Duncan Garner - Editor In Chief

I can’t stop thinking about the sudden death of Efeso Collins. Life is so sacred, life is so precious and really we have no idea how fragile it all is. Have I done everything I wanted to? Have I left things in good order? Are my relationships all good? Am I ready to die? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every now and then, you meet someone whose life story sounds like a plot from an inspiring movie—and then you realize it's all real. Kiedis Haze, a 23-year-old social media wizard, took the journey from pizza delivery to establishing a cutting-edge social media company in Auckland, proving that with a dash of passion and a sprinkle of perseverance, age is just a number when it comes to entrepreneu...

Sources within the NZ police have told me what their policy is for shoplifters. The real reason why no one stops shoplifters and why the police don’t show up may shock you.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When triumph met tragedy on the wakeboarding scene, Brad Smeele's world was turned inside out. His gripping tale unfolds as he recounts the journey from athletic acclaim to a life defined by quadriplegia, a testament to human resilience. We're privileged to host Brad, whose spirit soars beyond the confines of his wheelchair, sharing the peaks and valleys of redefining identity when the body he onc...

Government's have battled for years to get our immigration settings right. While record immigration can seem to provide much needed stimulus to the economy, it’s not always the case and standards of living can reduce for some as they face the pressure of the squeeze in the housing market and the cost of everything going up because of supply and demand. What should the current government be focusin...

Embarking on an entrepreneurial quest is often likened to a rollercoaster ride, and for Cat Peters, co-founder of Hirestaff, the ups, downs, and thrilling loops are part of her daily reality. Alongside her husband, Cat transformed a simple, bold idea conceived one evening into a $22 million empire – a beacon of efficiency and urgency in the employment sector that didn't falter, even as COVID-19 pr...

Over the past week I have witnessed two robberies play out right in front of me.  There may be security guards on the job but they appear to be doing the job of a statute, as they just stand there as daylight robbery after daylight robbery happens in front of them. I have an idea that may help. It may be a bit nutty but hear me out... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The void left by Andrew Bagshaw is one that words can hardly fill—a New Zealand aid worker whose aspirations led him to the perilous frontlines of Ukraine, only to have his life taken from him and his family. On today's episode his parents, Phil and Sue, recount Andrew's transformation from a young man grappling with career uncertainties to a figure of valour, determined to respond to the cries of...

Ok I don’t want to get into a rant about how useless Air NZ is because it’s our airline and it’s largely pretty good. But what happens when there is no competition, you’re the only one flying in and out of smaller destinations and things go wrong? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guests are business owner, libertarian and Stuff columnist Damien Grant, and media personality, podcast host and our favourite Californian Cassie Roma. 'Placement poverty' and working for free. Tech giants paying for news. Wasteful government spending. And resourcing charities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I think it’s well past time people in public office who clearly demonstrate they have wasted vast sums of taxpayers or rate payers money with no result should be held accountable. Let's come up with new approach and get them to understand the value of our money. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the dusk settles over the serene beaches of Piha, an ominous question hangs heavy in the salty air: Is there a serial killer at large? Sir Bob Harvey, former mayor joins me to share his theory on the unexplained disappearances that have cast a long shadow over this picturesque New Zealand community. Weaving through a tangle of abandoned cars and undisturbed personal effects, Sir Bob calls for a...

As we record this podcast it’s the anniversary of the hugely violent and destructive Cyclone Gabrielle, that wreaked havoc across the North Island of New Zealand. On those fateful days I was hosting my 'Duncan Garner Today' radio show on Today FM. What happened still causes the hairs on my arms to stand up when I think about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for a powerful discussion with Josie Pagani, the Chief Executive of ChildFund New Zealand, whose unwavering dedication to improving the lives of children across the Pacific and beyond is nothing short of inspiring. We take a look at the essential work being done to bring clean water, educational opportunities, and vital resources to communities where children's futures hang in the balance....

Large sections of our critical healthcare workforce are expected to essentially work for free while they are 'training'. It is referred to as 'placement poverty'. These are key sectors where we are desperate to attract and retain staff, yet all we are doing is incentivising them to jump on a plane. And as much as I hate to admit it, I can't blame them. This is deeply concerning, and is one of the...

Faced with the stark decision of nourishing her dreams or her stomach, Bex made the gut-wrenching choice to step away from her social work program. Her story, indicative of the 'placement poverty' epidemic gripping New Zealand's essential sectors, is the catalyst for our latest conversation. As students like future nurses and social workers clock in millions of unpaid training hours, the financial...

If you have listened to this podcast, my radio shows before this, or the AM Show before that, you may have heard me mention a place called Viv's Kitchen. You could be forgiven for not having heard of them, or Sanson, a tiny Manawatu town of 600 or 700 where Viv's is, before. But I believe they should be held up as a shining light of small business success in New Zealand. Here's why... Learn more a...

Unlock the secrets of staying safe in the water with Daniel Gerrard, the Chief Executive of Water Safety New Zealand, as we tackle the harrowing statistics of drowning in our nation. We don't just crunch numbers; we delve into personal stories and the heartache behind each loss, bringing to light the impact on families and communities. It's time to re-evaluate our relationship with water, and this...

I think you may consider this Slam Dunc to be my most sceptical and cynical yet, as I draw on 30 years of seeing how the housing decision makers screw first home buyers while feathering their own nest and then unceremoniously pulling the ladder up, flipping the bird and saying f**k you at the same time. And where is Kiwisaver while all this is going on? Missing in action.. Learn more about your ad...

'The Week That Was' this week is something a bit special. I am joined by not one, not two but three of the smartest housing brains in the business as we discuss all things housing in Aotearoa. Is it a buyers or a sellers market at the moment? What will happen to interest rates? Are first home buyers being adequately catered for? How do our banks stack up as lenders? And is buying a house still a s...

The amount of time our kids are spending on their devices, their phones in particular, is reaching epidemic levels.  The research data from the experts continues to pile up - our kids are spending too much time devices and not enough being physically active. I am not sure how we redress the balance. Help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My heart swelled with pride as I reconnected with Cassie Roma, an American Kiwi whose advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community knows no bounds. During her return to New Zealand amid the colourful whirl of PRIDE, Cassie sat down with me to reveal her tapestry of experiences—ones filled with both the vibrancy of acceptance and the gray shades of challenge. She recounts the profound influence of urban versu...

DGEIC has learned that it appears the government is cutting critical and crucial funding in the science area. DGEIC would like to know why..., Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover the untold challenges and opportunities within New Zealand's aging population, as Karen Billings-Jensen from Age Concern joins us for an enlightening conversation.  We take a deep look into the lives of our elders, from the increasing number of senior renters to the crux of remaining socially connected in their golden years. The core issues of housing, income security, and the healthcare...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s policies have unified Maori as a group of people for the first time in 30 years. He agreed to opening up a tinder dry Pandora's box on race relations and handed the matches to David Seymour and an only too willing Winston Peters, who had just realised they had captured the PM and were now holding him as their captive... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit meg...