Politics Central

Anthony Albanese's Labor government had a landslide victory overnight, marking the first re-election in Australia since 2004.  It's seen a mix of reactions, with some analysts even saying Albanese has Donald Trump to thank for his win.  Australia correspondent Sam Emery joins with the latest.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announce $2 billion from the upcoming Budget has been set aside for new Defence Force helicopters, alongside an additional $957 million in funding.  The current Seasprite helicopters were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and were overdue replacement.  The announcement is part of a bigger plan to improve Defence capabilities.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

Physician associates will soon be a regulated profession working in primary care and hospitals.  These are health professionals who have been trained overseas, who have the function of a GP but have to work under the supervision of a doctor.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has set aside $68.5 million for an interest free EV charger loan scheme.  The private sector will be able to apply for a loan to increase the number of chargers in New Zealand.  It's committed to 10,000 public chargers by 2030, up from around 1,400 currently available.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost all of our local government representatives have had a public persona before they went forward for the role. Is that really all it takes?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon had a spree of phone calls with world leaders this week regarding the ongoing U.S. trade war, but Winston Peters says he should have been consulted beforehand.  Political commentator Peter Dunne says the Prime Minister was completely in his right to make calls without speaking to the Foreign Minister first.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

The previously announced 60 square metre granny flats that property owners will be able to build without building or resource consent - will now be 70sqm.  Recent changes to the RMA will also help make it easier for these flats to be built as well as more affordable.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Republican Party's 'Liberation Day', President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs internationally.  New Zealand was caught in the crossfire with a 10% tariff, but we got off easy compared to other countries. But how is it impacting our global relationships?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greens MP Tamatha Paul has come under fire this week after comments about beat patrol police.  She said a lot of people feel less safe with the increase in police on the beat, and claimed that these officers had even been throwing away the belongings of homeless people.  Paul was also in a discussion about what steps could be taken to achieve "radical police abolition", and alternatives...

The Government wants to make it easier for a third major supermarket to come in and break up the duopoly.  Nicola Willis announced today that she has issued a Request for Information, asking supermarkets what changes are needed to help them compete with the big two.  These include local supermarkets upping the ante enough to compete, or overseas companies launching in New Zealand. ...

Winston Peters gave his State of the Nation speech this afternoon, featuring a significant group of protesters.  He called for the re-evaluation of New Zealand's Paris Climate commitments, and a local focus rather than international.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT Party is call for more powers for Kāinga Ora to terminate tenancies.  It was triggered by a recent ruling by the Tenancy Tribunal, where a tenant with 25 complaints, 6 warnings and police call outs, and even an alleged shooting, will not have their tenancy terminated.  There was an overhaul just last year which made it easier for Kāinga Ora to evict tenants, but ACT says more is...

Trade Minister Todd McClay has met with his United States counterpart, Jamieson Greer, to discuss the trade relationship between New Zealand and the U.S.  In the 45 minute meeting, McClay stressed the importance of an open market between the countries, and Greer agreed to continue dialogue throughout the changing trade policies.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

The Government has done it's best to impress investors over the Investment Summit - and economists are hopeful it has worked.  Multiple projects have already been proposed, and Italian tunnelling company Ghella, who had been planning to leave New Zealand due to lack of work, have confirmed it will keep workers and machinery here after hearing the outlined infrastructure pipeline.  LISTEN...

The Government wants to speed up land acquisitions for critical infrastructure projects. Private landowners will be offered a premium payment to help the process run smoothly. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Simeon Brown wants to introduce wait time targets for general practices.  GenPro Chair Angus Chambers says GPs want to reduce wait times, and understand very well how bad it can be, but they don't have enough doctors to improve it.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laws to keep firearms out of the wrong hands come into effect today.  The Government is expanding firearms prohibition orders to cover gangs and other high-risk offenders.  Courts are now allowed to grant and FPO on the basis of gang affiliation to a crime, keeping guns out of the hands of guns.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House yesterday.  Things turned fiery when Vance began to question whether Zelenskyy was grateful for U.S. support.  Geoffrey Miller says if Ukraine was asking of New Zealand what they are asking of the United States, we wouldn't be happy either.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

The Government today has announced plans to overhaul the Overseas Investment Act.  Among the reforms announced, it will fast track overseas investment for decisions to be made within 15 days, and empower the Government to intervene if a transaction is not in the country's best interest.  The overhaul would make it easier for New Zealand businesses to get new investment from overseas, as...

More calls for Destiny Church to be struck off the charities list and lose their tax deductibility status; but as the conversation around charity status goes on, questions are being raised on whether other organisations should lose their status.  Sanitarium is just one of the giants that are tax exempt in New Zealand, and with more than 28,000 registered charities with an annual income of ove...

ACT's David Seymour believes the opposition has drifted too far to the left - and it's dragged the party down. Seymour has fired back at Labour after a full week of scrutiny and calls to resign following his letter advocating for Philip Polkinghorne and the Land Rover on Parliament's steps incident.  He says Labour used to stand for equality and democracy and fairness, but they've gone adrift...

Labour's leader has labelled anti-LGBTQ protests 'pathetic'. People linked to Destiny Church stormed a children's drag event at a west Auckland library, leading to some 30 people had being barricaded inside.  Later, police intervened when a group disrupted Pride Parade festivities on Ponsonby Road with a haka.   Chris Hipkins says we have free speech in New Zealand, but it's not that. He...

This afternoon the Prime Minister announced New Zealand will be relaxing immigration settings for investors.  Two new immigration categories will be created to encourage wealthy foreigners to invest in Kiwi businesses.  Investors will need to invest a minimum of $5 million over three years, or $10 million over five years.  The visa's English language requirement will also be strippe...

Winston Peters has hinted at relaxing the foreign buyers ban for those who are willing to bring over the big bucks.  The NZ First leader said plans to lift the ban are a work in progress. He says if foreign investors are willing to pump millions of dollars into other parts of the country , he is open to allowing them to buy property.  Williams Corporation Managing Director, Matthew Hornc...

After saying he would prefer not to have to impose tariffs on China, Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China. China came out the best of the three, with 10% rate on all imports, while Mexico and Canada were hit with a 25% rate across most imports. This will likely mean an increase in prices for U.S. consumers, and a potential for New Zealand to step up exports.  LISTEN A...