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We speak to our US correspondents Glenn Stanton and Zachary Mettler from Focus on the Family in the US about the disastrous mid-term elections. Topics include - was this all Trump's fault; has the country lurched to the left or is this more a rejection of the current President and Republican party; who are the new radical Senators; both young people and also Christians swung to the left; just how radical will this new House and Senate be; some successful votes against the woke agenda; and did the murder of Charlie Kirk have an impact on this outcome.

Should Christians be involved in politics, and how should they decide who to vote for? With New Zealand's election approaching, Samuel encourages Christians to take their responsibility seriously, even when the choices on the ballot are far from perfect.

In this exclusive episode of Family Matters, Simon speaks with retired anaesthetist, Dr Isobel Ross, who also has a PhD in informed consent. They discuss the ethics around prescribing puberty blockers based on a paper that Dr Ross has just had published in the New Zealand Medical Journal. Arguably an article that may not have been published two years ago, but one that raises critically important issues and a set of views every parent needs to hear. Dr Isabel Ross spent decades managing risk in operating theatres and now is assessing the risks around puberty blockers.

In this special episode of Political Playback with guest panelist Ashley Church - we examine how each party is doing in their campaign and the highlights and lowlights; how is the media doing in their election coverage and are they reporting or campaigning for certain parties; is strategic voting still crucial - and why are Labour suddenly interested in it; and we analyse the just-released 1News Verian poll.

In this episode, we discuss: Election 2026 – 5 sleeps to go, the polls, the politicians, the predictions, and just how pivotal is this election in the grand scheme of things; the National party doesn’t want you to vote strategically – but neither do all the left wing parties. But NZ First and ACT are keen. So what are we to make of this; and one of our CounterCulture panelists has suggested that you should not vote for any political candidate or party which is not unapologetically pro-life and willing to fight against abortion – the killing of the unborn child. He suggests it’s better not to vote at all. Do the panelists agree?

Where does the National Party leader & current Prime Minister Christopher Luxon stand on key values-based issues. We examine his voting record & public statements (he refused to respond to our questionnaire) - and ask, can a social conservative align their vote with the National Party. You be the judge. See his full questionnaire responses here: https://www.valueyourvote.nz/party-leaders/national-party #ValueYourVote

What can New Zealand learn from America's red and blue states? Samuel examines the mass migration from progressive-led states to conservative-led states, exploring the impact of taxation, government spending, and the cost of living. With the 7th of November fast approaching and advanced voting open, Samuel asks whether we can learn from America's mistakes before repeating them ourselves.

Where does the NZ First Party leader Winston Peters stand on key values-based issues. We examine his voting record, public statements, and responses to our questionnaire - and ask, can a social conservative align their vote with the NZ First Party. You be the judge. See his full questionnaire responses here: https://www.valueyourvote.nz/party-leaders/nz-first-party #ValueYourVote

Can a social conservative align their vote with David Seymour and the ACT Party? Where do they stand on key values-based issues, and why have they been so hostile towards social conservatives recently. We examine Seymour’s voting record, public statements, and responses to our questionnaire. You be the judge. See his full questionnaire responses here: https://www.valueyourvote.nz/party-leaders/act-party #ValueYourVote

In part two of our election conversation, Samuel and the CounterCulture panel unpack the worldviews behind the policies. From taxing the rich and redistributing wealth to personal responsibility and caring for the vulnerable. Where should government’s responsibility end and ours begin? Is it immoral to be a billionaire? And can New Zealand keep the fruit of its Christian foundations while rejecting the roots?

In this special 100th episode of Political Playback – how well should politicians be over the basic economic facts; the latest polls and how reliable are they – and why did Luxon feel he had to comment on the most recent one; will Qiulae go with Winston, and can Labour conclude negotiations by Christmas; the media continue their love affair with the Opportunity Party – they’re not even trying to hide it; has the gang issue subsided and did it do any damage to left wing parties; is the political scene becoming more hostile for candidates – and why do the media always go to the worse commentators for “expert” opinion; is the strategic voting concept gaining steam; is the defence force woke as claimed by Ron Mark and NZ First; and are climate, treaty, housing & incomes the primary issues that conservatives should be focusing on.

Where does the Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins stand on key values-based issues. We examine his voting record & public statements. (Unfortunately he refused to respond to our Value Your Vote questionnaire.) See his full questionnaire responses here https://www.valueyourvote.nz/party-leaders/labour-party #ValueYourVote

In this episode of Family Matters, Simon speaks with Ellen T Brumder, a New Zealand-based advocate who moved here from Texas 15 years ago and was stunned to discover how rare adoption had become. Last year, despite nearly 1,000 couples inquiring about adopting a baby; 200 trained to adopt, and around 100 pregnant women being open to adopting - only one open adoption was granted in New Zealand. Ellen is on a mission to change that. Together they unpack what open adoption actually is and how it works in practice, the latest Oranga Tamariki statistics, the research that backs open adoption (including a 35-year study of over 1,000 adoptees), and why birth mothers who choose it say they'd do it again by a ratio of 13 to 1. They also tackle the "Primal Wound" theory, the mental health impact of abortion (drawing on a major 2025 Quebec study of 1.2 million pregnancies), New Zealand's falling birth rate and rising child abuse rates, and what New Zealand can learn from the cultural shift that took place in Texas — including Governor Greg Abbott's own open adoption story. Ellen also highlights the large Oranga Tamariki budget for adoption services, that they employ almost sixty staff, and yet there is little to show for it. 🔗 Learn more and get involved: www.openadoption.org.nz 💬 Have a question or a story to share? Drop it in the comments below. --- #familymatters #familyfirstnz

Where do the Green Party co-leaders Chloe Swarbrick and Marama Davidson (and some of their high ranked MPs) stand on key values-based issues. We examine their voting record, public statements and also responses to our Value Your Vote questionnaire. #ValueYourVote #election2026 #familyfirstnz

In this episode with guest Peter Williams joining Bob and Simon - advance voting – why are party leaders rushing to vote; gangs - should MPs be able to campaign / engage with them, and what are the implications of Kerrin Leonie still campaigning; have the opponents of strategic voting given the concept a whole lot of free advertising; do the television political debates have any benefit or are they a waste of time; the panelists rate the media coverage of this election campaign; and the latest 1News Verian poll is released as we speak!