The Leighton Smith Podcast

This week, the great teachers' strike - 50,000 of them. Primary and secondary, apparently an historic occasion...coming to all the schools near you. Reportedly, two-thirds of the 50,000 are union members. Students reactions range from “terrific” to “what are they? A bunch of wimps? Take the whole week off!”. Changes to the governance of the Reserve Bank means a committee now makes decisions. Commi...

This week the continuing debate on free speech versus hate speech rolls on. Across the Tasman, the Green Party leader wants to codify hate speech and ban some very popular conservative media voices. Meanwhile back in NZ, the Justice Minister is heading in the same, wrong direction. Both display ignorance and arrogance. Auckland’s City Rail Link has been exposed as a scam on ratepayers. Along with...

This week's podcast centres around the Australian Federal election on May 18. The first Prime Ministerial debate has been held and the campaign is off and running. Please don’t let it be boring. Nick Cater is a journalist and columnist who we utilised extensively for the 2013 election coverage. He is now Executive Director of the Menzies Research Centre. Nick joins Leighton to discuss the election...

In this week's podcast, Leighton focuses on the Sri Lankan attack, Anzac Day and the state of New Zealand's media. The Sri Lankan bombings on Easter Sunday murdered almost 300 people, Many more were injured and the death toll will probably rise. The country has grown and developed since the civil war ended in 2009. Leighton comments on the tragedy. Anzac Day has a personal touch this year. The int...

Israel Folau, like it or not, was a big story the past few days because it contained almost everything that’s running hot at the moment. Freedom and diversity of religion, freedom of speech, employment contract law and New Zealand’s number one game, rugby. Leighton analyses the arguments. The tragedy of Notre Dame coincided with increasing reports of attacks on Christian churches in Europe, partic...

This week in podcast 11, Leighton opines on Brexit and why remain is not an option - If Brexit fails, so does Britain. On the Crusaders, he says there’s every argument for the team to retain their name. The problem, if there is one, is with the misunderstanding by the do-gooders. Intentionally or otherwise. And there are two separate guests this podcast but with a common link. Olivia Pierson, the...

Podcast 10 is wide-ranging.  The matter of freedom of speech is occupying much attention by numerous commentators. It is also commanding conversations around the table, and with good reason. New Zealanders have grown accustomed to having their say, even with the knowledge that it may find disagreement.  Right now that accepted freedom is under threat and as the weeks tick over, it will become an e...

In this week’s podcast - more reflection on one of the darkest periods in New Zealand history. There is no getting away from it. As the days pass since March 15, the expected machinations are developing. The blame-game is inevitably underway. But that is not what concerns this podcast so much as calls for an assault on democracy and freedom. More layers of legislation to patch up previous inadequa...

Unsurprisingly, podcast eight is focussed entirely on the Christchurch mosque terrorist murders. On January second, Geopolitical Strategist George Friedman wrote: “What has happened to us? From Shanghai to Moscow to Brussels to Washington, there is a sense that something has gone wrong with the world, with our nations, with our friends and even with ourselves……..the sense is everywhere and it came...

This week, Leighton Smith admonishes Greenpeace and their absurd demands regarding investment in the NZ Superfund. Also some indirect reaction from Greenpeace co-founder, Patrick Moore. And a tribute to one of the countries senior scientists who died last week. He was a long-time critic of man-made climate change/ global warming, which he termed a ‘religion’. Michael Jackson, the cause of much dis...

The delight of podcasting is partly the lack of rules. I’m discovering that what we are doing is a ‘work in progress’. Consequently, there will be some tweaking as we go. And, by the way, some of your suggestions are most helpful. Commentary today on school kids wagging class on a spurious rationale. A listener email raised an interesting and undoubtedly controversial suggestion. But the interview...

Podcast 5, 27 February 2019 This week a very special guest joins the Leighton Smith Podcast, Jordan Peterson. Don’t need to tell you that Leighton Smith thinks very highly of him. “Having now met him I can tell you he is professional, attentive, highly intelligent but not to be feared. Off stage, camera and microphone, he is generous with his time and pleasant to chat with.” Leighton starts with a...

So what does Leighton think about Eden Park, Tourism and its contribution to climate change? He delivers his verdict in this week’s podcast. Along with his thoughts on Auckland’s Quay Street. George Friedman Part 2, follows on from last weeks concentration on China, with discussion the U.S.A. and Europe and Brexit.  Carolyn joins the cast sharing your correspondence. (Word is she’s the best part.)...

My guest this week is the person most requested by you. He is George Friedman, founder and Chairman of Geopolitical Futures. Previously, Dr Friedman was a Professor of Political Studies at Dickenson College, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Author of numerous books, in particular the New York Times best seller ‘The Next Hundred Years’, George discusses likely events in 2019, including China and its weakn...

In podcast number two, Leighton discusses a somewhat sensitive subject, infanticide. Considering the legislation just passed by the state of New York, and changes in the making in New Zealand, abortion once again deserves attention. On the week of Waitangi Day, issues are raised with regard to large amounts of taxpayer money being poured into questionable Maori issues.  Then the Trump effect, wher...

In his inaugural podcast, Leighton Smith interviews David Betz, Professor of the War in the Modern World from King’s College, London. Professor Betz talks Brexit, the political undermining of democracy, and the frightening possibilities ahead. “The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, warned that putting a stop to Britain’s withdrawal from the EU may end the centuries of ‘moderate’ politics that t...

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