Best Covid Nz Podcasts (2025)

1
Understanding social unity in NZ as Covid-19 hearings air lockdown grievances 21:33

27d ago21:33

21:33

The long tail of Covid is still being felt for some parts of our society. The second stage of the Royal Commission into the Covid-19 response kicked off this week, with public testimony from business owners and those impacted by vaccine mandates and the lengthy lockdowns in Auckland and Northland. It’s part of the coalition deal between National an…

1
Justin Flitter: New Zealand AI Founder on the use of AI to mark exams 12:20

1h ago12:20

12:20

An artificial intelligence expert says the tech will always need human input for marking school exams. Education Minister Erica Stanford says AI's already partly used to grade assessments, and it could do most of them by 2028. It's alongside Government plans to replace NCEA with entirely new qualifications. New Zealand AI Founder, Justin Flitter, t…

1
Kerre Woodham: Should AI be utilised more in schools? 5:31

1h ago5:31

5:31

You might remember a month or so ago we had Justin Flitter, an AI expert, in the studio for an hour talking about the fact that AI is here, it's already being used by numerous early adopters, it's not going away, and you'll have to get on board or you'll be left behind. And as you can imagine, the calls were a mix of oh no, it's a disaster, stop it…

1
John MacDonald: I asked an AI bot how it felt about marking exams 6:15

4h ago6:15

6:15

With the Government wanting artificial intelligence to be used to mark high school exams, I asked a ChatGPT bot how it felt about that. And here’s what it said: "If the Government were to ask me to mark high school exams, I would feel (if I could feel) cautious optimism, with a big dose of responsible hesitation." The bot said, on the upside, it co…

1
Chris Hipkins: Labour Leader on the proposed police restructure in Canterbury, NCEA 8:56

5h ago8:56

8:56

The Opposition leader says he's worried Police are retrenching from rural communities. A planned staffing restructure could move some permanent posted rural officers move to work from 24/7 hubs in Rolleston and Rangiora. Officer headcount won't drop. Chris Hipkins told John MacDonald he's been through this in his own area, in Wellington's Upper Hut…

1
Liam Dann: NZ Herald Business Editor on the unemployment rate reaching 5.2% 11:21

2h ago11:21

11:21

Economic recovery is taking longer than many hoped. Unemployment's risen to a five-year high of 5.2%, up from 5.1% in the March quarter. New Zealand officially moved out of recession last year. The Herald's Liam Dann told Kerre Woodham the job market is taking longer to catch up, so many people may not be feeling better off. He says economists can …

1
Tony Hill: District Commander Superintendent on the plan to centralise police officers in Canterbury 7:42

5h ago7:42

7:42

Canterbury police say they'll still serve rural communities under a plan to centralise officers. They're mid-way through two weeks of internal consultation on a plan to shift some officers from smaller rural stations, to larger 24/7 hubs in Rolleston and Rangiora. District Commander Superintendent, Tony Hill, told John MacDonald rural liaison offic…

1
Age verification checks online are on the rise - why experts are concerned for our privacy 19:09

13h ago19:09

19:09

The days of simply ticking a box to confirm your age online are over. The UK has become one of the first countries to make it harder for internet users to consume pornography by requiring age verification measures, in an effort to prevent under-18s from viewing explicit content. The move has sparked concern about users giving even more data and per…

1
CREDIBILITY CRISIS! "What kind of society doesn't trust Government Propaganda?" | Ep 624 1:10:54

14h ago1:10:54

1:10:54

Join the Kyle Seraphin Show LIVE 9:30a ET on Rumble, or on Spotify: https://KyleSeraphinShow.com Our Sponsors: https://SLNT.com/KYLE (Save 15% off everyday Faraday bags) https://MattHatJerky.com/Kyle http://ShieldArms.com - (KYLE for discounts on Montana build firearms and accessories)

1
What are the legal conditions for Palestinian statehood? And electronic wills after Covid 29:07

8h ago29:07

29:07

As more countries move towards formal recognition of a Palestinian state, the Law Report examines the conditions for statehood under international law. And what are the risks, benefits and opportunities presented by electronic wills?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
Kerre Woodham: Is the Knowledge Economy the biggest political bust of recent times? 8:42

1d ago8:42

8:42

In the wake of the changes to NCEA, you would have to ask whether the Knowledge Economy is the biggest political bust of recent times? Back in 2001, then Prime Minister Helen Clark launched the Knowledge Wave project. Like many ideas, it came from a good place. Helen Clark had a vision for a nation which was confident, progressive, more prosperous,…

1
Mike Roan: Meridian Energy CEO on the 10-year coal deal for Huntly Power Station 11:28

1d ago11:28

11:28

Big players in the energy space are putting forward a new 10-year deal they say will secure supply at Huntly Power Station. Genesis, Mercury, Meridian and Contact have agreed to co-invest in a strategic energy reserve – pending Commerce Commission approval. It includes adding up to 600-thousand tonnes of coal to current stocks. Meridian Energy CEO …

1
John MacDonald: I like the NCEA changes, but... 5:59

1d ago5:59

5:59

Yesterday, when the Government announced that it was getting rid of NCEA, my immediate reaction was that it was a mistake. That we would have been much better sticking with the system we’ve got and improving it. Twenty-four hours later, I still feel the same. There are some aspects of the changes that I think are brilliant. But the more I’ve found …

1
Helen Clark: Former Prime Minister on the Knowledge Wave project, scrapping NCEA 7:59

1d ago7:59

7:59

The Government's proposing to entirely phase out NCEA within five years, saying New Zealand needs a schooling system that sets students up for success. Within the overhauled system would be improved vocational pathways for students planning on entering the workforce as opposed to further education. In 2001, then Prime Minister Helen Clark launched …

1
Vacant lots and empty stores: The dire state of Auckland CBD real estate revealed 18:22

1d ago18:22

18:22

Is New Zealand’s largest city dying? Auckland is home to roughly a third of the entire country’s population and is predicted to grow even bigger in the coming years. The City of Sails is, by far, the largest contributor to New Zealand’s economic output, generating about 40% of GDP. But, walk down many of the inner-city streets, and you’ll see vacan…

1
AMERICA LAST: Kash goes to NZ; Dispatcher Dan pursues local crime; Mike Johnson in Israel | Ep 623 1:21:00

1d ago1:21:00

1:21:00

Join the Kyle Seraphin Show LIVE 9:30a ET on Rumble, or on Spotify: https://KyleSeraphinShow.com __________________________________________________ Our Sponsors: https://PatriotCoolers.com/collections/kyle-seraphin (PROMO KYLE for 10%) http://patriot-protect.com/KYLE (15% off) http://ShieldArms.com - (KYLE for discounts on Montana build firearms an…

1
Kerre Woodham: The ward for people with nowhere to go shouldn't exist, but I can see why it does 6:04

2d ago6:04

6:04

I was struck by a story from Radio New Zealand. North Shore Hospital, it has revealed, has an entire ward of people who are stuck in hospital, but they have no medical reason to be there. The 20-bed ward was created in May for patients who were effectively medically discharged but didn't have anywhere to go, such as an aged care facility. This shou…

1
John MacDonald: Should the Christchurch mayor use personal funds for public projects? 4:54

2d ago4:54

4:54

Just because someone can afford to do something, it doesn’t always mean they should do it. Which is how I’m feeling about Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger using his own money to pay engineers to design a replacement for the controversial Park Terrace cycleway which, he says, is under-utilised and causing traffic congestion. According to council data,…

1
Erica Stanford: Minister for Education joins Kerre Woodham to discuss the scrapping of NCEA 12:36

2d ago12:36

12:36

The Government's intends to entirely phase out NCEA within five years. The proposal would require students take English and Maths in Year 11 and sit a test in numeracy and literacy. NCEA levels 2 and 3 would be replaced with two new qualifications in year 12 and 13 - a Certificate of Education and Advanced Certificate of Education respectively. It'…

1
BARRY RAMEY: "Hippies Cause Cancer" | SUNDAY Sit-Down | Ep 623 1:41:00

3d ago1:41:00

1:41:00

Today's guest is Barry Ramey - a pardoned J6 with a little different story. Barry was convicted of assaulting a Capital Police officer on January 6, 2021 with pepper spray. Unlike previous guests who had no allegations of violence, Barry freely admits to what he did and regrets it. As a man who is now free under the Trump administration, Ramey's ex…

1
Solving the climate crisis - Are more trees actually the answer? 18:07

3d ago18:07

18:07

The Government is likely to pass a law banning farm-to-forest conversions to protect productive farmland for food production. It’ll mean a restriction on planting forests on high-quality land – and it’s a response to the previous government’s Emissions Reduction Plan. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has emphasised the need to protect productive fa…

1
FBI-NZ; paywave politics, media's Gaza dilemma, MEX folds after 160 years 38:58

3d ago38:58

38:58

The headline-making secret visit of the FBI's top guy, the politics of paywave, and starvation in Gaza hitting home for news outlets. Also: the Marlborough Express folded this week after 160 years in print. What is lost when local news goes online-only? And is it a sign of things to come for others? Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details…

1
What Happens when the HOPIUM runs out? First Quarter Recap w/ SteveFriend & George Hill | Ep 622 1:22:47

5d ago1:22:47

1:22:47

Join the Kyle Seraphin Show LIVE 9:30a ET on Rumble, or on Spotify: https://KyleSeraphinShow.com __________________________________________________ Our Sponsors: https://PatriotCoolers.com/collections/kyle-seraphin (PROMO KYLE for 10%) http://patriot-protect.com/KYLE (15% off) http://ShieldArms.com - (KYLE for discounts on Montana build firearms an…

1
John MacDonald: Should NCEA cater more to students that aren't going to university? 5:19

5d ago5:19

5:19

It must be tricky being at school and feeling like you’re not doing anything to prepare you for what you actually want to do when you leave. The Government is starting to think about that after this new report from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority which says NCEA is too focused on kids wanting to go to university. The report was prepared fo…

1
Andrew Dickens: What can we do to ease debt and the cost of living? 7:00

5d ago7:00

7:00

Household budgets remain under pressure from rising costs, a credit expert says. Centrix’s latest credit indicator shows consumer arrears fell by 7,000 in June to 478,000, representing 12.36% of the credit-active population. But Centrix managing director Keith McLaughlin said there has been an increase in pressure on household budgets: “The slight …

1
Politics Friday with Matt Doocey and Duncan Webb: Gloriavale, NCEA changes, FBI office in Wellington 20:53

5d ago20:53

20:53

Matt Doocey and Duncan Webb joined John MacDonald to give their thoughts on the biggest political stories of the week. Changes are likely coming to NCEA – are they needed? And should trades be given more support in schools? A lawyer is calling for the Government to step in and shut down Gloriavale, but should this be their responsibility? Doocey ha…

1
The changing face of gangs and organised crime - are the Govt's policies working? 23:49

6d ago23:49

23:49

There are more than 9,000 gang members in New Zealand, and thousands more associates. The coalition government from the get-go promised a crackdown on gangs – they've banned gang insignia in public, handed police greater powers, and created laws to disrupt get-togethers. But, is that all enough? Jared Savage has been a journalist at the NZ Herald f…

1
TRASH PANDA: Kash Patel goes DUMPSTER DIVING for an Epstein DISTRACTION! | Ep 621 1:15:12

6d ago1:15:12

1:15:12

Join the Kyle Seraphin Show LIVE 9:30a ET on Rumble, or on Spotify: https://KyleSeraphinShow.com __________________________________________________ Our Sponsors: https://SLNT.com/KYLE (Save 15% off everyday Faraday bags) https://MyPatriotSupply.com/KYLE (Christmas in July!) http://ShieldArms.com - (KYLE for discounts on Montana build firearms and a…

1
Kerre Woodham: Will overusing emergency alerts create complacency? 7:05

6d ago7:05

7:05

Let's face it, civil defence coordinators are damned if they do, damned if they don't. Fail to give people sufficient warning of a natural disaster and they're accused of having blood on their hands. Too many warnings of something that doesn't happen, they're accused of alarmist scaremongering, and they become the boy who cries wolf. The reason for…

1
Mark Mitchell: Civil Defence Minister on the use of emergency alerts after the Russia earthquake 6:46

6d ago6:46

6:46

The Civil Defence Minister is staunch on the need for mobile emergency alerts. An alert sent at 6.30am warned people to stay away from water, beaches, harbours, marinas, and estuaries - with uncertain sea conditions triggered by yesterday's massive Russia quake. It applies until further notice. But many received multiple messages, and others got no…

1
Brian Henry: Gloriavale leavers' lawyer on his call for the Prime Minister to shut down Gloriavale 6:31

6d ago6:31

6:31

It’s believed the government has the ability to shut down Gloriavale. The West Coast religious commune's 85-year-old leader Howard Temple is a sex offender, having plead guilty to 12 charges, including indecent assault, mid-way through a trial. The charges relate to offending back to the 1990s. Leavers' lawyer Brian Henry told John MacDonald there …

1
From drugs to weapons, illicit items are for sale on social media 15:59

7d ago15:59

15:59

You might look on Facebook marketplace for a new couch, a lamp, a rug. But, what about class A drugs? Or how about a ghost gun? A Herald investigation has revealed at least 56 listings were circulating on the site offering magic mushrooms, cannabis, and in one case LSD across the North Island and top of the south. And that could just be the tip of …

1
MYSTERIOUS "GREEN OBJECT" Interrupts WNBA game - It's the perfect 2025 analogy | Ep 620 1:14:15

7d ago1:14:15

1:14:15

Join the Kyle Seraphin Show LIVE 9:30a ET on Rumble, or on Spotify: https://KyleSeraphinShow.com __________________________________________________ Our Sponsors: http://patriot-protect.com/KYLE (15% off Protecting yourself from scams/Identity theft) https://PatriotCoolers.com/collections/kyle-seraphin (PROMO KYLE for 10%) http://ShieldArms.com - (K…

1
Midweek: Starvation in Gaza, announcements of announcements, polling on a whim 24:49

7d ago24:49

24:49

Pressure goes on The Platform over a tweet from its founder, the government gets the media to cover an announcement of an announcement, and a polling company chief puts out a question on a whim - with interesting results. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more detailsBy RNZ

1
Kerre Woodham: Rising gang numbers aren't good but the charges are 7:17

7d ago7:17

7:17

Gang membership is on the rise, but if you believe Assistant Police Commissioner Paul Basham, an increase in numbers is not necessarily a bad thing. Gang numbers have climbed past 10,000, up from 9,200 in 2023, but that might be, he says, because they're keeping a closer eye on gangs, their intelligence is better, they know who's in and who's out, …

1
John MacDonald: Gang numbers are up - so what next? 4:28

7d ago4:28

4:28

The gangs were right, the Government was wrong. That’s one way to interpret the news that, for the first time, the number of people on the national gang list is higher than 10,000. The gangs were right. Because they said right from the outset that the Government could do what it wants but they will never go away. And the numbers don’t lie, do they?…

1
Contactless payment charges banned - are there more bank fees the Government could get rid of? 21:22

8d ago21:22

21:22

We’ve all been caught out when using PayWave or contactless payment in stores, where we think we know how much we’re paying and then a surcharge adds a tiny bit more on that final price. Well, that’s about to change. The Government is planning to ban retailers from being able to add surcharges to most in-store card payments. It follows a decision b…

1
Federal Court says Australian women can sue Qatar Airways over airport body searches 28:35

7d ago28:35

28:35

The Law Report speaks to one of the Australian women who won the right to sue Qatar Airways after being subjected to invasive searches at a Doha airport in 2020. And what does the International Court of Justice say about Australia's responsibility to combat climate change?By Australian Broadcasting Corporation

1
John MacDonald: Now is not the time for 80% pay increases 5:02

8d ago5:02

5:02

I understand what the Prime Minister is saying about these pay increases for board members at Crown agencies, such as Health NZ and Kāinga Ora, but I’m not buying it. The top payment was $90,000. It’s now $160,000. Christopher Luxon says the Government needs to offer higher pay for these board roles so they can attract the best people. But tell tha…

1
Kerre Woodham: Yesterday was a day to forget for the Government 4:04

8d ago4:04

4:04

There is much that this coalition government is dealing with that is not of their own making – they are mopping up, cleaning up the mess. Then there are the own goals that should not be happening 18 months into office – and I would argue that the announcement trumpeted yesterday afternoon is an example of an own goal. The Government is planning to …

1
Jonathan Dale: BNZ Head of Payment Development on the surcharge ban, Payap 7:36

8d ago7:36

7:36

BNZ is taking advantage of the Government’s ban on in-store card surcharges to promote its new banking platform. Payap, an open banking platform, allows customers to pay directly from their bank account. It provides a lower-cost alternative with transaction fees of just 0.39% or 0.59%, and is compatible with all major NZ banks. BNZ Head of Payment …

1
How do we fix New Zealand's 'broken' energy sector? 18:58

9d ago18:58

18:58

New Zealand’s energy sector is broken. That’s according to an open letter calling for the Government to do more to keep our power prices down. Soaring power costs is always a concern – but, we now live in a country where for some it’s a privilege to have power. We've heard too many stories about businesses closing due to the rising cost of just kee…

1
REVEALED! SECRET Plot to Bring back THIRD REICH with Busty Blonde in Blue Jeans! | Ep 619 1:24:10

9d ago1:24:10

1:24:10

Join the Kyle Seraphin Show LIVE 9:30a ET on Rumble, or on Spotify: https://KyleSeraphinShow.com __________________________________________________ Our Sponsors: https://MyPatriotSupply.com/KYLE (Christmas in July!) https://SLNT.com/KYLE (Save 15% off everyday Faraday bags) http://ShieldArms.com - (KYLE for discounts on Montana build firearms and a…

1
John MacDonald: Under-staffed departments in overrun hospitals 4:46

9d ago4:46

4:46

The news today that half of the departments at Christchurch Hospital are operating below full staffing levels doesn’t surprise me. In some departments, they are less than 80 percent of what they should be. So, if I’m not surprised, does that mean my expectations of the hospital system are pretty low? The answer to that is “yes”. I expect that the b…

1
Kerre Woodham: MMP - does it need tweaking? 6:21

9d ago6:21

6:21

Politicians rely on voters having short memories. They all do it. Politicians and governments get swept out of power, they fester away on the opposition benches, and then a year before the next election, they make sweeping statements and promises about what they'll do if voters have the good sense to put them in. Chris Hipkins is no different from …

1
Chris Hipkins on Labour's policies, coalition attacks, MMP and Covid regrets 26:53

10d ago26:53

26:53

From entering Parliament in 2008 – to leading the country in 2023 – Chris Hipkins is no stranger to the spotlight. During Covid’s beginnings, he was known as a safe set of hands, tackling Education, Health, and becoming the Minister in charge of the Covid Response for a time. Now, he’s firmly setting his sights on election 2026 – but, is he confide…

1
Bitter butter battle, Saudi cash chaging the picture for sport on screen 39:34

10d ago39:34

39:34

The bitter battle over butter prices topped the news agenda this week, prompting a ‘please explain’ from the finance minister to Fonterra. Are media are missing the main point? Also: pundits say Sky buying Three for $1 strengthens its on-screen sport play - but the cash Saudi Arabia’s suddenly splashing could change the big picture. Read more about…

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