At a local level, huge rates increases were a burden for many councils, while Wellington Council had the unfortunate honour of having a Crown Observer appointed.
Today on The Front Page, we’re revisiting some of our interviews with top politicians from central and local government as we look back on the year that was.
This year saw a major change for the Green Party, with Chlöe Swarbrick being named co-leader in March.
Her rapid rise to become the youngest current party leader in New Zealand comes a little over six years since she entered Parliament, and seven years since she made national headlines for running for the Auckland mayoralty.
The Front Page spoke to her about what her plans were when she took over the reins.
Another young politician’s meteoric rise to the top also can’t go unnoticed.
The Act Party now has a record 11 MPs in Parliament – and for the first time, holds two electorate seats.
And, leader David Seymour will become Deputy Prime Minister as part of his party’s coalition deal with National and NZ First.
He’ll step into the role at the end of May next year.
In March, The Front Page spoke to Seymour about the Government’s first 100 days – and what the future holds for his time in Parliament.
Among the Government’s top priorities straight off the bat was improving New Zealand’s education system.
In May, Education Minister Erica Stanford announced plans to refocus education around a teaching style called, “structured literacy”.
The Front Page spoke to Stanford at the end of a big week in her portfolio, with a nationwide cellphone ban on its way and new priorities for education in New Zealand being unveiled.
Regional development has been a major focus of the coalition Government.
The Fast-Track Bill, the return of oil and gas exploration and the Regional Infrastructure Fund are all promised to get work back to the regions and help them thrive.
The man running the show is the so-called Matua of Mining and Prince of the Provinces, Shane Jones
He’s the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Regional Development, and Resources – and he’s promised there’s not an endangered frog or a surfing hippie that’s going to get in his way.
Jones in November discussed with The Front Page his plans for the regions, and whether you can fight climate change at the same time as backing provincial New Zealand.
In November, the country saw the biggest protest march to Parliament in New Zealand’s history.
The Auckland Bridge swayed under the weight of thousands of marchers taking part in the hīkoi, in protest against Government policies impacting Maori, including the Treaty Principles Bill.
Te Pāti Māori led the charge against the Government, notably with a viral haka in Parliament during the Bill’s first reading that garnered global attention.
The party’s co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, joined The Front Page to discuss the hīkoi, that viral haka, and why they are fighting back so strongly against this Government.
Local councils weren’t immune to scandal this year, with issues at Wellington City Council prompting government intervention.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis called it a “shambles”, and Local Government Minister Simeon Brown appointed a Crown Observer.
It was all after councillors in October voted not to sell the council’s 34% stake in Wellington Airport – which was a fundamental of its original long-term plan.
The move put more pressure on Mayor Tory Whanau - who refused to stand down – but it also sparked debate around whether the bar is too low for the Government to intervene.
In October, The Front Page spoke to Jim Palmer, a consultant who chaired the Review into the Future for Local Government, to discuss the issues at our council tables.
Auckland’s Mayor Wayne Brown has never shied away from telling us exactly what he thinks ...
He waged war on council-controlled organisations with proposals to abolish them altogether and bring their activities in-house.
And he’s never shied away from voicing his concerns around Auckland Transport.
Since The Front Page caught up with Brown at the end of October, he and Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced AT would be “surgically changed” - with transport policy, strategy, and planning to move to Auckland Council.
And, just last week, the curtain came down on Eke Panuku, with councillors voting to abolish it.
They also voted to strip Tātaki Auckland Unlimited of its economic development role.
The changes are planned to come into effect in July next year.
Both local and central government felt the loss of Efeso Collins this year, described as a “man of the people”.
In February, the former Auckland councillor turned Green MP died suddenly after participating in a charity event.
Thousands of mourners turned out to pay tribute to – mourners packed out a South Auckland venue to pay their respects to a man who was known for his love of people.
The Front Page spoke to Vaimoana Mase, the editor of the Herald’s Pasifika section, Talanoa, at the time to talk about the outpouring of grief and love, for the late Fa’anānā Efeso Collins
Listen to the full episode to hear the compilation of the year that was New Zealand politics.
The Front Page is a daily news podcast from the New Zealand Herald, available to listen to every weekday from 5am. The podcast is presented by Chelsea Daniels, an Auckland-based journalist with a background in world news and crime/justice reporting who joined NZME in 2016.
You can follow the podcast at iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
