"The Right to Health Sovereignty concludes that the restoration of trust in international health governance depends on
rediscovering the moral foundations of medicine and public health, and the sovereign responsibility of the nation state.

An International Health Organisation built on sovereignty and ethics would preserve the benefits of cooperation while upholding the freedoms of individuals and nations.”

So says Ramesh Thakur as he presents the case for transition from WHO to IHO.

And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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In the 13 years since I first interviewed Patrick Basham, Director of the Democracy Institute in Washington DC, he has shown himself to be an outstanding analyst and commentator.

He is erudite on many fronts.

His opinions on the war with Iran may not please you.

But whether you’re a Trump supporter or a critic, his rationale is provocative. Don’t miss it.

And we finish up in The Mailroom with your correspondence and Mrs Producer.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz

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The recent announcement by the Reserve Bank focused on the availability of cash and ATM’s, and commercial bank branches.

The Reserve Bank is currently seeking feedback on these possible changes from the public.

Professor Robert MacCulloch, (who once worked at the Reserve Bank), is forthright in his commentary.

His thoughts on cash, CBDC’s, and privacy versus government control are invaluable.

As are your thoughts in The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz

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Media around the world has been engrossed with reporting, speculating, and arguing the case over the war with Iran.

While it may have been ‘out of the blue’ for many, the conflict came as no surprise to those following the developments in the Middle East.

George Friedman, Chairman and Founder of Geopolitical Futures, exploits knowledge he’s accumulated over decades, providing his opinion on why US President Donald Trump made the decision to attack Iran.

He provides the answers others can’t.

And as always, we visit the mailroom with Mrs Producer.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz

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For some considerable time, in countries with judicial systems like New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the U.S., the senior courts have been expanding their power.

Professor Jim Allan was commissioned to write an appraisal of a new 600+ page book for a U.S. law journal.

In summary, he concluded what one Supreme Court has been doing is “bonkers; flat out judicial supremacy”.

This is a book for anyone interested in the law and politics.

We also share comment on a range of current troublesome issues.

And we go to The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz

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Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
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There are numerous approaches to management: Legacy, Ideological, Corporate, and Political Management.

These combine to produce a system that cannot sustain long-term strategies.

“Cultivation Management is the alternative.”

According to Dr Mike Schmidt, it is also the approach that Christopher Luxon needs to adopt to retain his Prime Ministership.

And then there’s the question; can Mr Luxon afford to bypass the advice Schmidt has to offer?

Advice that is equally applicable to most other forms of management. You can decide for yourself.

And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz

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Having spent two weeks in Australia, post New Year, Leighton & Carolyn are pleased to be home. Sydney was sweltering as is the political scenery.

Nevertheless a good time was had. Now it’s back to business for 2026, the eighth year of the podcast.

Interestingly there was much inquiry about two politicians by our Australian media friends; Shane Jones & Erica Stanford.

So we begin the year, as we did in ’25 with Shane Jones, Deputy Leader of New Zealand First. He’s not shy about being honest, at times brutally so.

As usual Mrs Producer joins the Mailroom followed by some intelligent comment by Gary Judd KC.

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz

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Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2025.

James Bovard is a Libertarian Journalist and Author. Thirteen books published. In his first ’The Farm Fiasco’ (1989) he referenced NZ as a world leader in farming.

In 1994 came ‘Lost Rights; The Destruction of American Liberty’ We interviewed in April 2021 re Covid.

Now thirty years after Lost Rights, comes ‘Last Rights; The Death of American Liberty”.

We arranged the interview moments before the 1st Presidential Debate.

Between the book and the political crisis in the U.S. there was never a dull moment.

And he’s quite amusing. Bovard is a “character”!

File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz

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Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:
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