Politics Central

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...

The government has announced plans to double New Zealand's mineral exports to $3 billion in the next ten years.  The Critical Minerals List now includes 37 minerals, after the addition of gold and metallurgical coal.  NZ First's Shane Jones also took aim at big banks limiting lending to the fossil fuels industry, noting his support for the Australian Liberal-National Opposition's attempt...

ACT Party leader David Seymour gave his State of the Nation speech this week, hot on the heels of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's.  He covered everything from tax cuts to the End of Life Choice Act - but a key point stuck out to many of those listening... If the soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister is hardly on the same page as the rest of the coalition, how can we trust that they are operatin...

The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll has the Labour Party up 4.0 points at 30.9%, while National sinks 4.6 points to 29.6%. Although dropping 2.2 points, ACT is still ahead of the Greens, at 10.8% and 9.5% respectively.  Perhaps the most concerning for the National Party, 39% said the country was moving in the right direction, while 53% said it was moving in the wrong direction.  Regar...

2024 marks this coalition Government's first year in power, and will be one to remember.  They got straight to work repealing and introducing legislation, some being so controversial they triggered unprecedented responses in the way of protests.  Gang patches were banned, the first youth offender bootcamp trial was completed; this year truly had a bit of everything.  Former Speaker...

This week on Politics Central, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts opens up about the Government's new action plan set to increase the use of hydrogen energy  Later, Fleur Fitzsimmons from the PSA addresses the backlash towards the Government's new working-from-home policies. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens have today unveiled their new Emissions Reduction Plan, and taking a hit at the current Government's plan while they're at it.  They claim their plan would reduce carbon emissions more than five times the Government's draft Emissions Reduction plan by 2030.  Some of the proposed policies include the reintroduction of the clean car discount, clean heating subsidies for rooftop...

Two participants of the youth offender bootcamp were missing after attending a tangi.  Police were responding to a carjacking in Hamilton when they found the two teens, who now look to be in some legal trouble.  The first youth to go missing was on bail following a court hearing, and was to be accompanied by two Oranga Tamariki stadd.  The Labour Party's Police Spokesperson Ginny An...

The Labour Party have just wrapped up their AGM in Christchurch, where they had some big decisions to make.  The party has been in conversation about whether a capital gains tax would be on the cards for the next election, and what that may look like.  Labour leader Chris Hipkins joins with more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has released Phase One of the Covid inquiry - all 700 pages of it. Here are some key points:  There was an issue with focusing on people's health rather than all aspects of their lives.  Vaccine requirements were too broad and were in place for too long.  Ardern's "single source of truth" comment was found unhelpful. Former Director-General of Health Sir Ashley Bloomf...

The Local Government Funding Authority has allowed "high-growth" councils to borrow more.  The move is in hopes that councils will be able to deliver projects more efficiently. Auckland, Tauranga, and Hamilton are just a few of the councils thought to be eligible for the increase.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ban on gang patches came into force at midnight on Thursday, with the first arrest only three minutes later.  Police report there were 12 gang insignia-related arrests within the first 24 hours. Richard Chamber is announced as the new Police Commissioner, after serving as an officer since 1996.  One of the ten youth offender bootcamp participants have been arrested.  LISTEN ABOV...

Those participating in the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi have reached Palmerston North today, just days away from Parliament.  On Thursday, Te Pati Maori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke ripped a copy of the legislation in hald at the Bill's first reading and launched into a haka, soon joined by more MPs.  The haka has gone viral worldwide, and international media and commentators did not hav...

The hikoi against the Treaty Principles Bill has reached Palmerston North today, putting pressure on the Government to throw out the Bill.  Despite this, the Bill passed its first reading on Thursday which was followed by a dramatic haka by some Maori Party MPs in protest.  Labour Party's Justice spokesperson Duncan Webb joins with more. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

The United States is one of New Zealand's most significant partners, and the big question is what Donald Trump's win means for Kiwis.  Maurice Williamson is the former New Zealand Consol-General in Los Angeles and he joins to discuss the impact for New Zealand.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States election has wrapped up this week with a landslide victory for Donald Trump.  It came as a bit of a shock after nearly all reputable pollsters predicted a very close race to presidency.  Marco Rubio's former Chief of Staff Matt Terrill joins Tim Beveridge to discuss the impact and what's to come for the States.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The Government has announced a new charter to improve access to public conservation land for fishing and hunting.  The charter will help the Department of Conservation to provide consistent guidance across the country.  Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Todd McClay, joins Tim Beveridge with more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the United States just days out from the presidential election.  Henry Olsen is a pollster and is well-known for being one of the most accurate analysts, correctly forecasting the past two elections.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leaders from around the world gathered this week in Samoa for the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting.  Our own Prime Minister had the chance to meet the King and Queen in person and was full of praise for Queen Camilla after sitting beside her at a gala dinner to mark the end of the meeting.  Luxon also announced the New Zealand Government will contribute $20 million for the Pacific...

The Israel Defence Force carried out multiple strikes on Iranian military targets this weekend, killing four soldiers.  Israel's army has said the attacks are in retaliation to continuous attacks from Iran.  U.S. President Joe Biden says he's hopeful this will mark the end of a months-long cycle of escalation, but many experts are concerned this will worsen the conflict.  Geopolitic...