Richard Harman and Thomas Coughlan faceoff on MSD, Michael Laws and Moa Point

Publish Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2026, 12:38pm

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It's a political Friday Faceoff this week with esteemed journalist and editor of Politick Richard Harman and NZ Herald Political editor Thomas Coughlan joining Nick Mills in the studio.

Starting with the Moa Point plant review in the hands Minister Simon Watts desk, which has no timeline for public release. Harman and Coughlan discuss why the government could be withholding it and how are they feeling 150 days into the ecological disaster.

The panel analyse Michael Laws candidacy for NZ First, can he make a difference in the party? And can Peters handle all these personalities?

And the tragedy of the man who died after waiting 9 hours in the Emergency Department of Waikato Hospital. Our panel look at the problems that led our country here and how we need to improve so it never happens again.

Have those at the top of the Ministry of Social Development considered the realities of emergency housing before imposing targets for managers? The panel faceoff over whether the government has influenced these and reflect on Minister Tama Potaka's fumbles recently around this and the conservation clause that blew up last week.

Plus, Minister Casey Costello suggests decreasing excise tax for tobacco, being banned from a cafe for a MAGA hat and the panel share their hots and nots.

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