Podcasts about associate minister

Today's episode features a powerful sermon from Rev. Dr. Le'Tasha Morrison, Associate Minister of NMC, shared during our Women's Day Celebration. Positioned for Expansion1 Chronicles 4:9-10 (NKJV) Listen and subscribe today on your favorite podcast platforms such as Apple Podcast, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Amazon Podcast.

Questions to Ministers CAMERON LUXTON to the Associate Minister of Justice: How will recently announced changes to the Arms Act 1983 benefit licenced firearms owners? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Lead Coordination Minister for the Government's Response to the Royal Commission's Report into Historical Abuse in State Care and in the Care of Faith-based Institutions: Does she agree with the Prime Minister, who said, when asked whether he would implement all royal commission recommendations, "Yes, this is a Government that's working its way through the 207 recommendations. We've already accepted or partially accepted 85 of those"? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all the Government's statements and actions? Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN to the Minister of Education: E tautoko ana ia i ana korero me ana mahi katoa? Does she stand by all of her statements and actions? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on Government support for families? Hon RACHEL BROOKING to the Minister for Food Safety: Is he committed to his responsibility under the food safety portfolio to "provide safe and suitable food in New Zealand and for export"? MILES ANDERSON to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has the Government made about making it easier and more affordable for New Zealanders to access the medicines they need? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Is there a suitable job available for every unemployed person in this country; if not, should unemployed people live in poverty? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for the Public Service: Which is correct, her oral answer in the House on 12 November 2025, in which she said, "a communications strategy is not the same as a paid advertising campaign, which I was not aware of", or her answer to Written question No. 50726 that "The Public Service Commission later informed my office and asked us to inform the PMO prior of the specific advertising going live"? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology: What steps is the Government taking to support science and innovation to grow the economy and improve the health of New Zealanders? REUBEN DAVIDSON to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology: How many full-time research jobs have been lost or left unfilled in the last two years as a result of funding cuts or restructuring in the science system? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcement has he made regarding the Mental Health and Addiction Community Sector Innovation Fund? Question to Member Hon RACHEL BROOKING to the Chairperson of the Environment Committee: Why did she explain advertising an 11-day submissions deadline for the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill on the basis that "Under Standing Order 198, I opened submissions to meet the expectation of the timeframe", when Standing Order 198 makes no reference to the timeframe for submissions?

The Associate Minister of Agriculture (Horticulture) looks forward to the next couple of days catching up with farmers at the show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? JOSEPH MOONEY to the Minister of Transport: What steps has the Government taken to improve productivity in our cities? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent announcements has she made on hospitality in New Zealand? TAMATHA PAUL to the Minister for Children: Is she reconsidering the Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Amendment Bill in light of the final evaluation report on the military-style academy pilot; if not, why not? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Infrastructure: Does he stand by his statement on 6 November 2025, "there's billions of dollars of construction jobs coming into the market over the next few years"? SAM UFFINDELL to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What recent reports has she seen on the horticulture sector? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for the Public Service: Does she stand by all her statements and actions in relation to the industrial action undertaken by public sector workers on 23 October 2025? JENNY MARCROFT to the Minister for Resources: What reports, if any, has he seen regarding the resources sector? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Vocational Education: How many more people aged 15 to 24, if any, are not engaged in education, employment, or training compared to September 2024? Question to Member Hon RACHEL BROOKING to the Chairperson of the Environment Committee: Which Ministers or ministerial advisers, if any, did she communicate with about the submission deadline to the Fast-track Approvals Amendment Bill before the advertisement in her name opening submissions was issued?

New Zealand has the third highest adult obesity rate in the OECD, and the rates are going up. One in three adult New Zealanders is classified as obese, and one in 10 children. Even if you take into account, yes, yes, yes, a lot of the All Blacks front row are considered obese if you use the BMI. And yes, you might have a slow metabolism or it's your hormones and there's nothing you can do about it, that's still a lot of fat people and a lot of associated health issues. The cost of obesity in this country is estimated as being between four and nine billion dollars per year. It's a huge range, four to nine billion, but it's where you classify the different illnesses, and it depends on which survey you look at. Even if you go at the lower limit, $4 billion is a hell of a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't need to happen. Cardiovascular disease alone costs more than three billion. The human misery too that comes with being obese for many kids and adults is another intangible cost. But now we have a drug for that. GLP-1 is the magic ingredient. It regulates blood sugar levels and slows down the rate at which food leaves the stomach, thus making people fuller for longer. And apparently, according to those who've used it, it turns off the chatter in your head, the constant thinking about food. Well, if I have this and then I walk for an hour and then I'll be able to have something else. Ooh. Ooh, I'm not hungry now, but ooh, imagine what I could have for dinner. Planning the next meal before you've actually finished the one in front of you. It's that constant food chatter. I think Oprah was the first one to talk about it, how she never realised until she took the magic drug, that you didn't have to listen to that noise in your head, that other people didn't have it. So the GLP-1-mimicking drugs seem to be a powerful tool. They're actually effective. And after decades of research and money being poured into weight loss drugs, this one seems to work. More importantly, this one doesn't have the side effects of the speed drugs that were given out in the 70s as diet pills. It was basically methamphetamine. Some people are losing around 15% of their body weight or more after just over a year on the semaglutide. Wegovy became available to New Zealanders in July. It's not publicly funded. It's a weekly drug and comes at an ongoing cost of about $500 a month. Should it be funded? David Seymour, the Associate Minister for Health, seems to think so. In the past he said, well, if you spend a buck to save five, why wouldn't you? Although as he points out, Pharmac's decisions are independent of any ministers. The NHS in Britain has done the sums. If the weight loss drugs were prescribed to everyone who needed them according to the stringent criteria, the prohibitively expensive cost would bankrupt the NHS even after taking into account the cost of the health problems that they would inevitably solve. So you would have to do the sums for this country to work out whether it would pay off in the long run. If that's what it does, if, you know, one buck is going to save us five long term. If a huge cohort, in every sense of the word, of New Zealanders is going to live a better life, a healthier life as a result of the investment, surely it's worth it? But to get buy-in, you would have to get the support of the majority of New Zealanders. One in three adult New Zealanders is classified as obese, two in three aren't. And they might say, well, I'm doing everything right for my body. I'm doing the exercise and I'm not greedy. Some might well see obesity as a moral failing. Throughout history, it's been seen as a moral failing. One of the seven deadly sins is gluttony. In Dante's Inferno, the gluttons are consigned to the third circle of hell. Gluttons are people with uncontrolled appetites who worship food as a kind of God, according to Dante. Therefore, the gluttons' punishment in the third circle of hell, instead of eating fine delicate foods and wines, they're forced to eat filth and mud and be rained upon by foul smelling rain. Cerberus, the dog, ravages them and mauls them. It's a miserable punishment. Gluttons have always been seen as moral failures. Which may, I think, have been fair at a time where resources were scarce, and if you were wealthy, you got other people to get food for you and you ate it at the expense of the poor. But these days, when the food industry is making money out of processed food designed to hook you in and give you an insatiable appetite for more, I think we can take the moral failing out, can't we? Most people know what to do. There's far more to it than just calories in, calories out and more exercise, and even the makers of Wegovy and Ozempic and the like understand that too. They say it's not going to work on its own. It's the same with bariatric surgery, you have to do so much more than just stop the food going in. There is much, much more to it than that. If we do the sums, the NHS says they've done them and the cost is too high. But if we do the sums for this country, and ultimately, we spend a dollar to save five, why wouldn't we? Why wouldn't we put everybody who wants the Wegovy onto it? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister of Internal Affairs: How many breakdowns have there been of fire appliances nationwide since January 2025, and how many of them have caused delays in getting to a fire? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister for Economic Growth: What action is the Government taking to increase supermarket competition as well as drive economic growth? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Associate Minister of Education: Was it his intention in reinstating the charter school model that a community group could mount a takeover bid of a State school without the support of that school; if so, has such a takeover bid been made regarding Kelston Boys' High School? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Conservation: What recent announcements has he made about the Hauraki Gulf/Te Pataka kai o Tikapa Moana? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Minister of Education: Does she agree with the president of Te Whakaroputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa - New Zealand School Boards Association, Meredith Kennett, that "to understand attendance and achievement statistics for rangatahi Maori, you have to understand our history - and that includes Te Tiriti"; if so, how does she justify her decision to remove the Te Tiriti o Waitangi requirement from education governance? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his statements and actions? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made about delivering a better mental health crisis response? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Infrastructure: Does he stand by his statement that the Government's infrastructure pipeline "will create thousands of employment opportunities for New Zealanders"; if so, why? RIMA NAKHLE to the Associate Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about land transport rules? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Transport: What is the total amount that the Crown has paid for Transmission Gully to date, including settlements, and what is the annual amount of the quarterly payments to the Wellington Gateway Partnership? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of the Government's statements and actions? TANGI UTIKERE to the Minister of Transport: Does he stand by the Government's Roads of National Significance programme; if so, how much of that programme has been fully funded to date?

Publicly funding weightloss drugs may not be the answer to the country's obesity problem. New Zealand has the third highest adult obesity rate in the OECD, with one in three adults classified as obese, and one in ten children. Associate Minister of Health David Seymour believes publicly funding things like Wegovy would help save money in the long run. But community leader and Founder of Butterbean Motivation, Dave Letele told Kerre Woodham that we can't prescribe our way out of this issue. While he's not against weightloss drugs, he says they don't change habits, mindsets, and they don't break cycles for children. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shane Jones says the Government's new Fuel Security Plan will ensure there's a reliable source of fuel in case of global or domestic disruption. The plan focuses on four key areas centred around resilience against supply shocks. Fuel importers will be required to hold minimum levels of diesel and jet fuel, and the Government will support domestic fuel alternatives. Jones, the Associate Minister of Energy, told Mike Hosking it's vital people and businesses can continue to access fuel, no matter what challenges the future brings. He says there needs to be a plan to ration and move the economy forward in case there's a big geopolitical event. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Ryan Bridge Full Show Podcast Tuesday 28th of October 2025, Labour's announced a capital gains tax, Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen shares his thoughts. The Government's finally making moves on aged care reform, Associate Minister of Health Casey Costello tells Ryan what changes they plan to make. Newstalk ZB Political reporter Azaria Howell has the latest on Luxon in Asia. Andrew Alderson has the latest on the weekend's sport. Plus, Australia Correspondent Donna Demaio has the latest on a crocodile attack in Queensland. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister of Internal Affairs: How is the Government ensuring that New Zealand's firefighters are properly equipped and resourced to safely respond to fires happening across Aotearoa recently? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Dr LAWRENCE XU-NAN to the Minister of Education: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does she stand by all of the Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made about the Bikes in Schools programme? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by her 50,000 jobseeker reduction target? SIMON COURT to the Minister for Children: What recent data has she seen on findings of harm in State care residences? GRANT McCALLUM to the Associate Minister of Housing: What recent announcements has he made on housing? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement, "it's so disappointing that they are playing politics, that they are choosing to go on strike", and will she meet with the predicted over 40,000 striking educators to address their concerns? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister of Health: Do nurses have safe staffing levels; if so, what evidence does he have to demonstrate that? CARL BATES to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made about crisis recovery cafés? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Economic Growth: Does she agree with Nicola Willis that a National-led Government "will rebuild the economy to reduce the cost of living and help Kiwis get ahead"?

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made on the Government's Roads of National Significance programme? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Will she be present at education sector strike protests on 23 October; if not, why not? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore law and order? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for the Public Service: Does she stand by her statement, "An efficient, professional, and politically neutral public service is essential"? ANDY FOSTER to the Associate Minister of Police: What recent reports has she seen about organised crime? LEMAUGA LYDIA SOSENE to the Minister of Internal Affairs: Is she confident that firefighters have the appliances and equipment they need to keep them safe on the job; if so, why? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister of Health: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that nurses have safe working conditions; if so, why? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made on rolling out new mental health services in emergency departments?

Watch Dr. Henry P. Davis III from First Baptist Church of Highland Park To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.lightsource.com/donate/857/29

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Health: What recent progress has been made on the Government's commitment to extend free breast screening for New Zealand women? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Education: What recent reports has she seen on education achievement? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent announcements has he made about the opening of new charter schools across New Zealand? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How will her introduction of a parental income test for young job seekers impact families struggling with the cost of living? MAUREEN PUGH to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent reports has she seen on tourism in New Zealand? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology: What steps is the Government taking to support science and innovation in order to grow the New Zealand economy? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Economic Growth: Does she agree with the statement of Hon Nicola Willis that "On our watch there may be fewer people wearing lanyards on Lambton Quay, but there are going to be a lot more people wearing high-vis and hard-hats"; if so, why? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Has he seen the Our Marine Environment 2025 report, which shows that New Zealand oceans are warming 34 percent faster than the global average; if so, what actions is he taking to address this? JAMIE ARBUCKLE to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What reports, if any, has he received regarding wool?

Questions to Ministers Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: Does he have confidence in the actions of all his Ministers? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the Government's financial position? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Is the record 73,900 New Zealand citizens leaving the country a sign that her economic plan is a success; if not, why not? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Education: What recent data has she seen on literacy achievement? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Why has the number of people unable to afford a doctor's visit increased under this Government? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? Hon KIERAN McANULTY to the Associate Minister of Housing: How many pregnant women have been refused access to emergency housing since December 2023, broken down by region, if any? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Agriculture: Why has the Government announced new science-based methane targets to support farmers' contribution to meeting New Zealand's obligations under the 2050 Paris Agreement? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement that "This Government has been backing teachers since the day that we took office"; if so, why are teachers, principals, and support staff all striking together? JENNY MARCROFT to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What reports, if any, has he seen on recent developments in the Middle East?

I love the fact that New Zealand Education Minister Erica Stanford and the Prime Minister presented improved reading stats to the nation yesterday. Erica Stanford was very quick to praise teachers for the much-improved results in phonics reading. She said this is an incredible improvement in reading scores in less than half a year and reflects the brilliant work teachers are doing, and it does. Teachers have had a difficult time with changes in curriculum and dealing with increasingly disruptive children and school closures during Covid – it has been a difficult time. But when given a challenge, and when given a mandate, and given the tools to help do it, they rose to the challenge and the results have been, in these very early stages, remarkable. There needed to be a turnaround. New Zealand's reading results have been declining since 2006 in the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study, which is done every five years, and just about every international test where we mark ourselves against other countries we have been on a downward spiral. Interestingly, educators, teachers, principals insisted that it's just tests. Our kids don't like tests, they don't like being compared, it's a very crude way to measure achievement. No, not really, it's not. It's an accurate assessment of where we were at. And where we were at was dismal. The results from this year look extremely promising. Data showed 58% of students were at or above expectations at their 20-week phonics check in Term 3. That's up from 36% in Term 1. So they were measured after Term 1 – the little five-year-olds were at or above expectations, 36% of them in Term 1, and that has moved to 58% in Term 3. In Term 3, 43% of students were classed as exceeding expectations, more than double the Term 1 rate. For Māori students in mainstream education, 47% of them required further support with phonics in Term 3. That is down from 62% of them needing support in Term 1. So to put it in another slightly more positive way, in Term 1 a quarter of Māori students were at or above expectations, by Term 3, that was 43%. So that's a significant difference. Education Minister Erica Stanford says this is only the beginning. “From next year, twice a year, every year in reading, writing and maths, there'll be a progress monitoring check-in. I do not call it a test. But we will be essentially assessing every child from year three to make sure that they're on track with their reading, writing and maths. And that includes higher level literacy like comprehension.” I have absolute faith that we'll see a lift in children's educational achievements under the new curriculum. Structured literacy, which involves explicitly teaching word identification, including through phonics, became mandatory in schools at the start of this year. Certainly it was used in many schools before this, but not necessarily by every teacher at every year level. It was very much hit and miss, and that was one of the things they talked about in the election campaign. They didn't want educational success to be by postcode because one principal did things one way and another principal did things another way. They wanted a standardized education for every child right across the country, and one that worked. Labour leader Chris Hipkins was quick to claim credit for the structured literacy program, telling reporters after the press conference yesterday the scheme had been underway under the previous Labour government. It was being rolled out, he said. We were in the early stages of rolling it out, but then we lost the election. Clearly, we believe in it, we developed it, the vast bulk of the work around structured literacy was done when Jan Tinetti was Associate Minister of Education and I was the Minister. Right. You had six years to make the changes, being generous, to look at the science and introduce a best practice for all of our Kiwi kids, but you didn't. You didn't. And as for the comment he made too, in a really churlish kind of look at me, what about us? He said, of course we'd be making more progress if teachers were in the classroom rather than on strike because the Government are offering them a real terms pay cut. Short memory former Education Minister. 2023 was a terrible year, absolutely terrible year for strike action by teachers. In March 2023, tens of thousands of primary, area, and secondary school teachers participated in an historic one-day walkout, but that show of strength didn't work. Despite the fact Labour is supposed to be the teachers' friend, teachers, primary and or secondary, went on strike for six days in 2023. And there were further rolling strikes and works to rule. So yeah, it would have been good to have them in the classroom in 2023 when you were Prime Minister, especially after the disruption of Covid. Ultimately though, what matters is our kids are back on track. Baby steps, but it's a very, very good beginning. For hundreds of years, a decent education was what gave you options. It didn't matter where you were born and what circumstances you were born, a good education gave you options. It emancipated you from material poverty, intellectual poverty, spiritual poverty. And the quality of New Zealand's education for all children, not just the children of the elite, was what set us apart from the rest of the world. We lost our way for a time. And we lost a whole cohort of young New Zealanders. But hopefully this is the beginning of giving New Zealand kids choices and opportunities, giving them the sort of future that they deserve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Is her economic plan the reason the economy is smaller now than it was when she took office; if not, why not? Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made on the Government's health targets? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations: Does he agree with the former Minister who introduced the Marine and Coastal Area Act that his proposed amendments "do not restore the original intention of Parliament. They undermine them"; if not, why not? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does teachers, principals, support staff, and Ministry of Education specialist staff all going on strike show that she is "growing and strengthening the education workforce"; if so, how? GREG FLEMING to the Minister of Education: What recent announcement has she made regarding school infrastructure? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What is the estimated reduction, if any, in the number of people receiving jobseeker support because of the proposed parental income test for 18- and 19-year-olds? LAURA McCLURE to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent reports has he seen on school attendance, and why does he think going to school matters to students' futures? STEVE ABEL to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: Does he agree with the SPCA that "the use of farrowing crates causes significant animal welfare problems for both sow and piglets"; if so, why has the Government introduced legislation to extend the use of farrowing crates by at least another decade? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister for Infrastructure: Does he stand by his statement, "we make it too hard to deliver and maintain the infrastructure New Zealand needs"; if so, how is that consistent with a $2.6 billion drop in planned spending on capital commitments by the Government for the 11 months to May 2025?

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:3-13; Series: Finish Line Faith; Speaker: Isaac Karow, Associate Minister

This Otago sheep and beef farmer is also the Minister for Rural Communities, the Associate Minister for Agriculture and the Associate Minister for Regional Development. He’s back from China, where he was exploring opportunities for New Zealand wool. Plus, what he’s learned about farmer mental (and physical) health from his rural roadshows.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TIM VAN DE MOLEN to the Minister for Trade and Investment: What recent steps has the Government taken to strengthen New Zealand's trade and investment relationship with Saudi Arabia? BENJAMIN DOYLE to the Minister of Education: Kei te whakapono ia ki ana kowhiringa katoa me ana mahi katoa kia whai putanga pai mo nga akonga Maori? Does she believe all her decisions and actions support positive education outcomes for akonga Maori? Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR to the Minister for Economic Growth: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE to the Minister for Maori Development: E whakapono ana ia ki nga mahi a te Kawanatanga kia whakapumautia te reo Maori? Does he stand by the Government's track record on upholding obligations to te reo Maori? TIM COSTLEY to the Associate Minister of Housing: What recent announcements have been made about improving social housing? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement regarding the bowel cancer screening age that "We are committed to matching Australia. The critical restriction to enable that is access to more colonoscopies"; if so, why? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister for Energy: What recent announcements has he made on the Offshore Renewable Energy Bill? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: E whakaae ana ia ki ta te Environmental Defence Society ki atu ko ta Tiriti o Waitangi he whakatakoto "obligation on the Crown to legislate for effective marine management"; ki te kore, he aha e kore ai? Does he agree with the Environmental Defence Society that te Tiriti o Waitangi sets out an "obligation on the Crown to legislate for effective marine management"; if not, why not? Hon PEENI HENARE to the Minister for Maori Development: E whakapau kaha ana tona Kawanatanga ki te tautoko i te reo Maori ki Aotearoa nei? Is the Government doing all it can to support the Maori language here in New Zealand? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Associate Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about the Ashburton Bridge? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her statement that "this Government is delivering for all workers"; if so, why?

Questions to Ministers Dr HAMISH CAMPBELL to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister for Children: What recent reports has she seen regarding the progress of the Government's target to reduce child and youth offending? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with the Acting Reserve Bank Governor that "it's been a challenging period for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, as we face a test of trust and confidence in us as an organisation"; if so, what role has she played in that? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister of Justice: What recent reports has he seen on crime in New Zealand? Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR to the Minister for Economic Growth: Do recent industry closures and job losses contribute to economic growth? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made about new investment for eating disorder services? CELIA WADE-BROWN to the Minister of Local Government: Does he support all the Government's statements and actions in relation to Maori wards? E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga e pa ana ki nga wari Maori? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Does he agree with Christopher Luxon, who said, "National will curb the rising cost of living"; if so, what recent actions has he taken to curb food costs? STUART SMITH to the Associate Minister of Transport: What recent announcement has he made about aviation?

Questions to Ministers Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? JENNY MARCROFT to the Minister for Regional Development: What reports has he seen regarding the West Coast? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister for Economic Growth: What recent announcements has she made on competition? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions in relation to the resignations of the former Reserve Bank Chair and Governor? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister for Infrastructure: What reports has he seen on New Zealand's infrastructure pipeline? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: What is the impact of delayed allogeneic stem cell transplants on patients with blood cancers, and how is that harm being measured at New Zealand's three transplant centres? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent announcements has she made about boosting major events and tourism across New Zealand? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What, if anything, in his reforms announced today will bring prices of essentials down now for Kiwi consumers? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Associate Minister of Agriculture: What recent reports has she seen on farmer confidence? LAURA McCLURE to the Associate Minister of Education: What recent reports has he seen on education?

Questions to Ministers ANDY FOSTER to the Minister for Regional Development: What recent announcements has he made regarding geothermal energy? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Minister of Housing: Does he expect the recent changes to support for rough sleepers to end homelessness in Auckland; if not, why not? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about the transport infrastructure pipeline? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions in relation to the resignations of the former Reserve Bank Chair and Governor? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister for Space: Was she aware of links between intelligence company BlackSky and the Israeli Defence Ministry when she approved payload launch permits; if so, did she raise any concerns? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made about strengthening learning support? Hon KIERAN McANULTY to the Associate Minister of Housing: Does he agree with the Prime Minister, who claimed, in reference to emergency housing, that "we've fixed it"; if so, why? MIKE BUTTERICK to the Minister for Land Information: What announcement has he made, if any, about the future of Watts Peninsula - Matai Moana? CAMERON LUXTON to the Minister for Food Safety: What recent announcements has he made about cutting red tape for New Zealand food exporters? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Does he stand by his expectation of "prioritisation and utilisation of the Commission's full regulatory and enforcement tool kit to achieve real impacts for consumers"; if so, what is he doing to make the cost of living more affordable for New Zealand consumers?

The Building Industry Federation says the country's facing a slow motion energy crisis and gas is vital in the production of building products. It's worried rising energy prices could push the cost of construction materials even higher forcing more busineses to close. MBIE figures show natural gas reserves are down 27 percent compared to last year. The Building Industry Federation says its controversial but necessary for the government to intervene and re-allocate the gas that's going to Methanex to other manufacturers. Resources Minister and Associate Minister for Energy Shane Jones talks to Lisa Owen.

The answer is no, no she hasn't.As a combat veteran who served and sacrificed along side friends who will never come home from Afghanistan, who carries the scars—both visible and invisible—of combat, I am beyond disgusted by the recent appointment of Jill McKnight as Minister of Veterans Affairs and Associate Minister of National Defence, to be clear I'm not the only one either. Countless veterans from across this national and outside of it have reached out to share their distain and disgusted. It's not only insulting; it shows utter contempt by Mark Carney's Liberal cabinet towards those who've actually served our nation and risked everything to uphold our freedoms. Incompetence we already knew Mark was capable of, but this is a whole new level.Substack: https://substack.com/@kelsisheren - - - - - - - - - - - -SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS - - - - - - - - - - - -Ketone IQ- 30% off with code KELSI - https://ketone.com/KELSIGood Livin- 20% off with code KELSI - https://www.itsgoodlivin.com/?ref=KELSIBrass & Unity - 20% off with code UNITY - http://brassandunity.com - - - - - - - - - - - - -SHOPB&U Jewelry & Eyewear: https://brassandunity.com - - - - - - - - - - - - -Follow #thekelsisherenperspective- - - - - - - - - - - - -CHARITYHeroic Hearts Project - https://www.heroicheartsproject.orgAll Secure Foundation - http://allsecurefoundation.orgDefenders of Freedom -https://www.defendersoffreedom.usBoot Campaign - https://bootcampaign.org

An action plan to help keep small airlines flying regional routes is expected to land on the desk of the Associate Transport Minster any day now. Air NZ serves 20 regional areas, but the smaller carriers are the only ones flying to places like Wairoa, Masterton and Stewart Island. From the end of next month Sounds Air is canning its flights from Blenheim to Christchurch, and Christchurch to Wanaka, due to what it has described as out of control costs. Associate Minister of Transport, James Meager spoke to Lisa Owen.

Questions to Ministers Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by the Minister for Pacific Peoples' statement, "So as a wider suite of all-of-Government endeavours, we're looking to improve employment for Pasifika"; if so, what specific actions has she taken to improve employment for Pasifika peoples? TODD STEPHENSON to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent reports has he seen about Medsafe? JAMIE ARBUCKLE to the Minister for Rail: What recent statements and actions has he made regarding rail? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? MILES ANDERSON to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What recent progress has been made on changing our planning system? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement, "Through our record $16.68 billion investment across three Budgets, we are making sure our health system is properly resourced to meet the growing demands placed on it"; if not, why? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage: What recent announcements has he made about future-proofing New Zealand's unique natural history? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister for Energy: What recent announcements has he seen about the Energy Competition Task Force?

Questions to Ministers DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety: Does she stand by her statement that "This Government denounces sex-based discrimination in the workplace"; if so, does she think that the submission made by Pay Equity Aotearoa urging the United Nations to investigate whether the changes to pay equity law breach the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women is consistent with this statement? CARL BATES to the Minister of Education: What announcements has she made regarding lifting educational achievement? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? Dr PARMJEET PARMAR to the Minister of Internal Affairs: What increased efficiencies has she seen across the Department of Internal Affairs? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon PEENI HENARE to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by all his actions in preparing the health system for winter 2025? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister for Building and Construction: What recent announcement has the Government made about the building consent system? CAMILLA BELICH to the Minister for the Public Service: Does she stand by her statement about public sector industrial action that "there's going to be a lot of options that we're looking at as a government"; if so, what specific options is the Government considering? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Associate Minister of Transport: What recent announcements has he made about the Pages Road Bridge?

In this episode, from an elective at the 2025 Priscilla & Aquila Centre annual conference held on Monday 3 February 2025, Kate Snell, Assistant School Chaplain at Barker College and former Dean of Students at Mary Andrews College, and wife of Brian, Associate Minister at St Philip's, South Turramurra, helps us think theologically about menopause in a talk arising from a research paper she wrote as part of her Master of Arts in Theology.Kate points out that menopause has the potential to challenge everything a woman thinks and feels about herself and her place in the world, and therefore this season of life raises all kinds of issues for women that also impact the way the church can care for them pastorally.Even if you're not a woman, let me encourage you to listen to Kate's talk, particularly if you are involved in pastoral ministry. It will assist you in understanding the experience of something that will one day affect around 50 per cent of the population. That includes all the women in your life.Please note: this episode is a companion piece to next week's bonus episode with Kath Bruce and Cathy Young on the medical and ministry considerations of menopause.For more audio resources, visit the Moore College website. There, you can also make a donation to support the work of the College.Contact us and find us on socials.Next Priscilla & Aquila Centre evening seminar: A history of Complementarianism with Claire Smith (13 August 2025, 7-9pm).Please note: The episode transcript provided is AI-generated and has not been checked for accuracy. If quoting, please check against the audio.

Questions to Ministers HANA-RAWHITI MAIPI-CLARKE to the Minister of Education: What Maori education providers has she consulted with, if any, regarding the impact her proposed education changes will have on Maori learners across Aotearoa? NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What reports has she seen on New Zealand's fiscal policy and tax settings? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister of Immigration: What recent announcements has she made about supporting businesses to access seasonal workers? Hon Dr MEGAN WOODS to the Minister for Energy: Does he agree with the chief executive officer of Consumer NZ and the managing director of Simplicity, in the Protecting industry, jobs and household budgets as the gas runs out report, that accelerating heat pump adoption will reduce reliance on gas, protect jobs, improve public health, and lower energy costs for New Zealand families and businesses? LAURA McCLURE to the Minister for Children: What recent announcements has she made about improving the experiences of Oranga Tamariki caregivers? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by her statement about unemployment that "I'm really confident our approach is working"; if so, why is unemployment worse than this time last year, with 16,000 more people unemployed? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Conservation: What recent announcements has he made about the Conservation Act 1987? Hon PEENI HENARE to the Associate Minister of Housing: Does he agree with Hon Chris Bishop that homelessness has "potentially ticked up a little bit, up a little bit more in the last couple of years"? GREG FLEMING to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent reports has he seen on growth in the mental health workforce?

Auckland councillors are calling on the government to take action over the growing homelessness problem in the city. Associate Minister for Housing Tama Potaka spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Questions to Ministers SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister of Finance: When were personal income tax thresholds last adjusted? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? NANCY LU to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What recent announcements has the Government made regarding reduced fees at the checkout? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that his focus "is on putting patients first"? JAMIE ARBUCKLE to the Minister for Resources: What upcoming announcements, if any, is he planning for the resources portfolio? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has he made on the recovery of court fines? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Infrastructure: Does he stand by his statement, "This is a Government serious about investing in New Zealand's future. Serious about infrastructure"; if so, why have 18,000 jobs been lost in the construction sector since this Government took office? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister for Building and Construction: What announcements has the Government made about overseas building products? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon PEENI HENARE to the Associate Minister of Housing: Does he stand by his statement, "This Government takes homelessness seriously"; if not, why not?

Questions to Ministers Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? TAMATHA PAUL to the Associate Minister of Housing: Why has homelessness increased greater than the rate of population growth, while the rejection rate for emergency housing has grown to eight times what was reported a year ago? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his reported statement that Totara Hospice received 84 percent of its funding from the Government; if so, why does his account differ from that of the chief executive, who says the correct figure is 56 percent? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister for Economic Growth: What recent announcements has she made? Hon KIERAN McANULTY to the Associate Minister of Housing: Does he stand by his statement, "we've been really focussed on making sure that those people with genuine need for housing are given some sort of support"? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent reports has she seen on tourism in New Zealand? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her statement that "We want to grow, promote and support the education workforce by backing and strengthening our educators"; if so, how does offering secondary teachers the pay offer of 1 percent each year for three years back and strengthen our educators? GREG FLEMING to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements has he made about Gumboot Friday? CELIA WADE-BROWN to the Minister of Local Government: Does he agree with the comments of Selwyn Mayor Sam Broughton that "There's some basic things that councils have to get involved in because central government isn't stepping up to fit the needs of local communities"; if not, why not? REUBEN DAVIDSON to the Minister for Media and Communications: Does he stand by the decision to cut funding to Radio New Zealand in Budget 2025; if so, why? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Associate Minister of Housing: How has the Government's declining of 28 percent more emergency housing applications in March 2025 compared to the year before contributed to the Auckland, Far North, and Whangarei territorial authorities reporting the highest number of homeless whanau in Aotearoa according to the Homelessness insights report June 2025? GRANT McCALLUM to the Minister for Building and Construction: What announcements has the Government made about making building in New Zealand more affordable?

A new government report says homelessness is rising faster than New Zealand's population is growing. Associate Minister of Housing Tama Potaka spoke to Corin Dann.

Questions to Ministers TODD STEPHENSON to the Minister for Regulation: Will New Zealanders benefit from the Ministry for Regulation's work to remove unnecessary rules and regulations; if so, how? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? KAHURANGI CARTER to the Minister for Disability Issues: Does she agree with the findings of the Youth MP Parliamentary Working Group report that disabled people, especially disabled students, are consistently failed by our system; if not, why not? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What recent updates has he given about the Fast-track Approvals Act 2024? Hon WILLIE JACKSON to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by her target of reducing jobseeker numbers by 50,000; if so, is the target closer or further away from being achieved? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made regarding school property? DEBBIE NGAREWA-PACKER to the Minister of Health: What specific Maori health outcomes, if any, will improve as a result of his proposed changes to the Pae Ora (Healthy Futures) Act 2022? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Infrastructure: What is his plan to ensure there is the workforce to deliver the infrastructure pipeline, and how does it address the fact that more than a quarter of builders say they don't have enough staff to meet future needs? TEANAU TUIONO to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: What new commitments, if any, has the Government made to protect Aotearoa New Zealand's marine environment following the United Nations Ocean Conference in France last month? MIKE BUTTERICK to the Minister for Trade and Investment: What opportunities will New Zealand exporters have following the third reading of the United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Legislation Amendment Bill yesterday? Hon PEENI HENARE to the Associate Minister of Housing: How have homelessness statistics changed in each major urban centre, according to the Homelessness Insights report he received in June 2025, both in absolute numbers and percentage terms, when comparing the most recent reporting period to the previous one?

Questions to Ministers NANCY LU to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction: Does she agree with the findings of the Below the Income Floor: Modelling Income Adequacy for Low-Income New Zealand Households 2018 - 2026 report; if not, why not? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister for Infrastructure: What recent announcements has he made about getting infrastructure built in New Zealand? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? TODD STEPHENSON to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent announcements has he made about Pharmac? RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has the Government made about strengthening New Zealand's domestically trained doctor workforce? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Does he stand by his statement that "Having better competition means that we can bring down the cost of living for Kiwis"; if so, what is he doing, if anything, that reduces the cost of living? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? JENNY MARCROFT to the Associate Minister of Health: What recent reports has she seen about smoking in New Zealand? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Universities: Does he stand by all his statements and actions regarding the Waikato medical school? FRANCISCO HERNANDEZ to the Minister for Universities: Does he stand by his announcement about the establishment of a new medical school and that it will "build a stronger, more diverse workforce"; if so, why?

Questions to Ministers Hon CARMEL SEPULONI to the Minister for Women: Does she stand by all her statements and actions regarding pay equity? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister of Justice: What safeguards, if any, will he put in place to ensure that the Government's proposed citizen's arrest changes won't "lead to unreasonable use of force and unlawful detention" as is highlighted by the Ministry of Justice in the regulatory impact statement? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? Hon WILLOW-JEAN PRIME to the Minister of Education: How many Resource Teacher Literacy and Resource Teacher Maori jobs will be lost as a result of the Government's decision to defund these roles? LAN PHAM to the Associate Minister for the Environment: Is the Minister concerned about the state of freshwater quality following a Statistics New Zealand indicator showing that over the past five years, drinking water pollution levels were exceeded in at least 45 percent of sites for E. coli and 12 percent of sites for nitrates? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister responsible for RMA Reform: What announcements has he made regarding the transition to the Government's new planning system? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement that his mission is to ensure that "all New Zealanders can access the timely and quality access to healthcare that they all deserve"; if so, is he confident that this is happening? DAVID MacLEOD to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements have been made about making it easier for internationally trained doctors to work in New Zealand? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Vocational Education: How many jobs at polytechnics have been cut, or are proposed to be cut, since she took office? TAMATHA PAUL to the Minister for Vocational Education: Does she stand by her statement that the Government's plan for polytechnics will "set the sector up for long-term economic and learning success"; if so, is she concerned about Whitirea and Weltec closing their creative arts campus and Toi Ohomai proposing to close their Tokoroa and Taupo campuses? JOSEPH MOONEY to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about school property? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: Why is he proposing changing the law in ways that could undermine claims by 150,000 New Zealanders against two Australian-owned banks totalling $600 million?

Questions to Ministers CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? CATHERINE WEDD to the Minister of Finance: How are global events affecting the New Zealand economy? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Health: What recent progress has been made on childhood immunisation rates? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she agree with the Prime Minister's statement that "the reason people leave a country is because they think they can earn higher incomes somewhere else"; if so, why? BENJAMIN DOYLE to the Associate Minister of Health: Is the Government on track to achieve the National HIV Action Plan's goal of effectively eliminating locally transmitted HIV in Aotearoa by 2030; if not, why not? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Infrastructure: Why are there more than 15,000 fewer people working in construction under this Government, and what impact does this have on the Government's infrastructure pipeline? GREG FLEMING to the Minister of Education: What recent results has she seen about literacy and numeracy achievement for the NCEA co-requisite? TODD STEPHENSON to the Associate Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has she made regarding New Zealand's anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism regime? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Vocational Education: How many jobs at polytechnics have been cut, or are proposed to be cut, since she took office? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister of Justice: How is the Government progressing with its plan to restore law and order?

Questions to Ministers RYAN HAMILTON to the Minister of Finance: What recent announcements has she made on the cost of living? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Prime Minister: Does he stand by all his Government's statements and actions? ANDY FOSTER to the Minister for Resources: What actions is the Government taking to increase economic growth in the resources sector? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement she is "seeing signs of growth across our economy"; if so, why? Dr CARLOS CHEUNG to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has the Government made to improve access to elective procedures for New Zealanders? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his target that 95 percent of patients will be waiting less than four months for a first specialist appointment? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Prime Minister: E tautoko ana ia i nga korero me nga mahi katoa a tona Kawanatanga? Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions NANCY LU to the Minister of Local Government: What recent announcements has he made on getting councils back to basics? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Economic Growth: Does she stand by her statement, "I think New Zealanders will judge our government on what we do and what we deliver"; if so, how does she think New Zealanders will judge the Government's ability to deliver jobs, when 47,000 people left New Zealand for Australia last year? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister for Vocational Education: What recent actions has the Government taken to restore regional decision-making in vocational education and training? Hon PEENI HENARE to the Associate Minister of Housing: Has the number of people sleeping rough, as defined by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, increased since he became Associate Minister of Housing?

A digtal health expert says Aotearoa needs clear laws on the use of artifical intelligence, including what information and data can be fed into model, and whats off limits, as AI is increasingly used in health and other areas. Associate Minister of Health, David Seymour has written to Pharmac encouraging them to use Articficial Intelligence to speed up their processes and improve access to medicines. Medsafe and Pharmac say they've started using Artificial intelligence tools to process complex information and large data sets. AUT Associate Professor and expert in digital health Sam Madanian spoke to Lisa Owen.

Scott Workman, our Associate Minister, continues our Romans 8: The GOAT series by preaching on Romans 8:26-30 .Learn more about Story Church at our website: story.church Instagram: @ourstorychurch

Tony Cannon chats with youth minister Adam Thrift, Associate Minister of All Saints Crowborough, about the challenges and joys of youth ministry today.

"Sometimes, it's hard to see anything other than what you're facing in your life at this exact moment. Gratitude is all about changing your perspective. Complainers and grumblers focus on themselves. Complainers and grumblers focus on the moment right in front of them. They lose sight of the larger picture. When we come to Jesus, we call it conversion, meaning that we change. Conversion means replacing old material with new, better material. The old me loved to complain because the old me was all about me. But when I convert to Jesus, my focus changes because it's not about me — it's about Jesus. I refocus, and people who are grateful always focus away from themselves. Guys, you've got to change the focal point; it's going to change your attitude. So don't focus on your circumstances — focus on God, on how God can use those circumstances. The more you feed gratitude, the more gracious you become, and the easier it gets. It's so good and healthy for you." Ben Webb, Associate Minister

Families are booking holidays a year in advance to get an affordable escape and airlines and accomodation providers are wise to people sneaking off a day or so before official school holidays, one travel agent told Checkpoint. Air New Zealand expects more than 745,000 to take to the skies over the july break; 465,000 domestic and 280,000 international travellers. Associate Minister for Education David Seymour has previously warned parent condoned truancy, like taking days off to bag cheap flights, could result in prosecution. Managing Director of World Travellers Motueka Silvana Gottini spoke to Lisa Owen.

Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all the Government's statements and actions? DANA KIRKPATRICK to the Minister of Finance: What is the Depositor Compensation Scheme and when does it start? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: Does he stand by his statement, "The bottom trawling techniques that are pursued by the New Zealand fishing industry are relatively harmless"; if so, are current levels of bycatch acceptable? Hon KIERAN McANULTY to the Associate Minister of Housing: How many New Zealanders are homeless now, compared to when the Government was elected? TODD STEPHENSON to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all of his Government's statements and actions? MARIAMENO KAPA-KINGI to the Minister of Statistics: How will he ensure that scrapping the five-yearly Census will not magnify the problem of under-counting Maori and Pasifika populations? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister for Infrastructure: What recent reports has he seen on New Zealand's infrastructure sector? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: Does she stand by statements made on her behalf that high inflation and high interest rates were main factors in job losses in the construction sector? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Minister of Climate Change: Does he stand by his statement that "it is our expectation that we will remain an associate member" of the Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance; if not, why not? MILES ANDERSON to the Minister of Agriculture: Why is the Government proposing to ban full farm-to-forestry conversions on our highest quality productive land? INGRID LEARY to the Associate Minister of Housing: Does he stand by statements made on his behalf that his proposed changes to the Retirement Villages Act 2003 would "include provisions for repayments but not mandate them"? TOM RUTHERFORD to the Minister for Mental Health: What recent announcements have been made for the assessment and prescription for people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Maori Development: Does he stand by the Government's track record in upholding its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations? Hon MARAMA DAVIDSON to the Minister of Foreign Affairs: Does the Government condemn the United States' strikes on Iran; if not, why not? Rt Hon CHRIS HIPKINS to the Acting Prime Minister: Does he stand by all the Government's statements and actions? DAN BIDOIS to the Minister of Finance: What recent reports has she seen on the economy? CHLÖE SWARBRICK to the Minister for Trade and Investment: How does the Government's $200 million fund for the fossil fuel sector impact the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability? CAMERON BREWER to the Minister of Immigration: What update can she provide on the Active Investor Plus visa? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by her statement that "A number of Budget 2025 initiatives deliver targeted cost of living support"; if so, what were those Budget 2025 initiatives? Dr VANESSA WEENINK to the Minister of Health: What recent announcements has the Government made about supporting general practices? TODD STEPHENSON to the Associate Minister of Justice: What recent announcements has she made regarding the Three Strikes law? Hon Dr AYESHA VERRALL to the Minister of Health: Is it his goal to provide "greater certainty for the private health sector"; if so, why? ANDY FOSTER to the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries: What reports has he seen regarding the sustainability of New Zealand's fisheries? Hon GINNY ANDERSEN to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How many people are employed now, and how does that compare to when the Government took office?

In this episode, we chat to Honourable Shane Jones, member of the NZ government and the Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Resources, Associate Minister of Finance, and Associate Minister for Energy. Shane entered Parliament in 2005 and joined New Zealand First as an MP in 2017. As a proud born and bred Northlander, Shane has always asked the tough questions, identified policy solutions, and accelerated implementation in his political life …and has been a very vocal supporter of the mining industry, including the possibility of seabed mining. He very much sees New Zealand's own natural resources as a pathway to economic prosperity, creating regional wealth and jobs.  On the podcast, we discuss what the mining industry means to NZ, the policies the government have, and are looking to implement to make the industry more attractive and why companies should invest into NZ's mining industry and much more. KEY TAKEAWAYS The New Zealand government, under the leadership of Shane Jones, is committed to revitalising the mining industry, reversing previous bans on oil and gas New Zealand has developed a Critical Minerals List and a mineral strategy aimed at restoring pride in the natural resources sector The introduction of Fast Track legislation aims to streamline the environmental permitting process for mining projects, allowing for quicker allocation of permits  A $200 million co-investment fund has been established to encourage both local and international investment in the mining sector, addressing concerns about potential future government changes BEST MOMENTS "I believe a lot of the climate change hysteria is actually going to wreck Western economies unless we restore some balance to it."  "We've got a kind of figurative Sahara desert of iron sands resource, largely in the ocean."  "Any economy that races ahead, demonises, cancels its fossil fuels industry without an affordable strategy... is dicing with economic calamity."  "No one enjoys a perfect history. So what we've got to do is ensure that mining as it goes forward is strongly defended." VALUABLE RESOURCES A Minerals Strategy for New Zealand - Read more: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/minerals-and-petroleum/strategies/a-minerals-strategy-to-2040 New Zealand's Critical Minerals List - Read more: https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/minerals-and-petroleum/critical-minerals-list/critical-minerals-list-2025 Free access to geoscience data: https://www.nzpam.govt.nz/maps-geoscience/geodata-catalogue https://www.nzpam.govt.nz/maps-geoscience/core-store https://www.nzpam.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/the-mineral-potential-of-new-zealand-part-1-overview-of-new-zealands-mineral-deposits-and-their-resources.pdf Improving regulatory settings - Read more: https://www.nzpam.govt.nz/nz-industry/rules-regulations/fast-track-approvals-process Connecting with New Zealand's mining sector - Read more: https://mineralscouncil.co.nz/ -Invest NZ - Read more: https://www.nzte.govt.nz/page/invest-or-raise-capital-with-nzte Mail:        rob@mining-international.org LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/ X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast  Web:        http://www.mining-international.org This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer: Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard Construction risk reviews Asset criticality assessments and more Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com CONTACT METHOD rob@mining-international.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/

The Government is backing the expansion of a New Zealand voluntary nature credits market. Associate Minister for the Environment Andrew Hoggard explains. 

This Sunday, Rev. Sheridan Irick preaches from the book of Acts, chapter 2, verses 1 through 21. We also celebrate the installation of Rev. Irick as Associate Minister at Mayflower. Livestreamed from the sanctuary of Mayflower Congregational UCC Church in Oklahoma City.

Questions to Ministers TIM COSTLEY to the Minister of Transport: What announcements has he made about increasing the speed limit on State Highway 1? Hon BARBARA EDMONDS to the Minister of Finance: Does she stand by all her statements and actions? RIMA NAKHLE to the Minister for Tourism and Hospitality: What recent reports has she seen on tourism growth and international visitor spending? CAMERON LUXTON to the Associate Minister for the Environment: What recent announcements has he made about reforming freshwater rules? Hon JAN TINETTI to the Minister for Women: Does she stand by all her statements and actions regarding pay equity? Hon JULIE ANNE GENTER to the Minister of Transport: Are local road controlling authorities required to increase speed limits under the Government's policy if one of the reasons for a speed limit reduction since 2020 was proximity to a school, and are impacts on road safety a factor that allows local road controlling authorities to retain safe speeds on streets? JOSEPH MOONEY to the Minister of Conservation: What recent announcements has he made about Milford Sound? Hon PRIYANCA RADHAKRISHNAN to the Minister of Conservation: Has he received any advice on the impact of Conservation funding cuts on jobs and communities; if so, how many jobs have been identified as at risk? SUZE REDMAYNE to the Minister for Hunting and Fishing: What recent announcements has he made in the Hunting and Fishing portfolio? STEVE ABEL to the Minister of Agriculture: Does he agree with the Prime Minister that New Zealand farmers are the "No. 1 most carbon-efficient in the world"; if so, on what factual basis? SHANAN HALBERT to the Minister for Vocational Education: Has the Treasury advised the Government that "Demand for tertiary education and training is currently forecast to exceed the volume able to be funded"; if so, what advice has she received about the potential for job losses at New Zealand's Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics, and universities? TAKUTA FERRIS to the Minister for Vocational Education: Does she stand by all her statements and actions?

How do we define healing when grief never fully goes away? Tune in for an inspiring discussion with Rev. Kevin W. Hartman on his new book Journey Through Grief: A Long Road Ahead. Moments with Marianne airs in the Southern California area on KMET1490AM & 98.1 FM, an ABC Talk News Radio affiliate! Rev. Kevin W. Hartman is a passionate preacher, mental health advocate, community leader with over a decade of ministry experience, and author of Journey Through Grief. He began preaching in 2013 at Lovely Baptist Church under the mentorship of his grandfather, Pastor Wilbert Crew, eventually serving as Youth Leader and Associate Minister. His leadership was especially impactful during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he introduced virtual services and partnered with city officials and nonprofits to support the community's emotional and spiritual needs. By emphasizing mental health awareness and support, Rev. Hartman demonstrated his commitment to a holistic ministry that extends beyond the pulpit.  Rev. Hartman holds an Associate of Arts in Communications from Montgomery County Community College, a Mental Health First Aid certification, and has completed coursework at Palmer Theological Seminary. He currently serves in pastoral ministry in the Philadelphia area and sits on several nonprofit boards focused on social impact. https://www.kevwhartman.comFor more show information visit: www.MariannePestana.com