A fortnightly current affairs show exploring the forces, ideas and conflicts shaping New Zealand.
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Undercurrents on why Jacinda Ardern’s government fell short of its transformational ambitions – and what lessons the left should draw as another election approaches. It’s been nearly a decade since Jacinda Ardern became leader of the Labour Party, which swept into government promising transformation.
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Undercurrents on the fracturing of the political right, the rise of ‘anti-woke’ politics, and the forces reshaping New Zealand politics. A decade ago, when Donald Trump first came to power and Britain voted to Brexit, it was tempting to think that it couldn'
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Undercurrents on the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America, the return of mass politics, and what it could mean for New Zealand. Zohran Mamdani’s victory last year as mayor of New York has made him an international political phenomenon. In New Zealand, much
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Undercurrents on how farming has shaped the country, why its political influence endures, and the battle over New Zealand’s economic and environmental future. To borrow the words of countless politicians, farming is the "backbone" of the New Zealand economy. What's
Undercurrents
Watch the latest special edition of Undercurrents: a two-part exploration of New Zealand's cost of living crisis. For years, we have been told the cost of living crisis is primarily the result of global forces, government profligacy, or the seemingly impersonal laws of inflation. The prescription: higher
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Public Interest's fortnightly current affairs show, Undercurrents. Since it was elected in 2023, the coalition government has unleashed a whirlwind of change on New Zealand’s education system. It has scrapped NCEA, overhauled the primary and secondary curricula, re-established charter schools, banned
Undercurrents
Listen to the latest episode of Public Interest's fortnightly current affairs show, Undercurrents. Since the coalition government took office in 2023, New Zealand has seen the most significant rollback of workers' rights in decades. Fair Pay Agreements have been scrapped, pay equity laws weakened, health and safety
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Public Interest's fortnightly current affairs show, Undercurrents. Since taking office in 2023, the coalition government has rolled out a sweeping programme of tough-on-crime policies: increasing sentences, expanding police powers, building more prison beds – even tasking police with moving rough sleepers off
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Public Interest's fortnightly current affairs show, Undercurrents. For a moment in 2019, it felt like something was changing. Around the world, millions took to the streets demanding climate action, including more than 170,000 students in New Zealand. At last, it felt like
Undercurrents
Watch the latest episode of Public Interest's fortnightly current affairs show, Undercurrents. If you’ve tried to see a doctor lately or spent hours in an overcrowded hospital waiting room, you’ve probably felt it already – something is going wrong with healthcare in New Zealand. Our system is
Undercurrents
Watch the second episode of Public Interest's fortnightly current affairs show, Undercurrents. It has been two months since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran, triggering an Iranian retaliation that has resulted in the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key choke point in the
Undercurrents
Watch the first episode of Public Interest's fortnightly current affairs show, Undercurrents. Never before in New Zealand history has there been a one-term National government. Every time a National led government has been elected, it has gone on to win a second, third or even a fourth