eventuates. We've been looking over
the last few months for it to happen. But again,
like as I mentioned, hoping that the government puts out
some actual measures to energize that to make sure it
doesn't stagnate. That will be the thing that I think
keVs will be really wanting and I think we'll be
(08:19):
watching for.
Speaker 2 (08:20):
Excellent Hey, Jamie, I really appreciate your time this afternoon.
Have fun tomorrow, Okay, Cheerio.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
For more from the Weekend Collective, listen live to News
Talks be weekends from three pm, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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