Gareth, Brigitte and Kathryn talk about how the Hamilton byelection is an unwelcome litmus test for Labour, the Government's decision to dump its Covid powers and a possible Royal Commission into the Covid response. The economic hangover continues, could National's social investment proposal work and the PM has met with Auckland's new mayor.

Gareth, Brigitte and Kathryn talk about how the Hamilton byelection is an unwelcome litmus test for Labour, the Government's decision to dump its Covid powers and a possible Royal Commission into the Covid response. The economic hangover continues, could National's social investment proposal work and the PM has met with Auckland's new mayor .

Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

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Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. Liam Hehir is a Palmerston North lawyer, political commentator and a National Party member.

Gareth, Liam and Kathryn reflect on the local body election results including new Auckland Mayor, Wayne Brown's continued pressure on other CCO members to resign; and imminent meetings between Transport Minister Michael Wood and mayors.

Also, at New Zealand First's annual conference, Winston Peters has declared next year's election the most important in voters' lifetimes, as he gears up for a comeback from his 2020 disaster result.

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Brigitte and Gareth look at how the local body elections shook down - particularly in our biggest cities. The Government's books are better than expected - will that heat up the tax cut debate? And former Minister Kris Faafoi is copping some flak for his new job. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. He is no longer a member of any political party.

Brigitte and Gareth look at how the local body elections shook down - particularly in our biggest cities. The Government's books are better than expected - will that heat up the tax cut debate? And former Minister Kris Faafoi is copping some flak for his new job.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. He is no longer a member of any political party.

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Kennedy talks to Kathryn about godwits which are currently en route to New Zealand from Alaska, the gannets of Cape Kidnappers and one of the most ancient Gondwanan forests: the Daintree rainforest.

Kennedy talks to Kathryn about godwits which are currently en route to New Zealand from Alaska, the gannets of Cape Kidnappers and one of the most ancient Gondwanan forests: the Daintree rainforest.

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Auckland mates Charlie Farrelly-Gruar and John 'Seymore' Harrison share a passion for delicious kai and deep kōrero.

Auckland mates Charlie Farrelly-Gruar and John 'Seymore' Harrison share a passion for delicious kai and deep kōrero.

As the Eggplant Boys, their delicious recipes and fun cooking videos are winning people over on Instagram.

Charlie, who previously worked as a tattoo artist, tells Kathryn Ryan he learnt how to cook from his mum.

"She had this amazing ability to put love into all her meals and create magic with what seemed like minimal effort."

When Charlie's mother died in 2019, he wanted to use cooking as a way to stay connected with her memory and what she believed in.

"She was a psychiatrist so she had a love for helping people with their mental battles ... and we kind of use food in the same way - to throw people together and facilitate conversations and openness, vulnerability and all that."

Around the same time, Seymore, who'd been DJing for years, knew he needed a career change.

He thought about what he loved doing - and cooking was it.

"It's so simple and it made me feel so much more again. I wanted to share that with my friends that follow me on Instagram ... and then linked up with charlie and we became the eggplant boys through the help of a mutual friend."

It's a powerful thing to realise that you can figure out your passion and change direction later in life, Charlie says.

"There's usually transferable skills you learn growing up just by being a human being in the world that you can use to put into your passions once you figure out what they are. And there's no real timeframe for when that happens to you.

"I was running a tattoo shop and that was awesome ... I still love the space but it kind of made me realise what I wanted to put my energy into and what was going to give me fulfilment at the end of the day when I got home.

"There's nothing better than creating a meal for loved ones or even strangers and seeing joy in their faces with new flavours and ingredient combinations... it's an amazing thing to be able to provide people."

Once the ball was rolling, and Charlie and Seymore became the Eggplant Boys, they had to think about what their voice was going to be.

Part of "being the change they wanted to see in the world" is using te reo Māori as they cook and chat, Charlie says.

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Kathryn, Brigitte and Lamia discuss National holding firm on tax cuts, constant pressure on the Government over social housing and what the latest political poll shows. Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government. Lamia Imam worked for two years for the Labour Party in the Leader of the Opposition's office under Phil Goff, David Shearer and David Cunliffe. She also worked for the Ministry of Justice, before gaining a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently works for a large technology company in Wellington.

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Kathryn, Brigitte and Lamia discuss National holding firm on tax cuts, constant pressure on the Government over social housing and what the latest political poll shows.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

Lamia Imam worked for two years for the Labour Party in the Leader of the Opposition's office under Phil Goff, David Shearer and David Cunliffe. She also worked for the Ministry of Justice, before gaining a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently works for a large technology company in Wellington.

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Brigitte and Lamia join Kathryn to discuss potential changes to the Covid traffic light system, whether New Zealand should follow Australia and have a public holiday to mark the Queen's passing and the political reaction to police photo collection practices of young people.

Brigitte and Lamia join Kathryn to discuss potential changes to the Covid traffic light system, whether New Zealand should follow Australia and have a public holiday to mark the Queen's passing and the political reaction to police photo collection practices of young people.

Brigitte Morten is a director with public and commercial law firm Franks & Ogilvie and a former senior ministerial advisor for the previous National-led government.

Lamia Imam worked for two years for the Labour Party in the Leader of the Opposition's office under Phil Goff, David Shearer and David Cunliffe. She also worked for the Ministry of Justice, before gaining a Masters in Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin. She currently works for a large technology company in Wellington.

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Our political commentators discuss the government's Kiwisaver tax u-turn, the cost of living payment, Luxon ruling out a Freedoms NZ coalition, and the Greens co-leadership. Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa. Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

Our political commentators discuss the government's Kiwisaver tax u-turn, the cost of living payment, Luxon ruling out a Freedoms NZ coalition, and the Greens co-leadership.

Gareth Hughes is a former Green MP and now works for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa.

Ben Thomas is a former National government press secretary, a columnist and a director of public affairs firm Capital.

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Neale, Tim and Kathryn talk about the departure and the legacy of Speaker Trevor Mallard - how will he go in his ambassadorial post in Ireland? Also, the infrastructure blowouts. is it bad management or economic conditions. And ram raids continue to plague cities and towns across the motu it's forcing a law and order debate. Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Tim Hurdle is a former National party advisor and was campaign director for National at the 2020 election.

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Neale, Tim and Kathryn talk about the departure and the legacy of Speaker Trevor Mallard - how will he go in his ambassadorial post in Ireland? Also, the infrastructure blowouts. is it bad management or economic conditions. And ram raids continue to plague cities and towns across the motu it's forcing a law and order debate.

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital.

Tim Hurdle is a former National party advisor and was campaign director for National at the 2020 election.

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Will the Labour caucus kick Gaurav Sharma out this week - and have his accusations caused lasting damage to the party? Should National's leader Christopher Luxon release the detail of an inquiry into Sam Uffindell? And are this year's local body elections at risk of being overrun by conspiracy theorists? Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Tim Hurdle is a former National party advisor and was campaign director for National at the 2020 election.

Neale, Tim and Kathryn discuss the government Kiwibank buy back.

Also will the Labour caucus kick Gaurev Sharma out this week - and have his accusations caused lasting damage to the party?

Should National's leader Christopher Luxon release the detail of an inquiry into Sam Uffindell?

And are this year's local body elections at risk of being overrun by conspiracy theorists?

Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital.

Tim Hurdle is a former National party advisor and was campaign director for National at the 2020 election.

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details