Rephonic
Artwork for The Hoon
Climate Change
New Zealand
Donald Trump
Aotearoa
Geopolitics
Gaza
Housing Affordability
United States
Ukraine
Iran
China
Housing Market
New Zealand Economy
International Relations
Michael Wolff
Homelessness
Child Poverty
Reserve Bank Of New Zealand
Aotearoa-Nz
Paris Agreement

Bernard Hickey's discussions with Peter Bale and guests about the political economy in Aotearoa-NZ and in geo-politics, including issues around housing affordability, climate change inaction and child poverty reduction. thekaka.substack.com

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes244Founded3 years ago
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Artwork for The Hoon

Latest Episodes

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking about geopolitics, the economy, climate change and local politics with regular guests Robert Patman and Ca... more

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking about geopolitics, the economy, climate change and politics with guests Robert Patman, Cathrine Dyer and E... more

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey and Peter Bale talking about geopolitics, the economy, climate change and politics.

It included special guest Shamubeel Eaqub ta... more

Thank you Virginia McMillan, PixieMatt, Alistair Schorn, Gill Franklin, Toni S, and many others for tuning into my live video with Ganesh R Ahirao! Join me for my next live video in the app.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this w... more

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Recent Guests

Shamubeel Eaqub
Chief economist at Simplicity and economic commentator
Simplicity
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Eastern European history & NZ; Election 2026; the RBNZ’s surprise hold & limited fiscal choices
Ganesh Nana
Economist, former productivity commissioner and writer on fiscal and economic policy
Episode: KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey and Ganesh Nana on fiscal plans in Election 2026
Robert Patman
Professor and international relations commentator
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Luxon’s Opportunity and risk; Stories from the front line of NZ’s systemic health system collapse
David Galler
Intensive care doctor and public healthcare advocate
Kaitiaki Hauora
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Luxon’s Opportunity and risk; Stories from the front line of NZ’s systemic health system collapse
Malcolm Mulholland
Doctor and public healthcare advocate
Kaitiaki Hauora
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Luxon’s Opportunity and risk; Stories from the front line of NZ’s systemic health system collapse
Elliot Crossan
Fiscal analyst and Substack writer
Episode: The heavy sinking lids in Labour’s Budget plan
Mona Krewel
Director of the Internet, Social Media and Politics Research Lab at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Episode: How NZ politicians are using Facebook in Election 2026
Rosie Gallen
Housing researcher with 25 years of social housing experience and a PhD in community development and public housing
Episode: KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey & Dr Rosie Gallen
Huhana Hickey
Former nurse and disability advocate who writes about health and disability policy
Episode: KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey & Huhana Hickey ahead of Election 2026

Hosts

Bernard Hickey
Journalist and political economy commentator covering New Zealand and geopolitics
Peter Bale

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 52 ratings
  • Better without Bale

    Peter Bale is the absolutely most annoying aspect of this otherwise excellent podcast. Please ditch the pompous and verbose Bale - his constant interruptions and opinionations drive me crazy. He always interrupts the natural conversation or interview flow with his version of “witty comedic” observational interjections. I also despise his casual and offhanded treatment of regular guests. Peter Bale is clearly far more suited for the written word, rather than the podcast format. Stick to writing c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ximonde
    United States9 months ago
  • Valuable access to experts

    In this current climate and with many media organisations controlled by suspicious players, I have come to rely on independent media sources such as The Hoon for intelligent perspectives and debate on what is happening in the world at both a domestic and international level. Thank you so much Bernard and Peter for providing such a valuable service.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TaraSheree89
    New Zealand10 months ago
  • Better without Bale

    Peter Bale is the absolutely most annoying aspect of this otherwise excellent podcast.

    Please ditch the pompous and verbose Bale - his constant interruptions and opinionations drive me crazy. He always interrupts the natural conversation or interview flow with his version of “witty comedic” observational interjections.

    I also despise his casual and offhanded treatment of regular guests.

    Peter Bale is clearly far more suited for the written word, rather than the podcast format. Stick to wri... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ximonde
    United Statesa year ago
  • Oct 25th episode

    I still can’t really believe that some well respected scholars and the Media treat this Republican (MAGA) Candidate as ‘Normal’. He is anything but!

    Take a look at the Really American podcast/youtube ‘Shrinking Trump’ hosted by psychologists John Gardner and Harry Segal. It will explain all about Trump’s rapid Cognitive Decline.

    Enjoyed the episode. 🙂

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scbubaby
    New Zealand2 years ago
  • Brilliant Pod

    Incredibly interesting relevant educational on topic interviews & discussions - love this pod I get so engrossed I respond out loud in agreement- Brilliant 🤩

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flick Harris
    United Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

The conversational format can be absorbing and prompt strong engagement from listeners.
Some listeners strongly object to Peter Bale's interruptions and interjections, preferring more room for Bernard Hickey and guests.
The expert guests and analysis are seen as a valuable source of domestic and international perspectives.
Listeners value the interviews and discussions as interesting, relevant, educational and closely connected to current issues.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#11
New Zealand/News/News Commentary
Apple Podcasts
#90
New Zealand/News
Apple Podcasts
#95
Ireland/News/News Commentary

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Weekly Hoon: Eastern European history & NZ; Election 2026; the RBNZ’s surprise hold & limited fiscal choices
Q: What have you thought so far about the various policies on KiwiSaver?
Eaqub said stronger KiwiSaver savings are needed to give people more options in the future. He supports compulsory employer contributions, voluntary employee contributions, higher contribution rates, easier hardship access and a cap on fees.
The Weekly Hoon: Eastern European history & NZ; Election 2026; the RBNZ’s surprise hold & limited fiscal choices
Q: What did you think of the Reserve Bank's decision to hold the Official Cash Rate?
Shamubeel Eaqub was surprised but welcomed the hold, arguing that the economy was too weak for further rate rises and that current cost pressures were not yet feeding into higher wages or business margins.
The Weekly Hoon: Luxon’s Opportunity and risk; Stories from the front line of NZ’s systemic health system collapse
Q: What were the positive places that you went to or situations that you came across where you thought, I don't have to slash my wrists anymore. This is actually, there is some hope out there, and what did that hope constitute?
Malcolm Mulholland points to community-driven and iwi-driven services, including an integrated Māori health provider serving Bluff and Southland. David Galler adds examples from Kaitaia, Gore, Whanganui and Gisborne, while noting that small practices often lack the reach and stability to serve more people.
The Weekly Hoon: Luxon’s Opportunity and risk; Stories from the front line of NZ’s systemic health system collapse
Q: What do you think the risks are here? And is this going to change the equation much in the Middle East?
Robert Patman says the U.S. administration's signals on Iran are difficult to interpret, and that threats of force may be intended to project strength before the midterms. He expects Trump to be politically weaker afterward.
KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey and Ganesh Nana on fiscal plans in Election 2026
Q: What do you think of this idea of a parliamentary budget office, something that you have one in the UK, there's one in the US, as a sort of something separate from Treasury, something that has the analytical power to analyze political policies in an election campaign in a consistent and publicly trustworthy way?
Nana is cautiously supportive, but says an independent office should assess the economic and social effects of policies, including growth, productivity, resources and poverty, rather than reinforce a narrow focus on fiscal balances.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Hoon

What is The Hoon about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Conversations and roundtable discussions examine New Zealand's political economy, public policy and place in a changing world. Bernard Hickey leads interviews with researchers, academics, journalists, advocates and policy specialists, often alongside regular co-host Peter Bale. Topics range from housing, health services, public finance and the cost of living to climate policy, media, elections and geopolitics.

The format combines focused expert interviews with wider-ranging discussions that connect domestic decisions to international trends. Its distinctive emphasis is on the practical consequences of policy choices, including effects on public services, inequality, household finances and future generations. It suits listeners who want det... more

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1. At Large with Toby Manhire
2. Gone By Lunchtime
3. Cross Party Lines
4. The Detail
5. Mediawatch

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The Hoon launched 3 years ago and published 244 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 The Hoon?

Recent guests on The Hoon include:

1. Shamubeel Eaqub
2. Ganesh Nana
3. Robert Patman
4. David Galler
5. Malcolm Mulholland
6. Elliot Crossan
7. Mona Krewel
8. Rosie Gallen

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