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

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 weeklyEpisodes212Founded3 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 talking with regular guest Cathrine Dyer from Wellington about geopolitics, the economy, climate change and politics.

This editi... more

This evening I spoke with I spoke with Victoria Coleman about the Disability Support Services Bill, which will gazump a court ruling that parents working as carers are full-time employees of the Government.

Victoria works full time as a carer for he... more

I spoke with Victoria Crockford from the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness this evening. She detailed the findings of the Coalition’s latest report, ‘Children and Young People Experiencing Homelessness,’ published today, including:

* there are 3... more

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night featured co-hosts Bernard Hickey talking with regular guests Cathrine Dyer from Wellington and Robert Patman in Dunedin about geopolitics, the economy, climate ch... more

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Recent Guests

Victoria Coleman
Advocate in the disability community focused on the Disability Support Services Bill
Disability advocacy community
Episode: Protest growing against Govt's disability cost-cutting bill
Victoria Crockford
From the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness
Coalition to End Women's Homelessness
Episode: Accepting 57,000 homeless mums with 33,000 homeless kids 'tells us who we are as a society'
Catherine Dyer
Dedicated expert on climate change, politics, and economics
Independent climate expert
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Johan Rockstrom's 'saturation point'; Data centre footprints; Trump vs Netanyahu; China vs four NZ MPs; Exports of forced labour
Louisa Wall
Former Labour MP and IPAC member, advocate on modern slavery
Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Johan Rockstrom's 'saturation point'; Data centre footprints; Trump vs Netanyahu; China vs four NZ MPs; Exports of forced labour
Faisal Abbas
Editor-in-Chief of Arab News
Arab News
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Budget 2026, a climate scandal, Saudi Arabia & Iran & disinformation flooding NZ's political debates
Sanjana Hattotuwa
Disinformation researcher
Colombo Sri Lanka / Centre for Disinformation Research (as discussed)
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Budget 2026, a climate scandal, Saudi Arabia & Iran & disinformation flooding NZ's political debates
Jonathan Lyons
Iran expert, history of Iranian affairs
Independent analyst
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Govt housing & job cuts; Iran vs Trump; Competition & banking
Tex Edwards
Founder of Two Degrees, competition and consumer advocate
Two Degrees
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Govt housing & job cuts; Iran vs Trump; Competition & banking
Robert Patman
Professor of Politics
Victoria University of Wellington
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: The fuel & climate crises, plus deliberative democracy

Hosts

Bernard Hickey
Host with a focus on political economy in Aotearoa-NZ and geo-politics; frequent discussions with guests and co-hosts.
Catherine Knight
Co-presenter and conference organizer; contributes climate and health policy perspectives; regular guest.
Peter Bale
Co-host; provides policy critique and econometrics-informed commentary; often interjects as a strong moderator.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 39 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 States4 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 Zealand5 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 States7 months 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.

Listeners appreciate independent, expert perspectives on geopolitics and NZ policy.
Some episodes draw praise for depth but criticism for conversational interruptions.
The show is valued for timely discussion of energy, housing, and climate policy with practical implications.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Protest growing against Govt's disability cost-cutting bill
Q: What are the practical implications for families and caregivers under this proposal?
Caregivers would be forced to act as both employer and employee to the disabled person, losing protections and facing tax and levy burdens, which could undermine financial and legal security.
Protest growing against Govt's disability cost-cutting bill
Q: Why do you think the bill was introduced in such a way, and what have been the main failures in consultation?
Advocates argue there was little genuine consultation with the disability community; when consultation happened, it was with organizations likely controlled or funded by the government, not with people actually living with disabilities.
Protest growing against Govt's disability cost-cutting bill
Q: Can you tell us, from your point of view, what the Disability Support Services Bill means and why you're so focused on it?
The bill would give the government broad control over disability communities, stripping away autonomy and reducing rights, with concerns about secondary legislation creating a blank check that could undermine protections and access to judicial review.
The Weekly Hoon: The fuel & climate crises, plus deliberative democracy
Q: First, for those new to this concept, what exactly is deliberative democracy and how does it work in practice?
Deliberative democracy uses a random, representative cross-section of citizens who are exposed to evidence and guided to reach a collectively reasoned conclusion on public issues, often leading to published recommendations that inform policy and restore trust in government.
Mini-Hoon with Bernard Hickey and Anna Fifield
Q: Could you tell us about that China's involvement in the Middle East and how it affects the balance of power?
Anna outlines Xi Jinping's push to restore China's status as a global leader, using diplomacy and economic influence to broker agreements and position China as a reliable interlocutor while the US experiences a relative decline in credibility; China's involvement touches on Iran, Saudi Arabia, and broader regional diplomacy.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Hoon

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

The show centers on political economy for Aotearoa-New Zealand, with frequent forays into geopolitics, energy security, housing policy, climate change, and public health. Episodes blend rigorous analysis from academics, journalists, and policy experts with pragmatic discussions about NZ's policy responses, infrastructure choices, and economic resilience in a volatile global environment. Notable patterns include deep dives into Middle East energy dynamics, NZ energy policy and transport reform, housing affordability, and climate policy, often framed through practical policy options and real-world impacts for everyday life. A standout aspect is the mix of global geopolitics and local policy in a conversational, long-form interview style that ... more

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1. Gone By Lunchtime
2. The Detail
3. Cross Party Lines
4. Mediawatch
5. Saturday Morning

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The Hoon launched 3 years ago and published 212 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. Victoria Coleman
2. Victoria Crockford
3. Catherine Dyer
4. Louisa Wall
5. Faisal Abbas
6. Sanjana Hattotuwa
7. Jonathan Lyons
8. Tex Edwards

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