Politics Central
Newstalk ZB serves up what you need to know, on all things politics at home, and abroad. The show reviews, previews, analyses and challenges the biggest political issues of the week, with all the big players.
Episodes
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop is also stopping in Houston, Texas to look at how they've implemented affordable housing.
He's speaking to local experts about their planning, funding and tools that have allowed them to deliver effective housing.
Can the same elements be brought to New Zealand?
ZB Political Editor Jason Walls speaks to Andrew Dickens...
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Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop is visiting New York to see the success of their congestion charging.
He's proposing a similar pricing strategy back here, but is it plausible for our roads?
What can be done to solve our traffic issues?
Andrew Dickens is joined by Martin Glynn, AA Policy Director...
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IRD reports that New Zealand will need to restructure the tax system to fund the superannuation.
Capital gains tax could be on the table, and even a GST hike from 15%.
What sort of adjustments should we expect? Is there any other way to fund the super?
Tim Beveridge talks to PwC Tax Policy Leader, Sandy Lau...
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The Government is implementing new sentencing reforms to prevent soft punishments and place victims at the centre of the justice-system.
Will these changes bring back faith in our judicial system? What other work needs to be done
Tim Beveridge is joined by Ruth Money, Chief Victims Advisor to the Government...
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The Government is pausing $18 million in funding for the Cook Islands following their deals with China earlier this year.
What can be done to fix our relationship? Who's at fault?
Tim Beveridge is joined by Tere Carr, Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council President...
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The US has bombed Iran just two days after giving a two-week notice for tensions to deescalate.
With the NATO Summit coming soon, tensions are high.
What can we expect to happen next?
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The Government is legislating health targets to 'lock in accountability'.
It's part of a slue of changes to the health system, with the aim of refocusing on outcomes rather than bureaucracy.
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The Prime Minister is on his way to China next week to meet with Xi Jinping.
New Zealand's relationship with the country has been a hot topic recently, with many saying we need to stop cosying up to the United States.
This past week, prominent New Zealand leaders signed an open letter to express concern about our closeness with the States, and how it could be impacting our relationship with China.
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The Government has announced a new Parent Boost Visa that will allow the parents of New Zealand citizens multi entry access for up to five years.
The sponsor has to earn 1.5 times the median wage, or the parent must bring $16,000 - along with other insurance and health requirements.
The Government says they are trying to make the country more attractive for skilled workers, without straining public services.
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The latest 1News/Verian poll has both National and Labour down, while an RNZ-Reid poll done in the same week has National down and Labour up, and a Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll had both up.
You see the same with overlapping polls by different agencies showing significantly different results in preferred Prime Minister.
So why are polls done this far out from an election?
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In a Parliamentary first, Act MP Laura McClure displayed a naked image of herself to highlight the need for her proposed bill.
The image wasn't truly her, it was an AI-generated deepfake - made in just minutes with technology that can be found on the first page of a Google search.
Laura's Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill would restrict the creation of non consensual deepfakes, as well as expanding revenge por...
Boy racers took over Levin and Palmerston North on Friday night, leaving seven injured and ten arrested.
The meet-up brought together around 1,000 boy racers, becoming so chaotic that police were deployed in full riot gear.
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It's been a big week in politics - we're still managing the aftershocks from the Budget on Thursday.
It's also Winston Peters' final week as Deputy Prime Minister, before he'll be forced to pass the torch to David Seymour on Saturday.
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The Budget didn't bring any changes to the pension - but Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has doubled down on his support for raising the age.
Luxon and his soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, are on the same page when it comes to raising the pension age to 67, but Seymour says Winston Peters is standing in the way of changes.
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The Government is introducing tougher penalties for boy racers and other, what Chris Bishop called, "idiot drivers".
The changes include a crushed or forfeited car for fleeing drivers, boy racers, and those taking part in intimidating convoys.
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The Government is cracking down on illegal drugs entering the country, starting with Customs.
Customs will get an additional $35 million to help combat the rising rate of organised crime groups bringing illicit drugs into the country.
It will provide Customs with the funding needed for 60 more roles.
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Anthony Albanese's Labor government had a landslide victory overnight, marking the first re-election in Australia since 2004.
It's seen a mix of reactions, with some analysts even saying Albanese has Donald Trump to thank for his win.
Australia correspondent Sam Emery joins with the latest.
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The Government has announce $2 billion from the upcoming Budget has been set aside for new Defence Force helicopters, alongside an additional $957 million in funding.
The current Seasprite helicopters were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and were overdue replacement.
The announcement is part of a bigger plan to improve Defence capabilities.
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Physician associates will soon be a regulated profession working in primary care and hospitals.
These are health professionals who have been trained overseas, who have the function of a GP but have to work under the supervision of a doctor.
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The Government has set aside $68.5 million for an interest free EV charger loan scheme.
The private sector will be able to apply for a loan to increase the number of chargers in New Zealand.
It's committed to 10,000 public chargers by 2030, up from around 1,400 currently available.
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