Having spent two weeks in Australia, post New Year, Leighton & Carolyn are pleased to be home. Sydney was sweltering as is the political scenery.

Nevertheless a good time was had. Now it’s back to business for 2026, the eighth year of the podcast.

Interestingly there was much inquiry about two politicians by our Australian media friends; Shane Jones & Erica Stanford.

So we begin the year, as we did in ’25 with Shane Jones, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First. He’s not shy about being honest, at times brutally so.

As usual Mrs Producer joins the Mailroom followed by some intelligent comment by Gary Judd KC.

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

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