The Leighton Smith Podcast

Ex-politician Rodney Hide is fighting a battle. It began a couple of years ago, and it continues today. 

It involves the 'Relationship and Sexuality Education Curriculum' being taught in his daughter’s school. It’s actually taught in all schools. 

Rodney is not the only parent unhappy about what’s being taught, but he stands almost alone in trying to address it. To him it is a matter of principle.

But we also discuss othe...

James Roguski is a fighter for what he regards as the truth.

He is a researcher, author, natural health proponent and activist.

Three years ago, Roguski uncovered documents regarding proposed amendments to the International Health Regulations and contributed to them being rejected. 

But the battle goes on.

The WHO, mRNA, and other controversial areas are his concern. Controversial, yes, but worth listening to.

We contribute in...

The unforeseen arrangements between China and the Cook Islands have induced greater interest in South Pacific geopolitics than we can ever remember.

How we deal with this surprise confrontation will be fascinating to observe.

One thing is obvious; the Kiwi's “benign strategic environment” has had its feathers ruffled.

In 2019 George Friedman published “The Storm Before The Calm”, which suggested the sort of events we are now experi...

New Zealand and the Cook Islands agreements require regular consultation on defence and security issues.

But the Cooks have just signed a secret partnership with China, catching the NZ government unawares.

If that’s not bad enough, there is a second cause for major concern. It includes our Parliamentary Sovereignty, ownership of the entire NZ coastline and an activist Supreme Court indulging its collective ego.

Muriel Newman, an ex...

Peter Boghossian resigned from his position as Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Portland State University, where he had taught for ten years.

He left under pressure. His letter of resignation is on his website, and is compulsory reading. It is entitled, “My University Sacrificed Ideas for Ideology”.

We interviewed him first in 2015. He now travels a great deal, gives speeches frequently, and writes and is published on numerous ...

It’s no secret that New Zealand is confronted with numerous and problematic issues.

There is a common belief that leadership is a major cause of those problems. And not just political leadership; it is widespread.

There is a weakness that can only be confronted by strength of character and a determination that is in short supply.

Deputy Leader of NZ First, Shane Jones provides “character” that may not please some, but is worthy of ...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

He began his tertiary education at the University of Auckland, continued it at London School of Economics and Princeton University,

He was Director of the PhD Program at Imperial College London. He has been awarded numerous prizes along the way, and returned to NZ twelve years ago.

He is Professor of Macroeconomics at Auckland University and...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

Ramesh Thakur is well known to this audience; he has appeared on the Leighton Smith Podcast more than once.

There was much to catch up on.

His views on the world and its various parts are substantiated by life experience. He taught at a number of universities including Otago and ANU Canberra and Rector at the U.N. University. He was also an ...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

Dr Paul Marik belongs to a group of physicians who have devoted their lives to their patients survival, and effectively been punished for it.

How can a man with a reputation as the “most published and influential clinician and researcher in critical care medicine in the United States" be forced from his career?

File your comments and complai...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

The legal fraternity in this part of the world is delighted at the Supreme Court’s decision on Smith v Fonterra. But not everyone feels that way.

In his inevitable style, Professor James Allan critiques the decision and the direction a collection of un-elected ex-lawyers are “usurping power to themselves at the expense of the elected branche...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

An insidious phenomenon has become widely evident around the western world, and it is alive and well in New Zealand. 

The attack has been against every institution that props up the pillars of our democratic freedom.

Retired Judge Anthony Willy justifies his accusations (from his essay “Blowing In the Wind”, NZCPR.com).

It’s an importan...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

Since 2020, the W.H.O. has orchestrated and condoned one of the most devastating assaults on individual and societal health the world has seen.

At the behest of highly conflicted sponsors, this international bureaucracy promoted policies that overwhelmingly harmed the world’s disadvantaged.

Lacking any contrition, the W.H.O. is now seeking i...

Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

One of the best and most interesting interviews we’ve done.

Tony O’Brien was born and raised in New Zealand. His life has followed a fascinating path, working in Australia, Britain, Canada, Hungary and beyond in a variety of capacities.

In his work he "did not have a plan, just took advantage of opportunities as they presented."

He is intell...

We can’t think of a better way to finish the year.

The legendary Antoine’s Restaurant in Parnell is now a memory.

The Chef was a virtuoso who would have succeeded anywhere in the world. Instead the world came to 333 Parnell Rd.

During its nigh on 50 years, Antoine’s suffered numerous crises, dictated by stock market crashes, business trends and government changes.

But then came Covid, accompanied by a juvenile govt. One night Antio...

Australian journalist and author Nick Cater has been a guest on numerous occasions, beginning on radio in 2013.

Not having spoken for a year, we caught up on Thanksgiving Eve while he was in New York.

The plan was to discuss Australia’s pros and cons (of which there are many), for the benefit of intending migrants.

There is something of a diaspora from NZ at the moment.

As usual it was a relaxed but informative interview.

We make c...

The Treaty Principles Bill isn’t responsible for the racial and political ructions confronting New Zealand.

It has more to do with a lack of courage and political leadership by previous administrations.

We start the discussion with David Seymour at the beginning and follow the events that threaten the country’s  future.

The ultimate questions might be what sort of a country do we want to live in, and are we mature enough to ta...

Education in NZ has long been controversial.

It’s not incorrect to suggest that a Labour Education Minister has an easier task than a more ‘conservative’ party minister (i.e. National’s Merv Wellington in the 1980’s.)

Similar circumstances apply in other countries. Donald Trump returns to the Presidency with intent to eliminate the Department of Education and return the responsibility to the States.

There are some valid reasons for...

Since 2020, the W.H.O. has orchestrated and condoned one of the most devastating assaults on individual and societal health the world has seen.

At the behest of highly conflicted sponsors, this international bureaucracy promoted policies that overwhelmingly harmed the world’s disadvantaged.

Lacking any contrition, the W.H.O. is now seeking increased public funding through misrepresentation of risk and return on investment to entren...

When we wound up our election day discussion, I suggested to Patrick Basham that we do a follow up "if warranted". It was warranted in multiples, so around midnight on election night we recorded the interview for 264. There is insight that you won’t hear elsewhere. Have a listen.

And following we have included comment from elsewhere that is worthy of a hearing.

Oh, and at the last second we received an email headed “Most accurate U...