Debates, billionaires, the latest policy drop and strategic voting

This week on Both Sides Now, we’re breaking down the election debates, the latest policy drops, and whether strategic voting could shake up the election.

We kick things off with the debates: did Winston Peters come out on top in the kingmakers’ showdown and was a relatively uneventful performance actually a win for Luxon? Plus, the NZ Herald’s Future of NZ debate gets a big tick from us — if you watch one debate this election, make it this one.

On the policy front, National wants to drug test beneficiaries and tighten the rules around Jobseeker, ACT wants to scrap tax on KiwiSaver earnings, Labour is promising a 10% student loan write-off, and the Greens are pitching cheaper public transport and a return of passenger rail. Meanwhile, Winston Peters is back stirring the pot on conversion therapy and abortion.

And finally, could strategic voting change the game on the right? With National and Labour polling much closer than we’ve come to expect, the old rules around electorate and party votes might not apply this time around. We unpack what it means, who could benefit, and whether voters will need a strategy of their own come election day.

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