Politics Central

The Prime Minister's leadership within his own party is being questioned after he didn't fare well in a Taxpayers' Union poll this week.  It has National down 2.9 points to 28.4% - but most notably, it suggests that the centre-left bloc could form a government in November. It'll be very tight though, with 61 seats for the left and 59 for the right.  Luxon sits at 21% for preferred prime...

One week on, the war in Iran is progressing by the day.  In the latest, the United States are gearing up to potentially send ground troops into Iran, Australia is considering whether they should send in troops, and New Zealand supports the US but won't involve itself any further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has highlighted issues within the KiwiSaver Act that have prevented a number of Kiwis from using their accounts to buy a home.  Many workers in rural areas, like farm workers, rural police and teachers, are often required to live in housing provided by their employer - which stops them from being able to withdraw their KiwiSaver for a first home as they're unable to live in it....

A joint US–Israeli strike on Iran overnight has triggered retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran, raising fears of a wider regional escalation. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes - a claim Iran denied until half an hour ago, with officials saying he was “safe and sound” and “actively commanding the field”. International reaction has been mixed, with some govern...

On Saturday Donald Trump announced a 10% levy on all goods coming into the US in response to the Supreme Court ruling his other tariffs unconstitutional. The new global tariffs were updated to 15% on Sunday. Economist Cameron Bagrie joined Tim Beveridge to talk about the implications for kiwi businesses.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Sunday the Government announced a plan to grant police the power to issue move-on orders to help deal with disorderly and dangerous behaviour in public places. The move-on orders apply to anyone displaying disorderly or intimidating behaviour, impeding someone entering a business, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, and behaviour indicating an intent to inhabit a public place. Ju...

Labour is hesitant to put their support behind an India FTA without the government meeting certain conditions.  It says free trade is a net positive, but agreements shouldn't cause harm to New Zealand - which is what we risk with this FTA.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT Party leader David Seymour delivered his State of the Nation address this morning.  He says this government is on track to produce positive change, but it's not happening as quickly as it could be.  ACT says there are three ways to break our country's slump: equal rights, positive thinking, and a smaller government.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Moa Point has been testing as non-compliant for all but two months of the last two years.  The signs were there, but no one seemed to raise concern before the wastewater plant started pumping raw sewage into the south coast of Wellington.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From today, New Zealanders will be able to get prescriptions that won't need to be renewed through their GPs for a whole year.  The change will impact those with long-term conditions like asthma and epilepsy.  GPs will decide on a case by case basis whether it's safe to prescribe a medication for the full 12 months, and patients will no longer have to see their GP every 3 months for a ne...

It's Waitangi Day this Friday and after opting to spend the day at a marae in Akaroa last year, this year Christopher Luxon will be in town to meet with iwi.  A recent RNZ-Reid poll found 62% of kiwis think it's important for the prime minister to be in Waitangi for Waitangi Day, but previous PMs have all had different approaches.  Ngapuhi chairperson Mane Tahere joins to preview the wee...

A man who snatched a 3-year-old girl from a Rotorua daycare centre with the intention to rape her will be released from jail in just over six weeks after serving one year in jail.  His release comes under strict conditions including six months of standard release conditions, and he must adhere to other special conditions set out in his probation report. This case has raised questioins around...

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has welcomed provisional Term 4 attendance data, which shows attendance rates were higher than any Term 4 since 2022. Data shows that in Term 4 of 2025, 57.3% of students attended school regularly, which is an increase from 56.4% in Term 4 of 2024. He told Tim Beveridge that although the numbers are promising, there is still more work to be done.  He...

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...

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...

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.

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...

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled the party's first policy for next year's election - low-interest loans to support doctor-owned clinics. The scheme will offer up to 50 ten year long loans a year for doctors or nurse practitioners to open or buy into local clinics, interest free for the first two years.  After announcing their policy of three free GP appointments a year, questions were...

A deal was reached at COP30 this weekend, boosting finance for poor nations coping with global warming - but there was no mention of fossil fuels. 83 countries signed a roadmap that would push for the end of fossil fuels, but New Zealand was one of the only countries not to sign.  The opposition has spoken out, saying the move has made us look foolish on the world stage.  LISTEN ABOVE Se...

The National Party have announced their first election promise - a lift to default KiwiSaver contribution rates.  The changes would mean that by the end of the implementation, savers would be able to contribute 12% to KiwiSaver, putting us on a level matching Australia's superannuation.  Some experts say it'll lead to countless people opting out of KiwiSaver, with other investment method...

The IPCA released a scathing review laying out out a chain of senior-level failures around the McSkimming scandal.  The question now is whether the public can have any confidence in the police in general and in its leadership. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, the United States imposed a 15% tariff on a range of New Zealand exports, most notably beef.  It was a huge blow, as beef is a major export for New Zealand - especially to the States. The tariffs have cost the country over $300 million since they were introduced in April.  This weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order removing that extra 15% on beef, c...