The Weekend Collective

An interesting report came out this week about budgets: the average household spending has only gone up two dollars a week since 2023. 50-percent of respondents said they're actively seeking out discounts and promotions - and 30-percent downgrade brands. It's one thing to be spending less on non-essentials, eating less, or wearing cheaper clothes, but sometimes that can chip away at our mental hea...

It's no secret that as we get older, our metabolism slows down a bit, and staying in shape just gets harder to do - from keeping lean, maintaining muscle, and removing stubborn fat. Ricky Gervais had a tweet about how he's working out everyday now - playing tennis, lifting weights and running. His heart's good, and he trains at a good intensity - but he wonders why he's stil overweight and exhaust...

42 councils have held referendums on Māori wards - 17 areas have voted to keep them, while 25 have voted to remove. The wards have been a flashpoint for debate - there were protesters in Kaipara last year when council voted to remove it. Te Pāti Māori has described the decision to remove the wards as “racist, targeted attack on Māori, for being Māori” and that it's "an assault on Te Tiriti" Last y...

We hear lots of horror stories about parenting - from the accidents that cost us a hefty bill, the arguments and bickering we bump into as they get older, the worries about our what they're doing when we're away, and the concerns of how social media's affecting their mental health. But we do it because we love them - unconditionally. And part of that is having to embrace the numerous versions of p...

A few weeks ago, a developer pre-sold most of its eight planned heritage-style weatherboard townhouses in two Auckland projects. They plan to bring more of their cookie-cutter housing designs to Auckland, and aims to revive the styles of homes prevalent in many older suburbs. But having a suburb full of similarly designed houses seems like it'd make neighbourhood dull, especially if they're bunche...

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Chemistry Professor Allan Blackman, and Menswear Designer Murray Crane to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our kids are growing up, and with that comes the parental obligation to allow them to start making decisions for themselves.  This come after we saw the story of the Gaza Flotilla and an interview with the father of Sam Leason, an 18 year old who was a part of the recent flotilla to Gaza.  I think regardless of your views, most parents would be pretty hesitant to allow their teenager to...

House prices have been flat or are falling, it's hard to miss.  Many owners are trying to quickly sell up - whether it be to fund their retirement, or simply because the rental market just isn't as profitable as it used to be.  Analysts reckon this will mean a lot of younger people finally getting the opportunity to get on the property ladder. But there's one thing keeping a lot of poten...

It's mental health awareness week from tomorrow, and you might ask what the hell has it to do with nutrition, but food has more to do with your mood than people realise.  The types of foods you consume can have a not only an impact on your physical health, but your mental health too.  What kind of foods make you feel better, inside and out? And what are those comfort foods you just can't...

Thousands of teenagers could have their Jobseeker benefit cut next year, as the Government restricts payments. Eighteen and 19-year-olds without children must pass a Parental Assistance Test to qualify from November 2026. The threshold will be set at just over $65,000. Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Tim Beveridge it's the same as the Supported Living Payment, and similar to the Stu...

Bowel cancer is New Zealand’s second biggest cancer killer. Yesterday, the Health Minister confirmed changes to the free bowel screening criteria. From Monday, the starting age for screenings will be lowered from 60 to 58 in Northland, Auckland, and the South Island.  The rest of the North Island will follow in March 2026. Health Minister Simeon Brown speaks to Tim Beveridge.  LISTEN ABO...

A new governor has been appointed for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand - all the way from Sweden.  Dr Anna Breman has already received criticism from economists who find themselves concerned that someone with such little knowledge of the New Zealand economy will hold such a high stakes position.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The weight loss plateau that hits about a month into your health journey can be the hardest hurdle when trying to maintain motivation.  Former boxer and founder of Buttabean Motivation, David Letele, joins to discuss the problems people face when trying to get their health back.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has decided against recognising a Palestinian state at this stage.  Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the announcement in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, grouping New Zealand with a small handful of countries who have also decided not to make the move. He said as long as Hamas is the Gaza Strip's de facto government, there is no legitimate State of...

The economy had a worse than expected drop in the June quarter, shrinking 0.9%.  Finance Minister Nicola Willis has blamed it on global turmoil, but the Reserve Bank of New Zealand says there's a need to provide more stimulus to the economy by cutting the OCR.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Health Organisation estimates over a billion people between the ages of 12 and 35 are at high risk of hearing loss due to unsafe habits.  The key cause for the age group is simply listening to music for too long, and too loudly, in headphones or earbuds. Even a movie cinema is likely to have unsafe sound levels.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters is off to New York today to attend the United Nations 80th anniversary meeting.  He says it's a great opportunity to gather information from a broad range of New Zealand's partners on how they view and manage the major conflicts happening around the world.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's hospital facilities are about to get a $100 million investment boost.  The programme will expand and modernise clinical spaces, and strengthen existing infrastructure to avoid the disruption of clinical services.  The funding boost will provide small-scale upgrades nationwide, as well as building on more major projects like those in Nelson and Wellington.  LISTEN ABOVE...

It's that time of the year when many high school kids are having to make choices when it comes to subject options, perhaps some of which will determine what choices they have in future careers.  So how can parents support their children through the choice process?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While it's all good and well to discuss where the property market is today, or try to predict the next OCR update, the key to predicting a property boom lays in market conditions during past booms.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by restaurateur Luke Dallow and psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters announced plans to campaign for compulsory KiwiSaver at the next election, and increase the minimum contribution from 4% to 12%.  He said there would be tax cuts alongside these changes to help fund the increase in contributions.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most challenging parts of being an adult is trying to figure out what you're going to eat, three times a day, every day, when you're often too busy to make anything more substantial than beans on toast.  Regardless, we continue the mental battle every single day, trying to figure out a way to whip up something relatively healthy before the next sport drop off.  LISTEN ABOVE Se...

The Government has just announced a new $70 million tourism package they expect will supercharge the tourism and events sectors.  The funding includes $40 million to secure large-scale international events from next year, and a regional tourism boost campaign.  The boost in funding will help New Zealand complete with Australia for major events.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/liste...

Labour's education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime has met with education minister Erica Stanford to discuss the Government's plan to scrap NCEA.  It comes after the spokesperson refused to meet with the minister while the reform was in its planning stages.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.