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
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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Almost all of our local government representatives have had a public persona before they went forward for the role.
Is that really all it takes?
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Christopher Luxon had a spree of phone calls with world leaders this week regarding the ongoing U.S. trade war, but Winston Peters says he should have been consulted beforehand.
Political commentator Peter Dunne says the Prime Minister was completely in his right to make calls without speaking to the Foreign Minister first.
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The previously announced 60 square metre granny flats that property owners will be able to build without building or resource consent - will now be 70sqm.
Recent changes to the RMA will also help make it easier for these flats to be built as well as more affordable.
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On the Republican Party's 'Liberation Day', President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs internationally.
New Zealand was caught in the crossfire with a 10% tariff, but we got off easy compared to other countries. But how is it impacting our global relationships?
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Greens MP Tamatha Paul has come under fire this week after comments about beat patrol police.
She said a lot of people feel less safe with the increase in police on the beat, and claimed that these officers had even been throwing away the belongings of homeless people.
Paul was also in a discussion about what steps could be taken to achieve "radical police abolition", and alternatives to the police.
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The Government wants to make it easier for a third major supermarket to come in and break up the duopoly.
Nicola Willis announced today that she has issued a Request for Information, asking supermarkets what changes are needed to help them compete with the big two.
These include local supermarkets upping the ante enough to compete, or overseas companies launching in New Zealand.
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