The Weekend Collective

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by TV Presenter Mark Crysell and AUT Chemistry Professor Allan Blackman to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confidence in New Zealand's rural sector has really started recovering over the past year or so.  Stabilising interest rates, great dairy results, and promising meat exports have formed a foundation for what will hopefully be a successful 2026.  Confidence dropped slightly in the last quarter of last year, but it's still much higher than it has been over previous years.  LISTEN ABOV...

Whether you've joined a gym, started going for a run a few times a week, or adding a swim or cycle to your existining routine - there will be things everyone should be looking out for and keeping in mind to stay on track.  For a new routine to stick, you'll need to start in a specific way to make sure you're not wearing yourself out before you've even really started.  LISTEN ABOVE See om...

The victims of an unprovoked attack on an Auckland train line late last year are speaking out, describing injuries and a lingering fear of using public transport. It’s yet another reminder of the safety concerns many New Zealanders have at the back of their minds the next time they step onto a bus or train. Auckland Transport data shows hundreds of violent incidents across public transport service...

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to give his State of the Nation Address tomorrow and being an election year, it'll be an important one.  The National Party will be trying to recover from their recent polling, while kiwis will be looking for some desperately needed economic recovery.  Health may also be one to keep an ear out for, after Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she'll b...

NCEA results are officially out. Most kids would have genuinely worked as hard as they could to get the grades they hoped for - even the kids who act like they don't really care.  And for many it won't have turned out as hey had planned - whether that meant not quite meeting the dizzying heights of their ambition or an actual fail grade. But it's unavoidable - at some stage through their scho...

The no-consent granny flat law changes came in this week.  That means you can build an up-to-70sqm dwelling in your backyard without having to ask the council if you're allowed to.  Getting one set up on your property would set you back at least $200,000, but the question on minds of anyone with enough space for something like this is - how much value will it add?  They can be rente...

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by journalist Wilhelmina O'Keeffe and Crane Brothers founder Murray Crane to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often trust have been seen to be province of the uber wealthy. But are they? And often people don't think about this issue until it is too late So when should we think about these issues - our family. inheritances and what's gonna happen to our money when we aren't around to look after it? Managing Director for New Zealand Family Trust Services Limited Janet Xuccoa joins Tim Beveridge to give her...

While a lot of people will be running around doing some last minute shopping for presents - they'll also be working out what to put on the table. But as Kiwis, we waste almost as much as we eat. A survey by Love Food Hate Waste NZ found that binned leftovers made up 42% of food waste across the holiday season, and too-much cooked food making up a further 26.1%. Chef Allyson Gofton joins Tim Beveri...

This year's international politics have been unstable to say the least. Trump's Tariffs, Gaza, Ukraine and the Epstein Files have been gifts that keep giving...or not. But closer to home we've managed to dodge declarations of war. However, there's still lots to reflect on and discuss. Former Speaker of the House Sir Lockwood Smith and Auckland Councilman Richard Hills join Tim Beveridge to wrap th...

We've all seen the videos - we may have even seen it in our own living rooms on Christmas morning...  A child, even teenager, opens a gift their loved one has especially picked out for them, and they proceed to complain about how it's not the one they wanted.  The wrong colour bicycle, wrong model phone, it could be anything.  So how do we teach our children to be grateful for anyth...

From tax changes to interest rates to regulation changes, there's an ever growing list of reasons for kiwis to be a bit more hesitant to invest in property.  Now with changes to foreign buyers laws, we may be staring down the barrel of a completely different  property market.  So here's the question, has the model for property investment fundamentally changed? How are investors goin...

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by producer and journalist Irene Gardiner, and councillor for Waitakere Shane Henderson, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know how damaging loud or constant sounds can be to our hearing - but there are a lot of factors that can impact hearing that most of us would never consider.  Things like smoking - even secondhand smoke, cold wind, too much water - countless things, most of which we'd hardly consider to be dangerous. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nato chief Mark Rutte warns Western allies to prepare for war with Russia.  He said that within the next five years, Nato countries will need to be prepared for a scale of war that hasn't been seen since our grandparents or great-grandparents.  Donald Trump is due to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly regarding a peace deal.  And the U.S. is keeping very busy as they've also seiz...

It's been a week of back and forth for the Taxpayers' Union and the Finance Minister.  Nicola Willis has challenged Union chair and former finance minister Ruth Richardson to a debate, which was met with a sweet treat sent to Nicola and media.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the essential life skills our kids truly need to know before they head out into the real world?  How often to wash their sheets, how to cook a basic meal, managing bills and payments, doing laundry without turning their white shirts pink - these are things that most of us learnt well before we moved out, but they don't seem to be as common today.  Only 21% of parents of children...

Not even two years ago, we were comparing our rent increases to those of places like Singapore and New York City. But today, many parts of the country are seeing rents tumble.  So what does it mean for 2026? Should tenants be making their move to secure a place? Or is it the landlords who should be locking in reliable tenants before things start to change again?  And from this month, pet...

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by AUT Chemistry professor Allan Blackman and Infometrics CEO Brad Olsen, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week the Reserve Bank dropped the OCR 25 basis points to 2.25%, but their tone was a bit more hawkish than usual.  Some analysts are thinking it's a signal that rates have gone as low as the RBNZ is willing to drop them - and the new Governor may be wanting to turn a new leaf in 2026.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to improving our health, most of us know what we should be doing - eating better, moving more, sleeping well - but there is a good chance we might fail if we don't understand why we're doing it.   What does long-lasting motivation look like? And what sort of motivation should we avoid to give us the best chance of staying on track? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

After a tough few months for Te Pati Maori, its AGM is taking place today.  Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the country is "facing the most destructive government in our history," and the party is set on "making this a one term government."  Meanwhile, 3 of 4 of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi's requests in her ongoing legal proceedings were declined by the judge - but her request to remain a...

Former police commissioner Andrew Coster claims he had briefed Chris Hipkins on Jevon McSkimming's alleged misconduct in 2022, and briefed Mark Mitchell in 2024.  Coster stepped down as Chief Executive of the Social Investment Agency this week, after an IPCA report showed failures in how the police dealt with allegations against McSkimming.  Both Hipkins and Mitchell have denied Andrew C...

In just a few days, a law banning the use of social media for under 16s will take effect in Australia.  For many parents, social media has been a daily part of family life for years - allowing kids to stay connected with their friends and family, sharing life updates with people they may not get a chance to speak with very often.  Generations before have been relatively ignorant to just...