Podcasts about luxon

Benjamin Luxon, the esteemed Cornish baritone who died at the age of 87 last July, had one of the most wide-ranging repertoires of any singer of the past century, from the classical repertoire (including opera, oratorio, art song over the course of at least four centuries and in a host of languages, including work written expressly for him) through Victorian parlor song, to traditional folk. Additionally, in the early 1980s he recorded a trilogy of crossover albums for British RCA, all three of which are sampled on this episode. The first, Some Enchanted Evening, features show tunes; the second, As Time Goes By, a broad spectrum of movie-related songs; and the third, Something Else Again, highlights folk rock arrangements as well as original compositions by singer-songwriters of the period. In addition, I read from a particularly perceptive 2009 interview with Luxon in which he candidly discusses his hearing loss and how that impacted his singing career and his life as a performer. Countermelody is a podcast devoted to the glory and the power of the human voice raised in song. Singer and vocal aficionado Daniel Gundlach explores great singers of the past and present focusing in particular on those who are less well-remembered today than they should be. Daniel's lifetime in music as a professional countertenor, pianist, vocal coach, voice teacher, and journalist yields an exciting array of anecdotes, impressions, and “inside stories.” At Countermelody's core is the celebration of great singers of all stripes, their instruments, and the connection they make to the words they sing. By clicking on the following link (https://linktr.ee/CountermelodyPodcast) you can find the dedicated Countermelody website which contains additional content including artist photos and episode setlists. The link will also take you to Countermelody's Patreon page, where you can pledge your monthly or yearly support at whatever level you can afford.

The Parliamentary debate of unprecedented suspensions handed down to three Te Pāti Māori MPs has the potential to bring the House to a grinding halt ahead of Thursday's Budget. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

In Pacific Waves today: Pacific parents react to Luxon's proposed social media ban; Auckland schools work to put an end to 'confession pages'; Pasifika rugby teams look to secure strong standings. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Here's a few c-words for your Thursday morning: communist, coalition, and crash. Crash, because that's what'd happen to the economy if we lived in the Green utopia complete with the $88-billion tax train wreck. Coalition, because that's what you'd get if Labour shacks up with their neighbours on the far left. Hipkins yesterday first claimed not have read the manifesto. Whatever. This is the manifesto of a party he could well be sitting round the cabinet table within a year from now. He then refused to rule out anything in it. It won't rule out the hammer. And I won't rule out the sickle. The Greens are by far Hipkins' biggest Achilles heel, and therefore Luxon's greatest strength. Remember the hit in the polls Labour took over "defend da police"? Here's the thing about us New Zealanders, your middle voters, we may not right now be affected by the inheritance taxes, wealth taxes, higher income taxes, the company tax hikes which would put them amongst highest in the developed world. But the problem for Hipkins and Co. is that we'd like to be. Kiwi families would like to start a business and create a life for their families. An asset. An income. A future. They dream of working their way up the ladder to get that better salary to get that house they've been saving to own. They don't think it's fair for part of mum and dad's life work and savings to be stolen by the state. The election of John Key showed us families are ambitious. They believe in themselves to do better. They're motivated and ready for this recession to be over so we can get on with it. I've never doubted that spirit in New Zealand. That spirit hasn't left for Australia, it was hidden under a rock for six years. And yes, there are social problems here too. But what we learnt from the fading days of Hipkins reign is that voters don't trust if they give up their hard-earned money and assets, that the state has the ability or wherewithal to change any of this. To fix it. They're like Temu versions of a Michael Joseph Savage. Many of the houses he built still stand, building never started on most of Chippy's. And that brings us to the final C word: communist, because what else do you call them? The Greens are planning a roadshow after their pre-Budget announcement. My only question for Chlöe, Mārama and Co. is: will you be travelling to these towns and cities by bicycle or will be flying on an aeroplane?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour's denying the Coalition's back in choppy waters over National's proposed social media ban. Education Minister Erica Stanford is looking into ways to restrict access for under-16s. Prime Minister Chris Luxon claimed Seymour's on the same page, despite the ACT leader calling it unworkable. Seymour says he still has questions about how it's possible. He says within days of the Bill coming out, Luxon admitted more work was needed - which proves his point. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National has announced it is stepping up its commitment to pursue a ban on social media for under-16s. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

The Government's announced a review into the Waitangi Tribunal will begin shortly. The review was announced on Friday by Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka, who said it would ensure the tribunal “remains focused, relevant, effective and fit for purpose”. Political Editor Jason Walls says no one should be surprised this is happening. “Every time Christopher Luxon has talked about the Waitangi Tribunal, he essentially says it has been removed from it's brief.” LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Any changes to the Waitangi Tribunal will be introduced before the end of the year. The Government's announced a review will kick of mid-year, with any advice to be given to the Government by September. The Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says it's timely. “It runs enquiries according to very, very old legislation ... and the way it conducts itself needs to be modernised,” he said. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With two weeks left to go until Budget day, Chris Luxon addressed a crowd at a BusinessNZ event in Auckland today. Luxon reiterated that the Government won't be splashing the cash this year - and claimed the Finance Minister was right to promise it won't be a Budget lolly scramble. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says this wasn't the kind of pre-Budget announcement that would make the nation sit up and take notice - and that was by design. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie Ann Genter joins us live tonight to talk about the governments dark day with changes to the Equal Pay Act killing decades of progress for pay equity for women.Christopher Luxon delivered a pre-budget speech today where he told his audience that capital expenditure, that is new money set aside in the Budget to maintain or upgrade assets, will be higher than originally forecast when the Government delivers its Budget in two weeks' time. Wonder if women can take the credit for adding to the newly found money. In what is becoming an all too common occurrence, Piers Morgan had on his panel a proud racist, white supremacist...and he had no idea until he asked about the third question. Raises the question about who we should and shouldn't platform especially when at the end of the panel, one of the other guests has to explain to Morgan why that white supremacist shouldn't say say the 'N' word on his show.=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

It was the last day of school in Parliament yesterday. It happens after MPs sit through urgency, they get restless, excitable, a bit crazy. They were shouting, interrupting, it was a bit chaotic - even Gerry Brownlee finished question time saying this has not been our finest hour. Opposition MPs, particularly women, were up in arms and incensed over the Pay Equity bill for the second day in a row. The question for National is whether this outrage in Parliament will translate to outrage at the ballot box. 33 claims cancelled and must start again. Sure, there's a new legal framework set up with high thresholds for pay equity claims. But Labour is doing it's darndest to create the impression there's not. That this is the end of the road for low-paid workers of the fairer sex. Dutton was emasculated at the polls last Saturday in part because he wasn't well liked by women. The red landslide swept his heartland, handed Albo the win, and cost him his unfortunately named seat of Dickson. In Brisbane's Northern suburbs and across Queensland new residents, young voters, and women broke for Albo. It was a big part in Dutton's down trou. So, the question for National is whether it's just created a problem for 2026? Will women voters give Luxon a swift kick in the gonads next year? The bill creates a risk of them doing so. To counter that you've got the sell the changes. Right now, in the fog of war, they're not getting cut through. The critics, the Jan Tinetti's, are winning the PR war at present. When the dust settles, they need to explain, with specific examples, which of those 33 deals in the pipeline or deals done thus far were bad or rotten and why. Why is it important we save billions? What's it good for? This is not to say all women vote the same or even together in a bloc. Life's not one big sisterhood of the travelling pants. Every woman is different and doesn't necessarily vote on their gender. After all, women didn't show up for Kamala last November, even though MSNBC was basically saying Trump removed your womb. Women ditched Labour after Jacinda left the building and the Nats picked them up. The pay equity bill is a risk to that support, a bit of a gamble - not one that can't be overcome, but you've got to sell your story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An overhaul of the pay equity process has been whisked through parliament under urgency. The changes, which tighten the criteria for making a claim for workers in female-dominated sectors and summarily halt 33 existing claims in the pipeline, have prompted a major backlash, in part for their substance and in part for the decision to push the reform through without the usual consultation under a select committee process or regulatory impact statement. Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire discuss the unexpected announcement, the rationale for urgency, whether it's plausible to claim it's not primarily motivated by the billions that will be saved ahead of a tight budget, and what impact, if any, it might have on the women's vote. The trio also discuss Christopher Luxon's enthusiastic backing of a bill that would follow Australia in banning social media for under-16s. What is with the surge in member's bill as mechanisms for party campaigning, what is the polling telling politicians about young people and social media, and does Luxon know he's the prime minister? Plus: Australians have returned Labor and Albanese to power in what is being called a “bloodbath”, hot on the heels of Mark Carney's big comeback in Canada. How big is the Trump effect, is it good news for the left or good news for incumbents, and how might New Zealand politicians look to seize upon the Trumpy moment? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Hipkins was on Breakfast this morning talking about Erica Stanford using her gmail account making the case that Parliament Cyber Security have been telling MPs not to use systems outside the security of Parliament, which means if Mr Luxon is so chilled about it either security is wrong, or he doesn't care about Stanford being a security issue.

The Government is fast-tracking amendments to the Equal Pay Act, the law which prohibits employers from paying men and women different rates for the same work, in a move which will scrap all current pay equity claims and make it harder for employees to make a claim. - Craig Renney joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk over the economics of the change- Labour's Workplace Relations Spokesperson, Jan Tinetti, joins us LIVE at 9.20 to talk the impact to those who the Equal Pay Act is currently helpingChris Hipkins was on Breakfast this morning talking about Erica Stanford using her gmail account making the case that Parliament Cyber Security have been telling MPs not to use systems outside the security of Parliament, which means if Mr Luxon is so chilled about it either security is wrong, or he doesn't care about Stanford being a security issue.Christopher Luxon has announced that National wants to ban under 16s from social media accounts which raises a couple of questions, the first is...is this really the most pressing issue you have right now PM to be on top of...and...id under 16s are banned from social media...who will David Seymour have to snapchat with?================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

The Prime Minister says it's too early to understand the potential impact of tariffs on New Zealand films. Donald Trump has most recently written he'd like100 percent tariffs on all movies produced outside the US. Chris Luxon says he's seen the social media post, but we'll need to know a lot more. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has expressed interest in getting more Bollywood productions to come to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians have re-elected Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese as their country's Prime Minister in a landslide win that has left plenty of soul searching for the opposition National - Liberal coalition. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

No doubt Donald Trump's brand is dicey at home at best but globally, the world has watched on with a mix of amusement and feigned concern. These results out of Canada and Australia at the weekend show that brand has turned toxic... like a beef Wellington at a family dinner party. We've all seen the host - the chef - tuck in... but now we're thinking hmm... do we want to do the same. We can't get much closer in style and substance to Canada and Australia when it comes to democracy - both chained to the Westminster system we inherited Mother England... and both of our cousins have turned on their political oppositions as Trump upends the global order. To rub salt in the wound both Poilievre and Dutton lost not just their elections but their seats. We spoke about this on Friday but... but what is the message here? Trump is toxic. Poilievre's problem was one of style - he sounded and campaigned too much like Trump - the airports hanger with the branded plane behind shots on the nightly news. Dutton's problem was more complicated... first. He ran a crap campaign. Realising a defence plan so expensive it gets funding to 35 of GDP and means you can't Albo's tax cuts in a cost-of-living crisis - and then only releasing that plan two weeks out from campaign day was dumb. But it was also about that word economists are spitting out like a bad steak - uncertainty. Don't ask Luxon though - he gave a bizzare response when asked about this yesterday... Basically... the Aussies and the Canadians simply picked the most economically credible parties in the face of uncertain times. What? Those parties he's endorsing are both from the left. That's the equivalent of kicking his sister parties (The Aussie Libs and Canadian Conservatives) in the shins. Made no sense. I think he wanted to avoid mentioning the trump bump. What's actually happening here is not really about parties. In times of uncertainty, you don't change your horse mid-steam. Voters stick with what they know. When the worlds in a spin, you don't know up from down, Albo from a-hole.... human nature, for the most part, is to do nothing and hope it goes away. Why risk a new government of unknown quantity? Singapore's arguably just done the same. The counter factual to this obviously is America, but remember the American economy was actually growing for past two years, consumer spending was strong, and inflation had come down earlier than ours. So that's a different set of circumstances. The best comparison for what's happened in Australia and Canada in the past week is 2020, New Zealand. A bunch of people really worried a perceived global threat rallying around flagpole and rejecting a campaign that wasn't neither well-run or nailing the public mood. Which Judith Collins' disastrous 2020 attempt didn't. Whether it was Trump, or a reaction to him. For Luxon to attribute the fiscal credentials of left-wing parties abroad with their success was an unnecessary own goal. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Payinda joins us for a quick chat on tomorrows doctors strike, what it's all about, what you need to know and how you can get involvedWe'll show you a couple of interviews that demonstrate beautifully how much of a nightmare that Trumps first 100 days has beenThe Government is reinstating a total ban on prisoner voting rights, despite concerns raised by the courts about human rights. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed on Wednesday that Cabinet had agreed to remove the voting rights of prisoners who were serving sentences of less than three years=================================Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠⁠#BHN⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠=================================Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZFollow us on BlueskyPat @patbrittenden.bsky.socialChewie @chewienz.bsky.socialEmily @iamprettyawesome.bsky.socialMagenta @xkaosmagex.bsky.social

Thousands gathered at the Vatican at the weekend to mourn the late pope, who led the Catholic Church for 12 years before his death last week. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was at the funeral and he spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says incomplete or wrong information from the IRD is to blame for shortfalls in the Government's FamilyBoost scheme. The tax rebate of up to $75 per week was initially touted as a $249-million-a-year handout to help with covering childcare costs. Only 1.2% of eligible families received a full subsidy. Christopher Luxon talks to Luxon about the shortfall, his experience at the Pope's funeral and time commemorating Anzac Day. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says he won't intervene following deputy prime minister Winston Peter's comments about RNZ on Morning Report on Wednesday. Soumya Bhamidipati reports.

First to the UK where Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is wrapping up his visit there UK before he travels on to Turkey for the ANZAC commemorations. Reporter Soumya Bhamidipati spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Winston's in trouble with the opposition again, isn't he? He's in trouble with the opposition - yet again, someone in the opposition's gone crying to daddy, calling on the Prime Minister to sort Winston Peters out. I mean, last time this happened, it was because he was mean to old 'Bussy Galore'. This time, it's because he's threatened to defund Radio New Zealand. Now he did this this morning in what I consider to be a highly entertaining tantrum, actually, because he got cross at RNZ for getting cross at him because he wants to define what a woman is in law. Now, this crying to daddy business that's going on about Winston is utterly pointless, and I bet you Labour knows it, but they're doing it anyway. But it's pointless because number one, you and I both know that Luxon is not going to sort out Winston Peters. Luxon needs Winston more than Winston needs Luxon right now. And number two, Winston is not wrong. Radio New Zealand looks like it is going to lose funding in the upcoming budget - or at least that's the rumour doing the rounds at the moment. And if RNZ doesn't lose funding, it should lose funding - because it got a funding boost that was enormous under Labour. It got a $25 million a year injection under Labour. That was a boost of 60 percent. That's huge. I do not know of any other major media organization in this country that has had a revenue increase during this prolonged recession. And what's more, despite all of that money, objectively, they're doing a cruddy job - because have a look at what's going on with their audience numbers. They have had an enormous decline in the people listening to them in the last 5 years. When Winston accused Radio New Zealand of having a woke left bias, there will be plenty of people around this country who perhaps used to listen and don't anymore or don't listen for whatever reason, but there'll be plenty of people who would have been nodding their head in agreement with Winston once they heard that he'd said that. Now, look, I know this is politics, so maybe Labour sees an opportunity here to play the hero for Radio New Zealand's audience who are horrified at what Winston said, and fair play to Labour. They can do what they want, it's politics. But I doubt this is going to be a big vote winner, because frankly, the number of voters who now nowadays care very deeply about protecting the media seems to be at an all-time low. And also, don't forget this - it's hardly a shock, is it? Winston Peters attacks the media. I mean, that could have been a headline every year for the last 40 years, couldn't it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Foreign Minister says New Zealand's new weapons deal with the UK reflects a strong relationship. Christopher Luxon and Sir Keir Starmer have met in the UK overnight. They've announced a deal worth more than $60 million for New Zealand-made drones and discussed the war in Ukraine. Sir Don McKinnon told Mike Hosking it's another step in joint support for the war-torn country. He says New Zealand and the UK have always been closely linked, but there's a long way to go before the war can be stopped. Luxon and Starmer are also pushing for even closer military ties, coming after the Government announced it's boosting military spending to hit more than 2% of GDP. McKinnon told Hosking it'll help New Zealand's international reputation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has revealed that New Zealand will be extending its military assistance in support of Ukraine's self-defence until December 2026. Luxon says this announcement signals New Zealand's ongoing commitment to Ukraine in the fact of Russia's aggression. Vasyl Myroshnychenko, the Ukrainian ambassador to New Zealand and Australia says Russia won't be giving up any time soon - and support is still needed. "Russia is belligerent, Russia is authoritarian, and Russia is not giving up on Ukraine, so we do still need to have a strong army - and New Zealand's Government is making a very significant contribution to improve on our military capabilities, for which we are extremely thankful." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has said he is saddened to hear of the death of Pope Francis, describing him as a man of humility. Reporter Soumya Bhamidipati spoke to Paddy Gower.

The Prime Minister has paid tribute to the 88-year old pontiff, describing him as a man of humility. Christopher Luxon spoke to Paddy Gower.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met with King Charles III at Buckingham Palace in London, just hours after the death of Pope Francis. Luxon confirmed he spoke to the King about the death of the Pope during his meeting, but would not divulge further details. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said Luxon “enjoyed discussing New Zealand issues with the King”. Luxon said discussions with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in coming days will revolve around the Ukraine-Russia war and trade. He and Starmer will travel to meet New Zealand soldiers who are training Ukrainian troops. “I certainly welcome any efforts around just and lasting peace for Ukraine … we'll keep discussing options about being involved in peacekeeping support once the conflict concludes. “We, as a small country with limited resources a long way away, aren't going to be the ones to end that war, obviously … but, regardless, we stand beside our set of values which we think Ukraine, Zelensky, embodies.” Luxon said trade would also be a hot topic given the UK had recently become NZ's seventh-largest trading partner. “We just need to keep pushing forward on it and keep pushing food and beverage and tourism.” King Charles had a busy few days ahead of Luxon's arrival, with various Easter-related events. Late last week, he attended the annual Maundy Service, during which he awarded gifts to individuals in recognition of outstanding Christian service. Maundy Thursday takes place on the Thursday prior to Easter and commemorates the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. On Easter Sunday, Charles was joined by other members of the royal family at St George's Chapel in Windsor for a traditional church service. In his Easter message, the King said: “The abiding message of Easter is that God so loved the world – the whole world – that He sent His son to live among us to show us how to love one another, and to lay down His own life for others in a love that proved stronger than death. “There are three virtues that the world still needs – faith, hope and love. ‘And the greatest of these is love'. It is with these timeless truths in my mind, and my heart, that I wish you all a blessed and peaceful Easter.” Luxon met with the King for the first time at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October. The Prime Minister gave away little about what the pair discussed during that meeting, but said it was obvious King Charles had a “deep, deep affection for New Zealand” and was “very knowledgeable about a number of issues”. “It was a very natural conversation; it was just the two of us sitting outside and having a chat on a couple of seats.” This is Luxon's first visit to the UK as Prime Minister. He touched down late on Sunday night (NZT). Ahead of the trip, Luxon highlighted that trade was likely to be a key talking point. “New Zealand is a champion for free trade, and I look forward to talking to Sir Keir Starmer about what our countries can do together to support the rules-based trading system,” Luxon said. “The UK is one of NZ's closest and most trusted partners, and, for many Kiwis, it is where they base themselves on their OE. The UK is also important to NZ's prosperity. Our exports there grew by more than 20% in 2024 and are still growing.” Two-way trade with the UK, which NZ signed a free-trade agreement with in 2022, was worth $7.27 billion in the year ending December 2024, making it our seventh-largest trading partner. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister departs today for the United Kingdom, before travelling to Gallipoli in time for ANZAC Day. Trade, security and the current geopolitical climate are on the agenda, when Chris Luxon meets with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Luxon says he'll discuss what more the pair can do to support the rules-based trading system, a chat coming off the back of phone calls to world leaders amid Donald Trump's tariffs. NZ Herald political reporter Jamie Ensor says the pair will likely discuss how to strengthen their trade partnership. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says it is the agriculture sector that's pulling New Zealand out of a recession. Luxon spoke about the success agriculture was seeing on a trip to Taranaki on Thursday where he met with local businesses and trades. He said agriculture was the 'backbone of New Zealand' and praised how much it generated for the nation. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I wonder if we are doing ourselves more harm than good when it comes to our finances, if not our general mental health, with what seems to be an industry in polling and surveys. The latest IPSOS work has over 40% of us not happy about money and a decent chunk of us "struggling". What is "struggling"? It's open to a lot of interpretation, isn't it? Mood doesn't necessarily deal in fact, and in that is part of the issue. The facts are, on average, our wages are outpacing inflation. What that means is we are, on average, better off, but the surveys don't show this. We are in a funk and have been since Covid. The other part of the problem is the "average" bit. None of us are average, either in our expenditure or income. So, unless you see it, and feel it, and live it, average means nothing. The age-old question as to whether the price of a basket of groceries is too expensive has been, and forever will be, answered the same – yes it is. That's not about maths, or income, or affordability. That's about mindset. If you have made up your mind food is too expensive, or you don't trust the media, or Luxon doesn't connect with regular people, then evidence comes secondary to mood and vibe and feels. Is traffic too bad? Is the country on the right track? Do you deserve more income? Does the council waste your rates money? I can line up any number of questions and if I word them the right way I can virtually guarantee you an outcome. Having then produced the results, I need a compliant media to regurgitate them for an easy headline. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy. You feel life is too expensive, you feel you are struggling, you read that other people feel like you and so you say to yourself "see, I told you it's true. It's news, it must be true", and around and around we go. Which is not to say these things don't have some element of truth about them. But it's like punching yourself in the head. If you keep doing it what are the chances you'll have a headache at the end of it all? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My ongoing advice to the Government is: don't make big announcements on a Friday. I watched the Prime Minister from Waikato at the Ruakura Superhub. This is what the Government lives for. It's what they dream of. It's what they preach. The Superhub by the way is one of the great visions for this country. It services 45% of the population and 55% of GDP. It's part of what they call the "Golden Triangle" when it comes to business, servicing Hamilton, Tauranga and Auckland. Anyway, at the press conference was a representative from the company with a trillion dollars in assets under management. I'm talking about the local tribe, Waikato-Tainui, with the Prime Minister. Tuku Morgan from the tribe, who in another life became famous for expensive taxpayer funded underwear, spoke eloquently about what the Superhub means, how big it is, how massive the vision is and how transformational it all could be. So, not just a miss for the Government in terms of coverage for exactly what this country needs, but also the chance for us to see a part of the so-called Māori economy we don't often see. Waikato-Tainui are a wonderful success. The sadness for me is I don't see them as Māori. I see them as a business, and a good one. Race should not be part of business because performance is the key to business, not race. But there is no denying their money came out of the Treaty settlement process and they have taken it and run with it. Not only don't we get to see the successful side of the Māori economy, we don't ask often enough how it is you can have that much success and yet still have so much Māori deprivation? That's the news we do hear a lot about - poverty, addiction, violence and bad health. It's all bad news. Why? If Māori can do well why are we so obsessed with why they aren't? And if there is a way out for those who need it, and Māori have provided the blueprint, why is it still an issue? Māori are held back, we are told. Are they? Why haven't Waikato-Tainui been held back? Or Ngai Tahu? If you listen to the Willie Jackson's of the world, he will tell you colonialism has ruined the Māori dream. I didn't see that on Friday. Quite the opposite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson of Sherson Willis PR and Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! On the Peters v Luxon saga - is there a genuine disagreement between the pair when it comes to our trade response or is this just a media beat-up job? What do we make of this? The new Polkinghorne TV documentary is out - have we seen it? What did we think? New data shows people still don't trust the media - why do we think this could be? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week amid retaliatory tariff hikes between the US and China, the New Zealand Prime Minister made several calls to world leaders to discuss global trade. Foreign Minister Winston Peters took aim at this on Friday, pointing out that Christopher Luxon neglected to consult him about the calls. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters sent a blunt message to the Prime Minister as Donald Trump's tariffs continue to spark uncertainty around the world. Peters indicated Chris Luxon was premature in joining global talks calling for free trade, in opposition to the tariff rollout. NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says Peters expecting Luxon to follow his lead was unusual - but a courtesy call was warranted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is defending his absence from Parliament yesterday as the Treaty Settlement Bill was voted down. He said he doesn't regret not being there as he was preoccupied with trade issues. Senior Political Editor Barry Soper talks to Ryan Bridge about the Luxon's absence, Phil Goff's unfiltered comments on Trump, and Winston Peters 80th birthday. LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've got to hand it to Winston Raymond Peters. On this his 80th birthday... he's jetting round the Pacific representing his country. Keeping us close to our friends in the region as China circles and America wanders. He's visited more than 40 countries since Luxon took over. The stamina. The discipline. The confidence. The work ethic... all things to be admired. Doesn't matter what side of politics you come from, hats off to you Winston. And Happy birthday. And what a contrasted pictures he paints in Parliament... One side of the house... draped in performative costume's... wearing badges and head pieces... and snapping their fingers... and doing TikTok videos.... And not bothering to learn the standing orders... Not bothering to turn up to work. Not bothering to engage in meaningful debate so that we might all get to a better place... you know... the essence of democracy. Winston is not perfect... he's flip-flopped and u-turned more times than you can count. He angered the right picking an inexperienced Labour party over the high-polling Bill English in 2017. Some will never forgive him for that. BUT. he's a man with a strategy. He's a man who doesn't mind hard work. He's a man whose politics you may not like, but who's character modern society cannot afford to lose or forget. He was born in 1945 - just a few weeks before Germany surrendered to the Allies in WWII. He's been in politics for nearly half a century. The Kingmaker... punching well above his weight in MMP system. In fact... a teacher of mine used to say the P in MMP was Peters. He's loves a bit of drama... he loves a fight... he's not above performative politics too, by the way.. remember the NO sign? Remember the Winebox inquiry? The donations sagas? BUT... and this is why kiwis keep giving him a chance... he takes seriously the things and people's he promised to represent... and he works day and night to get the political deals done to make them happen. The new generation of politicians should put their phones down, sign out of Instagram... and take a leaf out of Winston's diary... Happy Birthday, Winne P.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I sit down with Amanda Luxon. Amanda is a former teacher, Myers-Briggs coach, lifelong learner – and yes, the ‘First Lady’ of New Zealand. Our conversation isn’t about politics (though it inevitably comes up), but about difference, understanding, and friendship – because even though in many ways we’re chalk and cheese, we’ve been friends for years. We first connected over our shared passion for fighting human trafficking, but on a long summer walk earlier this year, we found language for just how differently we see the world – and how fascinating and enriching that can be. Amanda shares her deep love of the Myers-Briggs personality typing framework, which has helped her understand her own strengths as an ISTJ, and helped her see me, an ENFP, with more clarity and appreciation. There’s humour, honesty, and a whole lot of heart in this kōrero as we explore how personality differences play out in parenting, partnership, and even public life – and how making space for our differences can bring us closer. Song credit: Korimako, Performed by Aro, Written by Emily Looker and Charles Looker and published by Songbroker.Support the show: https://greyareas.nz/support

Donald Trump's 10 percent tariff on New Zealand goods has officially taken effect. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

Trump's tariffs are coming tomorrow - and he's basically playing God with the global economy. I've found the stuff we should know: The presser is 4pm Eastern time in the Rose Garden at the White House. That's 9am NZT. The reason it's late over there is because they want markets closed when he announces it. This is big league stuff. This guy has the power to make or break countries, markets and entire industries. Here's some stats: Goldman Sachs' odds on a US recession are up from 20 percent to 35 percent. Moody's reckons it could cost 5.5 million jobs - that would lift the unemployment rate from 4 percent to 7 percent. GDP would fall 1.7 percent from peak to trough. For context, that's the equivalent of 2/3rds of the growth our economy is expecting this year. Reciprocal tariffs are broad-based tariffs across all countries. The White House has been tight-lipped on carve-outs or exemptions, but some countries are hammering the phones begging for them. They're panicked on Downing Street - though Starmer says he's staying calm and they're working the phones. Talk of getting an economic deal has turned into just that - they now say they're likely to be hit like everyone else. India - they've been on the phones. They're notorious for trade protectionism, so it's a bit rich from them but their share market's been feeling the heat. Vonderlayen's readying the war chest. The EU will fight back. Britain won't. Neither will Vietnam. Neither will New Zealand. Luxon's message today was keep calm and carry on. Agriculture, as we've been talking about since the minute Trump tweeted about it, is on the cards. The US overtook the Aussies this year as out second largest export market for goods, thanks to red meat. That could hurt. But applied equally to Argentinian and Aussie beef, perhaps not so much. It all depends on the number. 10 percent is fine. 25 percent is a bigger problem. The real threat is the word's biggest economy going into recession - and the flow-on effects. The smart money's already been piling into gold and European stocks. Tomorrow we find out what 'America First' really means for the rest of us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government says it's keeping all options open to shake up the supermarket sector. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

The Prime Minister says his government will put an end to "busy bodies weaponising the Resource Management Act". Cabinet has signed off on the high-level design of a new system, having repealed the former government's reforms in late 2023. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon spoke to Corin Dann.

After using his India trip to tout the importance of security, Christopher Luxon has spent his last day in Mumbai facing questions about defence job cuts at home. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

After a drum beat of conjecture about his job security, the prime minister enjoyed something of an elixir in the investment summit and a trip to India that began with a breakthrough announcement: the launch of talks on a comprehensive free trade agreement. A big moment in itself felt bigger given the emergence of a US-led trade war, but also a confidence boost for Luxon. Ben Thomas, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Toby Manhire discuss the import of those developments, and whether Luxon's good time abroad can travel back to New Zealand with him. Plus: Winston Peters meets Marco Rubio, an extended chew over the latest in the school lunch saga, and David Seymour's suggestion that it highlighted "two New Zealands", and the Act Party announcement it will stand candidates in local elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has had to wind back expectations over the timeline for a trade deal with India after a burst of overenthusiasm overnight. Deputy political editor Craig McCulloch reports.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has won facetime and favour with global heavyweight Narendra Modi on a frenetic full day in India, where both pledged greater military cooperation. Luxon spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

The Prime Minister has pledged greater military co-operation with India, following his bilateral talks with Narendra Modi. Political editor Jo Moir spoke to Corin Dann.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has reaffirmed New Zealand's support for Ukraine after a call with other leaders about the Coalition of the Willing partnership over the weekend. Josh Wineera, an expert on modern warfare and a retired lieutenant colonel, and Simon Strombom, who served in Afghanistan and is managing director of the New Zealand Remembrance Army spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has taken part in a call with other leaders of the so-called Coalition of the Willing.

Ex-politician Rodney Hide is fighting a battle. It began a couple of years ago, and it continues today. It involves the 'Relationship and Sexuality Education Curriculum' being taught in his daughter's school. It's actually taught in all schools. Rodney is not the only parent unhappy about what's being taught, but he stands almost alone in trying to address it. To him it is a matter of principle. But we also discuss other matters- the RBNZ and Adrian Orr, Luxon and the National party, economic growth, and more. And we wind up in The Mailroom with Mrs Producer. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.