The book everyone, politicians especially, should read in 2026

The book everyone, politicians especially, should read in 2026

From Gone By Lunchtime by The Spinoff

May 12, 2026 · 39 min

About this episode

Toby Manhire interviews Asher Emanuel about his book that explores the New Zealand criminal justice system through true stories.

In a bonus episode of Gone By Lunchtime, Toby Manhire talks to Asher Emanuel, author of The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City. A gripping, true story of a group of people whose lives keep winding back to the Hutt Valley District Court, it offers an eye-opening insight into the human impacts and systemic fractures at the heart of the New Zealand criminal justice system. https://www.unitybooks.co.nz/products/valley-1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Toby Manhire

Guest: Asher Emanuel

Topics covered

  • criminal justice
  • New Zealand
  • true crime
  • systemic issues
  • politics

Keywords

  • New Zealand
  • criminal justice
  • Hutt Valley
  • Asher Emanuel
  • Toby Manhire
  • true crime
  • systemic issues

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Valley: Crime and Punishment in a New Zealand City

Places: New Zealand, Hutt Valley District Court

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