Podcasts about newshub nation

As you might have heard earlier, the Prime Minister is copping a bit of flak because he's going to cut one of his regular media opportunities on Tuesdays from here on in.It's been a convention for years now that the Prime Minister stops on the way to Parliament's Question Time on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday if he's there and he'll let the Press Gallery ask him questions. That's now going to stop on Tuesday.Now, the Press Gallery are trying to convince him to change his mind and they've gone public with it - and I suspect that's probably to put a bit of pressure on him.But I think they're going to struggle to get any sympathy on this, and I'll tell you why. Let me run you through his media appearances on weeks when Parliament is sitting: Monday afternoon at 4pm, he's at the Post-Cabinet press conference letting the Gallery ask him questions. Tuesday morning from 7am, he does a round of media interviews with Mike Hosking and other breakfast programmes across radio and TV.  Later on Tuesday morning, he stops on his way into the caucus meeting to let the Press Gallery ask him questions. On Tuesday afternoon just before 2pm, he stops again. Wednesday afternoon, he stops on his way into the House to speak to the Press Gallery. And on the rare occasion he's in on a Thursday, he stops for the Press Gallery again. Plus, he's there for any other press conference that he might call during the week to announce some Government initiative.  That's a lot of media to be doing across a week. It's a lot more than you get from other world  leaders. Just look at Biden, his press conferences are fronted by his spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre.This is very different to Jacinda Ardern dropping her media interviews, because the kind of interviews she dropped were the hard ones. You know, the ones with Mike Hosking - arguably the best interviewer in the country - or with Q+A and Newshub Nation which were long format interviews, which means they get difficult. Or, as you might recall, refusing to take talkback calls because that's awkward and unpredictable and uncomfortable. That's different to just seeing the Press Gallery one fewer time in the space of 72 hours.What is it that the Press Gallery wants to ask on a Tuesday afternoon that they couldn't have asked on a Tuesday morning or a Wednesday afternoon? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shortland Street is now apparently in trouble. TVNZ has just confirmed it is reviewing whether it carries on with Shortland Street. It's still a popular show, but unfortunately it's very expensive to make and very expensive for TVNZ to buy. And given TV audiences are down to about a third of what they were about 15, 25 years ago -it won't be bringing in the advertising dollars it used to. It's not always obvious, when you're in the middle of a moment in history, just how important that moment is. Sometimes it only occurs to you afterward, when you look back, just how much changed at that moment. New Zealand is in a moment like that. We are eradicating in the next few weeks some of the biggest TV shows that we make in New Zealand- about New Zealand. Newshub, the AM Show, Ryan Bridge's due-to-be-launched 7 o'clock show, Newshub Nation, Paddy Gower Has Issues, Newshub late, Sunday, Fair Go, the TVNZ midday bulletin, the TVNZ late news and maybe even Shortland Street now- or maybe reducing how much it plays out in a week. And look, that doesn't mean there are no New Zealand-made TV shows left. There's still Seven Sharp, Motorway Patrol, The Casketeers- the list goes on. But the dynamics that are killing those other shows at the moment will, in the end, probably get the rest of them too. And what that means is that we see less and less of ourselves as Kiwis on screen. And that is a loss, because there is consensus that hearing and seeing your culture and your accent and your way of life reflected back to you on screen is affirming. It makes you proud of who you are. So remember this- because this isn't just another day in the media sector. This isn't normal, what's happening right now. In this moment of time, we are losing something we will probably never get back to the same extent, which is hours of Kiwi voices and faces on screen every day. And kids being born right now will probably grow up pretty much exclusively watching international content and hardly any New-Zealand made content. I'm not arguing this should be stopped. Frankly, if we want to keep New Zealand on screens, we need shows that New Zealanders want to watch, and that's clearly not happening. I'm just pointing out this is a big thing - and an unusual thing - that is happening right now. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TONIGHT: You read me right! David Seymour, Willie Jackson and Libertarian Darth Vader Damien Grant in our special last show of the year! We bring actual debate to the NZ Political Panel circuit. You can't get this on The Spinoff, NZME, Newshub Nation, AM Show, RNZ, TVNZ – you can only get it on The Working Group! ISSUE 1 – Review the first week of the new Government ISSUE 2 – Review the Political Year (Crime/Environment/Poverty/Public Services) ISSUE 3 – Political Predictions for 2024 (Economy/Politically/Internationally) It's Politics done unlike anywhere else.   The podcast broadcasts from our purpose built studio bunker ADJACENT to Mediaworks studios on YouTube &  The Daily Blog and posted up afterwards on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Rova & YouTubeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Congratulations to the new coalition Government, which was sworn in today by Governor General Dame Cindy Kiro. And as our new Prime Minister says- they're ready to get stuck in. But things are already getting better. Some say it's just because of the vibe. But don't discount plain good luck and timing. The so-called hermit kingdom is over. As we heard a week ago, nearly a quarter of a million people chose to emigrate to New Zealand in the past year. Today we learn tourism is up- and spending in the year to September hit $30 billion dollars. That's up $6.6 billion on the previous year - and pretty much back to pre-Covid levels. This while the international spend is still recovering. As Nicola Willis finally gets her warrant to fool with the economy, the economy appears to be turning a corner. In today's paper is a report that economists believe the Reserve Bank will not be raising interest rates anytime soon. It also reports that markets are predicting a rate cut as early as May and as many as 3 cuts through 2024. Which is great news for first-home buyers. With all this good news, there's still one thing that bugs me about this Government and that's the disconnect that you feel when a tax cut has to be funded by a tax rise. You'll remember that was the problem I had during the election where the tax cut for the squeezed middle was funded by a wealth tax on rich foreigners buying houses. For a Government averse to taxes, it seemed off brand. The new version came up after the Government's surprise axing of the smokefree programme, and I say surprise because no one can find mention of it in any pre-election manifesto but axed it has been on New Zealand First and ACT's insistence. Yesterday on Newshub Nation, Nicola Willis said extra revenue from more widespread cigarette sales would help fund tax cuts in lieu of the now-scrapped foreign buyers tax. This was a loose thing to say prompting accusations that long-term public health had been sacrificed for a short-term cash-grab. Which is a bad way to start a term. It's not rocket science. If you cut a tax you cut expenditure. You don't tax a fall guy to make it work. That's inequitable. Jack Tame asked Nicola Willis if she accepted more people would die because of cancelling the #Smokefree policy. Willis says- "I have not seen advice or analysis of that so I am not prepared to answer that question". FFS, this is what we can expect in the next three years. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hold on New Zealand, we have a Government - a three-party coalition for the first time in our history. Deputy Prime Minister-in-waiting David Seymour joins us. How is incoming Finance Minister Nicola Willis going to pay for those tax cuts? She's with us too. And a diplomatic breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas war - former Prime Minister Helen Clark on what the global community needs to do during the pause.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon should be at APEC this weekend... instead he's entering a 15th day of talks trying to form a government... could his foreign buyers tax be dead? Meanwhile, it's a never-ending campaign for the people of Port Waikato... we are with the leading candidates.  And the new Green MP who was once an actor in a memorable TV commercial - coming up on BackStory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a month since election day... but still, no government... we check in on the very cloak-and-dagger happenings around Parliament this week. Gerry Brownlee though, has been getting on with the job... at the Pacific Islands Forum - could he be our next foreign minister - he joins us. And Early Childhood Teachers went on strike this week... we hear from one - about why the sector is at breaking point.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the programme today: the specials are in, so how does that change who's in who's out and who needs Winston. 29 countries sign a pledge to make Artificial Intelligence safe, but where was New Zealand? And on Backstory - the new MP who was once a pilot and a personal assistant to a prince.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Free Speech Union has again shown themselves to be a right wing psyop wanting to control narrative rather than have honest discourse as they sponsor Lord Sumption for speaking engagements in NZ to sew mis and disinformation. We'll show you tonight examples of the mistruths that Sumption is sharing as truth and we question if the FSU thinks free speech is all about allowing people who are objectively wrong to share their thoughts or would a responsible group be fighting not only for free speech, but accurate and truthful speech. The Project has been canned by Three. We'll take a look at why and how the hosts addressed it on Friday night Winston Peters' texts about not getting information from the PM that the Christchurch Mosque shooter sent her office his manifesto has been deemed "completely irresponsible" by PR consultant and political commentator Ben Thomas on Newshub Nation. We'll take at look at what he said and get your thoughts. ================================================ Help us by nominating #BHN for the peoples choice award at https://www.nzpodcastawards.com/nominate. As part of the nomination you need to share a link to the podcast. Please use this one https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/bhn-big-hairy-news/id1629215711 Help us beat out the MSM podcast with huge budgets behind them. Thanks team ================================================ +++++++++++++++ Last week for this month's merch drop, come in solidarity with all the other 'Bottom Feeders' and represent by visiting www.BHNShop.nz +++++++++++++++ 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 Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

New Zealand is calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza... we speak to the Israeli Defense Force... and a UN worker on the frontlines of this conflict as it intensified overnight. Climate was a poor cousin to cost of living during the election, so what could happen under a new government? And Backstory is back with an MP who's been a familiar voice for farmers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a historic majority - to opposition in one term... what went wrong for Labour - and how does it rebuild...  We ask Carmel Sepuloni.  Winston's back but uncharacteristically quiet... so what will he be like in negotiations? Former NZ First MP Ron Mark with his insights. And we meet some of Parliaments newest MPs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martyn 'Bomber' joins us at 9pm to talk over the election result, what went so very wrong for the left and where to from here Journalist Dita De Boni was a guest on Newshub Nation over the weekend and made some astute comments on how much credit Luxon should be given for his win, versus how much should be given to the huge war chest behind him funded by NZ's wealthiest people. Chloe Swarbrick and David Seymour clashed on the AM Show about James Shaw's comments on potential violence is there was a referendum onthe Treaty and Ryan Bridge presses Seymour on how quickly should those 15,000 public servants pack their offices up, a cornerstone of Semour's election promise...and Seymour seems more nuanced on that pledge now, almost as if he didn't mean it on the election trail and now, after getting elected, is softening his stance. +++++++++++++++ We have a new three week merch drop, come in solidarity with all the other 'Bottom Feeders' and represent by visiting www.BHNShop.nz +++++++++++++++ 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 Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

The dust has settled and there will be a new Government. Join Newshub Nation to make sense of it all as we interview the party leaders, investigate coalition options, and unpack the jargon with our political experts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newshub Nation spoke about where ACT is currently at dropping in the polls with a dejected, low energy David Seymour and also talked about how National first wouldn't rule Winston out, then ruled him in, then spent time and money trying to get people not to vote for him. +++++++++++++++ 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 Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

Nicola Willis and Grant Robertson are here for our final pre-election debate. Who's nailing the campaign online - and who's gone weird on Tik Tok? Our Digital Power Rankings - election edition. And fear and loathing on the campaign trail - a special report on MP safety.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the second leader debate, Chris Hipkins went full-mojo against Christopher Luxon. Did it work for him, or did he overdo it? The NZ First leader wasn't there and yet he really was, after Luxon ruled him in at the start of the week. "I don't know him," professed Luxon of Peters, but will that wash? And what was the thinking behind the ruling-in, and why now. Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire tackle all of that, and pick the stars and the flops across other debates of the last week, including the powerbrokers clash on Newshub Nation, and the young voter and kaupapa Māori debates on TVNZ. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another allegation of bullying in the Labour Party. MP Shanan Halbert has been accused of bullying by several former staff dating back more than a year, labelling him “manipulative”, “scheming” and “a narcissist”. Minor party leaders have had their say in the latest election debate. Act's David Seymour, the Green's Marama Davidson, NZ First's Winston Peters and Te Pati Maori's Debbie Ngawera-Packer all squared off in last night's debate on Newshub Nation. And all parties have committed to keep school lunches going. It's only funded out to the end of the year, but Labour and National have expressed interest in keeping it going. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls joined Tim Dower. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to the first Leaders' Debate for our Minor Parties, but these are no minnows - they will shape the next Government of New Zealand, in just 22 days.  Rebecca Wright moderates a debate between ACT's David Seymour, NZ First's Winston Peters, The Green's Marama Davidson, and Te Pāti Māori's Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour shows again on Q&A that it's NOT that he talks about issues like race and fraud...it's that he only talks about those issues when the smash the lowest income NZers. Christopher Luxon had another shocker on Newshub Nation in the weekend...let's have a look at the person who is odds on currently to be our next Prime Minister. Posie Parker has decided not to come to NZ because something, something, something NZ Police are corrupt. Let's look at that tonight. +++++++++++++++ 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 Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

Competent - or just Confident? It's a question swirling around the Nats Tax plan... we sit down with Christopher Luxon. Two doctors and a contest of ideas. Labour's Ayesha Verrall and National's Shane Reti head to head. And the numbers are in - we've polled one of this election's most fascinating battleground electorates...   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Battleground electorates where there's everything to play for this election. Finn Hogan's Digital Power Rankings - special campaign edition. And you thought you knew James Shaw? Well... check out his BackstorySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament has risen, the campaign starts today and Chris Hipkins fights his first election as Prime Minister... He joins us live. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a path back for Labour? The Deputy Prime Minister is here for her pre-election interview. Chasing the unicorn: What women want to see from our politicians - and why it matters so much. A political love story - on BackstorySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Shepherd from Newshub was ill prepared to counter David Seymour's talking points at his last The National appearance, he did make one good point about Seymour being pro-partnership when they were doing it but overall, Seymour walked all over the Newshub host. We get frustrated as these journalists have access, but they also need to kiss the ring to keep access and therefore either choose to not engage with serious conversations, or don''t know how to. Either way politicians in NZ are getting pretty much a free ride from most in the media this election cycle +++++++++++++++ Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠#BHN⁠ ⁠https://www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠ Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter. @patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

Strap in for our first head-to-head debate this election season: our Young Leaders' Debate. Getting the best deal: minor parties in parliament reveal their coalition bottom lines. And the MP who surfs, and started a family in her teens. A familiar leader in a whole new light....on Backstory.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will New Zealand take on big tech? Broadcasting Minister Willie Jackson joins us. Riding high in the polls...Act Party leader David Seymour's pre-election interview. Andrew Little launches New Zealand's first National Security Strategy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Hosking said something interesting to me on Friday, when I was hosting Early Edition. He told me Labour probably needs Grant Robertson to quit now- because how does a Finance Minister sell something he doesn't believe in? This is of course a result of the Prime Minister making all the calls on the Labour Government's tax policies.  It may make sense, but can Labour afford to have Robertson, the politician regarded as most likely to succeed Jacinda Ardern if he'd wanted the role, to make a move at this point? How much more destabilising would it be for an already wobbly Labour Government to lose one of their few competent ministers?  Grant Robertson, being a seasoned professional, won't go rogue and tell us how he really feels about the Prime Minister's calls, but it's unlikely he's enjoyed it. What will be particularly galling is that these calls override seeming solid Labour ideas, like offering a tax cut for everyone earning over $10,000 a year. Kindly paid for by a wealth tax on families with net assets of $10 million.  It must also be testing for Robertson to stand by and see a policy he previously said the Government wouldn‘t put in place as it was ineffective- such as removing GST from fresh food- apparently now at the heart of Labour's tax policy.   It was as recently as May when Grant Robertson told Newshub Nation there are better ways of delivering support to low and middle-income earners than removing GST from fresh food.   Surely Labour has already lost the election due to its competency issues, but reported friction within caucus over tax and other issues isn't helping their campaign. Hipkins has been dealing with a lot of messes which should have been sorted out before he took on the leadership role.   It's bad enough to be firing and accepting the resignations of ministers for mistakes that should have been dealt with earlier, it's even worse when 13 weeks out from an election there are rumblings and leaks coming from the caucus.   This is not the time for Labour to fall apart and Grant Robertson, regardless of how he feels about the direction of the party and its revenue policy, must feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.  Hipkins isn't making things easy for himself and his leadership skills will be put to the test over the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see if he can hold the team together enough to credibly contest the coming election.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following explosive revelations of misconduct in youth justice facilities, Minister for Children Kelvin Davis fronted this morning on Newshub Nation for an extended interview.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In July last year a shellshocked James Shaw was ejected as Green Co-leader at his own party conference.  Could it happen again? He joins us one week out from this year's agm.  Also, why is our government suddenly putting nine million dollars into a "foreign interference work programme"? And can New Zealand continue to produce enough food? Forward-thinking Kiwis are growing their own, and stockpiling the surplus. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This conference weekend for National Rebecca joins us from the capital with the latest from the campaign. They might have lost Immigration Minister Michael Wood but our migrants still need answers - we meet two of them. And a political decision looms for Māori, how to decide between the Māori and general rolls - before the cutoff.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

External experts are poring over the ‘inappropriate editing' of international news published online by RNZ. It has already tightened editorial checks and stood down an online journalist. Will this dent trust in RNZ - or news in general? Were campaigns propagating national propaganda a factor? Mediawatch asks two experts with international experience.

External experts are poring over the ‘inappropriate editing' of international news published online by RNZ. It has already tightened editorial checks and stood down an online journalist. Will this dent trust in RNZ - or news in general? Were campaigns propagating national propaganda a factor? Mediawatch asks two experts with international experience.

Aiming for the TOP, could Raf Manji become the new political powerbroker? A big week for farmers, we've been at Fieldays as parties vie for the crucial rural vote. And online loot boxes, are they gaming or a gateway to underage gambling?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis ended a standout political week - you guessed it - clarifying comments about babies by Christopher Luxon. She joins us.  The fates of Auckland's flooded and ruined homes will be sealed on Monday - but not all of them, a special report from Muriwai.  And does the US have alien spacecraft?  It's a story that set the internet alight this week.... and is prompting a congressional hearingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the programme today: Mayor Tory Whanau hits back against her critics in Wellington City, a two-time surrogate mother in Auckland reflects on proposed surrogacy laws, and one regulator to rule them all. New moves to police media and social media are discussed by our expert media panel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No budget bump in the polls for Labour - but could a new policy do the trick?  We're live to Wellington where Simon Shepherd is with the Deputy Prime Minister. Scrutiny stress: Adrian Orr feels personally attacked at his press conference ... but why? Finn Hogan is here with his Digital Power Rankings and what's been making waves online. When ACT MP Mark Cameron entered Parliament he owned only one suit... and his partner had to teach him how to send an email so we travelled to his picturesque Tai Tokerau farm to hear his backstory.Early Childhood teachers say the conditions attached are impossible and could lead to higher prices, and centres closing down. Simon sat down with one centre director Kelly Seaburg and asked why she thinks the policy is a lemon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the programme today. Revealing the hidden details in the budget with Finance Minister Grant Robertson  Big budget winners. Our gaming industry is levelling up. And one MP's story of longing and reunion - coming up on Backstory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the programme today: He's been a man of mystery this year - traveling a lot, what's he been up to? Defence Minister Andrew Little on the future of our force. What is  Brian Tamaki's election year destiny? And wisdom from an award-winning principal.  Will he give our schools a pass - or a fail?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How far will Te Pāti Māori go to become the powerbrokers this election? Co-leader Rawiri Waititi joins us live. With the EU playing hardball and rising power India ignoring us what's next for Trade Minister Damien O'Connor? And you think you've got bus troubles? Try waiting six hours - a special report from Finn Hogan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta discusses the future of NZ's foreign policy and AUKUS. ACT Leader David Seymour and Green spokesperson for Revenue Chloe Swarbrick debate the future of NZ's tax policy.  Māori data specialist, Dr Karaitiana Taiuru, discusses the inequality genetic testing can impose on Māori and Pacifica communities.   Appearing on Newshub Nation's political panel, Victoria University Associate Professor in Politics Lara Greaves, Former National press secretary Janet Wilson, and Newsroom's national affairs editor Sam Sachdeva. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We cross live to Sydney for the latest on the sweeping liberalisation of citizenship laws for Kiwis, announced overnight The real reason we sent a delegation of 50 to the Pacific this week. Carmel Sepuloni joins us straight from her first mission as Deputy Prime Minister. And why bring back Live Animal Exports? National's new face Nicola Grigg defends the party's policy in her first longform interview.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the programme today: National Party Leader Christopher Luxon joins us for a live extended interview. Can New Zealand's rivers be swimmable again? Freshwater researcher Marnie Prickett responds to another damning report on our water quality. Which MP has been adventuring in the North Pole and Jordan, and dog-sledging in Mongolia? Find out on Backstory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Donald Trump getting arrested, trust in news falling again, a controversy involving a Cabinet minister and RNZ- and the working poor getting a platform.

In this week's edition of Midweek Mediawatch, Hayden Donnell talks to Mark Leishman about Donald Trump getting arrested, trust in news falling again, a controversy involving a Cabinet minister and RNZ- and the working poor getting a platform.

On the programme today.  Is he sluggish on the cyclone? The man in charge of the recovery - Grant Robertson from Parliament. Paris is burning over the retirement age... will the debate catch fire here too?  And the first former President to be charged with a crime - we cross to New York for the latest See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the show today: Untested Police Minister Ginny Andersen live in studio Winston Peters joins us fresh from his polarising state of the nation speech  We cross live to Albert Park ahead of anti-trans activist Posie Parker's address Plus, MP Jan Logie and dancer Laura Philips join us to discuss employment rights for strip club workersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mouthy minister, a policy bonfire and a chaotic day on the ninth floor.Inside the new Prime Minister's office for our first election year interview.    Is a vote for the Greens just a vote for greenwashing?Or will the party hit back at Labour's dumping of its policies? Marama Davidson on The Pitch. Plus, an ACT MP, a brush with death - and love at first sight. MP Simon Court in a whole new light  - on Backstory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a busy month for the new Health Minister Ayesha Verrall, she joins us for an extended interview. Then Dr Ian Soosay breaks down the essential components of successful large-scale mental health responses to disasters. Then Forest and Bird CEO Nicola Toki defends wetlands, Finn Hogan breaks down the digital power rankings, military strategist Mick Ryan discusses the likelihood of New Zealand getting involved in any conflict with China, and our political panel breaks down the week that was. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the programme today: Is our education minister ambitious enough for our children? Shamubeel Eaqub on the 400,000 New Zealanders behind on their loan repayments.  Is Queensland's flood response good enough to model ours on? National Party Forestry spokesperson Joseph Mooney on what he would do differently. ACT MP Karen Chhour is at the Bayview Community Centre, where she spent some of the best - and worst - times of her life - for her Backstory. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's said plenty in the media, they've said as little as possible (on the record, at least). That's left media weighing up whether MP-gone-rogue Dr Sharma has really lifted the lid on serous bullying - or just reacted badly to the oversight and occasional coercion that's part and parcel of politics in a governing party. Meanwhile, his claims that MPs have been coached to frustrate official information requests have piqued the particular interest of the media.