Cross Party Lines

Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, with Sam Collins. Cross Party Lines unpacks New Zealand politics so that you don’t have too.With Chris absent due to a family bereavement, Sam and Phil dedicate the episode to public submissions - listener questions.In this episode:* What actually wins elections — Door-knocking, street-corner meetings, social media and direct voter contact. Phil reflects on decades of campaigning and why seeing the candidate in person still matters more than almost anything else.* Urgency in Parliament — Is it being abused? Why select committees matter, when urgency is justified, and how democratic scrutiny quietly disappears when legislation is rushed through at 2am.* Money and democracy — Party donations, disclosure thresholds, public funding, and whether New Zealand should go further to keep vested interests out of politics.* Short-term politics vs long-term country — Why three-year terms drive wasteful policy reversals, what infrastructure planning actually needs, and whether New Zealand should finally move to a four-year parliamentary term.* Winston Peters and coalition politics — Is he keeping his options open or simply maximising leverage? Phil draws on first-hand experience from 1996, 2005 and 2017.* China, the US, and small-country diplomacy — How New Zealand balances values and interests, why multilateralism still matters, and when engagement crosses into endorsement.* Te Tiriti, representation, and social cohesion — Why Māori success benefits the whole country, why Treaty issues shouldn’t be weaponised, and how identity and democracy can coexist.* Respect across the aisle — Phil reflects on political figures he admired from the other side, and why democracy works better when disagreement doesn’t become dehumanisation.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and make space for calmer, more constructive political conversation.New episodes every Tuesday. If you value thoughtful politics, follow the podcast and share it with someone who might too. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com

Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines unpacks the week in New Zealand and global politics so you don’t have too. Genuine cross-party debate — not point-scoring.This week’s episode is recorded in the shadow of tragedy, sharing our condolences to those impacted by the tragic events in Bondi.In Episode 7:* America and the rule of law — Trump’s new National Security Strategy, intrusive ESTA visa proposals and military actions in the Caribbean raise serious questions about whether the US is abandoning the rules-based international order. * RMA reform, again — The government unveils its replacement for the Resource Management Act. Is this genuine progress, recycled policy or a rare moment of near-bipartisanship — and real concern about unintended consequences.* Electoral law changes under urgency — The move to end same-day enrolment sparks a sharp debate about disenfranchisement, democratic fragility and whether efficiency is ever a good reason to make voting harder. Should New Zealand go further — even to compulsory voting?Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for thoughtful, good-faith discussion in an increasingly polarised world.New episodes every Tuesday. If you value calmer politics, follow the podcast and share it with someone who might too. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com

Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines unpacks the week in New Zealand politics so that you don’t have too and featues the kind of cross-partisan honesty you won’t get anywhere else.In Episode 6:* Police culture under the microscope — After Andrew Coster’s high-profile interview, Phil and Chris go deeper into the real issue: hierarchy, silence, and why junior officers rarely challenge senior ranks. And while Ministers Mitchell and Hipkins dispute what they were told, Phil and Chris share lessons on how to protect yourself when your only “record” is memory * The centre-right’s climate dilemma — Scrutiny Week revealed uncomfortable truths about the coalition’s climate direction. Phil and Chris contrast New Zealand’s choices with Australia’s centre-right meltdown, Turnbull’s warning about “groundhog day” and what a rational, evidence-driven conservative climate policy should be made of.* The Taxpayers’ Union vs Nicola Willis — A rare case of “right-on-right violence.” Why the campaign is happening, how coalition politics limits any finance minister’s dogma, and what Labour must be careful not to overstep as 2026 creeps closer.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and bring reasoned democracy back into the mainstream.New episodes every Tuesday. If you’re enjoying the show, follow and share — it genuinely helps grow the kōrero. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com

Hosted by Sam Collins, Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines breaks down the week in New Zealand politics so you don’t have to — with genuine cross-partisan insight.In Episode 5:* Regional Council Reform — National’s plan to abolish regional councils and replace them with mayor-led boards lands with a thud. Phil and Chris unpack what’s sensible, what’s risky and why reform without groundwork is a recipe for chaos.* The UK Budget Blowback — UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves breaks Labour’s “no new taxes” promise, what can Barbara Edmonds and Nicola Willis learn? And is Brexit still the anchor dragging the whole ship down?* The NZ Labour Party Conference — A surprisingly upbeat weekend for Labour. What Chris Hipkins and Barbara Edmonds got right, and did it go down well with the public?Plus: Air New Zealand’s declining brand loyalty, Beethoven’s Ninth, Boris Johnson’s minimum-wage blunder, and why populism is reshaping democracies faster than institutions can keep up.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and bring good-faith conversation back to Kiwi politics.New episodes every Tuesday. Follow the show and share it with a friend — it genuinely helps grow the kōrero. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com

Hosted by Sam Collins, Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines unpacks the week in New Zealand politics so you don’t have to. Each episode gives you clear, cross-partisan insight from two political heavyweights who’ve sat inside Cabinet rooms, campaign buses and coalition negotiations.In Episode 4:* KiwiSaver, finally taken seriously — National kicks off its 2026 campaign with a plan to lift contributions to 12%. Phil and Chris unpack whether it’s bold enough, what Australia gets right and why tax incentives and loopholes could make or break the scheme for workers and businesses .* Is Luxon really on the ropes? — Leadership speculation ramps up as polls stumble. Phil and Chris draw on decades of political history to explain when a coup becomes inevitable, when it doesn’t and why changing leaders rarely saves any government.* Trump’s “peace plan” for Ukraine — Why the proposed deal reads like a Kremlin wish list, what it would mean for Europe and why appeasement never stops aggression. A wide-ranging, fiery discussion that moves from Crimea to Congress to Chatham House.Plus: lessons from door-knocking, why authenticity beats spin-doctors every time and a few personal stories that only Goff and Finlayson could tell.Cross Party Lines exists to lift NZ’s political literacy and restore constructive conversation in an age of noise.New episodes every Tuesday. If you’re enjoying the show, follow and share — it genuinely helps grow the kōrero. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com