Gone By Lunchtime

By The Spinoff

What's Gone By Lunchtime about?

A New Zealand politics podcast hosted by The Spinoff's Toby Manhire with Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Gone By Lunchtime episodes:

04.17.2024
Aukus ruckus: the scrap over NZ independence in foreign policy
Winston Peters and Helen Clark are at loggerheads over New Zealand inching towards "pillar two" status in a pact geared against China. Is cross-party unity on our foreign policy status splintering, and what does "pillar two" really mean? Plus: public...
04.05.2024
A conversation with Grant Robertson at the cricket
In this special edition of GBL, the former finance minister and soon-to-be vice-chancellor at the University of Otago chats with Toby Manhire from the nosebleeds at the Basin Reserve. On the agenda: tax reforms lost, the Covid legacy, the lure...
03.19.2024
Numbercrunchawamba
Despite a deteriorating economic outlook and inconvenient calculations, Nicola Willis and Chris Luxon insist that they can deliver promised tax cuts without new taxes or higher borrowing. Or that’s the intention, at least. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas...
03.05.2024
An untimely case of entitleditis
Christopher Luxon can’t catch a break. His prime ministerial house is shabby. His prime ministerial plane is borked. But, ask Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas, how foreseeable was the blowback to his decision to take the $52k accommodation...
02.20.2024
Ia manuia lau malaga, Efeso Collins
Fa'anānā Efeso Collins, Green MP and former Auckland councillor, has died after collapsing while taking part in a charity run in central Auckland. He was 49 years old and is survived by his wife, Fia, and two daughters. The news reached...
02.07.2024
Waitangi spiders and the Winston scriptures
Annabelle Lee-Mather returns from the cauldron of Waitangi to discuss with Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire the rhetorical flames and gently roasted marshmallows at the hugely attended commemorations. Did Christopher Luxon navigate a copy-paste path between his coalition partners and...
01.25.2024
The three-headed taniwha
The political year has begun with a sharp focus on the new coalition government and te ao Māori. In the first pod back for 2024, Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire discuss the messages from the packed Kiingitanga hosted...
12.19.2023
2023: A year in review
At the end of a long year and a hectic few weeks for the new government, Toby Manhire, Ben Thomas and Annabelle Lee-Mather ask: What is the story of the three-headed coalition so far? Plus: how do we rate the...
12.18.2023
The Spinoff presents SUPERPOD 2023
SUPERPOD is back! Hosted by Gone By Lunchtime's Toby Manhire and featuring Jane Yee and Alex Casey from The Real Pod, Duncan Greive from The Fold, Gone By Lunchtime's Annabelle Lee-Mather, Simon Pound from Business Is Boring, Bernard Hickey from...
12.08.2023
Luxon and the rizz
The first fortnight of the three-part coalition government has been anything but dull. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas review Christopher Luxon's performance as his deputy PM Winston Peters steals thunder, a 100-day plan lays out an ambitious programme...
11.26.2023
The Weet-Bix coalition
Christopher Luxon has scaled his Big Rock candy mountain and today the new National, Act and NZ First coalition has its ministers sworn in at Government House. Toby Manhire, Ben Thomas and Annabelle Lee-Mather rattle through the two coalition deals...
11.07.2023
Big rock energy and coalition talks
The special votes have confirmed a "worst case scenario" mélange à trois comprising National, Act and NZ First. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas assess the state of coalition talks. What are the, as Christopher Luxon's puts it, "big...
10.14.2023
Post-election special: back on one track or other
National has won the election, but what kind of victory is it? Will a coalition with Act be enough, or is Winston Peters’ phone about to ring? Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire sift through the results the morning...
10.14.2023
Election night special: a debrief
After months of living and breathing this year’s election campaign Gone By Lunchtime’s Toby Manhire, The Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman and The Bulletin editor Anna Rawhiti-Connell join together to discuss the events of election day. Toby arrives fresh from a...
10.11.2023
Panic at the Briscoes
In the last pre-election pod, Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire comb through the final polls and take stock after a hectic final few days in which panicked-looking National has gone really negative - on a government led by...
10.03.2023
Chris Hipkins is relentlessly positive
The Labour leader has Covid-19, which means a campaign rejig and a protracted squabble with Christopher Luxon about who is quitting the Press debate and who isn’t. Meanwhile, Winston Peters has gone into bombastic overdrive, parts of the campaign have...
09.27.2023
Winston Peters? I don't know her
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...
09.24.2023
Megapod 22: Can Annabelle, Ben and Toby make it out alive?
In the 12th and final hour of the Election 2023 Megapod, the Mount Rushmore of political podcasting returns and makes a desperate dash for the finish line. There is some discussion of polling and the campaign trail as it hits...
09.24.2023
Megapod 21: The Real Pod x Gone By Lunchtime + The Worm
It’s getting late and unruly on the Election 2023 Megapod, and that means it’s time for The Real Pod’s Jane Yee and Duncan Greive to join Toby Manhire and Ben Thomas – as well as Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman –...
09.24.2023
Megapod 20: Bernard Hickey – the man, the myth, the machine
In an extended interview, Toby Manhire talks to Bernard Hickey about his life in media, politics and the economy. We also discover why Bernard has totally changed his approach to journalism. This is an excerpt from our day-long Election 2023 Megapod,...
09.24.2023
Megapod 19: All hail Policy.nz
Ollie Neas of Policy.nz joins Toby Manhire to reflect on the history and purpose of New Zealand’s best policy comparison tool, how it works, and what it can tell us already about the parties’ priorities in this year’s election. This is...
09.23.2023
Megapod 18: Youth Wings revisited
As the second season of The Spinoff video series Youth Wings is released, two of the participants from the previous season join Toby Manhire to give their impressions of the new crop, reflect on responses to their own appearances three...
09.23.2023
Megapod 17: Raf Manji says Top is still in the game
Despite a poll that put him in third place, Raf Manji insists that he can win the seat of Ilam and bring the Opportunities Party into parliament for the first time. This is an excerpt from our day-long Election 2023 Megapod,...
09.23.2023
Megapod 16: Grant Robertson on Labour’s record and the mood for change
How does Labour’s economic record stack up after six years? Toby Manhire talks to Grant Robertson about his approach to politics, memories of 2005, and whether he feels he’s achieved what he hoped for. This is an excerpt from our day-long...
09.23.2023
Megapod 15: Andrew Geddis on how to make a government
Just how much power does the governor general wield, is David Seymour’s thought experiment of “confidence but no supply” plausible, and what would happen in a 60-seats-all tie? Constitutional expert Andrew Geddis joins Toby Manhire to chew through the scenarios. This...
09.23.2023
Megapod 14: David Seymour on why he despises political TV drama
Act leader David Seymour explains why he thinks political dramas on television are a dangerous drug for politicians. Plus: does he want Act to “own” policy areas in a coalition, or to feed in across the board? This is an excerpt...
09.23.2023
Megapod 13: Ben McKay on the Voice vote in Australia
Australians will vote on October 14, too: on creating a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. What would the creation of this body mean and how is the debate shaping up? Plus: how interested are Australians in...
09.23.2023
Megapod 12: Brooke Van Velden on the battle for Tāmaki
The Act deputy leader has launched an audacious challenge in the east Auckland seat of Tāmaki. She joins Toby Manhire to discuss her philosophical differences with Simon O’Connor, whether Act could live with an anti-abortion MP in its caucus, and...
09.23.2023
Megapod 11: The hot seats in election 2023
Which electorates have pulses racing in this campaign? Toby Manhire is joined by Spinoff colleagues Charlotte Muru-Lanning, Stewart Sowman-Lund, Shanti Mathias and Joel MacManus to pick the seats they’re most excited about, including Tāmaki Makaurau, Tāmaki, Wellington Central and Ilam. This...
09.22.2023
Megapod 10: Chris Hipkins reveals he has read a book
In the first debate, Labour leader Chris Hipkins appeared to suggest he had not read a book. On our epic 12-hour megapod, he confirmed that in fact he has, and what his favourite books are. Plus, Hipkins’ self-assessment of his...
09.22.2023
Megapod 9: The foreign affairs debate we’re not having in election 2023
International issues have so far had stuff-all airtime in the campaign. University of Otago professor Robert Patman talks Ukraine and Russia, Aukus, and the geopolitical questions the leaders should be facing. This is an excerpt from our day-long Election 2023 Megapod,...
09.22.2023
Megapod 8: Erica Stanford on the minister she wants to be
High-flying National MP Erica Stanford joins Toby Manhire to explain why she wants to be education minister and why the National Party wants to mandate structured literacy. Plus: the pressure politicians face and a response to the suggestion a two-woman...
09.22.2023
Megapod 7: Lara Greaves on polling, the Māori roll and harassment
Victoria University of Wellington political scientist, Lara Greaves, talks about changes to how the Māori roll works, online harassment and the pros and cons of polling. This is an excerpt from our day-long Election 2023 Megapod, recorded on September 20. Watch...
09.22.2023
Megapod 6: James Shaw on the climate change election
Green Party co-leader James Shaw joins Toby Manhire to explain how he’s striving to get climate change on the agenda in a cost-of-living campaign, the “ultimate threat multiplier” and the agony of rewatching The West Wing. This is an excerpt from...
09.22.2023
Megapod 5: A conversation with Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
Fresh from a poll that puts her second in Te Tai Hauāuru, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer talks with Toby Manhire about her prospects, the party’s priorities, and how the party has changed from the days of Tariana Turia....
09.22.2023
Megapod 4: A special Auckland Central debate / shock moderator walkout
Toby Manhire is joined by the three leading candidates in the race for Auckland Central: sitting MP Chlöe Swarbrick of the Greens, National’s Mahesh Muralidhar and Labour’s Oscar Sims. What do they have to say about transport in the city?...
09.21.2023
Megapod 3: Michael Wood on a hellish year and the campaign ahead
Labour MP Michael Wood talks to Toby about the impact of his resignation as a minister three months ago (“It was really awful to be honest”), the campaign to date, and what he hopes to do next. Plus: we enquire...
09.21.2023
Megapod 2: Highlights and lowlights of the first leaders’ debate
Toby Manhire is joined by Spinoff editor Madeleine Chapman, Bulletin editor Anna Rawhiti-Connell and founder Duncan Greive to critique the performances of Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon in the 1News debate, and critique the critiques. This is an excerpt from...
09.21.2023
Megapod 1: The first TVNZ leaders' debate, assessed
Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas size up the big first clash of Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon under the hot studio lights at 1News. What were the flashpoints, would have emerged the happiest, and is this going to...
09.15.2023
A conversation with Act leader David Seymour
David Seymour has led the Act Party from the edge of extinction to a major force in the NZ parliament and stands today on the brink of bringing multiple MPs to the cabinet table. In a wide-raning conversation with Toby...
09.14.2023
Is Chris Luxon the new Paul Newman?
With the first leaders' debate less than a week away, Ben Thomas, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Toby Manhire ask if the National leader is staging an epic hustle. Does mounting pressure on National over purported numbers for a foreign buyer property...
09.12.2023
Bonus episode: Everybody was Prefu Fighting
A big day in the 2023 campaign as Treasury opens up the books and sets out the pre-election fiscal update. Toby Manhire is joined by When the Facts Change host, Kākā pilot and sage of the political economy Bernard Hickey...
09.08.2023
A conversation with Green leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw
Toby Manhire sits down with the co-leaders of the Green Party to discuss the successes and failures of the last six years, how they're approaching a crowded, antagonistic campaign, the electorate seats they're taking seriously and the great dance of...
09.05.2023
From the gelateria to the murder house
As the campaign kicks into full ice-cream-and-robotic-hands mode, Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire size up the state of play. On the agenda: National's tax plan and the complaints of "heroic" assumptions; Labour's dental pledge and the promised land...
08.28.2023
Live from Word Christchurch with special guest Lianne Dalziel
The state of the campaign, the struggling Chrises and the electorate battles to watch are all on the agenda as Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas take the stage at the Word Christchurch festival. Joining the trio is Lianne...
08.23.2023
Man bites underdog
A new poll lays bare National's ascendancy and the scale of Chris Hipkins' challenge. Is it about Labour's strategy, the state of the economy, or Christopher Luxon polishing his act? Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas assess the state...
08.16.2023
Live from Boondogglepalooza
Will all the good polling in the world make up for the lampooning of Labour's big policy on GST and fruit and vegetables? Will Ben Thomas's coconut with a straw be exempt? Ben, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Toby Manhire discuss Chris...
08.14.2023
Bonus episode: Steven Joyce on how to win elections
The man who managed five National election campaigns joins Toby Manhire to talk about his new book, about going from Mr Fix It to Phone-a-friend, the National meltdown, the secrets to campaigning and working with the public service, and his...
08.09.2023
Bonus episode: A conversation with the prime minister
Chris Hipkins sits down with Toby Manhire for a wide-ranging interview spanning his political foundations, the record of the Labour government after two terms, coping with a string of ministerial scandals, and what to expect in the campaign to come. Learn...
08.02.2023
The giant hole election
Join Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire in a deep dive into the holes of the emerging campaign. Is it time for a costings unit to stop the fiscal squabbles? Is Labour on the brink of reviving its GST-free...

What's Gone By Lunchtime about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Gone By Lunchtime episodes:

Aukus ruckus: the scrap over NZ independence in foreign policy

A conversation with Grant Robertson at the cricket

Numbercrunchawamba

An untimely case of entitleditis

Ia manuia lau malaga, Efeso Collins

Waitangi spiders and the Winston scriptures

The three-headed taniwha

2023: A year in review

The Spinoff presents SUPERPOD 2023

Luxon and the rizz

The Weet-Bix coalition

Big rock energy and coalition talks

Post-election special: back on one track or other

Election night special: a debrief

Panic at the Briscoes

Chris Hipkins is relentlessly positive

Winston Peters? I don't know her

Megapod 22: Can Annabelle, Ben and Toby make it out alive?

Megapod 21: The Real Pod x Gone By Lunchtime + The Worm

Megapod 20: Bernard Hickey – the man, the myth, the machine

Megapod 19: All hail Policy.nz

Megapod 18: Youth Wings revisited

Megapod 17: Raf Manji says Top is still in the game

Megapod 16: Grant Robertson on Labour’s record and the mood for change

Megapod 15: Andrew Geddis on how to make a government

Megapod 14: David Seymour on why he despises political TV drama

Megapod 13: Ben McKay on the Voice vote in Australia

Megapod 12: Brooke Van Velden on the battle for Tāmaki

Megapod 11: The hot seats in election 2023

Megapod 10: Chris Hipkins reveals he has read a book

Megapod 9: The foreign affairs debate we’re not having in election 2023

Megapod 8: Erica Stanford on the minister she wants to be

Megapod 7: Lara Greaves on polling, the Māori roll and harassment

Megapod 6: James Shaw on the climate change election

Megapod 5: A conversation with Debbie Ngarewa-Packer

Megapod 4: A special Auckland Central debate / shock moderator walkout

Megapod 3: Michael Wood on a hellish year and the campaign ahead

Megapod 2: Highlights and lowlights of the first leaders’ debate

Megapod 1: The first TVNZ leaders' debate, assessed

A conversation with Act leader David Seymour

Is Chris Luxon the new Paul Newman?

Bonus episode: Everybody was Prefu Fighting

A conversation with Green leaders Marama Davidson and James Shaw

From the gelateria to the murder house

Live from Word Christchurch with special guest Lianne Dalziel

Man bites underdog

Live from Boondogglepalooza

Bonus episode: Steven Joyce on how to win elections

Bonus episode: A conversation with the prime minister

The giant hole election