The Weekend Collective

Growing older is expensive - much more expensive than most people realise.  When you or a loved one either decides to move into aged care or is forced to do so, the Ministry of Social Development will quickly swoop in to flip through all their finances.  Any assets, gifted funds, trusts, even living rent free - it's all looked at and impacts their chances of government-subsidised care.&n...

Getting fit and healthy is just about throwing on your running shoes and making a salad.  The key to sticking with a workout routine, is finding the right sort of exercise for you so that you don't get sick of it.  We've seen another wave of fitness trends recently, with Hyrox gaining popularity, 75 Hard, and cold plunges among others.  We'll often overlook these as just being the c...

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.

A new report this week found nearly 90% of Auckland primary school say there's an increasing number of new entrants starting school without bare basic skills like being toilet trained and talking properly. These are 5 year olds who are otherwise capable, but some stage of their early childhood seems to have been neglected - they can't even identify the letters of their name or hold a pencil. ...

Those in the market to buy a new home either know or will learn very quickly, that an agent is essential in the process.  Sure, we can search agency websites and windows ourselves, or scroll through OneRoof after work every day - but we're doing ourselves a disservice if we don't have an agent keeping an eye out for a place with the right metrics for us.  Here's the problem - these agent...

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Taxpayers' Union Director Jordan Williams and National Fieldays Society CEO Richard Lindroos, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Relationships cost money.  It's not just about date nights at expensive restaurants, fancy shoes, or a new watch for Valentine's Day.  It's moving in together, splitting the power bill, signing on to the rent. At what point in the relationship should you join your finances, and how should you go about it?  Then there's the other side of the relationship - the part no one tends to pl...

There's a fairly universal amount of food people should be eating every day.  It varies based on things like age and height - but for the most part, most adults should be aiming for a certain number of calories and macros.  But when you start getting a bit more active, working out more regularly or making changes to a sedentary lifestyle, you'll find yourself feeling more hungry, more of...

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...

Schools have started back up and we all, obviously, want our children to do well.  Parents will be doing drop off and pick up, making sure the homework is done and forms are signed, keeping an eye on grades and reports.  But how involved should parents really be in their children's education? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's biggest bank, ANZ, has downgraded its forecast for property prices this year.  It says its previous forecast of 5% is looking unrealistic as the OCR looks to be making a turn soon and market prices are already falling - now saying a 2% rise is more likely.  Meanwhile, economists are laying out their predictions for when we'll see the OCR make that turn.  Many say it wo...

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

As you get older, your health becomes more and more of a worry, so life insurance seems like a no-brainer. But is it? Do you really need it after the mortgage is paid and the kids are on their own? And what policies are must-haves, against ones that are just nice to have?  Financial Author Martin Hawes joins Tim Beveridge to give his insurance advice and explain the pros and cons of different...

A GP is often the first port of call when you're feeling under the weather, but how do you choose the right one? Dr Bryan Betty joins Tim Beveridge to discuss what to keep an eye out for, what to avoid, and whether or not you should do some internet research to help solve your illnesses. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 questions around s...

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...

One of the hottest topics of the modern era is kids and smartphones. As we've seen more of the what the internet can do (for better or worse) they seem like an essential part of life. Wallet, Keys, Phone, that's what you always keep on you.  A first phone is typically only for texting mum and dad, so why do you need a device that has the capability for so much more?  Child Psychologist S...

Normally when property comes up in discussion, it's focused on the plight of the youngsters who are fighting to get on to the property ladder. But today, we're switching it up a bit. Your house is likely the most expensive thing you own, that applies for everyone who's lucky enough to own one. So how do you manage your money with it? How old is too old to be investing in property? Are you worried...

This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by TV Presenter Mark Crysell and AUT Chemistry Professor Allan Blackman to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Confidence in New Zealand's rural sector has really started recovering over the past year or so.  Stabilising interest rates, great dairy results, and promising meat exports have formed a foundation for what will hopefully be a successful 2026.  Confidence dropped slightly in the last quarter of last year, but it's still much higher than it has been over previous years.  LISTEN ABOV...

Whether you've joined a gym, started going for a run a few times a week, or adding a swim or cycle to your existining routine - there will be things everyone should be looking out for and keeping in mind to stay on track.  For a new routine to stick, you'll need to start in a specific way to make sure you're not wearing yourself out before you've even really started.  LISTEN ABOVE See om...

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...

NCEA results are officially out. Most kids would have genuinely worked as hard as they could to get the grades they hoped for - even the kids who act like they don't really care.  And for many it won't have turned out as hey had planned - whether that meant not quite meeting the dizzying heights of their ambition or an actual fail grade. But it's unavoidable - at some stage through their scho...