We had a chat with George "Mr Whippy" Hampton, Labour's Candidate for Christchurch Central, earlier in the week to learn more about the man that will be campaigning for Duncan Webb's seat this election.Another social democrat has won a democratic primary in the States. This shows a growing appetite for progressive candidates and representatives in the democratic party.St John have been promised a $8m injection in the upcoming budge, a win for Winston Peters and NZ First that campaigned on fully funding the ambulance service. But is it enough to keep them afloat?++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Barbara Edmonds joins us LIVE at 9pm to talk about the latest government's announced a major shake-up of social housing beginning in this year's Budget - which will boost weekly support for 110,000 families by almost $15 but leave another 80,000 families worse off by $30 a week.Tangi Utikere and Chris Bishop were on TVNZ Breakfast this morning talking about the public sector cuts. There was an interesting interaction with the TVNZ hosts where they took government talking points and asked Utikere questions based in National Party opinions as opposed to actual facts.New Zealand has condemned Israeli national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, after he taunted detained flotilla activists - including three Kiwis - who tried to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Foreign Minister Winston Peters demanded that Israel’s ambassador, Alon Roth-Snir, front up to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a “please explain”.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Kaitiaki Hauora has released a new analysis by Dr Jackie Cumming and Dr Bill Rosenberg looking at the funding level likely required to maintain New Zealand’s public health system under current pressures. Tonight we are joined LIVE with co-author Dr Bill Rosenberg and spokesperson Dr David GallerGreen Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and Act leader David Seymour discuss the cuts to public serviceThe government has updated its official branding to give greater prominence to English over te reo Māori, following a directive from new Public Service Minister Paul Goldsmith.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

The Government’s new goal of cutting public service staff costs, by telling departments to replace staff with AI, is expected to save $2.4 billion over the next four years, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says.PSA National Secretary Duane Leo joins us to talk about what this means.We'll also highlight several stories around the new Government policy including saying they'll use AI but not being able to articulate what AI is, or how they would use it.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Winston Peters announced in the weekend that NZ First would buy back the BNZ and merge it with Kiwibank, the PM called it "fanciful" and economists are saying it's "headline-grabbing" rather than a serious policyErica Stanford was on Q&A in the weekend answering questions about education, ti Tiriti, immigration and the Indian FTA. We'll review some of the conversation.Christopher Luxon joined best bug Mike Hosking this morning where they both talked about social cohesion which not asking the obvious question "Mr PM, what do you mean by social cohesion and what would a new migrant need to do to become part of the social cohesion?"We also have a number of smaller stories that we may get to including Chippy on Q&A, Ruby Love Smith exposing National's social media advertising and comments by Tania Waikato on Marae around the cancellation of the BSA++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

We speak with Tory Whanau about the Mana Wāhine inquiry in which the Waitangi Tribunal is hearing more than 200 claims the Crown has failed in it's obligation to protect wāhine Māori in public and leadership roles from abuse, misogyny, and racism.The govt will amend references to the Treaty of Waitangi in 19 pieces of legislation to ensure the principles are 'clear and consistent', which a coalition agreement made by NZ-First. Is this just NZF's Treaty Principles Bill?In a Fox and Friends segment, the hosts conflate the rise of socialist policies with the 'Red Wave' communism scare of the cold war era. The parallel of how the Left condemn the rise of fascism, and the Right fearmonger about socialism is jarring.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Gary's Economics with Chloe Swarbrick talking about how house prices going up is the same as wages going down and figuring out the economists were wrong suggesting that people will start spending when interest rates went to zeroNciola Willis was challenged by Ryan Bridge to cut all the unimportant departments like 'pacific peoples' and 'women' and in response Willis wanted to make it very clear that Bridge's ideas, and people who think like him, will like the upcoming budget "very, very much" The Bish and Kieran McAnulty battles on Breakfast this morning talking about the alleged Kiwibank sale and the competition by the three government parties to be the ones who are the worst to immigrants. Talbot Mills also has released more polling that shows Winston's Preferred PM numbers closing in on Luxon and that the majority of NZers are concerned about the tobacco industry influence on the government.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Christopher Luxon says National will consider changes to KiwiSaver policy ahead of the election while making his lines clear on immigration fearful that ACT will take more votes away from them, he has told businesses he would be choosing "social stability" over their bottom lines...which is code for 'tough on immigration'.Winston Peters was fiery on Breakfast this morning with his usual amount of venom for the media, but a pretty large dose for National as well telling Tova O'Brien that National would raid the Cullen fund to pay for their budget because of their "failed economic policies" and had a quite extraordinary perspective on a NZer being held in ICE detention.David Seymour and Marama Davidson went toe to toe on Ryan Bridge's show this morning with Davidson being clear that the message from ACT's position around suing in court over climate change was a statement to "vote them out" and, once again, an incredible focus on an Instagram account run by a former employee of the Labour party.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

The government announced on Tuesday it would amend climate laws to prevent companies from being sued over damage caused by greenhouse gas emissions. The change will prevent findings of liability in torts - a type of civil case where one person or entity claims another has caused them harm.Chris Hipkins was on Breakfast and NZ Herald this morning talking the cancellation of fees free, how NZ should fund infrastructure and the government's latest fuel announcementDespite previously denying any links to a Luxury Marmite Sandwich that ruthlessly takes the mickey out of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Labour leader Chris Hipkins now says it’s a former staffer. It comes after Stuff asked questions about how the account could access raw footage shot in the Opposition area of parliament. Why does stuff find the content creator the story here, when last week, with a content creator linked to National, Stuff found the content the focal point, not the creator. We might also have a look at the latest Curia poll as well++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Winston Peters again has gazumped the government by releasing early the cancellation of the fees free. Labour spokesperson for Tertiary Education Shannan Halbert joins us tonight to discuss what this change means for young New Zealanders.Christopher Luxon was live in Newstalk ZB this morning talking about National's proposed changes to the retirement age. While with Hosking, Luxon also talked about the cancellation of the fees free scheme as well.Mariameno Kapa-Kingi has officially quit Te Pati Maori and started her own party to take on this year's election. What does this mean for the left, the left bloc, TPM and more?++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

Green MP Kahurangi Carter has a two bills including a 'Meme' (Parody and Satire) Bill, passing through the house at the moment. We look at the impact it would have on freedom of speech and the media landscape.Maiki Sherman has announced she is resigning as Senior Political Editor at TVNZ after weeks of 'unprecedented' scrutiny, most recently when an incident from a year ago involving Lloyd Burr surfaced in the media. A new OECD report is calling for NZ to do more to reform and prepare for the multitude of large impact future events that NZ is facing. Nicola Willis was quick to reject many of the suggestions the report has offered.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/