There's more bad news for Labour today, after the party took a nosedive in another poll.

The recent The Post Freshwater Strategy poll had Labour down seven to 28 percent, with National down two to 27 percent.

Newstalk ZB senior correspondent Barry Soper says there could be a risk of a hung Parliament, given how tight the numbers are between the two major parties. 

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There's more bad news for Labour today, after the party took a nosedive in another poll.
The recent The Post Freshwater Strategy poll had Labour down seven to 28 percent, with National down two to 27 percent.
Newstalk ZB senior correspondent Barry Soper says there could be a risk of a hung Parliament, given how tight the numbers are between the two major parties.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Labour underperforming in latest poll

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/455cfe96-fa79-49be-a2f8-b4c6005ca24a/transcript

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 15 September.

Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 15 September. 
Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Full Show Podcast: 15 September 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/29372ae9-51ea-4d60-af3c-b4c60076b3b6/transcript

The Local Government Minister says he makes no apology, after a recent spat with Auckland mayor Wayne Brown.

The Government announced it's moving to ban voting rights for non-elected members of council committees.

Brown's now threatened to pull out of the Auckland Deal, and sent a terse message to Simon Watts - telling him to 'butt out' of the council’s democratic processes.

Watts says democracy is non-negotiable.

"Elected representatives are accountable to their communities, and voting rights should reflect that." 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Local Government Minister says he makes no apology, after a recent spat with Auckland mayor Wayne Brown.
The Government announced it's moving to ban voting rights for non-elected members of council committees.
Brown's now threatened to pull out of the Auckland Deal, and sent a terse message to Simon Watts - telling him to 'butt out' of the council’s democratic processes.
Watts says democracy is non-negotiable.
"Elected representatives are accountable to their communities, and voting rights should reflect that."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Simon Watts: Local Government Minister stands by comments directed at Auckland mayor Wayne Brown

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/3999dc66-c018-436f-80a1-b4c600753c3a/transcript

Oranga Tamariki repeatedly dismissed concerns about Tom Phillips' children - before he fled for a second time into the Marokopa bushland.

A four-year police hunt for them ended when Phillips was shot dead last year. 

An inquiry's laid bare numerous failures, including a lack of coordination between Oranga Tamariki and the police. 

Two months before Phillips took off the second time, the Ministry told the Family Court the children were fine in his care. 
 
Chief executive Amanda Malu says Oranga Tamariki didn't provide all the information it had - partly because the social worker was still compiling it.

LISTEN ABOVE

Oranga Tamariki repeatedly dismissed concerns about Tom Phillips' children - before he fled for a second time into the Marokopa bushland.
A four-year police hunt for them ended when Phillips was shot dead last year.&nbsp;
An inquiry's laid bare numerous failures, including a lack of coordination between Oranga Tamariki and the police.&nbsp;
Two months before Phillips took off the second time, the Ministry told the Family Court the children were fine in his care.&nbsp; &nbsp; Chief executive Amanda Malu says Oranga Tamariki didn't provide all the information it had - partly because the social worker was still compiling it.
LISTEN ABOVE

Amanda Malu: Oranga Tamariki chief executive unpacks findings from Tom Phillips inquiry

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/53de90de-53e3-4380-bc7e-b4c6006e1701/transcript

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on Labour underperforming in latest poll

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