ACROSS THE SPECTRUM
Duncan Greive and Toby Manhire detail the raft of political shows on TV.
Most New Zealanders, as John Key was fond of calling them, would very likely be shocked and appalled to discover that our politics shows run just about all year, every year. Irrespective of the election cycle, or whether the House is sitting or whether anything remotely interesting has happened, they carry on cranking out the content into some of the deepest, darkest non-prime-time slots in New Zealand broadcasting.
Yet here we are, just 76 days out from the polls opening, and there’s a chance even those who whose gag reflex is triggered by phrases such as “state services commissioner” or “supplementary order paper” will reluctantly attempt to haul themselves up to speed on the issues. To help, here’s a whistlestop introduction to New Zealand’s current crop of political TV shows, from boozy veteran Back Benches to the just-born Banter.
The Nation
Three, Saturday morning What’s the vibe? A smorgasbord of politics, its dishes include juicy longform interviews, slowcooked field reports, a shot of satire and (this food analogy isn’t working is it?) a just-too-small portion of panel discussion for dessert. Host appeal? High. Lisa Owen has zero tolerance for blandishments and her subjects squirm mightily as a result. She’s supported by Paddy Gower in a more chilled out role than we see him on the f***in’ news (which is still not that chilled out) and reporting from the likes of Mike Wesley-Smith, whose brilliant piece on families living in cars changed the political agenda last year.
Most likely to hear? “Please answer the question, minister.” Politician the show most resembles: Grant Robertson: Been around long enough to know what it’s doing but not so long that you’re sick of it.
Q+A
TVNZ1, Sunday morning What’s the vibe? If The Nation feels a bit like Saturday morning sport, Q+A isa gentler start to Sunday, dunking the shortbread into the tea. The panel discussions,