StraightTalk - 6 July 2026

In this episode of StraightTalk, we discuss: NZ First has announced Michael Laws – a former National and NZ First MP in the 90s - as a new candidate. Is this a good announcement. And why is the Opportunity Party pretending to be palatable to right wing voters when it’s clearly a left-wing party; a church leader has written a response to Brian Tamaki’s recent comments about ethnic groups in NZ – do the panellists agree with it; Germany is coming down tough on workers who are sick – and schools in NZ are also coming down hard on absenteeism - so how sick is too sick; is our health system on its knees and do you trust it with your health – especially emergency departments; China has announced that it has tested a “nuclear-capable” missile in the South Pacific - how concerned should we be; and we touch on the FIFA World Cup – despite only one panellist last week admitting to watching it!