A special episode on what is happening in Iran and what this means for us at home in New Zealand. 

Note, this was recorded on the afternoon of Tuesday 3 March. The Iron Duke Podcast will continue to monitor the situation. 

Until then, we will see you next week. 

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.

Employers often worry about legal risks or what happens if things don’t work out. But those risks exist with any employee. And the evidence, both here and internationally, shows that disabled employees are often among the most loyal, motivated and committed in the workforce.

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.

Infrastructure, more than most policy areas, is profoundly political. Politicians know this instinctively; that’s why they turn up in hard hats and high-vis when cutting ribbons. Infrastructure projects tell a visible story about who they are and what they stand for.

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. 

This week on the Iron Duke Podcast we discuss our peaks, including the Government pouring in some more funding for bolstering major events in New Zealand, Kāinga Ora selling up their top tier Herne Bay villas and new theories coming out about how we can detangle the web of government agencies and ministerial portfolios. Our pits include the dire Q2 GDP stats, the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the subsequent reaction from around the world, and it's almost that frustrating time of year - daylight savings… tune in and we will see you next week. 

We can’t keep treating housing like our national retirement plan, because what good is your family home doubling in value if your kids can’t afford to live anywhere near you?

Another big episode as a podcasting team of four. This week we take you through changes in animal safety, the big sell off of New Zealand dairy brands, a new route to get more rich listers moving in next door, Peeni Henare's thoughts on gang patches, our thoughts on the big pay day for government board directors, Air New Luxon's chats with the Reserve Bank Governor, the usual yap about super markets and a new CONTENTIOUS topic has just dropped... cancelling Picton for Clifford Bay. 

This week we are delighted to have the newest voice of the Iron Duke Podcast with us, Ben Craven. His soothing voice and hot, sometimes justified, takes fit in well.

In this episode we discuss peace talks, RUCs, electorates, education and the removal of te reo from easy reading books, more building and construction reform and New Zealand’s funky control towers.

This week on the Iron Duke Podcast we talk about the end of modern learning environments, some positive progress on NCEA results, the announcement of the Tāmaki Makaurau by-election date, the for some reason spicy topic of gene technology, further severe weather events and how we are responding to them and the not-so-good unemployment rate for younger people.

This week on the Iron Duke Podcast we discuss our peaks of the week, including the Government’s newly amended Family Boost for childcare policy, the revolutionary AI plan, and the charities that receive funding from crime proceeds. Our pits of the week include Oriini Kaipara seeking the TPM candidacy in Auckland’s Tāmaki Makaurau electorate, Chippy having a crack at the media for being biased, and how little the powers are for our bravest security guards.

We love to complain about New Zealand — the rent, the wages, the price of whatever the media is fixated on at the time — but stacked against the places we flee to in our 20s and 30s, it quietly holds its own.

Back after a little a post-Live Podcast hiatus. Our highs of the week are the new 24/7 telehealth service, Gensis energy looking to build another peaker plant and the harsher penalties for those who assault first responders. Our lows of the week include the Government banning all international online betting sites, potential removal of regional councils and who is pooing in school water supply? 

This week, we bring to you the live recording of the Iron Duke Podcast. Jesse, Maddy, and Henry dive into an interactive discussion with a live audience at the Wellington Club, tackling some of today’s big public policy challenges: the New Zealand energy system, social media, and superannuation.

Note: Our mics couldn’t catch everything, so some audience questions and comments may be a little faint.