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Gone By Lunchtime

The Spinoff
New Zealand
New Zealand Politics
Christopher Luxon
Winston Peters
National Party
Labour Party
Te Pāti Māori
Donald Trump
Jacinda Ardern
Act Party
New Zealand First
Treaty Of Waitangi
Takutai Tarsh Kemp
David Seymour
Treaty Principles Bill
Fourth Labour Government
Prime Minister
Kamala Harris
China
David Lange

A New Zealand politics podcast hosted by The Spinoff's Toby Manhire with Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes304Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsGovernment

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Artwork for Gone By Lunchtime

Latest Episodes

The Opportunity Party has shot up to the threshold fun zone, with Qiulae Wong at the helm and running a line as an alternative to NZ First. Will the distaste for the establishment parties and the salvos from across the board mean an unprecedented ful... more

YouTube

Fresh from the bright lights and bitter recriminations of the National, Labour and Act party bashes, Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Joel MacManus join Toby to reveal all, in this excerpt from the Spinoff’s new podcast, At Large with Toby Manhire.

Follow At... more

The gun for election 2026 was fired with great fury and much shrapnel on Sunday, with National campaign manager Simeon Brown sparing almost no one. Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire huddle together to revisit those dramatic scenes and... more

YouTube

Keir Starmer has walked out from Downing Street and said it’s all over, meaning Andy Burnham is almost certain to be the next UK PM, the seventh since 2016. Why did Starmer fail, who is Burnham, and is this all really about Nigel Farage and Reform? T... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Lyric Waiwiri-Smith
The National Party spokesperson on the topics discussed
National Party
Episode: Jamboree season in an election year
Joel MacManus
Act in Auckland spokesperson/analyst
Act
Episode: Jamboree season in an election year
Richard Adams
New Zealand journalist with decades at The Guardian
The Guardian
Episode: At Large with Toby Manhire: Britain’s great big prime minister problem, continued
Bernard Hickey
Economist and financial commentator
Kaka Towers, Wellington
Episode: Budget special with Bernard Hickey
Tova O'Brien
Broadcast journalist and stage guest at AWF
TVNZ Breakfast / TVNZ
Episode: Live at Auckland Writers Festival with Tova O'Brien guest star
Jane Wrightson
Retirement Commissioner
Public sector and media governance
Episode: Jane Wrightson on Super squabbles, Seymour and the state of the media
Asher Emanuel
Author of The Valley, Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City
Bridget Williams Books (publisher)
Episode: The book everyone, politicians especially, should read in 2026
Anna Fifield
New Zealand journalist with experience at Financial Times and Washington Post; writer of Spinoff World Bulletin; author of Between Giants newsletter
The Spinoff / writer of World Bulletin
Episode: Special ep with Anna Fifield on the US, Iran, and Winston in Washington
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi
Member of Te Paati Māori
Te Paati Māori
Episode: We don't know how to be any clearer, guys

Hosts

Toby Manhire
Host of Gone By Lunchtime
Annabelle Lee-Mather
Co-host / Host of Gone By Lunchtime
Ben Thomas
Co-host / Host of Gone By Lunchtime

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 750 ratings
  • Let the woman speak

    That last episode on 6 May was more like a soliloquy. You have three people on the show, give everyone some time to speak, particularly Annabelle who hardly gets a word in.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    LyttelT
    New Zealand2 months ago
  • Thanks for making politics somewhat fun

    In an increasingly hellish environment (earth) we need work like this to keep us engaged and informed. Y’all are great keep up the good work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    MaxMeowSN
    New Zealand6 months ago
  • Keep it going please 🙏

    Love these guys, critical thinking with a dose of reality and humour. They’ve become like best friends who’d I love to have around the dinner table!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Karen from ChCh
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Best local political news podcast

    Love this podcast. All three presenters say it like it is. Ben’s contribution would be improved by saying it more succinctly. Otherwise, well worth a listen

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Te Moana
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Always entertaining and informative. The podcast that makes nz politics fun.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Bearctopus
    2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans praise the hosts' banter and clear perspectives, though some wish for more airtime for quieter voices.
There are 3-5 standalone insights, one per bullet; the show blends humor with serious political analysis.
Listeners appreciate the balance of irreverence and substance, making complex NZ politics approachable.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Spotify
#177
New Zealand/Top Podcasts
Spotify
#194
New Zealand/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#13
New Zealand/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#49
New Zealand/News
Apple Podcasts
#167
Argentina/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#199
Hong Kong/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Jane Wrightson on Super squabbles, Seymour and the state of the media
Q: What role should cross-party consensus play in reforming retirement policy?
There should be deliberate, principles-based collaboration that transcends election cycles, focusing on long-term structures rather than short-term political gains.
Jane Wrightson on Super squabbles, Seymour and the state of the media
Q: How do you see NZ Super and KiwiSaver needing to evolve together over the next 10 to 15 years?
They must be considered as parts of a single retirement-income system, with policy changes that recognize gender gaps, worker mobility, and broader tax and incentive settings; piecemeal fixes won't deliver a sustainable, fair outcome.
Special ep with Anna Fifield on the US, Iran, and Winston in Washington
Q: What is the best case scenario for de-escalation in the near term?
The best case is a de-escalation leading to an end to fighting with credible security guarantees for the region, followed by a negotiated framework that prevents a repeat of rapid escalation, even if that means acknowledging that Trump may claim a political victory.
Meltdown in Te Pāti Māori
Q: What is going on with Te Pāti Māori?
The party faces significant internal conflict, particularly regarding leadership and allegations against key figures.
Summer reissue: Live! With special guest Kim Hill, 40 years on from a seismic NZ election
Q: If it was so terrible in the first term, why do you think they did get re-elected in 1987?
Part of it would have been because everyone understood just what an absolute clusterfuck Muldoon had left.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Gone By Lunchtime

What is Gone By Lunchtime about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Gone By Lunchtime is a New Zealand politics show that blends sharp analysis with humor, featuring three regular hosts who dissect current events, policy debates, and governance with a distinctly informal banter. Episodes cover national political dynamics, media and public discourse, and timely issues from local government to national policy, often pairing roundtable discussion with interviews or guest perspectives. Notable strengths include the hosts' chemistry, humorous yet candid takes, and a willingness to tackle both domestic politics and global context through a local lens. The show frequently features high-profile political figures, media professionals, and seasoned journalists, offering listeners accessible insight into how NZ politi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Gone By Lunchtime?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Gone By Lunchtime:

1. At Large with Toby Manhire
2. The Detail
3. Cross Party Lines
4. Mediawatch
5. Saturday Morning

How many episodes of Gone By Lunchtime are there?

Gone By Lunchtime launched 10 years ago and published 304 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Gone By Lunchtime?

Recent guests on Gone By Lunchtime include:

1. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith
2. Joel MacManus
3. Richard Adams
4. Bernard Hickey
5. Tova O'Brien
6. Jane Wrightson
7. Asher Emanuel
8. Anna Fifield

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