Podcast appearances and mentions of Helen Clark

Legendary political journalist and broadcaster Barry Soper joins Nick Mills in the studio for the launch of his new book 'One Last Question, Prime Minister.' Soper takes your calls and Nick's questions about his time with the 12 Prime Ministers he has observed during his career. Hear about his experiences in Parliament, including the 2022 Wellington protest, changes over his career and insight into the leadership of Robert Muldoon, Helen Clark, Jacinda Arden and Chris Hipkins. His book is out now at most retailers including Paper Plus, Whitcoulls and Unity Books. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We got the inevitable Grinch headlines from the media yesterday, powered by union panic. The public service knew this was coming. Or should have. Judith Collins, Nicola Willis, and Sir Brian Roche have been talking about this since they all got into office. So it's not shocking. It's also not a done deal, yet. All that's really happened, in the final leg of this Government's current term, is a few letters have been posted to some chief executives. They've been asked to mood-board some cuts to staffing. The savings will be banked, but there's no guarantee any of this will actually happen. Winston Peters was right about that yesterday - that's for the election to decide. Back to the unions and opposition complaints. Two basic questions: If these proposed cuts are so bad, so evil, so destructive, so Armageddon, why was a workforce equivalent to about 1% of the population allowed under Helen Clark? Was she an evil Grinch, too? And how can you say the public will suffer, the sky will fall in, the clouds will gather, when you know not what jobs are actually being cut yet? How are you to know there aren't reasonable back-office savings to be made? We're told the money will instead go towards the frontline in health and education. To be fair, the same argument could be tipped on its head. Without knowing what's being cut, how can the Government claim no services will be impacted? The proof of that pudding will be in the eating, but remember the job of figuring out which jobs to axe, without affecting us, the taxpayers, is in the hands of the very people whose jobs are on the line in the first place. If we are to trust them, as the unions and opposition clearly do, should we not trust they'll know how to be surgical and only trim the fat and not the bone? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran political journalist Barry Soper reflects on nearly five decades in the parliamentary press gallery and his time observing 12 New Zealand prime ministers up close, discussing with Paula Bennett the often overlooked loneliness of political leadership and life inside the Beehive. He recalls a very different parliamentary era of all-night sittings, and a rougher political culture, alongside candid reflections on figures like Robert Muldoon and the personal toll of power after office. The conversation also touches on modern politics, media scrutiny, and why leaders such as Jacinda Ardern and Helen Clark continue to shape how New Zealand sees its leaders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's somewhat ironic the latest lecture we're getting from an office of global boffins is headquartered in Paris. No offence to the French, but they're screaming out for lesson in basic economics. Their debt-to-GDP ratio is 118%. Their debt is 60% above the EU limit. You're used to hearing about the Italians and the Greeks, but the French are up there with them in the top three most indebted nations in the bloc. The country nearly fell over trying to cut back pension spending. They spend billions on stuff we'd consider 'nice-to-haves'. The OECD is a multi-nation group; it just happens to be based in Paris. It's been around since 1961. But they've come up with a bunch of stuff they think we need to do, including linking pensions to life expectancy. This is the same group that wanted us, a few years back, to tax property and shares! They're also saying we should have quotas for women on company boards, which even Helen Clark doesn't think is a good idea. So, a lot of this should be taken with a grain of salt and is probably better shouted out the window of their offices in Paris. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins has two weeks left as an MP and she's given an exit interview to Audrey Young at the New Zealand Herald in which she says people don't like strong women - obviously referring to herself. Now, I don't disagree with Judith that she is a strong woman. She's formidable. But I do disagree with her that people don't like strong women, because what is Helen Clark if not a strong woman? So strong, they used to say that the softest part of her was her teeth - and yet she was elected and re-elected by the New Zealand public three times. That's more than Jacinda Ardern achieved and Jacinda Ardern is not what I would call a strong woman. Now, look, I realise there are too many variables to ever make a truly fair comparison across elections like that. But if you did strip everything else out, you'd look at it like this: Helen, the strong woman, won three elections, compared with Jacinda - the milder personality - who won two and only really won the second because of COVID. Judith Collins doesn't explicitly blame the fact that she's a strong woman for her poor showing at the polls when she led the National Party - what did she come in at, 24 percent or something like that? She's really referring to the fact that she copped more outrage for rolling a sitting MP for a seat in 2002 than John Key did for doing the same thing in the same year. But just for the avoidance of doubt: Judith's problem as leader of the National Party was not that she was a strong woman. In fact, that was part of her attraction at the time. The problem was that she was up against Jacinda in the COVID election, which was really a hiding to nothing - and she was doing weird things like praying in church for the cameras and making comments about fat people during the campaign. Much as I might have agreed with her, that was not a smart move. But I really wish that women like Judith would stop blaming their gender for how people react to them because more often than not it is not their gender that's the problem - it's something else. And by blaming their gender, they're avoiding being honest with themselves and honest with others about what that other thing is. More importantly - much, much more importantly - this reinforces to younger women that they're up against it simply because they're women, that being a woman, and especially being a strong woman, is somehow a problem. It is not a problem. People like strong women. Most of us have strong women for mothers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barry Soper is a name and certainly a voice that’s recognisable across New Zealand. After decades in the Beehive, Soper put pen to paper outlining his time covering 12 Prime Ministers, from Muldoon to Luxon. He blends personal stories, policy critiques, and behind-the-scenes tales ... like Muldoon’s drunken Schnapps election call, Lange’s antics in Africa, and Bolger’s mimicry habits. As former PM John Key wrote in one of the book’s forewords, “Barry knew, and still knows, where the bones are buried”. The other foreword is penned by Helen Clark. Barry Soper joins The Front Page to discuss how political reporting has changed over the years, and where he thinks it’s headed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Helen Clark reckons political polling's behind disagreements in the coalition. Winston Peters' office released emails showing Prime Minister Chris Luxon was advised against supporting the US and Israel's strikes on Iran. National's Nicola Willis believes Peters is playing politics - and should have informed them before releasing the emails. Willis separately accused NZ First of race-baiting in their opposition to the India free trade deal. Clark says Willis is not holding back. "New Zealand First is eating fairly deeply into National's support, and that is starting, I think, to become somewhat more corrosive in the coalition." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former Prime Minister unpacks how coalitions actually function behind the scenes.

In an NZ Herald exclusive, we learn that Christopher Luxon was very keen to whole heartedly support the US in their war in Iran and it took Winston Peters to step in and not allow the coalition to do so in his position as Foreign Minister. Helen Clark spoke with Ryan Bridge about that this morningThe other part of the story about the warhawkish nature of the PM is the source of this information being NZ First who released an email chain to journalists demonstrating that Winston Peters has made the call not to support the US' war in Iran in, what Nicola Willis is now calling and act of bad faith and a breach of their "no surprises" agreement as the PM had no heads up the email chain was being releasedTVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman has been suspended for five days from covering Parliament after breaching parliamentary press gallery rules. Speaker Gerry Brownlee made the decision on Thursday afternoon after involving himself in a dispute between the National Party and TVNZ over the alleged behaviour of two gallery reporters last week.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Naciones Unidas comienza la carrera para elegir quién sucederá al portugués Antonio Guterres. Cuatro candidatos, una chilena, un argentino, una costarricense y un senegalés, comienzan el proceso que definirá a su próximo secretario o su primera secretaria general en la historia del organismo.... ¿Podría el liderazgo femenino ser el volantazo que la ONU necesita en tiempos de crisis?  Es en Nueva York donde esta semana se llevarán a cabo las primeras audiciones públicas con los cuatro candidatos que aspiran al máximo cargo diplomático del planeta. Los cuatro candidatos son la expresidenta chilena y ex Alta Comisionada de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos, Michele Bachelet, el argentino Rafael Grossi, director del Organismo Internacional de la Energía Atómica, la costarricense Rebeca Grynspan, secretaria general de la Conferencia de la ONU sobre Comercio y Desarrollo, y el senegalés Macky Sall, ex presidente y primer ministro del país. Estas audiencias públicas son una etapa preliminar del proceso para designar al líder de la organización. Se someterán durante tres horas cada uno a preguntas de los 193 Estados miembro y de representantes de la sociedad civil. Es la segunda vez en sus ocho décadas de existencia que la ONU organiza una sesión de este tipo, creada en 2016 para mayor transparencia. En sus 80 años, nunca ha habido una mujer al frente del organismo. Si Bachelet o Grynspan se imponen, una latinoamericana sería la primera secretaria general en la historia de la ONU. Hace 10 años, cuando fue elegido Antonio Guterres, seis hombres y siete mujeres pelearon por el cargo, entre ellas, otra latinoamericana, Susana Malcorra, excanciller argentina, ex jefa del gabinete de Ban Ki Moon y cofundadora de GWL Voices. "En 2016 había siete candidatas mujeres y seis candidatos hombres. Cuando uno analiza las candidatas que éramos, uno puede encontrar representados allí todos los perfiles a los cuales se pueden aspirar. Desde desde ex primeras ministras, como fue el caso de Helen Clark, a este ministras y ex ministras. Entre el grupo había muchas, había muchas de nosotras que aparte también teníamos una experiencia amplia en el sistema. Había algunas de nosotras que tenía experiencia en el sector privado que le agregaba otra perspectiva", dice Malcorra a RFI. "Entonces, si uno quería filtrar por un cierto criterio las candidaturas, yo diría que siempre había una candidata como mínimo que cuadraba con ese criterio y ninguna de nosotras estuvo a la altura. Entonces a mí me cuesta mucho creer, viendo la fortaleza del grupo de mujeres que nos presentamos, que no hubiera una sola mujer que pudiera este cubrir los requisitos. Yo estoy convencida de que cuando se toman las decisiones a puerta cerrada, las cuestiones de los sesgos tienen su importancia. Y creo que eso fue lo que pasó", señala Malcorra.  Malcorra analiza que, con el multilateralismo en crisis, la ONU atraviesa un momento bajo y el liderazgo femenino podría ser el volantazo que se necesita para revivir el espíritu del organismo.  "Estamos conformes que haya dos latinoaméricanas que sean candidatas y por supuesto nos gustaría ver que haya aún más. Este es un momento que pide una renovación profunda de las Naciones Unidas, que reclama un restablecimiento de la confianza en las Naciones Unidas, una energía nueva en las Naciones Unidas y a mí se me ocurren pocas cosas tan impactantes como que de repente que sea una mujer quien lidere". "Sólo pensar cuánto interés va a provocar en la prensa, cuánto interés va a provocar en la gente común, cuánto va a significar para los jóvenes y, sobre todo, las jóvenes como símbolo de que es posible. Yo creo que las mujeres traemos una perspectiva distinta en la conducción de las organizaciones, en la resolución de los problemas, a la hora de tender  puentes y encontrar ángulos distintos Me parece que eso es fundamental, sobre todo en el momento en el que está el mundo y el sistema mismo. Por eso creo que es tan importante que una mujer sea considerada y que una mujer finalmente llegue a la posición de secretaria general". El Consejo de Seguridad se reunirá a finales de julio para discutir a puertas cerradas las candidaturas.

Naciones Unidas comienza la carrera para elegir quién sucederá al portugués Antonio Guterres. Cuatro candidatos, una chilena, un argentino, una costarricense y un senegalés, comienzan el proceso que definirá a su próximo secretario o su primera secretaria general en la historia del organismo.... ¿Podría el liderazgo femenino ser el volantazo que la ONU necesita en tiempos de crisis?  Es en Nueva York donde esta semana se llevarán a cabo las primeras audiciones públicas con los cuatro candidatos que aspiran al máximo cargo diplomático del planeta. Los cuatro candidatos son la expresidenta chilena y ex Alta Comisionada de la ONU para los Derechos Humanos, Michele Bachelet, el argentino Rafael Grossi, director del Organismo Internacional de la Energía Atómica, la costarricense Rebeca Grynspan, secretaria general de la Conferencia de la ONU sobre Comercio y Desarrollo, y el senegalés Macky Sall, ex presidente y primer ministro del país. Estas audiencias públicas son una etapa preliminar del proceso para designar al líder de la organización. Se someterán durante tres horas cada uno a preguntas de los 193 Estados miembro y de representantes de la sociedad civil. Es la segunda vez en sus ocho décadas de existencia que la ONU organiza una sesión de este tipo, creada en 2016 para mayor transparencia. En sus 80 años, nunca ha habido una mujer al frente del organismo. Si Bachelet o Grynspan se imponen, una latinoamericana sería la primera secretaria general en la historia de la ONU. Hace 10 años, cuando fue elegido Antonio Guterres, seis hombres y siete mujeres pelearon por el cargo, entre ellas, otra latinoamericana, Susana Malcorra, excanciller argentina, ex jefa del gabinete de Ban Ki Moon y cofundadora de GWL Voices. "En 2016 había siete candidatas mujeres y seis candidatos hombres. Cuando uno analiza las candidatas que éramos, uno puede encontrar representados allí todos los perfiles a los cuales se pueden aspirar. Desde desde ex primeras ministras, como fue el caso de Helen Clark, a este ministras y ex ministras. Entre el grupo había muchas, había muchas de nosotras que aparte también teníamos una experiencia amplia en el sistema. Había algunas de nosotras que tenía experiencia en el sector privado que le agregaba otra perspectiva", dice Malcorra a RFI. "Entonces, si uno quería filtrar por un cierto criterio las candidaturas, yo diría que siempre había una candidata como mínimo que cuadraba con ese criterio y ninguna de nosotras estuvo a la altura. Entonces a mí me cuesta mucho creer, viendo la fortaleza del grupo de mujeres que nos presentamos, que no hubiera una sola mujer que pudiera este cubrir los requisitos. Yo estoy convencida de que cuando se toman las decisiones a puerta cerrada, las cuestiones de los sesgos tienen su importancia. Y creo que eso fue lo que pasó", señala Malcorra.  Malcorra analiza que, con el multilateralismo en crisis, la ONU atraviesa un momento bajo y el liderazgo femenino podría ser el volantazo que se necesita para revivir el espíritu del organismo.  "Estamos conformes que haya dos latinoaméricanas que sean candidatas y por supuesto nos gustaría ver que haya aún más. Este es un momento que pide una renovación profunda de las Naciones Unidas, que reclama un restablecimiento de la confianza en las Naciones Unidas, una energía nueva en las Naciones Unidas y a mí se me ocurren pocas cosas tan impactantes como que de repente que sea una mujer quien lidere". "Sólo pensar cuánto interés va a provocar en la prensa, cuánto interés va a provocar en la gente común, cuánto va a significar para los jóvenes y, sobre todo, las jóvenes como símbolo de que es posible. Yo creo que las mujeres traemos una perspectiva distinta en la conducción de las organizaciones, en la resolución de los problemas, a la hora de tender  puentes y encontrar ángulos distintos Me parece que eso es fundamental, sobre todo en el momento en el que está el mundo y el sistema mismo. Por eso creo que es tan importante que una mujer sea considerada y que una mujer finalmente llegue a la posición de secretaria general". El Consejo de Seguridad se reunirá a finales de julio para discutir a puertas cerradas las candidaturas.

Join Wallace for New Zealand's most explosive 30 minutes of politics. He is joined by panellists Ruwani Perera, Marian Hobbs, and David Farrar. On the show tonight: Is New Zealand about to have its third Covid election? Punter suggest that in a pessemistic economic era, National might be pivoting campaign strategy to once again draw to mind the memories of Covid-19 and its management under Labour. Also, Paul Goldsmith has revealed the Broadcasting Standards Authority could soon be on the chopping block. Is New Zealand's fuel plan going to carry us through the crisis? And as one commentator suggests, is it time to bring back Helen Clark?

Kia ora! Laika Rountree joins Crawley for Stage Direction, chatting about three upcoming and current productions: Helen Clark in Six Outfits, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge, and Selene. And Peter Lineham chats to Crawley about pre-Christian Māori spirituality for That's The Spirit. Thanks to The Beer Spot!

Laika Rountree joins Monday Drive w/ Crawley to discuss and review three current and upcoming productions: Helen Clark in Six Outfits, Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge, and Selene.

Recently we spoke to playwright Fiona Samuel about her new work 'Helen Clark in 6 Outfits' which opened this week at the Auckland Theatre Company. When we asked Fiona if the Right Honourable Helen Clark would be going to the play, she said she and the cast didn't want to know. Well, on Tuesday night the Former Prime Minister did go to the play, and Jesse got to talk to her about it afterwards.

Shoot us a Text.Episode #1313: An FTC webinar that raised more questions than answers, a new fix for broken EV chargers, plus collision repair education starting in elementary school.The much anticipated webinar hosted by NADA to, which included an FTC representative, left thousands of dealers and industry partners frustrated and provided no additional clarification on advertising rules.According to a recap email sent out by industry compliance company, ComplyAuto:The FTC's stated goal is to "level the playing field" for dealers who are already advertising correctly.The FTC refused to answer NADA's questions. FTC official Helen Clark declined to respond, offering nothing beyond what was already in the warning letters, but stated the questions will be considered.NADA raised key issues that went unanswered: whether federal law preempts state doc fee laws (those that allow or require exclusion), whether MSRP can still be advertised, whether a less prominent conditional price is permissible, and liability for third-party lead provider websites.NADA pushed back, noting consent decrees go above and beyond the law and bind only the settling party.Bottom line: nothing new was provided. All open questions remain unanswered.Everged is taking aim at one of EV adoption's biggest headaches: broken public chargers. Its new Zero Cost Swap Program replaces outdated or non-working units with fully managed, modern equipment, giving site hosts a way to fix reliability issues without upfront costs.The program targets aging or unsupported chargers that often get stranded when providers exit the market.Everged covers removal, installation, and activation of new Level 2 or DC fast chargers.Ongoing support includes 24/7 monitoring, maintenance, and real-time diagnostics to maximize uptime.Many swaps can reuse existing electrical infrastructure, speeding deployment and avoiding new permits.Everged President James Dion said, “We are so confident in our technology stack that…we all win: our site hosts, EV drivers, and Everged.”Collision repair education is starting earlier than ever, like elementary school early. Instructor Jerry Weston Jr. is teaching kids as young as five basic tools and hands-on skills, tackling a surprising problem: many students lack even the most fundamental mechanical knowledge.After-school programs are reaching students ages 5 to 13, introducing tools and repair concepts years before high school.Weston says he now has to teach basics like how to properly use a screwdriver, showing a sharp decline in foundational skills.Early exposure helps kids discover interests through hands-on tasks like dent removal, polishing, and painting.Programs are using engaging tech like VR paint simulators to make learning safe, fun, and accessible for younger students.Weston: “The more exposure they get, the stronger the future of the industry will be.”Join Paul J Daly and Kyle Mountsier every morning for the Automotive State of the Union podcast  as they connect the dots across car dealerships, retail trends, emerging tech like AI, and cultural shifts—bringing clarity, speed, and people-first insight to automotive leaders navigating a rapidly changing industry.Get the Daily Push Back email at https://www.asotu.com/JOIN the conversation on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asotu/

It's election year again in New Zealand, and it's a process that we're all familiar with. But few are more familiar than Former PM Helen Clark and Former National MP Maurice Williamson, who joined Tim Beverige to look at what we can expect from election year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The life and journey of former Prime Minister Helen Clark is set to be explored in a new play set to hit Auckland's ASB Waterfront Theatre this April. Helen Clark in Six Outfits will trace her journey from the farm in Waikato where she grew up all the way to taking on the top role in the Beehive. The play was written by Kiwi actress and writer Fiona Samuel - and she says she worked to find the story in the facts about the former Prime Minister's life. "I did know that there was going to be humour in it, but I thought - humour alone won't get you through an evening in the theatre, you've got to have some substance. So what is the substance here? What are the moments, what are the other characters?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I bumped into a mate at the supermarket yesterday and one of the first things he said to me was, “Where's Christopher Luxon?”. And I knew straight away what he was getting at. He was echoing the sentiment of political commentators over the weekend who were asking why the Prime Minister isn't front and centre of the government's response to the fuel situation. Not that Nicola Willis seems to be complaining. She appears to be relishing the opportunity to be the government's mouthpiece. Which is rather unusual given what we've become used to in recent years. Particularly since Covid - but we saw it before then too. Jacinda Ardern is the most obvious comparison. But John Key, as well. On the day of the big quake, he called an urgent cabinet meeting, then he was straight on a plane to Christchurch. Jacinda Ardern was the same after the mosque attacks. She was front and centre when the White Island tragedy happened, and, as we know, she was the face of her government's Covid response. These commentators who were talking about Christopher Luxon over the weekend were making the inevitable comparison to Jacinda Ardern. And it's something I've been thinking about too. This fuel situation is Christopher Luxon's opportunity to shine. But, apart from photos on social media of him on the blower to other world leaders talking fuel, that's about it. The rest of the time it's either Nicola Willis on her own or Nicola Willis with the Prime Minister at her side. And I don't think it's doing him any favours at all. Take Friday, for example. The Prime Minister was in Christchurch for the official opening of the new One New Zealand Stadium - while he let Nicola Willis front the government's fuel update. As one commentator put it: “It is difficult to imagine his predecessors - Ardern, Key or Helen Clark - surrendering such a platform at such a time.” Nicola Willis is doing a very good job in front of the fuel response. But, in my mind, she's doing a job the Prime Minister should be doing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 29 March 2026, newcomer Robert Aramayo shocked at this years BAFTAs by beating Hollywood heavyweights Leonardo DiCaprio and Timothee Chalamet to win the lead actor award. This week he tells Francesca what went through his head when his name was read out and the impact his win has had on the film 'I Swear'. Fiona Samuel was given a two word brief when asked to write her latest play, those words were Helen Clark. The result is a satire 'Helen Clark in Six Outfits'. Fiona talks about how a frustrating element of Clark's career inspired the show. In light of closures for both McCain and Watties this week, Buy NZ Made Executive Director Dane Ambler is calling for policy that prioritises New Zealand suppliers. Francesca reflects on missed opportunities for Chris Hipkins this week. And it turns out cockroaches form long term relationships by doing something a little bit unexpected to their prospective partner - Dr Michelle Dickinson has the details. Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new play about Helen Clark is set to hit Auckland's ASB Waterfront Theatre this April 'Helen Clark in Six Outfits' tracing her journey from a Waikato farm girl to New Zealand's first elected female Prime Minister. The play is written by award winning playwright Fiona Samuel, who wrote last year's Pike River, she tells Clark's story through the lens of her wardrobe, highlighting how often Clark was judged on her appearance, rather than her political shrewdness. Fiona Samuel who was awarded 'the member of the New Zealand order of merit' for services to television and theatre joins Jesse.

While I don't like the idea of us being dragged into the AUKUS military alliance with Australia, the UK, and the US, I think what the government's doing creating something along the lines of an ANZAC defence force - I think it makes a truckload of sense. The plan is that by 2035 there'll be an integrated, combat capable Australia New Zealand defence force. Combat capable is the particularly interesting bit. I don't know about you, but I was a little bit surprised when I heard about this plan. Although it does seem that it's been on the cards for a while now, especially when you consider some of the new kit that the Government's buying for the New Zealand Defence Force and how it matches what Australia's got. As for AUKUS, Defence Minister Judith Collins was asked whether this will align us with it. And she said it won't. But the proof of course will be in the pudding. And it's probably easy in some ways for Judith to say that given that her political career is finishing up. Nevertheless, in principle, I think it's a no brainer. As Judith said this morning, we're a very small country in terms of population, but our defence force has got to spread itself very thinly over a very wide area. Here, throughout the Pacific and the Antarctic region. She says effectively joining forces with Australia is a much more clever way of making the most of our defence resources and making the most of Australia's defence resources. So no argument from me. But I'm not convinced about us being able to do this without being dragged into the AUKUS alliance in some way, shape, or form. And I'm picking that former Prime Minister Helen Clark will be thinking along the same lines. Because last year, when there was speculation or discussion that the Government might be thinking about signing New Zealand up as some sort of second tier member of AUKUS, she said we shouldn't be touching it with a barge pole. According to Helen Clark, if you're an ally, you can get dragged into all sorts of things that you shouldn't be dragged into or don't want to be dragged into. Although I think we're seeing that allies are learning to say no to each other a bit more often. Which is why Donald Trump's nose is out of joint. But if we go on what Judith Collins is saying, and I'm prepared to, the New Zealand Defence Force will still think for itself and will still be in charge of its own people. She says, "We'll make our own sovereign decisions. These are our people in our uniforms." And here's what I think is the most reassuring part. Judith Collins says "If the Australians were doing something we weren't happy with, we'll pull our people out," noting that Australia would be free to do the same. So the way I see it, this is nothing more than a common-sense approach for a tiny country which has let its defence force run on the smell of an oily rag for far too long. We're playing catch up now, sure, but we are dreaming if we think we can do it all on our own. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE BEST BITS IN A SILLIER PACKAGE (from Monday's Mike Hosking Breakfast) For This Week, Anyway/Current PM VS Former PM/Letter From Iran... Sort Of/Democracy WatchSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week on, the war in Iran is progressing by the day. In the latest, the United States are gearing up to potentially send ground troops into Iran, Australia is considering whether they should send in troops, and New Zealand supports the US but won't involve itself any further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. The war: 6/10 As much as you want to give a war a number, this is not World War III, it is not going to last four years. It most likely won't last four weeks. Helen Clark: 2/10 Everything that is wrong with ideological jibber-jabber. From Hipkins to Starmer to Clark, their theory is less relevant in this modern chaotic world than ever. Dairy: 9/10 Honestly, is it now close to being ridiculous? Five auctions from five. The protein surge is real and we are making bank. Bill “I saw nothing” Clinton: 4/10 Overshadowed by his wife who looks as feisty as ever and, all things considered, came out of it pretty well – almost as though they were called as a political stunt. Dave Rennie: 7/10 Got there at last. How low-key was that? Is it possible we just aren't as invested as we once were in All Black rugby? LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Full Show Podcast for the 4th of March 2026, we discuss rules based order - does Helen Clark have a point? A new All Blacks coach is announced - we seek reaction. Then, the 5am myth: why waking early won't make you more successful. Get the Matt Heath and Tyler Adams Afternoons Podcast every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Middle East is being rocked by explosions - and questions are circulating on Iran's governance. The US and Israel have bombed more than 2000 targets in Iran and killed close to 800 people. The conflict has sparked criticisms over the international response, but one expert is pushing back against Helen Clark's condemnation of our Government. Iranian New Zealander, barrister and solicitor Samira Taghavi says she's open to debating Clark to challenge her stance on the conflict. "International law must bend to save lives, it has happened before, it's not absolute. And she should know better than this, because we have a responsibility to protect and even the UN Charter allows self-defence." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 4th of March, the tourism sector is a major force, with spending and jobs both rising. Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters speaks on meeting Javier Milei in Argentina and his thoughts on the situation in Iran and criticism from Helen Clark and Phil Goff. Mark Mitchell and Ginny Andersen talk about Kiwis stuck in the Middle East and balancing the books on Politics Wednesday. Get the Mike Hosking Breakfast Full Show Podcast every weekday morning on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US and Israel launched strikes at Iran over the weekend, prompting concern and outrage from experts. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have criticised Iran's counter attacks, prompting Helen Clark to call the Government's response 'one-sided'. Waikato University law professor Al Gillespie has said this attack was illegal by the standards of international law. "There's nothing in the UN charter that says you can bomb someone who won't negotiate...the exemption to that was if this was a pre-emptive attack and it was an overwhelming necessity, and that cannot be seen in this instance." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Okay, let's talk about the debate Helen Clark has sparked on whether New Zealand should be condemning the US air strikes on Iran. As you'll have noticed, New Zealand hasn't condemned the strikes. In fact, in a radio interview this morning, the Prime Minister said that our position aligns with Australia's - and Australia has openly supported the strikes. The logical conclusion, then, is that we support the strikes too, even if we're not saying so explicitly. That lack of condemnation has upset Helen Clark because, as she points out, the air strikes are illegal under international law. And she is right about that. But can anyone seriously argue that the strikes shouldn't have happened? Consider the counterfactual - the strikes didn't happen at the weekend. Ayatollah Khamenei is still alive. He continues to kill tens of thousands of Iranians for protesting, continues to fund Hamas to attack Israel, continues to fund and support the Houthis as they cause turmoil in the Middle East, continues backing Hezbollah to create further instability, and continues causing trouble as far away as Australia, where Iran allegedly directed the firebombing of a synagogue in Melbourne just a few months ago. This is exactly the same dilemma the world faced in Venezuela with the capture of Maduro. It shouldn't have happened, it broke the rules - but no one is sad that someone broke the rules to do what many believed needed to be done. Now, obviously, this doesn't guarantee success. Bombing a country to force regime change almost never works. What comes next could be worse. The disruption to the Middle East could be greater than any benefit gained. But all of those are unknowns right now. What is known is this: the Iranian regime was murdering its own people, destabilising the region and attempting to cause disruption even further afield. So yes, what happened at the weekend broke the rules. But tell me - are you upset that it did? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Geoffrey Miller joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk the war in Iran. Dr Miller is a geopolitical and strategic analyst with a PhD in Politics from the University of Otago for his thesis on New Zealand's relations with the Gulf states.After a ton of promises to fix the economy, Nicola Willis is now saying that New Zealanders are ‘impatient' for expecting quick cost-of-living turnaround, which is the opposite to what they were promising before the last election. Is it any wonder that the latest IPSOS NZ Issues Monitor has Labour being trusted more by New Zealanders than National and has neither of National's coalition partners 'most trusted' in any area at allPrime Minister Christopher Luxon has fired back at former Prime Minister Helen Clark after she labelled the Government's response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran a “disgrace”. Speaking to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB this morning, Luxon defended his position and strongly criticised the Iranian regime, “Ultimately, that's up to the Americans and the Israelis to assert,” Luxon said when asked whether the strikes were legal. ++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Extensive coverage from the conflict in the Middle East, including Helen Clark and Robert Patman. Plus, changes to KiwiSaver for farmers in New Zealand.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark hasn't been slow in criticising our government's response to the attacks on Iran. She's not just criticising it - she's slamming it. Saying that it's “a disgrace” for not condemning Israel and the United States and, instead, criticising Iran's “indiscriminate” retaliatory attacks. Helen Clark says the Government knows full well that Israel and the US are breaking international law with these strikes and the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister should be saying so. She says the Government knows that negotiations regarding Iran's nuclear capability were underway and we should be ripping into Israel and the US for what they started on Saturday. But here's where I'm at. When I hear about people in Iran cheering and celebrating the demise of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who am I to criticise what's happened? Who am I to tell these people: “Oh no no, stop celebrating, it's not right what's happened. Israel and the US aren't playing by the rules.” Who am I to say that to those people? And who is Helen Clark to say that? This is the problem you get with people on the left side of the political spectrum, who seem to be incapable of seeing the bigger picture. Has Helen Clark and the opposition MPs lining up to criticise the Government forgotten about the death sentences handed out to some of the people involved in the recent mass protests? They want things done to the letter every time. But what if this brings a better life for the people of Iran? It's a big if. Because who knows whether this will be the end of the current regime running Iran or not? Regime change is easy to talk about but very difficult to do. Because it's not just the regime, it's who fills the vacuum afterwards. As we saw in Iraq. Yes, they got rid of Saddam Hussein, but then they got rid of the Iraqi army as well and that's when it really hit the fan with other extremists and terror groups all wanting a piece of the action. So, who knows how this is going to end up in the long term? But, when all is said and done, for me this is about the people of Iran. Which is why you're not going to hear me piling into our government the way Helen Clark is. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As I watch Chris Hipkins, presumably gleefully, mess about with the India Free Trade deal, I'm reminded this is not the Labour Party that did the FTA with China. Hipkins is no Helen Clark and in that is a great sadness. For all those who occasionally contact me and ask of the possibility of a so-called “grand coalition” —a relationship between the Labour and National parties— before you ask, next time look at the way Hipkins plays these games and there is your answer. Even in areas of broad agreement, they still can't act like grownups. It's also a lesson in name vs substance. The Labour Party of the past few years is nothing like Labour of the late 90's and early 2000's. That was a centrist version. Yes, they still handed out free money to people like students to bribe them in election year. But the rest of the time they actually ran the economy in growth. Compared to Barbara Edmonds, Michael Cullen was a conservative. In the early parts of 1984 Labour, with David Lange, was similar, and here is your irony that Hipkins fails to recognise: when Labour are, broadly speaking, middle of the road they are actually popular. Ask Bob Hawke or Paul Keating or Tony Blair – centrist Labour is successful Labour. By the time you take modern Labour with Hipkins and Sepuloni, and add the Greens in the mix, you are seeing the left wing “group think” that not only keeps them out of office, but leads to the sort of game playing we have with an FTA. Yes, the Government probably shouldn't have to rely on them and for all the games Labour plays, New Zealand First is just as bad with their xenophobic nonsense. But Labour once had a global view. It's not like the Chinese weren't thought of with great suspicion prior to 2008. But the bigger picture was at play. The realisation that large countries and their economies could be good for everyone was a driving force. What Labour would do well to do is put this country first. Not score points, not look like children, and not pretend they actually had anything to do with negotiating this thing at all. FTAs are big picture, not a three-year electoral cycle game. I don't think I'm alone in wishing there were more adults in the room. Labour 1999-2008 put the current lot to shame. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former New Zealand Prime Minister and UN leader, Helen Clark says the actions of the United States in Venezuela breach international law. Clark spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

Health Minister Simeon Brown provides an update on Manage My Health data hack; Manage My Health and Neighbourly have both been hit by data breaches; Former New Zealand Prime Minister and UN leader, Helen Clark says the actions of the United States in Venezuela breach international law; The holiday toll period stands at seven - less than half the previous year's toll of 15.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper talked to Ryan Bridge about today's political hot topics. Luxon sold the RMA reform we'll see tomorrow from Chris Bishop and Simon Court. Minister of Police Mark Mitchell is at odds with former police commissioner Andrew Coster over who knew what and when in the McSkimming scandal. A New Zealand war ship is being shadowed by a Chinese fleet near Taiwan. And, Helen Clark's father passed away. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's first MMP government gets off to a rocky start, beset by boxer-short scandals and lousy poll numbers. Jim Bolger declares “springtime for New Zealand”, but the economic weather won't play ball. He leaves for Europe oblivious to the plans being cooked up by a small, secretive group of MPs called “The Te Puke Bypass Committee”. When Bolger returns from overseas, Doug Graham is there to deliver the news – Jenny Shipley has the numbers; the game is up. Many are relieved, many distraught. Winston Peters is furious. The frost between Peters and Shipley never thaws, and before long an almighty, unprecedented cabinet conflagration ensues.  The final episode of Juggernaut 2: The Story of the Fourth National Government goes beyond the end of that term, to explore questions of legacy – how did this period in our history change New Zealand, for better or worse, and how will Jim Bolger, who died in October 2025 at the age of 90, be remembered? Includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Ruth Richardson, Rob Eaddy, Doug Graham, Tau Henare, Helen Clark, Sandra Lee-Vercoe and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It took an extraordinary cocktail of events to bring proportional representation to New Zealand – everything from political cock-ups to public screams of resentment. This is the story of a country that decides to tear up its electoral plumbing – and what it does next. As the country chooses MMP, it also puts Jim Bolger back in power, but by the very narrowest of margins. Winston Peters and Jim Anderton thrive, small, splinter parties proliferate, and the old guard scrambles to prepare for the new world. For the first time, voters get those two ticks, and you'll never guess who wins the balance of power and keeps the country hanging on which way he'll go. The fourth episode of Juggernaut 2: The Story of the Fourth National Government includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Tau Henare, Helen Clark, Sandra Lee-Vercoe, Rob Eaddy, Jenny Shipley and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After some of the most hectic months in the history of New Zealand politics, Jim Bolger faces a white-knuckle byelection in Tamaki. In the seat vacated by the pugnacious Rob Muldoon, even the National candidate seems to be standing against the government.  With the impacts of radical and painful reforms still raw, a general election rapidly approaches. It will go right down to the wire, and serve up an unforgettable pair of election night speeches from Bolger and Mike Moore.  On the left, a new force challenges Labour for supremacy: Jim Anderton's Alliance. Helen Clark mounts a coup. And Bolger confronts a critical question: what to do with Ruth Richardson? Plus: a very strange visit to Moscow prompts a nuclear-submarines-for-butter proposition.  Includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark, Sandra Lee-Vercoe, Rob Eaddy, Bill Birch and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A mood of protest sweeps New Zealand in 1991, sometimes spilling over into violence, as the reform machine powers on. Benefits are slashed, the Employment Contracts Act fundamentally reshapes the labour market, the health system is restructured, and Jim Bolger U-turns on a “no ifs, no buts, no maybes” promise around superannuation. Here Ruth Richardson tells the story of the Mother of All Budgets – what she was hoping to achieve, and how it got that indelible name.  In a whirlwind first year of government, Richardson takes some drastic steps. And National's challenges come not just from outside, but from within – Muldoon continues to lurk the halls, and there's a charismatic, increasingly popular young MP making trouble, too: Winston Peters.  Includes new and exclusive interviews with Jim Bolger, Ruth Richardson, Jenny Shipley, Susan St John, Helen Clark, Bill Birch, Rob Eaddy, Michael Laws and more.  Click here for full details of archive material used in this series Juggernaut 2 was made with the support of NZ On Air. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mourners have paid tribute to former Prime Minister Jim Bolger at an official funeral today, with current and former MPs from various parties travelling up the Wellington coast to attend. The Prime Minister was in attendance along with former Prime Ministers Jenny Shipley, Sir Bill English and Helen Clark. Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro declared Mr Bolger's passing the "end of an era" when a young farmer who left school at 15 could rise through the political ranks to become prime minister. Lillian Hanly reports.

The former New Zealand Prime Minister and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programmme joins Emile Donovan.

Immunization has transformed the health trajectory of millions in Africa — but the job is far from done. This discussion moves beyond vaccines as a medical intervention, framing them instead as a trust-building exercise between communities and health systems. You'll come away with a clear sense of what it will take to protect Africa's health gains and prepare for future threats. Helen Clark offers high-level insights on vaccine diplomacy, while Dr. Jamal Ahmed unpacks the operational and political hurdles to reaching every child. Dr. Esias Bedingar adds a front-line perspective on combating misinformation and delivering care in fragile settings. Vaccines have saved millions of lives across the continent — but more work remains. This episode explores both the progress made and the gaps that still need to be closed. Guests Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, former Director of UN Development Program and member of the Elders Dr. Jamal Ahmed, WHO Director for Polio Eradication Dr. Esias Bedingar, Program Manager at Big Win Philanthropy and former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister of Chad.   Background Materials Vaccination Progress in Africa – Millions of Lives Saved, WHO Africa

If only nostalgia paid the bills. But when it comes to peaches, it doesn't. Wattie's is out. Pams do a good line of imported stuff, and those who buy peaches in tins like it cheap. A lot of us like cheap. Cheap has never been more appealing in a cost of living crisis. If I was in the business of patriotic purchases, I would close my door and go home. It does work to a degree overseas. Australia is running an "Australian Made" campaign which has had traction. Canada gave it a good push post the tariff debacle. The French are into it. But a place like New Zealand, despite the rhetoric, has never really excelled at being good at backing local. Pams do peaches at $0.99. Wattie's is $3.90. They would have to be some pretty spectacular fruit for that price, and that is why Wattie's is out. They told us yesterday demand is down. Who needs Brian down the road in Hawke's Bay when you have fruit from Lord-knows-where at a fraction of the price? Peaches are also out of favour. As Greg my hairdresser and I were talking during the week, who buys cans of peaches anyway? It's school camp food, he suggested. But he might just be one of those trendy urbanites. I walked him down memory lane with my childhood canned fruit salad that had peaches and pears and apples and two cherries. The cherries were the prize. I'd happily burn a whole can of syrupy crap to land the two cherries. But here is the thing – one of the tricks in life is honesty. When we face these issues, we burn a lot of energy and time on things we know aren't going to work, or are past their used by date, or are a waste of time. Marching for Gaza is not saving a single life or stopping the war. Turning up at COP30 isn't getting an inch closer to Net Zero and Helen Clark is never going to think more concerts at Eden Park is good. We don't like local anything if we have to pay more than some cheap crap from Vietnam or on Temu. It is what it is. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. The Chinese parade: 8/10 Forget politics. As a “thing”, as a spectacle, as a “can you believe how in time those goose steppers are?”, it was spellbinding. Helen Clark and John Key and Dan Andrews and Bob Carr: 4/10 On balance, given what it was really about, I think it was a mistake. Trump's death: 2/10 A sad reminder of just how thick, gullible and worryingly naive some people are. And that's before you get to the morons who thought Taylor had DM'ed Eden Park as a wedding venue. I am not making it up. Teachers: 7/10 Big increases in enrolments. Just wait until the unions get hold of them and kill the buzz. The Tamaki Makaurau by-election: 2/10 Is this the most pitiful display of disinterest in modern democracy? If you thought Port Waikato was bad, this thing looks like it will hit it out of the park. That's if the park is open. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's criticism of the decision of former Prime Ministers John Key and Helen Clark to attend China's Victory Day parade in Beijing. Canterbury University China specialist Anne-Marie Brady spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark is defending her decision to go to China's largest military parade in Beijing. Clark spoke to Corin Dann.

New Zealand is fast becoming one of the last western democracies to recognise Palestine as a state, after Australia announced on Monday it would. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark spoke to Corin Dann.

In November 1945, James Newton, a young World War II veteran, was shot four times—twice in the back—in his room at an Abingdon, Virginia boardinghouse owned by Helen Clark. She would soon stand trial for his murder, as speculation swirled about the true nature of their relationship. Was she a protective, motherly figure trying to prevent Jimmy from taking his own life, or had she killed him in a fit of jealousy? Greg Lilly joins me to disuss the case. He is the author of "Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder". More about the author and his work on his website: https://www.greglilly.com/ His publisher page: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices