March 8, 2026 • 10 mins
This week for Beehive Buzz, Nick is joined by Newstalk ZB Political Reporter Azaria Howell.
Rumours swirl around Prime Minister Luxon's position and a coup, after last week's Curia poll result had National at 28%.
And tomorrow the findings from the report on the Governments Covid-19 response are released. What is the feeling in the beehive right now, and what is expected to come of this?
For the latest from the parliament, Beehive Buzz.
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk. Said B direct from news Talk Saidb's
team at Parliaments the bee Hive.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Buzz Behive Buzz with news Talk Sibb Senior political reporter
Azariah how Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Ice, good morning. Good to be with you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Right, come on, tell us what's going on in parliament.
There's got to be some crazy things going on this morning.
National twenty eight percent, the lowest result since the Judith
Colins era. Come on, tell us what's going on.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Yeah, for sure, there has been that speculation about the
Prime Minister's leadership from Friday and also over the weekend
after the TPU Taxpas Union Curier poll put National, as
you say, at twenty eight point four percent. So Chris
Luxen has this morning done his morning media rounds today
speaking to Mike Hosking about all of this, confirming he
(01:00):
does plan to stay put in that role of Prime
Minister and leader of the Natational Party. He was questioned, well,
did you spend any of your weekend considering your future?
His response was absolutely not. He also said no, the
pressure is not mounting. But also as you'd expect in
this sort of job of Prime Minister. There is disagreement
(01:24):
and there are people who often criticize you. The PM
was though further questioned about that speculation by Mike Hosking
and put his position quite clear.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You will be the leader of the National Party and
therefore the Prime Minister up until election day of November seven.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Hand on heart, Hand on heart.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Absolutely, yep.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I got so much to do and we've got a
great country.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
It got so much potential and the reason I came
was we've got to damn well realize it and we're
going to get it done.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
So there we have it. Hand on heart. Absolutely will
stay in that role. That is what the PM has
said this morning. Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who has been
having meetings overseas get back gets back to New Zealand soon,
really commented on this situation significantly as yet. He had
(02:12):
a bit to say this morning to uran Z saying
he'd love to say more about it, but he's trying
to stay out of it. He earlier said that it
was not really a great poll result for National Well.
Chris Luckson is today holding a post cabinet press conference
this afternoon, As is the case on a Monday, and
we will be expecting questions about that poll and the
(02:34):
speculation that comes with it. Also likely expecting that PM
to use the same lines he said this morning, which
was he's not commenting on the polls. His focus is
on the people of New Zealand and the economy. Now
on Tuesday, the MPs will go into their party. There
will be doorstopped on their way into Parliament. That will
(02:57):
act as a chance for journalists to question sort of
different National Party people on the state of the party,
where they stand on the Prime Minister's Leadership'll be interesting
to see what they say, Do they back the leader?
Will they be asking questions? Yeah, expect some questions to
those MP's really will be significant in terms of what
(03:18):
is said, though the PM staying quite confident in that today.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Zaria, what do you make of Winston's comments just then
that he would love to say more, but he'll stay
quiet at the moment. Do you reckon that? Yeah, that's
a weird one for me.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, well, I mean I believe him. I'm sure that
there will be questions to him tomorrow and I'm sure
he will say a bit more about it as well.
I'll just play you the clip of what mister Peters
said to Radio New Zealand, and.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I'd love to answer you, but frankly it's not in
my concern. It's not having to my party. There's alection
coming and some of the things that are being put
out by way of speculation at the moment it is
absolutely astonishing, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, so that is what Peters has had to say.
I mean, to be fair, he has been overseas, he
has been having those meetings, but also he has been
clued in as you'd expect on the sort of domestic
situation with politics. I mean, he commented on the poll
last week when questioned about it in South America. So
(04:21):
it is something that he is aware of but trying
to stay put at this point. Although once Whinston Peters
goes into Parliament on Tuesday, expect a lot of questions
from journalists on the tiles as to where does he
stand on the leadership of Chris luxen Azaria.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We did an hour of it obviously this morning, and
on the show I copped it a bit that said,
it's just the media creating a storm. How do you
relate to that?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Yeah, well, I think I think you know, you go
into looking at what commentators have said, people have admitted,
I mean, Nikola Willis on your show as well next
said that it wasn't great for the Prime minister, it
wasn't great for the National Party in terms of those numbers.
That is quite significant to hear from the deputy leader
(05:07):
of the National Party, the Finance Minister. So I would
expect people to read into that quite a lot. I mean,
in terms of the poll numbers, as you say it,
it is kind of reminiscent to some of the Judith
Collins era of the National Party. And I mean, look
at this sort of polling trends. National had a very
(05:28):
significant victory, a blue wave, and comparing that sort of
election night success to where we are now, National would
lose quite a significant number of seats, obviously though noting
they had a very very strong win. But still it
looks like, and it has been looking like for quite
some time, the election is definitely a lot less clear
(05:50):
as to who the victor is going to be this time. Now.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
The thing that I was thinking about over the weekend,
where I was hoping that Likeson wouldn't resign, or was
thinking what happens to Nikola willis if their new leader
comes in and it's not her, would she be likely
to keep the finance ministry?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah, I mean that is really dependent on who the
next leader is. I mean, if there even is one,
if we even get to that point. I mean, at
this point it is speculation. It is people talking. Yeah,
So honestly, I think it would depend on who that
person is and if it even happens. I feel like
it is too early to say something like that, but
(06:28):
Nikola Willis has has got a significant sort of role
in terms of finance, and you could argue that she
is very clued in on finance in that role as well.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Okay, tell me what you expect to see when the
COVID Inquiry report comes out tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, a massive, massive story. This is coming tomorrow. The
Royal Commission of Inquiry's final report into those lessons learned
from the COVID pandemic is being made public once it's
tabled in Parliament, So it actually is being made public
about sort of two maybe ten past two pm tomorrow,
so it is still a bit of a wait until
we get that, but it will be looking into sort
(07:10):
of a broader scope of the maybe more controversial aspects
to do with the pandemic, things like the Auckland lockdown,
the lockdown that went on in Auckland for more time
than the rest of the country. Things like the vaccine mandates,
which people obviously have very strong views on either side.
(07:30):
So the Health Minister is taking the government's response. It's
very likely we will hear more from him tomorrow as well,
so I believe it will look into the lockdowns, the
vaccine mandates, the things that people have very very strong
views on. So it might be you know, quite controversial,
(07:51):
but it will go into those sort of more dramatic
I suppose details in terms of the pandemic. But separately,
the government also announced about a month ago that it
would be carrying out an independent review into COVID nineteen
monetary policy and also in relation to the Reserve Bank,
so that is entirely separate, and that review is expected
(08:13):
to come out publicly in September. So expect some more
talk as well in terms of the financial side of
this thing as well. This though looking into those sort
of public health measures an expanded scope of the inquiry,
looking into the vaccines and the lockdowns.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
There nothing can be done about it, So are we
wasting our time? We were were just going to look
at it and say, well, that was wrong, that was wrong,
that was right.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah, Well, I wouldn't say we're wasting our time. I mean,
you know, when COVID happened, people compared it to pandemics
in the past, and you know, I hate to say this,
but it is probably likely that we'll have a pandemic
or another public health crisis or something really significant, maybe
an earthquake or something like that that does cause a
(08:59):
lot of government spending, reaction, public health measures, urgent sort
of policy decisions, and also maybe controversy in terms of
where people stand on it. So I think it's good
to get sort of a status check in terms of
where we are with COVID nineteen. I mean, the pandemic response,
as you say, is in the past, but it is
(09:22):
likely that you know, something like this or similar to
this may come up again.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
One hundred percent, just really quickly, really really quickly. The
buzz around the bed doesn't feel a little bit different
after this, all this talk about the girls that just
feel exactly the same.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I would say it does feel different. Based on the
fact that there were reporters waiting outside of the front
of Parliament Usually you don't see that on a Monday.
Usually it's Tuesday that you see that. So maybe that
means something.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Great to talk as always keep an eye and let
us know if anything happens. We'd like to be first
to find out, obviously, Zaria. How as News Talks, he'd
be senior political reporter.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to News Talks. It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Wellington Mornings podcast with Nick Mills
from news Talk. Said B direct from news Talk Saidb's
team at Parliaments the bee Hive.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
Buzz Behive Buzz with news Talk Sibb Senior political reporter
Azariah how Good morning.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Ice, good morning. Good to be with you.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
Right, come on, tell us what's going on in parliament.
There's got to be some crazy things going on this morning.
National twenty eight percent, the lowest result since the Judith
Colins era. Come on, tell us what's going on.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Yeah, for sure, there has been that speculation about the
Prime Minister's leadership from Friday and also over the weekend
after the TPU Taxpas Union Curier poll put National, as
you say, at twenty eight point four percent. So Chris
Luxen has this morning done his morning media rounds today
speaking to Mike Hosking about all of this, confirming he
(01:00):
does plan to stay put in that role of Prime
Minister and leader of the Natational Party. He was questioned, well,
did you spend any of your weekend considering your future?
His response was absolutely not. He also said no, the
pressure is not mounting. But also as you'd expect in
this sort of job of Prime Minister. There is disagreement
(01:24):
and there are people who often criticize you. The PM
was though further questioned about that speculation by Mike Hosking
and put his position quite clear.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
You will be the leader of the National Party and
therefore the Prime Minister up until election day of November seven.
Speaker 4 (01:41):
Hand on heart, Hand on heart.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Absolutely, yep.
Speaker 4 (01:44):
I got so much to do and we've got a
great country.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
It got so much potential and the reason I came
was we've got to damn well realize it and we're
going to get it done.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
So there we have it. Hand on heart. Absolutely will
stay in that role. That is what the PM has
said this morning. Foreign Minister Winston Peters, who has been
having meetings overseas get back gets back to New Zealand soon,
really commented on this situation significantly as yet. He had
(02:12):
a bit to say this morning to uran Z saying
he'd love to say more about it, but he's trying
to stay out of it. He earlier said that it
was not really a great poll result for National Well.
Chris Luckson is today holding a post cabinet press conference
this afternoon, As is the case on a Monday, and
we will be expecting questions about that poll and the
(02:34):
speculation that comes with it. Also likely expecting that PM
to use the same lines he said this morning, which
was he's not commenting on the polls. His focus is
on the people of New Zealand and the economy. Now
on Tuesday, the MPs will go into their party. There
will be doorstopped on their way into Parliament. That will
(02:57):
act as a chance for journalists to question sort of
different National Party people on the state of the party,
where they stand on the Prime Minister's Leadership'll be interesting
to see what they say, Do they back the leader?
Will they be asking questions? Yeah, expect some questions to
those MP's really will be significant in terms of what
(03:18):
is said, though the PM staying quite confident in that today.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Zaria, what do you make of Winston's comments just then
that he would love to say more, but he'll stay
quiet at the moment. Do you reckon that? Yeah, that's
a weird one for me.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Yeah, well, I mean I believe him. I'm sure that
there will be questions to him tomorrow and I'm sure
he will say a bit more about it as well.
I'll just play you the clip of what mister Peters
said to Radio New Zealand, and.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
I'd love to answer you, but frankly it's not in
my concern. It's not having to my party. There's alection
coming and some of the things that are being put
out by way of speculation at the moment it is
absolutely astonishing, you know.
Speaker 3 (04:00):
Yeah, so that is what Peters has had to say.
I mean, to be fair, he has been overseas, he
has been having those meetings, but also he has been
clued in as you'd expect on the sort of domestic
situation with politics. I mean, he commented on the poll
last week when questioned about it in South America. So
(04:21):
it is something that he is aware of but trying
to stay put at this point. Although once Whinston Peters
goes into Parliament on Tuesday, expect a lot of questions
from journalists on the tiles as to where does he
stand on the leadership of Chris luxen Azaria.
Speaker 2 (04:39):
We did an hour of it obviously this morning, and
on the show I copped it a bit that said,
it's just the media creating a storm. How do you
relate to that?
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Yeah, well, I think I think you know, you go
into looking at what commentators have said, people have admitted,
I mean, Nikola Willis on your show as well next
said that it wasn't great for the Prime minister, it
wasn't great for the National Party in terms of those numbers.
That is quite significant to hear from the deputy leader
(05:07):
of the National Party, the Finance Minister. So I would
expect people to read into that quite a lot. I mean,
in terms of the poll numbers, as you say it,
it is kind of reminiscent to some of the Judith
Collins era of the National Party. And I mean, look
at this sort of polling trends. National had a very
(05:28):
significant victory, a blue wave, and comparing that sort of
election night success to where we are now, National would
lose quite a significant number of seats, obviously though noting
they had a very very strong win. But still it
looks like, and it has been looking like for quite
some time, the election is definitely a lot less clear
(05:50):
as to who the victor is going to be this time. Now.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
The thing that I was thinking about over the weekend,
where I was hoping that Likeson wouldn't resign, or was
thinking what happens to Nikola willis if their new leader
comes in and it's not her, would she be likely
to keep the finance ministry?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
Yeah, I mean that is really dependent on who the
next leader is. I mean, if there even is one,
if we even get to that point. I mean, at
this point it is speculation. It is people talking. Yeah,
So honestly, I think it would depend on who that
person is and if it even happens. I feel like
it is too early to say something like that, but
(06:28):
Nikola Willis has has got a significant sort of role
in terms of finance, and you could argue that she
is very clued in on finance in that role as well.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Okay, tell me what you expect to see when the
COVID Inquiry report comes out tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Yeah, a massive, massive story. This is coming tomorrow. The
Royal Commission of Inquiry's final report into those lessons learned
from the COVID pandemic is being made public once it's
tabled in Parliament, So it actually is being made public
about sort of two maybe ten past two pm tomorrow,
so it is still a bit of a wait until
we get that, but it will be looking into sort
(07:10):
of a broader scope of the maybe more controversial aspects
to do with the pandemic, things like the Auckland lockdown,
the lockdown that went on in Auckland for more time
than the rest of the country. Things like the vaccine mandates,
which people obviously have very strong views on either side.
(07:30):
So the Health Minister is taking the government's response. It's
very likely we will hear more from him tomorrow as well,
so I believe it will look into the lockdowns, the
vaccine mandates, the things that people have very very strong
views on. So it might be you know, quite controversial,
(07:51):
but it will go into those sort of more dramatic
I suppose details in terms of the pandemic. But separately,
the government also announced about a month ago that it
would be carrying out an independent review into COVID nineteen
monetary policy and also in relation to the Reserve Bank,
so that is entirely separate, and that review is expected
(08:13):
to come out publicly in September. So expect some more
talk as well in terms of the financial side of
this thing as well. This though looking into those sort
of public health measures an expanded scope of the inquiry,
looking into the vaccines and the lockdowns.
Speaker 2 (08:29):
There nothing can be done about it, So are we
wasting our time? We were were just going to look
at it and say, well, that was wrong, that was wrong,
that was right.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah, Well, I wouldn't say we're wasting our time. I mean,
you know, when COVID happened, people compared it to pandemics
in the past, and you know, I hate to say this,
but it is probably likely that we'll have a pandemic
or another public health crisis or something really significant, maybe
an earthquake or something like that that does cause a
(08:59):
lot of government spending, reaction, public health measures, urgent sort
of policy decisions, and also maybe controversy in terms of
where people stand on it. So I think it's good
to get sort of a status check in terms of
where we are with COVID nineteen. I mean, the pandemic response,
as you say, is in the past, but it is
(09:22):
likely that you know, something like this or similar to
this may come up again.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
One hundred percent, just really quickly, really really quickly. The
buzz around the bed doesn't feel a little bit different
after this, all this talk about the girls that just
feel exactly the same.
Speaker 3 (09:37):
I would say it does feel different. Based on the
fact that there were reporters waiting outside of the front
of Parliament Usually you don't see that on a Monday.
Usually it's Tuesday that you see that. So maybe that
means something.
Speaker 2 (09:49):
Great to talk as always keep an eye and let
us know if anything happens. We'd like to be first
to find out, obviously, Zaria. How as News Talks, he'd
be senior political reporter.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
For more from Wellington Mornings with Nick Mills. Listen live
to News Talks. It'd be Wellington from nine am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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