What does the right really want? | Undercurrents

Around the world the centre-right is collapsing and the far-right is insurgent. Is the same about to happen here in New Zealand? In this episode of Undercurrents, Ollie Neas is joined by political commentator Bryce Edwards and Massey University associate professor Sean Phelan to discuss the state of the New Zealand right in 2026. How has right-wing politics in New Zealand changed over the past decade? And beneath the blustery rhetoric, what does the right really want? Public Interest is independent and entirely supported by our audience. If you value conversations like this, please consider supporting our work at publicinterest.nz. 00:00 Teaser 00:31 Introduction 02:09 How has the New Zealand right changed? 07:48 Mapping the right: National, ACT and NZ First 10:31 The global rise of the new right 13:40 What does “woke” really mean? 16:13 Are the culture wars an American import? 18:33 Material politics vs culture wars 20:15 Is the centre-left to blame? 22:33 How economics and culture fit together 26:43 The politics of enjoyment 28:44 Support Public Interest 29:21 What are the culture wars really for? 32:58 Is the right moving towards fascism? 37:28 Is the far right a threat in New Zealand? 43:44 What really unites the right? 45:10 Has New Zealand entered a new political paradigm? 47:17 The politics of despair 49:12 Outro