Duncan Garner - Editor In Chief
Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief is a New Zealand politics and current affairs podcast hosted by veteran broadcaster Duncan Garner. With more than 30 years across TV, radio, and newspapers, Duncan brings sharp opinion, hard questions, political interviews, and breaking news analysis on NZ politics, government, media, the economy, and the stories shaping New Zealand.
Episodes
$280k Council Salary Exposed: Why Does Māori Officer Earn More Than Mayor?
Wellington ratepayers are shelling out $280,000 for a Chief Māori Officer, which is $78,000 more than the city’s mayor takes home. Over in the regional council, there is another executive doing the same work for over $200,000. We look at why ratepayers are funding duplicate bureaucracy in a cost-of-living crisis and ask where the actual outcomes are. Former minister Maurice Williamson and Ani O'Br
Auckland Transport Hires Māori Outcomes Executive: How Will This Change Your Rates?
Aucklanders are getting hammered by rates, congestion, and failing infrastructure, yet Auckland Transport is advertising for a Head of Māori Outcomes reporting straight to the CEO. A passenger is a passenger, and standard public transport should deliver one service for everyone. We look at how bloated public sector bureaucracy keeps expanding while the basics remain broken.
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Is NZ Med School Entry Policy Fair? David Seymour Speaks Out
We take a look at the extraordinary entry numbers coming out of Otago Medical School. Around 90% of Māori applicants receive offers compared to just 31% in the general category, turning away candidates with superior grades. David Seymour joins us after being briefed on a secret report into race-based admissions. He says it fails to justify the policy, so why won't the government release it to the
New NZ Superannuation Rules: Craig Stobo NZ First Candidate Explains
Winston Peters has just thrown a hand grenade into the superannuation debate. New Zealand First wants to change the rules so that from 2029 you must be a New Zealand citizen to qualify for NZ Super. Right now, permanent residents can get it after meeting residency requirements. We speak with New Zealand First candidate Craig Stobo about why they are pushing for this change and whether our current
Greens' new $6 Billion KiwiMart Plan Exposed by Retail NZ Chief Executive
The Greens want to spend $6 billion on a government-owned supermarket chain, acquiring 120 stores to give us cheaper groceries. But is KiwiMart a genius fix or an expensive fantasy? We break down why forcing private businesses out won't magically lower your checkout bill. Plus, Retail NZ’s Carolyn Young joins us to reveal the real costs, huge legal risks, and what this means for Kiwis.
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$21 Billion Uncosted Promises: Chris Hipkins Can't Answer Where the Money Is Coming From
This election is starting to look less like two competing visions and more like a choice between dumb and dumber. National’s telling us to wait while spending $20 billion more than Labour’s last budget, but Labour is turning up with an uncosted $21 billion shopping list. Chris Hipkins refuses to show us the money, Willie Jackson says they didn't spend enough, and everyday Kiwis are left carrying t
Janet Dixon Real Estate License Ban: 90 Minute Course Strips 30 Year Career
A real estate agent with a 30-year career faces a lifetime ban for refusing to take a compulsory 90-minute course on tikanga Māori. She lost her license not for misconduct, but for holding firm to her personal beliefs. We ask when regulators got the power to take away a person's right to work over a compulsory course. Plus, interest rates go up again.
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Can Chris Hipkins Balance the Books? Willie Jackson Demands More Spending
Labour has a massive problem 10 weeks out from the election. Between ditching fuel tax increases, entertaining pay equity claims, and relying on capital gains tax that will not bring in revenue for years, their numbers just do not add up. We look at how Willie Jackson is pouring fuel on the fire by telling unions Labour was too conservative on spending, completely torpedoing Chris Hipkins' message
Labour's Co-Governance Rebrand Exposed & New Dead Heat Election Poll
Willie Jackson just let the cat out of the bag on co-governance. Labour hasn't dropped the policy; they are just planning to rebrand it under a new name to avoid scaring voters. We break down what this deceit means for middle New Zealand, why Chris Hipkins seems unable to control his Māori caucus, and how voters are reacting as National and Labour lock into a dead heat.
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Far North District Councillor Davina Smolders Stripped Of Committee Role By Unelected Iwi
An elected representative in the Far North gets voted off a major committee after challenging council decisions and raising questions on co-governance. Far North District Councillor Davina Smolders joins us to explain how she was ambushed, denied natural justice, and shut down during debate. We ask where the government is on local democracy and why elected members are being punished for doing the
Political Panel: Taxing Homeowners $80B? The TOP Policy Proposal Explained
The Opportunities Party just backed away from their controversial tax policy, admitting a minor party can't force through massive economic shifts. We break down what this tax reset means for homeowners, farmers, and your back pocket. Plus, our panel tackles National's strict no-new-taxes stance, the push for council rate caps, and why level crossings are about to gridlock Auckland traffic.
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NZ Is In An Education Crisis As New Data Shows The System Is Failing
We have been given exclusive access to the raw data showing how kids are doing at every high school across the country. The numbers have been crunched, and it turns out over 13,000 kids leave school every year without a single qualification. Socioeconomic gaps are widening, and boys are falling way behind girls. Educationalist Alwyn Poole joins us to break down what is going wrong and who needs to
Exclusive Interview: TOP Leader Qiulae Wong on TOP’s 10-Year Plan & Luxon
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong joins us for a 30-minute interview on TOP’s radical tax reset. TOP wants to fund a $19,000 universal basic income by heavily taxing land, but it could drop house values by 15%. Is this an economic gamble New Zealand cannot afford? We break down the policy, Christopher Luxon ruling them out, and what this means for homeowners.
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NZ Social Media Ban Under 16: Why Parliament Must Pass The Under 16 Social Media Ban
The government has introduced a bill banning social media for under-16s, and it is about time. Big tech platforms care about eyeballs and profits, not the health and safety of our kids. With one in three NZ teenagers spending five-plus hours a day scrolling, we ask why the two main parties must unite to pass this law. Minister Erica Stanford joins Duncan to break it down.
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Chris Hipkins Tax Plan vs National's Budget Secrets and Is National Failing On Economic Promises?
Chris Hipkins says Labour will balance the books, but he will not tell us how he pays for his promises until later in the year. Meanwhile, National claims to cut costs, yet they are spending $20 billion more than Labour did. Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joins Duncan to break down why neither side’s numbers add up.
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New Zealand Land Tax Exposed and This Week in Politics
The Opportunities Party wants a chunk of your land value every single year. We look at what TOP's proposed tax means for everyday homeowners and farmers facing bills up to $1,000 a week. Duncan breaks down the numbers with Maurice and Ani, questioning how Kiwis are supposed to afford it and what this means for the upcoming election
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I Was Wrong: Turns Out One In Five NZ Students Failing
We thought 10,000 kids were leaving school every year without a basic qualification. The real figure is over 13,000. That is almost one in five young Kiwis walking out the gates with nothing to show for over a decade in class. Duncan breaks down the Ministry's math tricks, hidden numbers, and why our education system is failing on a massive scale.
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$2.5 Billion on Government Consultants and Why Ron Mark is Fighting for Parliament Return
$106 million spent on consultants for a harbour crossing, and we still do not know if it is a bridge or a tunnel. Another $229 million on light rail with zero track laid. Duncan is fed up with billions going out the door to private contractors while everyday Kiwis tighten their belts. Plus, former Defence Minister Ron Mark steps in on fighting in Ukraine and why he wants back into Parliament.
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Opportunity Party Board vs Caucus: Who Is Really in Charge?
Warning: This interview contains discussions of sexual assault and violence
Qiulae Wong spent weeks riding high, but an uncomfortable interview exposed serious questions about party rules, political donations, and who actually calls the shots. Plus, Chief Victims' Advocate Ruth Money joins us to break down the Opportunity Party's youth justice policy and why extending the youth court up to age 25
Are You Better Off? 20 Economic Stats NZ Voters Need To See
Elections always come down to one simple test: are you better off than you were three years ago?
We crunched the numbers across 20 key economic indicators to strip away the political spin. With prices up 17 percent and wages lagging, most Kiwis are feeling the pinch. Economist Ed McKnight joins us to break down who is actually winning and who is losing.
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Duncan Garner & Panel on Hastings Council & National Leadership Chaos
Hastings District Council has just appointed five unelected iwi representatives to every single council committee, giving them full voting rights and payment. We ask where Local Government Minister Simon Watts is hiding while co-governance rules are blatantly ignored. Plus, Maurice Williamson and Ashley Church join Duncan to break down a chaotic week of National Party leadership drama and its impl
Hastings District Council: Unelected Representation Sparking Government Backlash
Hastings District Council has voted to place unelected, paid mana whenua representatives onto every council committee with full voting rights. The government told councils to hold off, but Hastings pushed ahead anyway. We speak to Councillor Steve Gibson about why he is fighting this decision, what it means for ratepayers, and whether Three Waters-style co-governance is slipping back in through lo
Luxon Survives the Coup: National’s Leadership Meltdown | Special Live
Christopher Luxon survives a dramatic confidence vote, but has National just destroyed its own election campaign?
In this special live episode, Duncan Garner is joined by political commentator Ani O’Brien and former National minister Maurice Williamson as the leadership crisis unfolds in real time.
They take you inside the National caucus room, examine the attempted coup against a sitting Prime
ACT Minister SLAMS $3B City Rail Link Overruns & Council Overspend
We were promised a functional train tunnel for $2 billion, but Auckland’s City Rail Link blew out to $5.5 billion. Unaccountable council staff and ministers went missing while gold-plating stations and dropping over a million dollars on public art installations. We take a hard look at the $3 billion cost overruns, who signed off on the lavish designs, and why long-suffering Auckland ratepayers wil
Ex Opportunity Candidate Reveals All & National Traps Labour Over Spending Plans
National is demanding Labour "show me the money" on tax and spend, but their own numbers face serious scrutiny. Plus, former Opportunity Party candidate Matthew Phillips joins us to explain why he walked away, what goes on behind closed doors, and why ruling out TOP might backfire on Christopher Luxon.
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Luxon Finally Found His Voice, but Shane Jones is Firing Back
Christopher Luxon has finally done something we weren't sure he had in him: he expressed a genuine, unscripted opinion. The Prime Minister suggested a referendum on MMP, asking whether our 30-year-old electoral system still works or has just created political paralysis. Is Luxon finally showing real leadership, or is this an unwanted distraction from an economy doing it tough? Plus, New Zealand Fi
Christopher Luxon’s Labour Market Scandal: 111,000 Overseas Workers vs Kiwi Jobs
Why are we importing 111,000 foreign workers when thousands of New Zealanders cannot find a job? Unemployment has hit an 11-year high at 5.6%, youth unemployment is nearing 14%, and real wages are falling. Yet the government continues issuing tens of thousands of work visas to overseas workers. We ask why Christopher Luxon and the government are letting Kiwis miss out in their own country.
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NZ Election Poll Shock: 8% Support Could Change the Government
The latest Roy Morgan poll has the Opportunities Party at 8%. Is this a real political shift or just an outlier? Duncan Garner sits down with political commentators David Farrier and Jordan Williams to break down what this means for Labour, National, and the rest of MMP. Plus, we take a look at TOP's radical policies and ask whether voters actually know what they are backing.
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Luxon Business Backlash: Can Erica Stanford Save National’s Vote?
Christopher Luxon told struggling small-business owners that they need an adult relationship with the government. After massive backlash, he finally apologised, but the damage is already done.
We talk to Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young about high inflation, rising rates, and why local business owners feel completely abandoned by National.
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Media Double Standards: Activists Stage Mock Execution and Peters Cut From the News
TVNZ ran a lengthy news segment on the opening of Auckland's new Drury and Pukekohe train stations, but completely left out Rail Minister Winston Peters. He funded it and opened it, yet didn't get a second of airtime. Meanwhile, activists staged a mock execution of him in Auckland, and the media barely blinked. Where's the fair reporting?
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Winston Peters Racist Debate: Has Outrage Culture Broken NZ Politics?
Winston Peters tells a Green MP to go home and the political world goes into full meltdown. Labour and the Greens are calling it racism, but is it actually prejudice or just classic Winston attacking a political ideology?
We break down the Parliament circus, the deafening double standards, and why everyday Kiwis struggling with mortgages are fed up with the endless outrage machine.
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Is Christopher Luxon Gutless? Don Brash Delivers Brutal National Takedown
Don Brash has unloaded on Christopher Luxon, calling his leadership gutless, hopeless, and ineffective. I find it hard to disagree. National is drifting back to 30% because Luxon is so terrified of offending anyone that he stands for nothing. We break down the brutal critique, look at how Labour got back in the game, and ask if Erica Stanford should be taking over.
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Youth Court for 25-Year-Olds? Free Speech Cancelled in Auckland? Ani O'Brien Speaks Out
The Opportunities Party wants youth court extended to 25-year-olds, but we think it is total madness. Plus, Free Speech Union's Ani O'Brien joins us after facing threats to cancel her Auckland event tonight. We look at crime, justice, and free speech in New Zealand.
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Christopher Luxon TOP Coalition Decision
Did Chris Luxon actually plan to rule out working with TOP, or did he just back himself into a corner under pressure? We sit down with pollster David Farrar to break down National's coalition strategy, TOP's radical tax and justice policies, and why the election race is looking tighter than ever.
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National Paid Parental Leave Policy: Why Families Are Waiting Until 2030
National wants to extend paid parental leave to 30 weeks, but families will have to wait until 2030 to get the full benefit. Nicola Willis tried to blame ACT for the delay, but National never pushed for it in the first place. David Seymour joins us to set the record straight on cost, policy priorities, and whether Kiwis are just being sold another long-term promise.
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"It's A Game!" Labour's Overreaction Over Paul Henry
Labour has completely lost the plot over Paul Henry playing a classic radio game on Hauraki. Calling a joke a genuine death threat is bloody ridiculous, especially when Chris Hipkins has played the exact same game himself. Plus, Stuart Nash gets dumped by NZ First before election day, and we break down a mad week in Kiwi politics with Maurice Williamson and Ashley Church.
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Stuart Nash Resigns: How Loose Lips Destroyed His NZ First Comeback
Stuart Nash is out of politics for good after another massive, self-inflicted wound. After falling out of Cabinet under Labour and trying to rebuild his career with Winston Peters and New Zealand First, Nash lasted just one week before sending a text to former National minister Chris Finlayson criticizing a local Napier candidate.
We look at how Winston Peters acted quickly to force him out, why
C’MON LUXON, FIX THE ETS, DON’T LET CLIMATE POLICY KILL KIWI INDUSTRY
We just handed $60 million in taxpayer money to Golden Bay Cement because our own Emissions Trading Scheme made it cheaper to import cement from overseas than to make it here. Why are we forcing New Zealand businesses to pay heavy carbon costs when our international competitors do not? Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers Union joins us to break down why the ETS needs an immediate freeze.
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Co-Governance, Media Failures, and Duncan's Take
We told you co-governance was alive and kicking in local councils, and now the government has finally stepped in to stop it. While mainstream newsrooms looked the other way, local communities were left in the dark about major agreements affecting their rates and properties. Duncan is joined by Far North councillor Davina Smolders to break down what went wrong and how we fix local government.
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Offshore Oil Drilling NZ: Inside the Massive One Billion Dollar Survey Policy
New Zealand First wants to spend one billion dollars surveying what lies beneath our oceans to find oil and gas. Is this total madness during a cost-of-living crisis, or is it common sense to audit our resources?
Duncan gets the hard answers from Resources Minister Shane Jones on how we fund it and if the big rigs are coming back
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Tight New Zealand Election: The Coalition Math
Forget what the pundits are saying about who is packing boxes for the ninth floor of the Beehive. The rolling poll of polls shows New Zealand is heading into one of the closest elections in modern political history, and the country is split straight down the middle.
We break down the razor-thin margins alongside Ashley Church and Maurice Williamson. From the National Party strategy friction to th
NZ'S Most Worrying Crisis: Shane Jones National Service Plan the fix?
Nearly one in five young Aucklanders has completely pressed pause on life. Shane Jones says New Zealand First has a radical plan to deploy unemployed youth into the military to learn basic discipline and routine.
Critics will scream conscription, but doing nothing is a complete surrender. We ask if structured national service is exactly what our drifting generation needs.
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Paul Henry on the NZ Economy, Debt, and The 2026 Election
The uncomfortable truth National MPs won’t say out loud is that nothing is moving the dial. With eight consecutive polls putting the party under 30%, Christopher Luxon has a massive messenger problem.
Plus, the man himself, Paul Henry, joins the podcast. He reveals why he’s trading his runway for a run at Parliament with Act, and whether he can actually survive the mundane reality of Wellington.
Shane Jones Slams Chris Luxon: Indian Community Speech Sparks Huge Coalition Backlash
Christopher Luxon just delivered one of the most animated speeches of his prime ministership to 10,000 Kiwi Indians at Spark Arena. He went all out, laying down massive praise for the community.
But not everyone is happy. Coalition partner Shane Jones is calling out immigration overreach, and some viewers feel regular Kiwis were completely thrown under the bus. We look at the tight politics behin
NZ Conservation Bill Exposed: Luka Jansen on Co-Governance and Lost Access
A new Conservation Amendment Bill is moving through Parliament, and it is ringing alarm bells. Elected member Luka Jansen joins us to blow the whistle on a hidden clause that completely removes civil and criminal liability for board members.
We look at the reality of co-governance on the ground, from burnt-down huts in the Urewera to wild dogs and blocked public access. Is this bill just a stalki
Social Media Ban NZ: Why We Must Ban the Phone for Under 16s
Another generation of kids is disappearing down the digital rabbit hole while politicians tie themselves in knots over complicated online bans. We talk to political commentator Ani O’Brien about a brilliant, simple solution: stop overcomplicating the technology and just ban the smartphone hardware for under-16s.
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NZ Property Economy Crisis: Why Higher Interest Rates Hurt Kiwis
The Reserve Bank just delivered an interest rate hike that the National Party desperately wanted to avoid. This completely shatters their script, yet Nicola Willis is trying to spin this as a sign of a strengthening economic recovery.
We check in with Ani O'Brien and Ashley Church to see if this economic turnaround is actually real or just more Wellington spin.
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Three Strikes for Burglars and Shane Jones Uncensored
We are focusing on victims today as we look at Act's three strikes proposal for repeat burglars. Burglary is a home invasion, not a property crime, so why does our system treat it so lightly? Plus, Minister Shane Jones is in the studio. He is fired up about West Coast mining, the India trade deal, and why co-governance is growing like a tapeworm.
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Doctor Shortage New Zealand: Why Labour’s Free GP Promise Fails
Labour is promising three free GP visits for everyone. It sounds great, but we are hundreds of doctors short right now. Outgoing GP boss Dr Brian Betty joins us to look past the political slogans at the reality of our healthcare system.
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Road Cone Waste & Real Estate Rule Scrapped
We have finally seen common sense win after Parliament ditched an absurd rule that banned real estate agents from working for five years over a missed 90-minute course. Plus, we dive into the multi-million-dollar road cone madness. A traffic boss fronts up on why Auckland is dragging its feet on new rules and why worker abuse is spiking.
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Conservation Amendment Bill: South Island Farmers Expose Bureaucracy
The 40-year-old conservation system is broken, and bureaucratic delays are letting pests ruin our land. We talk to South Island farmers Richard and Simon, who are fighting for common-sense updates to the law. They are on the frontline while Wellington insiders argue over ideology. Plus, we look at your feedback on the political circus in the Beehive.
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New Zealand Road Cone Madness: The $300 Million Regulatory Fix
We look at the massive shakeup to New Zealand's road cone madness as new deregulation rules kick in. David Seymour has already saved taxpayers millions of dollars, but the Wellington media bubble completely ignored the announcement. Plus, we expose the truth about The Opportunity Party and their actual political agenda.
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Media Bias in NZ Polling? Is labour dying?
The old political duopoly is cracking. The latest polling shows voters are walking away from National and Labour in droves while smaller parties surge. We sit down with pollster David Farrar to break down the rise of The Opportunities Party, their surprisingly left-wing policies, and why the mainstream media is completely ignoring the real story.
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TOP’s centrist claim doesn’t stack up
The Opportunities Party has climbed to 6.5% in the latest Roy Morgan poll as Labour falls to a new low of 25.5%.
Duncan examines TOP’s policies and leadership and asks whether voters are being sold a centrist alternative that is, in reality, firmly aligned with Labour and the Greens.
He also follows up on the controversy at Horizons Regional Council, the agreements being negotiated with 14 iwi a
Local Government Co-Governance Crisis: Councillors Handed 460 Pages Before Vote
Another day, another massive bill dropped on Kiwi ratepayers with absolutely zero transparency. This week, Horizons Regional Council is quietly rushing through 14 separate co-governance agreements under the Resource Management Act. We speak to whistleblower councillor Luka Jensen about the information overload, the ballooning costs, and why local democracy is being compromised behind closed doors.
The Opportunities Party Exposed: Labour's Secret Coalition Partner?
We pull back the curtain on The Opportunities Party and look at whether it is quietly becoming part of Labour's broader coalition architecture. Plus Shane Jones joins us to front up after the government backed down on the conservation land battle. We look at why National got nervous and why New Zealand First refuses to give up targeting the estate for economic growth.
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TOP Party: Qiulae Wong Rules Out Mt Albert Labour Deal
The TOP party is surging in the polls and closing in on parliament, and it's not hard to see why.
Kiwis are feeling the pinch right now and the frustration with our broken systems is reaching a boiling point. We are watching power bills climb by twelve percent while massive infrastructure projects get flipped and flopped by successive governments.
This has opened a massive door for alternativ
Are We Being Ripped Off By Green Party Wealth Tax Envy?
The Greens want us all to pay more tax, but nothing is stopping them from voluntarily paying more right now.
Their co-leaders get paid $200,000 each courtesy of the taxpayer, yet they build policies around hunting down everyday Kiwis who work hard to get ahead.
We talk to our panel, Janet Wilson and Ashley Church, about fiscal holes, political survival, and why the latest wealth tax policy is b
NZ Politics: Lowest Support Ever? Verian Poll Smashes Labour & National
The latest 1News Verian poll should send an absolute chill through both Labour and National headquarters. Together, the two major parties command just 61 percent of the vote, their lowest combined support since MMP began in 1996. Voters are sick of the same old cautious management and are walking straight into the arms of the smaller parties.
We dig into the numbers with Jordan Williams from the
Māori Health Group Rejects $120 Million GP Funding Boost
We have a massive $120.6 million cash injection on the table for our struggling community GPs, and a group of Māori health providers has flatly rejected it. Why? Because the government updated the funding formula to focus entirely on health needs, deprivation, and rural isolation rather than race.
I ask how funding people based on how sick they are is a step backwards. It sounds like total common
The Greens' Tax Policy and the Compulsory KiwiSaver Debate
The Greens are back-pedalling on their tax policies, but are they still dreaming? We dive into the wealth tax reality, the sudden push for compulsory KiwiSaver, and why our public service seems to be actively working against government plans. Duncan, Ani, and Ashley break down the major ideological battles dominating New Zealand right now.
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New Zealand is too Woke: ACT Submits Legislation To Stop Professional Regulators
We are finally seeing a pushback against the absurd woke compliance industry that has crept into our workplaces and professional regulators. Why should a real estate agent or nurse risk losing their livelihood over a lawful opinion?
ACT leader David Seymour joins us to break down his new legislation aimed at stopping ideological gatekeeping. Plus, we look at public service growth and whether the
The $200 Million Parliamentary Bill: Why Are Taxpayers Paying For Empty Seats?
Parliament burned through more than $200 million in 2025, and domestic travel alone cost taxpayers $3.4 million in just nine months. While everyday Kiwis are tightening their belts through a cost-of-living crisis, politicians are living in a false reality. We chat with Ella Dixon from the Taxpayers’ Union about the shocking double standards and the lack of political restraint.
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Who Dropped The Pike River Charges? Christopher Harder Reveals Hidden Documents
Over fifteen years after twenty-nine men died unnecessarily in the Pike River mine, we still do not have real accountability. Former lawyer Christopher Harder has spent six years and eleven thousand unpaid hours fighting to uncover the truth behind the unlawful deal that dropped charges against the mine's boss. We look at the hidden documents that could change everything.
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Labour Ditching Reading & Maths Exams? Erica Stanford Exposes Sneaky Policy
Labour has snuck out a policy to ditch national reading, writing, and maths assessments in primary schools, and Education Minister Erica Stanford is furious. Parents want to know where their kids are at, but Labour wants to scrap the tests and hand control back to the unions. We catch up with Erica to find out why this sneaky move is a massive step backwards for our kids.
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David Farrar on Matthew Hooton: Will He Save or Destroy The Post?
The media is in a slow-motion car crash, and Stuff just made a massive, controversial play. Longtime political commentator and PR man Matthew Hooton is the new editor of The Post in Wellington. He is blunt, he openly hates public servants, and he is definitely not going quietly. We sit down with David Farrar to ask: Is this a masterstroke or absolute madness?
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NZ Public Service Job Growth: The Real Numbers Behind Government Job Cuts
National promised us a leaner state with 8,200 public service job cuts, but the latest numbers show the bureaucracy is actually blowing out. In just three months, nearly 1,000 new full-time positions were added to the core public service. We look at how this hiring spree breaks government promises, impacts the budget surplus, and why the numbers just do not match the political spin.
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Nicola Willis Exposes Labour’s Massive $18 Billion Budget Hole
Nicola Willis goes on the offensive to smoke Labour out over a massive $18.2 billion fiscal hole. We pull apart their shaky new public transport policy after a painful interview exposed numbers that simply do not stack up. Plus, former lawyer Christopher Harder joins us ahead of Wednesday to break down shocking allegations of a top-level conspiracy and doctored documents over Pike River.
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Panel: NZ Election Poll 2026: What is Happening with Labour this Week?
A brand new political poll is out, and the numbers are completely locked in stone. We ask if Labour has peaked and whether the Opportunities Party can actually break the five percent threshold this time around. Plus Duncan, Ani O'Brien, and Maurice Williamson dissect Labour's new list and look at the real numbers behind their massive transport announcement.
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Warning for Chris Hipkins: New Poll Shows Labour Already Peaked?
The latest Taxpayers Union Curia poll has dropped, and while Labour is technically ahead, they are losing the argument. Duncan breaks down why Chris Hipkins is stuck in the doldrums and failing to win trust when it matters most. Plus, we take a look at the public transport policy that is falling apart under intense scrutiny.
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Labour Public Transport Policy Costing Exposed & How We Fixed School Property Competency
Labour is promising a massive public transport cap for 1.3 million Kiwis, but they claim it only costs 65 million bucks. The math does not stack up, and the front bench cannot show their workings. Plus, Education Minister Erica Stanford joins us to explain how she took school property away from an incompetent Ministry of Education to build basic, warm classrooms without the architectural vanity pr
'I was wrong' - The Full Story Behind the Court Verdict
Duncan stands up in court to face the music after getting caught driving 12 days short of his suspension ending. He takes full responsibility for getting the timeline wrong but calls out the breathless media coverage. Plus, we look at how confusing NZ license laws are and why rural Kiwis get hammered harder.
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Coward Punch Law: Paul Goldsmith Challenged Over Weak Coward Punch Sentences
The Justice Select Committee finally reported back on the coward punch legislation, and it is a massive letdown. Despite big promises to get tough on one-punch thugs, they completely failed to recommend mandatory minimum sentences. We talk to Mike Angove from the Walk Without Fear Trust about how everyday Kiwis have been handed a complete pup by parliament.
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Labour List 2026: Chris Hipkins Chooses Job Protection Over Fresh Talent
Labour's new party list is out, and it looks less like a fresh start and more like a job protection scheme for politicians who have already been rejected by the public. We break down the lineup with pollster David Farrar to see who is safe and who got sidelined. Plus, we look at a staggering $230,000 advisor role at ACC that proves the message about government spending cuts is clearly not getting
We’re Throwing the Word Racist Around Too Easily
The word racist is being thrown around far too easily these days, and it is quickly becoming completely meaningless. Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan is labeling this the most racist government ever, claiming National is stripping away Māori rights at the Waitangi Tribunal. But has he suffered a massive memory fade? We look at the actual facts of what has been lost.
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THE "MOST RACIST GOVERNMENT EVER"? GIVE ME A BREAK.
Tainui leader Tukoroirangi Morgan has claimed at the Waitangi Tribunal that Christopher Luxon's National-led government is the most racist New Zealand has ever seen. Duncan Garner says it is time to call this out and hold Tuku's feet to the fire because the claim simply doesn't survive contact with reality.
To call this political landscape the most discriminatory in our history means completely f
ACT MP Cameron Luxton On National Copying His Bill To Stop Unelected Votes
National is finally closing the loophole that allows unelected members of the public to get voting rights on council committees. Local Government Minister Simon Watts has moved to stop it, but let’s be honest, it’s the bare minimum. We talk to ACT MP Cameron Luxton, who drafted the original bill months ago, about why National took so long to protect our democracy.
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New Covid Papers Suggest Hipkins Did Know
Chris Hipkins has repeatedly said ministers were not told about key health concerns around the Covid vaccine rollout for 12 to 15 year olds.
But a new tranche of official papers appears to move the timeline back.
Duncan Garner has covered this issue before. This episode is the update. The new documents suggest Hipkins may have been closer to the information than previously understood, including
Far North Council’s Sovereignty Agreements Exposed | Davina Smolders returns
What is really going on at the Far North District Council?
Duncan Garner is joined by councillor Davina Smolders, who says major governance changes are being pushed through without proper public scrutiny. She raises concerns over unelected iwi representatives getting voting rights on a council committee, ratepayer-funded requests, new Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements, and language recognising Ngā
NZ Budget 2026: Nicola Willis Debt Curve Exposed
The government wants us to think they are being caring but responsible with this budget, but the economists aren't buying it. We look past the 30 press releases to find out what this means for your back pocket. From a sneaky new banking tax on savers to kicking real savings down the road, we break down why the math just doesn't add up.
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