Thoughts & Comments
Thoughts & Comments
Thoughts & Comments brings social commentary to current issues and a faith perspective to the latest news. Hosted by Andrew Urquhart, a seasoned broadcaster with over three decades of experience. In each episode, Andrew chats with a wide range of guests and experts who bring their wisdom and insight to a huge variety of topics, including politics, psychology, societal trends, theology, geopolitica…
Did Brian Tamaki Cross the Free Speech Line?
There's a huge leap from verbal sparring to temple riots, and a fine line between hyperbole and inciting violence. Did Brian Tamaki jump it? Andrew Urquhart discuss the case and the principles behind it, with Douglas Brown of the Free Speech Union (Free Speech Union: If Brian Tamaki committed a c…
10:04
Bicentennial Man: Missionary Henry Williams' Legacy in the Bay of Plenty
Tauranga churches have honoured Henry Williams' legacy of faith, 200 years after he first preached the Gospel in the Bay of Plenty. Dave Mann (www.alltogether.co.nz) shares accounts of local iwi, who traded an existence of superstitions, fears, and warfare, for the Christian missionary's call to p…
11:46
Panic Market: Feeding Fear of the 'Other'
Media chaplain Frank Ritchie and Andrew Urquhart discuss elements of social engineering in today's hot-button issues, where consumer trends and social policy are used to inflate differences and orchestrate 'culture wars'. Rathen than indulge in conspiracy theories, it's a challenge to recognise m…
10:25
Church Brings Hope to Venezuelan Disaster Zone
"Jesus kept him alive..." Ian McInnes recalls numerous miracles in past disasters that remind us to hold on to hope, even as chances of survival fade for the thousands still missing after Venezuela's massive earthquakes ten days ago. The CEO of Tearfund NZ updated Andrew Urquhart on the rescue an…
12:51
Welfare Costs: Who Pays the Bill for Today's Benefits?
A policy analyst from the Salvation Army is encouraging closer scrutiny of party policy in the lead-up to this year's General Election. Ana Ika suggests welfare abuse has been hyped up by one party to justify plans for constraining welfare spend; and welcomes another party's proposal of a universa…
10:26
Matariki: A Simple Harvest Festival of Thanksgiving to God
Thursday 25 June 2026 Thankfulness, remembrance, faith and hope. How can Christians respond to a harvest festival that appears to be rooted in Maori mythology? Dave Mann of the Hope Project says thanking God for His provision is a natural posture for the faithful of any culture. Recalling Bibl…
10:54
He Descended into Hell: A Winter Reflection
As creation slows down in this season of winter, take a moment to pause and reflect on a sometimes-overlooked day in the final countdown to Easter - Holy Saturday. Otago University theologian Dr Katie Marcar invites us to contemplate the significance of the time between the Crucifixion and Resurre…
09:38
Peace Over Purge: Bringing Christian Cool to a Heated Issue
With the recent conflagaration of public debate over national identity and immigration policies, Andrew Urquhart ponders the Church's attitude to migrants of different cultures and faiths. Leadership mentor John peachey (www.thethinkfarm.org) comments on the part that media mischief plays in infla…
17:32
Digging for Earthquake Miracles
The Church in Venezuela is heavily persecuted yet remains resolutely at the frontlines. CEO of Barnabas Aid NZ Stephanie Johnston tells Andrew Urquhart that despite decades of sociopolitical and religious oppression by government and union forces, Christians are holding out hope for their fellow c…
10:38
Plaid & Staid vs American Hype: More Parties Begin Election Warm-up
Political analyst Dr Bryce Edwards rates the weekend performances of the Labour and ACT Parties as each revealed their pre-Election policy cards. The general review was an unspectacular Labour conference that appeared to play it safe to their Party base; and conversely, a Trump-style ACT campaign …
14:20