Best Security Policy Change Programme Podcasts (2025)

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Nicola Willis: Finance Minister reflects on 2025, looks ahead to 2026 9:45

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1h ago9:45

9:45

It’s been a tough run for the economy this year, but the Finance Minister is celebrating the progress that was made. Nicola Willis told Kerre Woodham the economy is growing, which means that when they look back on 2025, they’ll be able to say it ended a lot better than it started. She says that looking into next year, it’s set to grow much faster, …

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John Reeves: Public Transport Users Association National Coordinator on Auckland trains shutting down over summer for maintenance 8:27

1h ago8:27

8:27

Trains will be offline across the Auckland rail network from December 27 to January 28. KiwiRail says the closure is needed to allow for urgent repairs and maintenance which is needed for the upcoming City Rail Link, set to open in the second half of 2026. Public Transport Users Association National Coordinator Jon Reeves told Kerre Woodham that sh…

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Liam Dann: NZ Herald Business Editor on the GDP rising by 1.1% in Q3 11:18

1h ago11:18

11:18

New Zealand's economy grew more than expected between July and September. But between April and June, it shrank more than previously thought. GDP rose 1.1% in the September quarter, surpassing all expectation but Stats NZ has revised the numbers for the June quarter, finding GDP actually fell 1%, not the previously-reported 0.9%. That means the eco…

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Kerre Woodham: Auckland is far behind the eight ball when it comes to trains 4:35

1h ago4:35

4:35

For those who have been here over summer, Auckland is a lovely place to be. A lot of residents push off, and it feels like the city is yours to explore, and visitors are very welcome and make a welcome addition to the city, new people with new energy and seeing things that you don't see, seeing the city through new eyes. But it's going to be a litt…

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Mark Mitchell: Police Minister reflects on 2025, looks ahead to 2026 11:51

1d ago11:51

11:51

Mark Mitchell is acknowledging the wins he had in 2025. It’s been a busy year, the Minister dealing with a range of emergencies across the country, plus the hefty police portfolio. He told Kerre Woodham that although there’s a lot of negative headlines throughout the year, we should be extremely proud of ourselves as a country. Mitchell says there’…

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Liam Dann: NZ Herald Business Editor on the state of the Government's books 10:51

1d ago10:51

10:51

Treasury's Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update shows more delay to getting the books back to black. The deficit's expected to deepen to a depth of $16.9 billion and not narrow to $60 million dollars until 2029-30. Economic growth is expected to be just 1.7% next year. NZ Herald Business Editor Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham that the problem isn’t in…

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Kerre Woodham: The Finance Minister is charting a tough course 5:29

1d ago5:29

5:29

We're going to start this morning with the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update, which was actually the Three-quarter Year Economic and Fiscal Update. It delivered news we all expected, and that is that we're getting there as a country. It's just taking longer than we thought. Treasury's half-year update, published on Tuesday, predicted a return to…

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Kerre Woodham: How do we heal our country's divisions? 7:04

2d ago7:04

7:04

I remember back when I first started talkback, a million years ago at nighttime, it must have been the semicentennial of the waterfront workers strike of '51, or the lockout, depending on which side you're on. It was the biggest industrial confrontation in New Zealand's history for those who don't know of it. It was 151 days from February to July, …

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Sam Cliffe: NZ Blood Service CEO on the need for blood and plasma donations over the holiday period 10:36

2d ago10:36

10:36

The NZ Blood Service is encouraging people to donate, saying the demand doesn’t stop. Although the amount of hospital activity and the number of surgeries slow down over the holiday period, CEO Sam Cliffe says things like accidents, births, and long-term conditions are still prevalent. She told Kerre Woodham that they try to over-collect in the two…

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Simeon Brown: Health Minister reflects on 2025 and explains focus for 2026 9:44

2d ago9:44

9:44

A year into the job Health Minister Simeon Brown is celebrating early signs of success on reducing wait times. He took over the heath portfolio in January of this year, succeeding Dr Shane Reti. Brown told Kerre Woodham he attributes reinstated health targets as one aspect that's made a difference. He says the number one focus remains improved acce…

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Rethinking UN counter-terrorism 39:48

4h ago39:48

39:48

In this episode we explore how the United Nations (UN) counter-terrorism architecture has expanded – and what it means for peace, human rights and multilateral action. Over the past two decades, counter-terrorism has become one of the UN’s fastest-growing areas of work. From a small footprint with very limited capacity, to a dedicated UN Office of …

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John Battersby: Senior Fellow at Massey University Centre for Defence and Security Studies discusses mass-shooting at Bondi 11:05

4d ago11:05

11:05

At least 16 people are dead and 38 others injured in a terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Hundreds of people had gathered at Bondi for an event to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah, when gunmen opened fire. Massey University Centre for Defence and Security Studies Senior Fellow John Battersby told Kerre Woodham that police responded as qu…

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Dave Cade: On the draining of Lake Rotomanu in the fight against the invasive gold clams 9:14

7d ago9:14

9:14

A New Plymouth lake is being drained in an effort to stop invasive clams. Lake Rotomanu's been closed to motorised watercraft since the gold clams were found there last month, marking the first discovery of the species outside of the Waikato River. The lake's outlet was opened yesterday, and it will take about four days to drain completely. Dave Ca…

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David Farrar: Kiwiblog author and co-founder of the Taxpayers' Union on the debate between Nicola Willis and Ruth Richardson 9:57

7d ago9:57

9:57

Nicola Willis is defending her economic track record in the face of a lobby-group's satirical campaign. The Taxpayers' Union has sent MPs Nicola Willis-branded fudge, claiming she favours treats today and taxes tomorrow. It suggests Willis should cut spending more. Willis says the Government has reduced taxes and delivered significant cost savings …

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Kerre Woodham: Willis and Richardson debating would be a pointless waste of time 5:04

7d ago5:04

5:04

Do you see any advantage or benefit to the country in having a former Finance Minister and the current one debating fiscal policy? The current Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, has challenged the former Finance Minister, Ruth Richardson, to a debate. Now, that is misguided in my view, but to be fair, she was grievously provoked. Ruth Richardson is t…

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Kerre Woodham: Beyond the headlines of the cancer report 6:10

8d ago6:10

6:10

Whenever I hear or read news headlines these days, I know that the headlines will be just that for so many people. Headlines. People won't hear or they won't read beyond the headline, and then they'll form their own opinions based on nothing more than 20 words or fewer. I've got numerous examples of that. Even people that I would have thought would…

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Phil Lester: Victoria University Ecology and Entomology Professor on the efforts to stamp out yellow-legged hornets 8:57

8d ago8:57

8:57

Efforts to stamp out yellow-legged hornets in New Zealand are widening. Biodiversity New Zealand is expanding the 5-kilometre surveillance zone in Glenfield and Birkdale on Auckland's North Shore further out to 11-kilometres, to ensure only one population is at large. Victoria University Ecology and Entomology Professor Phil Lester told Kerre Woodh…

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Josie Spillane: Highlands Motorsport CEO on the Street Smart driving programme, lottery 6:20

8d ago6:20

6:20

The Street Smart programme is a hands-on, one-day driver training course for young drivers, teaching crucial real-world skills beyond basic testing, helping reduce road deaths across New Zealand. The course focuses on decision-making, hazard perception (like "rabbits" on the road), distraction management, peer pressure, and emergency manoeuvres in …

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Hamish Firth: Mt Hobson Group Director on the Government's RMA reforms 7:48

8d ago7:48

7:48

An urban planner says the Government’s RMA reforms are well overdue. It's unveiled plans to replace current Resource Management Act laws with two new pieces of legislation, one for the environment and one for planning. It sets clear limits on council regulations and is expected to save $13 billion in consenting costs. Mt Hobson Group Director Hamis…

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Kerre Woodham: The Supreme Court ruling on disabled carers makes sense 5:41

8d ago5:41

5:41

Two parents who care for their severely disabled adult children have been recognised as homeworkers and are now entitled to receive the minimum wage, along with other associated employment conditions, after a landmark ruling yesterday from the country's highest court. They're now deemed to be employees of disability support services. And the famili…

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Kerre Woodham: Is there still a place for Te Pāti Māori in Parliament? 4:58

10d ago4:58

4:58

2024 was an epic annus horribilis for the Greens - you remember Golriz Ghahraman, Darleen Tana, Julie Anne Genter, et al. It went on and on. It was arguably the worst year on record for any political party in this country ever. But wait, hold my beer – we have a new champion. 2025 is shaping up to be an even more horribilis of an annus for Te Pāti …

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John MacDonald: Coster has no evidence to back up his claims 4:09

11d ago4:09

4:09

Whether-or-not you saw former police commissioner Andrew Coster’s TV interview yesterday, you’ll know about the allegations he’s making. He thinks people are running for the hills after the Jevon McSkimming scandal and aren’t telling the whole story in terms of what they knew and when they knew it. Especially current police minister Mark Mitchell a…

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Kerre Woodham: Productivity and the great Christmas shutdown 6:23

14d ago6:23

6:23

This morning, I'm going to pretty much let Toss Grumley do the opener for me. Who's Toss Grumley? Well, Toss is a New Zealand business advisor and investor. The Post has run an editorial he wrote, bemoaning the Christmas shutdown. In it he said New Zealand's Christmas break has started to become way too extreme, and it's impacting our productivity …

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Kerre Woodham: Should convictions for violence be public record? 6:41

15d ago6:41

6:41

Now, surely, it should be a straightforward exercise. You're about to embark on a relationship with someone, and you want to do a police check. Does this person have previous convictions for violence? Seems charming, seems a lovely, but you hear horror stories. So, why wouldn't you want to check on somebody before you invite them into your life? Wh…

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Kerre Woodham: What would it take to get police trust to 80%? 7:14

16d ago7:14

7:14

It's been 12 months since Richard Chambers became New Zealand's Police Commissioner. And by crikey, he's had a busy old time of it, a little bit of a poisoned chalice. There's been the clean out of the police hierarchy following the McSkimming scandal – or really, scandals. And two months after his appointment, police officer Lynn Fleming was kille…

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Doug Marlowe: Global expert on drug-court policy on the effectiveness of the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court 14:55

16d ago14:55

14:55

Calls to expand the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court across the country. AODTC was launched in New Zealand in 2012 as a pilot to steer high-risk, high-need offenders away from prison. Offenders must plead guilty and face a likely prison term of up to three years for drug offences, committing to a tough 12- to 18-month program including regula…

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Kerre Woodham: A rates cap or an erosion of services and facilities? 7:18

17d ago7:18

7:18

Auckland households face a 7.9% rate rise next year, primarily to fund the operating costs for the $5.5 billion City Rail Link, which is nearly finished. It's a reality, it's going to open for passengers next year – woo! The increase will cover the $235 million annual cost of operating the new underground rail service. It's the largest rates rise s…

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Kerre Woodham: Labour makes big promises, but can they deliver? 6:16

18d ago6:16

6:16

Hundreds of the Labour Party faithful gathered over the weekend in Auckland to begin the march back to Parliament's government benches. Council of Trade Unions head Sandra Gray was preaching to the converted when she told the crowd that New Zealand's Pavlova paradise has been eaten up by the rich. She said Labour needed to give workers a reason to …

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Tom Walters: Matakana Oysters owner says industry is struggling after heavy rain and wastewater spill 11:16

18d ago11:16

11:16

Auckland oyster farmers are facing another blow just weeks after a major wastewater spill into the Mahurangi River. Watercare says heavy rain on 19 November caused 86 cubic metres of wastewater and stormwater to overflow into the river from a Warkworth pipeline. The Ministry for Primary Industries has suspended harvesting while tests are carried ou…

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Kerre Woodham: E-scooters, cycle lanes, and public demand 6:52

21d ago6:52

6:52

The Government's move to shift e-scooter users from the sidewalk to bike lanes is being hailed as a win for common sense. Shame it's not coming in before the Christmas party season. ACC stats for e-scooter injuries this year are close to surpassing $14 million. Now, I don't believe that's because e-scooters are inherently dangerous. They're very ea…

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Kerre Woodham: Are you feeling optimistic? 3:34

22d ago3:34

3:34

The Pohutukawa are out and flowering and abundant. The days are longer, the sun is shining, the Reserve Bank has cut the OCR, Christmas is coming, summer holidays are on the horizon, Chris Hipkins was talking tough around any kind of coalition with the Greens. We're in charge, we're not going to have this rabidly socialist nonsense, was the clear i…

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Kerre Woodham: Regional councils need to be streamlined 5:40

23d ago5:40

5:40

Regional councils are being abolished – or are they? Thomas Coughan writing in the Herald makes a very good point, it's not the councils that are being abolished, it's the council laws. Under the Government's proposal, which was announced yesterday, regional councils would have their governance replaced by Combined Territories Boards, a group made …

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Kerre Woodham: We need to be able to treat feral animals as pests 6:02

24d ago6:02

6:02

Cats and dogs who are part of our families are much loved and live the life of Riley. There must be some days when your cat or dog is lying curled up in the sun with a full tummy, waiting for 3 o'clock when the kids come home and surround it with love, or waiting for you to take it for a walk, or waiting for you to sit down so it can curl up in you…

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Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader talks capital gains taxes, coalitions, cross-party commitments 33:52

24d ago33:52

33:52

Chris Hipkins says coalitions require a balance of compromise and standing by values. The Labour leader says New Zealanders understand the nuances of MMP and the reality that parties can't get everything they want. He says that means parties often can't accomplish as much as they hoped. But Hipkins told Kerre Woodham some things will be bottom line…

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Kerre Woodham: Do the Kiwisaver tweaks go far enough? 6:48

25d ago6:48

6:48

Christopher Luxon has made his party's first election promise at a Christmas gathering for the party faithful of the Lower North Island. He said that they would lift the default KiwiSaver contribution rate, and eventually the changes would mean employees would see 12% of their earnings going into KiwiSaver, 6% from them, 6% from employers - a level…

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Bosses Unfiltered Episode 7: Angus Brown 34:18

27d ago34:18

34:18

It’s hard enough to chase a scientific breakthrough. But as New Zealand company Ārepa found out it's even harder and more expenisve to defend your breakthroughs time and time again. Ārepa was founded in 2017 and the so called “brain drink” company was growing at a rapid pace when at the end of 2023, they hit a massive speed bump. That's when the Mi…

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Matt Brown: She Is Not Your Rehab co-founder on violence against women continuing to be so prevalent 10:35

28d ago10:35

10:35

Violence against women remains one of the world’s most persistent and under-addressed human rights crises. A report from the World Health Organisation says that 1 in 3 women, an estimated 840 million globally, have experienced partner or sexual violence during their lifetime, a figure that has barely changed since 2000. In Australia and New Zealand…

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Kerre Woodham: Who genuinely thinks they have the right to mete out violence? 5:54

28d ago5:54

5:54

A new report from the World Health Organization has found (old news really), a quarter of women have been physically or sexually abused by a partner. It's 24.5% for Australia and New Zealand, so about the same. And there are calls for a public awareness and education campaign in this country about domestic violence. Really? Who needs to be taught t…

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Chris Mackenzie: Ferry Holdings Ltd Chair on the new Cook Strait Ferry deal 11:24

29d ago11:24

11:24

Rail Minister Winston Peters yesterday confirmed we are to get two new rail-enabled Cook Strait ferries. The Government's signed a fixed-price contract with a Chinese shipbuilder and is securing teams to build port infrastructure in Picton and Wellington. Rail Minister Winston Peters claims the total cost will come in under $2 billion and delivered…

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Kerre Woodham: Incredible concerts and positive news 6:19

29d ago6:19

6:19

A little bit husky, a little bit hoarse, not as bad as Heather, but a little bit husky from belting out the classics at Eden Park last night with Metallica. Oh my god. Oh my god. What a show. What an event for the city. If you were there, you know, and you'll still be buzzing, and you will still think that is one of the best concerts you've ever be…

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Kerre Woodham: What makes NZ workplaces so dangerous? 3:05

30d ago3:05

3:05

It's the 15th anniversary today of the Pike River mine disaster, and on this anniversary, unions are calling for a corporate manslaughter law to be enshrined in legislation, as it is in other countries like the UK, Australia, Canada. 29 men were killed when an explosion ripped through the Pike River mine on the West Coast of the South Island. And d…

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Chris Peace: Victoria University Workplace Health and Safety Lecturer on the Pike River mine tragedy and health and safety injuries 10:42

30d ago10:42

10:42

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Pike River mine disaster that killed 29 men. Despite reforms following the incident, New Zealand's workplace health and safety record remains poor, with fatality and injury rates among the highest in the developed world. Workplace injuries and illnesses cost the country an estimated $5 billion each year. Vict…

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Kerre Woodham: Contractors, employees, and the gig economy 5:33

1M ago5:33

5:33

Business NZ Chief Executive Katherine Rich says the Supreme Court's ruling that Uber drivers are in fact employees of Uber, not contractors, could have far-reaching implications for businesses that hired contractors, and she says it could collapse the gig economy. What's the gig economy? Well, when we're talking about the gig economy, we mean peopl…

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Peter Huskinson: Bowel Cancer NZ CEO on the Never Too Young Report, call to lower the bowel cancer screening age 13:02

1M ago13:02

13:02

Bowel Cancer NZ's new report lays bare the realities of 350 people under 50 living with the disease. It’s the second deadliest cancer in New Zealand, and the leading cause of cancer death among people under the age of 50. Every year around 3,300 New Zealanders are diagnosed and 1,200 die from the disease, despite it having a cure rate of over 90% w…

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Andrew Dickens: If we don't want congestion charges, give us alternatives 8:26

1M ago8:26

8:26

On the front page of the New Zealand Herald today there was a poll, and it shows that we're split as a nation on the issue of capital gains tax. So, the question for us here in this room and you in your room and all of us together is, should we have another discussion on the CGT? And my answer to that is, of course not. And why? We have no real ide…

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Bosses Unfiltered - Episode 6: Angus Simms 36:22

1M ago36:22

36:22

New Zealand produces enough food to feed 40 million people. Some of it we consume and some some we export. But a staggering 30% of the food we make or grow goes to waste. Fruit and vegetables need to look a certain way to make it onto supermarket shelves – or they get tossed. Angus Simms and his partner Katie Jackson wanted to tackle that problem -…

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Kerre Woodham: The problem with our retirement system 4:56

1M ago4:56

4:56

As you'll have heard in the news this morning, the Retirement Commissioner has called for a 10-year roadmap and cross-party agreement, following the release of its review of New Zealand's retirement system. More Kiwis are living longer, working differently, and facing pressures around housing and care. We're facing a huge rise in the number of olde…

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Patrick Nolan: Retirement Commission Policy and Research Director on the call for changes to the retirement income system 8:16

1M ago8:16

8:16

A warning New Zealand needs to act quickly on strengthening our retirement income system. The Retirement Commission's income policy review has found a longer-term political focus is needed to ensure future generations' certainty. It makes 12 recommendations, including moving more quickly to implement KiwiSaver reforms, and harder strategies such as…

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Julia Hartley Moore: JHM Private Investigator Services Owner on the number of people living double lives 13:20

1M ago13:20

13:20

How common is it for people to be living double lives? Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices. An IPCA report also found complaints of McSkimming being a sexual predator were ignored, the emails the woman sent inste…

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Kerre Woodham: Charging Ms Z would be a gross miscarriage of justice 5:13

1M ago5:13

5:13

How is it that the woman, who's at the centre of a cover-up by top brass within the Police, still has to go to court to defend two charges of causing harm by posting a digital communication? She's charged with harassing a police officer who was apparently investigating her accusations against that pervert McSkimming and with harassing the investiga…