What’s to blame for the coalition’s choppy start?

Six months in, and the mojo meter is in the doldrums. A new poll would put National out of power and sees its leader, Chris Luxon, sliding in popularity. How much is it about policy, how much coalition management and a perception of the tail wagging the dog, and a how much just a measure of the bleak economic clouds that refuse to blow away? Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas gather to stick their fingers in the wind in a new episode of our politics podcast Gone By Lunchtime.

Also on the agenda: the two Winstons entwine in a matrix-threating embrace: the foreign minister takes aim at former Australian foreign minister Bob Carr, who responds with a threat to sue.

Did Melissa Lee and Penny Simmonds deserve to be demoted?

Plus, what the Waitangi Tribunal said about the decision to scrap Oranga Tamariki’s section 7AA, and what the High Court said about children’s minister Karen Chhour’s refusal to turn up to talk about it.

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