Thomas Coughlan: NZ Herald political editor on what prospective voters can take from the State of the Nation speech

The Prime Minister says voters shouldn't expect any big election promises this year, as the Government looks to keep the books in order.

Chris Luxon's given his State of the Nation speech in Auckland before 600 business leaders.

Luxon declared the economic recovery is here, and pointed to Kiwisaver, RMA and education reforms as this year's policy planks.

NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says the Government's dialled back the rhetoric this time round, as part of a 'low risk, low reward' strategy.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us now is Thomas Colgrin with The Herald. He's
the political editor.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
Thomas, Good afternoon, Ryan, good afternoon.

Speaker 1 (00:06):
Great to have you with us. So how did it go?

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Look, it was a fine start the year. It definitely
wasn't your sort of barnstorming scenes here that you've seen
in the years past. Last year, Christoph Luxan had his
big going for growth to the State of the Nation's speech,
which obviously didn't quite come to pass, and that was
a wee bit embarrassing for the government. So they've sort

(00:29):
of dialed back the rhetoric this year. It probably will
mean slightly less edulatory headlines in the next couple of days.
I suppose it would also mean that people won't be
checking back in a few months time to see whether
we did or did not get the growth that was promised.
So probably a low risk glow reward strategy this year.

Speaker 1 (00:48):
In a safe space, let's hear a little bit of
what he had to say.

Speaker 3 (00:51):
It's going to be a truly great year. The economy
is growing, the kids are almost back at school again
and after a great key summer break, and just like
kwi's up and down the country. I can tell you
the National Party is knuckling down and getting back to work,
and I guess I have one very very simple message
for you today, and that is that National is fixing

(01:13):
the basics and building the future right now.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
November seven is my pick for the election date. However,
I think they should go early. Just do something bold,
do something big, capture people's attention and go early. Not
a popular opinion with our texts this afternoon to have
to say Thomas, what's your pick for because he's going
to announce it on Wednesday, right.

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Yeah. Actually I was talking to my granddad over the
break and my granddad was also of the opinion that
they should go early. He lives in rural South Island
and they're definitely feeling the economic recovery where he is.
He thinks that things are so good that they need
to go as soon as possible. Go Granddad, So that
is his opinion. So certainly it depends where you are,
but I would say no Vian miss seven. It seems

(01:54):
to be the likely date that that recovery is taking
a while, that felt through to everywhere, and I think
they'll want to give it as much time as possible.
I think another pick well for for the election is
obviously this is only a couple of days after I
Faalk's day. So I wonder whether fireworks could become not
a massive issue at the election, but I wonder whether
during one of the debates someone's going to say, you know,

(02:14):
is it time to ben a sort of home fireworks
as plays as the sail of fireworks? And I think
I think the parties might might decide to do that.
So that's a that's a sort of a sleeper issue
that I think said this year.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
Because Winston's already said that. He said he was yeah, yeah, yep,
last year. Yeah, all right, very good. And finally, who
do you think we might see because Luckance sort of
foreshadowing a potential reshuffle of people retire who might be retiring?

Speaker 2 (02:40):
I I think perhaps more in Pube she's been there
for a little while, although she does she does hold
that seat, and not whether she's been re selected. On
on the West Coast, maybe Barbara Kruger has been around
for a while, perhaps her, But but look, that's there
is idle speculation at the stage.

Speaker 1 (02:59):
More Mooring's the iffing useless one, isn't she Well.

Speaker 2 (03:03):
Maybe you can ask something about her.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
When will we notice she's gone. Thank you so much.
That is Thomas Coglan from the Herald. For more from
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