Rephonic
Artwork for Gone By Lunchtime

Gone By Lunchtime

The Spinoff
New Zealand
New Zealand Politics
Christopher Luxon
National Party
Winston Peters
Labour Party
Te Pāti Māori
Donald Trump
Jacinda Ardern
ACT Party
New Zealand First
Treaty Of Waitangi
Takutai Tarsh Kemp
Treaty Principles Bill
David Seymour
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes309Founded10 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsGovernmentNews

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Gone By Lunchtime

Latest Episodes

Christopher Luxon sailed into NZ politics six years ago as a champion of localism. Since becoming prime minister, his government has fallen deeply out of love with devolution. Changes including a rates cap and National’s ruling out of a bed tax have ... more

In the nine days since he stared down his second caucus uprising within just a few months, Christopher Luxon has really bounced back. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas assess that rebound and the rapidfire tax attack lines against Lab... more

YouTube

Christopher Luxon has survived a showdown vote in caucus, a lot like he survived a showdown vote in caucus in April. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather and Ben Thomas convene in the cause of making some sense of the failed coup (if that's what it was... more

YouTube

It should have been a good day for the National Party. Instead, it was derailed by the latest bit of riffing by Christopher Luxon, in declaring, prompted by a listener's text on Newstalk ZB, that he'd like a referendum next term on MMP. A big day for... more

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Chris Penk
Guest, former minister, political commentator
Member of Parliament (Kaipiriki Maharangi) / National Party
Episode: Post-coup chat, with guest star Chris Penk
Christopher Luxon
Leader of the National Party, Prime Minister (at times referenced in discussion)
National Party
Episode: What is Mr Luxon doing?
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: Asher Emanuel on The Valley: the book everyone, politicians especially, should read in 2026

Hosts

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

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 761 ratings
  • New thankful member!

    Thanks so much for the critically important work you do, especially at this pivotal time. I’ve become a new member and will be tuning in more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    annejsregor
    New Zealand3 months ago
  • 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 Zealand3 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 Zealand7 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

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the irreverent banter and clear takes on complex issues.
Strong, engaging voices; a staple for staying informed during elections.
The show is often praised for candid, insightful analysis with a local flavor.
The hosts balance critical thinking with humor, making NZ politics approachable.
Some listeners want more speaking time for certain hosts or more diverse guest perspectives.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#202
Australia/News/Politics
Spotify
#40
New Zealand/Top Podcasts
Spotify
#29
New Zealand/Trending
Apple Podcasts
#68
New Zealand/Top Podcasts
Apple Podcasts
#6
New Zealand/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#14
New Zealand/News

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?

A sharp, country-focused politics show that blends data-minded analysis with witty banter. Across recent episodes, the trio weighs leadership dynamics, coalition tensions, policy reforms, and election strategy, often using live polling, governance mechanics, and media coverage to frame the story. Noteworthy are frequent discussions on party strategy (especially leadership and coalition stability), the Mojo Meter concept for campaign momentum, and candid takes on how messaging lands with the public. The hosts likely attract listeners who want clear-eyed takes on NZ politics, with accessible explanations of complex issues and a healthy dose of humor to balance the serious terrain. Potential listeners should expect timely, opinionated yet reas... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Gone By Lunchtime?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Gone By Lunchtime. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Gone By Lunchtime and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Gone By Lunchtime get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Gone By Lunchtime, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Gone By Lunchtime?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Gone By Lunchtime, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Gone By Lunchtime have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Gone By Lunchtime has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. Cross Party Lines
3. The Detail
4. Mediawatch
5. The Fold

How many episodes of Gone By Lunchtime are there?

Gone By Lunchtime launched 10 years ago and published 309 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Gone By Lunchtime?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Gone By Lunchtime?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Gone By Lunchtime from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Gone By Lunchtime?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Gone By Lunchtime. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Gone By Lunchtime?

Recent guests on Gone By Lunchtime include:

1. Chris Penk
2. Christopher Luxon
3. Lyric Waiwiri-Smith
4. Joel MacManus
5. Richard Adams
6. Bernard Hickey
7. Tova O'Brien
8. Jane Wrightson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days