We are well and truly in Budget Month - while it's not delivered until May 30th, the Government has started their pre-Budget funding announcements, while Finance Minister Nicola Willis has delivered her first preview speech.

This week, Thomas is joined by Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny and Interest.co.nz's Dan Brunskill to discuss what we could expect from a Budget that's promised low-spending and tax cuts for all.

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After years in Parliament, former Green Party co-leader James Shaw this week exits politics. Shaw's careers has seen many highs - particularly around passing world-leading climate change legislation - as well as coalition struggles and internal party strife, which became an issue once again this week.

As he leaves the Beehive, Shaw joins Thomas to reflect on his time in politics, his friendships across the aisle, farmer's fractured feelings about climate change, his relationship with former Greens co-leaders, and the Julie Anne Genter situation.

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Diplomat Terence O’Brien was at the centre of New Zealand’s foreign relations for nearly half a century, forging new ties with Asia, negotiating New Zealand’s market access to what became the European Union, or running the first successful campaign for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.

His new post-humous memoir, Consolations of Insignificance, comes out next month. His son, Diplosphere co-founder Dan O'Brien, joins Thomas to discuss his father's life in public service, and how some of his battles reflect our current foreign policy concerns.

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