Podcasts about act party

Deputy Prime Minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour is welcoming the reduction of New Zealand's public service by 8700 staff over the next three years. He joins Jack Tame to discuss a new map of New Zealand's 267 different regulators from the Ministry for Regulation. With less than six months to the general election, and the party polling slightly lower than its 2023 performance, David Seymour speaks to his new policy of tougher English language requirements for visa-holders and introducing an overstayer enforcement unit within Immigration New Zealand. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

RNZ chief executive Paul Thompson will resign after 13 years in the job, board chair Jim Mather announced this morning. Mather says while the decision for Thompson to resign at the end of 2026 was made in December of last year, the announcement has been pulled forward by "recent unhelpful external commentary about his future". Deputy prime minister and ACT Party leader David Seymour, who is also a shareholding minister in RNZ, has criticised the public broadcaster's board and chief executive in recent months, and speculated earlier in the month that Thompson "won't be answering the call at RNZ for much longer." David Seymour joins Jack Tame. Watch more of Q+A's interview with David Seymour on Sunday.

Sometimes it feels like an easy thing to say that politicians have no idea what really matters to us. What's important to us - the people who put them in their positions of power. Today, it may be the easiest it's ever been to say that sort of thing. Let's start with Labour leader Chris Hipkins. Who, I think, said one of the most arrogant things I've heard any politician say. This happened yesterday. When he was talking about pretty much the only policy his party has been able to come up with since it was turfed out of government at the last election. The future fund. Which would use some of the profits from our state-owned enterprises to invest in new start-up businesses. Chris Hipkins has been saying that Labour's not going to be announcing any new election policies until after next week's budget. Until it has a better handle on the government's finances before promising things the country can't afford. Yesterday, he went next level. This was after he said earlier in the week that he wouldn't be giving any more detail about Labour's future fund policy until after the election. He almost sounds like he knows he's got no show of forming the next government and doesn't want his people putting too much work into policies and things that won't go anywhere. I genuinely think that's what he and Labour are starting to sound like. Because, after the election, they won't be needed. But that's not the worst bit. Yesterday, when he was asked if he thought voters might want to know more about the future fund before the election, he said New Zealanders don't really care about the detail. This is in relation to which state owned enterprises would have to contribute some of their profits to the future fund if Labour formed the next government and put this policy in place. When he was asked about that, Hipkins said New Zealanders don't really care about those key details. He said: “I don't think the public really care which companies are going to go in or not. I think the public care about the fact that we're going to keep state assets and National's going to sell them.” The arrogance. And, at the same time as we've got the Labour leader trotting out that nonsense, we've got MPs debating a bill that defines the meaning of man and woman. That one's courtesy of NZ First, which says it's fighting “cancerous social engineering” and “woke ideology”. Do you think, in the grand scheme of things, pointless legislation like that really matters? And, on top of that, public service minister Paul Goldsmith has told government departments they've got until the end of next month to make sure they prioritise the English version of their names over the Te Reo version. It beggars belief, doesn't it? The arrogance of telling us to wait until after the election for policy details because, apparently, that's not important to us. And the pointlessness of a law defining what a man is and what a woman is; and the pointlessness of government departments having to change their logos because some people can't handle a bit of Te Reo. All of the examples I've just given tell me that our politicians have absolutely no idea what's important to us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour welcomes Pharmac's proposal to change funding criteria for more type 2 diabetes medicines based on clinical need. Under the proposal, 25,000 more diabetic Kiwis will gain access to the treatments over the next few years. David Seymour says there's a lot of potential in investing in more GLP-1 medications to prevent other health problems impacting people down the line. "We've made a lot of progress on this kind of whole of society approach to funding medicines that will save us money in the long term, but that's some of the challenges we've run into so far." Pharmac has since confirmed the ethnicity criteria reference refers to the diabetes medicine consultation and they have separate recommendations for semaglutide funding applications. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If it's not already obvious to you, the fact that Maiki Sherman has lost her job should now make it very clear: the media—especially the state broadcasters, both of them—are about to find out what it means not just to make and report the news but to be the news. Just look at what's happened this week alone. And this is only a sample—this has been building for some time.In one week, TVNZ political editor Maiki Sherman has lost her job over poor behaviour in a minister's office. David Seymour, the ACT Party leader, has taken a significant swipe at RNZ for hiring John Campbell, who is well known for voting left—something he's said himself. Seymour has even gone so far as to suggest the head of RNZ should lose his job over it. Then there's the BSA, effectively the head girl telling everyone off for bad jokes at the party, being abolished. The politicians are coming for the media and Sherman's case is an example of that. The National Party lined her up. They complained about her allegedly door-knocking Stuart Smith for 10 minutes at night. They confirmed that she had sworn at Nicola Willis' event in the office—which was unusual, given that Nicola effectively broke Chatham House rules that MPs normally guard jealously. Now, look—I feel sorry for Maiki losing her job. That's a very high price to pay. But I don't feel sorry for the media in general for what's coming. We've had this coming. For years, we've collectively pushed a certain world view through the framing of our stories. We decide who the victim is, who the bad guy is and what language we use—labelling things as “controversial” to signal to the audience that something is bad, like the “controversial Treaty Principles Bill”. We flip angles too—turning a positive government crime stats story into a negative gang-focused story for the same government. And when Radio New Zealand, which is supposed to be more impartial and balanced than any other outlet in this country, chooses someone to front its flagship programme who has explicitly said he votes for left-wing parties—well, that matters. We deserve what's coming to us in this election. We can't shove the scrum for years and not expect to become part of the on-field play. And I, for one, am not unhappy about what's about to happen. I think it's time for this to be sorted out. If this election brings media bias into sharper focus and forces all of us in the media to stop, reflect and think hard about what we've been doing, I don't think that's a bad thing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask the Act Party leader and Deputy PM whether his immigration policy is cutting Winston’s lunch? Plus, would he pass an immigration test himself? We also talk about TPM v Labour in the Māori seats and preview a big announcement on electrification this afternoon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's welcoming the death of the Broadcasting Standards Authority, but wants the Government to move quickly. Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith announced the regulator will be disestablished, as it's unfit for a modern media environment. Laura McClure says the decision's long overdue, and the Government needs to pass legislation. She told Ryan Bridge that it's a huge win for freedom of speech in New Zealand. McClure says the BSA was the regulating body for mainstream media, but it doesn't cover anything else, and young people in particular are consuming media everywhere, whether it's online or on social media. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hope that the ACT Party's latest election promise will alleviate pressure on the wider health sector. David Seymour recently announced ACT would expand pharmacists' powers, including letting them treat more minor ailments, manage long-term medications and monitor some conditions. Seymour says most of the world is looking to better utilise their health professionals to take the load off GPs and Emergency Departments. "What's happened around the world is that pharmacists have got much greater use of robotic prescribing, so there's a lot less - as one pharmacist said to me - counting and pouring. And as a result, all of these countries are starting to make greater use of having a pretty well-trained health professional, usually in your community." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT Leader David Seymour seems to be going all Winston Peters on it, with his party's new immigration policy. There's stuff in it I think is ok. But there's one part I don't think is okay. This ridiculous idea of banning immigrants from getting any sort of benefit until they've been here for at least five years. I'll tell you why shortly. But essentially, ACT doesn't want immigrants getting any sort of free ride. It wants people here on temporary work visas to pay for the privilege of being here - charging them $6-a-day to help pay for infrastructure. That's another crazy part of this policy. Federated Farmers is already saying it would just put people off coming here. Which is true. If someone has got a choice of where they go to work, they won't go somewhere where $42 disappears from their pay each week. As well as the tax they'd already be paying. David Seymour also wants us to get tougher on deporting immigrants who commit serious crimes. Which I don't have a problem with. And, he wants people coming here to be better at English - with a higher standard of English required before they're allowed in. I don't see any problems with that. ACT also wants to set-up a specialised enforcement unit targeting overstayers, which has the Green Party all excited. I heard its immigration spokesperson saying it sounds like ACT wants to set up a New Zealand version of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency in the United States, or ICE, as it's known. I think others are saying too that we already have a unit targeting overstayers. So I'm indifferent on that part of David Seymour's plan. But, as I say, the aspect of this policy that I have a real problem with, is banning immigrants from getting any sort of benefit until they've been here for at least five years. You imagine someone moving to New Zealand, things going ok for the first two-or-three years but, then, they lose their job or get crook. They can't afford to travel back to their home country, so what are we going to do? Do we say “Oh sorry mate, get back to us in two or three years - that's when you'll be entitled to the unemployment benefit or the sickness benefit or whatever.” What happens to that person? They end up on the street probably. And is that what we want? Someone's life spiraling out of control, all for the sake of kicking immigrants off this so-called benefit gravy train some people seem to think people who come here from other countries are on. No thanks. And what's more, we'd deny them a benefit, but they'd still be entitled to ACC. It doesn't stack up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ACT party will campaign on a six-point plan to shake up immigration, including deporting serious offenders no matter how long they've been here, and a five-year stand down for welfare for residence class visa holders. Sociologist and Massey University emeritus professor Paul Spoonley spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Simeon Brown steps in for the PM for the weekly interview; Luxon arrives in Singapore to sign fuel supply deal; ACT Party reveals new immigration policies; New data reveals low business confidence due to Iran war; Locals react to State Highway 3 reopening

This week on the Monday Wire...  For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party's Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about the ACT Party's stance on conflict between National and NZ First within the coalition government. I also asked about the government's proposed changes to treaty principles and how they influence policy.  They also spoke to Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Otago, Christchurch, Jai Whelan, about Nitrous Oxide use and its harms amidst plans for a government crackdown.  Producer Thomas talked to E tū union director Mat Danaher about Tiwai Point workers taking industrial action this week. He also spoke to Brake New Zealand Director Caroline Perry about road safety week and how the campaign is encouraging safe driving.

ACT has launched its immigration policy ahead of this year's election - with surcharges and tougher limits for serious offenders. It includes a $6 a day infrastructure surcharge on temporary work visas, which is expected to pocket $80 million a year. The party also wants stronger English language requirements, and would also establish a dedicated unit around enforcement for people over-staying their visas. Leader David Seymour says New Zealand was built on immigration, but it's important to keep the right balance. "What those waves of settlement have done is two things. One is that they built a Kiwi character that's the envy of the world...whether it's our troops out there doing peacekeeping, our sportspeople, our businesspeople - Kiwis have a reputation that we can fix anything, we do what we say we're going to do, we're compassionate and thoughtful people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy PM and Act Party leader comments on Luxon and Trump and denies dictatorships are the best form of democracy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday New Zealand First announced a campaign policy to break up New Zealand's supermarket duopoly. Woolworths and Foodstuffs currently control over 80 percent of the grocery market. NZ First leader Winston Peters told Mike Hosking he isn't pursuing this now because, "the National Party is not for it, the ACT Party is not for it. I mean, they've got their policies which are to stagger on with the Commerce Commission that's not working." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's looking to level the playing field for pharmacies and ease pressure on GPs. Consultation's open on allowing pharmacists to dispense funded medication for pain and fever, scabies, lice, conjunctivitis, UTIs, and the emergency contraceptive pill. Kiwis currently have to pay the medication's full pharmacy price, or obtain a GP prescription. ACT Leader David Seymour joined the Afternoons team to explain that it's important health professionals are informed in giving people medicine - and this move will be better for pharmacies. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 60, our guest is The Right Honourable David Seymour, Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and Leader of the Act Party. To many of us, it seems like David Seymour has been in the public eye for so long that we feel like we know him. And yet, as it turns out, we know very little. He grew up in a Whangarei family, with working parents and a personal ambition shaped partly by a mother who suffered from a disability. As a youngster he was exposed to business and voluntary work, all of which drove a unique work ethic and a passion for the freedoms his generation took for granted. He left the family home for life as a boarder at Auckland Grammar and soon he was at Auckland University studying for degrees in Engineering and Philosophy. He had to work his way through university to make ends meet and talks of forty hour weeks bookended by lectures and assignments. His early career focussed on engineering until the opportunity came to work for a Canadian think tank and a new career path was formed, one that would ultimately see him return to New Zealand, becoming an MP and Act party leader in 2014. On the Leaders Getting Coffee Podcast, David Seymour speaks with Bruce Cotterill about the loneliness of his early years as parliament’s sole Act MP and his focus on working with other politicians, many of whom were not natural bedfellows, to get his End of Life Choice Act passed into law as a result of a referendum in 2020. That led to him ushering in nine additional MP’s in 2020 and Act’s role in parliament has been secured as a result. David Seymour speaks proudly about taking on some of parliament’s tougher challenges, including charter schools, regulatory reform, and the treaty principles bill, as well as the End of Life legislation. This is a man who is passionate about personal freedoms and making New Zealand a better and more productive place for its people. And as one of parliament’s best communicators, he is very clear on some of the challenges ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former National Party candidate will stand with the ACT Party at this year's election. James Christmas is now a barrister and had worked under senior National figures including Sir John Key, Sir Bill English, and Chris Finlayson. Christmas was considered a possible option to take on the Attorney-General role and act as a Treaty Negotiations Minister. Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell explains further - ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An ACT MP is questioning the spending of taxpayer money on a football match. The Government's supporting a clash between English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and Auckland FC at Eden Park as part of its $70 million Major Events package. ACT MP Todd Stephenson is asking why the match is being subsidised by taxpayers, when neither club is a charity and both are backed by billionaires. He told Andrew Dickens he's had a lot of feedback from people in the tourism and hospitality sectors, as well as local councils, asking for a better process around the fund, as they believe there could be better uses of taxpayer money. As Stephenson understands it, the current system has MBIE seeking out what they think will be a hot gig and then reaching out to the organisation, instead of asking people to come forward. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy PM and Act Party leader talks about the fuel crisis, the future of the proposed LNG terminal, and whether Winston’s a mining-mad populist?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight, on The Panel, Wallace Chapman is joined by panellists Mary Lambie and Simon Wilson. First up, we get The Panel's reckons around ACT Party deputy and minister Brooke van Velden's just announced departure from politics. Then, 50 dollars a week for 144 thousand families; that's the top line on the government's fuel support package. Is it enough? The Panel talks to a home support worker about how far she thinks it'll go. And we return to the Fisheries Amendment Bill, which will see minimum size limits scrapped for commercial fishers. After talking to Darren Shields, who opposes the bill, the Panel hears from Lisa Futschek, the CEO of Seafood NZ.

ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden has announced she won't stand at the 2026 general election. She made the announcement in Parliament earlier today, surrounded by her Caucus and leader David Seymour. Van Velden will continue to serve for the rest of this term as the MP for Tamaki and in her work as Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations minister. She says she's excited for the next chapter, but it was a hard decision to step away from politics. "I also, right in my heart, feel like I want to live a bit more of life and see what other opportunities there are out there for me." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About 143,000 families with children will get an additional $50 a week through a boost to the in-work tax credit, the Government has announced. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis announced the urgent cost of living relief package on Tuesday, in response to the global fuel crisis.ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden won't seek re-election, but could return to politics. ACT Party deputy leader Brooke van Velden will leave Parliament this year, but she isn't ruling out a return at some point in the (somewhat distant) future.On their Cross-Party Lines podcast Chris Finlayson and Phill Goff shared their thoughts about minor parties taking on former MPs from other parties specifically speaking to Alfred Ngaro becoming a candidate for NZ First.Rodney Hide put a cat among the pigeons when he called hypocrisy of a Christian commentator who was talking of the evils of the left being linked to abortion when he pointed out that Luxon supports all those positions as well. It was a classic case of being hoisted by ones own petard and made for great, but unintended, viewing.++++++++++++++++++++Like us on Facebook.com/BigHairyNetwork Follow us on Twitter.com/@bighairynetworkFollowing us on TikTok.com/@bighairynetworkSupport us on Patreon www.patreon.com/c/BigHairyNewsCheck out our merch https://bhn.nz/shop/Donate to our work https://bhn.nz/shop/donation/

This week on the Monday Wire...  For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about increasing fuel prices, public transport, and the scrapped clean car discount.  They also spoke to Professor Alistair Woodward from the University of Auckland about air pollution, how to address it, and also touched on the clean car discount.  Producer Thomas spoke to Forest and Bird National Conservation Advocate Bianca Ranson about the proposed Fisheries Act amendment bill and the risk it poses to our oceans. And he talked to University of Auckland Senior Research Fellow Dr Kelly Garton about New Zealand's increasing junk food imports and the detrimental health effects this could have on the country .

The US and Israel's War on Iran and subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz has fuel prices increasing across the country. As fuel prices increase, people are continually looking towards alternatives, primarily public transport and electric vehicles. With public transport use at a 7 year high last week and demand for electric vehicles increasing, demand seems to contradict government policy.  Since the start of its term, the government has been cutting discounts to public transport and cutting incentives to buy electric vehicles. At the same time, the government has touted investments in LNG and offshore oil and gas exploration as the solutions to New Zealand's energy woes.  As fuel prices continue to rise, so too does the cost of living, with prices in supermarkets already spiking and hitting consumers where many are already struggling. Despite the government's campaigning and signalling around cost of living, prices are continuing to rise without a similar increase to wages.  For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party's Simon Court, News Director Castor asked him about the fuel crisis and the lessons the government is taking.

This week on the Monday Wire...  For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about increasing fuel prices, public transport, and the scrapped clean car discount.  They also spoke to Professor Alistair Woodward from the University of Auckland about air pollution, how to address it, and also touched on the clean car discount.  Producer Thomas spoke to Forest and Bird National Conservation Advocate Bianca Ranson about the proposed Fisheries Act amendment bill and the risk it poses to our oceans. And he talked to University of Auckland Senior Research Fellow Dr Kelly Garton about New Zealand's increasing junk food imports and the detrimental health effects this could have on the country .

The Acting Prime Minister (and Act Party leader) says the United States has not asked New Zealand for military support in the Strait of Hormuz. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's leader is denying changes to Auckland's housing intensification rules might have 'backfired'. The Government has ordered Auckland Council to reduce total capacity plans from 2 million homes to 1.6 million. Councillors have now opted to zone less density in areas with poor public transport access and in outer suburbs. David Seymour says this doesn't necessarily mean his central Epsom electorate will get the densification he was trying to avert. "It's not as simple as - it's all going to be in your electorate, mate. It's going to be a long process, these plans won't be finalised until well into next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last weekend saw the United States and Israel airstriking Iran, with Iran retaliating with strikes on Israel, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. The New Zealand government put out a press release soon after, condemning Iran for the strikes and for protest crackdown earlier this year.  While the press release and later communications from the government have called for all parties to follow international law, the government has offered little in criticism of the United States and Israel's bombings. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, when asked if the strikes were legal, said it would be up to each country to provide a justification.  This past week also saw a new policy from the government that would look to reclaim ACC payments from those already receiving welfare payments. ACC claimants usually receive funding to support their inability to work, however those on the benefit will already be receiving such funds regardless. While there is cross-party support for a change that would remove this “double dipping”, the policy would also charge back some of those who have already benefited from this loophole.  The move has been criticised by opposition MPs, who say creating debt for already marginalised or vulnerable groups is unfair and morally questionable. For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party's Simon Court, News Director Castor asked about the New Zealand government's stance on conflict in the Middle East and issues with this new ACC policy change, beginning on the Middle East.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Act Party leader comments on Trump’s bombing, Trump’s tariffs, “degenerate dog owners” in Northland, and selling Air New Zealand.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Tuesday Wire...  For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about making English an official language of Aotearoa and reducing the minimum proposed homes for Auckland down to 1.6 million.  They also spoke to Dr. Mohsen Mohammadzadeh from the University of Auckland's school of architecture and planning about PC 120 and how to best develop Auckland as a city for the future.  And producer Alex spoke with Senior Lecturer in Architecture and Planning, Timothy Welch, about the Infrastructure Commission's suggestion of a $9 toll on the harbour bridge, whether it's the right move, and what it means for Auckland's Infrastructure planning.

Advocates warn the removal of requirements for assisted suicide would open Pandora's box. The ACT Party is pushing for changes to its End of Life Choice Act. Proposed amendments include removing the six-month prognosis requirement and adopting all 25 recommendations for a Health Ministry review. Ethos Alliance chief executive Alex Penk says it would open up euthanasia as an option to more long-term conditions and disabilities. "If you're a doctor at the moment, for example, who says I can make my peace with euthanasia for end-stage cancer, say - they might start to feel quite differently about this when you start talking about diabetes, frailty, renal failure..." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Auckland Councillor Maurice Williamson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day, and more! The ACT Party is looking to make changes to the End of Life Choice Act, and it's prompted concerns from critics about what it could mean for the healthcare system? Do we think these are warranted? The Government is looking into tolling the Auckland Harbour Bridge, as well as the second harbour crossing. Do we think this is realistic? What do we think of the new birth statistics data. More women are delaying kids until they get older. What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This past week has seen the government announcing plans to construct a facility for the storage of liquid natural gas. The plans have been criticised by activists, academics, and opposition members, who say it compromises our government's commitment to reducing emissions.  Yesterday also saw ACT Party Leader David Seymour deliver his State of the Nation speech, noting different parts of society and the economy his party takes issue with. He particularly raised "five warning lights", of issues that the country must "overcome".  For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to Simon Court about each of these issues, starting with liquid natural gas. 

This week on the Monday Wire... For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News Director Castor spoke to MP Simon Court about Liquid Natural Gas imports and David Seymour's State of the Nation speech.  They also spoke to Professor Emeritus at Massey University, Ralph Sims, about the sustainability of an LNG terminal. And they spoke to University of Auckland Professor of Electrical Engineering Nirmal Nair about how the LNG plans would benefit power companies.  Producer Alex spoke to Professor Emeritus in Law at the University of Auckland, Jane Kelsey, about the ongoing rumblings around reforms within the World Trade Organisation, New Zealand's role, and what changes to the organisation would mean for us. He also spoke with Professor in Chemicals and Materials Engineering at the University of Auckland, and Deputy Director of the Green Energy Engineering Centre, Brent Young, about the governments LNG terminal proposal, and what it means in the context of our wider approach to fixing our energy woes.

The Act Party leader on why it’s worth listening to Question Time, and what he makes of the Indian FTA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party leader and Deputy PM comments on Act's ag policy, Winston’s election campaign in full swing, and whether Waitangi Day will be divisive this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a Parliament first, National and Labour are teaming up to tackle modern slavery. Backbench MPs from the rival parties have put forward new legislation, and they are using a new rule to fast-track it up Parliament's agenda, skipping the usual "biscuit tin" lottery. But this big show of bonhomie appears to have been by necessity. Despite the prime minister's personal passion for the topic, it seems the ACT Party was blocking it from going through Cabinet. Political reporter Russell Palmer has more.

ACT leader David Seymour says voters need to see the result of coalition policies before heading to voting booths. The Prime Minister's announced the election will be held on November 7 - a later date than the past two, which were held in October. Seymour says the Government's done a lot of work on the economy, and a later election will give voters time to see that. "And I think it's only fair that people get to judge the Government on the benefits of its policies delivered before they choose." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Act Party leader makes his final appearance for 2025 as we discuss tomorrow’s Half-Year Economic and Fiscal Update (Hyefu). Plus, who is his Ag Person of the Year?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the government choosing not to go ahead with the Climate Change Commission's recommendations on how to reduce methane emissions. Producer Alex spoke to Lisa Ellis, a Professor in Philosophy at the University of Otago, about the government's decision to reject the climate change commission's recommendation to include shipping and aviation emissions from our national emissions targets, and what that means for our Paris Agreement commitments. Joel spoke to Boyd Swinburn, a Professor of Population Nutrition and Global Health at the University of Auckland and Co-Chair of Health Coalition Aotearoa about San Francisco's lawsuit against companies producing highly-processed food, and what we could see as a result here in New Zealand. And Alex spoke to Chief Advisor at Forest & Bird, Richard Capie, about the Fast Track Amendment bill, the lack of engagement with feedback in the Environment Select Committee's report recommending any changes, and what it means for our environment. Whakarongo mai!

The government has recently rejected all of the Climate Change Commission's recommendations regarding strengthening the country's methane targets recommendations. The commission's recommendations include strengthening the county's 2050 methane emission targets, continuing lowering emissions after 2050, and that international shipping and aviation, which represents 9% of the county's total emissions, should be included within targets. Despite the commission saying that there would be upfront costs, many of the changes would result in cost savings over time, however, the government rejected this claim. For our weekly catchup with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about the government rejecting these recommendations.

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about the shake-up to regional councils, and the Justice Committee recommending the Electoral Amendment Bill pass. Producer Alex spoke with Research Fellow at the department of primary healthcare and rural health at the Dunedin School of Medicine, Dr Geoffrey Noller, about the roll out of roadside drug testing for substances such as Marijuana beginning in wellington, and what it means for road safety and legal Marijuana users. And Alex spoke with Professor in pediatric endocrinology at the Liggins Insititute at the University of Auckland, Paul Hofman, about the governments ban on puberty blockers, and what it means for the mental health of young trans people. Whakarongo mai!

The government has recently announced some major reforms to how regional councils operate, with regional councillors proposed to be replaced by boards made up of city and regional mayors, and potentially even Crown-appointed representatives, called combined territories boards, or CTBs. The ‘shake-up' of regional councils has left concerns that the move would water down environmental regulations at a local level, reduce Māori and iwi voices in decision making, and would result in central government overreaching into local politics. As well as this, Parliament's Justice Committee has recommended passing the Electoral Amendment Bill, albeit with some amendments For our weekly catch up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about both of these topics, starting with the changes to regional councils.

The Arms Act has been home to New Zealand's gun laws since 1983, though it's had many, many iterations. The coalition has now overhauled the legislation - but it's not exactly the shake-up many were expecting. Political reporter Anneke Smith takes a closer look at the changes and explains why the ACT Party didn't get everything it wanted. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A few weeks ago, Kelston Boys High School in West Auckland said they were at the front of an unsupported, attempted takeover to turn the school into a charter school. As well as this, more recently, the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport, a charter school set to be established next year, was signed with a trust that did not exist. Amendments have also been made to the Education and Training Act, removing a clause requiring school boards give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The move has seen backlash from the National Iwi Chairs Forum and a growing number of schools, who have launched a petition against the move.  Finally, the controversial Regulatory Standards Bill has passed its third reading and is now set to be implemented into law. The bill previously received 156,000 public submissions, with 98.7% of those voicing their opposition to the bill. For our weekly catch-up with ACT Party's Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to him about these topics. They started off by asking Court about Kelston Boys High School and the New Zealand Campus of Innovation and Sport, and how concerning these developments are for the ACT Party.

New Zealand's effective ban on military-style semi-automatic firearms has survived the coalition's overhaul of the Arms Act. The government has been rewriting the country's gun laws, as part of National's coalition agreement with the ACT Party. Fears the reforms might liberalise access to semi-automatic guns - used in the March 15 terror attacks - have not materialised. Political reporter Anneke Smith has more.

Concerns have been raised that rough sleepers will be pushed into unfamiliar suburbs outside of Auckland CBD, following government ministers' consideration of new measures. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says he had been tasked with making sure police were equipped to halt public disorder. When questioned explicitly about the ban, he said, "We're working our way through those issues... when we've got something to announce, we'll announce that." As well as this, the Regulatory Standards Bill has passed its second reading in Parliament, having seen a few changes made to the bill in the select committee process. The bill, having received 156,000 public submissions, almost 99% in opposition to the bill, is controversial. Constitutional experts and critics of the bill have expressed concerns that the amendments do not address its failings, and the “ideological” way it has been written means that if passed, the bill will have a lasting impact. The bill also lacks references to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. For our weekly catch-up with ACT Party's Simon Court, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to him about both these topics.

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host Joel spoke to MP Simon Court about government ministers announcing they are considering banning rough sleeping in Auckland's CBD and the Regulatory Standards Bill passing its second reading. Producer Alex spoke to  Dr Iresh Jayawardena, a lecturer in Architecture and Urban Planning and lead researcher for the Future Cities Research Centre about Earth Science New Zealand's new Flood Risk Map, and what it says about our infrastructure's exposure to climate based harms. And Joel spoke to Marcelo Rodriguez Ferrere, an Associate Law Professor at the University of Auckland, about NZ First's members bill proposed a ban on the private sale and use of fireworks, touching on why we are seeing so many members bills from the party. Whakarongo mai!

This week on the Monday Wire: For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about the government's Jobseeker Support changes for 18-to-19-year-olds, and the government's amendments to the Policing Act. Following Joel's chat with Simon, they spoke more about the amendments to the Policing Act with Gehan Gunasekara - the Convenor of the Surveillance Group within the Privacy Foundation and an Associate Commerical Law Professor at the University of Auckland, about concerns these changes will create a “surveillance state”. Producer Alex spoke to a Professor in the Faculty of Science at the University of Auckland, Rochelle Constantine about what the new Hauraki Gulf Protections Act means for our larger wildlife. On Thursday, 95bFM Intern Zanoor spoke to Dr Lucy Hardie, a Health Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, about research showing global vaping companies are using tactics to target young people. And Alex to an Associate French Professor at the University of Auckland, Deborah Walker-Morrison, about the ongoing political crisis in France, and what the instability means for President Emmanuel Macron and his party going forward. Whakarongo mai.