Welcome to The Bradbury Group, an independent political podcast where sharp wit meets sharper hooks! This is episode one - a pre-Budget special for 2025 - and its power panel features John Tamihere, the Māori Party’s kingpin; Matthew Hooton, right-wing Slytherin-turned-columnist saboteur; and Craig Renney, Jedi economist for the working class. They tackle the week’s chaos - Māori MPs getting banished like it’s Hogwarts detention, a budget that may or may not bleed Milton Friedman’s ghost, and pay parity slashed with Thatcherite flair. Throw in a 10 minute catch-up with leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins, and Bomber's War on News (which should be pretty self explanatory).

It’s politics, but with punchlines and purpose.

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

• Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism
• Matthew Hooton - NZ Herald Columnist

And all of our SPECIAL GUESTS:

• David Seymour
• Willie Jackson
• Gerry Brownlee
• John Tamihere
• Moana Maniapoto
• Brad Olsen
• Chris Hipkins

Tonight each of our guests will be asked:

1. What was your political highlight of 2024?
2. What was your political lowlight of 2024?
3. What is your final word for 2024?
4. What is your prediction for 2025?

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

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Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

• Simon Wilson - Militant cyclist, recreational Jedi and NZ Herald columnist
• Jordan Williams - Pope of the Taxpayers Union and here tonight on loan from the Atlas Network
• Shane Te Pou - Māori Broadcasting legend, political provocateur and NZ Herald columnist

Tonight's Issues:

1. The Economy in 2024 and how it impacts 2025
2. Race Relations in 2024 and the Treaty Referendum Bill in 2025 
3. The Environment in 2024 and what 2025 might bring
4. Where will Geopolitics in 2024 lead in 2025?

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

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TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

• Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism
• Gareth Hughes - Labour Party MP for the mighty South Auckland
• Arena Williams - Assistant Whip and Manurewa representative

Tonight's Issues:

1. 15 Economists vs Finance Minister
2. 84 000 Hikoi to Parliament vs Heather Du Plisse Allan
3. Matthew Hooton vs Chris Luxon
4. Politics and the All Blacks vs right wing backlash

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

• Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism.
• Duncan Garner - New Zealand broadcaster and journalist
• Willie Jackson - Politician, former unionist, broadcaster and Urban Māori leader

Tonight's Issues:

1. Hikoi and protest in Parliament - End of Western Civilization or real Democracy?
2. David Seymour's response to Treaty Principles Referendum Critics seemed a tad churlish.
3. Accusations of bias in TVNZ covering Hīkoi - fair criticism or the Political right strangling free speech again?
4. What now for Treaty Principles Referendum Bill?

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

• Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism.
• David Parker - Former Minister of just about everything and Labour MP
• Peter Williams - Taxpayers Union Sergeant-at-arms and sometimes Reality Check Radio Host

Tonight's Issues:

1. Hīkoi Politics, the Treaty Principles Bill and the latest foreshore and seabed confiscation legislation
2. Should Gerry Brownlee be sacked as Speaker for barring Investigative journalist Aaron Smale? 
3. US Election result -Trump uses the UNDERmensch to empower the UBERmensch.

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

• Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism.
• Ani O'Brien - Queen of the Terfs and Political Commentator
• Simon Wilson - Militant cyclist, Recreational Jedi and NZ Herald Columnist

Tonight's Issues:

1. US Election - who will win and why?
2. ACT Libertarians vs Banning Nazi Salute
3. Police action in Opotiki against da gangs
4. Is Mike King a drink too far?

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

•  Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism.
• Maria Slade - The burning insight and brilliant oversight of BussinessDesk Journalist
• Michael Wood - E Tu Union's Negotiation Specialist

Tonight's Issues:

1. Appointing Mad Dog Prebs to the Waitangi Tribunal: Insanity or Malice?
2. Is Winston Peters outrage at conflicts of interest outrageous? 
3. What's the Weeks biggest loser? Andrew Bayly, the 3 buck chuck corporate slop in schools or David Seymour's never ending attack on Samoan Poetry?  
4. US Elections, 1 week to go - Insanity and Malice?

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

•  Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism.
• Max Harris - Political Commentator and strategist
• Craig Renney - The Council of Trade Unions Economist

Tonight's Issues:

1. CTU day of action - Is this the most anti-worker Government ever?
2. Benefit increases and unemployment - how bad is the economy?
3. Is the prosecution guideline backlash an attempt by the Right to take over the Judiciary?

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup

Gravity Credit Management proudly sponsors the Working Group. For more information on Gravity click the link. 

Kia Ora Aotearoa! Welcome to The Working Group, New Zealand's top political podcast not funded by NZ on Air. I'm your host, Martyn Bradbury, editor of The Daily Blog.

Joining me tonight:

•  Damien Grant - libertarian liquidator and Cthulhu of Capitalism.
• Shane Te Pou - the last Socialist standing
• Jordan Williams - The Pope of the Taxpayers Union

Tonight's Issues:

1. The new TVNZ Poll vs 1 year of the Government who is winning and who is failing - and what's happening at Wellington Council?
2. Jobseeker benefit numbers increase by 12% + FamilyBoost fiasco - are National's welfare policies falling over already?
3. Review of last weeks Treaty Debate - who won, who lost and when is the next one? 
4. The Jonesie Awards for Government Waste - let's list the contenders

Welcome to The Working Group, jump on in.

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TEXT: Working to 3598 

Check out the Social Media - https://bento.me/theworkinggroup