Cross Party Lines
A weekly podcast about the political landscape in New Zealand and around the world. Proudly going beyond the headlines, looking at the structural challenges, challenging the status quo and explaining our place in the complex geopolitical stage. Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson.
Episodes
Death Threats, Half Truths and Resignations
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns with twelve days to go — early voting open, the rolls closed, and the campaign entering its most consequential stretch. This week: the threat to politicians’ personal safety, the Labour candidate stood down over the gang visit, a Future Generations Commissioner that Chris is openly evangelical about, and New Zealand First’s $71 bil
Missteps, Missing Plans and Three Weeks to Go (Episode 50)
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines reaches its 50th episode — just over a year in, and with an audience that has grown beyond either man expected. They mark the occasion the way they mark everything: with a tribute, a historical detour, and absolutely no let-up on the campaign. Three weeks out from election day, there’s too much to get through.Thanks to Frank Risk Managemen
Mean Policies, Hapless Lists and the Midterms Closing In
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines battles on with Phil broadcasting through a lurgy picked up on the flight home from Australia — it’s an episode that moves from the campaign’s most mean-spirited policies to OIA reform, a hilariously hapless New Zealand First list, and the American midterms closing in on the Republicans like a freight train.All thanks to Frank Risk Managem
Hollow Promises, Billionaire Games and the Brexit Reckoning
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines opens with a tribute to former Speaker Adrian Rurawhe — a man of great humility, dignity and genuine cross-party respect — before turning to the final sprint of the election campaign: empty promises from every direction, billionaires gaming the electoral system, the minor parties’ kingmaker debate, and a Burnham bounce that might finally p
Empty Seats, Dirty Work and Blue Waves
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns to dissect party launches, Nicky Hager’s latest book, the US midterms and the Xi-Trump summit that produced two pandas and precisely nothing else.Proudly supported by our Foundational Partner Frank Risk Management - the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* Party launches: Labour’s energy versus National’s empty sea
Policy Overload, Debt and Disorder
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns for a week of policy overload, parliamentary chaos, and language in the House that both men thought they’d never hear. With 46 days to go, the episode cuts through the confetti of promises to ask which ones are serious, which are wacky and which are simply dishonest.Thanks to Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi Owned Insurance Bro
9/11, Campaign Chaos and Rogue Machines
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines marks the 25th anniversary of September 11 with a deeply personal account of the night the world changed — and then turns to an election campaign generating more heat than light and an AI warning that even the people building it are frightened by.All thanks to our foundational partner Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi Owned Insurance Br
Vacuum in the Pacific and Lies on the Billboards (Live at WORD Christchurch)
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines takes to the stage at The Piano in Christchurch for a sold out live episode that opens with a tribute to the resilience of Cantabrians and closes with a plea to get on the electoral roll before 25 October. In between: the Pacific being carved up by superpowers, an election campaign built on little lies and big lies, and the strategic quest
Tax Lies, Perverse Pay Packets and Social Media Meltdowns
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns in a week dominated by tax promises nobody can keep, a CEO pay packet that defies all decency and a rare moment of cross-party agreement on social media and children that both men want to see survive the campaign.All thanks to Frank Risk Management - the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage and proudly the foundational partner of Cr
Hospital Crisis, Dirty Money and Trumps Midterm Nightmare
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns to its usual programming for an episode that is almost entirely about the health of democracy itself: in New Zealand’s hospitals, in its political donation system, in its local body elections and in the United States with 74 days to go.Thanks to Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage. Get more info at frankr
Live Q&A: New Zealand's Greatest Mistake, the Foreshore Lie and Who's Worst
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with special guests Helen Clark and Tracey Martin, this bonus episode brings together the questions from the live Q&A sessions at both the Auckland Q Theatre and Wellington Hannah Playhouse shows.All thanks to Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.The audience asks, the panel answers:* What was New Zealand’s biggest missed political
Penk, Peters and Citizens Arrests (LIVE with Tracey Martin)
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines goes live at the Hannah Playhouse in Wellington — sold out in a week — with a very special guest: Tracey Martin, former deputy leader of New Zealand First, former Minister for Seniors and Children, and current CEO of the Aged Care Association.An episode that moves from the psychodrama of National’s leadership crisis to the slow-motion cris
Numpties, Captains Calls and the Populist Menace (LIVE with Helen Clark)
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines goes live at Q Theatre in Auckland — with a very special guest: the Right Honourable Helen Clark, former Prime Minister, former UNDP Administrator and member of The Elders.An episode that moves from a government having a terrible week to the West Bank, and doesn’t pull a single punch along the way.All thanks to Frank Risk Management, the 1
Peters' Dying Light, Data Debate and Disappearing Commissioners
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that opens on Winston Peters telling a Green MP to go back to his own country and calling China’s leaders liars — and asks why the Prime Minister is applying a different standard to racism than he did to sexism.Proudly brought to you by Frank Risk Management, the 100% kiwi-owned insurance brokerage. Find out more at
Double Standards, Tariff Hypocrisy and Parliament on the Clock
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns to a week that generated more podcast fallout than any episode before it — the Stuart Nash story broke on this show — and moves through Trump’s forced labour tariffs, the Iran quagmire and a parliamentary endgame that Phil and Chris think is being handled badly.All thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management - the 100
Shock Jocks, Bin Faces and the Destruction of Legacy
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns with a week so packed it barely fits into an hour — Paul Henry joins ACT, Andy Burnham becomes Britain’s fourth Prime Minister in five years, Farage faces a comedian with a bin on his head, and back home, the government’s RMA and consent law moves prompt one of Chris’s angriest moments yet.Thanks to Frank Risk Management, the 100%
Red Carpets, Empty Roads and Pacific Diplomacy
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines opens with a tribute to Sam Neill — actor, environmentalist and proud New Zealander. Then it’s into a packed episode that moves from Modi’s visit to Pacific power plays, and closes with a verdict on the Roads of National Significance that is not kind.Thanks to our Foundational Partner, Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance b
Pacific Missiles, Zombie Candidates and Unpopular Anniversaries
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines opens with breaking news — a Chinese missile test heading for the South Pacific — before working through a packed episode that moves from America at 250 to Brexit at 10, and closes with a forensic dissection of New Zealand Firsts increasingly chaotic behaviour inside the coalition.Thanks to our foundational partner Frank Risk Management, t
Trade Skills, Clean Energy and Opportunities Up
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines goes fully domestic this week — a weekend of wall-to-wall policy announcements gives the panel plenty to work with, a centrist party is suddenly polling close to the threshold, and a government that spent three years going hard on conservation and fisheries has quietly started walking backwards.All thanks to Frank Risk Management, the 100%
Wasted Millions, Starmer Sacrificed and Cross Party KiwiSaver (?)
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns for a policy-heavy episode — a weekend of conference announcements, party platforms and pre-election positioning gives Phil and Chris more material than they can get through in an hour, and they try anyway.All thanks to Frank Risk Management, our foundational partner and the 100% kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* $32
Trumps War, Commuter Policy and Missing Money
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns for an episode that moves from the Iran peace deal to the election campaign taking shape around them.And all thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi Owned Insurance Brokerage.In this episode:* The Iran deal — incomplete, expensive and Trump’s to own — A purported peace deal between the US, Israel an
Beijing, Buried Emails and Telling America Where to Go
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines welcomes Phil back from China with a packed episode that moves from the streets of Beijing to the corridors of Parliament — and closes with a sharp verdict on American politicians who can’t stop telling other countries what to do.Thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this epis
Budget In, Stuart Out — and Is Australia Actually Better?
Hosted by Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines welcomes a familiar face from across the Tasman, special guest co-host Annette King — beaming in from Sydney while Phil is in China.All thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management. The 100% kiwi owned insurance brokerage.🎟 Live shows — Auckland 8 August, Wellington 12 August. Podcast listeners get pre-sale access. Head to tapliveevents.com
Cuts, Culture Wars and the Cost of a Frigate
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines dive into a budget week episode that is almost entirely domestic: 8,700 public service jobs cut, state house rents going up, culture war bills clogging Parliament, and a defence announcement both men broadly welcome but want to interrogate.Cross Party Lines is made possible by Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.
Budgets, Basics and Bilaterals
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns — fresh off the stage at Featherston — for an episode that opens with a tribute to one of New Zealand’s greatest legal minds and moves through a week of elections, populist tremors and an education debate that has been going around in circles since the 1990s.Thanks to Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.I
Question Time: Live from Booktown (Bonus)
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, this is a special bonus episode of Cross Party Lines — the live Q&A from the Featherston Booktown Festival, released separately so nothing from that remarkable afternoon gets left on the cutting room floor. Before the questions, Sam takes the temperature of the 400-strong room with four quick audience polls.The audience then takes over:* Could the Opportuni
Amalgamation, Press Release Policy and the Populist Threat (Live From Booktown)
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines goes live for the first time — recorded on stage at the Featherston Booktown Festival, with Sam Collins moderating one final time before he heads to the campaign trail as Labour’s North Shore candidate.All thanks to our foundational partner Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* Council amalgamatio
Coalition Sabotage, Demographic Bombs and a King Conquers Congress
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 Peter
Caucus Chaos and the King of Soft Power
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that moves from caucus chaos to media warfare — and lands on the most delicate diplomatic mission of the year: King Charles III heading to Washington to deal with Trump.Thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management. The 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* Luxon’s confidence vote — solve
War Heroes, Caucus Plots and All Black Flops
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 insura
New Candidates, Old Scores and Orbán's Defeat
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines marks a milestone this week — Sam Collins signs off as moderator after announcing he is standing as the Labour candidate for North Shore. Thanks to our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management.In this episode:* James Christmas and the Tāmaki question — The panel turns to Tāmaki, where James Christmas — described by Chri
Cabinet Demotions, Grand Coalitions and Rocket Science
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 insur
Small Print, Big Threats and the Fight For Tāmaki
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that moves from the murky obligations of a joint statement to the foundations of democracy itself — and finishes with a close read of the parliamentary chessboard ahead of the election. Made possible by Frank Risk Management, the 100% Kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* The Strait of Ho
Diesel, Debt and Democracy
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,
Reshuffles, Refineries and Royal Commissions
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that sweeps from the parliamentary pecking order to the Strait of Hormuz — and lands on a question New Zealand still hasn’t answered about its own pandemic past. Proudly supported by our foundational partner, Frank Risk Management, the 100% kiwi owned insurance brokerage.In this episode:* Party resh
Those Polls, That War and the Return of Inflation
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 —
Homelessness, Local Power and War in Iran
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that moves from homelessness policy at home to war and international law abroad.There may be many headlines this week — but there is really one global story dominating the conversation.In this episode:* Move On Laws and rough sleeping — Are proposed “move on” powers a practical response to visible h
Infrastructure, Brain Drains and Dog Whistles
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 epis
Māori Seats, Ministry Cuts and Election-Year Inquiries
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines returns with an episode that moves from minor party positioning to the power of inquiries, and ends with a timely reflection on civility in public life.Recorded against the backdrop of severe storms in the lower North Island, the episode opens with a renewed call for cross-party cooperation on climate adaptation — before t
Waitangi Wrap Up, Nuclear Risk and Mandelson's Fall From Grace (Again)
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 t
Judith's New Job, Waitangi Avoidance and Modern Slavery Legislation
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines returns with a grounded, institutional-focused episode that looks at how democracy works when it’s doing its job — and where it still needs strengthening.This week’s conversation centres on law, legitimacy, national rituals and rare moments of bipartisan progress.In this week’s episode:Judith Collins and the Law Commission
Climate Tragedy, Global Disorder and Election Year Kicks Off
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 hu
30 Years of MMP, Reshuffle Season and Old Politicians
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines unpacks New Zealand Politics so that you don’t have too.Recorded slightly earlier than usual (Saturday 17th January), this episode is designed to age well — focusing on some age old issues and questions.In this episode:* 30 years of MMP — As New Zealand marks three decades under Mixed Member Proportional representation, Ch
2026 Policy Wishlists, International Predictions and Election Thoughts
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 polici
The Best, the Worst and the Terrible of 2025
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson with Sam Collins, Cross Party Lines closes out 2025 by stepping back from the weekly headlines and taking stock of a year that felt frenetic, unsettled and politically revealing.This episode is a wide-ranging end-of-year review — part reflection, part reckoning — as the panel looks at what genuinely mattered in politics over the past twelve months.In this ep
Effective Campaigning, Winston's Coalition Politics and Respect Across The Aisle (The Q&A Episode)
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
Trumps America, RMA Reform (Again) and Balancing Voter Rights and Responsibility
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 Secur
Police Culture, Wishful Climate Policy and TPU vs Nicola Willis
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 o
Regional Council Chaos, Tax Promises and Party Conferences
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 groun
KiwiSaver Policy, Leadership Wobbles and Trumpian Shifts
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 l
Winston Breaks Rank and Why 'Boring' Legislation Matters
Hosted by Sam Collins, Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines breaks down the week in New Zealand politics from both sides of the aisle - with clarity, context and a little humour.In this week’s episode:* Winston Peters breaks ranks — Why the Deputy PM is publicly contradicting his own coalition, what’s driving it, and what the Cabinet Manual has to say about it.* The McSkimming scandal
*BONUS EP* Australia's Forgotten Constitutional Coup
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
How do we deal with Homelessness and Is Bi-partisan Policy dead?
Hosted by Sam Collins with Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cross Party Lines unpacks the week in New Zealand politics from both sides of the aisle - minus the noise. Each episode tackles three or four stories shaping the country, with insider context you won’t get from the daily outrage cycle.In Episode 2:* “Move-on” powers & homelessness - What Minister Paul Goldsmith’s proposal actually does, why
Labour's Secret Tax Weapon and Te Pāti Māori's Civil War
In our first episode, Phil, Chris and Sam tackle:* The implosion inside Te Pāti Māori — is this the end of the party as we know it?* Labour’s Capital Gains Tax — why fairness, timing, and communication could define the next election.* Prince Andrew and the Monarchy — what the UK’s royal reckoning means for New Zealand’s constitutional future.Hosted by Sam Collins, Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson, Cr
Cross Party Lines Trailer
Cross Party Lines is a weekly podcast about the political landscape in New Zealand and around the world. Proudly going beyond the headlines, looking at the structural challenges, challenging the status quo and explaining our place in the complex geopolitical stage.New Episodes every Tuesday.Follow: instagram.com/crosspartylines/https://www.tiktok.com/@crosspartylineshttps://www.youtube.com/@CrossP
