Duncan Garner - Editor In Chief

Duncan dives into the trust problem currently rotting New Zealand politics. Whether it is Chris Hipkins flipping on capital gains or Chris Luxon introducing a new power "levy" that looks suspiciously like a tax, we ask if anything said before an election actually survives. Plus, economist Craig Renney and the Taxpayers Union’s Jordan Williams join us to debate the state of the economy and why Wellington is feeling so flat.
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We dive into the controversial cultural leave entitlements for Māori staff at Oranga Tamariki. Minister Karen Chhour joins us to explain why she finds the PSA contract disappointing and how she is campaigning for equality from within the system. Plus, Duncan tackles the Green Party proposal to grant whales legal personhood, calling it a constitutional experiment that could cause a logistical nightmare.
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On today's podcast, more on the whistleblower who came forward from Oranga Tamariki, with claims of race-based cultural leave that isn't available to other staff.

Duncan digs into why this government hasn't scrapped these entitlements yet, and reveals Minister Karen Chhour’s "please explain" that has been issued to her own ministry.

We also look at the "ethnic rankings" still being used in our health system.
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This episode starts with a whistleblower from inside Oranga Tamariki who says a newly negotiated collective agreement has crossed a serious line.

Duncan reveals a clause agreed between Oranga Tamariki and the Public Service Association that grants Māori staff discretionary paid cultural leave, with obligations self-defined and not open to challenge by managers. No equivalent entitlement exists for non-Māori staff. The whistleblower says they were too afraid to raise concerns internally, worried it could damage their career.

Duncan breaks down why he believes this is a race-based workplace entitlement that undermines trust, fuels resentment, and stretches the Treaty well beyond its intent. He also shares polling that points to a knife-edge election and responds to listener questions about Stuart Nash, cancellation, and forgiveness.
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Waitangi 2026 has come and gone, and all we got was noise, anger, and performance. Duncan breaks down why Māori politics looks broken and asks who is actually looking out for the aspirational Kiwis worried about jobs and housing. Plus, NZ First's Shane Jones joins us to discuss the "pantomime" at Waitangi and a major new minerals deal with the US.
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