July 18, 2026 • 11 mins
Former All Black Taine Rendall entered the world of politics in April, announcing he would be joining NZ First.
NZ First is set to officially launch its election campaign today at the party's annual convention, as they are buoyed by good polling.
But Randell says he is already 'jaded' just four months in.
"I was ready for it, but it is a bit of a shock, you know, there are some late nights and there is a lot more work than I thought in some aspects," he told Francesca Rudkin.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ab Zi one First is set to officially launch its
election campaign today at the party's annual convention. They're in
a good position as they move into election mode, bored
by good polling. The first day of the convention yesterday
had a record number of delegates attend and they have
a number of new high profile candidates joining the party.
One of those new candidates is former All Black Captain
(00:33):
Tane Rendall. And here's with me now from the convention.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Good morning Tame, Good morning Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
So the election campaign being launched today, how are you
feeling about the four months ahead of you?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Well? Jaded now, I can imagine a four months will
be going to be harrendous, but looking forward to it
interesting exciting times and we're all pretty motivated as everyone is. Yes, well,
it's going to be a long time, but I think
it's going to go on a flash.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
So you announced that you were running back in April.
Have the last few months has been quite full on
then that you're already jaded.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Now? I think for me, starting from a very low
base in terms of my pedolytical, you know, just the elementary,
the basic parts of how to run electric campaigns. A
lot of that strategic, the strategic stuff, policy stuff has
been a big part of what I've been sort of
upskilling with and that has been you know, that's it
wouldn't say exhausting, but it's been you know, it's been challenging,
(01:33):
and it's been good. Now you know, we're almost well
four months almost three months out. That's where the sort
of the dawknocking, more of the meetings and that sort
of stuff are going to happen. Yeah, just the next
stage of it.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Are you enjoying us? Uh? It's of it witch Beds No.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
I then I was worn previously that there's a lot
of work, a lot of stress, a lot of time
and that sort of stuff. I was ready for it,
but it little bit of shock. You know, there are
some late nights and yet there is a lot more
work than I've thought in some aspects. The mental bas
I say, from a low base, just the absolute basics,
(02:16):
which you've been around politics for a long while, which
you take for granted, has been a bit of a
has been a bit of a headspin for me. But
that's that's all good, So are pretty pretty happy with
all that now. And as I say, it's just clear
with the missing obviously very clear with why I'm doing
what I'm doing, and they've just got to get out.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
And do it brilliant. So why are you doing what
you're doing?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Well? Yeah, the main part the prospects, the prospects of
our camp. We're a prosperous country, no doubt about the
healthy and wealth we're We're one of the most prosperous
countries in the world. But we have been the most
prosperous country in the world. And for me personally, it's
(02:56):
been I've been lucky. I've had great grandparents, been parents
and there I've been blessed in the life I've had.
But the prospects for our kids, the legacy that we
live then is not the same that we inherited. You know.
I've I've got a kid whose first job out of
university and he's he's been talking me through his career
path that love. His employers been telling him he's got
(03:18):
a good job at Auckland, and he said, he said, well, look,
by the time that I'm thirty five, as things go
really well in this job, he still will not be
able to afford a house. That's not the prospects which
you know I want for my kids and for my
I want my grandkids to live in New Zealand. I
want them to live close to where I live. I
don't want to go and visit them on zoom. We'll
jump into fane go and see them overseas, because realistically,
(03:40):
for a prosperous life for our kids and grandkids, it's
not the same as what we enjoyed. So that's the
reason I'm doing it. I want to make sure that
we get this country really a bit of funk at
the moment. I want to try and help do my best,
ensure that we make the right big decisions to get now,
(04:01):
to do the best we can give ourselves the best
chance it become as prosperous as we can totain.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
What did What do you think that you bring to
New Zealand? First and the electorate that you're running for.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
So everyone knows that I've played roakby it seems, but
that was twenty odd years ago. Had a reasonably good
commercial careers and you know it was in a financial
markets in London, had a carbon business in New Zealand
and been heaven involved in our family business and food
processing in Hawk's Bay. You know we're processing baby food,
(04:33):
pet food and all of what is freeze dry. So
from that perspective, having a real world experience and bringing
that to parliament something I believe like and bringing there's
nothing I think there's nothing better when you've got to
make decisions and having been through the process of owning
a business, small medium business, you know, waking up at
(04:54):
two o'clock in the morning, it was not a good
feeling at the time when you want, how are we
going to pay the bills? How are we going to
pay the wages? And just you have to find a solution.
And I think in parliament sometimes we you know we
offload that, just offload that responsibility of making decisions to
other people. Well, actually we elect, we elect politicians to
(05:16):
make decisions on our behalf and I think we're a
little bit of leadership and obviously eventually and all that
sort of stuff in the sport, but combining that with
a commercial business career is what I believe the attributes
to bring.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
What is it that aligned you to New Zealand first
of other parties.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I think when I think of New Zealand. First, you know,
we've got with energy issues in New Zealand. We've got electricity,
we've got banking and that sort of stuff. We seem
to just you know, we'll let the Commugis Commission, we'll
let the Electricity Authority handle Actually they do nothing. The
biggest challenge I believe we've got in New zeal essentially energy,
(05:58):
electricity and supermarkets, and we're not gonna we're not going
to be able to improve those by offloading the decision
to some commission to try and trying to improve. We
have to make decisions. So when it comes to New Zealand, first,
I love the bravery about the fact that they're offering
real world solutions to these problems. And hey, look sure
people don't you know, or may not agree with some
(06:20):
of those. So as buy a bank, split their split
the gent tailors, or split the supermarke, people may not agree.
We talk about that. But the thing is, but for
New Zealand, first, I've not heard a solution to those
set to problems from any other party except for tinkering
around the edges.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Do you think that that's what's attracting other people to
the party as well? We've seen various other well known
people join New Zealand First. Michael Laws, Stuart Nash have
also joined. We've got some high profile form politicians as delegates.
Is that what you think? Is that why New Zealand
First is intractive option to these politicians?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Do you think?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
What do you put it down to it?
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I think what's happened we're seeing Labor move well left,
you know, a former party for the work as well.
If you're a spark, you're you're a chippy. Were living
in Hawk's Bay. The Labor Party doesn't really represent that now.
And in the same way with with with National, they've
they've moved a wee bit as well. There used to
(07:21):
be a real party, you know, I should boy small business,
small medium business and that sort of stuff like the
gat that they get that they've left, the the gat
that they've made by moving. It's pretty much when New
Zealand First sits. So when you know, we've got a
lot of National supporters and slightly right right Labor supporters
going hey, look the parties which would historically aligned with
(07:44):
the sort of moved and they're looking for a home
and New Zealand First is at natural home.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
And they're doing so very well, you know, eleven point
five percent in the latest poll.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Do you think that at all?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Just just that pretty good though historic? Hi, What do
you think that they're going to be able to maintain
that heading into the election?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Well, that's obviously the planned and the conference that would
be that. It's been all about discipline and I think
that's that's been the main message. The Party's got some
messages about what it is what we're campaigning on, and
we've just got to make sure we're very disciplined and
maintaining that line because that's the reason people are coming
(08:24):
to the party. They like our vantage, they like our messaging,
and we've just got to make sure we keep that. Obviously,
the closer we get to the election, parties are going
to be very I think the party policies are going
to be quite distinct from each other, and as a result,
people probably a month to two months out when they
(08:44):
really turn their minds to what the next three years
is going to be like, we'll be able to make
a pretty good decision at that stage. I'm confident that
the we're pretty we're pretty motivated with that discipline. Here's
what we stand for, vote for us.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
And you were. You were told yesterday quite clearly by
your leader, weren't you to stick to the to the
party line and some very strict instructions there about dealing
with you know, the media and towing the party line
and things. I wonder whether that's because we are seeing
quite a few well known people kind of stepping up
to be candidates and in a completely different party, someone
(09:20):
like Paul Henry but a bit of a wild guard.
And I just wonder whether there is like Tane you
might have kept in the All Blacks, but at the
same time you need to just towe My line. Was
that the message that you felt like you were getting
used today?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
But that is the message that is That is exactly
the message New Zealand First has done. Well. If every
party's done what they've done, and they've done that by
here's what Here are the values that we stand for.
I think it's completely if you if you want to
go and push some other wheelbarrow, go and join another
we've got to go and start another party. That's just basics.
(09:52):
We're all part of a team with Team New Zealand First.
And you know those are the values you sign up for.
Those are the values you're back. So with Paul Henry,
iidak's great, as I thought, just just gives a sense
where we're at people coming in from outside politics, because
we're not happy. We're not just the status quo, but
(10:16):
actually the direction of where we think we go. And
I think that's fantastical. We're in competition and all the
rest of it. But the more people the mirror, the
wider the diverse views we get, so we can all
at least discuss those views and debate them and that
sort of stuff, the better, because, as I say, the
(10:36):
reason I'm standing for the New Zealand first, it would
be very typical to others. We're not happy with the
trajector of what we're doing. And that's that's good. That's
it's good for our political system.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Did you get a chance to watch the rugby last night?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I can't say, because I don't know how that would
go down. A great game?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Oh were you supposed to be doing something else and
you just happened to stumble into a room where the
rugby was on or something.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I just actually just happened to stumble into a part
where the rugby is being played. No, it was, but yeah,
I that's just one good thing about rugby and it
is a great unifying force for New Zealand. And you know,
we had people at the conference and that's that's one
good thing about the sport and where everyone was pretty
(11:25):
pumped up. Yes, specially the fact we won. Max, I'm
giving a speech later today. It makes the speech a
lot easier.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Oh time, Look, appreciate you, appreciate your time this morning.
Thank you so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed the
All Blacks game.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
There for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudken,
listen live to News Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sunday Session podcast with Francesca Rudgin
from News Talks.
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Ab Zi one First is set to officially launch its
election campaign today at the party's annual convention. They're in
a good position as they move into election mode, bored
by good polling. The first day of the convention yesterday
had a record number of delegates attend and they have
a number of new high profile candidates joining the party.
One of those new candidates is former All Black Captain
(00:33):
Tane Rendall. And here's with me now from the convention.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Good morning Tame, Good morning Francesca.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
So the election campaign being launched today, how are you
feeling about the four months ahead of you?
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Well? Jaded now, I can imagine a four months will
be going to be harrendous, but looking forward to it
interesting exciting times and we're all pretty motivated as everyone is. Yes, well,
it's going to be a long time, but I think
it's going to go on a flash.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
So you announced that you were running back in April.
Have the last few months has been quite full on
then that you're already jaded.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Now? I think for me, starting from a very low
base in terms of my pedolytical, you know, just the elementary,
the basic parts of how to run electric campaigns. A
lot of that strategic, the strategic stuff, policy stuff has
been a big part of what I've been sort of
upskilling with and that has been you know, that's it
wouldn't say exhausting, but it's been you know, it's been challenging,
(01:33):
and it's been good. Now you know, we're almost well
four months almost three months out. That's where the sort
of the dawknocking, more of the meetings and that sort
of stuff are going to happen. Yeah, just the next
stage of it.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Are you enjoying us? Uh? It's of it witch Beds No.
Speaker 3 (01:55):
I then I was worn previously that there's a lot
of work, a lot of stress, a lot of time
and that sort of stuff. I was ready for it,
but it little bit of shock. You know, there are
some late nights and yet there is a lot more
work than I've thought in some aspects. The mental bas
I say, from a low base, just the absolute basics,
(02:16):
which you've been around politics for a long while, which
you take for granted, has been a bit of a
has been a bit of a headspin for me. But
that's that's all good, So are pretty pretty happy with
all that now. And as I say, it's just clear
with the missing obviously very clear with why I'm doing
what I'm doing, and they've just got to get out.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
And do it brilliant. So why are you doing what
you're doing?
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Well? Yeah, the main part the prospects, the prospects of
our camp. We're a prosperous country, no doubt about the
healthy and wealth we're We're one of the most prosperous
countries in the world. But we have been the most
prosperous country in the world. And for me personally, it's
(02:56):
been I've been lucky. I've had great grandparents, been parents
and there I've been blessed in the life I've had.
But the prospects for our kids, the legacy that we
live then is not the same that we inherited. You know.
I've I've got a kid whose first job out of
university and he's he's been talking me through his career
path that love. His employers been telling him he's got
(03:18):
a good job at Auckland, and he said, he said, well, look,
by the time that I'm thirty five, as things go
really well in this job, he still will not be
able to afford a house. That's not the prospects which
you know I want for my kids and for my
I want my grandkids to live in New Zealand. I
want them to live close to where I live. I
don't want to go and visit them on zoom. We'll
jump into fane go and see them overseas, because realistically,
(03:40):
for a prosperous life for our kids and grandkids, it's
not the same as what we enjoyed. So that's the
reason I'm doing it. I want to make sure that
we get this country really a bit of funk at
the moment. I want to try and help do my best,
ensure that we make the right big decisions to get now,
(04:01):
to do the best we can give ourselves the best
chance it become as prosperous as we can totain.
Speaker 2 (04:06):
What did What do you think that you bring to
New Zealand? First and the electorate that you're running for.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
So everyone knows that I've played roakby it seems, but
that was twenty odd years ago. Had a reasonably good
commercial careers and you know it was in a financial
markets in London, had a carbon business in New Zealand
and been heaven involved in our family business and food
processing in Hawk's Bay. You know we're processing baby food,
(04:33):
pet food and all of what is freeze dry. So
from that perspective, having a real world experience and bringing
that to parliament something I believe like and bringing there's
nothing I think there's nothing better when you've got to
make decisions and having been through the process of owning
a business, small medium business, you know, waking up at
(04:54):
two o'clock in the morning, it was not a good
feeling at the time when you want, how are we
going to pay the bills? How are we going to
pay the wages? And just you have to find a solution.
And I think in parliament sometimes we you know we
offload that, just offload that responsibility of making decisions to
other people. Well, actually we elect, we elect politicians to
(05:16):
make decisions on our behalf and I think we're a
little bit of leadership and obviously eventually and all that
sort of stuff in the sport, but combining that with
a commercial business career is what I believe the attributes
to bring.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
What is it that aligned you to New Zealand first
of other parties.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I think when I think of New Zealand. First, you know,
we've got with energy issues in New Zealand. We've got electricity,
we've got banking and that sort of stuff. We seem
to just you know, we'll let the Commugis Commission, we'll
let the Electricity Authority handle Actually they do nothing. The
biggest challenge I believe we've got in New zeal essentially energy,
(05:58):
electricity and supermarkets, and we're not gonna we're not going
to be able to improve those by offloading the decision
to some commission to try and trying to improve. We
have to make decisions. So when it comes to New Zealand, first,
I love the bravery about the fact that they're offering
real world solutions to these problems. And hey, look sure
people don't you know, or may not agree with some
(06:20):
of those. So as buy a bank, split their split
the gent tailors, or split the supermarke, people may not agree.
We talk about that. But the thing is, but for
New Zealand, first, I've not heard a solution to those
set to problems from any other party except for tinkering
around the edges.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Do you think that that's what's attracting other people to
the party as well? We've seen various other well known
people join New Zealand First. Michael Laws, Stuart Nash have
also joined. We've got some high profile form politicians as delegates.
Is that what you think? Is that why New Zealand
First is intractive option to these politicians?
Speaker 1 (06:57):
Do you think?
Speaker 2 (06:58):
What do you put it down to it?
Speaker 3 (06:59):
I think what's happened we're seeing Labor move well left,
you know, a former party for the work as well.
If you're a spark, you're you're a chippy. Were living
in Hawk's Bay. The Labor Party doesn't really represent that now.
And in the same way with with with National, they've
they've moved a wee bit as well. There used to
(07:21):
be a real party, you know, I should boy small business,
small medium business and that sort of stuff like the
gat that they get that they've left, the the gat
that they've made by moving. It's pretty much when New
Zealand First sits. So when you know, we've got a
lot of National supporters and slightly right right Labor supporters
going hey, look the parties which would historically aligned with
(07:44):
the sort of moved and they're looking for a home
and New Zealand First is at natural home.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
And they're doing so very well, you know, eleven point
five percent in the latest poll.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
Do you think that at all?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Just just that pretty good though historic? Hi, What do
you think that they're going to be able to maintain
that heading into the election?
Speaker 3 (08:02):
Well, that's obviously the planned and the conference that would
be that. It's been all about discipline and I think
that's that's been the main message. The Party's got some
messages about what it is what we're campaigning on, and
we've just got to make sure we're very disciplined and
maintaining that line because that's the reason people are coming
(08:24):
to the party. They like our vantage, they like our messaging,
and we've just got to make sure we keep that. Obviously,
the closer we get to the election, parties are going
to be very I think the party policies are going
to be quite distinct from each other, and as a result,
people probably a month to two months out when they
(08:44):
really turn their minds to what the next three years
is going to be like, we'll be able to make
a pretty good decision at that stage. I'm confident that
the we're pretty we're pretty motivated with that discipline. Here's
what we stand for, vote for us.
Speaker 2 (08:59):
And you were. You were told yesterday quite clearly by
your leader, weren't you to stick to the to the
party line and some very strict instructions there about dealing
with you know, the media and towing the party line
and things. I wonder whether that's because we are seeing
quite a few well known people kind of stepping up
to be candidates and in a completely different party, someone
(09:20):
like Paul Henry but a bit of a wild guard.
And I just wonder whether there is like Tane you
might have kept in the All Blacks, but at the
same time you need to just towe My line. Was
that the message that you felt like you were getting
used today?
Speaker 3 (09:32):
But that is the message that is That is exactly
the message New Zealand First has done. Well. If every
party's done what they've done, and they've done that by
here's what Here are the values that we stand for.
I think it's completely if you if you want to
go and push some other wheelbarrow, go and join another
we've got to go and start another party. That's just basics.
(09:52):
We're all part of a team with Team New Zealand First.
And you know those are the values you sign up for.
Those are the values you're back. So with Paul Henry,
iidak's great, as I thought, just just gives a sense
where we're at people coming in from outside politics, because
we're not happy. We're not just the status quo, but
(10:16):
actually the direction of where we think we go. And
I think that's fantastical. We're in competition and all the
rest of it. But the more people the mirror, the
wider the diverse views we get, so we can all
at least discuss those views and debate them and that
sort of stuff, the better, because, as I say, the
(10:36):
reason I'm standing for the New Zealand first, it would
be very typical to others. We're not happy with the
trajector of what we're doing. And that's that's good. That's
it's good for our political system.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Did you get a chance to watch the rugby last night?
Speaker 3 (10:51):
I can't say, because I don't know how that would
go down. A great game?
Speaker 2 (10:57):
Oh were you supposed to be doing something else and
you just happened to stumble into a room where the
rugby was on or something.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
I just actually just happened to stumble into a part
where the rugby is being played. No, it was, but yeah,
I that's just one good thing about rugby and it
is a great unifying force for New Zealand. And you know,
we had people at the conference and that's that's one
good thing about the sport and where everyone was pretty
(11:25):
pumped up. Yes, specially the fact we won. Max, I'm
giving a speech later today. It makes the speech a
lot easier.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Oh time, Look, appreciate you, appreciate your time this morning.
Thank you so much, and I'm glad you enjoyed the
All Blacks game.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
There for more from the Sunday session with Francesca Rudken,
listen live to News Talks it'd be from nine am Sunday,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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