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 weeklyEpisodes215Founded3 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 with regular guests Robert Patman & Cathrine Dyer about geopolitics, the economy, climate change and polit... more

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

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

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

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Recent Guests

Britt Farbo
Theological analyst focused on Ukraine
Based in Lviv, Ukraine
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Calling for a new RONS' suspension; Golden Mile decision; Religion's role in the Ukraine war;
Connor Sharp
Transport advocate/expert
Greater Auckland
Episode: The Weekly Hoon: Calling for a new RONS' suspension; Golden Mile decision; Religion's role in the Ukraine war;
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
Robert Patman
Foreign affairs scholar and commentator
Victoria University of Wellington (academic)
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

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 States5 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 States8 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.

The Weekly Hoon: Calling for a new RONS' suspension; Golden Mile decision; Religion's role in the Ukraine war;
Q: How is South Dunedin handling climate resilience and governance?
They are using a relational governance approach, engaging the community to define priorities, then narrowing options through successive consultations to a single path.
The Weekly Hoon: Calling for a new RONS' suspension; Golden Mile decision; Religion's role in the Ukraine war;
Q: What is the core concern with the Golden Mile decision and the related PCR report?
The hosts discuss how the PCR's calculations may have overstated benefits to drivers while undercounting pedestrian safety and bus reliability, suggesting a governance lapse or attempt to fit a desired outcome.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Household Income
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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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These podcasts share a similar audience with The Hoon:

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

How many episodes of The Hoon are there?

The Hoon launched 3 years ago and published 215 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. Britt Farbo
2. Connor Sharp
3. Victoria Coleman
4. Victoria Crockford
5. Catherine Dyer
6. Louisa Wall
7. Robert Patman
8. Faisal Abbas

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.

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