Election 2026: The Front Bench
A political panel podcast from Newstalk ZB covering the lead-up to New Zealand's 2026 general election. Hosts Heather du Plessis-Allan, Barry Soper, Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson debate the major issues, policies and campaign developments as they unfold. The format is rapid-fire and highly opinionated, with no topic declared off limits. Episodes offer sharp, partisan give-and-take rather than neutral reporting, aimed at listeners who follow New Zealand politics closely.
Episodes
The Front Bench: The lack of vision from our political parties
Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, Sherson Willis' Trish Sherson and Childfund CEO Josie Pagani have the insight and analysis as the campaign rolls on. This week on The Front Bench, Heather asks the panel whether they think the campa
The Front Bench: Predictable policy and the rising star of Barbara Edmonds
Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, Sherson Willis' Trish Sherson and Childfund CEO Josie Pagani have the insight and analysis as the campaign rolls on. In the first edition of The Front Bench for Election 2026, the panel gives their
Election 2026: The Front Bench
Election 2026 is set to be one of the most important in recent memory. To cut through the spin – join Newstalk ZB’s The Front Bench to get to the heart of the issues that matter most. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Barry Soper, Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson thrash out the big political issues in the lead up to Election 2026. There's no holding back, no topic off limits, and no rules in th
The Front Bench: Could we be facing a second election?
Every Monday until the election, The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. This week the The Spinoff’s Editor-at-Large Toby Manhire steps in for Barry Soper. Our exp
The Front Bench: What does Chris Hipkins' Covid diagnosis mean for the campaign?
Every Monday until the election, The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. This week, the The Spinoff’s Editor-at-Large Toby Manhire steps in for Barry Soper. Our ex
The Front Bench: Luxon confirmed he'll work with Peters- could National lose support?
Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. This week, the Executive Director of the Taxpayer’s Union Jordan Williams steps in for Barr
The Front Bench: Will hecklers be a problem for the rest of the campaign?
Every Monday until the election, The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. This week, NZME Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie steps in for Barry Soper. The panel discuss
Watch: The Front Bench- ACT playing hardball with National
Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. The Act Party has thrown a potential cat amongst the pigeons by threatening it may only ent
The Front Bench: Attack ads already being published- could this be the most negative campaign yet?
Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. The attack ads are already being published, with the CTU going after Chris Luxon on the f
Election 2023: The Front Bench podcast
Election 2023 is set to be one of the most important in recent memory. To cut through the spin – join Newstalk ZB’s The Front Bench to get to the heart of the issues that matter most. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Barry Soper, Phil O’Reilly and Richard Hills thrash out the big political issues in the lead up to Election 2023. There's no holding back, no topic off limits, and no rules in this rapid-
The Front Bench - Post-election analysis
Labour's number two Kelvin Davis is getting strong backing for the job of Deputy Prime Minister, even from those in other political parties.The Māori Party's Rawiri Waititi, who has very likely secured the party's comeback seat in Parliament, says he would expect "nothing less" than for Davis to be appointed Deputy Prime Minister.Speaking of the wider Labour caucus, he says Māoridom will be expect
The Front Bench - October 12th 2020
There are just five days to go until Election Day, and things are heating up on the campaign trail!Tune in today for the final Front Bench - Heather du Plessis-Allan, Barry Soper, Trish Sherson and Chris Carter thrash out the big political issues in the lead up to Vote 2020. There is no holding back, no topic off limits, and no rules in this rapid-fire, highly opinionated election podcast.In today
The Front Bench - October 5th 2020
Heather du Plessis-Allan, Barry Soper, Trish Sherson and Chris Carter thrash out the big political issues in the lead up to Vote 2020. There's no holding back, no topic off limits, and no rules in this rapid-fire, highly opinionated election podcast.National leader Judith Collins has gone to great lengths to make sure people understand she is a woman of faith. Things ramped up yesterday when Colli
The Front Bench - September 28th 2020
Join Heather du Plessis-Allan, Barry Soper, Trish Sherson and Chris Carter thrash out the big political issues in the lead up to Vote 2020. There's no holding back, no topic off limits, and no rules in this rapid-fire, highly opinionated election podcast.This week, the panel discusses the polls and what they mean for Judith Collins and National, Winston Peter's Orewa speech, and Labour's pledge to
The Front Bench - September 21st 2020
National's momentum has slowed after its $4 billion blunder.The Party's promise to claw back $19.1 billion by ending Super Fund contributions was wrong - because Treasury's Pre-election Economic and Fiscal Update only showed $15 billion.National Finance spokesperson Paul Goldsmith called it an "irritating mistake".Bu NewstalkZB Political Editor Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's more t
The Front Bench: September 14th
Catch live action of the second instalment of The Front Bench. Every Monday until the election, The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign.Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB political editor Barry Soper, PR whizz and former Act Party press secretary Trish Sherson and former Labour Party minister Chris Carter have the insight word and analysis. There's no h
The Front Bench - September 7th 2020
Labour is backing calls to make Matariki a public holiday.It would work out a winter date starting in 2022, to celebrate our national identity, cultures and traditions - and boost tourism and hospitality.Waitangi Day was the last public holiday introduced - nearly 50 years ago.Matariki - which heralds the start of the Maori New Year - would take the number of public holidays in New Zealand to 12 -
Vote 2020: The Front Bench
Heather du Plessis-Allan, Barry Soper, Trish Sherson and Chris Carter thrash out the big political issues in the lead up to Vote 2020. There's no holding back, no topic off limits, and no rules in this rapid-fire, highly opinionated election podcast.Listen live every Monday at 4pm on Newstalk ZB and subscribe to the podcast on iHeartRadio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
