#BHN Big Hairy News

Episodios

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  #BHN Kieran and the Bish on the coup | National Ad spend targets men | Paul's weekly Open Brief Debrief 13.08.2026 1h 51m

  Kieran McAnulty and Chris Bishop on their weekly sit down with breakfast discuss the big news of the week - the attempted coup, putting Luxon's leadership and the party's unity into question.RNZ reveals each party's ad spend on social media going into this election, of note National has targeted 90 of it's ads solely at men, and just 1 solely at women but lasted only 24 hours.How does media and commentary frame what happened in National this week? Are there differences or was this an example of media driving the public response? We’ll take a look at what Open Brief shows us in the numbers - numbers which are more public than the vote count in a National Party Leadership challenge.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN LIVE: Ginny Andersen on the Coup | Penk outed as coup leader | Latest poll, OPP on top 12.08.2026 1h 43m

  Ginny Andersen joins to discuss National's decision to keep Chris Luxon as leader to going into the 2026 election. How is Labour feeling about the drama?Chris Penk was ousted as the leader of the attempted coup, and portfolios taken from him.Latest 1News Verian Poll released, showing small parties are holding a lot of power going into the 2026 election.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Will Luxon be PM when we go live at 9pm | Kapa Kingi on with Moana | Chippy on Winston decision 11.08.2026 1h 52m

  At the time of setting up the show we have heard there is an unscheduled National Party caucus called for tonight with much speculation over Christopher Luxon leadership so as we write this we genuinely don't know if we will be talking about PM Christopher Luxon, or someone else at the head of the tableMariameno Kapa-Kingi spent some time with Moana Maniapoto talking the difference in leadership style in her new party and if she was at all disappointed that no other wahine followed her out of TPMChris Hpkins did the rounds this morning talking about why he finally ruled out Winston Peters++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Simeon Brown backs Luxon | Hipkins rules out Peters | Luxon on new taxes 10.08.2026 1h 41m

  Labour leader Chris Hipkins has categorically ruled out working with New Zealand First if elected in November, unfortunately for Labour and Mr Hipkins the response from the media and many voters is "why did this take so long?"Simeon Brown faced off against Jack Tame on Q&A over the weekend where he struggled to firmly back leader Christopher Luxon and couldn't explain why one of the targets for the health service is to increase staffChristopher Luxon was on RNZ this morning where he had to explain Nicola Willis' "no new tax on working people" when they are going to reverse the discount to fuel excise tax etcMight check out poll of polls in NZ Herald, and check out how St John Ambulance is overworked like never before++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Latest polls are in | Councils vote to amalgamate (or not) | Nicola Willis' desperate money grab 07.08.2026 1h 57m

  The latest Curia Poll is in with a few surprises that could be outliers or a changing trend ahead.Councils around the country have sat around the table and put forth their preferred options for the Govt's demand to amalgamate. Whether the Govt will agree to their proposals is another story.Nicola Willis has announced a claw back of a loan made to Chorus to fund the roll out of fibre across the country, which will see $700m come back into the Govt coffers, but was not originally agreed to be paid back until 2036.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN What've we been talking about? | Finlayson calls National "traitors" | MMP gone by lunchtime? 06.08.2026 1h 16m

  Paul Barlow joins us LIVE to tell us what he learned from OpenBrief this week. "Sorry, what were you talking about? Each month OpenBiref gives us a monthly discourse report to see how Kiwis talked about politics across news, commentary, radio and socials - and in July there was one organisation that drove conversation more than any other - tonight we’re going to explore what we disagreed on, what we all agreed on and who is driving the things we talked about."Former National Party Cabinet Minister Chris Finlayson just called out Christopher Luxon's National Party saying that "These people are traitors to the National Party traditions, to the bipartisan traditions that have been built up over many years."Christopher Luxon says he’ll hold referendum on MMP if re-elected. Speaking on talk back radio today, he promised to hold a referendum on the MMP electoral system next year if re-elected. His coalition partners seemed to be surprised by this.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Luxon loves Air Force travel | Unemployment hits 11 year high | Marama versus Seymour on NZH 05.08.2026 1h 40m

  Christopher Luxon is defending his use of an Air Force flight after attending a National Party fundraiser, saying he has a "busy job" and "full schedule" which is weird as he made promises when in opposition that he would use commercial airlinesThe unemployment rate has risen to 5.6 percent - the highest level in 11 years - with 171,000 people out of work. The Finance Minister is looking to blame everyone else but the government saying that an increase was expected, as businesses grappled with uncertainty in the wake of the Middle East conflict.From NZ Herald today Act leader David Seymour and Green co-leader Marama Davidson discuss the expected hike to unemployment and ACT's false advertising claims around PharmacLike us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Winston ruled out? | Police again looking into actions of Brian Tamaki | Peters wont apologise 04.08.2026 1h 38m

  Labour leader Chris Hipkins has ruled out working with New Zealand First's Winston Peters at the next election. New Zealand First's leader responded to heckling in the House on Wednesday last week by attacking the Greens' Lawrence Xu-Nan, telling him to go back to his "own country".Police investigate Tamaki after ‘heaven’s hitlist’ video. Police are investigating a “threatening video” posted by Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki after he called on organisations and individuals to repent, “or have the fear of God on you.” Tamaki has listed, what appears to be, every person in NZ on the list and we speak to one tonight as Johnathan Dove joins us to unpack it all.Winston Peters met with PM Christopher Luxon and word on the street is that he refused to the PM and now refuses to the public to apologise for his blatant racist statements towards Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Is Bomber going to jail? | The questions we didn't get to on Saturday | Teachers now bouncers? 03.08.2026 1h 42m

  Martin "Bomber" Bradbury has written an article stating, "The Daily Blog has secretly been taken to Court and I’m facing 6months in prison: We can’t tell you who, how, why or what" and while there is a lot that obviously cannot be said, we'll catch up with Bomber LIVE tonight at pm to see what he can tell us about the situation.We'll review the weekend's Big Hairy Debate, highs and lows, making the papers today for all the wrong reasons and explore some of the questions Pat had lined up but didn't get too due to time restraints.ACT wants to give teachers the legal power to remove "seriously or persistently disruptive" "little shits" from a classroom. Announcing the policy in Auckland on Sunday, ACT candidate Paul Henry said the law would give teachers clear legal protections and the power to regain "order" in the classroom.And we're sure there will be more news broken today which we may pick up on as well++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Paul Barlow's OpenBrief Findings | Winston's Racist Remarks | Domestic Solar, the hot topic 30.07.2026 1h 43m

  With 100 days now until the election, Paul will take a look at what we’re talking about with the help of Open Brief’s agenda setting tool - looking at the difference between what media is covering and what we’re saying on social media are the biggest issues facing us going into the election period - and which source seems to be influencing us more than others.Winston's racist and xenophobic comments towards Green MP Laurence Xu-Nan in the house last night were the topic of conversation around Parliament with Opposition MPs calling for him to be sacked, but Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour saying it wasn't warranted as it had nothing to do with his role Foreign Minister.Conversations around changing the regulations for domestic solar production is finally being pushed, with broad support across the political spectrum, and election campaign promises to fix it, will this govt do something about it before the election?++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Tania Waikato joins LIVE | Upston questioned on benefit cuts | OPP reach the 5% mark 29.07.2026 1h 43m

  Tania Waikato joins us LIVE to talk about her exciting and unique campaign to get people on the Māori roll before it closes next week.The Jobseeker benefit for 18 and 19 year olds is set to be cut later this year, which will affect 2700 young people that are on benefits for health and disability reasons. Louise Upston's responses when questioned in the house says it all about this Govt's priorities.Qiulae Wong answers Katie Bradford's quickfire questions on the party's stance on the main issues facing NZ. ++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Martin Buhr on OpenBrief | Chippy talks Opportunity | Winston reacts to "Or@l s3x" question 28.07.2026 1h 46m

  OpenBrief is a NZ website set up to track New Zealand's significant political news, opinion, podcasts and social media — a curated, transparent set of sources, not the whole internet. With OpenBrief you get to see the data behind the narrative. Tonight we have Martin Buhr, the developer of OpenBrief, joining us to talk about why he thinks NZ needs this resource.For transparency, BHN and OpenBrief are going to be doing some work together over the next 4 months.Chris Hipkins spent time on the NZ Herald and TVNZ this morning talking about if Labour would work with Opportunity and responding to the National party's apparent, off the cuff, exclusion of Opportunity from the podium yesterday.Winston Peters was shocked yesterday that Tova Obrien uttered the words "opal sex" when referencing Shane Hones' "kneepads" comments from their conference last weekend and the two sparred over what is, and isn't, appropriate in an interview question.The Free Speech Union has made their final death knell of irrelevance where they have some out against a journalist using their free speech to ask questions, and defended a government appointee with, what some think, is a chequered past, but we have seen this from astroturf lobby groups in the past++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Chloe Swarbrick on Q&A | Christopher Luxon rules out Opp | David Seymour has a good idea!! 27.07.2026 1h 46m

  Chloe Swarbrick was on Q&A in the weekend with guest host Tova O'Brien in what seemed like a bit of a waste of an interview where Tova seemed to want to be pedantic about singular words rather than debate the themes and play contrarian rather than investigator. In the most ironic interview of the election season so far, David Seymour wants to calm the farm when it comes to critiquing coalition partners and has come up with, what seems on the surface level, as a pretty good idea for the health system.Christopher Luxon rules out the Opportunity Party ending their potential run to hit 5%Debate Update and what you need to know about the Big Hairy Debates over the next 2 months++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Luxon faces the public | Petition to save Claire Achmad's job | Trump slaps NZ with Tariffs 24.07.2026 2h

  Luxon faced the public in Feilding, asked directly about the DSS bill and whether he understood the impacts and reality facing many families of disabled people with the changes proposed.Claire Achmad has not been reappointed to her role as Children's Commissioner, a decision that has sparked outrage and a petition to keep her in the role. Plus, a report by the commission reveals more children in poverty, which Claire has called a 'National shame'Trump has slapped on further Tariffs to NZ and other OECD countries citing 'Forced Labour' in the supply chains in the products we export to the US. Meanwhile, his war on Iran has caused another fuel price hike.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Uncle Tics LIVE at 9pm | Shoot, Shag, Marry with Paul Henry | McAnulty and Bishop on Nash 23.07.2026 1h 36m

  Leighton 'Uncle Tics' Clarke and Josh 'the Tourette's Barber' Hughes join us tonight LIVE at 9pm to talk about life with Tourette's and Felix Shaw's petition to "Recognize Tourette Syndrome as a government-funded disability in Aotearoa" as it's currently not seen in law as a disability in Aotearoa NZThe ACT Party is accusing Labour of "manufactured outrage" after it complained about new candidate Paul Henry's participation in a risqué radio game. "People want politicians who are real," ACT leader David Seymour said. "Not ones that pretend to be outraged." In the past, David Seymour was very keen to be offended when TVNZ Breakfast shot salt at a Trump doll. Hypocrisy?Kieran McAnulty and Chris Bishop were on TVNZ's Breakfast show this morning talking about Stuart Nash's history of awful behaviour. They also then covered off how with that history, NZ First still saw fit to have him as one of their candidates and took a moment to mention the other NZ First MPs who have also said some shocking things but seem to be safe in Luxon's cabinet++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Stuart Nash's sexist accusation | Willis on the "Trump spike" | NZ will miss climate targets 22.07.2026 1h 29m

  Politicians across the spectrum are expressing disgust at NZ First candidate Stuart Nash as he attacks his National Party opponent in the Napier electorate for taking maternity leave - naming her as the “laziest MP I have ever come across”. Christopher Luxon called it "sexist" and Chris Bishop said the comments from Nash were “disgusting”Finance Minister Nicola Willis says while inflation has been largely driven by fuel prices, rates are also an issue that needs attention and she, and National, are trying to sell the idea that it wasn't for the external pressures like the closure of the Strait of Hormuz then inflation would only be at 2.9%...funny I can't remember National giving Labour a pass on external pressures and allow them to celebrate what inflation WOULD BE if it wasn't for COVID.The Climate Change Commission has found New Zealand is not on track to meet domestic climate change targets, but the Prime Minister says he disagrees. Mr. Luxon said that his Government would respond to the Commission’s latest emissions monitoring report, but “our position is really clear ... we’re on track to deliver EB budget 1, EB budget 2. There’ll be more work for EB budget 3, but we’re on track to deliver net zero and we might even deliver it a little earlier”++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Barb Edmonds LIVE on inflation | Mārama on the "pack of bast**ds" | Hipkins on "Labour's 2nds" 21.07.2026 1h 43m

  In a sit-down interview with The Hui, Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson took aim at the coalition government. She said that while the Greens are "readier than we have ever been" for an election, the current Government is "a pack of bastards".Chris Hipkins has come out swinging today making the observation that maybe NZ First should be called "Labour's Seconds" due to the number of former Labour MPs that were, and are, involved with Winston Peters' partyNicola Willis has fronted the media today about the increase in inflation to 4.1% saying that Trump ‘certainly made things harder’ and looking for external excuses for the number, which may be true on some level, but they certainly didn't give Labour the same excuse when external excuses, in the form of a global pandemic, caused inflation to spike in the last term. Labour's finance spokesperson Barb Edmonds joins us live at 9pm to talk about today's announcement++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Luxon's ok when National's budget is out | Paul Henry on candidacy | Greens announce Kiwipower 20.07.2026 1h 39m

  The Green Party is proposing sweeping energy reforms, aimed at slashing household power bills and stripping market dominance from major electricity corporations with the establishment of a new publicly owned electricity entity named Kiwipower which would compete directly with the four major electricity providers, which control over 85% of both retail and generation markets, and build a more resilient network with the funding of solar power schemes.Christopher Luxon was very clear on RNZ this morning that when their budgets changes because "we take our costings as best we can at the time" and that "construction costs bounce around a lot" that is fine, but if Labour's budgets say for ferries or Auckland light rail change then it's a mismanagement from a feckless government.P aul Henry has announced his candidacy for the ACT Party list. He says while the decision came together quickly, he wants to be in parliament to create a better future for his ten grandchildren. He joined Jack Tame to discuss what that future might look like.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Rata Jamieson,Labour joins LIVE | Retail NZ says move-on orders go too far | PMO Missing Report update 17.07.2026 2h 7m

  Rata Jamieson, the Labour Candidate for Ilam joins us live to discuss politics, why she is running and what matters most to her.The CEO of the lobbying group Retail NZ has made an oral submission against the current draft of the "move-on orders" bill.The Ombudsman investigation into the "missing report", handed directly to the PM's senior advisor and caused speculation of corruption, has concluded, and Z Energy boss has spoken out to clear up misconceptions of what and how the situation was reported.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/
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  #BHN Nicole McKee wants to go back to the 70s | Count Binface Update | Seymour wants to ban phones 16.07.2026 1h 52m

  Julian Wilcox sats down with ACT's deputy leader Nicole McKee to talk about her new role, party politics, and race relations. The Act leader David Deymour has suggested smartphones could be banned for under-16-year-olds. In a speech to a business leaders' dinner on Wednesday night, David Seymour said it's clear anxiety, depression and self-harm has increased in children and young people since the advent of smartphones.All parties in the by-election called by Nigel Farage have pulled out leaving on Count Binface as his opponent. It seems like a brilliant move by all the other political parties to show the UK exactly what this by-election is, a farce and a clown show.Let's have a look at the money behind Opportunity as well, does this give us a better idea where they may sit on the political spectrum++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/