Paddy Gower’s TFN - The F#$%ing News

Everyone wants to be the hero and stand up to the schoolyard bully. But right now, New Zealand is flying under Donald Trump's radar - and we need to keep our mouths shut to keep it that way.

Nu‘uali‘i Eteroa Lafaele is an incredible young New Zealander. In fact she’s officially the Young New Zealander of the Year. She has overcome cyberbullying and an industry she says isn’t ready for diversity by finding positive solutions - including the power of the block button. What she really cares about is making the world better for Kiwi, particularly her Pasifika people. And she’s doing it wi...

Paddy doesn’t even really like yachting and doesn’t live in Auckland. But he reckons the Government’s refusal to help fund hosting the America’s Cup is lame-o and suckful, lacks vision, and is actually quite depressing.

The champion Kiwi comedian joined Paddy Gower to talk about his first new comedy tour in eight years. The Legend Returns is a playful nod to the strange new world we're living in, where artificial intelligence looms large. Darby also shows a more serious side when discussing “the war on wokeness” and the impact that the hit Netflix show Adolescence had on him. It's a fascinating listen!

The former Director-General of Health, Sir Ashley Bloomfield, had greatness thrust upon him during the pandemic, and because of what he did, he’s now not only a Sir, he’s also one of Paddy's 'Great Kiwis.' Today, he reveals his plan to fix health - and opens up about whether he would have done anything differently during Covid. Is 'This Is the Fucking News' offensive? The Intellectual Property Off...

Paddy Gower reckons Adolescence, the Netflix blockbuster that has everyone talking - and every parent freaking out about kids and phones - is terrifyingly good. Yes, there is amazing acting and impressive one-camera shots, but the real positive impact of the show is that it has truly stirred up the debate about social media and managing children’s access to smartphones.

Paddy is joined by legendary graphics pioneer Sir Ian Taylor, who shares a brilliantly simple solution to one of our biggest challenges: child poverty. How much of a difference can two women in a van make on the streets of Auckland? A lot. Meet "Doctor Juliet" and “Nurse Becky”, the driving forces behind a mobile clinic that's changing all sorts of lives. One of our greatest sporting icons, Chris...

BONUS! The Premier League superstar is in Aotearoa to help the All Whites qualify for the World Cup. He sits down with Paddy to talk striking the form of his life, being properly famous and ending his career in New Zealand.

Our champion pole vaulter is also a climate warrior. The Olympic medallist - and, of course, Great Kiwi - visits the TFN studio to explain how rising temperatures affect her performances and her concerns for the planet. And, in probably the best good news story Paddy's ever done, we also meet walking medical miracle Chase Porter who survived several dances with death thanks to the Good Kiwis at St...

Ever wondered what would happen if a 400kg live dolphin landed in your small fishing boat? Well, that’s exactly what happened to three Kiwi guys - and they share their incredible story. Today's "Great Kiwi" is, according to Paddy, the most beautiful man in New Zealand music - singer-songwriter Marlon Williams. He’s just released a song with Lorde and has a new album, tour, and documentary on the w...

How good is Mike Hosking? Really, really good. His brilliant recent interview with the Prime Minister has done all of us a massive favour. Like so many others, Hosking has clearly had a gutsful of Christopher Luxon’s corporate speak. And he told him so. The Newstalk ZB host was simply trying to get a straightforward answer from the PM: Would he have sacked Andrew Bayly as a minister if Bayly hadn’...

Hamish Kerr is no stranger to winning. At the Paris 2024 Games, he made history by becoming the first Kiwi to win an Olympic gold medal in high jump. Now, he has just been named this year's Halberg Sportsman of the Year. He talks to Paddy about his drive to succeed, the people supporting him behind the scenes, and his ambitious next goal. How do you get over 20 million views on YouTube in a week?...

The acclaimed filmmaker talks to Paddy Gower about why he loves New Zealand - Wellington in particular - so much that he is becoming a citizen. He also shares his concerns about Donald Trump's America, and tells us why he thinks the next Avatar film could be the best yet.

Ian McCrae was diagnosed with a brain tumour more than three years ago. Now, the self-proclaimed data geek plans to act as a guinea pig, making his personal health journey and data publicly available to showcase how his new 'health data supermodel' product, can drive better healthcare outcomes. Piri Weepu is a judge in the Manu World Champs. His nephew and niece are competing in the competition an...

We've got some extra-good Kiwis this week: a doctor and nurse helping terminally ill youngsters live their final days with dignity. They're incredible medics but their centre relies on private funding and is on the verge of closure. That's not good at all. The Red Bull Trolley Grand Prix is returning to Auckland Domain. We meet one of the teams and take their trolley for a hoon. And remember Erice...

American tech entrepreneur Randy Reddig co-founded payment system Square. He says New Zealand is a hub for innovation and is keen to invest more in Aotearoa. He and his wife have been building a life here for 15 years and want to become Kiwi citizens. But, he says, there's a barrier stopping others like him from following suit. Waitangi Day is here so here’s an idea: how good would it be if we all...

Comedian Eli Matthewson and broadcaster Mike Puru are great Kiwis. They also happen to be gay, and share their experiences of "coming out". 18 year old Wellingtonian Erice Van Leuven is the Junior World Champ in Downhill Mountainbiking. In fact she’s won it twice in a row. What a legend. The Fast and the Curious. We meet New Zealand's newest sprinting sensation Tiaan Whelpton. And is it time to re...

Honorary "Great Kiwi" Jimmy Barnes reveals how he could have been killed at a New Zealand gig. Why the ferry skipper who busted through a Sail GP practice in Auckland should get a pay rise. A young Kiwi is making a social media name for himself in Uganda of all places. And one of New Zealand's greatest sporting nemeses turns out to be actually pretty likeable.

TFN will be back in early 2025 with many more stories about our wonderful country and the amazing people in it. To keep you going over the holiday season, we're sharing this very special recording of Paddy's live show at SkyCity in late November. There are laughs, lessons and lots of f**** given. In the second and final part , Paddy explains why he changed his mind about weed and how he gave up bo...

TFN will be back in early 2025 with many more stories about our wonderful country and the amazing people in it. To keep you going over the holiday season, we're sharing this very special recording of Paddy's live show at SkyCity in late November. There are laughs, lessons and lots of f**** given. In part 1, Paddy explains how TFN got its name and recalls intriguing encounters with Winston Peters a...

Six60 frontman Matiu Walters opens up about how fatherhood has changed him as a performer. The Starship nurses' competition to keep their kids happy at Christmas. Paddy drives New Zealand's first fully electric tractor on a diesel-free farm and, in a career first, asks exactly how good is Winston Peters.

All Black legend and current Auckland FC boss Ali Williams tells Paddy why football could become bigger than rugby in New Zealand. Big-ups for Australia's ban on social media for kids. A stutterer explains how to treat stutterers with respect. And Paddy finds out how to run a house with no bills. ### Paddy's tour of Aotearoa New Zealand with a LIVE SHOW bringing the TFN positivity to your town end...

Bella Kalolo-Suraj, the TV Personality of the Year, calls out fat-shaming in New Zealand. Paddy comes face to face with the tattoo of himself on an Invercargill man's arm - and adds his signature to it. How Dan Carter got a ride in a self-driving car being developed by one of our brainiest Kiwis. And the dreams of young Kiwis with learning disabilities. ### Paddy is touring Aotearoa New Zealand th...

It's a super-special episode of TFN as Paddy goes wild on the pristine Rakiura-Stewart Island. His odyssey includes a hunt for two of our most iconic native species, the kiwi and the blue cod. But things don't go entirely to plan. Paddy also visits the southernmost cafe in Aotearoa for his morning flat white and meets the Brainy Kiwis who run it after swapping the mainland for island life. ### Pad...

He's the 22-year-old Kiwi who's been causing quite the stir since returning to Formula One in the latter part of this year. Liam Lawson is fighting for a permanent seat in next year's championship, and has been single-minded in his approach to making this happen. In his short time back in the top flight he has won points at two Grands Prix, developed an ongoing feud with a driver in the senior Red...