Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Christopher Luxon has survived a messy leadership coup, but the National Party looks completely divided. We break down the absolute chaos in Wellington. Five contenders tried to take the top job before Luxon cut them off. We ask if Erica Stanford was really the one making a power play.
Then we turn to the Hastings District Council. They have completely ignored the public and appointed five unelected iwi to every single council committee. These unelected members get full voting rights, and they get paid with taxpayer money. We ask why Local Government Minister Simon Watts is missing in action while local democracy gets sidelined.
Ashley and Maurice also join Duncan to discuss Winston Peters and his latest controversial comments about flatfish. We debate if he has finally gone too far. Finally, we look at the rise of The Opportunities Party. They are pretending to be a centrist vote, but we dig into their hard-left policies, like extending youth justice to age 25.
00:00:00 Hastings Council appoints unelected iwi
00:00:58 Inside the failed National Party coup
00:13:02 Winston Peters and his controversial comments
00:19:35 The Opportunities Party and the left-wing threat
00:41:20 Support the show and join the Rolling Poll of Polls
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join
Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials.
Website: rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live
Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast
TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast
Christopher Luxon has survived a messy leadership coup, but the National Party looks completely divided. We break down the absolute chaos in Wellington. Five contenders tried to take the top job before Luxon cut them off. We ask if Erica Stanford was really the one making a power play.
Then we turn to the Hastings District Council. They have completely ignored the public and appointed five unelected iwi to every single council committee. These unelected members get full voting rights, and they get paid with taxpayer money. We ask why Local Government Minister Simon Watts is missing in action while local democracy gets sidelined.
Ashley and Maurice also join Duncan to discuss Winston Peters and his latest controversial comments about flatfish. We debate if he has finally gone too far. Finally, we look at the rise of The Opportunities Party. They are pretending to be a centrist vote, but we dig into their hard-left policies, like extending youth justice to age 25.
00:00:00 Hastings Council appoints unelected iwi
00:00:58 Inside the failed National Party coup
00:13:02 Winston Peters and his controversial comments
00:19:35 The Opportunities Party and the left-wing threat
00:41:20 Support the show and join the Rolling Poll of Polls
Join this channel to get access to perks:
youtube.com/channel/UCSypyI8wbnZgJDYY0VCdwJQ/join
Get in touch with Duncan - duncan@rova.nz and join us on the socials.
Website: rova.nz/podcasts/duncan-garner-editor-in-chief-live
Instagram: @DuncanGarnerpodcast
TikTok: @DuncanGarnerpodcast
