#BHN Big Hairy News
Big Hairy News (#BHN) is a weekday news commentary show hosted by award-winning podcasters Pat and Chewie. The show gives guests and topics more space than the brief coverage typically found in mainstream media between weather reports and ad breaks. Each episode covers major stories with in-depth discussion and a Kiwi perspective.
Episodes
#BHN Willow-Jean Prime on MSD Stuffup | Barlow's Debrief: Kiwimart Coverage | AI alarms raised again
Willow-Jean Prime, Labour Party's spokesperson for Social Development & Employment, joins us LIVE to discuss the MSD report findings regarding missed benefit payments.Paul Barlow joins us for the weekly Open Brief Debrief: Who needs the Kiwimart? Now here’s the tricky part, finding out who’s dominating the conversation about it and trying to steer public perception on the Green policy anno
#BHN Ayesha rushed by antivaxxers | National party breach advert standards | PSA rally for pay
Labour's Ayesha Verrall was rushed by anti-vaxxers and protected by her fellow candidates at a Wellington event last night.ASA have upheld, in part, a complaint against National Party flyers spreading misinformation about Labour's tax policy.PSA workers picketed today after pay negotiations have stalled, the govt calling out the union for politicising the issue in promoting a change of gov
BHN No apology from MSD | Labour poll of polls looks terrible | Luxon accuses Hipkins of 'flailing'
The NZ Herald does not do their own polling, preferring to take everyone else's polls and make what has become NZ's "official" poll of polls and if you look at that, which shows trends rather than a specific data set and that trend looks terrible for LabourMore information on One News tonight about the MSD 'admin error' telling people that food was not an essential need.
#BHN Luxon on Kiwis leaving for Oz | Seymour on tactical voting | Will Opportunity be a wasted vote?
Act Party leader David Seymour isn't against Act voters giving their electorate vote to National, but the desired overhang is easier said than donePM Christopher Luxon is spinning that fewer NZ's are leaving for Australia, which is true, but still won't look how overall we continue to bleed talent to our Tasman brothers and sisters as there was a net migration loss of 28,500 people fro
#BHN Koroneihana gets firey |Seymour doesn't get his way | Jack and Tova Election Coverage
The politicians arrived at Koroneihana today, with many Māori leaders calling out the Govt and previous Govts for degrading Te Tiriti and Māori/Crown relations.A report commissioned as part of the CoC agreement didn't give the conclusion that David Seymour wanted, that the Māori and Pacific Admissions Scheme for health students is a "clear case of racial discrimination".TVNZ unveil t
#BHN LIVE:Aaron Hendry on Youth Homelessness | Kieran & the Bish on water issues | Paul's OB Debrief
Aaron Hendry from Kick Back joins us live to discuss a letter written to the PM last year warning them of the potentially fatal risk of the Government’s Emergency Housing policy, now calling on the govt to follow the UK’s leadership and make the bold commitment to end rough sleeping by xmas. Kieran and the Bish on Breakfast: Can we get political consensus to fix our water infrastructure this time?
#BHN Bomber LIVE at 9 | Bridge losing it over Tamatha insta | Methanex going the way of the dinosaur
Marytn 'Bomber' Bradbury joins us live tonight at 9pm to give us an update on how he is, and to share his experience of being in the public health system, as it is functioning today, under this governmentMethanex to close Taranaki plant, citing 'decline' in gas supply. The country's largest gas user Methanex has announced it will close its Taranaki plant after more than three d
#BHN Willie Jackson LIVE at 9pm | Borrowing a billion for potholes? | Peters slams Luxon again
Willie Jackson's made contact today saying we were unfair and a bit harsh last night in our critique of his appearance on Q&A so, as is appropriate, Willie is coming on tonight to correct what he says we got wrong and allows us to seek some clarity on some questions we had that came from the interview.Ryan Bridge hosted Chris Bishop this morning to find out is we about to borrow $1b to fix
#BHN Jackson pushed on support for Māori | Backtrack on fuel tax | Willis blames nurses leaving NZ | Recap of the weekend's Finance panel
Willie Jackson joined Jack Tame on Q&A in the weekend explaining why Chris Hipkins called Te Pati Māori's election tactics a "rort" and why it doesn't seem like Jackson, or Labour, have been actively encouraging Māori to get onto the Māori role.National have backed tracked on the fuel tax that was suppose d to be coming back on January 1st in an obvious ploy to not make voter
#BHN Economic recovery?Wages still stagnant | Kieran & the Bish on Breakfast | SM dominates the news
Nicola Willis joins Ryan Bridge Today to plead her case that the economic recovery is still on its way.Kieran and the Bish have their weekly panel with Tova O'Brien discussing the latest child poverty report and the U16 SM ban bill.Paul Barlow joins us for our weekly OpenBrief report, we look at the loudest voices on banning social media for under 16s, and the different ways they’re saying the
#BHN Seymour, mask off with Moana | Odd party alignments on SM Ban | TPM announce Kiwi tax plan
David Seymour sits down with Moana Maniapoto to discuss a number of party and govt policies and why he has such disdain for everything Māori.There has been cross odd party consensus on two major policies of the week - the rates cap and social media ban. Labour have said they may support these two National-led bills through to select committee to have the issues fully discussed and considered.Te Pā
#BHN Seymour on the asshole pill | Easier to bring back pay equity? | Rates capped at 4%
Clint Smith joins us to talk about new analysis argues that reverting to the old pay equity regime might cost the Government about half as much as previous estimates. Does this therefore mean that a Labour led government could find it easier to restart the pay equity conversationThe Government has confirmed plans to cap council rates at 4%. Under the proposed system, first mooted late last year, a
#BHN "No new taxes" under National | Becoming "good ancestors" | Ban on social media to under 16s | Opportunity the kingmaker again?
Christopher Luxon moves to ban social media for under 16-year-olds a problem for him is that Act and NZ First disagree making this dead in the waterFinance Minister Nicola Willis refuses to rule out an increase to the ACC levy if she's returned as Finance Minister. She is calling for "no new taxes" but won't commit to other areas where NZers may face increases in already establis
#BHN Nat's desperate Tax attacks | Greg Flemming breaks ranks | Climate change is here
Paul Goldsmith and Willie Jackson's weekly panel with Ryan Bridge was dominated by National's obsession with election campaign tax promises.Greg Flemming broke ranks this week saying clearly he does not believe his Govt made the right move in removing tax rebates on charity donations over $100,000 - not the first time we've seen Greg put his head up to speak out about something he hasn
#BHN Ayesha Verrall on the "nurses hired" lie | Paul Barlow on reporting emergencies | More protests to come as National hides from media who don't support them unquestionably
Health system in crisis because of National’s choices. Ayesah Verrall joins us to talk about how National has spent the last two years pretending they’ve hired thousands of new nurses but yesterday, they admitted the real number is just 54 FTE across the country, and a decrease in Auckland.Quick, it’s an emergency! Paul Barlow joins us to take a look at how Open Brief tracks responses to stories
#BHN HealthNZ hiring freeze revealed | Luxon STILL out-of-touch | Carmel Sepuloni defends CGT
Despite repeated denial there was a hiring freeze at Health NZ, documents uncovered through the PSA's OIA request have revealed the Health Minister knew vacancies were left open to meet the govt's explicit cost-cutting expectations and stay within budget.Luxon has shown once again he is out of touch with the people, blaming cycle ways and Labour Party / Green Party aligned council members
#BHN Helen Clark with Moana | TPM back in the race | Who pays for fast-track legislative changes?
Helen Clark sat down for a chat with Moana Maniapoto to discuss Winston Peters' role in govt over the decades, and what has changed in politics since she was PM.Te Pāti Māori have released their election 2026 strategy, abandoning the party vote to focus on winning all of the Māori seats.Thousands of beneficiaries missed a winter energy payment because of a legislative change made using the fas
#BHN Debate review and press coverage | Paul Goldsmith on citizen's arrest laws | Qiulae Wong on the financial hole in Opportunity's UBI policy
We're going to go over the weekends 'debate' and we're going to look into the pull out by both David Seymour and Casey Costello and will highlight, in particular, the nonsense that Seymour is spouting over why he pulled out. BHN has also been featured in a few spaces in the press this weekend, we'll take a look at that as well.Paul Goldsmith on Q&A on move on orders, citize
#BHN Kieran and the Bish on the coup | National Ad spend targets men | Paul's weekly Open Brief Debrief
Kieran McAnulty and Chris Bishop on their weekly sit down with breakfast discuss the big news of the week - the attempted coup, putting Luxon's leadership and the party's unity into question.RNZ reveals each party's ad spend on social media going into this election, of note National has targeted 90 of it's ads solely at men, and just 1 solely at women but lasted only 24 hours.How d
#BHN LIVE: Ginny Andersen on the Coup | Penk outed as coup leader | Latest poll, OPP on top
Ginny Andersen joins to discuss National's decision to keep Chris Luxon as leader to going into the 2026 election. How is Labour feeling about the drama?Chris Penk was ousted as the leader of the attempted coup, and portfolios taken from him.Latest 1News Verian Poll released, showing small parties are holding a lot of power going into the 2026 election.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.c
#BHN Will Luxon be PM when we go live at 9pm | Kapa Kingi on with Moana | Chippy on Winston decision
At the time of setting up the show we have heard there is an unscheduled National Party caucus called for tonight with much speculation over Christopher Luxon leadership so as we write this we genuinely don't know if we will be talking about PM Christopher Luxon, or someone else at the head of the tableMariameno Kapa-Kingi spent some time with Moana Maniapoto talking the difference in leadersh
#BHN Simeon Brown backs Luxon | Hipkins rules out Peters | Luxon on new taxes
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has categorically ruled out working with New Zealand First if elected in November, unfortunately for Labour and Mr Hipkins the response from the media and many voters is "why did this take so long?"Simeon Brown faced off against Jack Tame on Q&A over the weekend where he struggled to firmly back leader Christopher Luxon and couldn't explain why one of
#BHN Latest polls are in | Councils vote to amalgamate (or not) | Nicola Willis' desperate money grab
The latest Curia Poll is in with a few surprises that could be outliers or a changing trend ahead.Councils around the country have sat around the table and put forth their preferred options for the Govt's demand to amalgamate. Whether the Govt will agree to their proposals is another story.Nicola Willis has announced a claw back of a loan made to Chorus to fund the roll out of fibre across the
#BHN What've we been talking about? | Finlayson calls National "traitors" | MMP gone by lunchtime?
Paul Barlow joins us LIVE to tell us what he learned from OpenBrief this week. "Sorry, what were you talking about? Each month OpenBiref gives us a monthly discourse report to see how Kiwis talked about politics across news, commentary, radio and socials - and in July there was one organisation that drove conversation more than any other - tonight we’re going to explore what we disagreed on,
#BHN Luxon loves Air Force travel | Unemployment hits 11 year high | Marama versus Seymour on NZH
Christopher Luxon is defending his use of an Air Force flight after attending a National Party fundraiser, saying he has a "busy job" and "full schedule" which is weird as he made promises when in opposition that he would use commercial airlinesThe unemployment rate has risen to 5.6 percent - the highest level in 11 years - with 171,000 people out of work. The Finance Minister
#BHN Winston ruled out? | Police again looking into actions of Brian Tamaki | Peters wont apologise
Labour leader Chris Hipkins has ruled out working with New Zealand First's Winston Peters at the next election. New Zealand First's leader responded to heckling in the House on Wednesday last week by attacking the Greens' Lawrence Xu-Nan, telling him to go back to his "own country".Police investigate Tamaki after ‘heaven’s hitlist’ video. Police are investigating a “threateni
#BHN Is Bomber going to jail? | The questions we didn't get to on Saturday | Teachers now bouncers?
Martin "Bomber" Bradbury has written an article stating, "The Daily Blog has secretly been taken to Court and I’m facing 6months in prison: We can’t tell you who, how, why or what" and while there is a lot that obviously cannot be said, we'll catch up with Bomber LIVE tonight at pm to see what he can tell us about the situation.We'll review the weekend's Big Hairy D
#BHN Paul Barlow's OpenBrief Findings | Winston's Racist Remarks | Domestic Solar, the hot topic
With 100 days now until the election, Paul will take a look at what we’re talking about with the help of Open Brief’s agenda setting tool - looking at the difference between what media is covering and what we’re saying on social media are the biggest issues facing us going into the election period - and which source seems to be influencing us more than others.Winston's racist and xenophobic co
#BHN Tania Waikato joins LIVE | Upston questioned on benefit cuts | OPP reach the 5% mark
Tania Waikato joins us LIVE to talk about her exciting and unique campaign to get people on the Māori roll before it closes next week.The Jobseeker benefit for 18 and 19 year olds is set to be cut later this year, which will affect 2700 young people that are on benefits for health and disability reasons. Louise Upston's responses when questioned in the house says it all about this Govt's p
#BHN Martin Buhr on OpenBrief | Chippy talks Opportunity | Winston reacts to "Or@l s3x" question
OpenBrief is a NZ website set up to track New Zealand's significant political news, opinion, podcasts and social media — a curated, transparent set of sources, not the whole internet. With OpenBrief you get to see the data behind the narrative. Tonight we have Martin Buhr, the developer of OpenBrief, joining us to talk about why he thinks NZ needs this resource.For transparency, BHN and OpenBr
#BHN Chloe Swarbrick on Q&A | Christopher Luxon rules out Opp | David Seymour has a good idea!!
Chloe Swarbrick was on Q&A in the weekend with guest host Tova O'Brien in what seemed like a bit of a waste of an interview where Tova seemed to want to be pedantic about singular words rather than debate the themes and play contrarian rather than investigator. In the most ironic interview of the election season so far, David Seymour wants to calm the farm when it comes to critiquing coali
#BHN Luxon faces the public | Petition to save Claire Achmad's job | Trump slaps NZ with Tariffs
Luxon faced the public in Feilding, asked directly about the DSS bill and whether he understood the impacts and reality facing many families of disabled people with the changes proposed.Claire Achmad has not been reappointed to her role as Children's Commissioner, a decision that has sparked outrage and a petition to keep her in the role. Plus, a report by the commission reveals more children
#BHN Uncle Tics LIVE at 9pm | Shoot, Shag, Marry with Paul Henry | McAnulty and Bishop on Nash
Leighton 'Uncle Tics' Clarke and Josh 'the Tourette's Barber' Hughes join us tonight LIVE at 9pm to talk about life with Tourette's and Felix Shaw's petition to "Recognize Tourette Syndrome as a government-funded disability in Aotearoa" as it's currently not seen in law as a disability in Aotearoa NZThe ACT Party is accusing Labour of "manufactured ou
#BHN Stuart Nash's sexist accusation | Willis on the "Trump spike" | NZ will miss climate targets
Politicians across the spectrum are expressing disgust at NZ First candidate Stuart Nash as he attacks his National Party opponent in the Napier electorate for taking maternity leave - naming her as the “laziest MP I have ever come across”. Christopher Luxon called it "sexist" and Chris Bishop said the comments from Nash were “disgusting”Finance Minister Nicola Willis says while inflatio
#BHN Barb Edmonds LIVE on inflation | Mārama on the "pack of bast**ds" | Hipkins on "Labour's 2nds"
In a sit-down interview with The Hui, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson took aim at the coalition government. She said that while the Greens are "readier than we have ever been" for an election, the current Government is "a pack of bastards".Chris Hipkins has come out swinging today making the observation that maybe NZ First should be called "Labour's Seconds"
#BHN Luxon's ok when National's budget is out | Paul Henry on candidacy | Greens announce Kiwipower
The Green Party is proposing sweeping energy reforms, aimed at slashing household power bills and stripping market dominance from major electricity corporations with the establishment of a new publicly owned electricity entity named Kiwipower which would compete directly with the four major electricity providers, which control over 85% of both retail and generation markets, and build a more resili
#BHN Rata Jamieson,Labour joins LIVE | Retail NZ says move-on orders go too far | PMO Missing Report update
Rata Jamieson, the Labour Candidate for Ilam joins us live to discuss politics, why she is running and what matters most to her.The CEO of the lobbying group Retail NZ has made an oral submission against the current draft of the "move-on orders" bill.The Ombudsman investigation into the "missing report", handed directly to the PM's senior advisor and caused speculation of c
#BHN Nicole McKee wants to go back to the 70s | Count Binface Update | Seymour wants to ban phones
Julian Wilcox sats down with ACT's deputy leader Nicole McKee to talk about her new role, party politics, and race relations. The Act leader David Deymour has suggested smartphones could be banned for under-16-year-olds. In a speech to a business leaders' dinner on Wednesday night, David Seymour said it's clear anxiety, depression and self-harm has increased in children and young peopl
#BHN Bird flu arrives | Chloe and Seymour debate the poverty trap | NZF wants compulsory military
After years of preparing for its arrival, New Zealand has confirmed its first case of the H5N1 bird flu strain in a wild seabird, with authorities warning the virus’ potential impact on the country’s unique native birdlife remains unknown.ACT leader David Seymour and Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick clash over benefit levels, the poverty trap and solutions to helping people find employmentNZ First
#BHN Paul Henry stands for ACT | Hipkins on wasting a vote on Opp | New RNZ poll horrific for Luxon
David Seymour announced that this election Paul Henry would be standing as an ACT candidate in the general election. When asked why he wanted to be an MP, Henry, says he’s “enormously disappointed with National”, and prime minister’s performance especially.Labour leader Chris Hipkins says “it’s still very early days” to consider speaking with Opportunity, and urged left-leaning voters to consider
#BHN NZ loses Sam Neill | Seymour on Indian FTA | Homelessness on the increase under Luxon's watch
Kiwi screen legend Sir Sam Neill has died, aged 78. News of the Jurassic Park star's death was confirmed today on social media. "It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,” the post read.A growing number of NZers are experiencing homelessness with 33,000 children are living in "severe housing hardshi
#BHN Roads of National Insignificance? | DISCORD open | Homosexual Law Reform anniversary
The Homosexual Law Reform Bill, which decriminalized consensual sex between men aged 16 and over, passed by just four votes on July 9, 1986. It transformed the lives of generations of rainbow New Zealanders and paved the way for reforms that followed, including civil unions, marriage equality and greater representation across public life.The much-hyped Roads of National (Party) Significance have h
#BHN SolarSaver policy announced by Labour | Luxon town hall | Davidson educates Seymour and Bridges
Labour has announced their SolarSaver policy looking to make access to solar panels easier and more affordable. National has claimed Labour is copying them, but we wonder if this new policy by Labour is "GST off fruit and veggies Mark 2" leading to a pretty insignificant improvement in the weekly finances of those hit the hardest with the cost-of-living crisis.Christopher Luxon fronted u
#BHN Qiulae Wong joins us live at 9pm | Hipkins on non-residents voting | Debates announced
Qiulae Wong, the leader of the Opportunity Party joins us for round two of conversations about the party she hopes to take into parliament. Are they a left-wing party trying to pretend to be centrists? Is what they are saying "trust me bro" when it comes to having the ability to make either Chris PM? And moreChris Hipkins was on NZ Herald this morning talking Chinese missiles in the Sout
#BHN Lan Pham LIVE: Green's latest Policy | Winston's mixed signals | Paul Barlow state of politics
Green Party MP Lan Pham joins us Live to discuss the party's "Drink Swim Fish" policy announced today, tackling water quality and strengthening environmental protections for our oceans.Paul Barlow co-hosts tonight, and gives an update on the state of politics and this weekend's top headlines.NZ First campaigning to limit voting to citizens only, and Winston Peters is out of the country during Indi
#BHN Guest host Brie Elliot on phonics | Consumer NZ targets aviation | NZ's sexual violence problem
Tonight Emz is away so Magenta will be joined by Brie Elliot. Consumer NZ is targeting the aviation sector and the power imbalance held over kiwis.The ministry of educations phonics curriculum has been embarrassed after it labelled made up words as real and real words as made up! Brie will speak on this further.Finally, Magenta has done a deep dive and collated the last month of news headlines inv
#BHN "Good Samaritan" member’s bill | Cash shortfall for RoNS | Disability sector petition presented
Ricardo Menéndez March joins us live at 9pm to talk about the "good Samaritan" member’s bill which aims to give legal protection to those experiencing an overdose and the people helping them.Disabled people and their families have delivered a petition to Parliament today calling for the Government's Support Services Bill to be scrapped, saying the legislation shifts responsibility fr
#BHN Ryan versus Brian on free speech | Seymour and Chloe talk lazy beneficiaries | Ombudsman rules
Ryan Bridge went full gangsta mode against Brian Tamaki making it clear of the hypocrisy that Tamaki is involved with and how any normal New Zealander would see his actions as concerning for someone who have numerous firearmsChloe Swarbrick and David Seymour clashed this morning over school lunches and lazy beneficiaries who fall asleep during the work afternoon "because of the P"The Omb
#BHN Tamaki loses his guns | School lunches failing | MSD direction "morally and ethically bankrupt"
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says police have revoked his gun licence and carried out a seizure of his firearms following his recent inflammatory comments on immigration.Alarm bells are ringing over the coalition's school lunch programme, with the Auditor-General warning the Government has not been able to clearly show the scheme is delivering its aims.Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins s
#BHN McAnulty on Labour's election | McKee "not Māori enough" | Health System dangerous for Maori
Labour strategists are hoping for a return to government just three years after one of their worst-ever election results. Campaign chair Kieran McAnulty set out why he believes there could be a one-term National government on Q&A with Jack Tame in the weekend.ACT's new deputy leader Nicole McKee spoke with the NZ Herald about her party's plan for smaller government, and criticism of he
#BHN Luxon should read the room on AI | MOE decisions failing students | DSA sweeps US primaries
AI related news is dominating today; warnings and actions to prevent the harm caused by generative AI on one hand, and the Prime Minister disappointed with the slow uptake of AI on the other.Education system a shambles. The cancellation of rural school buses is causing absences for students, the Ministry has been scrutinised for choosing an Australian company to re-write the NZ curriculum, and the
#BHN Tama Potaka backdown | #TheBish on losing his job | If only we had a plan for aging water pipes
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has spent recent weeks hitting back at critics of his Conservation Amendment Bill, who have accused him of wanting to sell off precious conservation land but today, while speaking at the Environmental Defence Society conference, Potaka confirmed he would change the bill to remove the provision for the disposal of the conservation estate.Senior Minister Chris Bisho
#BHN The PM puts OPP in with the left | Seymour on National Park sales | Simon Court's hospital pass
The ACT Party has introduced a new campaign policy which it says will stop professional regulatory bodies - like the Medical Council, or Real Estate Agents Authority - from policing workers' privately-held beliefs. ACT says these regulators are increasingly overstepping their statutory roles and enforcing ideological views across their industry.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has put a dampen
#BHN Latest Poll released | Te Pāti Māori have entered the ring | Winnie vs Ryan Bridge
The latest poll has just been released. Let's look at the standings and trends thus far for 2026. Opportunity Party support is steadily growing, ACT has seen a trending decline.Te Pāti Māori are back in the game, laying out their election strategy for the 2026 election. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke speaks to continuing to stand this election under the TPM banner.Winston Peters is prodded by a &qu
#BHN Marama Davidson discusses the Green Party's Tax proposal this election
Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson joins us live to discuss the Green's election year tax policy released over the weekend. We also get her live reaction to UK Labour Leader and, now Former, UK Prime Minister Keir Starma's resignation.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us
#BHN LIVE: Marama Davidson on Tax Policy | National's KiwiSaver promise | Helen Clark on NZ's Future
Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson joins us live to discuss the Green's election year tax policy released over the weekend.Luxon revealed another election promise at National's annual conference in Wellington on Sunday, with KiwiSaver changes that include auto enrolling babies with a $1500 starting boost. NZ First have called them out for stealing their homework.Helen Clark reacts the e
#BHN LIVE: Green's Alika Wells | Scrutiny week moments round-up | Saying goodbye to Jools Topp
Alika Wells joins us live. They are the Green Party candidate for Henderson 2026, a strong advocate for the Rainbow community and joins us to discuss the impact of the "What is a woman" Bill and how that will also affect Intersex people.Scrutiny week was full of questions, accusations, drama and fiery exchanges. Let's look at some of the best moments and perhaps some revelations.Not
Dr David Galler & economist Dr Bill Rosenberg "The best private healthcare your tax dollar can buy?"
How can we simultaneously have "record investment in health", while feeling like we're falling behind? Why will anything less than an additional $1.4B in the Health NZ budget move health backward? How can it be that unmet need, population growth, and inflation are not properly accounted for in our official budget numbers?Kaitiaki Hauora is a new organisation made up of many groups w
#BHN Co-host: Paul Barlow | Scrutiny week skeletons revealed | More health promises from Labour
Paul Barlow of The Collective, political journalist and commentator, joins to co-host for the evening.Scrutiny week has been full of surprises, with just about every Ministry having some skeletons in their closet: Immigration blunder, Shane Jones' limo bills, social housing vibe-ing rent price increases and more.Labour's next health related election promise - free prescriptions to be reins
#BHN Co-host Ruby Love-Smith | Social Media ban plan | 30year infrastructure | Greens Support Surge
Youth advocate Ruby Love-Smith co-hosts tonight!Education Minister Erica Stanford has confimed some kind of crack-down on social media for young people is on its way, with some kind of policy addressing the issue on its way.In a rare moment, parliament have almost unanimously agreed on a 30-year infrastructure plan to address NZ's incredible infrastructure defect.New polling shows a big surge
#BHN Katy Thomas on DSS Bill | Labour's Free Maternity Scans | Simeon interfering with MCNZ
Advocate Katy Thomas joins live to discuss the impact of the Disability Support Services Bill which will overturn a long fought legal battle to recognise legal guardians and family members as full-time careers that should be compensated like any other employee.Labour have announced their latest election policy, free maternity scans for pregnant individuals. It would address another cost pressure a
#BHN Nats on the attack | Tangi Utikere trainwreck interview | James Meager, an old-school Nat?
National comes out swinging with a full report which suggests there is a big fiscal hole in Labour's election promises.Tangi Utikere was interviewed on Q+A this weekend, questioned extensively on Labour's latest election campaign promise to cap public transport fares across the country to help ease the cost of living.James Meager has been labeled a future National Party leader, a possible
#BHN Epstein Files disaster for Trump | Labour want PM office investigated | Everlee Wihongi update
The New York Times' latest expose reveals the extent to which Trump's top white house officials including VP JD Vance, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel colluded on how best to shelter Trump from the fallout of the Epstein Files.Labour have welcomed further investigations into how the PM's office handle OIA requests and documents that led to legislation change direct interference with a court c
Rachel McGillan: Immeasurably cost-effective: targeting teen health needs
What is the return on a dollar spent saving a youth from suicide or reversing their diabetes? We speak with Rachel McGillan, a Youth Health Nurse Specialist about her role helping teens navigate some pretty tough stuff.
#BHN Kieran and Bishop debate Transport Fund | LNG advice redacted | Pining for rural vote
Kieran McAnulty and Chris Bishop on Breakfast this morning debating the feasibility of Labour's capped public transport election policy.RNZ have found expert advice contracted by the govt was redacted which showed an LNG terminal to meet extra demand on the energy grid was not needed.All parties have made an appearance this week at Fieldays, gunning for the rural and farmer vote, not without i
#BHN Labour's Public Transport Policy | Q with Guyon Espiner | Sick children's parents fined
Labour has announced it's first election promise of 2026, capping public transport costs nationwide in a bid to ease the cost of living for everyday people.Qiulae Wong, leader of the Opportunity Party sits down with Guy Espiner to break down some of the party's policies, including full tax system overhaul, citizens income and wanting to be the new 'Kingmaker' and overthrow Winston
#BHN LNG Terminal to go ahead | NATs unknown future budget cost | Rakesh Naidoo investigation
National have walked back the levy on gentailers to pay for their backup LNG terminal but will continue to move along the development. Opposition have criticised it is too close to the election for a big costly project to move forward.The 2026 budget has some hidden unknown costs that future govts will have to pay for, essentially borrowing from future budgets, which is frowned upon.Rakesh Naidoo
#BHN Labour MP List revealed | Nicola Willis on homelessnes | National's campaign promises
Labour revealed their MP list rankings for the 2026 election, with huge shifts up and down the rankings with many high profile sitting MPs moving position.Nicola Willis on Breakfast this morning was asked about the rise in number of children in housing deprivation, and what he govt plans to do about it. Her office also responds to Chloe Swarbrick accusing the govt of missing millions in their budg
#BHN MPs banned from China | Opp Party Non-negotiables | Trevor Noah on Enshitification
Four MPs that visited Taiwan recently in an unofficial capacity have been banned from entering China for one year citing a betrayal of the One-China Policy.Qiulae Wong, leader of Opporunity Party, addresses criticisms of her party but also lays out some non-negotiables for the party should they enter coalition talks.Trevor Noah and Hasan Piker discuss politics and the state of America, echoing muc
#BHN Penk vs McAnulty on #milkygate | Brownlee v Stuff | McClure says the quiet part out loud
Act MP Laura McClure joined Green MP Ricardo Menendes March on the NZ Herald this morning and accidently said the quiet part out loud confirming the only "minority" that ACT is ever focused on is Māori, which we've always known, but fascinating to hear the list MP publicly state it.Chris Penk joined Keiran McAnulty on Breakfast this morning where Penk spent a lot of time explain what
#BHN 'Unrelenting assault' on Māori rights | Disappearing climate briefing | New Roy Morgan poll | Small business liquidations increase
Mike Smith joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk about two big stories tonight, the first is the Waitangi Tribunal being told of plans to weaken and remove treaty clauses in a range of laws are racist and an attempt to erode Māori rights.Secondly on what we're calling #milkygate, Labour questions whether disappearing climate briefing note deliberate cover-up. Senior Cabinet minister Louise Upston insis
#BHN Willis on Q&A | Luxon on ZB talking housing entitlements | Hipkins talking bank levies | Hidden emails from Fonterra to PMs office
A document relating to the Smith v Fonterra legal case was sent from a Fonterra staff member to the private email address of a former staffer in the Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said at the time there was no record of the document on file.Nicola Willis was on Q&A in the weekend defending her third budget talking the cost of child poverty and how she believes cu
#BHN Topp Twin Blasts Goldsmith | Young people forgotten in budget | AI infultrates govt
Dame Lynda Topp blasted the govt on stage at the AMAs, calling out Paul Goldsmith directly for the lack of arts funding in the budget released on Thursday.Under 30s have been forgotten with little in the budget to meet their needs, tertiary students flood the steps of parliament to protest removing their 3rd year free, and the number of secondary school students being found with drugs and alcohol
#BHN Budget Day Special with Chris Hipkins and Ricardo Menéndez March
The main part of tonight will be focusing on the budget as we start the show speaking with Labour leader Chris Hipkins on Labour's response to Nicola Willis' third budget, At about 9.30 Ricardo Menendez March joins us to share the Greens response.We'll also have a look at the latest in #Milkygate and how a judge has rejected billionaire Jim Grenon’s bid to stop media reporting on his i
#BHN Senior staffer blamed for #MilkyGate | Seymour on MP entitlement | A $1.4b Budget climate gap
There has been a complaint laid with Ombudsman about 'apparent withholding' of information by PM's office after it was revealed earlier this week that the biggest company in NZ, and Z Energy, lobbied the Prime Minister to get laws changed to favour them needing to defend themselves again Climate Change litigation, a law that was then put in place, but there is no record of the meeting
#BHN Donation to Fast Track Connection | Update on Charter Schools and TAs | Latest Polling
A comprehensive breakdown of political donations and fast track requests and consents has been released show a concerning amount of crossover which brings into question a donation's role in politics.Charter school results are in, showing Kura Kaupapa charter schools having higher attendance rates for Māori over their state school counterparts. Meanwhile, $750m for disability funding for school
#BHN David Seymour on Q&A | Labour talks like a duck | Luxon still wants NZ to be Singapore
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour has appeared on Q&A over the weekend talking immigration, social cohesion, ACT's polling numbers and more. We'll take a look tonight and see how Mr Seymour did facing off against Jack TameChristopher Luxon was on Newstalk ZB this morning comparing NZ again to Finland, Singapore and Ireland which talking about the loss of jobs by public servants and r
#BHN George "Mr Whippy" Hampton for Chch Central
We had a chat with George "Mr Whippy" Hampton, Labour's Candidate for Christchurch Central, earlier in the week to learn more about the man that will be campaigning for Duncan Webb's seat this election.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.co
#BHN Barb Edmonds: When Nicola Willis tells you who she is, believe her the first time
Barbara Edmonds joined us to talk about the latest government's announced a major shake-up of social housing beginning in this year's Budget - which will boost weekly support for 110,000 families by almost $15 but leave another 80,000 families worse off by $30 a week.
#BHN Research shows that health funding is falling well short of what we need
Kaitiaki Hauora has released a new analysis by Dr Jackie Cumming and Dr Bill Rosenberg looking at the funding level likely required to maintain New Zealand’s public health system under current pressures. Tonight we are joined LIVE with co-author Dr Bill Rosenberg and spokesperson Dr David Galler
