The Government announced this afternoon that Cabinet has agreed to recommend a suite of changes to the Fast-track Approvals Bill.  These changes would require applications to be sent to a panel of experts to streamline approval. Minister for Infrastructure, Chris Bishop, joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the new recommendations.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Helen Clark Foundation is calling for tougher rules against corruption after a report outlined the levels of transparency in the Government.  The report's author, Philippa Yasbek, says Kiwis should be reassessing the level of threat corruption has in New Zealand to avoid the need for a "too little, too late" reaction.  Political commentator Dr Bryce Edwards joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the report.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The Government has announced $1.3 billion of funding for a new Road Policing Investment Programme (RPIP) to improve road safety over the next three years.  The funding will be targeted at drunk and drugged drivers, increasing roadside testing and focusing on high-risk times and locations.  Transport Minister Simeon Brown joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the new funding.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The number of households living in emergency housing has dropped by a third from December 2023 to June 2024.  Auckland saw the biggest drop, from 624 households to 354 households.  Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss what caused the drop and where to go from here.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wholesale energy prices are the highest since October 2018, with hydro-lake levels only 32% full.  Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss what can be done to help.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act MP Karen Chhour has raised concerns with Parliament becoming an unsafe working environment following personal attacks surrounding her youth offender boot camp.  Former Speaker of the House Sir David Carter joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss whether the conversation around race relations will ever cool down.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Party announced a policy today to improve achievement levels in maths, following their Annual General Meeting this weekend.  Education Minister Erica Stanford joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss this and more.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden and Barack Obama have both given their endorsement for Kamala Harris for Presidency, following Biden announcing he would be stepping down before the next election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party has announced they are pushing back their decision on the future of Darleen Tana as they wrap up their AGM today.  Ricardo Menendez-March joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the outcome from the AGM.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tauranga has elected Mahé Drysdale as their new mayor. He joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss his initial plans for the city.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Republican National Convention has been and gone with Donald Trump being confirmed as the Republican Presidential nominee, and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate.  U.S. Correspondent Dan Mitchinson joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss how the convention went.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

University of Otago Professor of Politics and Director of International Relations joins Tyler Adams on The Weekend Collective to discuss how the attempted assassination will impact America's upcoming election.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop expects to see Kainga Ora evictions rise before improving.  This comes after the Government ordered the housing agency to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework in March.  The Minister joined Tyler Adams on The Weekend Collective to discuss what he hopes will come of this.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former President Donald Trump is injured after what seems to have been an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania campaign rally. The former President says the bullet scraped his ear, while two people have died and one is seriously injured.  US Correspondent Mitch McCann spoke with Tyler Adams on The Weekend Collective to give all the latest.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trucking industry says it is backing the Government, in its speed limit conflict with Auckland Council. The two groups have been having a war of words, over raising the speed limits and bringing in variable limits around schools. Auckland Council wants more power to set their own limits, the final decision is the Government's though. National Road Carriers Policy and Advocacy General Manager, James Smith, says that's how it should be. "The rules around setting speed limits should be...

The UK is undergoing a historic political change - leaving other parts of the world wondering what comes next. The win for Labour marks the end of the Conservative's 14 years in power. With this comes new Ministers, such as the Minister for Business and Trade as well as Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. Former High Commissioner to the UK, Lockwood Smith, says he believes the only policy change that'll come with this will be domestic. "I don't think we'll see a big shift in...

This week on Politics Central, Transport Minister Simeon Brown joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the scrapping of the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax - and explain why the 'wasteful' spending had to come to an end. Later, international relations expert Alex Tan unpacks Joe Biden's shaky performance in Friday's debate against Donald Trump - and examines where the Democrats go from here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister is focused on building essential infrastructure as the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax is scrapped. Auckland motorists will save 11.5 cents a litre, with the tax removed from tomorrow. Simeon Brown says hundreds of millions of dollars from the tax wasn't being spent at all. "We're stopping the waste, we're focusing it back on the basics. And that remaining funding is going to go towards priority projects, such as the Eastern busway, more trains for the rail link and local...

Joe Biden is unlikely to step aside from the US Presidential Election. There are calls for him to stand down after he stumbled answering questions and didn't finish sentences in the debate with Donald Trump. Many were calling it Biden's chance to prove his physical and mental fitness for another Presidential term. Canterbury University Political Science and International Relations professor Alex Tan says it would be messy for a new presidential candidate to step in. "There are others that...

This week on Politics Central, Maritime Union spokesperson Victor Billot claimed cancelling the upgrade of the existing Interisland ferry fleet with two large ferries was a critical error from the Government, and Friday's Aratere grounding was a long time coming after years of warnings. Later, Children's Minister Karen Chhour unveiled her plan to cut down youth offending by introducing a new declaration for young offenders to ensure they face tougher consequences and are better supported to...

The Children's Minister says initiatives to address youth crime will provide needed consequences for young offenders. The Government is proposing to introduce a Youth Serious Offender declaration, meaning the courts could send them to a military style academy. Legislation will be introduced before the end of the year, while a pilot academy begins in Palmerston North at the end of July. Karen Chhour says we can't keep letting young offenders keep causing harm in local communities. LISTEN...

Several inquiries are underway after a suspected steering problem saw the Interisland ferry Aratere run aground near Picton. On Friday night, the ship became grounded. It was re-floated successfully last night on the high tide. Maritime Union spokesperson Victor Billot believes it could be a while before the ship is back sailing. "They're going to have to look at the steering system, obviously, they're going to have to look the hull...it's going to be a long time." LISTEN ABOVE See...

This week on Politics Central, Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman discusses whether peace in Ukraine is possible as world leaders gather in Switzerland to try and build support for Ukraine’s peace proposals - and if Putin's 'unrealistic' offer is cause for hope. Later, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, talks about the Government's announcement of a roadshow consultation on work health and safety.  LISTEN ABOVE See...

Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for a ceasefire have been rejected by European leaders at a Ukraine summit. The leaders of Italy and Germany have lambasted Putin's proposals, which included Ukraine handing over more territory to Russia. It comes as world leaders meet in Switzerland to discuss ending the conflict. New Zealand foreign affairs expert professor Robert Patman says Putin wants the invasion to be internationally recognised. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

This week on Politics Central, Minister Shane Jones has confirmed the Government will lift the ban on oil and gas exploration, as he believes New Zealand's natural gas reserves were declining and sustainable sources like wind, solar and hydro were too inconsistent. Later, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey joined in to discuss the significance of Men's Health Week. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.