Ben Thomas
Ad authority says ice cream doesn't make you happy
The Advertising Standards Authority has ordered the removal of an ad on a dairy in Whangarei which displayed Streets ice creams with the tagline "Ice cream makes you happy". Audio
Question of the Day for 8 October 2019
What one figure from history would you like to see a hologram of in concert? Dead musicians are taking the stage again in digital form. Audio
Not-so-ok-boomers: superannuitants living in poverty
Interesting opinion piece in the NZ Herald by former health social work manager Dara McNaught on the issue of superannuitants being caught in the trap of poverty. Audio
Changes for Oranga Tamariki after review
Oranga Tamariki has announced its findings of an internal inquiry into its contoversial attempt to uplift a newborn baby from its teenage mother in Hawke's Bay. Audio
The Panel with Ben Thomas and Verity Johnson (Part 2)
Dead musicians are taking the stage again in digital form. Roy Orbison, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston, Maria Callas, Ronne James Dio - all would be performing again, thanks to a new crop of companies… Audio
The Panel with Ben Thomas and Verity Johnson (Part 1)
Oranga Tamariki has announced its findings of an internal inquiry into its contoversial attempt to uplift a newborn baby from its teenage mother in Hawkes Bay. It found a litany of failures and the… Audio
I've been thinking for 8 November 2019
What the panellists Ben Thomas and Verity Johnson have been thinking about. Audio
National party changes in the past day.
Former National party staffer, Ben Thomas, joins the discussion about Christopher Luxon as National's candidate in Botany and Maggie Barry leaving politics. Audio
Christopher Luxon selected as National candidate for Botany.
Last night Former Air New Zealand CEO Christopher Luxon was selected as the National candidate for Botany. The seat is currently held by former National MP Jami-Lee Ross, who resigned from the party… Audio
National's gang policy will win votes - commentator
The National Party released its social services discussion document, floating a series of "hard-line" policies on welfare, on Wednesday.
Ideas include blocking gang members and their associates from… Audio
The Greens plan for housing
The Green Party held its annual conference over the weekend. The party revealed their rent-to-own policy. Audio
Are natural supplements safe?
A pharmacist has warned about the danger of natural products and health foods. In Stuff today Andrew Brown says Kiwis often think natural products are safer and healthier but the truth is more… Audio
Auckland Grammar's hair fight
A 13-year-old boy is taking his school to court over their rules about hair length. Stuff reports James Hunt was stood down from Auckland Grammar for one day for refusing to cut his shoulder-length… Audio
Monopoly doesn't have a monopoly anymore
Guy Williams had a rant last week about how terrible Monopoly is as a game, and has since put his thoughts into an opinion piece on Stuff on why it is the worst. Audio
Question of the Day for 5 August 2019
What do you think is the best/worst board game ever? Why? Audio
Goodbye Tarakihi: fishers were warned
The amount of Tarakihi that commercial fishers are allowed to take is about to be slashed, because Tarakihi numbers are in decline. Forest and Bird say this New Zealand staple has almost been fished… Audio
Government announces abortion bill
The Government has announced a new bill that would remove abortion from the Crimes Act, and treat it as a health procedure. Audio
Two shootings in 24 hours
Two shootings in 24 hours in the US this weekend. First in El Paso, Texas and hours later in Dayton, Ohio. Audio
The Panel with Ella Henry and Ben Thomas (Part 2)
What do you think is the best/worst board game ever? Why? Guy Williams had a rant last week about how terrible Monopoly is as a game, and has since put his thoughts into an opinion piece on Stuff on… Audio