https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/rss NZME Wed, 06 May 2026 12:44:06 Z en https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-photo-scepticism/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-photo-scepticism/ I am not someone who really cares for the royal family. It’s not that I have anything against them per se, it’s just that Royal gossip’s not really my thing.  Sat, 16 Mar 2024 01:08:21 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-ive-found-an-even-better-game-than-wordle/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-ive-found-an-even-better-game-than-wordle/ I’m always late to digital trends. Fri, 01 Apr 2022 20:25:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-america-inches-closer-to-chaos/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-america-inches-closer-to-chaos/ One of my best mates in the U.S is a Donald Trump supporter, and he texted me yesterday morning to ask if I had put aside some time later in the day to get in front of the TV?  Fri, 28 Aug 2020 21:36:05 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-forgiving-the-mosque-attacker/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-forgiving-the-mosque-attacker/ John Milne stands on the South East corner of Colombo and Brougham Streets. Fri, 21 Aug 2020 21:59:42 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-the-lockdown-lessons-we-ignored/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-the-lockdown-lessons-we-ignored/ The lessons of last time were there for the taking, and yet, by 9.30pm, there were queues out the Countdown doors. The carparks were overwhelmed. People were squabbling in the aisles, fussing over who got what. Fri, 14 Aug 2020 22:19:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-the-major-issue-with-nationals-campaign/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-the-major-issue-with-nationals-campaign/ I went for a drive with my mate the other day and got talking about the election, and he made a really interesting comment.   Fri, 07 Aug 2020 21:39:41 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-why-is-booze-ok-but-cannabis-isnt/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-why-is-booze-ok-but-cannabis-isnt/ I’ve had a few weeks off booze for the first time in a while. Fri, 31 Jul 2020 22:10:53 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-who-should-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-first/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-who-should-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-first/ If you needed any reminder about just how well New Zealand is doing in this pandemic relative to other countries, compare the weeks of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr Ashley Bloomfield. Fri, 24 Jul 2020 21:55:14 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-government-should-be-nervous-about-judith-collins/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-government-should-be-nervous-about-judith-collins/ A couple of weeks ago when she released her book, I interviewed Judith Collins on Q+A. Fri, 17 Jul 2020 21:36:43 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-todd-mullers-chances-diminishing-by-the-day/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-todd-mullers-chances-diminishing-by-the-day/ Seven weeks ago, the morning after Todd Muller became the new leader of the National Party, I said I thought he could win September’s election. Fri, 10 Jul 2020 22:10:10 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-lockdown-was-the-easy-bit/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-lockdown-was-the-easy-bit/ My best mate is trying to plan a wedding. Fri, 03 Jul 2020 22:03:23 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-is-winstons-time-up/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-is-winstons-time-up/ As an eleven-year old boy, I remember driving back from my standard four school camp at Okains Bay on Banks Peninsula. I was listening to a scratchy AM radio. It’s funny how these moments stick with you – I think I was just really excited to be allowed to sit in the front of our family van and I craned my neck to listen to the radio news as we slowly crawled back into reception. Fri, 26 Jun 2020 21:59:54 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-the-trade-off-with-armed-police/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-the-trade-off-with-armed-police/ Police are right to worry about their safety on the job and the shooting in West Auckland yesterday is an awful reminder of the risk every officer faces and the stakes when something goes wrong. Fri, 19 Jun 2020 22:02:55 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-tearing-down-statues-isnt-the-answer/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-tearing-down-statues-isnt-the-answer/ ‘Only bad people live to see their likeness set in stone.’ Fri, 12 Jun 2020 21:20:08 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-no-reason-to-be-optimistic-for-the-us/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-no-reason-to-be-optimistic-for-the-us/ I watched an incredibly disturbing video last night and I can’t stop thinking about it. Fri, 05 Jun 2020 21:27:03 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-todd-mullers-maga-hat-exposes-our-selective-outrage/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-todd-mullers-maga-hat-exposes-our-selective-outrage/ I have a Make America Great Again hat. Fri, 29 May 2020 21:38:22 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-todd-muller-could-well-be-our-next-pm/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-todd-muller-could-well-be-our-next-pm/ I think Todd Muller can win the election.  Fri, 22 May 2020 21:57:29 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-how-covid-19-is-changing-our-views-on-beneficiaries/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-how-covid-19-is-changing-our-views-on-beneficiaries/ If you lost your job today and you had to apply for the jobseeker benefit, do you know how much you’d get? I mean that. Seriously. Image you’re over 25. You’re single. Covid-19 has happened and lose your job. You apply for a benefit. After tax, how much do you think you get? As of today. You would qualify for $250.74. Is that more, or less, than you might have expected?Imagine trying to cover off transport costs, clothes, and food. You might get another 130 a week to help with accommodation. There’s a winter energy payment you might qualify but none of that stuff goes far. You can shop the cheap brands at Pak ‘n’ Save all you like, but 250 bucks a week isn’t much to live on. I wouldn’t have a chance. And of course it’d be even harder if you had children to support, as well. I’d be in the queues out the door at the Sallies or the City Mission just like all those other Kiwi families. Life would be really tough.To me though, I think maybe the first question tells us more about our society. The question isn’t whether or not you could live a life of any decency on that much money, but if you honestly had any idea what the dole is worth in 2020. I’d take a stab in the dark and say a lot of us had no real idea. It’s like Bill Gates trying to guess the price of a bottle of milk. He never goes to the supermarket so it’s not something that’s crossed his mind in decades.That’s the thing with the benefit. Most of us who’ve never been on one don’t even know how little someone receives before we feel sufficiently informed to slag them off as bludgers. I’m not saying everyone on a benefit is out and about and actively seeking work and looking to lift themselves and their loved ones into a better life of fulfilling employment and contributions. But I also think it’s a really easy and lazy criticism for us to casually group all beneficiaries together and characterise them as bludgers on the couch. And I wonder if this crisis is going to change a few attitudes.Do you think the staff who are being made redundant at Air New Zealand are bludgers? Or the staff at Sky City? Or Flight Centre? The staff who were working at those Bunnings that are closing? I know my colleagues aren’t bludgers but heaps of them have lost their jobs. And there’s a fairly good chance, with all the many thousands of Kiwis being made redundant at the moment that some people who might never have expected to have to rely on a benefit - will. At least for a bit.And that’s why it’s there, of course. Help in a crisis. Almost 40 thousand Kiwis signed up for the jobseeker benefit last month, as Covid took off.  Almost half of them had never been on a benefit before. Fri, 15 May 2020 22:12:35 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-my-coronavirus-resolutions/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-my-coronavirus-resolutions/ Let’s call them Rona’ resolutions.  Fri, 08 May 2020 21:59:55 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-how-will-we-pay-for-covid-19/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-how-will-we-pay-for-covid-19/ Who’s going to pay it back?  Fri, 01 May 2020 22:11:45 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-its-time-to-start-spending-and-make-it-local/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-its-time-to-start-spending-and-make-it-local/ A friend of mine lost his job yesterday. He’d probably been expecting it. He knew things weren’t looking great, but still,  the official notice was a tough read. His employer is proposing to disestablish his position as a result of covid-19. It’s out for consultation but I think we all know how these things work, especially right now. Fri, 24 Apr 2020 23:27:48 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-three-lessons-from-the-covid-19-lockdown/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-three-lessons-from-the-covid-19-lockdown/ In an absolute best case scenario, this will be the last weekend any of us ever spend at Alert Level Four. This could prove to be the last Saturday in which you wake up and you can’t go for a bracing early-morning swim. It may be the last Saturday for which you can’t order a Bacon and Egg McMuffin for breakfast. Fri, 17 Apr 2020 23:47:05 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-should-we-delay-the-election/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-should-we-delay-the-election/ Should we push back the election? Fri, 10 Apr 2020 22:12:06 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-health-ministers-outing-proves-rules-arent-clear/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-health-ministers-outing-proves-rules-arent-clear/ When I saw the Health Minister David Clark had been for a mountainbike ride, I knew immediately he’d be in trouble. That’s dumb, I thought, not a good look.  Fri, 03 Apr 2020 21:13:22 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-im-grateful-for-living-in-a-connected-world/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-im-grateful-for-living-in-a-connected-world/ One day when my father was about two years old, a strange man walked through the front door of his house. Fri, 27 Mar 2020 23:01:12 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-were-all-in-this-together/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-were-all-in-this-together/ I miss the human touch. Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:46:46 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-plenty-to-learn-from-jeanette-fitzsimons/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-plenty-to-learn-from-jeanette-fitzsimons/ When I was 12 years old, my school arranged for our local MPs to each visit our class. Fri, 06 Mar 2020 21:46:54 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-being-prepared-for-an-emergency/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-being-prepared-for-an-emergency/ It now seems so stupid, but when I was a kid, everyone in my family used to tease my Mum about the emergency supplies she kept at our house. There was water, canned food, some other bits and pieces that would perish too quickly, and I remember we’d wind her up about stocking for the end of the World. What do you know that we don’t, Mum? Fri, 28 Feb 2020 20:47:33 Z https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-travelling-through-colombia/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/saturday-morning-with-jack-tame/opinion/jack-tame-travelling-through-colombia/ This time last week, I was sitting on a beanbag at a foreign language exchange in Medellin, Colombia. Fri, 14 Feb 2020 21:47:56 Z