The Weekend Collective

From tax changes to interest rates to regulation changes, there's an ever growing list of reasons for kiwis to be a bit more hesitant to invest in property. 

Now with changes to foreign buyers laws, we may be staring down the barrel of a completely different  property market. 

So here's the question, has the model for property investment fundamentally changed? How are investors going about it these days, and is it ev...

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 seized an oil tanker off the coast of V...

What are the essential life skills our kids truly need to know before they head out into the real world? 

How often to wash their sheets, how to cook a basic meal, managing bills and payments, doing laundry without turning their white shirts pink - these are things that most of us learnt well before we moved out, but they don't seem to be as common today. 

Only 21% of parents of children aged 5-17 years say their kids are...

Not even two years ago, we were comparing our rent increases to those of places like Singapore and New York City. But today, many parts of the country are seeing rents tumble. 

So what does it mean for 2026? Should tenants be making their move to secure a place? Or is it the landlords who should be locking in reliable tenants before things start to change again? 

And from this month, pets are officially allowed in rentals...

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 party member was accepted until Feb...

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 Coster's claims, and both have relea...

In just a few days, a law banning the use of social media for under 16s will take effect in Australia. 

For many parents, social media has been a daily part of family life for years - allowing kids to stay connected with their friends and family, sharing life updates with people they may not get a chance to speak with very often. 

Generations before have been relatively ignorant to just how seriously harmful it can be - f...

For as long as most of us will be able to remember, the Kiwi dream has meant a 3 or 4 bed home with a deck out the back and just enough grass to need a mower. 

It's represented putting down roots and starting a family with a sense of security in owning your own place. 

But after years now of rising house prices and interest rates going up and down quite rapidly, I've been wondering whether our property obsession has chang...

Health seems to be overcomplicated these days - but does it really need to be? 

Everywhere you look you see another kind of diet, another 'must-have' exercise machine, a drink that can replace a meal, or a new gym programme that promises to finally solve all your problems. 

But truly, could the foundation of good health be as simple as a daily walk and eating whole foods? Why do so many people overlook what seem to be the...

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 raised around how our already over...

The school year is drawing to an end and soon enough, families will be filling school halls and gymnasiums for the end-of-year prizegiving. 

For the star students or athletes, it's a moment of pride to walk across the stage and receive a well-earned award. For others, the whole thing can feel demoralising. 

Never mind the awards themselves - there are clear differences between some, like the dean's award and the most impr...