New Zealand and the Cook Islands agreements require regular consultation on defence and security issues.

But the Cooks have just signed a secret partnership with China, catching the NZ government unawares.

If that’s not bad enough, there is a second cause for major concern. It includes our Parliamentary Sovereignty, ownership of the entire NZ coastline and an activist Supreme Court indulging its collective ego.

Muriel Newman, an ex MP (nine years) and the founder of the New Zealand Centre for Political Research (NZCPR.com), discusses the threats and dangers to the Parliament’s position as the country's ultimate lawmaker.

And on the subject of courts, we catch up with Michael Connett, the lawyer who fought and won against the EPA (the Environment Protection Agency) over compulsory fluoridation.

Whatever your thoughts on the subject, it’s a David and Goliath tale.

And we visit The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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Peter Boghossian resigned from his position as Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Portland State University, where he had taught for ten years.

He left under pressure. His letter of resignation is on his website, and is compulsory reading. It is entitled, “My University Sacrificed Ideas for Ideology”.

We interviewed him first in 2015. He now travels a great deal, gives speeches frequently, and writes and is published on numerous outlets.

Let us know what you think of the interview, in The Mailroom with Mrs Producer.

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It’s no secret that New Zealand is confronted with numerous and problematic issues.

There is a common belief that leadership is a major cause of those problems. And not just political leadership; it is widespread.

There is a weakness that can only be confronted by strength of character and a determination that is in short supply.

Deputy Leader of NZ First, Shane Jones provides “character” that may not please some, but is worthy of consideration by those who come up short of requirements.

And, after the Mailroom with Mrs Producer, we consider a couple of those matters.

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Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

He began his tertiary education at the University of Auckland, continued it at London School of Economics and Princeton University,

He was Director of the PhD Program at Imperial College London. He has been awarded numerous prizes along the way, and returned to NZ twelve years ago.

He is Professor of Macroeconomics at Auckland University and publishes widely, including his own site, Down To Earth Kiwi.

And in spite of his career success he appears modest, but with the ability and intent to ruffle feathers.

This was a wide ranging and very enjoyable discussion.

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Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

Ramesh Thakur is well known to this audience; he has appeared on the Leighton Smith Podcast more than once.

There was much to catch up on.

His views on the world and its various parts are substantiated by life experience. He taught at a number of universities including Otago and ANU Canberra and Rector at the U.N. University. He was also an assistant Sec-Gen of the U.N.

As a result his commentary on world issues is superb.

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

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Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

Dr Paul Marik belongs to a group of physicians who have devoted their lives to their patients survival, and effectively been punished for it.

How can a man with a reputation as the “most published and influential clinician and researcher in critical care medicine in the United States" be forced from his career?

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Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

The legal fraternity in this part of the world is delighted at the Supreme Court’s decision on Smith v Fonterra. But not everyone feels that way.

In his inevitable style, Professor James Allan critiques the decision and the direction a collection of un-elected ex-lawyers are “usurping power to themselves at the expense of the elected branches of government”.

As a specialist in constitutional law, Jim is in his element.

We also spend words on SCOTUS and Trump. An important and essential commentary.

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

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Leighton is on summer break, so we are highlighting some of his favourite guests from 2024.

An insidious phenomenon has become widely evident around the western world, and it is alive and well in New Zealand.

The attack has been against every institution that props up the pillars of our democratic freedom.

Retired Judge Anthony Willy justifies his accusations (from his essay “Blowing In the Wind”, NZCPR.com).

It’s an important document that should be studied in every school.

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

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