This week on the Raw Politics podcast: How the infiltration of the Labour campaign launch backfired, who's got all the money and how they're spending it - and why did Christopher Luxon discard his ceremonial Pasifika necklace?
One week down in the election campaign proper, and the Raw Politics panel looks at who's got off to the best start.
The two main parties got diverted almost from the outset by so-called 'attack' ads and whether things are turning too personal already, but the content of most of the messages on display this week was both tame and lame.
National and Act continue to pull in the big bucks, with the blue side raking in almost four times as much as Labour in the $20,000-plus donations category, and the two parties of the centre-right are saturating the social media channels as Labour and the Greens deploy digital funds more tactically.
A reader question focused on one fleeting moment at National's launch, wondering why National leader Christopher Luxon removed a Pasifika necklace presented to him as a show of respect immediately before he strode on the stage to launch the party's campaign.
This week's recommendations include a new Ted Talk by former US vice president Al Gore, a Newsroom story on yet another Act candidate with issues and an RNZ investigation revealing the over cosy policy formation between Waikato University's chief and the National Party.
Every week, Newsroom editors and political journalists talk through the big issues and scrutinise politicians’ performances in a lively 25-minute show aiming to take viewers and listeners inside the actions and motivations of our elected leaders.
Watch Raw Politics on YouTube, or download or listen to it as a podcast on Spotify, or via Apple Podcasts.
And send your burning political questions to jo.moir@newsroom.co.nz and we’ll endeavour to find the answer and explain the issues.
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This week's recommendations:
Marc: Al Gore's new Ted Talk
Jo: Newsroom Pro editor Jonathan Milne's story ACT MP in waiting did not publicly disclose censure over real estate
Tim: Guyon Espiner's story on RNZ - Documents show head of Waikato University involved in National policy
