Duncan Garner - Editor In Chief

Questions around a coup to roll National leader and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have been swirling. When a first-term PM is already denying leadership moves, things aren’t exactly humming. Duncan gets into what’s real, what’s noise, and why National insiders are quietly asking when, not if, the pressure really lands.

Then, he sits down with Qiulae Wong, the brand-new leader of The Opportunity Party. She’s a mum of two, comes from the business world, and freely admits she never set out to be a politician. Now, she’s aiming to drag TOP to the 5 per cent threshold with a tax package she calls transformative, including land value tax, a citizens’ income, and a pitch to break the political mud-wrestling that’s turned voters off both Labour and National.

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New Zealand’s plasma supply is under pressure, with demand for lifesaving plasma-based treatments rising sharply. Duncan Garner speaks with NZ Blood’s Scott Sinclair about the growing reliance on imported American plasma, and the risk that poses if overseas supply tightens. A new plasma-focused centre on Constellation Drive aims to boost donations, but New Zealand still needs thousands more regular donors to reach self-sufficiency.

The message is clear: donate now, because the life you save could be someone you love.

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Christopher Luxon has finally swung for something big, and tonight we get stuck into what his KiwiSaver overhaul really means. After months of beige policy and quiet corridors, the Prime Minister has dropped a long term plan to lift contributions to a combined 12 per cent. It’s ambitious, it’s overdue, and it’s got everyone talking.

We break down why Luxon’s suddenly found his spine, whether this is smart economics or pure desperation, and what it means for workers, employers, and anyone trying to retire before they’re 90. On the panel Ashley Church and Rawdon Christie jump in with insight, history, and a few home truths about where this might land.

Plus, Duncan has exclusive details you won’t hear anywhere else. A rates cap is coming before Christmas and regional councils look set for the axe. Big moves. Big implications. And very big questions for a government trying to climb back in the fight.

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Winston Peters has detonated the week’s political story, promising to repeal the government’s new Regulatory Standards Bill. ACT’s David Seymour instantly shouted that Winston is eyeing up Labour. Really? We dig through what’s real, what’s theatre, and what’s pure Winston. Spoiler: it’s mostly Winston being Winston.

Duncan breaks down how this bill really came about, why ACT demanded it, and why National never cared much for it in the first place. We look at what this means heading into the next election cycle, and why coalition partners are already positioning themselves for 2026.

Maurice Williamson and Ashley Church join Duncan on the panel, to explain what’s actually in the bill, why it has barely any teeth, and why the conspiracy theories swirling around it are miles off. Then we dive into the brutal Ipsos polling, the Greens' mining shocker, the state of the public service, and the crumbling trust in mainstream media.

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On the podcast, we get stuck into the big question everyone’s asking - how long can this government keep blaming the last one? David Seymour joins us to talk through the state of the economy, why the recovery feels so slow, and why voters seem to have run out of patience.

We dig into whether Labour really left the cupboard bare, or whether National and Co. raised expectations too high and too fast. David fronts up on spending, confidence, and the very real pressure small businesses are still under. He also lays out why he thinks proposals from the Greens could spook investment and slow things down even further.

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The Greens’ new mining policy isn’t just bold. Duncan calls it what it is - reckless economic sabotage. In today’s episode, he breaks down exactly what it would mean if a future government tore up mining permits that companies had already spent years and millions securing. Investor confidence falls through the floor, regions lose jobs, and Kiwi workers head to Australia because the opportunities here get pulled out from under them.

New Zealand First's Shane Jones joins the show to unpack the scale of the damage, from constitutional overreach to the reality of what foreign investors are saying behind closed doors. If the Greens want to scare off capital before projects even start, Duncan argues, this is exactly how to do it.

We also hear from a government worker offering rare insight into real public sector cuts, despite claims to the contrary. It’s all part of a bigger question - how do we build anything in this country, when every long-term project becomes a political football?

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The latest Ipsos Issues Monitor has smacked National clean in the face, and Duncan is fired up. This isn’t just a bad poll. It’s voters across the country saying they’re worse off, still struggling with the basics, and not buying what National’s selling. A 3.9 out of 10 performance score is more than rough. It’s a warning shot.

Ani O’Brien joins Duncan to unpack why cost of living sits at the top of the pile, why National’s messaging has never landed, and how Labour is somehow looking more trustworthy on the economy despite the mess it left behind. We get into leadership questions, the lack of tough decisions, the frustration of half measures, and whether Chris Luxon’s team is actually hearing what people are saying.

There’s also a look at crime, policing, the Greens’ latest missteps, and the brutal political reality heading into 2026. If National doesn’t get moving fast, voters won’t wait around.

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Te Pāti Māori is in free fall. That is the only honest way to describe what has happened inside the party this week. The sackings of two MPs look unconstitutional, the process looks stitched up, and dozens of people who should have voted never even had the chance. Members have contacted us directly and their message is clear: the party has been swallowed by one man’s network.

Today Duncan breaks down the tangled web around John Tamihere, the family links, the work connections, and the extraordinary level of influence running through almost every layer of the party. When the president’s relatives, employees and loyalists sit across key seats and national council positions, how democratic is the process really?

We look at why this matters, why the expulsions may not stand up to scrutiny, and why some inside the movement are now calling for JT to step aside before the whole project collapses. Plus, we hear from listeners frustrated by the state of frontline services, from hospitals to basic safety.

This is a moment of reckoning for Te Pāti Māori. The question now is whether the party survives the storm.

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Duncan unpacks a brutal week for New Zealand Police and digs into a new Talbot poll showing Labour unexpectedly edging ahead of National, shifting the political mood. He argues the government is losing trust through over-promising and under-delivering, while Labour suddenly has momentum to convert. Ashley Church and Maurice Williamson join the panel to analyse the fallout.

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On the podcast, Duncan reacts sharply to the explosive IPCA report, saying senior police in New Zealand engaged in outright corruption and a blatant cover-up of Jevon McSkimming’s behaviour, leaving public trust shattered. He calls for prosecutions, compensation, and a full clean-out of Police HQ.

Duncan then switches gears, interviewing Max Rashbrooke about compulsory KiwiSaver for kids and why early saving could transform New Zealand’s financial future.

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