#BHN Big Hairy News

We're going to go over the weekends 'debate' and we're going to look into the pull out by both David Seymour and Casey Costello and will highlight, in particular, the nonsense that Seymour is spouting over why he pulled out. BHN has also been featured in a few spaces in the press this weekend, we'll take a look at that as well.Paul Goldsmith on Q&A on move on orders, citizen's arrest and changing the way NZers enroll to voteQiulae Wong spoke in the weekend about TOP's board overruling the caucus and the hole there seems to be in their UBI plan++++++++++++++++++++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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

After years of preparing for its arrival, New Zealand has confirmed its first case of the H5N1 bird flu strain in a wild seabird, with authorities warning the virus’ potential impact on the country’s unique native birdlife remains unknown.ACT leader David Seymour and Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick clash over benefit levels, the poverty trap and solutions to helping people find employmentNZ First wants more unemployed youth to join the military. Shane Jones announced the policy on Duncan Garner's podcast but now it appears maybe NZ First is walking it back a little bit.++++++++++++++++++++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/

David Seymour announced that this election Paul Henry would be standing as an ACT candidate in the general election. When asked why he wanted to be an MP, Henry, says he’s “enormously disappointed with National”, and prime minister’s performance especially.Labour leader Chris Hipkins says “it’s still very early days” to consider speaking with Opportunity, and urged left-leaning voters to consider their vote carefully, after the fledgling party came close to the 5% threshold to enter Parliament in the latest political poll.RNZ and Reid Research released their latest poll which is bad news for National yet okay news for the right and pretty good news for Labour and below average for the left. Opportunity is again featuring in polling discussions with both Luxon and Hipkins now saying a vote for Opportunity is a vote to put the other side in.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Kiwi screen legend Sir Sam Neill has died, aged 78. News of the Jurassic Park star's death was confirmed today on social media. "It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia,” the post read.A growing number of NZers are experiencing homelessness with 33,000 children are living in "severe housing hardship" and NZ has seen a dramatic increase since 2022David Seymour filled in for Christopher Luxon on Newstalk ZB this morning where he spoke about the Indian FTA and why Winston Peters is so very against it, the economy and the failure of the RoNS++++++++++++++++++++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/

The Homosexual Law Reform Bill, which decriminalized consensual sex between men aged 16 and over, passed by just four votes on July 9, 1986. It transformed the lives of generations of rainbow New Zealanders and paved the way for reforms that followed, including civil unions, marriage equality and greater representation across public life.The much-hyped Roads of National (Party) Significance have had the brakes pumped with Transport Minister Chris Bishop announcing a new “phasing” pipeline acknowledging that National’s 2023 election promises were “very ambitious”.Couple of other smaller stories around like the latest Roy Morgan and Wellingtonians responding to PM Luxon saying he doesnt need the job.We will tonight attempt to fore up DISCORD. It's been a long time and there is a lot going on at the moment that we thought we should give you a crack to have a chat. If you want to be a part of the conversation join up to Discord here https://www.bhn.nz/discord/++++++++++++++++++++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/

Labour has announced their SolarSaver policy looking to make access to solar panels easier and more affordable. National has claimed Labour is copying them, but we wonder if this new policy by Labour is "GST off fruit and veggies Mark 2" leading to a pretty insignificant improvement in the weekly finances of those hit the hardest with the cost-of-living crisis.Christopher Luxon fronted up to a rare public meeting in Whangārei last night, where about 300 locals showed up to hear what he had to say. The National leader acknowledged it has been a tough few years, but pointed out areas where he felt his party had succeeded.Marama Davidson educates David Seymour and Ryan Bridge when the two of them were very flippant about the Greens Drink, Swim, Fish policy in a clam and precises manner which demonstrated exactly why right-wing talking points fall over after the slightest scrutiny++++++++++++++++++++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/

Qiulae Wong, the leader of the Opportunity Party joins us for round two of conversations about the party she hopes to take into parliament. Are they a left-wing party trying to pretend to be centrists? Is what they are saying "trust me bro" when it comes to having the ability to make either Chris PM? And moreChris Hipkins was on NZ Herald this morning talking Chinese missiles in the South Pacific and if permeant residents should be able to vote.It's time whanau, we release all the information we have on the election debates and while there are still some moving parts, you'll get the lowdown on what we're doing, where we're doing it and with whom we shall do it. ++++++++++++++++++++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/

Green Party MP Lan Pham joins us Live to discuss the party's "Drink Swim Fish" policy announced today, tackling water quality and strengthening environmental protections for our oceans.Paul Barlow co-hosts tonight, and gives an update on the state of politics and this weekend's top headlines.NZ First campaigning to limit voting to citizens only, and Winston Peters is out of the country during Indian President's visit to NZ, not long after complaining about the Indian Trade Agreement.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Tonight Emz is away so Magenta will be joined by Brie Elliot. Consumer NZ is targeting the aviation sector and the power imbalance held over kiwis.The ministry of educations phonics curriculum has been embarrassed after it labelled made up words as real and real words as made up! Brie will speak on this further.Finally, Magenta has done a deep dive and collated the last month of news headlines involving sexual violence and harm. What they found is devastating so major TW for this segment as there will be discussion and detail on these articles. Plus memes and good news to cleanse the palette++++++++++++++++++++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/

Ricardo Menéndez March joins us live at 9pm to talk about the "good Samaritan" member’s bill which aims to give legal protection to those experiencing an overdose and the people helping them.Disabled people and their families have delivered a petition to Parliament today calling for the Government's Support Services Bill to be scrapped, saying the legislation shifts responsibility from the state to families and strips away legal rights.There are accusations that the Roads of National (Party) Significance are impossible to fund as promised by the government. Experts at the Transport Ministry found that just one of the 17 nationwide projects would be able to be paid for.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Ryan Bridge went full gangsta mode against Brian Tamaki making it clear of the hypocrisy that Tamaki is involved with and how any normal New Zealander would see his actions as concerning for someone who have numerous firearmsChloe Swarbrick and David Seymour clashed this morning over school lunches and lazy beneficiaries who fall asleep during the work afternoon "because of the P"The Ombudsman has upheld a complaint against the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) for its handling of an official information request, which resulted in a document showing industry lobbyists met with Christopher Luxon’s chief policy adviser not being released.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki says police have revoked his gun licence and carried out a seizure of his firearms following his recent inflammatory comments on immigration.Alarm bells are ringing over the coalition's school lunch programme, with the Auditor-General warning the Government has not been able to clearly show the scheme is delivering its aims.Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins says he will scrap the Ministry of Social Development targets which had come to light over the weekend – labelling them "morally and ethically bankrupt".++++++++++++++++++++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/

Labour strategists are hoping for a return to government just three years after one of their worst-ever election results. Campaign chair Kieran McAnulty set out why he believes there could be a one-term National government on Q&A with Jack Tame in the weekend.ACT's new deputy leader Nicole McKee spoke with the NZ Herald about her party's plan for smaller government, and criticism of her commitment to her Māori heritageFormer New Zealander of the Year Dr Lance O’Sullivan is critical of recent announcements made in the health sector, going so far as to say the health system is dangerous for Māori.++++++++++++++++++++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/

AI related news is dominating today; warnings and actions to prevent the harm caused by generative AI on one hand, and the Prime Minister disappointed with the slow uptake of AI on the other.Education system a shambles. The cancellation of rural school buses is causing absences for students, the Ministry has been scrutinised for choosing an Australian company to re-write the NZ curriculum, and the AI-based SMART assessment tool is being dropped by schools for it's inaccurate scoring.Socialism is sweeping the democratic party primaries in New York this week. Is this a good sign for NZ and will we see the same kind of push back against our current wrecking-ball of a govt and vote in a progressive govt?++++++++++++++++++++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/

Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has spent recent weeks hitting back at critics of his Conservation Amendment Bill, who have accused him of wanting to sell off precious conservation land but today, while speaking at the Environmental Defence Society conference, Potaka confirmed he would change the bill to remove the provision for the disposal of the conservation estate.Senior Minister Chris Bishop says National does "not want to be on 29% on election day" after a recent 1News poll indicated support for his party was slipping and his mate, the smiling assassin Kieran McAnulty, just told him he wanted theBish to lose his job and had Bishop laughing about it.You are going to witness, the greatest question ever asked in any interview ever tonight on BHN when Stuff reporter, Hamish McNeily, does some on the street interviews with protestors in Waitaki about their 17% rates increase. Not to bury the lead, but we'll show you why we have little to no sympathy for the people of Waitaki+++++++++++++++ Come support the work we're doing by becoming a Patron of ⁠#BHN⁠ www.patreon.com/BigHairyNews⁠Merch available at www.BHNShop.nz Like us on Facebookwww.facebook.com/BigHairyNews Follow us on Twitter.@patbrittenden @Chewie_NZ

The ACT Party has introduced a new campaign policy which it says will stop professional regulatory bodies - like the Medical Council, or Real Estate Agents Authority - from policing workers' privately-held beliefs. ACT says these regulators are increasingly overstepping their statutory roles and enforcing ideological views across their industry.Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has put a dampener on The Opportunity Party’s ‘Kingmaker’ aspirations, saying a vote for them “looks like a vote for Labour and the Greens”Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson and Act Party leader David Seymour talk politics with Ryan Bridge where Marama cooks about the sell off of our precious forest and Seymour almost defends the Greens misstep in some press releases recently ++++++++++++++++++++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/

The latest poll has just been released. Let's look at the standings and trends thus far for 2026. Opportunity Party support is steadily growing, ACT has seen a trending decline.Te Pāti Māori are back in the game, laying out their election strategy for the 2026 election. Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke speaks to continuing to stand this election under the TPM banner.Winston Peters is prodded by a "refreshed" Ryan Bridge, who presses for an answer as to whether NZ First would consider working with Labour again, prompting Winston to call out Ryan's "Wanker question".++++++++++++++++++++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/

Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson joins us live to discuss the Green's election year tax policy released over the weekend. We also get her live reaction to UK Labour Leader and, now Former, UK Prime Minister Keir Starma's resignation.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson joins us live to discuss the Green's election year tax policy released over the weekend.Luxon revealed another election promise at National's annual conference in Wellington on Sunday, with KiwiSaver changes that include auto enrolling babies with a $1500 starting boost. NZ First have called them out for stealing their homework.Helen Clark reacts the election policies released over the weekend, and whether they go far enough to address NZ's long list of current and future problems.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Alika Wells joins us live. They are the Green Party candidate for Henderson 2026, a strong advocate for the Rainbow community and joins us to discuss the impact of the "What is a woman" Bill and how that will also affect Intersex people.Scrutiny week was full of questions, accusations, drama and fiery exchanges. Let's look at some of the best moments and perhaps some revelations.Not a funeral, but a celebration of Dame Jools Topp was held today. Over 1000 people showed their love for a NZ icon, Rainbow advocate and so much more.++++++++++++++++++++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/

How can we simultaneously have "record investment in health", while feeling like we're falling behind?  Why will anything less than an additional $1.4B in the Health NZ budget move health backward? How can it be that unmet need, population growth, and inflation are not properly accounted for in our official budget numbers?Kaitiaki Hauora is a new organisation made up of many groups with an interest in public health, rallying around the well-proven but oft-ignored idea that healthcare privatisation is an expensive, inefficient, and inequitable alternative to universal public healthcare.The Frontline speaks with former intensive care doctor, Dr David Galler, and economist Dr Bill Rosenberg of Kaitiaki Hauora about the tricky world of healthcare spending and the NZ economy.

Paul Barlow of The Collective, political journalist and commentator, joins to co-host for the evening.Scrutiny week has been full of surprises, with just about every Ministry having some skeletons in their closet: Immigration blunder, Shane Jones' limo bills, social housing vibe-ing rent price increases and more.Labour's next health related election promise - free prescriptions to be reinstated. What's the feedback from the public on this policy?++++++++++++++++++++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/

Youth advocate Ruby Love-Smith co-hosts tonight!Education Minister Erica Stanford has confimed some kind of crack-down on social media for young people is on its way, with some kind of policy addressing the issue on its way.In a rare moment, parliament have almost unanimously agreed on a 30-year infrastructure plan to address NZ's incredible infrastructure defect.New polling shows a big surge in support for the political Left. Is this an outlier and how does this compare to other polls of late?++++++++++++++++++++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/

Advocate Katy Thomas joins live to discuss the impact of the Disability Support Services Bill which will overturn a long fought legal battle to recognise legal guardians and family members as full-time careers that should be compensated like any other employee.Labour have announced their latest election policy, free maternity scans for pregnant individuals. It would address another cost pressure associated with pregnancy and reduce the likelihood of complications.Simeon Brown has interfered with the Medical Council of NZ's leadership process and declined to re-appoint the chairperson and deputy chairperson of the council despite seeking to continue in their positions for the next term. Simeon citing the council has become "increasingly distracted by politics" referring to a recent consultation regarding cultural competency.++++++++++++++++++++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/

National comes out swinging with a full report which suggests there is a big fiscal hole in Labour's election promises.Tangi Utikere was interviewed on Q+A this weekend, questioned extensively on Labour's latest election campaign promise to cap public transport fares across the country to help ease the cost of living.James Meager has been labeled a future National Party leader, a possible future Prime Minister. In a Stuff interview discussing his upbringing and his experience as a first term minister, he certainly mimics the old-school moderate National minister.++++++++++++++++++++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/

The New York Times' latest expose reveals the extent to which Trump's top white house officials including VP JD Vance, Pam Bondi and Kash Patel colluded on how best to shelter Trump from the fallout of the Epstein Files.Labour have welcomed further investigations into how the PM's office handle OIA requests and documents that led to legislation change direct interference with a court case that could have led to corporate environmental impact redress.Everlee Wihongi who was detained by ICE at the US border weeks ago has won her case in the courts to drop her charges which means ICE can no longer legally detain her but still awaiting her release.++++++++++++++++++++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/

What is the return on a dollar spent saving a youth from suicide or reversing their diabetes? We speak with Rachel McGillan, a Youth Health Nurse Specialist about her role helping teens navigate some pretty tough stuff.

Kieran McAnulty and Chris Bishop on Breakfast this morning debating the feasibility of Labour's capped public transport election policy.RNZ have found expert advice contracted by the govt was redacted which showed an LNG terminal to meet extra demand on the energy grid was not needed.All parties have made an appearance this week at Fieldays, gunning for the rural and farmer vote, not without its controversies.++++++++++++++++++++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/

Labour has announced it's first election promise of 2026, capping public transport costs nationwide in a bid to ease the cost of living for everyday people.Qiulae Wong, leader of the Opportunity Party sits down with Guy Espiner to break down some of the party's policies, including full tax system overhaul, citizens income and wanting to be the new 'Kingmaker' and overthrow Winston Peters from his throne.David Seymour's truancy fines for parents whose children are not attending school has affected the parents of children who are disables, unwell and in some cases dying, as reported by the blog 'Emily Writes'.++++++++++++++++++++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/

National have walked back the levy on gentailers to pay for their backup LNG terminal but will continue to move along the development. Opposition have criticised it is too close to the election for a big costly project to move forward.The 2026 budget has some hidden unknown costs that future govts will have to pay for, essentially borrowing from future budgets, which is frowned upon.Rakesh Naidoo is under investigation by the police commissioner after it was revealed yesterday he was running for Labour this election and ranking 13th on the Labour MP ranking list.++++++++++++++++++++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/