The Bradbury Group

Chlöe Swarbrick impressed, Winston Peters came under fire, and Qiulae Wong could hold the balance of power. What did the TVNZ multi-party debate tell us about who might form the next government?

Martyn Bradbury gets immediate reaction from Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong, Green MP Teanau Tuiono, Council of Trade Unions president Sandra Grey and former Labour leader David Cunliffe.

Then Matthew Tukaki, Dr Hardeep Singh and Professor Wayne Hope argue over the winners and losers, whether Opportunity should choose a side, and what a four-party government could mean for New Zealand.

Plus, workers’ rights, the cost of living, the limits of culture-war politics, and why Labour and National are struggling to dominate the contest.

The Bradbury Group: New Zealand’s best weekly political argument.

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Who won the first TVNZ leaders’ debate of 2026? Martyn “Bomber” Bradbury breaks down Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins’ performances with Willie Jackson, Sandra Grey and Sean Plunket.

Then Matthew Tukaki, Dr Harpreet Singh and John Tamihere join the political panel to debate the strongest exchanges, the questions left unanswered and whether either leader gave undecided voters a reason to back them.

What could the debate mean for National, Labour and the 2026 New Zealand election?

The debate is over. The argument starts here.

Recorded live on Tuesday 6 October 2026.

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Nicky Hager discusses his new book Dirty Work, Gerry Brownlee reflects on three years as Speaker of the House, and The Bradbury Group panel examines what the latest election poll means for New Zealand.

Martyn Bradbury talks to Brownlee about the highs and lows of the role and why democracy matters. Hager discusses the response to Dirty Work, the claims in his reporting and what happens next.

Then Tania Waikato, Max Harris, Oscar Kightley and Professor Wayne Hope join the political panel to discuss:

• The latest 1News Verian poll and what’s at stake in the 2026 election
• Racism in politics and the issues raised by Dirty Work
• Treasury’s pre-election economic and fiscal update, and what the books reveal

Follow The Bradbury Group for political interviews, debate and analysis from Aotearoa New Zealand.

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Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work is revealed just two hours before The Bradbury Group goes live. Could it change the 2026 election?

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With the election just weeks away, Martyn Bradbury is joined by National MP Chris Penk, former National MP Tau Henare and political commentator Dr Harpreet Singh to debate the latest polls, the leadership of Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins, Erica Stanford’s war with the teachers’ unions, the Government’s Treaty clause review and why New Zealand struggles to deliver major infrastructure.

Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer explains the party’s tactical voting strategy and its plan to create an MMP overhang, while Greenpeace director Russell Norman warns New Zealand is sleepwalking into a climate crisis.

Plus, the City Rail Link is finally finished. Was it worth the wait and the $5.5 billion price tag?

The Bradbury Group is proudly sponsored by Waatea News.

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Former Prime Minister Helen Clark joins Martyn Bradbury to discuss the war with Iran, Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank, New Zealand’s role in the Pacific, and her decision to keep the country out of the Iraq War.

Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds responds to rising unemployment, child poverty, the Government’s welfare changes and the poll showing Labour slumping to 25%.

Then Sandra Grey, Maria Slade and Matthew Tukaki debate the latest election policies, Labour’s campaign strategy, state-backed supermarkets, NZ First’s superannuation plan and ACT candidate Paul Henry’s appearance at a pub displaying Confederate flags and burning Jacinda Ardern’s book.

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Martyn Bradbury is joined by John Tamihere, Oscar Kightley and Simon Wilson for a fiery election-year debate.

Could strategic electorate voting create an overhang and reshape the next government? Is New Zealand having the wrong argument about tax and debt? And with unemployment rising, can the economy withstand another OCR hike?

Plus, TOP leader Qiulae Wong responds to questions about who controls the party, coalition negotiations and TOP’s growing kingmaker status. Human rights activist John Minto challenges New Zealand’s response to Israel and explains the legal action over Rocket Lab satellite launches.

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Is Christopher Luxon’s leadership on borrowed time?

Martyn Bradbury is joined by Green Party candidate Tania Waikato, columnist Simon Wilson and political commentator Dr Harpreet Singh to debate National’s leadership turmoil, Winston Peters’ growing influence, anti-migrant politics and the Greens’ plan to invest $2 billion in marae as frontline civil defence hubs.

Plus, economist Cameron Bagrie examines rising unemployment, falling house prices and the global forces reshaping New Zealand’s economy, while Professor Matt Roskruge reveals how the downturn is hitting Māori communities.

It’s sharp, fiery and unapologetic. This is The Bradbury Group, New Zealand’s best weekly political argument.

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Has Christopher Luxon lost the business community? Has Winston Peters become untenable as Foreign Minister? And does ACT seriously believe physically removing disruptive children will make schools safer?

Martyn Bradbury is joined by Labour candidate Michael Wood, BusinessDesk journalist Maria Slade and TOP’s Qiulae Wong for a combustible election-year argument about the economy, political racism, immigration, school discipline and the increasingly unstable coalition Government.

Plus, Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins explains why Winston Peters should be removed as Foreign Minister, while Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan responds to the personal attacks against him and the wider rise of race-baiting politics in New Zealand.

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Martyn Bradbury is joined by Phil Goff, Chris Finlayson and Matthew Tukaki to dissect Stuart Nash’s New Zealand First implosion, Cameron Bagrie’s warning of economic trouble, and Christopher Luxon’s decision to rule out working with TOP.

Plus, NZCTU president Sandra Gray on worker power and workplace rights, and Sean Ackland on media bias, the polls and what the left must do to win Election 2026.

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