Duncan Garner - Editor-In-Chief

Christopher Luxon is under fire, and his leadership is being questioned by his own team. Duncan has three clear steps for the Prime Minister to reset his government and survive this slump. We also highlight why Minister Simon Watts is avoiding the tough questions on our show, and answer your feedback on iwi settlements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the National Party in a death spiral? Duncan sits down with Ani O'Brien and Jordan Williams to dissect the latest polling numbers and the growing pressure on Christopher Luxon. With the election just six months away, we ask the hard questions about leadership, strategy, and whether a change at the top is the only way forward for the party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National is stuck in the twenties, Winston Peters is rising fast, and the pressure on Christopher Luxon is no longer background noise. In this episode, we break down the latest polling and what it really means for National heading into an election. Is this just a rough patch, or something deeper? And more importantly, can the party actually win with Luxon still leading? We're joined by Maurice Williamson and Ashley Church to unpack the leadership chatter, the reality behind political polling, and why voters on the right are shifting. We also get into co-governance, council power, tax reform ideas, and a tough listener story that brings the cost-of-living crisis into sharp focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan dives into a major shift happening right now in the Far North District Council. They have held an extraordinary meeting to give full voting and speaking rights to unelected iwi and hapu members. We look at what this means for local democracy and whether shared governance works when there is no shared electoral accountability to the ratepayers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This country runs on diesel and without it we come to a halt. Duncan is joined by Peter Williams and Ani O'Brien on the panel, to break down the massive spike in fuel costs and why the government is caught between a rock and a hard place. We also look at the rising tensions in Northland over co-governance and whether the public service is still too bloated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a council stops looking like democracy and starts looking like intimidation? That's where we begin today, as Duncan digs into the government's warning to the Far North District Council and asks whether local democracy is being pushed off course. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins us to talk through the claims, the growing pressure on the government, and what happens when elected representatives say they're being frozen out or threatened. We also get into the wider question here: who gets to make decisions in New Zealand, and how far ministers should go when councils appear to be losing control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters is absolutely launching in the polls, and the panel wonders if National is simply conceding the ground. Meanwhile, Duncan gets a blunt "F off" from Far North Mayor Moko Tamihere after asking about unelected seats on council committees. We also dive into the $4 petrol crisis and why the Reserve Bank is warning of heavy headwinds this winter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are diving into a shocking breakdown of local democracy today. Duncan shares a blunt, two-word email from Far North Mayor Moko Tepania that has left us gobsmacked. After serious allegations about unelected influence at the council table, the Mayor was offered a right of reply. His response? A personal "f off". We ask if it is time for the government to step in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters is back, and he is not just making up the numbers. With a massive surge to 13.6 percent in the latest poll, the New Zealand First leader is eyeing up the top job while National and Labor drift. We also dive into the co-governance rows erupting in Hastings and the Far North, where local councillors say democracy is being pushed aside for unelected boards. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan sits down with Far North District Councillor Davina Meads for a sobering look at what she calls "co-governance on steroids." From unelected representatives outvoting elected officials to serious questions about financial accountability and personal safety, Davina shares her front-row seat to a system she believes is drifting away from democratic principles. We ask if the government is doing enough to step in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The BSA has just scored the home goal of the century. By trying to bring the entire internet under its 1989 jurisdiction, they might have just signed their own death warrant. Duncan is joined by Annie O'Brien and Morris Williamson to pull apart this massive overreach, National's disastrous new poll numbers, and whether a Cabinet reshuffle can actually save Luxon's leadership. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are facing an energy crisis, and the paper trail is brutal for both sides of the house. Duncan dives into the decisions that left New Zealand vulnerable to diesel disruptions until 2028. From scrapped reserves to the latest Roy Morgan poll showing National at a record low, we look at what happens when leadership chooses hope over a plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan is fired up today over the latest numbers showing the public service is actually growing instead of shrinking like National promised. Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins us to talk about the looming winter fuel crisis and why he thinks we need fewer ministers at the top to finally get spending under control. Plus, we look at the rise of petrol drive-offs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan makes a blistering case for why Chris Hipkins must resign as Labour leader following revelations about COVID vaccine advice for teenagers. We dive into whether it was gross incompetence or a deliberate cover-up. Plus, the panel discusses the growing fuel crisis and why domestic flights are being grounded while international travel takes priority. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We were told we had 11 days of diesel left before the country ground to a halt, only for MBIE to admit they got the numbers completely wrong 24 hours later. Duncan is joined by Maurice Williamson and Ani O'Brien to rip into the bureaucracy, the widening wage gap with Australia, and whether Chris Hipkins has some serious explaining to do over his vaccine comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Huge news today as US courts deliver landmark rulings against Meta and YouTube for knowingly harming children. Duncan breaks down why this is the wake-up call parents and lawmakers needed to push through New Zealand's social media ban for under-16s. Education Minister Erica Stanford also joins the pod to discuss the massive structural changes coming to NCEA. From 2028, school is getting harder with a new focus on core subjects and national consistency. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government is handing out 50 bucks to struggling families to help with the pain at the pump, but is it a masterstroke or just a drop in the ocean? Duncan breaks down why this targeted support is actually a win for economic stability. We also chat with economist Ed McKnight about who might actually pocket a bit of extra cash from this deal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every time you fill up your car, the government is quietly cashing in. Duncan breaks down the "dirty secret" of fuel taxes and how every 10-cent rise at the pump puts another $60 million into the crown coffers. Minister Shane Jones joins us to talk about our dwindling diesel stocks, the risk of rationing, and why closing the Marsden Point refinery has left us completely exposed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christopher Luxon has hit a new low in the latest polls and Winston Peters is breathing right down his neck. We dive into the numbers that should have the National party pacing the corridors of the Beehive. Duncan, Ashley Church, and Janet Wilson also tackle the escalating crisis in Iran and what it means for New Zealand's fuel security. With petrol prices set to soar, we ask if the government actually has a plan or if they are just hoping for the best. Read my full take on rova: https://www.rova.nz/articles/opinion-luxon-missing-in-action-as-crisis-hits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are facing what could be the greatest oil shock in world history. Duncan breaks down why the Iran war is becoming the government's "COVID moment" with fuel supplies down to just seven weeks. We also look at the massive pressure on households as petrol stays over $3.30 and ask if Chris Hipkins can survive his latest personal and political scandal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are watching petrol prices skyrocket at a speed that should alarm every household in New Zealand. Duncan breaks down why we are paying for expensive fuel that hasn't even arrived yet, while the government collects nearly 50% in tax. Community leader Dave Letele joins us to discuss the "working poor" and the desperate measures families are being forced to take just to survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan dives into the messy fallout following allegations made by Chris Hipkins' ex-wife, Jade Paul. With the election looming, we look at whether these damaging claims could force a leadership change. Is the "boy next door" image at risk, and can the public still trust the man who wants to be PM? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It has been a brutal fortnight for Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Duncan dives into the explosive personal allegations made by Hipkins' ex-wife and asks if the pressure is finally becoming too much. We also catch up with Education Minister Erica Stanford about her massive overhaul of ERO reports. She's introducing a traffic light system so parents can actually understand how their schools are performing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are facing the biggest disruption to oil supply in modern history and Kiwi households are feeling it at the pump right now. Duncan, Christine Rankin, and Ashley Church dive into why the government is being so slow to act on petrol taxes while they rake in a GST windfall. Plus, we look at the stinging COVID report on Chris Hipkins and the shocking integrity questions surrounding former MP Paul Eagle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Petrol prices are climbing again and Kiwi wallets are feeling it. In this episode, we sit down with Finance Minister Nicola Willis as global instability starts pushing fuel costs higher and the pressure builds on the government to respond. We dig into the so-called “rockets and feathers” effect where fuel prices shoot up fast but drift down slowly, leaving motorists wondering who's really benefiting. Duncan puts the question directly to Willis. At what point does the government step in, and what could that relief actually look like? The conversation ranges from fuel supply and the risk of global disruption through to borrowing, government spending, and the political pressure building ahead of the next election. It's a straight talk about the balancing act between helping struggling households and keeping the country's books under control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan dives into the quiet explosion of co-governance at a local council level. While the national spotlight is elsewhere, Gore has spent five years and $6.5 million on a new district plan that critics say gives local iwi veto power over private land. We're joined by Gore Mayor Ben Bell to discuss if these new cultural assessments are a necessary partnership or just more expensive red tape for farmers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The COVID inquiry phase two is out, and it makes for some pretty uncomfortable reading for Chris Hipkins. Duncan breaks down why ignoring expert advice is a massive failure of judgment. Plus, economist Ed McKnight joins us to talk about the Iran oil shock, soaring petrol prices, and why young Kiwis on six-figure salaries are still struggling to get on the property ladder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The promised economic recovery is looking shaky as conflict in the Middle East sends oil prices through the roof. Duncan breaks down the feedback from frustrated Kiwis and asks if Christopher Luxon can handle a crisis that has landed right on his desk. We also talk to Carolyn Young from Retail NZ about why the cost of everything is about to go up again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest Taxpayers' Union poll is out and it is a total horror show for the National Party. At just 28 percent, we are looking at the very real possibility of a one-term government. Duncan breaks down why Christopher Luxon is digging his heels in despite the "death rattle" coming from the Beehive. We ask if the caucus has the guts to make a move before it is too late. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The National Party is in a total tailspin. With a new poll putting them at just 28.4 percent, Christopher Luxon is reportedly heading home to contemplate his future. Former National Minister Maurice Williamson joins Duncan to discuss why the party has lost its way, the "ghastly" alternative, and whether Luxon can actually survive the weekend as Prime Minister. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The pressure is well and truly on for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. We break down a brutal new poll that shows National's support tanking to just 28 percent. Duncan explains why senior figures are telling Luxon to head home and consider his future over the weekend. Is this the beginning of the end for his leadership? We look at the potential contenders waiting in the wings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine applying for 1000 jobs in New Zealand and getting nowhere, only to find more opportunities in Siberia. Tony joins us to share his sobering reality of leaving home for Russia just to survive on one income. Plus, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins Duncan to discuss the Iranian invasion, the upcoming budget, and why he wants to time-limit welfare benefits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are losing 180 Kiwis every single day, and it is starting to look like a quiet evacuation. Duncan breaks down the staggering numbers as 71,000 people head for the exit in just one year. Plus, we are joined by Paddy Gamble to discuss the fallout from the bombing of Iran and what a protracted war means for your back pocket and the global rules-based order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are looking at what Duncan calls "co-governance creep" happening in councils across New Zealand. From Marlborough to Taupo, new agreements are shifting how our land and water are managed. Duncan digs into why these deals are being done with little fanfare and what it means for your rights as a ratepayer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan's back in a brand-new home studio and he isn't holding back on the "dishonest" polling currently misleading New Zealanders. He breaks down why the coalition question is the only one that matters under MMP. Later, former CTU economist Craig Renney joins the show to discuss his run for Parliament, the impact of Middle East conflict on your wallet, and why our electricity market is fundamentally broken. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we holding Kiwi farmers to gold-plated standards while waving cheap imports straight through the border? This week we take on what Duncan calls the double standard threatening to force local producers out of business. From pork and eggs to animal welfare rules, farmers say they're being hammered at home while competing against products made under standards we've already banned. Then it's politics. Ani O'Brien and Maurice Williamson join us to dissect Chris Hipkins' “state of the nation” speech, the cost of living reality facing households, and whether voters are actually feeling any economic bounce. We also get into billion-dollar power company profits, Air New Zealand's big loss, and whether selling it is the answer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine doing exactly what the government asks by finding work and starting a degree, only to end up with less money in your pocket. Duncan shares the frustrating story of a solo mum who is $30 a week worse off just for taking a 10-hour-a-week job. It is a systemic failure that punishes initiative and keeps people trapped on welfare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are diving into the absolute wrought that is the New Zealand power market. While families are rationing heat, the big electricity companies have banked nearly $2 billion in profit in just six months. Duncan is joined by Auckland Chamber of Commerce boss Simon Bridges to talk about the state of the economy, the lack of bold political leadership, and why it's time to break open the current system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We don't hold back in this one. First, we deliver the brutally honest speech Chris Hipkins should have given. No spin. No tidy slogans. Just debt, KiwiBuild, light rail, inflation, energy policy and the reality of trying to do too much and delivering too little . It is satire, but it is grounded in real frustration. Then David Farrar joins us to talk numbers. A genuine dead heat in the polls. Sixty seats to the centre right, sixty to the centre left . We break down what that means, why Labour is playing it cautious, and why Winston Peters is polling higher during a term in government than almost anyone expected. Election year is here. If you want another shot at running the country, words are not enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters is moving to make English an official language in law, and the reaction from the Greens has been an absolute meltdown. Duncan and the panel dive into why this administrative tweak is being framed as a moral emergency. Plus, we look at the deeply disturbing job market numbers and the latest push for censorship on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest Freshwater poll is out, and it is a total shocker for National. With the party sliding to 30 percent, senior figures like Nicola Willis are suddenly facing the axe. Duncan, Rachel Smalley, and Ashley Church dive into whether a leadership change is coming and why Winston Peters is suddenly looking like a potential Prime Minister. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A high-achieving Massey University student has walked away from their social work degree and New Zealand entirely. Duncan shares a chilling letter from a student who claims the Treaty and climate change are being shoved down their throats at the expense of practical skills. We are joined by Ghislaine Heather from the Free Speech Union to ask if our universities have become echo chambers that have forgotten how to teach kids how to think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan asks the tough questions about who is actually running the show at National. With a floated $9 toll for the Auckland Harbor Bridge and new electricity levies, the party of "no new taxes" is looking a lot like the opposition. We dive into why these "optics" are making voters sick and whether Christopher Luxon is losing his grip on the party's economic soul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan doesn't hold back today as he calls out Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for celebrating the death of Captain Cook. He questions why the mainstream media is staying silent and asks if she is even fit to hold office. Plus, we look at the grim 10-year high for unemployment and whether millennial work ethics are part of the problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters is back with a familiar policy to abolish the Maori seats. We look at why his timing is shrewd and why it's making Christopher Luxon look so weak. Damien Grant and Jordan Williams join us to debate the future of our democracy. Plus, we dig into the cultural leave story the mainstream media refused to touch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan dives into the trust problem currently rotting New Zealand politics. Whether it is Chris Hipkins flipping on capital gains or Chris Luxon introducing a new power "levy" that looks suspiciously like a tax, we ask if anything said before an election actually survives. Plus, economist Craig Renney and the Taxpayers Union's Jordan Williams join us to debate the state of the economy and why Wellington is feeling so flat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dive into the controversial cultural leave entitlements for Māori staff at Oranga Tamariki. Minister Karen Chhour joins us to explain why she finds the PSA contract disappointing and how she is campaigning for equality from within the system. Plus, Duncan tackles the Green Party proposal to grant whales legal personhood, calling it a constitutional experiment that could cause a logistical nightmare. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's podcast, more on the whistleblower who came forward from Oranga Tamariki, with claims of race-based cultural leave that isn't available to other staff. Duncan digs into why this government hasn't scrapped these entitlements yet, and reveals Minister Karen Chhour's "please explain" that has been issued to her own ministry. We also look at the "ethnic rankings" still being used in our health system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode starts with a whistleblower from inside Oranga Tamariki who says a newly negotiated collective agreement has crossed a serious line. Duncan reveals a clause agreed between Oranga Tamariki and the Public Service Association that grants Māori staff discretionary paid cultural leave, with obligations self-defined and not open to challenge by managers. No equivalent entitlement exists for non-Māori staff. The whistleblower says they were too afraid to raise concerns internally, worried it could damage their career. Duncan breaks down why he believes this is a race-based workplace entitlement that undermines trust, fuels resentment, and stretches the Treaty well beyond its intent. He also shares polling that points to a knife-edge election and responds to listener questions about Stuart Nash, cancellation, and forgiveness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waitangi 2026 has come and gone, and all we got was noise, anger, and performance. Duncan breaks down why Māori politics looks broken and asks who is actually looking out for the aspirational Kiwis worried about jobs and housing. Plus, NZ First's Shane Jones joins us to discuss the "pantomime" at Waitangi and a major new minerals deal with the US. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It was meant to be our year. That's what we were told. But as 2026 kicks off, the numbers are telling a very different story. Inflation is back up, unemployment is rising, and interest rates may not be done yet. On the podcast, Duncan Garner asks the hard question. Where are the green shoots we were promised? And what does it mean for Christopher Luxon as the election clock starts ticking loudly? Duncan is joined by Bob McCoskrie and Ashley Church to unpack the credibility problem facing the government, why voters are running out of patience, and how economic pain is still hitting households where it counts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices