Political Playback – 16 October 2025

In this episode – we discuss the legacy of ex-Prime Minister Jim Bolger; Issy and Zara’s testimonies have been watched more than half a million times; is the Broadcasting Standards Authority going to come after Family First?; have more people watched Bob’s review of Jacinda Ardern’s documentary than have actually gone to watch it in the cinemas; discussion on the various political polls that have just come out; Te Pati Maori continue their infighting & bad behaviour; the Greens have TDS; NZ First’s Casey Costello puts ex-Green MP Benjamin Doyle in his place; and advertising is now allowed on tv on Sunday mornings, Christmas Day and other public holidays – is nothing sacred anymore?

Show summary auto-generated by Descript app:

  1. **Jim Bolger’s Political Career**: An overview of the former Prime Minister of New Zealand’s tenure and contributions, including his coalition with Winston Peters and subsequent roles post-premiership.
  2. **Issy and Zara’s Detransition Story**: Mention of significant social media engagement (more than 550,000+ views on our social media channels) with Issy and Zara’s detransition story, despite mainstream media’s avoidance. The story highlights their courage in discussing their experiences.
  3. **Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) Controversy**: A discussion on the BSA extending its reach to vet content from independent platforms like The Platform and Family First, despite not having legislative backing.
  4. **Jacinda Ardern Documentary Review**: Mention of a review of the documentary on Jacinda Ardern, perceived as a puff piece lacking critical questioning.
  5. **Current Political Polls**: Analysis of recent polling data showing National’s declining popularity, Labour’s gain, and the rise of New Zealand First. There are discussions on media narratives affecting public perception, especially concerning National leader Christopher Luxon.
  6. **Te Pāti Māori Internal Conflict**: Coverage of internal issues within Te Pāti Māori, including budget overspending allegations and claims of a toxic environment.
  7. **Parliamentary Protocols and Conduct**: Discussion on recent breaches of protocol in Parliament by Te Pāti Māori and other MPs.
  8. **Green Party and Protests**: Critique of the Green Party’s response to a recent Middle Eastern peace deal and their previous protests – and their lack of concern for genocides of Christians happening in Nigeria, for example
  9. **Violence in Politics**: Examination of a poll indicating a disturbing portion of Te Pāti Māori and also to a lesser extent ACT supporters find political violence acceptable.
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