Christine Rankin joins Duncan Garner for an in-depth discussion on New Zealand politics, local government, leadership and the state of the country heading into the new year.The conversation covers joint management agreements with iwi, the importance of public consultation, and the pressure local councils are under to deal with complex race and governance issues. Christine explains why transparency matters and how decisions made in the shadows risk deepening division.Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Zealand politics in 2024 was messy, intense, and sometimes downright ridiculous. In this episode of Duncan Garner: Editor-in-Chief, Duncan reviews the political year, highlighting the winners, losers, and everything in between.He names Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon as the political MVPs, applauds Winston Peters’ masterclass in chaos, and examines the missteps of Te Pāti Māori and John Tamihere. Ministers are also assessed, with Erica Stanford emerging as a standout for her leadership in education, while Matt Ducey struggles to manage the mental health portfolio.Duncan also discusses the economic backdrop, cost-of-living pressures, and what voters are likely to demand in 2025. Expect sharp observations, clear analysis, and the kind of no-nonsense commentary that makes this show essential listening.Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With an election year looming, Duncan is joined by Ani and Damian for a wide-ranging, no-nonsense look at the political year that’s been and the one ahead. They dig into why the economy still feels flat despite falling interest rates, what rising insolvencies really signal, and why cost of living continues to dominate everything else. The conversation turns to whether the government has squandered time, failed to control the narrative, or simply blinked when tougher decisions were needed. There’s also a sharp assessment of where the government has delivered, particularly on crime and education, with Erica Stanford’s performance standing out in an otherwise difficult term. From leadership rumours and polling woes to whether voters actually feel better off, this is a blunt take on a year that’s tested politicians and the public alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Child poverty in New Zealand is the focus of this episode of Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief as Duncan speaks with Susan Glasgow from Variety, the children’s charity supporting kids living in hardship across the country.Variety’s sponsorship programme helps children aged 5 to 18 with the basics many families struggle to afford. That includes school uniforms, stationery, clothing, and essential items that help kids feel included and supported at school and in their communities.As Christmas approaches, the pressure on families intensifies. Many caregivers are already stretched and facing impossible choices between food, bills, and presents. Duncan and his guest talk frankly about the growing need during this time of year and how Variety’s Christmas appeal aims to ease some of that burden.The conversation also highlights the commitment of sponsors, the resilience of the children, and the real-world impact that consistent support can make. It’s a grounded, practical discussion about how communities can step up and help. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Zealand retail is under serious pressure, and in this episode of Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief, Duncan speaks with Carolyn Young from Retail NZ about what’s really happening on the ground.Carolyn explains why the last few years have felt like a three year recession for retailers, with rising costs, higher rents, increased insurance, and falling consumer spending. Even when shops look busy, customers are buying cheaper items and fewer products, a trend known as the lipstick effect.They discuss why CBDs in Auckland and Wellington are struggling, how working from home has drained foot traffic, and why cruise ships and office workers matter more than people realise. Carolyn also breaks down why buying offshore hurts the local economy, and why shopping in New Zealand stores keeps jobs and protections in place.The episode covers interest rates, job security fears, changing shopping habits, and what needs to happen for confidence to return.Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Duncan sits down with Education Minister Erica Stanford for a straight-up conversation about what’s gone wrong in our schools and what’s finally being done to fix it. From the state of maths and literacy to why thousands of kids are leaving school without qualifications, Erica lays out the reforms already underway. New curricula, textbooks back in classrooms, an hour of maths a day, and tens of thousands of teachers retrained to teach the basics properly. They also dig into the phone ban, student behaviour, truancy, and the next big move on social media and under-16s. It’s a blunt, sometimes uncomfortable discussion about failure, responsibility, and why getting kids learning properly early actually changes everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A former high-ranking police officer avoids jail after being caught with thousands of horrific images on his work computer. Duncan asks how a four and a half year sentence turns into a nine month holiday at home. Plus, the team wraps the year by digging into a "rogue" election poll and the confusing money trail surrounding Willie Jackson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The alleged misappropriation of taxpayer money by the Māori Trust under the leadership of John Tamihere. He questions the lack of oversight and transparency after Tamihere receives a $385,000 loan for a political campaign, then later receives the same amount as a bonus to pay it back. The episode calls on government departments, regulators, and the media to step up and restore public trust. Garner also reflects on the overwhelming positive response to his recent interview with Shubz, highlighting the growing appetite for fresh voices that are willing to call out injustice, challenge the status quo, and push for unity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of the Duncan Garner Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Duncan Garner discusses David Seymour's plan to reignite the treaty principles debate in the 2026 election year, arguing it's a strategic move to address public unease over race relations in New Zealand. Garner is joined by former Finance Minister and Prime Minister Bill English to discuss the current political and economic climate, including the challenges of managing the national budget, the housing market, and public spending. Bill English offers insights into the evolving political landscape and the importance of effective governance amid growing financial constraints. The episode also highlights the role of media, both state-funded and independent, in shaping public opinion and political discourse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The media landscape has changed forever, and trust has gone with it. On the podcast, Duncan sits down with Shubz, a digital creator who’s built a following by calling out corruption, hypocrisy, and misuse of power, regardless of who’s involved. Shubz talks openly about his upbringing, identity, and why he refuses to stay silent when taxpayer money is misused or when truth gets buried under ideology. From calling out Māori organisations and political figures to pushing back on lazy accusations of racism, this is a conversation about accountability and courage. The discussion also looks ahead to Shubz’s upcoming hikoi, focused on unity, healing, and community rather than anger or division. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Willie Jackson, the Manukau Urban Māori Authority, and 19 personal grievance cases now before the Employment Relations Authority. This episode of Duncan Garner: Editor in Chief breaks down a fast-moving and explosive political story. Duncan is joined by veteran trade unionist Matt McCarten, who is representing workers alleging bullying and unsafe workplace behaviour at MUMA. 19 workers have taken the extraordinary step of filing grievances at the same time, after months of failed attempts to resolve the issues internally. The conversation examines the role of MUMA CEO Tania Rangiheuea, and the involvement of her husband, Labour list MP Willie Jackson. Why was a union representative trespassed? Why were workers afraid to put their names to documents? And why, after warnings, did the matter escalate to court? With millions of dollars of public funding involved and senior political figures drawn into the dispute, Duncan argues the real damage may lie not just in the allegations, but in how they have been handled. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight on the podcast... KING Homeboy give a little https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/king-home-boy-whip-round Stuff article from dec5: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360910267/hip-hop-champ-hits-mute-beatboxing-after-brain-surgery Shubz on Willie Jackson and John Tamihere, Nicola Willis vs Ruth Richardson, and Chris Bishop’s RMA reforms — a massive week in New Zealand politics and media, and Duncan’s got the whole thing laid out. Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials. Website: https://www.rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Westpac has stunned everyone. The Reserve Bank cuts the OCR, the government does a victory lap promising relief is finally coming, and then Westpac sprints out of the blocks with a mortgage rate hike. Kiwis are on their knees, desperate for a break, and the bank that holds the government contract is the first to crank rates up. You honestly couldn’t make this stuff up. This episode, we call it exactly as we see it, then bring in economist Ed McKnight to explain what’s really going on. Ed breaks down why wholesale funding costs have jumped, why Westpac moved before anyone else, and whether the other banks are about to follow. He also maps out where rates might head next and how long the brief low-rate window really lasted. Plus, we dig into spending trends, business confidence, and why sentiment is shifting even before mortgage rates fall for everyone. It’s a big chat, and it’s one you shouldn’t miss. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicola Willis has walked straight into a political trap, and tonight we get into why it matters. The finance minister didn’t just respond to a provocation from the Taxpayers’ Union and Ruth Richardson, she elevated them, turning a sideshow into a headline feud. We break down why that was a rookie mistake, and what she should have done instead. Then Chris Bishop joins us to unpack the biggest RMA shake-up in 30 years. He explains how the new system could cut consent times, strip out pointless red tape and finally make it faster and cheaper to build in New Zealand. Bishop talks land costs, simplified zones, digital planning, fast-track projects and the potential for real economic growth if we get this right. Plus we read your messages on government waste, council rates, and the frustration many feel about firearms rules. It’s a lively one. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This one might just be the poll that flips the script. National’s finally seeing results after a long, flat year, Labour’s had a bump too, and the left… well, that’s another story altogether. The Greens face-plant, Te Pāti Māori collapses to 1 per cent, and voters look like they’ve simply walked away. We dig into why this shift matters, how economic optimism is creeping back in, and why Christopher Luxon suddenly has a bit more spring in his step. Duncan’s blunt about the mess inside Te Pāti Māori, and pollster David Farrar joins us to make sense of the numbers, the mood, and what this might mean heading into next year. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ve seen some wild housing stories over the years, but this one takes the cake. In today’s episode, we break down the quiet Kāinga Ora deal that handed almost 20 state houses to Tainui for $10 million… and then locked every non-iwi Kiwi out of buying them. No tender. No open market. No chance for anyone else. Duncan unpacks why this long-standing treaty clause is suddenly being used at scale, why it’s stirring real anger, and what it means for home ownership, fairness, and the idea of one New Zealand. Then our panel - Ashley Church and Rawdon Christie - jump in to debate whether this is racial division or simply a treaty promise being honoured. We also get into Andrew Coster’s fight for credibility, the year’s political winners and losers, and the moments that truly shaped 2024. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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? Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Find every episode and discover your next favourite podcast on the rova app or rova.nz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices