Another hefty week in policy and politics in New Zealand and around the world. The Iron Duke Studio trio peaks of the week include the end (hopefully) of the Darleen Tana saga and now Golriz appealing her shoplifting conviction, the US presidential election coming in hot and how the candidates are lining up in the polls, and David Seymour’s controversial potential success over the school lunches reform. Getting us down this week includes Central Government’s failing of promised localism agenda with the WCC intervention and preventing Otago from implementing their own fresh water plan, plus the Minister Andrew Bayly dilemma.

After an unintended hiatus, the Iron Duke trio is back in the studio to bring you your weekly recap of all things policy and politics. We discuss the newly appointed and well awaited Public Service Commissioner, the checks and balances of the building and construction reform and the latest polls which are a bit dire for some. Then we end with the never-ending Wellington Councillors debacle with threats of Central Government intervention, Foodstuffs’ latest approach of attacking the methodology used to prove New Zealand has a grocery pricing problem and the sinking of our Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui.

Jesse and Henry carry us through this week alone as Maddy tries out working from home, just as the luxury is being ripped from the hands of public servants across the land. They take us through the state of AI - regulation and its role in education and some classic Jesse Corlett energy chat.