The Bradbury Group is a no-holds-barred weekly political podcast from Martyn "Bomber" Bradbury. Unapologetically Left, fiercely independent, and born from the ashes of The Working Group, this is where real political debate lives. Each Tuesday, Bradbury and guests take on the big issues, call out the bad faith, and push back against the spin. Buckle up.
The Bradbury Group | Election 26 Final Leaders' Debate Special: Chippy vs. Luxon, Minor Party Math & The Health Crisis
Join host Martyn Bradbury for The Bradbury Group’s Election 26 Final Leaders’ Debate Post-Analysis Special! In this episode, we break down the final showdown between Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon. Was Luxon’s performance prime ministerial, or did Chippy take him to task on the cost-of-living and health crises?
Guests & Insights:
Sean Plunket gives the view from the political right on National’s confidence, vote-splitting strategies, and ACT’s momentum.
Fran O’Sullivan (NZ Herald) weighs in on center-party dynamics, business community concerns, and the future of the RMA.
John Tamihere (Te Pāti Māori President) dissects the Māori seat strategy, the culture wars, and homelessness.
In-Studio Political Panel: Labour MP Arena Williams, Green Party candidate Tania Waikato, and AUT Professor Wayne Hope clash over healthcare numbers, big tech accountability, climate policy, media debate formats, and whether TOP can crack the 5% threshold to reshape coalition mathematics.
Streamed live on Rova, Sky TV, YouTube, and Facebook, sponsored proudly by Waatea News. Don't forget to like, follow, and leave your thoughts on who won tonight's debate!
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14 Oct 2026
Who Won the Kingmakers Debate? And Will Opportunity Decide the Election?
Chlöe Swarbrick impressed, Winston Peters came under fire, and Qiulae Wong could hold the balance of power. What did the TVNZ multi-party debate tell us about who might form the next government?
Martyn Bradbury gets immediate reaction from Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong, Green MP Teanau Tuiono, Council of Trade Unions president Sandra Grey and former Labour leader David Cunliffe.
Then Matthew Tukaki, Dr Hardeep Singh and Professor Wayne Hope argue over the winners and losers, whether Opportunity should choose a side, and what a four-party government could mean for New Zealand.
Plus, workers’ rights, the cost of living, the limits of culture-war politics, and why Labour and National are struggling to dominate the contest.
The Bradbury Group: New Zealand’s best weekly political argument.
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7 Oct 2026
Luxon vs Hipkins: Who Won the TVNZ Leaders’ Debate?
Who won the first TVNZ leaders’ debate of 2026? Martyn “Bomber” Bradbury breaks down Christopher Luxon and Chris Hipkins’ performances with Willie Jackson, Sandra Grey and Sean Plunket.
Then Matthew Tukaki, Dr Harpreet Singh and John Tamihere join the political panel to debate the strongest exchanges, the questions left unanswered and whether either leader gave undecided voters a reason to back them.
What could the debate mean for National, Labour and the 2026 New Zealand election?
The debate is over. The argument starts here.
Recorded live on Tuesday 6 October 2026.
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Who has been a guest on The Bradbury Group
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Chris Penk
Maria Slade
Matthew Tukaki
John Tamihere
Simon Wilson
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
56,762
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
4.5 / 5
21 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 46 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
59
Social presence
0
YouTube
85
Engagement
0
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