Welcome back to 2026 — and it’s election year! This week we cover some of the big trends to watch, including the economy, privacy, and artificial intelligence. We also venture some hot takes on how the year will shake out. In a nutshell: Ozempic will ruin everything.

This week we're joined by the big cheese himself - Phil O'Reilly. Join us as we whiz through the year in policy and politics.

For the Iron Duke Podcast's penultimate episode for the year of 2025, the team discuss whether our long summer break is too long, whether the RMA reform consultation period will not be long enough, and the state of the darn New Zealand media. The more positive stories of the day include the potential of growth of our economy going from green shoots to shrubs, Wellington Regional Council launching its own ticketing system and the role that solar panels can play for improving the resilience of our rural communities.

Tune in next week for our final episode with a long-time-no-see special guest.

Welcome to your weekly roundup of the biggest stories shaping New Zealand’s political and policy landscape. This week, we dive into the Green Party’s bold move on mining consents and what it means for investment confidence, dissect the Supreme Court’s game-changing ruling on Uber drivers and the ripple effects for the gig economy, and go inside the explosive police corruption report that’s rocking trust in law enforcement. We’ll also break down the government’s shift on clean car standards and what it means for EVs, give you the latest on Wellington’s big tunnel news, and unpack the ongoing drama within Te Pāti Māori. From constitutional controversy to quickfire takes on sustainability and party polls, we’ve got your peaks, your pits, and plenty in between.

We're back for another week of the Iron Duke podcast! We cover off the latest unemployment figures, the criticism the government is facing over its economic policies, new guidelines on carbon removals were praised and have a hearty debate over the potential for nuclear energy. That's before things get a tad touchy over everyone's favourite November affair... Fireworks

A week is a long time in politics! We're back running you through The Maori Party's internal strife, including allegations of overspending and misconduct. The potential impact of a Chinese invasion on Taiwan's TSMC - a key chip manufacturer for AI companies like NVIDIA. And of course, a good debate was to be had on the highly anticipated Labor Party policies, including that narrow capital gains tax to fund free GP visits.

This week we give Henry a break, while Jesse and Ben, along with ring-in international correspondent Maddy, delve into local body elections, the challenges of youth unemployment policies, implications of low voter turnout, the impact of centralization on local governance, and the controversial new parental income test for jobseeker support. The episode wraps up with what the gentlemen deem a critical topic - the importance of wearing ties in Parliament.

Welcome back to another episode of the Iron Duke Podcast. Our peaks this week include the well-overdue announcement of who our new RBNZ Governor will be, the opening of oil and gas exploration applications, and Brooke van Velden’s reforming of the Holiday Act. Our pits this week felt rather dire, including Treasury’s Long Term Fiscal Statement (it's not looking great), the outdated and expensive National Ticketing Solution, and the results from Mood of the Boardroom.