Full Show Podcast: 27 October 2026

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

You're listening to a podcast from Newstalk ZB. Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.

The big stories, the big issues, the big trends, and everything in between. Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons, Newstalk ZB.

Tyler Adams (0:19)

Very good afternoon to you. Welcome into the show. It is seven past one. Great to have you company this afternoon. G'day, Matt Heath.

Matt Heath (0:29)

G'day, Tyler Adams. Hello, everyone.

0800-1080 is the number. Give us a call. We'll be doing talk back for the next three hours on this. Oh, it's a Tuesday already.

Tyler Adams (0:39)

There's a Tuesday already after a lovely long weekend. How good.

Matt Heath (0:43)

Brief, long weekend.

Tyler Adams (0:44)

Yeah, too brief. Yeah. Now, just to get up, after three o'clock, we've got a new segment on the road where we've reached out to all the major parties and we will be chatting to the biggest travellers in each party as we lead up to election day to get a taste of what it's like out on the road, campaigning ahead of that election on November the 7th. We had Paul Henry from Act on Friday. And today, after three o'clock, we've got Opportunity Leader Quilae Wong.

Matt Heath (1:11)

Yeah. What do they call them? Are they rallies? Are they stand ups? Are they town halls? Getting out on the road? Do you get on a bus?

Have you got a van? You know, what's it like meeting the people?

Tyler Adams (1:24)

Yeah. Looking forward to that after three o'clock. And as we say, we have reached out to every major party.

So we intend to get someone from each party on in the next couple of weeks as we lead up to the election. But right now, let's get stuck into this. So will you or have you voted early? 800 80 1080 is that number to call? 9292 is the text number. Early voting in the general election, of course, began yesterday. Party leaders, most of the party leaders, were among those casting their ballot on day one. So Chief Electoral Officer Karl LeCain says, the days and times voting places will be open during advance voting does vary. So people are asked to check on the Electoral Commission website before they go to vote. Campaigning is, of course, still allowed during advance voting, but not inside voting places or within 10 meters of their entrances. But anyone who wants to get in early, you can absolutely do that. You've got the opportunity to do that almost two weeks out from the election.

Matt Heath (2:25)

Someone asked the question, why is it that you're allowed to, like if there's early voting that people are still allowed to campaign, you're not allowed to campaign on election day, but you're allowed to campaign for the two weeks before when anyone can vote?

Tyler Adams (2:38)

It's clear. It is a funny rule situation, isn't it? Because they've obviously got those rules that you can't campaign 10 meters within the entrances of these voting booths. While we've got the advanced polling, there's also a rule around having free drink and food within 100 meters of these particular voting polls. So it does, you know, with the add-on of advanced voting that started in 2011, it starts to get a bit complicated around the campaigning rules.

Matt Heath (3:07)

I personally think it's more fun to vote on the day. I think voting early is less fun.

And it's sort of taken the occasion away from election day. And I think that dilutes the whole process. You know, you're kind of celebrating it. It's just a convenient thing that you do when you, if you happen to see one at the mall, whatever, it's just if you can get around to it. You know, it sort of takes away the meaning of the vote. It's only once every three years. And it doesn't take that much time. So why not go out and vote on the actual day? You know, it shows that you care. It shows that you care about the democracy. And you get, you know, I love it. You get out, you wander down to the primary school. Maybe you get a go to breakfast.

I'd like the idea of it being a celebration of our democracy on November 7th on the voting day.

So as you were saying, Tyler, before 2011, that was the first general election allowing advance voting for all. Previously, voters needed a qualifying reason to vote in advance, and there's no doubt that there's people that, you know, have legitimate reasons why they can't vote on the day.

Tyler Adams (4:21)

Yes.

Matt Heath (4:21)