Politics Central

The National Party has just announced it's trade policy, should the party be re-elected in November.  They've said that the aim is to secure markets with seven new economies across Europe, Africa and South America, with more to be chased further down the line.  Trade Minister Todd McClay told Tim Beveridge that it's important to expand trade, as the target countries in Europe especially...

It's been a busy week between New Zealand and India.  The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to make his first official visit to New Zealand as the FTA gets over the line, however Winston Peters has raised concerns around Indian immigrants receiving unfair scrutiny at the border.  The Chair of India New Zealand Business Council Edwin Paul told Tim Beveridge that, 'This is a start...

Nicole McKee will be the new ACT Party Deputy Leader, replacing Brooke Van Velden who's leaving politics this year. Nicole only stood for Parliament six years ago, coming with a background as a small-business owner, volunteer and firearms advocate. But she's risen through the ranks, becoming a cabinet minister, minister for courts, and rewriting the Firearms Act. Party Leader David Seymour's confi...

ACT has announced its plans to radically downsize Government departments, and bring fairness back into our benefit-system. Firstly: They're making medical certification for health-related benefits mandatory, and only issued by MSD-approved doctors with objective criteria rather than a leaving it to a GP's discretion. Secondly: Those on the Jobseeker benefit for more than four months will be given...

GP fees could be frozen for 12 months from July under a proposed Health NZ shake-up of the funding system. Under the proposals, around 60 percent of practices would receive increased funding through capitation re-weighting and annual funding increased. Overall funding for GPs would reportedly increase by six percent, as part of a $120.6 million injection for primary health.  Health Minister S...

Christopher Luxon has returned from Queensland, after meeting with Anthony Albanese with a group of New Zealand businesses.  No announcements have been unveiled, but the leaders discussed defence options and Luxon has been eying opportunities to get involved in the 2032 Olympics.  NZ Herald deputy political editor Adam Pearse joined the Weekend Collective to discuss. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

The Government says this year's budget especially strengthens Auckland's role as New Zealand's economic engine room. They point out that they're investing in health, including funding to purchase land for a future South Auckland Hospital, and a share of the Government's $5.5-billion health package. Additionally, they highlight plans for housing growth with a new $400-million fund for councils to e...

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says New Zealand is "freeloading" from the American military because of our low military spend. The remarks were made at an Asia-Pacific security conference in Singapore, attended by Defence Minister Chris Penk. The New Zealand Government has already announced plans to lift defence spending to around 2% of GDP over coming years — nearly double what we currently spe...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis will be presenting the 2026 budget on this coming Thursday.  A number of pre-budget announcements have already been made including money directed to maths and literary in schools and maritime security, while social housing and the public sector have faced budget cuts.  Founder of Bagrie Economics, Cameron Bagrie, spoke to Tim Beveridge about what he expects...

Today Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, announced a $79 million boost over three years for tourism and farming by stopping the spread of wilding pines. The work will be concentrated around Queenstown, the Mackenzie Basin, the North Island’s Central Plateau, and New Zealand’s largest farm in South Marlborough. T...

Russian president Vladimir Putin says the war in Ukraine is coming to an end.  The conflict has been ongoing since Russia's initial invasion in 2022, and Putin had been speaking in the Kremlin following a very scaled-back Victory Day parade. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has leaked, and the Government has confirmed, that this will be the final year of fees-free support for tertiary students.  The support was first introduced as a first year free incentive to help get more young people into further education, and was changed to be final year free last year.  The policy has cost almost $350 million a year since it was introduced, but it seem...

New Zealand has received a preliminary proposal from the United States requesting help in opening the Strait of Hormuz -  possibly as part of a coalition that would restore access to the strait. So yes we're apparently just one of a number of countries that received a proposal.  Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters says we're seeking more information and as such won't be making a deci...

SailGP won't be going ahead in the city of sails next year as the Government has pulled funding.  Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston wrote in a letter to mayor Wayne Brown that the event did not meet funding criteria, which requires a specific net economic benefit.  It's been met with disappointment, as funding continues for larger events such as Robbie Williams and Linkin Pa...

After much deliberation, the Labour Party has announced they'll back the India free trade agreement.  We do see cross party agreements, but just how important will bipartisanship be for this year's election?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party have just had their annual State of the Planet Address, and this year they're calling for a National Electrification Plan.  They say it's in response to the current fossil fuels crisis, and would add to their previous calls for free public transport and solutions to ease the cost of living.  The plan would lay out a clear plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and use r...

New Zealand First has announced they will be campaigning on a new policy to end the supermarket duopoly.  The policy would give the Commerce Commission powers to enforce increased penalties for breaches and reform the role of the Groceries Commissioner, which the party says is currently toothless.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party have called in former broadcaster Rachel Smalley to help Auckland based MPs, including the prime minister, with their communications and media work ahead of the election this year.  It's come after the public have started to notice Luxon becoming less confident and stumbling over his words recently - in contrast to the precise and decided communication style he's had in the...

Cyclone Vaianu has hit our shores and some regions are being hit particularly hard.  The East Coast has seen gusts of up to 130 kilometres an hour, thousands of homes in Northland and the Bay of Plenty are without power, and weather watches and warnings remain in place for the whole North Island and parts of the South Island.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

It's election year again in New Zealand, and it's a process that we're all familiar with.  But few are more familiar than Former PM Helen Clark and Former National MP Maurice Williamson, who joined Tim Beverige to look at what we can expect from election year.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest numbers, as at one week ago, there were 24 days of petrol and 18 days of diesel in the country.  Things are looking to worsen for the foreseeable future, although an uptick in public transport use and EV purchases point to people taking things into their own hands.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First will be campaigning on a policy that would see half of all mining royalties go to the region from which it came, rather than Wellington.  The party says it would build up wealth and infrastructure in the regions, allowing for future development rather than having the money spent across wider national projects.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Winston Peters has delivered NZ First's State of the Nation address - the final one ahead of the looming election.  Peters also announced a National Energy Strategy that would break up power companies, no longer allowing them to control both power and the price.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has just over 50 days worth of petrol, and a week less of diesel, while the war in Iran wages on.  The closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact the global oil supply, and the countries we generally import oil from are considering closing up shop on exports to ensure their own security. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prices are up at the pump, auto shops are selling out of jerry cans, and we've seen the reports of thousand litre IBC tanks being filled up at BP.  It's raised the question around whether the closure of Marsden Point has been more harmful to New Zealand's fuel security that we had initially realised.  New Zealand would still be reliant on imports to meet fuel needs, but having the abilit...