Politics Central

The National Party's announced that, if re-elected, they will make it a criminal offence to withhold information from Police when a child aged 12 or under has been killed and adults were present. National's Justice Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith says the change is aimed at cases where people refuse to speak to police, preventing those responsible from being brought to justice. The proposed offence wo...

The Labour Party's announced plans to get kids off screens - and get them back to being kids - with better access to after-school activities, placing healthier boundaries between children and their devices, and boosting online safety measures for children. The party says too many childhood are being spent on screens, with sport, hobbies and other activities being out of reach for many families. So...

The Green Party's announced a jobs guarantee programme for young people who've been out of work for 6 months, with unemployment at an 11-year high, and three times worse for younger people. The party says the country's infrastructure and nature need maintenance and care, but community services are short of the people needed - so they plan to give those roles to younger people. The policy aims to b...

ACT's released their fiscal plan if re-elected, and it's focused on cutting wasteful spending across sectors, and reduce debt by $12.4 billion dollars. The party's budget focuses on hard issues like superannuation, and bureaucracy, while proposing no new taxes and a quicker return to surplus. The party says Government spend is up 20 percent since 2017 across most sectors, and less debt lets us bet...

ACT's election campaign's kicked off today, and the party's focused on two things: cut red-tape to unlock the country's potential, and lock Labour out. As part of their ambitions, the party wants to remove tax on Kiwisaver earnings, and scrutinise the bureaucracy in many sectors. ACT Party Candidate Paul Henry joins Tim Beveridge to speak about why the Party's going so hard on Labour... LISTEN ABO...

We're about a month away until Election Day, so policy announcemens and party promises are ramping up. The Greeens today have launched their transport plan to combat fossil fuel use, and ease congestion. The Greens will cap bus and train fares at $2 for adults, and free for children, students, community service card holders, and total mobility users. They also plan to build rapid bus and light rai...

Labour has launched their bid for election today, and they've pledged to cut student debt if they get elected. The party is promising to cull debt by 10 percent for students who finished study, but didn't benefit from Fees Free on April 1st.   Labour campaign chair Kieran McAnulty explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's putting the boot into Labour on tax, as it formally launches its bid for re-election. The party's vying for another term in Government with a message of 'no new taxes' as party faithful gathered in Auckland today. Campaign chair Simeon Brown joined The Weekend Collective to outline the party's strategy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says if they're re-elected, they'll end screen and individual-device use in ECE, tightly limit screen time in Years 1 to 3, and introduce age-appropriate limits for older primary students. They say they'll introduce a School Start Check at ECE before children transition to primary school, introduce clearer developmental milestones throughout ECE and report this progress to parents. This w...

It seems everyone has an idea for supermarket reform  The Greens have proposed a publicly-owned "KiwiMart", National's proposed separating Foodstuffs ie Pak'nSave and New World into separate retailers. Today, Labour's proposed Woolworths and Foodstuffs to run their wholesale supply independently from their retail stores - they want to grant Kiwi grocers the right to buy their stock from any w...

National's promising a dedicated Auckland Transport police team to compliment the newly opened City Rail Link, if re-elected.  It's pledging an additional $7 million per year through Budget 2027, to recruit 50 sworn officers for this role.  Police Minister Mark Mitchell joined the Weekend Collective to explain that more people will be commuting through the city centre, and safety measure...

National is promising to expand access to the 5 percent first home loan scheme.  If elected it says it will increase the income cap for eligibility so more people can access the scheme.  Singles and group buyers would be able to get it if they make $300,000 a year or less.  National Party Housing spokesperson Chris Bishop explained further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener f...

ACT wants harsher penalties for anyone flouting fisheries rules to protect our ocean resources.  The party's promising a suite of changes if re-elected to Government.  These includes stricter shellfish catch limits, setting up a district management area for the Hauraki Gulf and permanently ending scallop dredging in areas where its currently closed.  Conservation spokesperson Camero...

Consequences for New Zealanders overseas who default on their student loans are being proposed under National's new policy. If elected, local graduates would keep more of their pay each fortnight, while overseas borrowers could face an extra one percent interest on their loans. Finance spokesperson Nicola Willis explained that they're hoping to keep skilled young Kiwis in the country. LISTEN ABOVE...

ACT wants to refocus our constitution around Parliamentary sovereignty if re-elected to Government. The Party says its new 'equal rights for all' policy will rein in what it's calling 'activist judges' and prevent vague Treaty of Waitangi clauses.  It will clarify Parliament has final say - and add a property rights clause to the Bill of Rights Act.  Leader David Seymour joined the Weeke...

Labour's staying tight-lipped on whether it would make more cuts to the public service if elected, but assures it's focused on protecting it. The party's latest election promise sets out to achieve surplus by 2030, and reduce net debt to 20 percent of GDP over time. It will aim to keep Government spending and revenue at around 33 percent of GDP once its Capital Gains Tax is fully implemented. Fina...

The Opportunity Party's launched a policy to regulate lobbying and cap political donations. The party, which is not in Parliament, is campaigning on imposing a $30,000 per donor per party - for each electoral cycle and having only registered voters allowed to donate. Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong joined the Weekend Collective to explain further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

The ACT Party's promising a reset in government agencies, ending what it call 'race-based hiring' if re-elected. It includes removing 'good employer' requirements from public service legislation, while also prohibiting agencies from resourcing any cultural or spiritual practices in the workplace. Seymour joined the Weekend Collective to explain further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Labour says there's nothing new in National's budget responsibility rules. National's Nicola Willis unveiled the details today - promising a surplus by 2028/29 and reducing Government spending to 30 percent of GDP.  Labour's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says this is part of their current fiscal strategy. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's promising to stick to three spending guardrails if it returns to Government, and is calling on other parties to follow suit.  The party's promising a return to surplus in 2028/29  - and bending debt below 40 percent of GDP.  It's also promising to reduce the size of Government, bringing spending to 30 percent of GDP.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis joined the Weekend...

Former Defence Minister Ron Mark is returning to New Zealand First as a candidate this election, standing for the party in the Wairarapa electorate, it's been confirmed.  The former MP was the Minister of Defence, in the first Ardern-Labour Government, and was the Mayor of Carterton between 2010 and 2014, before returning in 2022. The party says Ron Mark brings much needed experience and skil...

The ACT Party's campaigning on a classroom disruption crackdown. If elected it says it will back teachers who reasonably remove disruptive students from the classroom, and force parents to take accountability. That could include fines if parents refuse to meet with schools about their child's behaviour. Candidate Paul Henry joined the Weekend Collective to explain further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

National says its paid parental leave policy was already in the works, despite recent comments from Stuart Nash accusing one of its MPs of being lazy. Nash resigned from NZ First after it was revealed he called Napier MP Katie Nimon the “laziest MP” for taking time off to have a baby. National has today announced, if elected, it'll extend leave entitlements to 30 weeks by 2029, with a longer-term...

The Green Party today announced they want a one-year moratorium on new artificial intelligence data centres being consented to give regulation time to catch up. The aim to create legislation to protect resources and communities during the pause.  The Party also released their 43-page manifesto today at their AGM in Auckland.  Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joined Tim Beveridge to explain furt...

It's all go at NZ First, after the party wrapped up it's annual convention with a string of policy announcements.  Party Leader Winston Peters said he's focused on making sure New Zealand gets the most out of it's natural resources, likening NZ to Norway.  And Former All Black Taine Randell is the latest kiwi celebrity to join the world of politics. Has Paul Henry signing up with ACT kic...