The Weekend Collective

The Government has confirmed they're considering action to move rough sleepers out of Auckland's city centre. 

Mayor Wayne Brown has given his go ahead, but the opposition as well as housing advocates have said a policy like this would just move the problem elsewhere and end up creating more harm. 

No details have been released yet, ministers say they are still working through the issues and how to deal with them, but tha...

The Government has released an action plan to deal with the growing issue of methamphetamine use in New Zealand. 

They're investing $30 million over four years into the hardest hit communities, increasing maritime operations to stop it before it gets into the country, and we'll soon see a nationwide media campaign to raise awareness - among other policies. 

The amount of meth seized both in the country and offshore has in...

There's a lot of uncertainty around the property market at the moment. 

In the past decade alone, we've seen the introduction of the brightline test, the relaxing of the brightline test, countless policies making life harder for investors and landlords, and now the looming question of capital gains tax. 

But how much does the government actually influence whether we buy and sell, and at what price? 

LISTEN ABOVE

See o...

Dame Noeline Taurua was stood down as the coach of the Silver Ferns in September due to 'significant issues' in the team. After many public statements and interviews, she was reinstated at the end of last month. 

Netball NZ, her employer, remained just vague enough that the public could allow their imaginations to run wild about what had happened. 

Andrew Bayly, MP for Port Waikato, resigned as a Minister after an 'animat...

The Government has announced 140 new hospital beds across the country to ease pressure on emergency departments. 

These beds will be part of new wards in Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington, and Nelson hospitals, alongside the new Hawke's Bay ward announced earlier in the year. 

Health Minister Simeon Brown says operational funding for the 350 extra staff that will be needed, has already been approved. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See o...

Christopher Luxon is wrapping up his trip to APEC and ASEAN today. 

The Prime Minister met with a range of world leaders, even having his hair complimented by Donald Trump, and having dinner with the Canadian and Australian Prime Ministers and the South Korean president. 

APEC and ASEAN represent about 60 to 70% of the world's economy, so even casual meeting would have been significant for Luxon and New Zealand. 

LIS...

Trusts are hardly mentioned outside of when wealth tax is in the news, or when someone mentions their accountant told them to get one.

One side of the political aisle seems to have a good list of reasons as to why someone would need a trust, while the other side seems to be convinced that essentially the only reason anyone would have one would be to hide assets. 

So what is the real purpose of a trust? 

LISTEN ABOVE

See om...

Last Thursday was the largest protest New Zealand has had for decades, a combined strike across multiple public sector groups including PSA members and PPTA members. 

It certainly sent a message, but that message depends on who you ask. While many sympathise with the issues the public sector is facing, many have also dubbed it 'the start of a five day weekend' for teachers. 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

Most prospective buyers know how much they can borrow, but how much should you borrow? 

Banks will often be happy to lend buyers an eye-watering amount of money, right at the top of what they can afford, but that doesn't mean buyers will be happy once those repayments kick in. 

Not mention five years down the line, when interest rates aren't as low as they once were, and wages aren't increasing at the same rate....