The Government unveiled their latest Budget last week - and it's prompted divided responses across both sides of the political aisle.

The Finance Minister described her second Budget as 'No BS', while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon labelled it the 'Growth Budget'.

Meanwhile, the opposition has been quick to take aim against it, with Labour and the Greens lambasting the KiwiSaver changes and the sanctions against teenagers on JobSeeker. 

NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse unpacked the 'mixed' responses to the Budget.

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The Government unveiled their latest Budget last week - and it's prompted divided responses across both sides of the political aisle.
The Finance Minister described her second Budget as 'No BS', while Prime Minister Christopher Luxon labelled it the 'Growth Budget'.
Meanwhile, the opposition has been quick to take aim against it, with Labour and the Greens lambasting the KiwiSaver changes and the sanctions against teenagers on JobSeeker.&nbsp;
NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse unpacked the 'mixed' responses to the Budget.
LISTEN ABOVE

News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.

The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Adam Pearse: NZ Herald political reporter on the 'mixed' reactions to the 2025 Budget

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/483283e5-7944-4b23-acc9-b2e701829859/transcript

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 14 June 2026, Succession star Brian Cox is proving you are never too old to try something new.  At the ripe old age of 79 he's directed his first film, he tells Francesca about the experience and he tells us the impact of playing media magnate Logan Roy.

Harry McNaughton started out as an 18 year old on Shortland Street but now plies his trade behind the scene championing Kiwi screen projects. He talks to Francesca about how the NZ screen industry doesn't get enough credit and his new project Head Girl.

Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong is making a play for Parliament through the Mt Albert electorate. She tells Francesca it doesn't change her focus on getting the party past the 5 percent threshold.  

Elon Musk is the world's first trillionaire - Francesca asks the question, what's next for SpaceX and Musk himself.

And AI has created its first vaccine and it is now being tested on humans, Dr Michelle Dickinson has all the details.

Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.

LISTEN ABOVE

On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 14 June 2026, <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/brian-cox-succession-actor-on-directing-his-first-film-at-79/">Succession star Brian Cox is proving you are never too old to try something new. &nbsp;At the ripe old age of 79 he's directed his first film, he tells Francesca about the experience and he tells us the impact of playing media magnate Logan Roy.</a>
Harry McNaughton started out as an 18 year old on Shortland Street <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/harry-mcnaughton-actor-and-tv-producer-on-his-newest-tv-project-head-girl/">but now plies his trade behind the scene championing Kiwi screen projects. He talks to Francesca about how the NZ screen industry doesn't get enough credit and his new project Head Girl.</a>
Opportunity Party leader Qiulae Wong is making a play for Parliament through the Mt Albert electorate.<a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/qiulae-wong-opportunity-party-leader-on-her-campaign-for-the-mount-albert-electorate/"> She tells Francesca it doesn't change her focus on getting the party past the 5 percent threshold. &nbsp;</a>
Elon Musk is the world's first trillionaire <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/eric-berger-author-and-senior-space-writer-on-the-spacex-ipo-making-elon-the-worlds-first-trillionaire/">- Francesca asks the question, what's next for SpaceX and Musk himself.</a>
And AI has created its first vaccine <a href="https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/the-sunday-session/audio/dr-michelle-dickinson-nanotechnologist-on-the-worlds-first-vaccine-designed-by-ai/">and it is now being tested on humans, Dr Michelle Dickinson has all the details</a>.
Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE

Full Show Podcast: 14 June 2026 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/db450d5a-e855-45a1-ab5d-b46900228451/transcript

Harry McNaughton first appeared on Kiwi TV screens as an 18-year-old, playing receptionist Gerald Tippet on Shorty St.

Since then, he's built up a presence on the other side of the camera, having worked on other New Zealand TV shows like The Pact, Madam, Under the Vines, and The Sounds.

His new show is set to arrive on Three soon - it's called Head Girl and McNaughton is the co-creator and writer.

"If I'm working as a showrunner, particularly if I'm a writer-creator who's on set and who's filling more of a producer role, then the benefit of that is that you can have people at any stage go - this doesn't feel like it's working, or you can see that it's not working...being able to change that is hugely helpful." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Harry McNaughton first appeared on Kiwi TV screens as an 18-year-old, playing receptionist Gerald Tippet on Shorty St.
Since then, he's built up a presence on the other side of the camera, having worked on other New Zealand TV shows like The Pact, Madam, Under the Vines, and The Sounds.
His new show is set to arrive on Three soon - it's called Head Girl and McNaughton is the co-creator and writer.
"If I'm working as a showrunner, particularly if I'm a writer-creator who's on set and who's filling more of a producer role, then the benefit of that is that you can have people at any stage go - this doesn't feel like it's working, or you can see that it's not working...being able to change that is hugely helpful."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Harry McNaughton: actor and TV producer on his newest TV project Head Girl

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/976309cc-c230-4816-828d-b469002147e3/transcript

Actor Brian Cox has taken on a significant array of films, but the 79-year-old Succession star is making his directorial debut.

Glenrothan has been described as a 'love letter to Scotland' and it's in cinemas this week.

He says he never intended to direct a film, but his producer gave him the idea to take on this project.

"I'm not particularly visual as a person... I realised I'd have to get myself a bloody good DP, which I did - Jaime Ackroyd, whose father is also an excellent DP - he did a wonderful job." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Actor Brian Cox has taken on a significant array of films, but the 79-year-old Succession star is making his directorial debut.
Glenrothan has been described as a 'love letter to Scotland' and it's in cinemas this week.
He says he never intended to direct a film, but his producer gave him the idea to take on this project.
"I'm not particularly visual as a person... I realised I'd have to get myself a bloody good DP, which I did - Jaime Ackroyd, whose father is also an excellent DP - he did a wonderful job."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Brian Cox: Succession actor on directing his first film at 79

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/80809719-5140-43d9-ad1e-b469001c3de6/transcript

Adam Pearse: NZ Herald political reporter on the 'mixed' reactions to the 2025 Budget

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