Politics Central

Political commentator Peter Dunne joined the Weekend Collective to give his thoughts on the National Party's annual conference, which took place in Christchurch over the weekend and whether he thinks National come out better from this after a torrid few weeks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen joins the Weekend Collective to recap the second day of the National Party's annual conference, which took place in Christchurch over the weekend. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic inequality writer Max Rashbrooke joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the cost of living payment, whether it targets the right groups and more. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Spokesperson for National Dr Shane Reti joins the Weekend Collective to discuss potential measles outbreaks, the failed measles catch-up program and more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association Chair Chris Sperring joins the weekend collective to discuss the border reopening and its effects on the tourism industry.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Commentator Matthew Hooton joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the Green party Co-leader potential reshuffle after their AGM meeting this weekend.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Professor of Epidemiology Arindam Basu joins the Weekend Collective to discuss   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National Party Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the firefighters crisis.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the rise of covid cases in the community, experts are looking at ways we can protect ourselves. Professor Michael Baker believes that masks should be mandated in indoor settings to avoid a really grim winter and that the government has taken a personal responsibility approach for fear of a potential political backlash.  Baker joined the weekend collective to discuss the recent covid resurgenc...

Christopher Luxon said that New Zealand businesses have gotten soft in light of COVID-19 but is that a fair comment to make. Businesses have had to deal with changes in restrictions, staff shortages due to sickness and more.  CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Michael Barnett thinks some businesses would take offence to this comment, business isn't sitting back with its hand out. Barnett joined...

The OCR has increased to 2.5%, the highest rate since 2016, and the Consumer price index is expected to increase with results released this week. CTU Economist Craig Renney thinks more needs to be done for low-income families as their budgets shrink. Craig Renney joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the cost of living crisis and how the government can support low income families.  LISTEN ABOVE...

Orthopaedic Association president Dr John McKie says “chronic, institutional vacancies” are leading to surgeries being postponed or cancelled altogether, severely impacting the patients' quality of life. He says the solutions are complicated, but migrant workers would make a huge difference.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's Housing spokesperson Brooke van Velden says it's unacceptable that the government hasn't met its own deadlines for ensuring Kainga Ora homes met healthy homes standards, despite having an extra tow years over private landlords.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

501 support advocate and co-founder of Iwi in Aus Filipa Payne says she's glad to see Kiwis living in Australia start to be recognised as citizens - but the common sense approach to 501's isn't enough. She'd like to see legislative change implemented.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President of Hospitality NZ Jeremy Smith says the industry needs working holiday visas to include more countries than just the UK. He says they're short of people in the first place, and now need to fill the holes left by covid.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard says the FTA deal with the EU on Friday isn't a step backwards, but certainly not forwards either. He says it really only allows for less than 1% of what we produce to enter the European market.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Northland GP Geoff Cunningham says GPs have been left in the dark with the new Health NZ reforms, and they aren't the revamp the sector needed. He says those in the primary sector were left out of conversations with the government.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green party drug reform spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick says the majority of Kiwis would like to see a health-based approach to drug laws, based on education and treatment rather than prosecution.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail NZ CEO Greg Harford says retailers should be able to decide their own level of mask rules, as compliance wanes. He says of retailers surveyed most would like rules to be nuanced and looser.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden says it's distressing to see the fallout from America's Supreme Court's decision to overturn abortion rights established under Roe v Wade yesterday. She says women should know they have the right to a medical procedure, and ACT will support pro-choice policy.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Director of policy and research for the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Dr Charlotte Chambers says DHBs need more staff than there are jobs advertised which is causing limitations in access to healthcare. She says part of the problem is our reliance on an overseas work force - which has been a struggle in a covid environment.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Corrections Association President Floyd du Plessis says covid fatigue, further violence and a lack of government support have resulted in 800 front-line prison job vacancies across the country.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TVNZ US correspondent Anna Burns-Francis joins the Weekend Collective to discuss what we can expect in the second January 6th committee hearing tomorrow, and what it will focus on.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Labour education spokesperson and current Chair of Education NZ Steve Maharey joins the Weekend Collective to discuss what's really behind chronically low school attendance levels, and what really needs to be done.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell joins the Weekend Collective to discuss National's new plan to tackle gang violence and presence.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.