Party leaders, scene setters
Interviews with political party leaders ahead of the 2014 New Zealand general election.
The most recent interviews take place during Nine to Noon with Kathryn Ryan in the run-up to election day 20th September 2014.
The first set of interviews took place between February and April 2014.
Election week interview with National Party's John Key
John Key. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
John Key joins Kathryn Ryan to discuss his party's policies, including the modest tax cut promise and his potential coalition or support partners after Saturday's election. He discusses the claims of dirty dealings with right wing bloggers and claims of mass surveillance of New Zealand citizens, both of which he's denied.
Election week interview with Green Party's Metiria Turei
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
The Green party has been on the rise in this election campaign - its current average polling of 12.8 percent is enough to bring 16 MPs into the Parliament. The party's key policies include replacing the Emissions Trading Scheme with a Carbon Tax, increasing the minimum wage and a national lunch fund for decile 1 - 4 schools.
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei joins Kathryn Ryan.
Election week interview with Internet Party's Laila Harre
Laila Harre in the Radio New Zealand studio Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson
Laila Harre is a former Cabinet Minister and Alliance Party leader, who has also recently worked for the Green Party. She became the leader of the Kim Dotcom founded Internet Party in May. The party is campaigning for this election along with the Hone Harawira-led Mana Party.
Laila Harre talks to Kathryn Ryan.
Election 2014 party leader interviews: Hone Harawira, Mana Party
Hone Harawira in the Radio New Zealand Auckland Newsroom 15 September 2014. Photo: RNZ Kim Baker Wilson
Hone Harawira, leader of the Mana Party talks to Kathryn Ryan, days before the 2014 general election.
Election 2014 party leader interviews: Colin Craig, Conservative Party
Conservative Party leader, and East Coast Bays candidate Colin Craig in the Nine to Noon studio. Photo: RNZ Kim Baker Wilson.
In the latest 3News opinion poll the Conservative party was at four-point-seven percent. If it can reach five percent it will make it to parliament. Colin Craig says the Conservatives always do better at elections than in polls, and he's confident the party will be elected to Parliament.
Election 2014 party leader interviews: Winston Peters from NZ First
NZ First leader Winston Peters in Radio New Zealand's studios. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski
New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters talks with Kathryn Ryan about policies and bottom lines in the lead up to the election.
Election 2014 party leader interviews: Jamie Whyte, ACT
Photo: RNZ Kim Baker Wilson.
Kathryn Ryan talks to Act party leader Jamie Whyte.
Election 2014 party leader interviews: Peter Dunne, United Future
In the Nine to Noon studio, 8th September 2014. Photo: RNZ.
Peter Dunne the leader of the United Future party joins Kathryn Ryan.
Peter Dunne - United Future leader
Photo: RNZ.
The final of Nine to Noon's political leader interviews, with United Future Leader, Peter Dunne.
Hone Harawira - Mana party leader
Photo: RNZ.
An election year interview with Mana party leader Hone Harawira talking to Kathryn Ryan.
Jamie Whyte - ACT party leader
ACT party leader Jamie Whyte. Photo supplied.
An election year interview with Kathryn Ryan.
Te Ururoa Flavell - Maori Party co-leader
Photo: RNZ.
Maori Party co-leader Te Ururoa Flavell looks ahead to the election and the future of the Maori party with both of its founders - Tariana Turia and Pita Sharples - leaving Parliament. An election year interview with Kathryn Ryan.
Winston Peters - New Zealand First party leader
Photo: RNZ.
Winston Peters is the leader of NZ First, which is polling at around the 5% threshold for getting MPs into parliament without winning an electorate seat, meaning it could yet hold the balance of power after voters go to the polls on September 20. An election year interview with Kathryn Ryan.
Russel Norman - Green party co-leader
Photo: RNZ.
Green party co-leader Russel Norman discusses what the party would want in return for their support for a Labour-led government. The third largest party in parliament is polling at around 10% and is expected to play a significant role if Labour gets enough votes to be in a position to form a government after the election.
David Cunliffe - Labour party leader
Photo: RNZ.
In the second of Nine to Noon's election year, scene-setter interviews, Labour leader David Cunliffe fronts up to explain why the largest opposition party is struggling to gain traction in the polls since he replaced David Shearer in September 2013.
John Key - National party leader
Photo: RNZ.
Prime Minister John Key on priorities for trying to get National a third term in office. An election year interview with Kathryn Ryan.
Links
- Photo Gallery: From the campaign trail
- Election 2014 - Multimedia coverage of the Big Issues, unpicking policy, taking you along on the campaign trail, and putting politicians ‘Under the Grill’. Analysis in the ‘Poll of Polls’, and ‘Power Play’ columns.
- Fact or Fiction? - keeping the politicians on their toes
- Ask Away - put your questions to the politicians
- On The Inside columns including 'BlogWatch' and analysis from specialist correspondents.
