Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: You know what's ironic about Hipkins' State of the Nation speech?

Listening to Chris Hipkins' State of the Nation speech today, I found it really hard to take him seriously.

The speech was mostly just a list of things wrong with the country right now, most of which anyone who can remember back five, six, seven years, knows were caused by him, Grant, Jacinda and Adrian Orr.

NZCPR Newsletter: State of the Nation 2026

As we begin the final year of the National, ACT, New Zealand First Coalition’s first term of Government, it is instructive to look back at the commitments they made when first elected.

At that time the country faced significant challenges as a result of six years of mismanagement by Labour – firstly under the direction of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and then Chris Hipkins.

Clive Bibby: The good, the bad and the ugly

I am a Clint Eastwood fan and have enjoyed most of his western and bad cop movies - including masterpieces like Unforgiven, In the Line of Fire and the Dirty Harry series.

But most of all l just love the indomitable spirit that emerges from each character he plays.

So, given he is 97 and about to ride off into the sunset, this is my humble way of saying thanks for the memories.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Richard Chambers just reminded us of how good we have it here

I'm gonna say thank you to the Police Commissioner, Richard Chambers, for maybe reminding us to be grateful for what we have.

He gave an interview to the Herald today and he said he thinks there is a fair bit of punching down on New Zealand going on at the moment. And he thinks that's unfair.

He says: "With the world going a little crazy, I count us lucky that we are where we are."

John Raine: Better Times 2027 – Vision or Hallucination?

Imagine for a few minutes that it is late 2027 and things have miraculously taken a turn for the better. Here goes…………

Economic and social progress was sufficient in its first term for the Christopher Luxon-led coalition government to be re-elected in 2026. The Act Party, still pressing for a nationwide constitutional discussion, secured 16% of the vote and were needed at the table, which with National’s 37%, and NZ First retained in the team at 7%, gave the Coalition a strong mandate. Labour suffered even more than expected at the polls through the extreme policy demands of its expected Green and Te Pati Māori partners around taxes, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) agendas, and policies beneficial to Māori but not to other New Zealanders.

Clive Bibby: Running on empty

While it is too early to determine if the Government has always acted in our best interests since it was elected 12 months ago, only time will tell.

 As a supporter, I would certainly hope so but one gets the feeling that the job turning the ship of state around is becoming too much for even the most capable ministers - such was the task given the state of the nation’s books at the change of government.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: We're justified in feeling gloomy about the state of NZ

Pattrick Smellie, who has been a regular contributor to this show, is back from his long European sabbatical - and he reckons we need to cheer up in New Zealand.

He's written a piece for BusinessDesk saying that the headlines he’s seeing here at home suggest we’re as miserable as we were back in the early 1990s during Ruth Richardson's recession.

Paul Henry: "I think this country is deeply in the sh*t."

Infectiously funny, thoughtful and passionate Guest Speaker Paul Henry delivers his address at ACT's annual rally, Change Makers.

Barrie Davis: State of the Nation Rant

We have had a 180 degree change of Government at the election after the previous regime pursued an unrealistic ideology financed by tax and borrow, with the primary architects leaving politics and a nation in recession. Their delusion, deception and propaganda were enough to make Putin blush: never in the history of political poncey-toggling has so much balderdash been said to so many by so few. And we fell for it sufficient to vote them in for a second term. While the celebration continued in pursuit of vibrancy, equity and gratification, the country is bankrupt of purpose, ethics and means, as it spirals to somewhere between Samoa and South Africa.

Kate Hawkesby: What Luxon did right in his State of the Nation, was to remind us of all the wastefulness of this government

I think what Luxon did right in his State of the Nation, was to remind us of all the wastefulness of this government. 

One of the things I worry about is that we have short memories; you know come October 14th do we still remember MIQ, inaccessibility to RAT tests, multiple lockdowns, or thousands of cancelled surgeries? Do people still care – or will they have they moved on by then?