Show Notes
Episode 108 gets into race in education, free speech, politics, Covid data, public sector pay and a whole lot more. Quill Thomas joins us first to talk about what he says he saw at school and university around ethnicity based scholarships, accommodation and opportunities. We get into whether targeted support creates equity or division, whether socioeconomic need would be a better way to do it and where the line sits between helping people who are genuinely disadvantaged and treating people differently because of race. Then Conservative Party NZ leader Helen Houghton is back. Helen talks about the recent settlement and public apology following her inclusion in the “Women and the Alt Right” chapter of Byron Clark’s book, why she challenged it and why she sees the outcome as important for her reputation and free speech. The published settlement was an apology and did not amount to a court judgment finding defamation. We also get into Helen’s own past, mistakes she’s made, accountability, rehabilitation, crime, punishment and whether someone’s worst chapter should define the rest of their life. Then Barry Young joins us. The former Health NZ database administrator describes himself as a whistleblower after releasing Covid vaccination data and is now standing for the NZ Outdoors & Freedom Party in the 2026 election. We question him on what he believed the data showed, correlation versus causation, privacy, the legal case around the release, whistleblower protections and why he now wants to take the fight into Parliament. The party is currently registered with the Electoral Commission. And Joe Hotai jumps in with a simple idea that definitely gets the conversation going… should every public servant, right up to the Prime Minister, be capped at $100,000 a year? Race, equality, free speech, redemption, Covid, whistleblowing, political accountability and taxpayer money. Another proper Shubz Says So.
More from Shubz Says So
Promises are easy. What happens when it’s time to deliver? On episode 129 of Shubz Says So, Karina joins us to discuss NZ First’s child sexual abuse sentencing proposals and how they compare with the Equal Is Not Enough campaign. We talk stronger penalties, permanent offender registration and turning political announcements into action. Lawyer and former MP Stephen Franks examines proposed online safety rules, restrictions on social media for under-16s and the implications for free speech. We also discuss withholding information in child death investigations and a Media Council decision involving reporting on Winston Peters. Then Auckland councillor Ken Turner joins us to discuss Western line changes, access to Grafton and Newmarket, infrastructure costs and the decision supporting Piha campground’s continued operation. Chapters: 0:00 Opening banter and updates 9:34 Karina — child protection and NZ First’s announcement 22:27 Sentencing, offender registration and cross-party support 37:20 Stephen Franks — online safety, free speech and accountability 1:04:12 Ken Turner — Western line changes and Piha campground 1:28:19 Closing thoughts and updates Shubz Says So | Episode 129 Subscribe, share it with the whānau and have your say in the comments. For all inquiries: [email protected]
Isaac Nicholson spent the first 37 years of his life in Gloriavale. Then he and his wife decided their children deserved a different future.
Jimothy returns to give his take on the argument, share his experience working around an election and explain why he questions the push for last-minute enrolment. We also get into strategic voting, overhang seats and his predictions for who makes it into Parliament from the ACT and NZ First lists.
Why do we push university as the main path when plenty of young Kiwis would thrive in a trade?
Who benefits from New Zealand’s data centre boom — and who pays for the upgrades?