Advertise on podcast: The Bradbury Group

Nicky Hager discusses his new book Dirty Work, Gerry Brownlee reflects on three years as Speaker of the House, and The Bradbury Group panel examines what the latest election poll means for New Zealand. Martyn Bradbury talks to Brownlee about the highs and lows of the role and why democracy matters. Hager discusses the response to Dirty Work, the claims in his reporting and what happens next. Then Tania Waikato, Max Harris, Oscar Kightley and Professor Wayne Hope join the political panel to discuss: • The latest 1News Verian poll and what’s at stake in the 2026 election• Racism in politics and the issues raised by Dirty Work• Treasury’s pre-election economic and fiscal update, and what the books reveal Follow The Bradbury Group for political interviews, debate and analysis from Aotearoa New Zealand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nicky Hager’s Dirty Work is revealed just two hours before The Bradbury Group goes live. Could it change the 2026 election? Marama Davidson and Mark Mitchell join Martyn Bradbury LIVE as we debate KiwiMart, concentrated corporate power, New Zealand’s readiness for a potentially extreme El Niño and the inflationary fallout from Trump’s war in Iran. *1-ON-1 IN 10* Hon Mark Mitchell — Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery After almost three years in the portfolio, is New Zealand properly prepared for a potentially historic El Niño? Should marae receive funding to operate as community civil-defence hubs—and should RSAs be included? *EXTRA 1-ON-1 IN 10* Marama Davidson — Green Party co-leader What could Nicky Hager’s new book mean for the election? And why is the Greens’ publicly owned KiwiMart proposal called “communism” when its stated purpose is to break up New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the election just weeks away, Martyn Bradbury is joined by National MP Chris Penk, former National MP Tau Henare and political commentator Dr Harpreet Singh to debate the latest polls, the leadership of Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins, Erica Stanford’s war with the teachers’ unions, the Government’s Treaty clause review and why New Zealand struggles to deliver major infrastructure. Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer explains the party’s tactical voting strategy and its plan to create an MMP overhang, while Greenpeace director Russell Norman warns New Zealand is sleepwalking into a climate crisis. Plus, the City Rail Link is finally finished. Was it worth the wait and the $5.5 billion price tag? The Bradbury Group is proudly sponsored by Waatea News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark joins Martyn Bradbury to discuss the war with Iran, Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank, New Zealand’s role in the Pacific, and her decision to keep the country out of the Iraq War. Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds responds to rising unemployment, child poverty, the Government’s welfare changes and the poll showing Labour slumping to 25%. Then Sandra Grey, Maria Slade and Matthew Tukaki debate the latest election policies, Labour’s campaign strategy, state-backed supermarkets, NZ First’s superannuation plan and ACT candidate Paul Henry’s appearance at a pub displaying Confederate flags and burning Jacinda Ardern’s book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martyn Bradbury is joined by John Tamihere, Oscar Kightley and Simon Wilson for a fiery election-year debate. Could strategic electorate voting create an overhang and reshape the next government? Is New Zealand having the wrong argument about tax and debt? And with unemployment rising, can the economy withstand another OCR hike? Plus, TOP leader Qiulae Wong responds to questions about who controls the party, coalition negotiations and TOP’s growing kingmaker status. Human rights activist John Minto challenges New Zealand’s response to Israel and explains the legal action over Rocket Lab satellite launches. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Christopher Luxon’s leadership on borrowed time? Martyn Bradbury is joined by Green Party candidate Tania Waikato, columnist Simon Wilson and political commentator Dr Harpreet Singh to debate National’s leadership turmoil, Winston Peters’ growing influence, anti-migrant politics and the Greens’ plan to invest $2 billion in marae as frontline civil defence hubs. Plus, economist Cameron Bagrie examines rising unemployment, falling house prices and the global forces reshaping New Zealand’s economy, while Professor Matt Roskruge reveals how the downturn is hitting Māori communities. It’s sharp, fiery and unapologetic. This is The Bradbury Group, New Zealand’s best weekly political argument. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has Christopher Luxon lost the business community? Has Winston Peters become untenable as Foreign Minister? And does ACT seriously believe physically removing disruptive children will make schools safer? Martyn Bradbury is joined by Labour candidate Michael Wood, BusinessDesk journalist Maria Slade and TOP’s Qiulae Wong for a combustible election-year argument about the economy, political racism, immigration, school discipline and the increasingly unstable coalition Government. Plus, Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins explains why Winston Peters should be removed as Foreign Minister, while Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan responds to the personal attacks against him and the wider rise of race-baiting politics in New Zealand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martyn Bradbury is joined by Phil Goff, Chris Finlayson and Matthew Tukaki to dissect Stuart Nash’s New Zealand First implosion, Cameron Bagrie’s warning of economic trouble, and Christopher Luxon’s decision to rule out working with TOP. Plus, NZCTU president Sandra Gray on worker power and workplace rights, and Sean Ackland on media bias, the polls and what the left must do to win Election 2026. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inflation has surged to 4.1 percent, wages are flat and families are being crushed by the cost of living. So where are the Government’s promised green shoots? Martyn Bradbury is joined by Willie Jackson, John Tamihere and Simon Wilson to debate whether National has lost control of the economy, whether New Zealand First has peaked after a conference dominated by culture war politics, and why only 18 percent of the Government’s promised social homes have been delivered. Labour finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds explains what Labour would do to ease the pressure, while education activist Bree Elliott examines the ideological forces shaping Erica Stanford’s curriculum reforms. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martyn Bradbury is joined by Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer for a major interview on the road to the 2026 New Zealand election. Can Te Pāti Māori help make this a one-term Government? Ngarewa-Packer discusses the path to the election, changing voter demographics in the Māori electorates, coalition politics and the challenges facing the opposition. Former Green Party leader and Greenpeace Aotearoa Executive Director Russel Norman also joins Martyn to discuss climateflation, rising living costs, El Niño and how climate issues could shape the election campaign. On the political panel: • Matthew Hooton, Editor of The Post• David Cunliffe• Tau Henare, former National and NZ First MP The panel debates what is really happening with the India-New Zealand Free Trade Deal, what the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll reveals about the election, and whether the economy can recover in time to influence voters. Proudly sponsored by Waatea News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Bradbury Group, Martyn Bradbury is joined by Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins for an in-depth discussion on the biggest political stories shaping New Zealand. *1-on-1 in 10 – Chris Hipkins* Following China's missile test in the Pacific, Chris Hipkins discusses the growing geopolitical tensions between China and the United States, New Zealand's independent foreign policy, NZ First's proposed changes affecting permanent residents, ACT's expansion of private security powers, and asks why Bishop Brian Tamaki has not been arrested. *Extra 1-on-1 in 10 – Mike Smith* Environmental activist Mike Smith joins Martyn to discuss allegations the Government has withheld advice relating to major polluters, his latest High Court legal action, and what the return of El Niño could mean for New Zealand ahead of the election. *Political Panel:* • Matthew Hooton – Editor of The Post • John Tamihere – Māori Party President • Matthew Tukaki – Broadcaster and commentator **Tonight's Political Agenda** Issue One China testing a missile in the Pacific versus Donald Trump — what is the true cost of an independent New Zealand foreign policy? Issue Two The political consequences of the rise of NZ First and TOP. Issue Three ASB economists predict green shoots of economic recovery. Is the optimism justified? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Greens are being hammered by the Right as "envy politics" for their tax plan — but is that fair? And is our Parliament actually functioning as a democracy should? Martyn Bradbury goes deep with two very different guests, then turns the panel loose on a week in NZ politics that's been anything but quiet. 🎙️ 1-on-1 in 10 with Green Party co-Leader Chlöe Swarbrick The Right calls it envy. Chlöe Swarbrick calls it a solution. Tonight, Martyn sits down with the Green Party co-Leader to unpack their tax plan, the real cost of inaction on climate change and inequality, and what AI means for New Zealand's economic future. Is this the most credible alternative economic vision on offer — or is it political dreaming? 🎙️ Extra 1-on-1 in 10 with Speaker of the House, Gerry Brownlee Speaker Gerry Brownlee joins Martyn to talk about the health of democracy inside Parliament — scrutiny week, its future, and his decision to reach out to Verity Johnson. What does it mean when the Speaker himself is making moves to reconnect with a public that has largely tuned out? And is Parliament actually holding power to account? 🔥 Political Panel Discussion Martyn is joined by three of the sharpest political minds in the country: ⚡ Matthew Hooton — Editor of The Post ⚡ Simon Wilson — Listener Columnist ⚡ John Tamihere — Māori Party President Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New Zealand's social fabric is fraying — and tonight, Martyn Bradbury holds power to account. 🎙️ *1-on-1 in 10 with Police Minister Mark Mitchell* A $1.3 billion Police budget. Organised crime flooding our communities with methamphetamine. And a social carnage that shows no sign of slowing. Martyn Bradbury asks Police Minister Mark Mitchell the question New Zealanders are demanding answers to: has the Government actually got on top of the meth crisis — or are they just spending big and delivering nothing? 🎙️ *Extra 1-on-1 in 10 with Te Pāti Māori co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer* New Zealand's prison population is set to explode — and the trigger isn't violent crime. It's shoplifting law changes that are funnelling petty offenders directly into an already broken corrections system. Te Pāti Māori co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer joins Martyn to ask the hard question: how is jailing shoplifters any different to arresting the homeless? Is this counterproductive social policy dressed up as law and order? 🔥 *Political Panel Discussion* ⚡ Matthew Hooton – Editor of The Post ⚡ Arena Williams – MP for Manurewa ⚡ Simon Wilson – Listener Columnist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Martyn Bradbury takes on the budget betrayal, 33,000 homeless children, record company liquidations and the global rise of the far right — with two of the Left's sharpest minds and a heavyweight political panel. 🎙️ *1-on-1 in 10 with Qiulae Wong — Leader of TOP (The Opportunities Party)* After scoring 6% in the latest Roy Morgan Poll, TOP is a genuine political force. Qiulae Wong joins Martyn to lay out TOP's bottom lines, their coalition conditions, and who they're prepared to go into Government with. 🎙️ *Extra 1-on-1 in 10 with Victor Billot — Alliance Party Leader* After securing a historic union affiliation, Alliance Leader Victor Billot joins Martyn to discuss how the Left builds a winning coalition in an economic election — and how progressives push back against the global surge of far-right populism. 🔥 *Political Panel Discussion* ⚡ Matthew Hooton — NZ Herald Columnist ⚡ Maria Slade — Business Desk Journalist ⚡ Simon Wilson — Listener Columnist *Tonight's Political Agenda:* 📌 Issue 1 — 33,000 Homeless Children & an 11-Year High in Company Liquidations The Budget promised growth. Instead we have a record number of homeless children and company collapses at levels not seen in over a decade. Is this the economy National promised New Zealanders? 📌 Issue 2 — Is Democracy Under Attack? The War on Māori Representation ACT and the Taxpayers' Union are crying foul over Māori representation at the local council level. But who's really attacking democracy here? Tonight the panel calls it. 📌 Issue 3 — Labour's List vs NZ First's Candidates A deep dive into the electoral maths — Labour's party list strategy versus NZ First's candidate game. Who's positioned better heading into the next election? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Bradbury Group: 🎙️ **1-on-1 in 10 with Green Party co-Leader Marama Davidson** Marama Davidson joins Martyn Bradbury for a post-budget breakdown — will this Budget ease the cost of living crisis, address wealth inequality, or leave working New Zealanders behind? 🎙️ **Extra 1-on-1 in 10 with Environmental Activist Mike Smith** Mike Smith joins Martyn to reveal what he uncovered: how New Zealand's seven biggest polluters have been secretly advising the Government — and what that means for climate policy and democratic accountability. 🔥 **Political Panel Discussion** Martyn is joined by: ⚡ Matthew Hooton – NZ Herald Columnist ⚡ Matthew Tukaki – Political Commentator and Māori Broadcaster ⚡ Maria Slade – BusinessDesk Journalist ⚡ John Tamihere – Māori Party President **Tonight's Political Agenda:** 📌 Issue 1 – Will the Budget actually save the economy? 📌 Issue 2 – Pete Hegseth's contemptuous remarks about New Zealand — and will the National Government sell out New Zealand's nuclear-free status to appease Trump? Can this Budget deliver for ordinary New Zealanders? Who is really shaping Government policy — ministers or the polluters in the room? And is New Zealand's nuclear-free identity now on the negotiating table? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices