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January 20, 2026 1 min

It might be today that the Government announces the date of the election.

Some have called for an early election. They argue that the job to fix us up needs more time. The Government could argue they’re the ones to do it.  

They could ask for a mandate for another three years to finish the job, and the sooner we get on with it the better.

I can see that, but I don’t agree with it.

We’ve been through a tough two years. Government’s always get the blame for tough years.  

So the Government is currently at a low ebb in their popularity, but as we’re starting to hear there are good signs in the economy.  

Not just here, but everywhere - geopolitical events not withstanding.

So why not wait until the green shoots actually turn into a proper crop?

And with Christopher Luxon’s State of the Nation speech being portrayed as a yawn fest with little new vision, there’s no silver bullet in the chamber that might excite the electorate.

So why pull the trigger early?

My pick is still nearly November.

And that will mean every party will be looking at the economic indicators with extra trepidation.

Labour hoping that economic dissatisfaction lasts while National hoping the economy turns the corner and blows favour on their campaign.

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
So it might be today that the government announces the
date of the election. So some of cour for an
early election. They argue that the job to fix us
up needs more time. The government could then argue they're
the ones to do it. They could ask for a
mandate for another three years to finish the job, and
the sooner we get on with it, the better. Now, look,
I can see that point of view, but I don't
agree with it. In fact, I think it's wishful thinking.

(00:20):
Howtho Let's ground this In reality, we've been through a
tough two years. Governments always get the blame for the
tough years. So the government is currently at a low
ebb in their popularity. But as we're starting to hear,
there are good signs in the economy, not just here
but everywhere. Geopolitical events notwithstanding, So why not wait until
the green shoots actually turn into a proper crop. It's

(00:43):
too soon, is it not? And with Christopher Luxen's stated
the Nation's speech being portrayed as a yawn fest with
little new vision, there's no silver bullet in the chamber
that might excite the electorates. So why call an early election?
My pick and everybody's pick is still nearly November, early November,
and that will mean every party over the next year

(01:04):
are going to be looking at the economic indicators with
extra trepidation. And you know, you know what, Labor's just
sitting there trying to hide their policies, hoping that economic
dissatisfaction lasts, while Nashville is sitting there with all their
fingers crossed and their toes crossed, hoping the economy turns
the corner and finally blows some favor on their campaign.
For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, Listen live

(01:27):
to News Talks. It'd be from five am weekdays, or
follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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