National’s Spending Claims vs Reality: Duncan Breaks It Down
Are we actually getting the truth about the state of New Zealand’s finances? Today we dig into what the government says it’s cutting, what it’s really spending, and why the numbers simply don’t stack up. Net debt is rising, weekly borrowing continues, and the tough calls we were promised still haven’t shown up.
Ashley and Maurice jump in with their usual firepower, breaking down everything from the cost blowouts to the Treasury warnings keeping people awake at night. We also look at next week’s massive RMA reforms, which could genuinely shift the dial for housing if the government gets them right. But who wins, who loses, and why is farming carved out for now?
Plus, Maurice unleashes on rates caps, traffic management madness and the staggering cost of bureaucracy that punishes ratepayers. It’s a session full of straight talk, sharp numbers and zero spin.
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The True Cost of Former Police Boss Andrew Coster’s Exit
Andrew Coster’s exit should’ve been simple. Instead, we’ve ended up paying for a slow, messy departure that highlights everything broken about accountability inside the public service.
Today we break down what really happened behind the scenes, how Coster fought to stay on full pay, and why his golden handshake feels like an insult to taxpayers and to the woman failed by police leadership.
We dig into the IPCA findings, the culture that protected senior officers, and the decision to keep paying Coster even after the writing was on the wall. And the big question that should have everyone rattled: why has the door been left open for him to return?
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David Seymour and the School Lunch Backfire That Blew Up
This one has everything. Politics, pressure, and a school lunch saga that went seriously sideways. Today we unpack the spectacular backfire that’s dominated the headlines, after principal Peggy Burrows tried to pin spoiled lunches on David Seymour’s free school meals programme… except the facts didn’t land where she hoped.
We run through what actually happened, why the provider’s records tell a totally different story, and how a stack of week-old meals left sitting at the school turned into a national spectacle.
Then, David jumps in from the back of a car heading through the Waterview Tunnel to explain the investigation, the delivery logs, and why millions of lunches have gone out without issue.
Another big day on Editor in Chief. Let’s get into it.
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Rates Cap Flop! National's Masterclass In Being Useless
We knew the rates cap was coming, but no one expected the government to drag it out this long. On today’s episode, we dive into the plan to finally rein in council rate hikes… in 2029. That’s six years after National took office. People need relief right now, not in the next political lifetime.
Duncan reckons it’s a great policy torpedoed by hopeless timing, and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers’ Union joins us to break down why councils are already licking their chops.
With spending up, payrolls swelling, and some councils proposing record increases, the delay effectively gives them three years to pump rates even higher.
We also get into the government’s wider economic credibility, the slow-walked reforms, Nicola Willis’ spending story, and whether this National-led government is sleepwalking toward becoming a one-term wonder.
Find out why Duncan says this delay is nothing short of a masterclass in political uselessness.
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The 'Dire State' of NZ's Hospitals and Luxon's Homeless 'Move On' Rules
We’ve got a Code Blue on our hands. Today we dive into the explosive claims from a senior health leader who says our hospitals are so stretched they’d be treated like a patient in full emergency mode. We talk about why Kiwi-trained nurses are being left on the bench while overseas staff walk straight into jobs, and why the system feels like it’s working against its own people.
Chris Luxon also gives the green light to move-on orders for Auckland’s homeless, and the team unpacks whether the plan is workable or just wishful thinking. Then we check in on Labour’s conference, their “ready to govern” pitch, and the policies that look good on paper but come without the numbers to back them.
Plus, Duncan shares a private nursing job opportunity for anyone keen to put their skills to use. Big stories, big opinions, and plenty to chew on.
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After 30 years fronting other people’s brands across TV, radio, and newspapers, Duncan Garner is finally in charge. Welcome to his podcast - Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief.
New Zealand