Episode
Question Time: Live from Booktown (Bonus)
- Podcast
- Cross Party Lines
- Published
- May 14, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1435
- Processing state
not_requested
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Summary
Hosted by Phil Goff and Chris Finlayson , this is a special bonus episode of Cross Party Lines — the live Q&A from the Featherston Booktown Festival, released separately so nothing from that remarkable afternoon gets left on the cutting room floor. Before the questions, Sam takes the temperature of the 400-strong room with four quick audience polls. The audience then takes over: * Could the Opportunity Party break Winston Peters’ cycle? * Should political parties be state funded? * The Electoral Act rollback — disenfranchisement by design? * Is voting for the two big parties really enough to stop populism? Along the way: Trevor Mallard in the audience demanding short questions, Judith Tizard’s advice on grand coalitions, Marion Hobbs telling Chris not to read The Economist during Question Time and Sam’s emotional farewell to his first and last live audience. This bonus episode is a reminder that when you put 400 curious New Zealanders in a room and give them a microphone, something rather good happens. Cross Party Lines exists to lift political literacy and create space for calm, good-faith political conversation. New episodes every Tuesday. If you value thoughtful debate, follow the podcast and share it with someone who might too. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit crosspartylines.substack.com