Cross Party Lines

Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that moves from a coalition-shaking email leak to the demographic time bomb nobody in government wants to defuse — and closes with a verdict on King Charles III’s Washington masterclass. All thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi-owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* The Peters email — deliberate sabotage or massive inadvertence? — The release of emails showing Christopher Luxon privately pushing for a different stance on the US strikes on Iran has cracked the coalition open. Phil is unequivocal: this was deliberate. Peters saw the emails, knew they would damage Luxon, and released them anyway. Chris is slightly more measured on process, but equally clear that this kind of behaviour simply never happened in his time as a minister, or Phil’s.* New Zealand’s demographic time bomb — and the politicians who won’t touch it — The Koi Tū population report lands with a stark set of numbers: fertility at 1.55, well below the 2.1 needed for replacement; a workforce-to-retiree ratio collapsing from seven-to-one in the 1960s to two-to-one by 2065; and a superannuation and healthcare bill that simply cannot be funded without sustained quality immigration. Phil and Chris ask the question neither Peters nor Seymour will answer: if you’re against immigration, what exactly is your plan?* King Charles in Washington — a masterclass, nine out of ten — Last week Phil predicted Charles would do well. This week, the verdict is in. Multiple standing ovations from Congress. Subtle but unmistakable defences of constitutional democracy, checks and balances, NATO and Ukraine — delivered with wit, warmth and an Oscar Wilde quote. The final score: Charles one, Trump nil.Along the way: Chris getting a telling off from Marion Hobbs for using the word “excrescence” in Parliament, Phil revealing Helen Clark used to ring him at half past midnight from two floors up, Singapore recycling wastewater through 150 kidneys before it reaches your hotel tap, and Chris announcing the winner of his warship competition — a copy of his book is on its way to Whanganui.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith political conversation. New episodes every Tuesday. If you value thoughtful debate, 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, Cross Party Lines returns without Sam for the first time — and the boys don’t miss a beat. In a wide-ranging Anzac week episode, they move from wartime gallantry to National Party treachery, and from All Blacks in Parliament to the politics of immigration dog-whistling. All thanks to our foundational partner Frank Risk Management, the 100% kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* Haane Manahi and the Victoria Cross that never was — Phil opens with a moving account of an event he attended in Rotorua the night before recording: a film celebration of Sergeant Haane Manahi, who was recommended for a Victoria Cross by Field Marshal Montgomery himself — only for the British War Office to scratch it out and replace it with a lesser medal.* National’s leadership crisis — five rebels, or twenty-five? — With the National Party caucus meeting looming and the media in full speculation mode, Phil and Chris take forensic stock of where things stand. Chris is blunt: changing a leader in April of election year is lunacy, the five alleged plotters are losers, and Luxon deserves more sympathy than he gets for inheriting a poisoned chalice with no apprenticeship.* All Blacks in Parliament and the Taine Randall question — New Zealand First has selected former All Black captain Taine Randall to stand in Tukituki, prompting a tour through the graveyard of sporting superstars who have tried and failed at politics — from David Kirk to Chris Laidlaw to Graham Thorne. Phil and Chris are unconvinced the profile will translate. But the deeper question is what policies Taine is actually signed up to — including New Zealand First’s rhetoric on immigration.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith political conversation. New episodes every Tuesday. If you value thoughtful debate, follow the podcast and share it with someone who might too.🎟 Tickets for the live show at Featherston Booktown Festival — Saturday 9 May. Get in at booktown.org.nz 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 takes a break from the weekly news cycle for an Easter special — handing the microphone to listeners for a wide-ranging Q&A that covers cabinet reshuffles, grand coalitions, MMP thresholds, polarisation and Rocket Lab’s military contracts. Thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management, the 100% kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode, the panel tackles questions straight from the audience:* The Bishop demotion — revenge or rationale? — Listeners wanted to know why Chris Bishop’s reshuffle was read as a punishment. Phil and Chris unpick the moves with forensic clarity: stripping Bishop of the campaign chair role he was demonstrably excellent at, while loading an already stretched Simeon Brown with energy on top of health, suggests this was less about capability and more about Luxon settling scores from last November’s leadership whispers.* Should New Zealand ever have a grand coalition? — A listener question about Labour and National governing together draws on history from the 1930s wartime cabinet to Germany’s social democrats today.* Could New Zealand join the EU? Has free trade failed us? And what about Rocket Lab? — A listener floats New Zealand joining the EU; Phil and Chris explore what closer alignment with middle powers might look like instead. On the closure of Wattie’s and McCain’s plants, they examine whether free trade has delivered for regional New Zealand or left it exposed. And on Rocket Lab’s military contracts, Chris invokes Yes Minister’s The Moral Dimension — genuinely uncertain whether Sir Humphrey or the Minister had the better of the argument.This Easter special is a reminder that the best political conversation doesn’t need a news hook — just good questions and two people who’ve seen enough to know the difference between what politicians say and what they actually mean.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith political conversation. New episodes every Tuesday. If you value thoughtful debate, follow the podcast and share it with someone who might too.🎟 Tickets still available for the live show at Featherston Booktown Festival — Saturday 9 May. Get in at booktown.org.nz 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 returns with an episode that moves from the kitchen table to the Crown balance sheet — and takes in the rise of populism across the Tasman along the way. Thanks to our foundationa partner, Frank Risk Management.In this episode:* Cost of living — With diesel up 67% in under a month and food prices running at 4.6% annually, the Iran crisis has stopped being abstract. The panel takes aim at fuel companies potentially pricing ahead of their costs, asks why a one-way flight to Auckland now costs $500, and grapples with what honest political leadership looks like when a crisis is going to hurt for years, not months. Phil paints a sobering picture of families at the supermarket checkout — and argues the government needs to direct support to those genuinely in need rather than spread it thin. Chris notes that Reagan’s misery index question — are you better off than you were three years ago? — is about to become the defining frame of the election campaign.* Treasury’s prescription: sell more, tax more, spend less — A speech by Treasury’s chief strategist laid out a bleak fiscal picture and called for hard choices. The panel digs in. Chris makes a case for asset sales — Landcorp farms to iwi, Air New Zealand to Singapore — and calls for a mature conversation about a capital gains tax. Phil pushes back on selling assets to cover day-to-day spending, drawing on the cautionary tales of NZ Rail, Thames Water and Air New Zealand’s own privatisation disaster. Both agree the early tax cuts were a mistake, that the interest bill is now crowding out meaningful public investment, and that New Zealand needs a serious debate about what the state should own — not argument by slogan.* South Australia and One Nation — Labor won the South Australian election comfortably, but the real story is One Nation finishing second — ahead of the Liberals — with 21.8% of the vote. Phil and Chris connect the dots from Adelaide to Wellington: the same grievance politics, the same forgotten blue-collar voter, and the same warning about what happens when a major party loses its identity. Chris draws a sharp distinction between genuine Conservative liberalism and the populist right, and both panellists turn their fire on New Zealand First — a party that, unlike One Nation, can’t claim to be an outsider. It has been in government twice in three years and must own the decisions made at that table.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith political conversation. New episodes every Tuesday. If you value thoughtful debate, follow the podcast and share it with someone who might too.🎯 Help us reach 10,000 followers — hit follow on Spotify or Apple today.🎟 Catch the team live at the Featherston Booktown Festival — Saturday 9 May. Tickets at booktown.org.nz 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 is back with an episode that flows from domestic political turbulence straight into the fires of the Middle East — and lands on the economic storm heading New Zealand’s way. Proudly supported by our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management, the 100% kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* National in freefall — is Luxon’s leadership terminal? A damning Taxpayers Union Curia poll puts National at just 28%.The panel unpacks what the numbers really mean, when voters start paying attention, and whether a leader change this close to an election is a lifeline or a death sentence. Phil draws on the hard lessons of Labour’s Palmer-to-Moore pivot in 1990.* Iran, international law, and the ghost of Iraq — Nine days into the US strikes on Iran, there is no clear objective, no post-war plan, and the civilian death toll is rising. Phil draws a sharp line from the WMD lies of 2003 to the intelligence being ignored today — and argues that every US regime-change attempt, from Iraq to Libya, has left a failed state in its wake. Chris questions what happens to the rules-based international order when the country that built it decides the rules no longer apply. And what does a Chinese move on Taiwan look like in a world where “might is right” has been normalised?* Inflation is back — and this time, wages won’t save you — Oil nearly doubled since January. LNG up 70% in a week. War surcharges on every container at sea. The panel examines how the Iran conflict threatens to derail New Zealand’s economic recovery, hammer small businesses already on the edge, and hand the opposition a weapon the government has no good answer for. Phil and Chris debate whether Nicola Willis can avoid Grant Robertson’s fate — and whether freezing the fuel excise increase would even matter.This episode is a reminder that the decisions made in Washington and Tehran don’t stay there — they show up in your petrol tank, your mortgage rate, and the ballot box.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith political conversation. New episodes every Tuesday. If you value thoughtful debate, 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 tackles three of the biggest structural questions facing New Zealand: how we build the country, how we keep our young people here, and how we respond when politics drifts into populist rhetoric.This week’s episode moves from infrastructure to immigration — and ends with a firm defence of decency in public life.In this episode:* The Infrastructure Gap — Following the release of Te Waihanga’s National Infrastructure Plan, Phil and Chris debate whether New Zealand’s problem is underinvestment, poor coordination, political short-termism — or all three. Why do we spend near the top of the OECD as a share of GDP but rank near the bottom for results? And is bipartisan buy-in the only way to avoid stop-go mega-projects and pork-barrel politics?* Keeping Young Kiwis in Aotearoa — With net departures to Australia surging again, the panel revisits the myth of “rabbit out of the hat” election policies like interest-free student loans. Did it really change the trajectory in 2005 — and what would actually address the long-term productivity gap with Australia? From capital investment to university reform to targeted student loan relief, the discussion turns to how New Zealand can compete in a shared labour market with a larger, wealthier neighbour.* Populism and the Politics of Immigration — Shane Jones’ latest comments on Indian migration spark one of the most forceful conversations yet on the podcast. Phil and Chris challenge the rhetoric head-on, arguing that migrants add more than they take, that demographic change strengthens rather than weakens the country, and that cruelty dressed up as “plain speaking” corrodes democratic culture. The episode closes with a broader question: how should mainstream parties confront — not normalise — dog-whistle politics in an election year?Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith 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 returns with a wide-ranging episode that moves from the rituals of Waitangi Week to the most serious questions of global security — before closing with a sobering discussion on power, corruption, and trust in public life.In this episode:Waitangi Week, politics and performance — A clear-eyed assessment of what unfolded in the Far North: protest, resignation, symbolism. Phil and Chris reflect on precedent, dignity, and what leadership looks like in moments of discomfort.The quiet collapse of nuclear restraint — A deep dive into the expiry of the New START Treaty between the US and Russia, why arms control has mattered for decades, and how the erosion of nuclear agreements creates genuine existential risk — particularly as more unstable actors enter the equation.Why New Zealand still has a role — From nuclear-free activism to multilateral diplomacy, the case for New Zealand finding its voice again on global disarmament rather than staying permanently “under the radar.”The Epstein files and elite accountability — A forensic discussion of Peter Mandelson, power without consequence, and how misbehaviour at the top corrodes trust in democratic systems. Comparisons with New Zealand’s stricter political culture — and why that culture must be defended.Serious without being sanctimonious, this episode is a reminder that politics is ultimately about stewardship — of institutions, trust, and the future — and that when restraint collapses, the consequences are rarely abstract.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith 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 returns for a weighty, wide-ranging episode that moves from tragedy at home to turmoil abroad — and asks what leadership looks like when the stakes are this high.This week’s conversation is shaped by three forces: climate reality, global disorder, and election-year positioning.In this week’s episode:* Climate change and human cost — Following a devastating week in Aotearoa, with nine lives lost to extreme weather events, Phil and Chris reflect on grief, responsibility, and why climate change can no longer be treated as an abstract or ideological debate. From landslips to floodplains, the discussion turns to adaptation, evidence-based policy, and why the window for meaningful action is closing fast.* Davos and the global order — Chris reports from Europe as the World Economic Forum unfolds. The panel dissects Mark Carney’s widely applauded speech, growing pushback against Donald Trump’s foreign policy, and what the erosion of the rules-based international order means for small countries like New Zealand.* State of the Nation speeches — With National and Labour both holding retreats, Phil assesses whether either Chris Luxon or Chris Hipkins managed to seize early momentum in election year — and why passion, credibility, and kitchen-table issues will matter more than set-piece speeches.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith 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 returns after a short summer break with a look ahead to what 2026 might hold — for New Zealand politics and the wider world.This episode focuses on long-range thinking, asking what sort of country New Zealand wants to be — and what politics should be focusing on as the election year approaches.In this episode:* What policies should define 2026 — Phil lays out the hard choices both major parties keep avoiding: productivity and growth, fair taxation, superannuation sustainability, early intervention for kids, and climate adaptation that actually matches the scale of the challenge.* Planning for the country we’re becoming — Chris argues for long-term thinking about population, infrastructure and immigration, and reviving serious future-focused institutions rather than fighting the same short-term culture wars every election cycle.* Universities, talent and the future of work — Why New Zealand should aim for world-class tertiary institutions, how AI will reshape jobs whether we like it or not, and why attracting and retaining global talent matters more than ever.* Trump, power and the collapse of restraint — A sobering discussion on Venezuela, Greenland, the erosion of international law, and what “might is right” means for small countries like New Zealand that depend on a rules-based order.* Early election predictions — A cautious look at polling, coalition arithmetic, Winston Peters’ likely leverage, leadership stability, and why 2026 is shaping up to be close — and consequential.Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for thoughtful, good-faith political conversation.New episodes every Tuesday. If you value calmer politics and deeper thinking, 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 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 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 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

Fifty years ago today, Australia’s Governor-General sacked Prime Minister Gough Whitlam - an act that stunned a democracy and reshaped political convention forever.In this Cross Party Lines bonus episode, Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson revisit that extraordinary day - the personalities, the chaos, and the what-ifs that still echo across the Tasman. From Whitlam’s defiance to New Zealand’s own 1984 near-miss under Muldoon and Sir David Beattie, this is a gripping reminder that even in stable democracies, the rules only hold if we agree to play by them.Follow Cross Party Lines wherever you get your podcasts — and tell us on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok what historic moments you’d like Phil and Chris to unpack next. 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