This investigation just took a sharp turn. What started as concerns about the India free trade deal has now landed right in the heart of New Zealand workplaces.

We share detailed allegations from a franchise owner at a pizza chain, claiming migrant workers are paying tens of thousands of dollars for jobs delivering pizzas, while Kiwis remain out of work. The claims include fee payments of up to $30,000, alleged breaches of immigration rules, and systems that appear designed to favour overseas labour over locals.

Duncan also reads messages from insiders across multiple industries, raising wider concerns about wages, standards, and trust. This episode goes beyond economics and straight into what this deal could mean socially and politically, with voters already forming opinions ahead of the next election.

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Six people are dead, and the questions won’t go away.

On this episode of Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief, we dig into what’s being called an avoidable tragedy and why so many warnings appear to have gone unanswered.

We look at the role of the council, the one-one-one system, and the decisions made years earlier that may have destabilised the land. Were people too slow to act, too afraid to make a call, or trapped in a system drowning in process and paperwork?

We’re joined by Christine Rankin and Ashley Church for a frank discussion about responsibility, bureaucracy, political leadership, and whether New Zealand has lost the ability to make common-sense decisions when it matters most.

We also break down the latest political poll and what it says about Labour, National, and the rise of Winston Peters.

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This one lit a fire.

We dig deeper into the India free trade deal and the uncapped student numbers that have sparked huge backlash. An immigration insider speaks out about fraud, weak controls, and the real pressures being felt on housing, jobs, and schools. It’s raw, detailed, and confronting.

We also break down the first major poll of the year, and it’s a warning sign National voters should not ignore. Labour leads, New Zealand First is surging, and the government is bleeding support in places it cannot afford to lose. The panel unpacks why expectations haven’t been met and why that disappointment matters.

Plus, Ashley Church and Maurice Williamson join Duncan to talk leadership, broken promises, co-governance frustration, housing policy, and why Winston Peters is finding his moment again. A big, wide-ranging conversation about politics, trust, and what voters are really saying.

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Duncan Garner goes straight at a deal most people weren’t watching. Just before Christmas, New Zealand quietly agreed to a free trade deal with India. On paper it’s being sold as a win. In reality, there’s a clause that changes everything.

For the first time, New Zealand has agreed to uncapped numbers of Indian students. No ceiling. No off switch. Full work rights during and after study. We dig into why Winston Peters is openly opposing the deal, why he’s calling it reckless, and why this could become a major election-year fight.

We look at what this means for young Kiwis already struggling to find work, pressure on housing and infrastructure, and whether New Zealand has signed away control of its own immigration settings. This isn’t about race. It’s about public policy, sovereignty, and decisions made behind closed doors that could shape the country for decades.

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The election date is locked in and the gun has officially been fired. November 7 is now circled, but as we head into campaign mode, the biggest issue facing New Zealand is still being quietly ignored.

Chris Hipkins delivers a State of the Nation with no new policy and plenty of familiar lines. Duncan argues the real problem isn’t revenue, tax or spending. It’s courage. National superannuation is now swallowing nearly 18 percent of government spending, yet no major party is willing to confront what comes next.

We also check in with Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford to see how rural New Zealand is really tracking. For the first time in a long while, farmers are doing well. Commodity prices are strong, debt is coming down and confidence is returning. So how would a change of government affect them, and does it even matter when most of their product is sold offshore?

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Christopher Luxon had the stage, the timing, and the attention. Election year. State of the Nation. A chance to set the agenda. And yet, nothing new landed.

We unpack why the Prime Minister’s speech felt safe, steady, and completely underwhelming. From cost of living pressures and power prices to debt, borrowing, and that familiar “green shoots” language, Duncan asks the question many households are already asking around the kitchen table. Are we actually better off?

Joining the discussion are Ashley Church and Ani O’Brien, who bring sharply different perspectives on strategy, substance, and whether this was deliberate discipline or a missed opportunity. There’s debate around fiscal discipline, KiwiSaver changes, housing, local government, and the political risks of playing it too safe when voters are still hurting.

Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz

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After two years of talk, the granny flat breakthrough is finally here. You can now build a 70 square metre flat in your backyard without resource consent or a building consent. It’s a big shift, and one that could unlock thousands of homes across the country.

On this episode, Duncan breaks down why this reform matters, how it cuts straight through council red tape, and why it could be one of the most practical housing changes in years. This podcast was the first to reveal the policy back in 2024, and now it’s officially in play.

Duncan is joined by Shane Jones, who explains how the change came together, why trusting licensed builders is key, and what it means for families, Māori landowners, and regional New Zealand. There’s also a wider conversation about housing supply, infrastructure, mining, fishing, and the cultural shift needed to get this country building again.

Jones also talks about his desire to strike a mining deal with US President Donald Trump.

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Why does the cost of living still feel out of control for so many Kiwis? And why is National struggling to convince voters they understand the pressure at the kitchen table?

In this episode, Duncan Garner digs into why the government’s cost of living response has failed to land, despite repeated promises. From power prices and rates to food bills and fixed incomes, Duncan argues the real economy isn’t measured in GDP figures, but in whether households can actually pay their bills.

At the centre of the episode is an email from Tony, a 77-year-old from Dunedin, whose story captures what many older New Zealanders are facing. Rising rates, soaring power bills, shrinking savings, and no meaningful relief in sight. It’s a warning for Christopher Luxon, and for Labour too. Ignore the home economy at your peril.

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Chris Hipkins, Labour, and the 2026 election take centre stage as Duncan Garner lays out why this is the year hiding is no longer an option.

Labour’s polling has remained strong, with Chris Hipkins consistently rating well personally. But Duncan argues that goodwill doesn’t equal trust, and trust won’t come without hard answers. Who would sit around the Cabinet table under a Hipkins government? What role would the Greens play? How would Labour pay for its promises? And how does any of it help struggling Kiwis right now?

The episode also features Shubz Live, who joins Duncan to talk about his Iwi Whakamā healing journey from Wellington to Kaitaia. Shubz addresses criticism from Māori leaders, explains why he believes media coverage has been unfair, and responds directly to allegations about his personal life. He speaks candidly about accountability, mistakes, and why he says calling out abuse of power matters more than popularity.

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Good polling doesn’t let you off the hook. It puts you right on it.

In this Slam Dunc, Duncan turns his attention to Chris Hipkins and asks the questions he believes aren’t being asked loudly enough. Hipkins is polling well, personally popular, and sitting comfortably while the Government absorbs most of the heat. But Duncan argues that’s exactly why the scrutiny now needs to ramp up.

This is an election year, and keeping your head down won’t cut it forever. What does a Hipkins-led Cabinet actually look like? How much influence would the Greens have? What’s Labour’s real economic plan, and how does it help people now, not five years down the track? From capital gains tax confusion to cost of living credibility, Duncan says it’s time for clarity, not vibes. Because likeability doesn’t win elections. Trust does.

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