The Leighton Smith Podcast

In podcast 349 we continue our series featuring long-serving politicians who know the game inside out, and have a real contribution to make.

This week we chat with political veteran John Banks on politics and principles for living.

He has dedicated most of his life to politics, devoting a lengthy term to Parliament in Wellington and to the Mayoralty of Auckland.

His contribution this week includes some of his personal political adv...

When we arranged the interview with ex politician Rodney Hide, we didn’t preplan a list of issues.

That could have led to an early conclusion.

Instead we breezed through two hours with ease. That evolved into two separate podcasts, including analysis of the election and its major implications for New Zealand.

Also, there is separate commentary on the U.S. Supreme Court and climate change, with billions at stake.

While Eu...

Rodney Hide entered Parliament as a list member of the ACT Party in 1996.

He became ACT Leader in 2004, and following the 2008 election he was appointed Minister for three portfolios; Local Government, Regulatory Reform and Associate Minister of Commerce.

His degrees in science and economics lent credibility to his commentary in other fields like climate change.

It has been interesting following his philosophical journey since leav...

Prof. James Allan is a highly respected thinker, speaker, debater and a man of intelligence and knowledge.

He is also an accomplished author and columnist.

Canadian born and educated, he taught law at Otago University for eleven years, moved to ANU Canberra and then to a prestigious position at the University of Queensland, where he remains today.

In this podcast, we explore a wide range of issues, both local and international.

Our...

Alwyn Poole; Education & More.

“The first point on how to improve all things education in NZ is that, so long as any government thinks that they are the podium of truth in this area, they will fail and all improvements will be marginal (at best)”.

This was written by educational consultant Alwyn Poole.

While improvements in education are promising, there is significant room for growth.

Alwyn Poole is critical where ...

New Zealand once ranked among the world’s most prosperous nations.

Not any longer.

Armed with experience in both Law and Economics, retired lawyer David Schnauer spent a year writing “UNCOMFORTABLE ECONOMICS”.

His purpose; to show that New Zealand’s underperformance is fixable.

He challenges both politicians and citizens to lift their sights and demand more from our economy.

In Podcast 344, David Schnauer is...

After a casual visit to New Zealand, this small American family couldn’t forget it.

Mike and his wife went home, sold up everything and moved here.

It’s a journey of discovery, heartbreak, redemption and triumph.

They were told they were on a fool’s errand; that the standards they set were financially suicidal.

They did it anyway. They planted a vineyard that has beaten the top French wines at their own game.

The ...

In these times it’s difficult to stay updated with the “good, the bad and the ugly.” In this environment it’s easy to be ill-informed.

Independent commentator Ashley Church has been analysing virtually every issue that affects society and our lives.

Steeped in a background of politics, economics, business and real estate, he is a talking encyclopaedia.

We had an interesting discussion on Net Zero, politics, ...

As Leighton is on a short break, for this week's episode we dig into the archives for a repeat of his interview with NZ First Deputy Leader Shane Jones from earlier in the year. 

Back next week with episode #342.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz

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With the celebration of 100 years of broadcasting from 1ZB, we have devoted Podcast 341 to three interviews with the station's past and present management: Bill Francis, Dallas Gurney & Jason Winstanley.

Over the years there have been many moments of drama, humour… and sometimes chaos.

Find out how a successful radio station ticks behind the scenes.

There’s input into today’s political drama from our once Nat...

Let’s be honest, there’s a lot going on in the world - so much so that it’s difficult to keep pace.

Take America for example. A transformation is underway that has not yet been fully recognised for what it is or what it could become.

The same may be said of Australia, England, much of Europe and beyond.

If that sounds exaggerated, then this week's discussion with Patrick Basham will be of interest.

The days of &ld...

Worries about the outcome emerge in almost every election.

This 2026 election has much of the constituency concerned about a result that could lead to the end of the country as we know it.

Don Brash, arguably the best Reserve Bank Governor we’ve known, voices his thoughts on the matters he believes are most important.

He talks about our appallingly slow productivity growth - and on the country’s GDP...

In our culture today there is a strange set of attitudes toward history.

On one hand there’s a highly politicised approach to the past, in which people care passionately about history’s symbols and what they represent.

And on the other hand, we know less than ever about history.

We have largely ceased to think of ourselves as historical beings; "the past has nothing to teach us”.

Associate Professor of History, Sa...

Salvatore Babones is a quantitative comparative sociologist (explained in the interview), at the University of Sydney.

He is an American living in Australia, and in his most recent book displays his knowledge of India.

The book is "Dharma Democracy; How India Built the Third World’s First Democracy”

He has visited India a number of times and established a relationship with Prime Minister Modi .

We discuss the Free Trade...

JR Bruning analyses her article, “An Election Agreement that has locked in a Road User Charging Revolution” and asks why this was necessary in the first place.

Crucially, how it will affect every one of us?

Investigative writer JR Bruning (aka Jodie Bruning) covers a range of topics; sociological studies of ignorance, "non-knowledge” and the production of science and technology.

Her primary research focus is on th...

The New Zealand Centre for Political Research (NZCPR) was established twenty one years ago.

Founded by Muriel Newman, the NZCPR is more important now than ever as an independent public policy think tank.

In this election year, New Zealand is arguably facing its biggest challenge to date.

Certainly the biggest for a long time.

Nine years as a politician (and a former Chamber of Commerce President) provides Muriel with political insi...

Proven favourite Nick Cater turns up for the first time this year.

Unsurprisingly, the Australian economy leads the discussion.

We focus on the trio of hopeless politicians at the absolute peak of state power.

Nick shares his reaction to Pauline Hanson, and Angus Taylor, the new leader of the Liberal Party.

We touch on housing, jobs, tax, cost of living and mass immigration.

We discuss AI and the difference it will make to the poli...

Depending on perspective, it’s not difficult to agree with George Friedman’s interpretations of “how the world turns”.

I first met George in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in 1983 where he was a Professor at the United States War College.

It was instantly obvious that the professors knowledge in his field was second to none.

George’s most recent book “The Storm Before the Calm” (2020) set the sta...

Dr Ramesh Thakur is well known on the Leighton Smith Podcast.

He is an Emeritus Professor of Public Policy at the Australian National University.

He is also a former United Nations Assistant Secretary General, and a Senior Scholar at the Brownstone Institute.

Since the birth of Covid-19 he has been tenacious in investigating the truth… and, in our opinion, very successfully.

As a contributor to “Canary in a Climate Wor...