Down the List
Where does the real power in New Zealand lie?
That’s right, with a bunch of bureaucrats, underlings, officials, and lowly-ranked list MPs that you and I have never heard of. Whether it’s in sport, politics, commerce, education or the arts, the only way to find out what’s really going on in this country is by going... Down The List.
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Down The List for 1 July 2012
1 Jul 2012Getting people off the ACC benefits list seems like a good idea until case managers Malcolm and Jane realise what could happen if they really succeed. Audio
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Down The List for 8 July 2012
8 Jul 2012Television viewers love a good story, especially if it's about murder and violence in a family context and is based on reality. Audio
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Down the List for 15 July 2012
15 Jul 2012A couple of WINZ workers count the real cost of drug testing for beneficiaries. Audio
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Down The List for 22 July 2012
22 Jul 2012Looks at what happens when troublemakers are kept at school. Audio
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Down The List for 29 July 2012
29 Jul 2012It's a real problem for any government to sell the idea of selling state assets. Why not use a professional promotions company? Audio
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Down The List for 5 August 2012
5 Aug 2012An MP is reluctant to commit over the gay marriage bill. Audio
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Down The List for 19 August 2012
19 Aug 2012What are Labour's tactics in opposing the National-led Government? Is it a real tactic to simply hope that National stuffs up so much that it loses the next election? Audio
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Down The List for 26 August 2012
26 Aug 2012Funding potholes in the plan for Roads of National Significance. Audio
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Down The List for 2 September 2012
2 Sep 2012National List MP Simon Rogers-Flaccid struggles to get his head around child poverty. Audio
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Down the List for 9 September 2012
9 Sep 2012The Americans can't understand our Prime Minister's accent. We might have to help them or things could go very wrong in the Pacific. Audio
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Down the List for 16 September 2012
16 Sep 2012Ezekiel and his devoted wife have decided to take advantage of the government's 'charter schools' initiative. Audio
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Down the List for 23 September 2012
23 Sep 2012In an attempt to save money, government departments are cutting staff. But when some of the departing staff turn up as highly-paid consultants, where are the savings? Audio
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Down the List for 30 September 2012
30 Sep 2012What a mess the whole Kim Dotcom spying affair is. Who knew what when and who knew nothing? Who told what to whom and when? Why weren't key people told? It's a can of worms. Audio
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Down the List for 7 October 2012
7 Oct 2012A surprise plan to close a number of Christchurch schools has left that already traumatised community reeling from a different sort of aftershock. Audio
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Down the List for 14 October 2012
14 Oct 2012John Key is making a quick visit to Hollywood to see if he can drum up more film business for New Zealand. Two Hollywood studio moguls make plans for his visit. Audio
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Down the List for 21 October 2012
21 Oct 2012Why, despite warnings about a problem, was no urgent action taken to fix the security systems on the WINZ data bases so clients' private details were safe? Audio
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Down The List for 28 October 2012
28 Oct 2012The Labour party are at a bit of a loss to separate themselves from almost anyone on the right. Labour's latest idea to make it more difficult to employ immigrant workers to increase job opportunities… Audio
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Down the List for 4 November 2012
4 Nov 2012A National List MP is struggling to explain how the Housing Package differs from policies put forward by other parties, including Labour. Audio
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Down the List for 11 November 2012
11 Nov 2012The impact of workplace health and safety deregulation is explored following the release of the report of the Pike River Commission of Inquiry. Audio
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Down The List for 18 November 2012
18 Nov 2012Local tourism operators attempt to capitalise on the anticipated flow of Hobbit focused tourists. Audio
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Down the List for 25 November 2012
25 Nov 2012Robin Snitcher, Labour List MP, has a stoush with his executive assistant because he believes she is trying to undermine his leadership by changing biscuits. Audio
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Down the List for 2 December 2012
2 Dec 2012The Novopay payroll system from Australia was intended to make the paying of our school teachers work better, but so far it seems to have done the exact opposite. Audio
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Down the List for 9 December 2012
9 Dec 2012In a recent poll, Labour gained three points and David Shearer improved his standings in the preferred-leader polls against John Key. But how? Audio
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Down the List for 16 December 2012
16 Dec 2012Crap FM's crazy morning crew are up to their old tricks doing the prank call routine on Mike's Mad Monday Morning show. Self indulgent, ego driven commercial radio at its best. Audio
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Down the List for 27 January 2013
27 Jan 2013Simon Rogers-Flaccid, National List MP, is trying to figure out what is actually required to be offered a ministerial portfolio in the next cabinet reshuffle. Audio
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Down the List for 3 February 2013
3 Feb 2013Labour List MP Carmen Hack is concerned about David Shearer's affordable homes promise but comes up with an idea that might just keep building costs down. Audio
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Down the List for 10 February 2013
10 Feb 2013If the Maori Party is to move forward and retain it's membership base it has to modernise - it might be that it needs some new, younger faces in the leadership. Audio
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Down the List for 17 February 2013
17 Feb 2013Today New Zealand First is in serious damage control after Richard Prosser suggests banning 'Wogistanis' from flying on Western airlines. Audio
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Down the List for 24 February 2013
24 Feb 2013Sky City's not-too-transparent tendering process leading to a deal with the Govermenment where the Casino gets more pokies and Auckland gets a new convention centre. Audio
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Down the List for 3 March 2013
3 Mar 2013Two impressionable young ACT Party workers try to stay upbeat about the future of the Party and to think of ways to increase its support base from 0.1% to 0.3%. The sky's the limit! Audio
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Down the List for 10 March 2013
10 Mar 2013Bastard Insurance is doing all it can to avoid paying out on claims. After all, insurance is a business not some kind of safety net or welfare scheme! It's about the investors and shareholders. Audio
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Down the List for 17 March 2013
17 Mar 2013Solid Energy is in trouble. Its finances are anything but solid. Who's to blame? The board of Solid Energy? The National Government? Neither party wants to take the fall. Audio
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Down the List for 24 March 2013
24 Mar 2013United Future's Peter Dunne is not getting any support with his revenue raising ideas about taxing perks - certainly not from his coalition boss, John Key. Audio
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Down The List for 31 March 2013
31 Mar 2013The public service continues to suffer cutbacks and this time it's the Department of Conservation. How can staff cutbacks be managed without compromising the care of our environment? Audio
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Down the List for 7 April 2013
7 Apr 2013Where does the real power in New Zealand lie? That's right, with a bunch of bureaucrats, underlings, officials, and lowly-ranked list MPs that you and I have never heard of. Whether it's in sport… Audio
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Down the List for 14 April 2013
14 Apr 2013The GCSB affair is running out of control with accusations of illegal spying explained away as misinterpretation of the law. The solution? Change the law. Audio
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Down the List for 21 April 2013
21 Apr 2013The GCSB affair continues. What might be needed is a bit of clarity about what the organisation is actually allowed to do. Maybe the PM's office can fix that? Audio
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Down the List for 28 April 2013
28 Apr 2013The Greens and Labour put up a united front with a scheme for delivering cheap power to consumers. But how united are they? Audio
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Down the List for 5 May 2013
5 May 2013The Nationals are being accused of cronyism with their appointment of certain people from other fields to high level public service positions - squash champion Susan Devoy is now the Race Relations… Audio
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Down the List for 12 May 2013
12 May 2013An inebriated low-ranked National List MP makes a fool of himself and trouble for John Key by throwing his inconsiderable weight around in a restaurant and threatening the waiter. Audio
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Down the List for 19 May 2013
19 May 2013Sky City Casino gets a couple of hundred new pokie machines and some black-jack tables in exchange for a new international convention centre. Sounds cheap, but what will be the real cost of this… Audio
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Down the List for 26 May 2013
26 May 2013The National Government seems to rate the paying of family carers of the disabled as a low priority -- a 'nice to have'. And it doesn't appreciate being legally challenged on its decisions. Audio
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Down the List for 2 June 2013
2 Jun 2013Two executives, one from Fonterra and one from Sanitarium, meet at a low decile school as the milk and Weetbix arrive for 'the kiddies'. Audio
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Down the List for 9 June 2013
9 Jun 2013The gloves are off in the long run up to the next election. The name calling has started. Maybe it's time The Greens lost their 'nice' image, join the fray and engage in a bit of biffo? Audio
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Down the List for 16 June 2013
16 Jun 2013The anti-fluoride movement has been victorious in convincing the Hamilton council to have a fluoride-free water supply. Wellington is their next target. Audio
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Down The List for 23 June 2013
23 Jun 2013Elected representatives enjoying corporate hospitality is a contentious issue as four labour MP's found recently. Audio
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Down the List for 30 June 2013
30 Jun 2013The Nationals are courting Peter Dunne and Winston Peters as they try to get the GCSB bill over the line. Meanwhile they have done a U-turn on the Auckland rail loop. Audio
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Down the List for 7 July 2013
7 Jul 2013In this, the 50th episode and first birthday edition of Down the List, Mana and the Maori Party attempt to join forces for next year's election. Audio
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Down the List for 7 July 2013
11 Jul 2013The Mana Party and the Maori Party did not fare well in the recent Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election, coming second and third. Should they seriously consider joining forces? Audio
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Down the List for 14 July 2013
14 Jul 2013The Labour Party leaders seem a bit unfocussed. Could it be that Labour's historically 'robust' internal democratic processes simply make them appear indecisive? Audio
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Down the List for 21 July 2013
21 Jul 2013Will the recent welfare reforms even things out and incentivise beneficiaries to put more effort into getting jobs, or will it just add insult to injury for genuine beneficiaries with limited… Audio
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Down The List for 28th July 2013
28 Jul 2013Peter Dunne and John Key prove that politics is indeed the art of compromise. Audio
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Down the List for 4 August 2013
4 Aug 2013First Kim Dotcom and the GCSB, then the attempt to make it all go away with a law change, then the NSC, then Parliamentary Services and the accessing of journalist's 'phone records. Is the head that… Audio
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Down The List for 11 August 2013
11 Aug 2013Fonterra is in damage control after the botulism in the whey it supplies to baby formula manufacturers. Let's hope that there's some way New Zealand's clean-green image can be preserved. Audio
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Down the List for 18 August 2013
18 Aug 2013The Nationals are proposing changes to the child protection strategy that include banning parents who abuse their kids from having more kids, and keeping 'suspect' people away from areas where kids… Audio
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Down the List for 25 August 2013
25 Aug 2013With all the fuss about the GCSB and David Shearer's resignation other important issues seem to have faded -- like the hard-line welfare reforms and the possibility that New Zealand is shirking any… Audio
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Down the List for 1 September 2013
1 Sep 2013David Shearer has bowed out of the Labour leadership. So who is the front runner as his replacement and will the new democratic voting system within the party and its support base ensure the best… Audio
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Down the List for 15 September 2013
15 Sep 2013There are some concerns about the quality and intention of some programming on Maori Television and about its processes for appointing a new CEO. Audio
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Down the List for 22 September 2013
22 Sep 2013State subsidy is no longer a dirty word... if it's going to a major corporate is the new truth for Simon Rogers Flaccid. Audio
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Down the List for 29 September 2013
29 Sep 2013As the renovated and newly amicable David Cunliffe assembles his shadow cabinet of Labour spokespersons some are wondering why they missed out on a place. Audio
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Down the List for 6 October 2013
6 Oct 2013The National goverment announces plans to help a very limited number of low-income, first home buyers to buy old, unoccupied state housing stock in small regional centres. How will this actually help?
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Down the List for 13 October 2013
13 Oct 2013New Zealand has a shocking record in workplace safety in the forestry industry. Is self-regulation by remote overseas owners really going to fix the problem? Audio
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Down the List for 20 October 2013
20 Oct 2013Auckland Mayor Len Brown will need a very good PR company to get him through the extra-marital affair affair. Audio
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Down the List for 27 October 2013
27 Oct 2013The Nationals are not doing brilliantly in the polls. Are they running out of coalition partners? And Auckland is like a life sized game of monopoly. Audio
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Down the List for 3rd November 2013
3 Nov 2013Revelations about Angela Merkel's phone being bugged are explored in a New Zealand context. Audio
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Down the List for 10 November 2013
10 Nov 2013The Black Caps suffered what can only be described as a humiliating defeat in the recent series against Bangladesh. What's the problem? Or is it true that we just aren't very good at cricket and need… Audio
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Down the List for 17 November 2013
17 Nov 2013With Roastbusters fallout continuing questions are being asked about the way the Police deal with rape complainants. Audio
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Down the List for 24 November 2013
24 Nov 2013Considering that the Conservative Party under Colin Craig has not exactly seen eye to eye with Nationals on some important social policies can they really be a possible coalition partner for the… Audio
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Down the List for 1 December 2013
1 Dec 2013Is NZ Football run like a suburban tennis club or a highly professional outfit producing results we can all be proud of? Audio
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Down the List for 8 December 2013
8 Dec 2013John Banks is, at last, preparing to depart the scene over the anonymous donations issue. The Nationals must be starting to worry about their choices for coalition partners. Audio
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Down the List for 15 December 2013
15 Dec 2013Set at the WINZ office Christmas party where WINZ is congratulating itself on a successful year addressing child poverty. Audio
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Down the List for 26 January 2014
26 Jan 2014The intended launch of the new Internet Party at Kim Dotcom's 40th birthday party didn't quite go off with a bang. In fact it didn't go off at all. Audio
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Down the List for 2 February 2014
2 Feb 2014The Nationals and Labour launch into election year with promises about education and a baby bonus. But whose policy came first? And while we're at it, what about a new flag? Audio
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Down the List for 9 February 2014
9 Feb 2014The ACT Party have changed their leadership. Two untried, untested new faces with little or no political experience have taken over. Will it make any difference to ACT's zero polling? Audio
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Down the List for 16 February 2014
16 Feb 2014Government moves to cancel passports of New Zealanders intending to join Syrian freedom fighters is meeting with some criticism. Audio
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Down the List for 23 February 2014
23 Feb 2014Recent revelations that TVNZ premises were used for Labour Party meetings, political bias in the media is a hot topic. Audio
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Down the List for 2 March 2014
2 Mar 2014With Labour making no gains on National, questions are being asked about how committed the team is to supporting the leader. Audio
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Down the List for 9 March 2014
9 Mar 2014Do David Cunliffe's hidden trusts erode the public's trust in Labour? Audio
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Down the List for 16 March 2014
16 Mar 2014Justice Minister Judith Collins is on notice from the PM over a possible conflict of interest issue relating to a taxpayer-funded trip to China. Audio
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Down the List for 23rd March 2014
23 Mar 2014Accusations of financial impropriety at the Kohanga Reo National Trust forces minister Hekia 'u-turn' Parata to send in the Serious Fraud Office. Audio
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Down the List for 30 March 2014
30 Mar 2014Is the Mana Party seriously considering forming an alliance with Kim Dotcom's new Internet party? What do they have in common politically or philosophically? Audio
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Down the List for 6 April 2014
6 Apr 2014With Labour still struggling to gain much traction in the polls the shape of potential coalition groupings are coming into the spotlight. Audio
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Down the List for 13 April 2014
13 Apr 2014Prince William, Kate and wee George are touring. What a great platform for electioneering politicians to display their 'nice guy' side. Audio
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Down the List for 27 April 2014
27 Apr 2014The road to the elections is getting rougher and rougher. The departure of Shane Jones, apparently head-hunted by Murray McCully from the Nationals, leaves a big pothole for Labour. Audio
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Down the List for 4 May 2014
4 May 2014There have been a couple of bumps in the road to the election for the Nationals this week - the about face on the legal highs legislation, and Maurice Williamson's resignation. Audio
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Down the List for 11 May 2014
11 May 2014With Maurice gone and Judith on gardening leave, are National losing their grip on power? Audio
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Down the List for 18 May 2014
18 May 2014The Judith Collins conflict of interest issue has been swamped by the budget. But Winston Peters, from a party that seems to have a scarcity of policy,continues to snipe even when the ammunition seems… Audio
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Down the List for 25 May 2014
25 May 2014Winston is looking a bit queasy under attack from Brendan Horan as the lid comes off the can of worms that is cricket match fixing. Audio
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Down the List for 1 June 2014
1 Jun 2014Well, the unlikely alliance has been struck between what would appear to be two diametrically opposed movements. Enter, in this election year, the Internet Mana Party! Audio
Written by Dave Armstrong and produced by RNZ Drama