Q+A

Outspoken former Children's Commissioner cut short in role Dr Claire Achmad was given around five weeks' notice that she would be exiting her role of Children's Commissioner. First appointed to a five-year term to advocate for young people in New Zealand, that became a one-year term in 2025, and when she signed off on Friday July 31st, she left office two years earlier than she'd expected. She says that she has been a "fair and balanced critic" of Government policy when it comes to child poverty, and that she has not been told by the Minister for Social Development, Louise Upston, why she wasn't brought back. Dr Achmad sat down with Jack Tame in her final week in the role. Spy allegations: NZ's relationship with Russia in focus Russia's principal security service says a Russian citizen has been detained in the country's far East. The man is accused of spying for New Zealand's SIS. Jack Tame sits down with Russia's Ambassador Stanislav Krans at the Russian Embassy in Wellington to ask more about the case. And nearly four and a half years into the military invasion of Ukraine, and following 35 rounds of New Zealand sanctions against Russia, he asks about the relationship between Russia and New Zealand. Most people want fewer cars, Dutch academic says Twenty years from now, people will look back on high speed limits we have in cities now and find them just as unbelievable as smoking indoors - a relic of the past. That's the dream of a visiting Dutch academic. Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet holds the Chair on Urban Mobility Futures at the University of Amsterdam and spoke at the Public Transport Association conference at Te Papa this week. While there, he caught up with Jack Tame. "Discriminatory" law focus of Green MP's bill Migrant families can be split apart when family members are denied visas on the basis that their disability would be a burden to New Zealand's health system, a Green MP says. Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan's members bill would remove the ability to discriminate and carve out a way for affected families to challenge these decisions: by making a complaint to the Human Rights Commission. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Migrant families can be split apart when family members are denied visas on the basis that their disability would be a burden to New Zealand's health system, a Green MP says. Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan's members bill would remove the ability to discriminate and carve out a way for affected families to challenge these decisions: by making a complaint to the Human Rights Commission. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Twenty years from now, people will look back on high speed limits we have in cities now and find them just as unbelievable as smoking indoors - a relic of the past. That's the dream of a visiting Dutch academic. Professor Marco te Brömmelstroet holds the Chair on Urban Mobility Futures at the University of Amsterdam and spoke at the Public Transport Association conference at Te Papa this week. While there, he caught up with Jack Tame. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Dr Claire Achmad was given around five weeks' notice that she would be exiting her role of Children's Commissioner. First appointed to a five-year term to advocate for young people in New Zealand, that became a one-year term in 2025, and when she signed off on Friday July 31st, she left office two years earlier than she'd expected. She says that she has been a "fair and balanced critic" of Government policy when it comes to child poverty, and that she has not been told by the Minister for Social Development, Louise Upston, why she wasn't brought back. Dr Achmad sat down with Jack Tame in her final week in the role. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Russia's principal security service says a Russian citizen has been detained in the country's far East. The man is accused of spying for New Zealand's SIS. Jack Tame sits down with Russia's Ambassador Stanislav Krans at the Russian Embassy in Wellington to ask more about the case. And nearly four and a half years into the military invasion of Ukraine, and following 35 rounds of New Zealand sanctions against Russia, he asks about the relationship between Russia and New Zealand. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Chlöe Swarbrick: Greens want one-year ban on AI data centres The Greens have announced an election campaign policy to put a one-year moratorium on the consenting and building of AI data centres in New Zealand, citing a need to put in place strong regulations before the emerging tech industry can have irreversible impacts on the country's natural resources. Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joins Tova O'Brien, and also discusses the party's energy and tax policies. Does the deepfake bill go far enough? First-term ACT MP Laura McClure captured headlines by holding up an image in parliament that appeared to show her naked: the image was a deepfake. She is the backer of a bill that would explicitly criminalise the creation and distribution of pornographic deepfakes, after hearing the stories of Kiwi women who were victimised by AI-generated images. Up-and-comers talk Stuart Nash, smartphone ban, and their leaders Labour MP Arena Williams and National MP James Meager join Tova O'Brien to discuss the big stories of the week, including Stuart Nash's election-killing comments on maternity leave, what local investment in data centres should look like, and their future ambitions for leadership. Does NZ need move-on orders? "No" says former judge Anthony FitzGerald served as a judge for 27 years and has seen first-hand the fortunes of Auckland's homeless caught in the justice system. This week he appeared before a parliamentary select committee to oppose the Government's move-on orders legislation. He joins Tova O'Brien to explain why he thinks communities and businesses are being misled about move-on orders as a solution to antisocial behaviour. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Anthony FitzGerald served as a judge for 27 years and has seen first-hand the fortunes of Auckland's homeless caught in the justice system. This week he appeared before a parliamentary select committee to oppose the Government's move-on orders legislation. He joins Tova O'Brien to explain why he thinks communities and businesses are being misled about move-on orders as a solution to antisocial behaviour. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Labour MP Arena Williams and National MP James Meager join Tova O'Brien to discuss the big stories of the week, including Stuart Nash's election-killing comments on maternity leave, what local investment in data centres should look like, and their future ambitions for leadership. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

First-term ACT MP Laura McClure captured headlines by holding up an image in parliament that appeared to show her naked: the image was a deepfake. She is the backer of a bill that would explicitly criminalise the creation and distribution of pornographic deepfakes, after hearing the stories of Kiwi women who were victimised by AI-generated images. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The Greens have announced an election campaign policy to put a one-year moratorium on the consenting and building of AI data centres in New Zealand, citing a need to put in place strong regulations before the emerging tech industry can have irreversible impacts on the country's natural resources. Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joins Tova O'Brien, and also discusses the party's energy and tax policies. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Former naval officer Chris Penk took over the helm of the defence portfolio from ministerial veteran Judith Collins in April of this year. Since then, the geostrategic environment has only grown in intensity and complexity with the continuation of conflict in Iran. Freshly returned from the NATO summit in Turkiye, and in the wake of a Chinese ballistic missile test in the Pacific, he joins Q+A to discuss New Zealand's defence preparedness. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Paul Henry has worked in broadcasting for more than forty years, becoming one of the most recognisable names in New Zealand television from his time as a presenter, and more recently serving as a board member for TVNZ. On Tuesday he announced his candidacy for the ACT Party list. He says while the decision came together quickly, he wants to be in parliament to create a better future for his ten grandchildren. He joins Jack Tame to discuss what that future might look like. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Historian Sarah Irving-Stonebraker joins Q+A to discuss her ideas around increasing societal alienation, and in her view why diminishing knowledge of shared history contributes to it. Irving-Stonebraker is in New Zealand to deliver the Maxim Institute's Sir John Graham lecture, which this year explores what it means to be a steward of history.

Mike Munro was one of the most senior behind the scenes figures in both Helen Clark, and Dame Jacinda Ardern's governments. In an interview with Q+A with Jack Tame, he explains why politics is such a seductive profession for competitive people to get into, how the political arena has changed over decades, and what it was like to work in coalition with Winston Peters. Munro also offers insights into his time on other sides of the political divide, both as a press gallery journalist, and government relations lobbyist. His new book is Ringside, and is published by Upstart Press. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

'Perverse incentive': MSD staff metrics include emergency housing grants Ministry of Social Development (MSD) managers are being told they can face performance management if, among other measures, their staff approve too many emergency housing requests, documents obtained by Q+A reveal. Homelessness advocates say the scale of rough sleeping is unprecedented in New Zealand, and that government policies are part of the reason why. Jack Tame put the documents, obtained under the Official Information Act, to associate housing minister Tama Potaka. Why Labour thinks it can make rapid return to government Labour strategists are hoping for a return to government just three years after one of their worst-ever election results. Campaign chair Kieran McAnulty sets out why he believes there could be a one-term National government. “Prince of the provinces”: On the road with Shane Jones Senior NZ First MPs are on a long tour of town halls around the country, with more than 30 dates planned before the election campaign begins. Reporter Whena Owen went to Kaikōura to see Shane Jones in action, as controversies swirl over recreational fishing, the party's coalition positioning, and limousine usage. “Social conservatism”: Why Alfred Ngaro joined NZ First Former National MP and minister Alfred Ngaro joins Q+A to talk about his political journey towards becoming a candidate for NZ First, his socially conservative values, and Christian Zionist beliefs. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Former National MP and minister Alfred Ngaro joins Q+A to talk about his political journey towards becoming a candidate for NZ First, his socially conservative values, and Christian Zionist beliefs. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Senior NZ First MPs are on a long tour of town halls around the country, with more than 30 dates planned before the election campaign begins. Reporter Whena Owen went to Kaikōura to see Shane Jones in action, as controversies swirl over recreational fishing, the party's coalition positioning, and limousine usage. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Labour strategists are hoping for a return to government just three years after one of their worst-ever election results. Campaign chair Kieran McAnulty sets out why he believes there could be a one-term National government. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Ministry of Social Development (MSD) managers are being told they can face performance management if, among other measures, their staff approve too many emergency housing requests, documents obtained by Q+A reveal. Homelessness advocates say the scale of rough sleeping is unprecedented in New Zealand, and that government policies are part of the reason why. Jack Tame put the documents, obtained under the Official Information Act, to associate housing minister Tama Potaka. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Helen Clark: New Zealand's unsolved problems and fragile peace in Iran Productivity, sensible taxation and the ballooning cost of superannuation are among the uniquely thorny, long-lasting issues that New Zealand hasn't been able to conquer. It's a politically-motivated cycle of short-term flip-flopping on these important issues that The Helen Clark Foundation's new book, Facing Up To Our Future, diagnoses as the problem - released, strategically, in a general election year. Former prime minister Helen Clark joins Q+A to speak to the book's message, and to the latest developments from the war in Iran, where a MOU toward a peace deal has been signed between Iran and the US, but the Strait of Hormuz has shuttered again as Israel strikes Lebanon. Live from National's 90th annual party conference The Prime Minister and National Party faithful are gathering in Wellington for the party's 90th annual conference. With less than five months until the election, the biggest party in parliament is preparing to switch into campaign mode, with Christopher Luxon set to announce new policies. 1News senior political reporter Benedict Collins joins Q+A live from Wellington. Real estate agents, doctors shouldn't be punished for free speech: ACT policy 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. ACT MP Simon Court joins Q+A. Will newcomer Andy Burnham oust PM Sir Keir Starmer? Yet another challenge has been made to the embattled UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. Former Manchester mayor and newly-elected Labour MP Andy Burnham is calling on the PM to consider his options for a handover of power just two years into the government's five-year term, the legacy party searching for renewed energy in the face of surging support for Nigel Farage's Reform party. 1News UK correspondent Kate Nicol-Williams joins Q+A from London. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

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. ACT MP Simon Court joins Q+A. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The Prime Minister and National Party faithful are gathering in Wellington for the party's 90th annual conference. With less than five months until the election, the biggest party in parliament is preparing to switch into campaign mode, with Christopher Luxon set to announce new policies. 1News senior political reporter Benedict Collins joins Q+A live from Wellington. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Productivity, sensible taxation and the ballooning cost of superannuation are among the uniquely thorny, long-lasting issues that New Zealand hasn't been able to conquer. It's a politically-motivated cycle of short-term flip-flopping on these important issues that The Helen Clark Foundation's new book, Facing Up To Our Future, diagnoses as the problem - released, strategically, in a general election year. Former prime minister Helen Clark joins Q+A to speak to the book's message, and to the latest developments from the war in Iran, where a MOU toward a peace deal has been signed between Iran and the US, but the Strait of Hormuz has shuttered again as Israel strikes Lebanon. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Yet another challenge has been made to the embattled UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. Former Manchester mayor and newly-elected Labour MP Andy Burnham is calling on the PM to consider his options for a handover of power just two years into the government's five-year term, the legacy party searching for renewed energy in the face of surging support for Nigel Farage's Reform party. 1News UK correspondent Kate Nicol-Williams joins Q+A from London. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Does Labour's public transport fare cap policy add up? The Labour Party - the biggest party in Opposition, maintaining a tight lead in this year's polls - has decided to open its election year campaign with a public transport fare cap policy: $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 everywhere else. Labour's transport spokesperson, MP for Palmerston North Tangi Utikere, says the policy delivers cost-of-living relief at a net cost of $65 million a year. He joins Jack Tame for the first time. Locals fear "low-probability catastrophic event" if LNG terminal built near city The Government is pushing ahead with plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in New Zealand as a security buffer for when locally-made, renewable energy sources dry up. Reporter Whena Owen travels to Taranaki, the proposed site of the facility, to ask residents how they feel about having LNG in their backyard. "Between one week and five years" to repair Strait of Hormuz The United States appears poised to sign a deal to end the war in Iran following three and a half months of global disruption from the closed Strait of Hormuz. Energy analyst David Keat joins Q+A to discuss how the conflict has permanently changed energy markets. Why prison numbers will surge: Writer Asher Emanuel New Ministry of Justice projections forecast a 35 percent growth in New Zealand's prison population over the next ten years, with those kept in remand - people who have been charged but not convicted, or convicted but not sentenced - set to swell by nearly fifty percent. Asher Emanuel, a public lawyer and author of bestselling book The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City, says the trend doesn't necessarily reflect more crime, but a deliberate policy decision to put more people in prison. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

New Ministry of Justice projections forecast a 35 percent growth in New Zealand's prison population over the next ten years, with those kept in remand - people who have been charged but not convicted, or convicted but not sentenced - set to swell by nearly fifty percent. Asher Emanuel, a public lawyer and author of bestselling book The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City, says the trend doesn't necessarily reflect more crime, but a deliberate policy decision to put more people in prison. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The United States appears poised to sign a deal to end the war in Iran following three and a half months of global disruption from the closed Strait of Hormuz. Energy analyst David Keat joins Q+A to discuss how the conflict has permanently changed energy markets. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The Government is pushing ahead with plans to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in New Zealand as a security buffer for when locally-made, renewable energy sources dry up. Reporter Whena Owen travels to Taranaki, the proposed site of the facility, to ask residents how they feel about having LNG in their backyard. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The Labour Party - the biggest party in Opposition, maintaining a tight lead in this year's polls - has decided to open its election year campaign with a public transport fare cap policy: $20 a week in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, and $10 everywhere else. Labour's transport spokesperson, MP for Palmerston North Tangi Utikere, says the policy delivers cost-of-living relief at a net cost of $65 million a year. He joins Jack Tame for the first time. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Federated Farmers swing big for Election 2026 Agricultural lobby Federated Farmers have a lot to celebrate in the last parliamentary term. Their 2023 election policy priority list has almost all been picked up by the coalition government, with projects like revised freshwater rules, rethinking forestry incentives in the Emissions Trading Scheme, and scrapping the Labour government's 'ute tax' all achieved in the past three years. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford joins Q+A to announce the new, 25-point election wishlist, which he says is for any political party willing to work with the group. Could Christchurch terror attack have been stopped? He told us what he was going to do: that's the stark conclusion of two extremism researchers who've uncovered previously unreported public communications from the Christchurch terrorist in the years leading up to the 2019 March 15 attack. Researchers Chris Wilson and Michal Dziwulski say the Royal Commission into March 15 failed to ask some of the most important questions after the attack - and whether it might have been prevented - and reached conclusions about Brenton Tarrant that were not supported by evidence. How three AI-linked IPOs could reshape economy When Elon Musk's Space X is listed on the NASDAQ, it's set to be the biggest IPO in history - valuing the company at $3 trillion New Zealand dollars. Two AI giants, Anthropic and Open AI, have also signalled they'll list in the coming months. Jonty Kelt, the founder at Fantail Ventures, Q+A to preview the historic launches. Election deadline rapidly approaching for small parties Any political parties wanting to contest the 2026 general election in November need to have their registration papers submitted by the end of this week. Political hopefuls - and returning hopefuls like the Alliance party - are rallying to get the required 500 financial members in time. Whena Owen reports for Q+A, meeting a set of smaller parties vying for the chance to win party votes. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Any political parties wanting to contest the 2026 general election in November need to have their registration papers submitted by the end of this week. Political hopefuls - and returning hopefuls like the Alliance party - are rallying to get the required 500 financial members in time. Whena Owen reports for Q+A, meeting a set of smaller parties vying for the chance to win party votes. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

When Elon Musk's Space X is listed on the NASDAQ, it's set to be the biggest IPO in history - valuing the company at $3 trillion New Zealand dollars. Two AI giants, Anthropic and Open AI, have also signalled they'll list in the coming months. Jonty Kelt, the founder at Fantail Ventures, Q+A to preview the historic launches. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

He told us what he was going to do: that's the stark conclusion of two extremism researchers who've uncovered previously unreported public communications from the Christchurch terrorist in the years leading up to the 2019 March 15 attack. Researchers Chris Wilson and Michal Dziwulski say the Royal Commission into March 15 failed to ask some of the most important questions after the attack - and whether it might have been prevented - and reached conclusions about Brenton Tarrant that were not supported by evidence. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Agricultural lobby Federated Farmers have a lot to celebrate in the last parliamentary term. Their 2023 election policy priority list has almost all been picked up by the coalition government, with projects like revised freshwater rules, rethinking forestry incentives in the Emissions Trading Scheme, and scrapping the Labour government's 'ute tax' all achieved in the past three years. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford joins Q+A to announce the new, 25-point election wishlist, which he says is for any political party willing to work with the group. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Five months from the election, immigration is being framed by political parties as a critical election issue, with the Prime Minister warning the wrong policies could damage social cohesion. In New Zealand in 2026, migration is the main source of population growth, with the nation's fertility rate slumping to 1.6, below replacement levels. Is an immigration backlash the inevitable response to a globalising world? Jack Tame speaks to author and CEO of geospatial analytics company AlphaGeo Dr Parag Khanna. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

In Budget 2026, Treasury published New Zealand's latest child poverty statistics. It's a grim picture, and one that isn't improving much: the number of households in material hardship is estimated to be 14 percent, with a 2028 target of six percent. Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad joins Jack Tame to lay out the cost of persistent child poverty and discusses the workability of a forthcoming ban of social media for under-16s. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered her third and final Budget Day speech for the parliamentary term this week. A Budget delivering investment in health, infrastructure and defence, the Minister has described it as "responsible" - while Opposition voices have criticised the lack of stimulus for ordinary New Zealanders facing cost-of-living pressures. The big bonus is a forecast return to surplus in financial year 2028/29, one year earlier than previously forecast, using the government's favoured forecasting tool, OBEGALx. Five months out from the general election, Nicola Willis joins Jack Tame to discuss the government's record on economic stewardship, why the new bank tax won't be passed onto consumers, and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's "freeloaders" comment on New Zealand's defence spending. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Return to surplus? Nicola Willis charts economic recovery Finance Minister Nicola Willis delivered her third and final Budget Day speech for the parliamentary term this week. A Budget delivering investment in health, infrastructure and defence, the Minister has described it as "responsible" - while Opposition voices have criticised the lack of stimulus for ordinary New Zealanders facing cost-of-living pressures. The big bonus is a forecast return to surplus in financial year 2028/29, one year earlier than previously forecast, using the government's favoured forecasting tool, OBEGALx. Five months out from the general election, Nicola Willis joins Jack Tame to discuss the government's record on economic stewardship, why the new bank tax won't be passed onto consumers, and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's "freeloaders" comment on New Zealand's defence spending. Children's Commissioner: The cost of child poverty In Budget 2026, Treasury published New Zealand's latest child poverty statistics. It's a grim picture, and one that isn't improving much: the number of households in material hardship is estimated to be 14 percent, with a 2028 target of six percent. Children's Commissioner Claire Achmad joins Jack Tame to lay out the cost of persistent child poverty and discusses the workability of a forthcoming ban of social media for under-16s. Why populist nationalism won't stop immigration Five months from the election, immigration is being framed by political parties as a critical election issue, with the Prime Minister warning the wrong policies could damage social cohesion. In New Zealand in 2026, migration is the main source of population growth, with the nation's fertility rate slumping to 1.6, below replacement levels. Is an immigration backlash the inevitable response to a globalising world? Jack Tame speaks to author and CEO of geospatial analytics company AlphaGeo Dr Parag Khanna. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Featuring David Seymour, Richard Dawkins, and Whena Owen's story on social investment

World-renowned biologist and writer Richard Dawkins is embarking on a speaking tour to mark the 50th anniversary of his first book, The Selfish Gene, a seminal text on the nature of genetics. He joins Jack Tame from his home in Oxford to reflect on how science has progressed, and shares his impressions on whether artificial intelligence technology can be considered 'conscious'. Richard Dawkins will be speaking at Auckland's Kiri te Kanawa Theatre on Friday 20 November and Wellington's Michael Fowler Centre Monday 23 November. Tickets are on sale now. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson will resign after 13 years in the job, board chair Jim Mather announced this morning. Mather says while the decision for Thompson to resign at the end of 2026 was made in December of last year, the announcement has been pulled forward by "recent unhelpful external commentary about his future". Deputy prime minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour, who is also a shareholding minister in RNZ, has criticised the public broadcaster's board and chief executive in recent months, and speculated earlier in the month that Thompson "won't be answering the call at RNZ for much longer." David Seymour joins Jack Tame. Watch more of Q+A's interview with David Seymour on Sunday.

Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour is welcoming the reduction of New Zealand's public service by 8700 staff over the next three years. He joins Jack Tame to discuss a new map of New Zealand's 267 different regulators from the Ministry for Regulation. With less than six months to the general election, and the party polling slightly lower than its 2023 performance, David Seymour speaks to his new policy of tougher English language requirements for visa-holders and introducing an overstayer enforcement unit within Immigration New Zealand. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Erica Stanford: NCEA, immigration and "anti-Māori" criticism Minister for education and immigration Erica Stanford joins Jack Tame to discuss the new scheme replacing NCEA, facing down public criticism over removing school boards' Treaty of Waitangi obligations, and why the National Party is toughening its rhetoric on immigration. She also pushed back on education ministry plans to remove ESOL funding for year 0 and year 1 students in the second half of this year, saying the ministry had “got ahead of itself” and that wouldn't now be happening. Stanford also touched on the government's pause in rolling out a social media ban for under-16s, saying there was a legislative programme still under way, and that the National Party was still committed to moving something on age verification. Where's the policy? Chris Hipkins on Labour's election plans Less than six months out from a general election, New Zealand's highest-polling party has only revealed a handful of policies. On big issues like the cost of living, fuel security and immigration, Chris Hipkins says the Labour Party will be sharing their vision for the country after Budget Day. Chris Hipkins joins Jack Tame for his first appearance of 2026 to discuss his flagship education policy of the previous government, Fees Free - now set to be cancelled, with a price tag to date of $2 billion. He also considers whether Labour in New Zealand can take any lessons from Sir Keir Starmer's turmoil in the UK. “Oligopoly”: How a lack of competition hurts public pockets OECD economist David Haugh joins Q+A with Jack Tame to talk about a major new report detailing the weak state of competition in the New Zealand economy, and why ordinary New Zealanders are being economically hurt by the structure of key markets. His report also critiqued the government's LNG plans, and he responds to an assertion from PM Chris Luxon that those sections of the report are “a load of rubbish”. The “global Goliath” and risk of worldwide societal collapse Cambridge researcher of existential risks Luke Kemp talks to Q+A about the threats facing the continued survival of humanity, why wealth inequality is such a major risk factor, and how in such a globalised world, a collapse would be much more difficult to survive than previous societal collapses. Kemp's book is Goliath's Curse: The History and Future of Societal Collapse, and he's been in New Zealand as part of the Auckland Writers Festival. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

David Kirk: Why rugby can weather storms around finances and fans NZ Rugby chair David Kirk sat down with Q+A's Simon Mercep to discuss the state of rugby's grassroots, whether NZR's finances are in the sort of shape they need to be, and player retention issues. Kirk also revealed NZ Rugby is “considering” buying private equity firm Silver Lake out of their $262 million investment, and reflected on the state of modern politics. Why Green candidate Tania Waikato believes she can beat Rawiri Waititi Lawyer Tania Waikato helped mobilise hundreds of thousands of submissions against the Treaty Principles Bill and Regulatory Standards Act. Now, she's ranked 13 on the Green Party list - the highest of any new face, and higher than some sitting MPs. She's also challenging the Māori electorate of Waiariki, currently held - by a considerable margin - by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi. Tania joins Simon Mercep to discuss her vision for constitutional reform in New Zealand, and how she will work with MPs from across the aisle after building her platform on calling them out. Inside the campaign against retirement village payout policies When a retirement village resident moves on or dies, the money they paid isn't released until the village sells the unit. MPs from across parliament are looking at changes, but one campaigner is touring the country demanding a better deal for the elderly. Whena Owen reports. Climate disaster spending overwhelmingly on recovery, not preparation Climate Change Commission chief executive Jo Hendy joins Q+A's Simon Mercep to discuss her organisation's new report into the future risks of climate change in New Zealand, highlighting the dramatic spending figures that show we spend far more recovering from climate-related disasters rather than proactively preparing for them. The report also details how those risks go beyond the disasters themselves, and can have cascading effects into governance, social cohesion, and mental health. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Wayne Brown: NZ being run 'like a wrecking yard' Running on a strident anti-Wellington platform, Auckland mayor Wayne Brown was re-elected to a second term in 2025 by a more than 100,000-vote majority. In April of this year, he signed New Zealand's first-ever city deal with central government, an agreement which contains no new funding arrangements for Auckland, and kicks one of Brown's biggest campaigns - a bed tax - into discussions for 2027. He joins Jack Tame to discuss Auckland's City Deal, Auckland Transport, and his pitch for a grand coalition between National and Labour in 2026 - a path he describes as the only way to reverse the long-term decline of New Zealand. Behind the scenes of Auckland's $5.5 billion rail project When Auckland's City Rail Link opens for business in the second half of 2026, the city will boast New Zealand's longest escalator, three brand-new stations, and a whole suite of costly but essential improvements to existing infrastructure. The price tag sits at $5.5 billion, split between central government and Auckland Council - with the Super City's largest-ever rates increase, 7.9 percent, mooted to cover the ongoing costs. Is a longer life always better? Dr Ezekiel Emanuel is an oncologist and bioethicist in Washington DC and the author of 'Eat Your Ice Cream: Six simple rules for a long and healthy life'. In New Zealand for the NIB Health Innovation Summit, he joins Jack Tame to discuss how NZ stacks up internationally when it comes to health outcomes, what our Pharmac model gets right, and why he says he will refuse medical intervention after he turns 75. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Chris Bishop: National leadership and his policy ambitions Chris Bishop's name has repeatedly been raised in media reports about discontent with the National Party's leadership. Despite being stripped of his campaign chair and leader of the house titles, the Hutt South MP continues to carry some of the most important portfolios in government: transport, housing, and infrastructure. Just over six months until the election, he joins Jack Tame to discuss the top job and how the $49 billion gap in funding New Zealand's roads of national significance will be addressed. Former Labour minister on building back trust after scandal Michael Wood was once a rising star in the Labour government's Cabinet, but after he failed to act on advice to divest himself of his shares in Auckland Airport, he resigned from his Ministerial portfolios in transport, workplace relations, immigration, and as minister for Auckland, and was not returned to his electorate seat in 2023. Three years on, he joins Jack Tame to discuss whether he has regained the confidence of the Labour caucus. Budget cuts come for online ANZAC commemoration Veterans and historians are in disbelief at government plans to archive the Ngā Tapuwae Trails website, a live, self-guided tour of Gallipoli and the Western Front, on the grounds that the website costs too much for a low number of people who use it. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Iranian ambassador: New Zealand no longer stands up for peace The representative of the Iranian government in New Zealand says the small Pacific nation is now seen as a country that supports unilateral military action, having refused to condemn the United States' actions on the world stage. After weeks of fighting, and days after ceasefire negotiations began, Jack sat down with Iranian ambassador Reza Nazar Ahari to discuss when the Strait of Hormuz will re-open and how Iran defends calling upon international law after perpetrating independently-verified human rights abuses in its own country. This interview was recorded on Friday 10 April. Anna Breman: How the Iran war will affect inflation When Anna Breman became New Zealand's Reserve Bank Governor in December of 2025, she promised greater transparency in how the bank makes monetary policy decisions. Formerly First Deputy Gobernor at Sweden's Riksbank, Breman took over the reins of New Zealand's central bank after a year of high-profile resignations and criticism from central government. After holding the OCR at 2.25 percent this week, she expands on what the global uncertainty caused by the Iran war means for New Zealand's economic future. This interview was recorded on Friday 10 April. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The representative of the Iranian government in New Zealand says the small Pacific nation is now seen as a country that supports unilateral military action, having refused to condemn the United States' actions on the world stage. After weeks of fighting, and days after ceasefire negotiations began, Jack sat down with Iranian ambassador Reza Nazar Ahari to discuss when the Strait of Hormuz will re-open and how Iran defends calling upon international law after perpetrating independently-verified human rights abuses in its own country. This interview was recorded on Friday 10 April. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

When Anna Breman became New Zealand's Reserve Bank Governor in December of 2025, she promised greater transparency in how the bank makes monetary policy decisions. Formerly First Deputy Governor at Sweden's Riksbank, Breman took over the reins of New Zealand's central bank after a year of high-profile resignations and criticism from central government. After holding the OCR at 2.25 percent this week, she expands on what the global uncertainty caused by the Iran war means for New Zealand's economic future. This interview was recorded on Friday 10 April. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

NZ's foreign policy response to Iran falling short: Labour The government is breaking with long-held norms in foreign affairs in how it is approaching the Iran crisis, says Labour's new foreign affairs spokesperson Vanushi Walters. She tells Q+A that the government must be stronger in standing up for human rights and international law, and sets out what she'd do differently. The AI startup that could radically change legal profession Amid the disruption being caused by AI, the legal profession could see massive changes in the next few years. Leading the charge is Ivo, whose founder Min-Kyu Jung spoke to Q+A about the potential for AI to take a much greater role how lawyers operate. The Kiwi former lawyer also talked about why getting massive scale in tech isn't possible in New Zealand, forcing a move to Silicon Valley. Will fuel price blowouts push us toward electrification? ReWiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey joins Q+A to talk about what the fuel crisis means for the future of energy, and why attention is increasingly turning towards electrification, rather than relying on precarious fossil fuel supply chains. The tiny nation caught in middle of geopolitical tussles Tuvalu is one of the world's smallest countries, facing some of the world's most challenging crises. The low-lying atoll nation faces huge threats from climate change, particularly rising sea levels, and many of its citizens are considering taking up the option of leaving. At the same time, Tuvalu's diplomatic relationship with Taiwan leaves it increasingly isolated among its neighbours. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Tuvalu is one of the world's smallest countries, facing some of the world's most challenging crises. The low-lying atoll nation faces huge threats from climate change, particularly rising sea levels, and many of its citizens are considering taking up the option of leaving. At the same time, Tuvalu's diplomatic relationship with Taiwan leaves it increasingly isolated among its neighbours. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.