Duncan Garner - Editor-In-Chief

We are diving deep into a massive local issue that could break the back of New Zealand's business. A local tribe in Tauranga is demanding up to half a billion dollars in compensation over the expansion of the Port of Tauranga. Duncan chats with Regional Development Minister Shane Jones about whether national infrastructure is being held to ransom and what this means for our economy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Labour is playing a dangerous game of politics by camouflaging six months out from the election. Chris Hipkins and Carmel Sepuloni are refusing to front with any concrete policy, hoping voters will forget six years of failure. Plus, we reveal the exclusive results from our editor-in-chief poll on the proposed public service job cuts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The sky is not falling in, but the public service is finally getting a much-needed reset with eight thousand workers set to go. Duncan breaks down why this is a serious correction to a problem that exploded under the previous government. Plus, Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour joins the show to explain why these budget savings are locked in and what it means for the future of Wellington. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the podcast, we look at the government's latest promise to cut down the size of the public service. Duncan breaks down why this feels like a rerun and questions if it highlights a first-time failure. Plus, Education Minister Erica Stanford joins us to discuss her major curriculum reforms and new primary school funding. We also check out your feedback on Winston Peters' big policy bombs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters is back in the headlines with a couple of massive policy ideas, but we reckon he is only half right. While making KiwiSaver compulsory is a smart move that is long overdue to fix our retirement time bomb, his plan to buy back the BNZ for billions is total nostalgia dressed up as economic policy. Maurice Williamson and Ashley Church join us to break down the madness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We dig into a private Ngāi Tahu newsletter that Duncan says is full of corporate puffery designed to hide the truth about a $180 million mining standoff. Plus, Maurice Williamson and Jordan Williams join us to talk about the latest "too close to call" polls, why Aucklanders are facing record rate hikes, and if the government has the guts to be ruthless in the upcoming budget. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are on a collision course with a massive 30 billion dollar problem. Duncan and economist Ed McKnight look at the uncomfortable truth about our retirement age and why it might have to hit 72 just to keep the lights on. They also discuss why no real change can happen while Winston Peters is in the room. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest political polls are out, and they are looking incredibly tight. Duncan breaks down why the chances of a hung parliament are rising and what a potential "three-headed monster" on the left would look like for your back pocket. We also catch up with Taupō District Councillor Christine Rankin to talk about the toxic state of co-governance and why she thinks the current government needs to find a backbone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Te Pāti Māori is in total collapse, and we are witnessing the most rapid exit of a political movement in New Zealand history. Duncan breaks down the internal warfare and ego-driven leadership that squandered an extraordinary platform. We also catch up with pollster David Farrar to talk about Winston's rise, Luxon's personal numbers, and the recent scandal that rocked the Press Gallery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan is opening up for the first time about what really happens behind the scenes at Parliament. He takes a deep dive into the exit of former TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman and why he thinks she has been held to a completely different standard than anyone else. Duncan shares stories of his own 17 years in the press gallery to show how the rules really work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ani O'Brien joins Duncan to talk about the fallout from her reporting on former TVNZ political editor Mikey Sherman. She opens up about the brutal online backlash and why she is finally taking action against the trolls. We also dig into the toxic culture of the press gallery and why our state broadcaster might be fundamentally broken.= Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The gloves are coming off, and the coalition discipline is starting to fray in public. With the budget just weeks away, we are entering an unusually long and brutal campaign season. Duncan breaks down the latest poll of polls and asks the tough questions about National's identity. Maurice Williamson and Janet Wilson join us to discuss whether New Zealanders actually feel better off today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan and the panel dive into the massive reaction following our interview with Chlöe Swarbrick. We hear from Andrew, a Dunedin business owner who says politicians are trading on "vibes" while real people pay the price. Plus, we discuss the government scrapping the BSA and the growing calls for a social media ban for under-16s. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're diving deep into the state of New Zealand Politics. Duncan questions why we're importing thousands of workers while 215,000 Kiwis sit on Job Seeker support. It's lazy policymaking that leaves taxpayers picking up the bill while businesses avoid training locals. Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joined us to discuss a very different path forward. She's backing a wealth tax on the "tippy top" 3% of New Zealanders to fund income tax cuts for the other 91%. The ambition from the Greens is clear; they aren't content being the junior partner anymore. Chlöe has her sights set on the Finance Minister role, promising to "electrify everything" to bring down power bills and take a tougher stance on corporate profits. Whether New Zealanders are ready for such a radical shift in the tax system remains the big question for the upcoming election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan sits down with Resources Minister Shane Jones to pull apart the reality of our new trade ties with India. We ask why New Zealand is pledging $30 billion in investment offshore while our own schools and roads are falling apart. Shane also weighs in on the Santana Gold Mine standoff and his plan to "incinerate" Treaty references that he says are holding our economy back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Duncan takes a deep dive into the anatomy of the New Zealand media and why trust in legacy outlets is hitting new lows. He stayed silent on the story for so long. Duncan also addresses allegations made in Barry Soper's new book, pointing out what he claims are significant omissions regarding the veteran journalist's own past. We are also joined by ACT Leader and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour to discuss the party's latest immigration strategy. Seymour explains the push for a five-year welfare stand down for new residents and the introduction of an infrastructure levy to ensure migrants contribute to the country's growing needs. We also touch on the rising numbers of unskilled workers and the pressure on Auckland's infrastructure and schools. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan Garner takes aim at the growing fight over Santana Minerals' proposed gold mine in Central Otago, after Ngāi Tahu opposed the project following reports of a $180 million figure being discussed. Duncan argues this is no ordinary consent battle. He says it goes to the heart of whether New Zealand is still a place where major projects can get built, investors can have certainty, and high paying regional jobs can actually exist. ACT MP and undersecretary Simon Court joins the show to discuss the Santana mine, the RMA changes coming through Parliament, and whether the Government's reforms will stop what he calls “shakedowns” in the planning system. Duncan also shares the story of a local business owner giving up on New Zealand and heading to Australia to try his luck in the mines. Is this about protecting the environment, or has the system tipped too far? And if New Zealand keeps making it this hard to build, who will be left to pay the bills? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Peters has just pulled a classic Winston move. By leaking sensitive emails and blindsiding Christopher Luxon, it looks like he's trying to get himself kicked out of the coalition to play the martyr. We dive into why Luxon didn't pull the trigger and what this means for the government's stability. We break down the coalition cracks and the $180 million gold mine standoff, and Maurice shares his frustration at seeing elected councillors outvoted by board members who don't have to face the ballot box. It is a deep dive into the accountability crisis currently hitting New Zealand's local and national politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This one goes straight at the uncomfortable bit: what happens when the people who demand accountability suddenly go very quiet? Duncan is joined by commentator and comms specialist Ani O'Brien, who broke the story about Maiki Sherman, Lloyd Burr, and an incident the New Zealand media had allegedly known about for over a year. The question isn't just what was said, it's why so many people who knew did nothing. Together, Duncan and Ani dig into the Press Gallery, media hypocrisy, legal threats, public trust, and whether New Zealand journalism has become too cautious, too cozy, or just too scared of its own shadow. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This one hits different. Because it is not theory, it is lived experience. Duncan sits down with firefighters Steve Devine and Dave Phillips to hear directly from the frontline. What they describe is a system going backwards. Ageing trucks breaking down on the way to fires. Stations closed for years. Equipment that is outdated. And a workforce stretched thin while still fighting for fair pay and proper support. But it goes deeper than that. The conversation turns to cancer risk, mental health, and the reality of what firefighters carry home after every shift. From traumatic callouts to the lack of formal support, this is the side of the job most people never see. There is frustration, there is anger, and there is a clear message. This is not just about firefighters. This is about public safety, and right now, they say New Zealand is more exposed than people realise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something is badly wrong when firefighters are among the lowest-paid people inside the very service they keep alive. On the Slam Dunc, Duncan Garner takes aim at Fire and Emergency New Zealand's pay priorities, questioning why frontline firefighters are still fighting for better pay, safer staffing, reliable trucks and proper gear while management layers and board fees keep climbing. From the CEO's salary to six-figure corporate roles, Duncan asks the obvious question: why are the people running into burning buildings earning less than the people sitting behind desks? We also hear listener feedback on immigration, school zoning pressure in Auckland, and the need to bring people with us when policy decisions reshape communities. It's blunt, uncomfortable, and exactly the sort of conversation New Zealand needs to have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Zealand needs more people to roll up their sleeves, and Duncan is making the case pretty clearly: this is one of the simplest ways to save a life. Scott Sinclair from NZ Blood joins Duncan to explain the difference between blood, plasma and platelets, why red cell levels are low, and why common blood types like O positive and A positive are especially needed. They also dig into the growing demand for plasma, the fact New Zealand is buying more from overseas, and why becoming more self-reliant matters. There's also a practical push for donors across Auckland, from Constellation Drive to Takapuna, Henderson, Epsom and Manukau, plus mobile blood drives. Yes, petrol prices are painful, but as Scott says, there's no substitute for blood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The government says they aren't intervening in the Far North, but we've seen the letters that say otherwise. Officials are at the table, reporting back to Wellington, and the pressure is mounting. We dive into the co-governance creep National promised to stop and ask why they're still being so soft. Plus, the panel reacts to Winston Peters' most brutal tweet in 40 years. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are looking at the massive gold mine project in Central Otago that is currently stalled. Is it a fair deal for iwi or a massive tax on business? Act MP Simon Court joins us to discuss why this veto culture needs to end before we lose all our investors to Australia. Plus, your feedback on media bias and the latest in Parliament. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when an old regulator tries to police a media world that's already moved on? We get stuck with a fight over The Platform's Sean Plunket, the BSA, free speech, and whether broadcasting rules still make sense when podcasts and radio start crossing over. In this episode, Duncan digs into the complaint over Plunket's “mumbo jumbo” comment, and why the real issue might be the Platform's link to terrestrial radio. He's joined by Free Speech Union chief executive Jillaine Heather to talk mission creep, censorship concerns, and whether the government should be stepping in to draw a line. They also get into the proposed under-16 social media ban, why blanket bans rarely work, and why ministers keep going missing when the hard questions start. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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