"This is a cost-of-living election," observes a political analyst; and the Green Party may have just found their meal ticket.




Dr Bryce Edwards of the Democracy Project unpacks the Greens' proposal that's banking on the people to break New Zealand's supermarket duopoly with a $2.8b publicly-owned chain promising consumer savings. Although the Opposition party hasn't yet calculated the profit and affordability margins, Dr Edwards points out the mere prospect of lower grocery bills will appeal strongly to a population hungry for cheaper food.




Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts.

~~~~

Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.




For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.




Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

"This is a cost-of-living election," observes a political analyst; and the Green Party may have just found their meal ticket. Dr Bryce Edwards of the Democracy Project unpacks the Greens' proposal that's banking on the people to break New Zealand's supermarket duopoly with a <a href="https://www.greens.org.nz/greens_launch_plan_to_break_up_the_supermarket_duopoly_and_bring_down_the_price_of_food" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">$2.8b publicly-owned chain</a> promising consumer savings. Although the Opposition party hasn't yet calculated the profit and affordability margins, Dr Edwards points out the mere prospect of lower grocery bills will appeal strongly to a population hungry for cheaper food. Text 8168, keyword 'Comments' to share your thoughts.~~~~Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App. For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz. Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Here you can catch up on all of the latest interviews from Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart.

Here you can catch up on all of the latest interviews from Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart.

Thoughts & Comments Interviews

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, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; 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, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts & Comments Podcast

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, chatting 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, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We’ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts & Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts &amp; 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, chatting 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, geopolitical analysis, social policy, and spirituality. We&rsquo;ll give you something worth thinking about! Thoughts &amp; Comments with Andrew Urquhart, wherever you get your Podcasts.

Thoughts & Comments

Winner Winner Cheaper Dinner - Will 'Kiwimart' Whet Voters' Appetite?

Andrew Urquhart welcomes public commentator Brendan Malone to discuss the recent use of expletives in Parliament, with speakers being ejected by the Speaker of the House. They explore how standards of speech are not so much "slipping" as being actively eroded or abandoned, linking this to the biblical call for gentleness and respect and the broader concept of human dignity. Brendan argues that speech reflects both self-respect and respect for others, and that MPs represent the whole nation, so their language matters beyond personal preference—even suggesting offenders should be barred from the House for three months, a view he says applies equally across party lines.



The conversation extends to social media, journalism, and fiction, distinguishing between context-driven use of coarse language (such as shock, grief, or storytelling devices like in the film "Odyssey") and deliberate abusive speech in public life. Brendan and Andrew agree that while words and physical violence are not equivalent, careless or vulgar language in Parliament reflects poorly on virtue and civility, and that charitable disagreement—not vulgarity—should be the standard for political discourse.



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Andrew Urquhart welcomes public commentator Brendan Malone to discuss the recent use of expletives in Parliament, with speakers being ejected by the Speaker of the House. They explore how standards of speech are not so much "slipping" as being actively eroded or abandoned, linking this to the biblical call for gentleness and respect and the broader concept of human dignity. Brendan argues that speech reflects both self-respect and respect for others, and that MPs represent the whole nation, so their language matters beyond personal preference—even suggesting offenders should be barred from the House for three months, a view he says applies equally across party lines. The conversation extends to social media, journalism, and fiction, distinguishing between context-driven use of coarse language (such as shock, grief, or storytelling devices like in the film "Odyssey") and deliberate abusive speech in public life. Brendan and Andrew agree that while words and physical violence are not equivalent, careless or vulgar language in Parliament reflects poorly on virtue and civility, and that charitable disagreement—not vulgarity—should be the standard for political discourse. Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Parliament's Swearing Scandal: A Question of Dignity

Andrew Urquhart talks with Nick from Pilar NZ about the government's renewed push to increase oversight of homeschooling families, following the tragic Tom Phillips case where three children vanished with their homeschooling father for four years. Nick argues this is a red herring, noting that the Ministry of Education and Education Review Office had already tried to sneak similar controls into legislation earlier in the year before public pressure forced a withdrawal.



Both agree the real failures lie with Police and Oranga Tamariki, who held critical information about Phillips but failed to act, rather than with homeschooling regulation itself. They warn against using this tragedy to push an ideological agenda that erodes homeschooling families' freedoms, and encourage listeners to contact their local politicians and support organisations like Pilar NZ in defending homeschooling rights.



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Andrew Urquhart talks with Nick from Pilar NZ about the government's renewed push to increase oversight of homeschooling families, following the tragic Tom Phillips case where three children vanished with their homeschooling father for four years. Nick argues this is a red herring, noting that the Ministry of Education and Education Review Office had already tried to sneak similar controls into legislation earlier in the year before public pressure forced a withdrawal. Both agree the real failures lie with Police and Oranga Tamariki, who held critical information about Phillips but failed to act, rather than with homeschooling regulation itself. They warn against using this tragedy to push an ideological agenda that erodes homeschooling families' freedoms, and encourage listeners to contact their local politicians and support organisations like Pilar NZ in defending homeschooling rights. Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Homeschooling Rights Under Fire After Tom Phillips Case

Andrew Urquhart talks with Wynand Jacobs, Executive Director of Family Life New Zealand, about the success of Marriage Week (marriageweek.org.nz). They discuss how churches and organisations came together with more coordination this year, and share an encouraging story of a pastor being thanked for finally preaching on marriage from the pulpit.




The conversation turns to the surprising backlash some received online for celebrating long-married couples, prompting reflection on those for whom marriage represents pain, disappointment, or unmet hopes. Wynand draws on an illustration from Pilgrim's Progress to highlight the power of hope in overcoming despair, encouraging listeners to hold onto hope for their relationships, with more resources available at familylife.nz.



Tune into Thoughts & Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.

For more from the show, visit the Thoughts & Comments page at rhema.co.nz.

Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Andrew Urquhart talks with Wynand Jacobs, Executive Director of Family Life New Zealand, about the success of Marriage Week (marriageweek.org.nz). They discuss how churches and organisations came together with more coordination this year, and share an encouraging story of a pastor being thanked for finally preaching on marriage from the pulpit. The conversation turns to the surprising backlash some received online for celebrating long-married couples, prompting reflection on those for whom marriage represents pain, disappointment, or unmet hopes. Wynand draws on an illustration from Pilgrim's Progress to highlight the power of hope in overcoming despair, encouraging listeners to hold onto hope for their relationships, with more resources available at familylife.nz. Tune into Thoughts &amp; Comments from 10:00am - 2:00pm on the Rhema Media App.For more from the show, visit the <a href="https://www.rhema.co.nz/listen-on-demand/video-podcast/thoughts-and-comments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thoughts &amp; Comments</a> page at rhema.co.nz.Produced using AI tools under human supervision.

Winner Winner Cheaper Dinner - Will 'Kiwimart' Whet Voters' Appetite?

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