Podcasts about luxon

Clint Smith joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk about the recent coversations around Luxon's leadership and what it might mean when it comes to people deciding where to put their vote. Also on the agenda we'll be having a look at the claim an economist made today that NZ will be in deficit for a decade and it's because of COVID spendingCraig Renney joins us LIVE at 9.30 to talk about the increase in fuel prices and the claim by many on the right that the then Labour government spent half of the $60b COVID fund on non-COVID related issuesPolice Association and Retail NZ warn of the dangers of potential changes to Crimes Act, including widening the powers of citizens arrests and allowing retailers to detain suspected offenders, have received a stark warning. The Police Association and Retail NZ say that as well as potentially ending in tragedy, this could see retailers in the dock charged with manslaughter.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Luxon - 1, media - 0. After no small effort on the media's part to drum up a crisis on a bad poll, there's two important points and we can put this whole nonsense to bed. 1) Luxon doesn't have a coup brewing. Despite all the detractors' best efforts, there is no one counting numbers. The nearest they have managed to get is Chris Bishop, who was more interested in being in India over the weekend than lining up a new job for the new week. Also, we don't vote for Prime Ministers. They are not presidents. We vote for parties and policies and results. If you like National you don't not vote National because the leader isn't to your taste. 2) The revelation from the Curia poll, that on one hand they tried to tell you how unpopular Luxon was with a net negative rating of -19. It turns out Bishop is about as bad on -14. Erica Stanford is -16. Everyone is underwater. Chuck in Winston, Seymour, and Hipkins, you'll see no one is in positive territory and that tells you a couple of things as well. We live in an era where likeability is irrelevant because we hate everyone. Post-Covid we have never got over the funk, so as much as you want to bang on about Luxon not connecting, according to the numbers, no one connects. It's all over the world. Trump is underwater, Starmer is underwater, Albanese is underwater and Macron is underwater. Chris Minns who runs New South Wales is popular currently because of his handling of Bondi. Apart from that pick a politician because we hate them all. In the likeability numbers, the likes of which we see in the TV1 poll, if Hipkins was 50% and Luxon was 20% then that's an issue. But they aren't. They both have been stuck at about 20% forever and all the others are below that. That's why none of this matters. In the past the polls have shown an answer, a suitor, a name that drives a bit of fizz. We have no such names. Now, you can debate the merits or otherwise of great leaders with great personalities, or lack of them. But we are where we are and none of the current lot will go down as Churchill's, to paraphrase Trump. And Churchill, by the way, for a lot of the time wasn't popular either. So let's see this nonsense for what it is: we are voting on the economy, not show-men. There is no coup, this is but one poll. Mountain versus molehill. A waste of time. Let's all try and do a lot better. There is too much at stake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's bee plenty of speculation over the weekend about Luxon's political future, but after today's round of interviews, it's unlikely he's going anywhere just yet. Do we think National will roll him eventually? The Government will be keeping an eye on fuel prices as the conflict in the Middle East continues. There's growing calls for the Government to cut the fuel tax - do we see them going through with this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look, I know we're all going to have different points at which we think the media reaction to a news story gets silly but for me, that point was this morning. Members of the media chasing the Prime Minister through Wellington Airport, asking whether he was considering resigning and whether he had the full support of his caucus seemed a little bit silly to me. Silly because it's not as if he's gone to ground for the past four days, is it? He was on morning media today - two radio interviews and at least one TV appearance - and he's also fronted a post-Cabinet news conference. So it's not as though the media are starved of opportunities to talk to the Prime Minister without chasing him through a crowded terminal. All it does is create the impression of drama where no real drama exists. There is no coup. All of his ministers are backing him publicly. Privately, sure, maybe a little less so - but publicly, they are. Luxon remains the leader until he is talked out of being the leader and there's no sign that's happening. In short, nothing is happening in the short term. Now, if I try to understand why the media wanted to chase him through the airport, perhaps it's because they sense things have shifted - and that part is true. Since the poll on Friday morning that put National at 28 percent, two things have changed. First, ministers who previously gave complete backing to Luxon are now doing so privately with a caveat: “Yeah, I support him… but.” But he's bad at taking advice, but he made a bad call with XYZ. Whatever the specifics, the point is the same: they've dropped their full confidence. That tells me something is going on in their heads. Second, he has now entered what I'd describe as publicly “dead man walking” territory. Every bad poll from here, every major mistake - and there will be some - will reignite talk about his leadership. That is a slow bleed for any leader. It ends one of two ways - a spanking on election day, or the leader eventually calling it quits. I think he's now in that zone. I don't think the coalition loses the election at this rate, but I do think National comes back as a mini version of itself - and that's not great for them. Maybe that electoral prognosis is what has the media so excited that they're chasing him through the airport. But that's a medium-term issue. Today? I think the brief excitement of the weekend is over and nothing is going to happen. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luxon faces an onslaught of questions from the media over Friday's poll results and speculation that he's out the door.The price of Crude oil has dramatically increased, and the stock market taking a hit in the wake of the war in Iran, but Nicola Willis insures NZ that we are in a good position to weather any possible economic impact.World leaders are bending over to the US, offering boots on the ground and support for an unjust war in Iran.++++++++++++++++++++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/

For our business panel this week Nick is joined in the studio by Retail NZ CEO, Carolyn Young and employment law expert and partner at JB Morrison, Tess von Dadelszen. Young and von Dadelszen discuss doing business in the city, in such hostile times in terms of international, national and local politics. Starting with the effect of the Iran conflict, what are the effects of instability and price rises having on their businesses and their clients? The council financial saving plan is out. Will this actually change anything for businesses? How do our guests think this council is going? Then onto how their businesses are effected by our own government's instability. As talk continues about Luxon as leader, our panel discuss how their businesses are impacted from both a retail and legal point of view. And how are business leaders coping with the cost of living crises, how selling and buying businesses is going and as a city what we need to do better. Plus as the Moa Point saga continues, Mayor Andrew Little says that businesses will not receive financial compensation, although spending in Lyall Bay hospitality is down 40% - our guests look into the legality of this and how businesses can deal with the disaster. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been another assurance from Chris Luxon that he isn't going anywhere. A Taxpayers' Union Curia poll shows National on just 28.4%, behind Labour on 34.4%. This has sparked speculation about Luxon's future as leader. On Friday, Luxon says told Newstalk ZB he wasn't considering his position. Today, Luxon told Mike Hosking that hasn't changed at all over the weekend. He says the only future he's been considering is the future of New Zealand's kids and grandkids, and how the Government to set the country up for better success. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staying the course when things are tough is a skill. I think you either have it or you don't. Chris Luxon will not get rolled, but he may quit. That would be a mistake of epic proportions. What would drive me, if I was him, would be rational thought. 1) This election is not about personality, it's about economic management. On that the Government are tracking well. 2) The internal polling within the National Party is fine. It does not reflect the Curia poll that the media made so much of. The unfortunate thing about Friday's pre-hyped release is it came at the same time Luxon had had a bad week on the war. That week by the way, was nowhere near as bad as some made it out to be. But the two events came together for a good week-end headline. 3) This would be the bit that would focus my mind - it's only Hipkins. Seriously, you're only lining up Labour as an opponent. On the economy. The people who wrecked the place two and a bit years ago are asking the voter to come back and do a bit more of it. You don't believe me? Read Thomas Coughlan's piece with Barbara Edmonds. 4) Even if you take the poll seriously, which you shouldn't. There is a one seat shift, so it's within a margin of error. 5) The economy will save you. You campaigned on a turnaround and the turnaround is real. Given we are voting on economics, the National leader is not a deal-breaker. If you are voting on interest rates and jobs, does Chris Bishop or Erica Stanford really change your view of your lot? They are good people and good talents, but they aren't game-changers and they won't get you a job any more than Luxon will. 6) Having done the hard yards, why quit now? The prize is just down the road and with a second term perceptions change. 7) The coalition as an operation is a success. Three parties have, and do, work well together. It's MMP in action. The alternative? Hipkins talking about a minority Government, a Green Party and extremism and a Māori Party that will not be back in anywhere near the numbers they have now. It's not a combo. This must all sit heavily with Luxon. How could it not? But that is what leadership is about. That is what you chased and bought into. If you think you will fail you will automatically be successful. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's leadership within his own party is being questioned after he didn't fare well in a Taxpayers' Union poll this week. It has National down 2.9 points to 28.4% - but most notably, it suggests that the centre-left bloc could form a government in November. It'll be very tight though, with 61 seats for the left and 59 for the right. Luxon sits at 21% for preferred prime minister, while Hipkins is at 22.7%. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OPINION: Luxon should not bow down to negative polls. What a weekend it's been for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. And strangely enough, the whole situation really kicked off right here on this show on Friday morning with a little chat with Nicola Willis. The results of the poll were out, people were talking about miserable they were, the Nicola Willis interview kicked it off. It started the conversation again — a question about pressure and about how bad a poll has to be before a change in leadership is talked about — and then suddenly it grew legs. By the afternoon it was on national television, it was on Heather du Plessis-Allan's show, and the Prime Minister himself was fronting it. And he said it clearly - he is absolutely not stepping down. Now I've got to tell you something honestly — all Friday afternoon I kept thinking to myself, good. I hope he doesn't quit. Because look around the world right now. Everywhere you go, people are unhappy with the leader they've got. Why? Governments are being hammered by economic pressure, global instability, wars, the aftershocks of the pandemic, and recession. It's not exactly an easy time to be in charge of a country. The latest polling hasn't been kind to Luxon. A Freshwater Strategy poll reported by The Post shows 51% of voters say he should be replaced as National Party leader, while only 36% believe he should stay. Now, another survey from Curia Market Research put the New Zealand National Party at 28.4% support, its lowest level under Luxon. So yes, there's pressure. But here's the thing that really struck me over the weekend — most of that push for change isn't coming from National voters. The polling shows 67% of National supporters still back Luxon, and 60% of ACT voters support him too. The loudest calls for him to go are coming from Labour, Green, and Te Pāti Māori supporters. Which raises a pretty obvious question. Why on earth would a governing party sack its leader because the opposition wants them gone? Of course they want them gone, they'' want anyone gone. And then we get into the horse-race stuff. If Luxon were pushed out, the poll says Chris Bishop would be the most preferred replacement on 18%, followed by Nicola Willis on 11%, Erica Stanford on 10%, and Mark Mitchell on 9%. But here's my view. Changing Prime Minister in the middle of a tough economic recovery is exactly the kind of instability New Zealand does not need right now. We've come through COVID. We've been through inflation. We've had interest rates crushing households. We've had a recession. We've had tariffs. Globally we're watching wars in the Middle East and instability all over the world. This is not the moment for political musical chairs. So, my message to Christopher Luxon is pretty simple this morning. Don't quit. Don't wobble. Don't let the noise get to you. I want you to - front up. Stand up. Be stronger. New Zealand doesn't need another leadership drama right now. What it needs is steady leadership — even if it's not perfect — while the country gets itself back on track. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week for Beehive Buzz, Nick is joined by Newstalk ZB Political Reporter Azaria Howell. Rumours swirl around Prime Minister Luxon's position and a coup, after last week's Curia poll result had National at 28%. And tomorrow the findings from the report on the Governments Covid-19 response are released. What is the feeling in the beehive right now, and what is expected to come of this? For the latest from the parliament, Beehive Buzz. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon is at risk of sounding a bit like Joe Biden. You'll remember the former US president bungled that election debate with Donald Trump and then people started calling for him to go and he said he wasn't standing down. Christopher Luxon sounded a bit like that when he was on Newstalk ZB on Friday afternoon and this morning. He said he was “absolutely not” considering standing down. That the only thing he was thinking about was the future of our kids and grandkids. I think he's absolutely right not to be thinking about standing down. Not that I think his colleagues won't try to roll him. That could happen. And, when I heard him on Friday, I wondered whether his denial of having any thoughts about standing down was a message for us or a message for his caucus. I'm in no doubt he was talking to his colleagues. Telling them very publicly that he's not going anywhere. He said he has no idea where the talk about him considering his future came from. He also said “hand on heart” he will still be Prime Minister and leader of the National Party when this year's election comes around. So not considering his future in the slightest. Nor should he. While I don't think he's anywhere near the best prime minister we've ever had nor the best leader National has ever had, he's not the worst of a pretty average bunch. Over the weekend, a poll came out saying that 51 percent of people want to see a new leader of the National party. But that same poll showed that the likes of Erica Stanford's star has faded a bit with voters. The other thing too with her and other names mentioned, such as Mark Mitchell is that, while they have impressed people with their portfolio work, do you reckon they'd be any good at being across everything? Could you imagine Mark Mitchell or Erica Stanford talking about inflation with any great authority? Chris Bishop would probably be the most credible on that front. Another reason why I think Luxon should stay, is that this is his moment to show that he can hold a steady course when things hit the fan. It's his chance to show that he can keep a team together when things are going a bit pear-shaped. Reason number three: the last thing this country needs right now is more turbulence. There's enough going on. Changing prime minister is way different than Labour changing leader back in 2017 when it was in Opposition. If Chrisopher Luxon is the leader he seems to think he is, then he'll ignore all that noise. Not for his sake. But for the sake of the country. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 8 March 2026, Sol3 Mio star Pene Pati has gone from singing in South Auckland rest homes to the grandest opera stages around the world. He talks about his journey and just how demanding the opera world is. Former foreign correspondent Charlotte Glennie suffered critical injuries in a fall in 2001, she joins Francesca to talk about it's life changing impact and her the events from her career that stay with her. Political commentators debate whether Luxon can right the ship, particularly with the war in the Middle East threatening any economic recovery. While Francesca looks at the hype around the poll on Friday and wonders whether we might have got a bit carried away? And Megan Singleton has the ultimate travel tip for splitting the costs of a group trip. 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.

This week on The Sunday Panel, host of the Prosperity Project, Nadine Higgins, and Coast day host Lorna Riley joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Luxon's leadership has been questioned this week, but looking across the board - where is the leadership? Are we stuck with our current political leaders because there is no one else to step up? Where is the next generation of leaders? United Airlines has revealed it plans to permanently ban flyers who don't use headphones on the plane. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, it was an interesting end of the week when it comes to domestic politics. With rumours swelling on Friday that the Prime Minister was considering his future over the weekend, he had to act quickly. There was absolutely no way he could go into the weekend with even the hint of speculation he was considering his future. When a sitting Prime Minister signals they are “considering their future”, it is almost always politically damaging. In parliamentary systems like ours, leadership authority depends heavily on perceived confidence and control. Once a leader questions themselves publicly it rapidly weakens their position with the party and the electorate. Honesty and transparency in this case doesn't buy sympathy, it is more likely to create a trigger moment that encourages internal challengers. Be anything but unequivocal on Friday and the Prime Minister may as well have poured himself a Coke No Sugar and started planning a nice winter getaway. The sudden announcement he would appear on Heather de Plessis-Allan Drive just after 5pm on Friday evening was unusual enough to raise an eyebrow. But he was turning up to do exactly what needed to be done to remain credible - to get ahead of the story. He explained to Heather why he decided to appear - to set the story straight. After some easily clipped soundbites from his party deputy Nicola Willis, who told ZB's Wellington Morning host Nick Willis that it hadn't been a “great week for the Prime Minister”, Christopher Luxon made it very clear that he has the full support of his team and caucus. Since then, everyone has been very well behaved. Over the last few days, I've been reflecting on what a tough gig it is. There's quite a lot of luck and timing involved in being a successful Prime Minister. A successful career in politics isn't just about talent and ability, or the possession of that rare relatable charisma - it also comes down to what the country and the world throws at you. And - let's not forget - what the previous Government left you. Look around the world and most leaders are dealing with the same issues we have - a slow economic recovery, the high cost of living, housing, a weird international trade environment, and much more. We haven't seen much alternative policy from opposition parties to show us there are other, more likely to be successful, scenarios under alternative leadership that we're currently missing out on. The reality is that the recovery was going to be difficult for whoever was in charge. But it's especially difficult for a leader who takes on a cheerleading role with the vigour Luxon does. There's a disconnect between the aspirational words and the reality of a Government that's cutting rather than growing as much as we'd like, and when signs the economy is finally turning the corner are likely to squashed by conflict in the Middle East. The only thing keeping Luxon in play is his ability to control his troops, the party's desire to avoid the instability that comes with changing leadership, and the lack of an obvious replacement who could win an election. But history tells us that if the polls continue to trend downwards for the Nats, the Prime Minister may be organising that mid-winter break before you know it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's suspicions speculation around Chris Luxon's future won't be subsiding, even after he firmly ruled out stepping aside. This week's Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll has National down to 28.4 percent, with Labour able to govern alongside the Greens and Te Pati Maori. The Prime Minister's assured the public he had his MP's backing and won't be going anywhere. Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams says this week's been a challenging one from Chris Luxon. "The real significant event this week in terms of the election is the unexpected economic headwinds we now appear to be in - the events in the Middle East are not going to be over in a week or even a month now, it's looking to be quite a lot longer, and the implications on the New Zealand economy is certainly a challenge." Former Labour Chief of Staff Neale Jones says the speculation over Chris Luxon's political future is 'fatal' - regardless of whether or not it's true. "The problem he's got is that it's never a good thing when you have to ring up and say - I'm not resigning. I think that spoke to the crisis he was in this week." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure's mounting on Christopher Luxon after a horror poll has his party slumping three points to its lowest level since the Judith Collins era. The Taxpayers' Union Curia poll released today has National on 28.4 percent, six points behind Labour. Support for the Greens, ACT, and Te Pati Māori have grown. Former National Party MP Simon O'Connor spoke to Lisa Owen.

What on earth is going on with the National Party? That's the question that seems to be on lots of lips as new polling shows the party only a couple of points above its disastrous 2020 numbers. The latest Curia Poll, released by The Taxpayer's Union, National is sitting at 28 percent, down three points from the same poll last October, and 10 points from the last election. Already today Nicola Willis, National's Deputy Leader, has said publicly she's not happy with the number, and that they have to do better. To offer his own analysis director of Capital NZ, former National press secretary, and political commentator Ben Thomas is with Jesse.

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

Barry Soper joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to wrap the political week. The war in Iran and it's implications are top of mind, including the potential effects on New Zealand's fuel prices. They also chat about today's National Party and Luxon news following the release of a damning poll this morning. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers'-Union Curia poll revealed this morning that Christopher Luxon's National Party has sunk to its lowest result in the poll since 2021. National is sitting on 28.4%, down 2.9 points from February's poll. The result sparked conversation around whether Luxon should step down. Luxon joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to defend his position and says he is 'absolutely not' stepping down. LISTEN ABOVE OR WATCH BELOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marcus watches the Warriors' first NRL match of 2026, and gauges reaction to the TPU/Curia poll that Luxon felt he need to ring ZB and discuss himself! LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Curia Poll is out and it's terrible news for National. Speculation and murmurs say he's on notice to step down or be pushed out.Hannah Spencer of the UK Green Party had a historic win last week overthrowing a Labour candidate from their safe seat. Alongside a few other political wins for the Left.Kristi Noam is officially fired as Secretary of Homeland Security, not long after an abysmal hearing scrutinising her handling of ICE. Meanwhile more Epstein files directly accusing Trump of S*x Assault have finally been released.++++++++++++++++++++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/

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

Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins Nick Mills in the studio for her monthly catch up. The latest poll from the Taxpayer Union and Curia has National at 28.4% - the lowest for the party since it formed Government in 2023. Nick questions Luxon's leadership and asks Willis - is there any hope for Luxon as Prime Minister. These numbers mean the left block could form a government, and is Nationals lowest result while in government since November 1999. They also discuss the effects that Kiwis could have to deal with from the Iran conflict, and what the government has planned to ease financial pressure. Plus, where is the Wellington North candidate - has Wellington been neglected this election? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Mills wraps the week with former Minister and political commentator Peter Dunne and political commentator and barrister Brigitte Morten. The latest taxpayer union poll shows National at the lowest point since 2020 - 28%. After a failed coup last year, is this the right time for Bishop to take over as National leader? Our guests face off over what caused this and what will happen with the role of Prime Minister this election. Then the Iran War. How close are we to calling it a World War and how has Luxon handled this as an international leader? Should we as a country take a stand and what should it be? Dunne and Morten share their thoughts on the council's progress and what to expect from the release of the financial saving plans. Plus - should Moa Point impacted businesses receive compensation? They also discuss what the future of libraries should look like - following Nick's tour of Te Matapihi, the new central library. And bootcamps - is this the best use of $4 million, and the best option for the kids. Then hots or nots, our panel share their highlight and lowlight for the week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is it 1-1? The Prime Minister dug himself a hole over Iran. Barbara Edmonds dug herself a hole in the NZ Herald. As far as holes go, I regard the Luxon hole as slightly less problematic, given the war is not in our direct purview and there is nothing we can do about it. But it does display the ongoing issue the Prime Minister appears to have with many New Zealanders: he doesn't look like he is confident and he doesn't tell it like it is. In a world where people who tell it like it is generally succeed, he is still playing 'Mr Nice Guy' and getting trapped by a media pack who love the smell of blood. Edmonds is a real worry. She too, is nice. So nice, she told us quite openly getting a surplus isn't happening anytime soon and she doesn't have a clue how to pay for the most expensive promise they have made – restoring pay equity. You can argue around the dual mandate for the Reserve Bank but that's wonk's territory. Dollars and cents are real and it's our back pocket that is affected. A sad outworking of MMP is we have an increasing number of inexperienced players in the game of running the joint. Luxon knows business, which ties into the economy, which is why things are starting to turn for us. This Government has done a decent job on it. He is an amateur on foreign policy. You only had to listen to Winston Peters yesterday on this show to know that people who have been there, done that, have seen the world change therefore, can explain it. And Winston doesn't take crap from juniors, which is what too much of the Press Gallery is made up of. The nuance and sophistication of reporting is largely gone and replaced by clickbaiters and Luxon, being too nice a guy and too inexperienced in certain areas, walks right into it. Barbara on the other hand is entitled to her views. But this is why Labour won't win the election. She has clearly learned nothing from watching Grant Robertson butcher the place and because that was only three years ago the memories of the voters are still sharp. So in a guns at dawn, Luxon wins because foreign policy jibber-jabber isn't as serious as economic sabotage and incompetence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The PM ponders the latest GDT Auction (up 5.7%), Trump's attacks on Iran, the media’s attacks on Luxon, and the Golden Shears and World Shearing Champs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you ever want an example of why Chris Hipkins is not going to be the next Prime Minister, watch Question Time yesterday. He has made a twofold mistake. Mistake number one is being a Labour MP obsessed with esoteric, wonky subjects like United Nations treaties and charters. The second mistake is being obsessed with making a global issue all about New Zealand, when in reality we have nothing to do with it. The Prime Minister has kind of got trapped by it as well. The reality is the attack on Iran will affect us all, whether through petrol prices or possibly some inflationary issues and our ability to travel to Europe through Dubai. Outside of that it is not our war, we did not start it, we are not participating in it, and we are a world away from it. The Prime Minister and the Government can answer questions, as far as anyone can answer questions, on what it might mean for our economy, or our travel, or our petrol bill. But what they can't do, and yet are being asked to do, is explain why the Americans did what they did and how that may or may not tie into the United Nations and various charters. Luxon got bogged down in the legalities of it on Monday and walked back some of his comments about all actions to eliminate a regime being good actions. But then Hipkins started banging on about the UN as though New Zealand is the boss of the UN, New Zealand was exclusively given details of the material the United States acted on and has insight that no other country has as to whether there is a so-called "imminent threat". Labour, Hipkins, and the media do this every time. They try and place New Zealand, a tiny, insignificant country at the bottom of the world, into the centre of all global action as though we somehow affect it, can change it, explain it, participate in it or stop it. Esoteric international law is of little interest to most of us on a daily basis. Arguing over United Nation's charters is the stuff of chardonnay and Thorndon and people far removed from regular New Zealander's lives and thought patterns. It's a dumb game trying to trap a government into saying random stuff in the hope they get a headline, or an apology, or a scalp. This has nothing to do with us. Like the weather, it will affect us, but we don't drive it, influence it, or even know a lot about it. Also, for what it's worth, by arguing the way Labour does they are hopelessly out of step with your average New Zealander who I suspect, if you asked the simple question "is getting rid of the crazies in Iran a good idea", the answer would be yes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has copped some backlash over his stance on the US and Israel attacking Iran. Chris Luxon strongly condemned the Iranian regime's retaliatory strikes. He also acknowledged the US claim Iran was developing weapons that could threaten overseas nations. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon's faced a lot of scrutiny from MFAT over this matter. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All right, we need to talk about Chris Luxon and that performance yesterday. “Oh, I mean… we obviously understand… we're not saying that… what we're saying is… we… we… we understand this… I don't know how to be any clearer, guys…” You know what's going wrong here, eh? The Prime Minister doesn't want to say what he actually thinks. He doesn't want to take a position on the air strikes on Iran. If he says he supports the strikes, he risks copping it from what may be a majority - but almost certainly is a very vocal minority - of New Zealanders who don't like anything the US does militarily. If he says he opposes the strikes, then he risks creating an international headline like 'New Zealand criticises US air strikes' and getting this country offside with the most volatile US president in modern history - and whatever comes with that. So either way, he's in a tough position. A generous interpretation is that he's trying to protect New Zealand from Trump. A less generous interpretation is that he's trying to protect himself from unhappy voters. The problem is that, as always, Chris Luxon trying to avoid taking a position ends the way it always does: he looks clumsy and uncertain. He makes mistakes - like saying he supports anything the US may do to prevent nuclear weapons, including carpet bombing - which he's now had to walk back today. And Luxon's been here before, hasn't he? Remember the three-minute interview with Mike Hosking where he wouldn't take a position on whether he would have sacked Andrew Bayly? I'd say that in trying to avoid choosing between supporting or not supporting the air strikes, he created a third position altogether - making himself look foolish. And for a leader in an election year, that is the worst choice possible. It is better - even if the position is unpopular - to pick one, than to look like he does today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeremy Moses is Associate Professor in Political Science and International Relations at the University of Canterbury in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. His broad area of research interest is in theories of international relations, with a particular focus on issues surrounding humanitarianism, war, pacifism, and military technologies. Jeremy joins us tonight LIVE at 9pm to talk about the ethics of war, just war and we look at the current conflict to see who are the good guys and who are the bad. Christopher Luxon has walked back his comments yesterday that NZ would support "any action" to stop the Iranian regime. We look at more of NZ's response from other political leaders today.Donald Trump has struggled to explain why he launched another Middle Eastern war today and informed American's that this war will likely take longer than he first indicated.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Regional conflict is erupting in the Middle East - as the US and Israel ramp up aggression against Iran. Tehran has fired across surrounding states in retaliation for the killing of its Supreme Leader, with the US continuing bombardment, as Israel targets Lebanon. The White House says three US soldiers have died and it expects more casualties in coming weeks. MFAT says least 1750 New Zealanders are in the region, more than a thousand in the UAE. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon confirmed New Zealand stands with the people of Iran during this conflict. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unrest in the Middle East continues. I watched that stand-up from the Prime Minister and I've got to be honest with you — I walked away feeling uneasy. Not because I expect a New Zealand Prime Minister to be a Middle East historian. We're a small country. Our politics is usually about rates, roads, schools, the price of butter. I get that. But when the world tips into crisis —when the United States and Israel launch strikes on Iran— that's not a domestic moment. That's what I call an international flashpoint. That's oil prices, security alliances, global instability, the rules-based order we rely on as a small trading nation. And I'm sorry, that performance didn't fill me with confidence. On Sunday, Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters said the Government “acknowledged” the US and Israeli action, but wouldn't say whether New Zealand supported it. On Monday morning, pressed to explain what “acknowledge” actually meant, the Prime Minister struggled to articulate it. He repeated that the Iranian regime is “evil” —and many would agree, given its repression at home and behaviour abroad— but that wasn't really the question. The question is: where does New Zealand stand? Under international law, military intervention has a high bar. Pre-emptive self-defence is defined narrowly under the century-old Caroline doctrine – the threat must be “instant, overwhelming, leaving no choice of means and no moment for deliberation.” Luxon said he hadn't seen intelligence, hadn't asked for any beyond regular briefings, and those matters were “to be determined”. That's the moment I thought: hang on. You don't have to reveal classified material, but you do have to look like you're in command. Former Foreign and Defence Minister Phil Goff spoke to Ryan Bridge this morning, questioning why the Government hadn't already ruled the Iranian Regime a terrorist organization. You do have to project calm authority. You do have to explain the principles guiding the country. Instead, it felt uncomfortable. Out of his depth. Out of his comfort zone. And maybe that's the brutal truth of politics – you don't get to choose when the world tests you. You don't get to say, “this isn't my portfolio". If you're Prime Minister, every crisis is your crisis. So here's the question I want to put to you tonight: Did you feel confident watching Christopher Luxon handle that moment? Did you feel like he was in control? Like he understood the stakes? Like he knew exactly where New Zealand sits in a conflict like this? Or did you, like me, feel it was one of the weakest stand-ups you've seen from a Prime Minister in a long time? Because in times of international tension, tone matters. Clarity matters. Leadership under pressure matters. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's being accused of playing politics over Iran. Christopher Luxon says the Government will make a decision very shortly on whether to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity. Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff told Ryan Bridge if Luxon wanted to take a stand, he should have done it already, as moving now would look opportunistic. He's questioning why the Government's treating Iran differently than countries like Russia, and thinks we need consistency. LISTEN ABOVE See 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/

On the four-year anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion into Ukraine, we need to give credit where it is due and say that this Government, or at the very least the National Party and NZ First, are saying the right things around the reality of Russia illegal actions in Ukraine and where NZ's support needs to beRyan Bridge is either a useful idiot, or maybe just an idiot, as he tried to trap Chippy again and again over the cost of a new harbour crossing in Auckland and untruths about Genisis Energy.A group of female ex-MPs from the left and right of politics have taken the Government to task over the way it hurried through changes to pay equity reforms last year. The People's Select Committee called it a 'flagrant and significant abuse of power', which amounted to 'orchestrated subterfuge'.++++++++++++++++++++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/

New legislation identified in the weekend with this government wanting to criminalize homelessness with their so called "move on orders" that could fine and/or imprison rough sleepers and the homeless. Tonight, Rawiri Waititi joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk over the issue and the TPM response to it.Chris Hipkins had his State of the Nation this morning that heavily focused on climate change and talked about how a capital gains tax would help pay for some of Labour's initiativesChristopher Luxon this morning talking to Mike Hosking on Newstalk ZB admitted "I don't take advice from people" like any of us ever thought otkerwise.++++++++++++++++++++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

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

There are numerous approaches to management: Legacy, Ideological, Corporate, and Political Management. These combine to produce a system that cannot sustain long-term strategies. “Cultivation Management is the alternative.” According to Dr Mike Schmidt, it is also the approach that Christopher Luxon needs to adopt to retain his Prime Ministership. And then there's the question; can Mr Luxon afford to bypass the advice Schmidt has to offer? Advice that is equally applicable to most other forms of management. You can decide for yourself. And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions in Parliament today - with barbs traded between the Prime Minister and Opposition leader. Chris Luxon took a swipe at Labour's Chris Hipkins at Question Time over inflation. Speaker Gerry Brownlee told numerous MPs to cool down, after heckling from both sides. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the action from today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says Labour's concerns with the India Free Trade Agreement is "politicking", and Chris Hipkins wanting attention. Labour's saying they want the un-redacted advice about the deal and greater protection for migrant workers. In a letter to Chris Luxon, Chris Hipkins wants more clarity about the clause which requires New Zealand business to invest $33billion into India. Luxon told Mike Hosking that none of their concerns are real problems. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

The government coalition have heavily signaled their 2026 campaign approaches but this has gone mostly missed by the media. NZ infrastructure is on its last legs and there's no overt push to bring that into a national conversation.This episode's co-hostsPhilip, Kyle, SimoneTimestamps0:00 Opening / Introductions2:03 Big Three Missed Reports3:28 Luxon at Waitangi11:39 Winston Peters Testing Facism22:57 David Seymour Colonialism Good, Actually39:09 Wastewater Treatment Plant44:12 Frequency of Disasters58:34 Blocked Fast Track1:09:10 ClosingIntro/Outro by The Prophet MotiveSupport us here: https://www.patreon.com/1of200

Epstein Files hog headlines worldwide as local angles emerge here. Also: more commentary on the tragedy at Mount Maunganui, the PM copping unfair criticism for his visits to the disaster zones, NZ radio stations under new Aussie ownership - and roadcone nonsense. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It could have been a coordinated knife to the Government's heart. On the day the unemployment rate went up, the Warehouse offered a real world example of the problem by announcing another 270 jobs would be added to the pile as they look to save and outsource and generally reorganise themselves. The irony, well lost in the throng of those who look to use the headline for political gain, was the fact the number of people employed is up. It's up by 15,000. But the headline is the headline and 5.4% is not 5.3%, or 5.2%. So it makes Gareth Kiernan at Infometrics more right that any Government member had hoped. 5.4% is deja vu. It's February of 2025 all over again. There's a lot to be pleased about but the big prize, the tail at the end of the economic dog being jobs, did not come to the party. And that old chestnut of Auckland is back to haunt us as well. They've got the highest jobless rates to be found in big cities with close to 6%. Wellington and Hamilton are close to 6% too. If the cities don't fire, the country doesn't fire. It will of course. The vibe in Auckland is palpable in a variety of different areas. Positivity is well and truly back, but it takes time. And in election year time is of the essence. Luxon's pitch so far this year is the right one. But talking about recovery is one thing, you've got to actually feel it. The real trouble in these numbers is not the headline. 1) It's those who need more work. Why? The cost of living. There is a big uptick of women back in the workforce. Ask yourself why. 2) The young people aged 15-24 is over 16%. It's always high but this is too high. Anyone with offspring in this age group knows the struggle. Our youngest has work but she hustled. 3) Australia. Say what you want about the price of a house and the inflation rate, and they are real issues and Australia is in trouble overall this year, but apples and apples, jobs to jobs, they kill us. This is not a stat for nuance and subtlety. You can't pick out some vague highlights like a region, or a sector, or an industry and try and milk it. Unemployment got worse. Full stop. With all the rest of it in place and looking so much better there is a recovery on and it will come right. But right here, right now, this week, the jobs stat for a government relying on economic credibility took a right hook and will be dazed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Fire and Emergency NZ has launched an investigation into the firefighter who got caught making a crude gesture at the PM on video. Do we think this is really necessary? Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is in the news again after the latest release from the Epstein files. New photos reveal the former royal crouched on all fours and touching an unidentified woman. What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We end the week with a reality check. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Government's response to the last couple of week's weather events. $2 million is not a lot of money, which in a way is good because it indicates the damage isn't that bad. The damage is that bad. It's just the big stuff, the roads and bridges and infrastructure, is being paid for out of contingency budgets in various Government's departments. Fine. But as I asked, and got no real answer to, is that the plan, is it? Build it, watch it get destroyed, patch it up, watch it get destroyed and patch it up? It's not my favoured plan. I asked Penk, Mitchell, and Luxon what the big picture is. There is one, they reassure us. Not sure of a timeframe, which is political speak for "it's on the never-never". Yet in the Post from AA Insurance to the Buller District Mayor is the news they will be suspending cover for the region. No new business in the postcode of 7825, Westport, Carters Beach, and Cape Foulwind. This is where this goes. Just how many letters from how many insurance companies do you want before the big calls need to be made? Matata should have been the red flag and that started 20 years ago. Already Wellington, for other reasons, has insurance issues. The Upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales has been dealing with it for years. Even if you can get cover, it's at least $50,000 a year. There are, rightly or wrongly, sadly or not, chunks of the country that look problematic. Ignoring them or relying on an ever-increasing contingency budget is not going to make them any less so. The Government.is always the last port of call in crisis. The taxpayer will always be the one asked to provide the accommodation and bridge and food when the climate tips life upside down. Federated Farmers said it's not acceptable to have State Highway 2 to Waioweka cut off. Correct, it isn't. But the Government's answers are more band aids. AA Insurance's answer is no more cover. One of them is missing the point. One of them is showing you how this unfolds. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Christopher Luxon announced an election date of November 7, a strip of the North Island was under siege from another bout of brutal weather. As the clean-up and recovery continues, and families and communities grieve the loss of nine lives, questions swirl around the response. In the first Gone By Lunchtime for 2026, Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire assess that response, and ask whether the bigger picture around climate adaptation and mitigation will filter through the forthcoming campaign. The year begins, meanwhile, with incessant geopolitical disorder emanating from the White House. As Mark Carney sets out his stall in compelling fashion at Davos, what does the Canadian prime minister's "new world order" approach have in common with Christopher Luxon's, where do they differ, and is New Zealand's prime minister on an election-year collision course with a foreign minister set upon below-parapet foreign relations and flirting with the thought of quitting the World Health Organisation? Speaking of Winston Peters, his New Zealand First Party has enjoyed a bump in recent polling. Could they emulate the populist-nationalist trends in Australia and the UK and climb even further? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last week, following weather warnings and torrential rain, slips across the Coromandel and  Bay of Plenty wreaked havoc, cutting off communities, damaging houses, and worst of all, taking lives. At the base of Mauoa, Mount Maunganui, a slip hit a council-owned campsite, claiming six lives and now eyes are turning towards how a tragedy like this could be prevented in future. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was among the world leaders offered membership on Trump's post conflict government body, the board of peace. The board has received scathing criticism for including people under investigation for war crimes and failing to have a representative voice for the Palestinian people. Luxon has, in turn, received criticism for not ruling out the invitation. Finally, the New Zealand Defence Force has begun to incorporate uncrewed vehicles and drones as it moves into a new era of increased defence spending For our weekly catchup with the Green Party, Wire host Manny spoke with MP Ricardo Menéndez March about Luxons refusal to rule out joining Trump's board of peace, and the New Zealand Defence Forces incorporation of drones but began with asking him about the fatal slip in Tauranga,