Politics Central

The ACT Party's campaign took an unexpected turn this afternoon, but leader David Seymour says it's good that his party is being noticed. Four protesters managed to get past security and heckle Mr Seymour as he gave his speech. He had to raise his voice several times to drown them out, saying the protesting was a sign his party is successful. ZB political editor Jason Walls says other parties have...

Labour has released the first ever 'Women’s Manifesto', National still won't release the numbers on their tax policy, and this week brings the first of the leaders debates. To give his astute insight, Jason Walls joins the Weekend Collective. Later, National's Simeon Brown reveals that Chris Hipkins’ Cabinet considered whether to stop Government contracts involving funding for gangs in July and de...

National has announced it plans to bring back health targets, if the party gets into power come October. Leader Chris Luxon confirmed the party would bring back targets - including for emergency departments, with 95 percent of patients to be admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours. There are also new targets to quash wait times for specialist assessment and surgery, but no percentage...

The ACT Party think they have a solution to the problem to the New Zealand housing crisis, Resource Management and housing consenting. ACT's Todd Stephenson joins the Weekend Collective to tell us how they're going to do it. Plus, The National Party  have set out their 5 targets for improving the New Zealand health sector. Dr Shane Reti explains what these are, and how they're going to reform. LIS...

The campaign season is under way, with both Labour and National launching their newest schemes in front of prospective voters. Labour yesterday unveiled their plan to introduce free dental care, including check-ups, X-rays and basic work, for under-30s. And earlier, National detailed their eight-point plan promising to tackle inflation, boost academic achievement, restore law and order and reduce...

The Labour Party launched their election campaign on Saturday, where they were joined by former Prime Minister Helen Clark to announce their free dental care policy. The National Party had their eight-point campaign launch today, but were disrupted by Brian Tamaki's Freedom NZ protesters.  Ignoring the protests, which party came out on top this weekend? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Donald Trump's day trip to an Atlanta jail could have strengthened his campaign to be the Republican Party's Presidential candidate for 2024. He handed himself into Georgia's Fulton County Jail on Friday, facing charges alleging he headed a scheme to overturn the 2020 USA election results. He's the first US President to have a police mug shot taken. But Otago University International Relations Pro...

ACT leader David Seymour has fired back against Chris Hipkins' warning about the Opposition parties. The Prime Minister ruled out working with NZ First, accusing Winston Peters of making trans people the enemy in this campaign. He's also called out Seymour's 'chilling' joke about Pasifika communities and noted some National MPs celebrated the roll-back of abortion rights in the US. David Seymour s...

Chris Hipkins has ruled out working with NZ First and taken aim at the "coalition of chaos", that would be ACT and National. So what does David Seymour think of this? Plus, what on earth is going on in the USA with former US President Donald Trump? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial skills would become a core part of the school curriculum, if Labour is re-elected. The Party's promising to make teaching financial literacy compulsory from 2025. It would mean school leavers will know how to budget, manage bills, invest and open bank accounts. Labour's Education Minister Jan Tinetti says research shows some schools do this well already, but others schools- not so much....

National's Mark Mitchell has proposed some solutions as Countdown increases security in response to retail crime. Over the last six years, the supermarket has seen a more than 600 percent in reported stolen goods and a 300 percent increase in physical assaults. It's now rolling out more specific team training, store design initiatives, push to talk radios and use of CCTV. National Police spokesper...

Supermarket chain Countdown has reported a 663 percent increase in reported stolen goods over 6 years, Mark Mitchell joins The Weekend Collective to discuss what needs to be done about this. Later, Jan Tinetti announces The Labour Party's plans to make financial literacy compulsory in schools. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says economists will have to get use to their latest pre-election pitch. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today announced a boost to the In-Work Tax Credit, which will benefit about 160,000 families. They'll also cut GST from fruit and veggies, to take effect as soon as April 2024. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen has described the idea as pure politics, over economi...

This week on Politics Central, Grant Robertson unpacks Labour's plan to GST on fresh, and frozen fruit and vegetables, if re-elected. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens say hundreds of thousands of people need dental care, but are held back by the cost. The Party's new plan includes annual check-ups and cleaning and free fillings, sealants, and tooth removals for anyone who needs them. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says this plan will be covered by a wealth tax, which will only impact a small percent of taxpayers. "People just aren't going beca...

The Government today announced plans to build an alternative Waitemata Harbour crossing, alongside further upgrades to Auckland's North Shore. The alternative crossing includes two three-lane road tunnels and a 21 kilometre Light Rail tunnel between Albany and the CBD. Transport Minister David Parker is confident the second Waitemata Harbour crossing will be built within a clear timeframe. "We've...

This week on Politics Central, the Labour Government announced their plans to open a new Auckland Waitematā Harbour bridge and the Green Party announced their policy proposal for free dental care for all.  Transport Minister David Parker and Greens co-leader Marama Davidson joined to elaborate further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT Party wants to tweak the country's employment laws. It also has its sights on the Employment Relations Authority, which ACT says is currently taking an average of 76 days to deliver a decision. Leader David Seymour says if elected, ACT would require all decisions to be made within a month. "And if you're a member of the ERA and you don't perform at that level, then maybe it's time for you...

With the election looming, a political expert warns that Labour's string of bad press will have consequences in the polls. Labour has had a turbulent week, beginning with Kiri Allan stepping down after Sunday night's crash, followed by David Parker resigning from his Revenue Portfolio and National leaking a planned GST policy. Former Minister and commentator Peter Dunne says the combination of the...

This week on Politics Central, former minister Peter Dunne wraps up the week in politics - from Kiri Allan's car crash, David Parker's departure from the Revenue Ministerial role, and Labour's Tax Policy leak. Later, ACT leader David Seymour explains the ACT Party's aim to change the ERA. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour joined Roman Travers on the show to discuss why road tolls are the answer to fixing New Zealand roads, and Danika Mclean wrapped up NZ Firsts AGM. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party announced their $500 million Pothole Repair Fund, aiming to introduce new regulations and repair the major problems with the roads and State Highways around New Zealand. National’s Transport Spokesperson Simeon Brown joined the show to give a rundown on how the policy would actually play out. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next three months will be a fight for Aotearoa's future. That's from the Green Party as it lays out a self described 'bold and achievable' plan to end poverty, guarantee everyone a warm home, and take strong climate action. There's also a strong focus on children, culture, inclusivity, and drug law reforms. Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says the manifesto gives a clear example of what the p...

A u-turn from ACT, with the party now proposing a reversal of a National Government law it backed seven years ago. The just-released election policy would make 17-year-olds be charged as adults when before the courts. In 2016, National removed them from the adult justice system and put them into the youth justice framework. ACT supported the move as part of the party's confidence and supply deal....

ACT Party leader David Seymour joined the Weekend Collective to discuss his new policy proposal, promising to put 17-year-olds back into the adult justice system. Later, Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson explained what makes the Green Party different this election and outlined their manifesto. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.