New Zealand politics has been a whirlwind this year with RBNZ drama, Te Pati Māori's meltdown, the Treaty principles bill, and local body elections.

2026 will be another big year in New Zealand politics as parties gear up for the general election which will take place sometime in the second half of the year. 

Political correspondent Thomas Coughlan share shares with Francesca Rudkin with predictions of strategies and successes. 

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New Zealand politics has been a whirlwind this year with RBNZ drama, Te Pati Māori's meltdown, the Treaty principles bill, and local body elections.
2026 will be another big year in New Zealand politics as parties gear up for the general election which will take place sometime in the second half of the year.&nbsp;
Political correspondent Thomas Coughlan share shares with Francesca Rudkin with predictions of strategies and successes.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Politics with Thomas Coughlan: What the final week of politics for the year tells us about election 2026

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/0e4a0dba-ac37-4d5b-8775-b3b9016b9ab9/transcript

Pike River: Actress Melanie Lynskey reveals why the story needed to be told

New Zealanders will get an insight into the Pike River tragedy that continues to be felt by relatives - and on the West Coast.

A film based on the 2010 explosion that took the lives of 29 men is being released in New Zealand this week.

Starring Kiwi actresses Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, it tells the true story of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse's fight for justice.

Lynskey says it was important for the men to be remembered as individuals.

"Anyone who's had a loved one be a victim of something that becomes a national tragedy - I do think that the person that you loved, that was the most important person in your entire world, becomes kinda faceless."

LISTEN ABOVE

<h2>Pike River: Actress Melanie Lynskey reveals why the story needed to be told</h2>
New Zealanders will get an insight into the Pike River tragedy that continues to be felt by relatives - and on the West Coast.
A film based on the 2010 explosion that took the lives of 29 men is being released in New Zealand this week.
Starring Kiwi actresses Melanie Lynskey and Robyn Malcolm, it tells the true story of Anna Osborne and Sonya Rockhouse's fight for justice.
Lynskey says it was important for the men to be remembered as individuals.
"Anyone who's had a loved one be a victim of something that becomes a national tragedy - I do think that the person that you loved, that was the most important person in your entire world, becomes kinda faceless."
LISTEN ABOVE

Best of 2025: Melanie Lynskey discusses the release of Pike River on the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d1c3d432-3719-48d1-b82b-b3bc002977d7/transcript

Director Paul Feig joined Francesca Rudkin to chat about his new movie, coming to cinemas on Boxing Day, titled The Housemaid. 

Previously Feig has directed Bridesmaids (2011), A Simple Favour (2018), and Last Christmas (2019), along with a number of episodes of The Office. 

The Housemaid is a drama / thriller, based off the Freida McFadden book of the same name, following a struggling woman as she starts over as a housemaid for a wealthy couple.

LISTEN ABOVE

Director Paul Feig joined Francesca Rudkin to chat about his new movie, coming to cinemas on Boxing Day, titled The Housemaid.&nbsp;
Previously Feig has directed Bridesmaids (2011), A Simple Favour (2018), and Last Christmas (2019), along with a number of episodes of The Office.&nbsp;
The Housemaid is a drama / thriller, based off the Freida McFadden book of the same name, following a struggling woman as she starts over as a housemaid for a wealthy couple.
LISTEN ABOVE

Paul Feig: Bridesmaids director on his new film The Housemaid

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/d5c0602c-7c70-460a-b908-b3ba0022fe76/transcript

Now that the GDP has been released, was the Reserve Bank decision to hold interest rates the right one?

Should the rapidly growing streaming industry pay tax in New Zealand?

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Now that the GDP has been released, was the Reserve Bank decision to hold interest rates the right one?
Should the rapidly growing streaming industry pay tax in New Zealand?
LISTEN ABOVE

The Panel with Liam Hehir and Irene Gardiner: Domination of streaming services, and reflecting on economic decisions

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/9bf60853-ed4b-4bcf-8234-b3b90189e56c/transcript

Politics with Thomas Coughlan: What the final week of politics for the year tells us about election 2026

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