Podcasts about newstalk zb

The High Court is quashing earlier court directions to return gang patches to some members. Open Justice reports two men caught wearing patches in separate incidents were prosecuted, and in each the presiding judge ruled they could get back their insignia. The Solicitor-General appealed those directions. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper outlined the terms of the ruling. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's started unveiling some new policies ahead of the election, and they made a new announcement regarding public transport. It's promising to campaign on a weekly fare cap - $20 for Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch - and $10 elsewhere. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper questions whether this is an affordable move. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has unveiled its first major policy announcement since the Budget, promising to cap weekly public transport fares at $20 in the main centres. But is this really just a transport policy, or the first glimpse of a broader election strategy? Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths joins Richard Martin to break down what the announcement says about Labour's campaign, whether the numbers stack up and why cost of living is shaping up as the key battleground. They also discuss the controversy surrounding Labour's newest candidate, the scrutiny over Chris Hipkins' holiday home mortgage and whether the Opposition leader is entering the election campaign in a stronger position than many expected. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Editor/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Jane YeeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has defended using a generous publicly funded private superannuation scheme to pay off the mortgage of his family holiday home. Hipkins confirmed he pays the maximum contribution, but he also contributes to KiwiSaver, meaning the full amount of contribution will not be paid towards the super scheme that owns his home. MPs are allowed to direct these savings into private superannuation funds, which Hipkins has done. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defence Minister Chris Penk recently tabled New Zealand's nuclear free stance for debate, when he suggested it could be a topic New Zealand should look into. In an interview with Newstalk ZB's Heather du Plessis-Allan, however, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon denied that the country's stance would change any time soon. While du Plessis-Allan asked about the military applications of nuclear technology, she also mentioned the potential benefits of nuclear energy. It's an important question, especially as New Zealanders see rising energy prices and seek to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  To discuss the benefits of nuclear energy and how it compares to our current energy infrastructure in New Zealand, News Director Castor spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland and co-director at the Geothermal Institute, Sadio Zarrouk.

There's a view it's been an overall successful trip for the Prime Minister across the Tasman. Christopher Luxon returned from Queensland after meeting with his counterpart Anthony Albanese with a group of New Zealand businesses. Luxon has been making the pitch for New Zealand to be involved in building infrastructure for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says both nations are allies, and it's important for Luxon to keep the working relationship going. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of every week, Matt and Tyler name the New Zealander of the Week. It's an honour that we bestow on your behalf to someone, or something, that's had an impact on our nation over the past week. There are three nominees but can only be one winner. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Based in the Parliamentary Press Gallery since 1980, Barry Soper has covered every New Zealand Prime Minister since, earning a reputation for his sharp questioning, wit, and deep institutional knowledge of Wellington politics.” Barry's contribution to New Zealand journalism saw him recognised in this year's King's Birthday Honours, where he was named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He's had a long and fascinating career and continues it still as Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent. His book, ‘One Last Question, Prime Minister', now in its fourth print, was our excuse to have a most enjoyable conversation in episode #331. And as always, we finish in The Mailroom with Mrs Producer. File your comments and complaints at Leighton@newstalkzb.co.nz OR Carolyn@newstalkzb.co.nz Haven't listened to a podcast before? Check out our simple how-to guide. Listen here on iHeartRadio Leighton Smith's podcast also available on iTunes:To subscribe via iTunes click here See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roy Morgan's newest poll shows the National-led Government is still leading among prospective voters. Support for National increased 5 percent to 30.5 percent, support for NZ First dropped 0.5 percent to 11 percent and support for ACT dropped 0.5 percent to 10 percent. Meanwhile, support for Labour dropped to 26.5 percent, and support for the Greens increased 1.5 percent to 12.5 percent. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this was a big drop for some parties, but it's still too early to tell how things will play out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government will stop unelected individuals from voting on council committees, a move an Act MP has described as closing an anti-democratic loophole. It seems like a no brainer. Why should unelected individuals have the right to vote on council committees? Of course people who have never been elected to a council or a government shouldn't be given voting rights. You can certainly ask people for their opinion, their informed comment, but voting rights? The issue of unelected New Zealanders being appointed to council committees and then having voting rights has been in the news recently, predominantly around the Far North where hapū representatives were confirmed to be put on a committee tasked with shaping Māori strategic relationships and embedding Te Tiriti based partnership in council decision making. Fair enough, getting their opinions. Absolutely. You would imagine that hapū representatives are the best people to talk about how to shape Māori strategic relationships and how they see Te Tiriti being enacted through council decision making. Totally fair enough. Where it gets a bit murky is that they have full speaking and voting rights alongside elected representatives. They're also paid the daily rate. They don't have to accept it, but they are paid a daily rate of around about 250 bucks plus travel costs plus any childcare, just as elected representatives can ask for. They can volunteer their time and their knowledge, but if they want to be paid, they will be. They wouldn't make final decisions, but they would vote on the issues that would be heard at full council. ACT leader David Seymour said anyone voting on council decisions should be accountable, including facing elections, and the party lodged a member's bill to prohibit voting rights for unelected appointees. But Simon Watts, Local Government Minister, has basically cut their lunch and announced that non-elected individuals can be appointed to offer their professional advice, they can represent communities, but they will not be able to vote or count towards a quorum. The statutory committees and appointments, including those agreed as part of a treaty settlement though, will be excluded. WATTS: This is a specific board set up for Auckland Council. Short answer is, is that for the Independent Māori Statutory Board, those members will only be able to vote on council committees where the law specifically enables it, and what that means is, is that that committee's set up under a different act. HDPA: So they retain their voting rights? WATTS: If it's related to the specific act. So it relates to where they're doing the management of natural and physical resources. If they're on a subcommittee doing that, then they're able to vote. Anything else, they're not able to. So, does that clear it up? I would be really interested to hear from a range of interests as to how council decisions will impact, and some will vary more than others. If you're in Wellington right now, for example, and you're in council, you would want to hear from businesses as to how decisions made by the council have impacted upon them. The cycle lanes, the development of, or the neglect really, the lack of development around the bridge, the Paremata Bridge and the library, the reopening of the library, the cost of that, the redevelopment of the Michael Fowler Centre. You would want representatives from business to say, look, this is our experience, this is what's happening, make your decisions perhaps based on that. If you're Māori in the Far North and you're dealing with issues around Māori land or the rating of Māori land, the re-rating of Māori land, or water, tourism perhaps, you would definitely want a Māori lens, a Māori perspective. But if you're going to be making decisions so that some issues don't make it to full council, elected members might not even know that there was an issue because it's been dealt with by these unelected representatives and they have voted on what the elected members of the council will actually see, I think it's a different story. Imagine if the Government asked a panel of Newstalk ZB hosts for their reckons to shape policy and then vote on it as to what would get to Parliament. You know, basically act as a select committee. I don't think so. You wouldn't stand for that. And if we want to have our reckons represented at a council level or government level, then we stand. We stand as councillors, mayors, we stand as MPs. There are 33 Māori across all parties in Parliament, representing a huge range of views and lived experiences, which is fantastic. We have councillors, chief executives, highly regarded mayors, all Māori. And I'd be really interested to hear the views of Māori, particularly in how it relates to land and water management. But if you're not elected, I don't think you should have a vote. Have a reckon by all means, but not a vote. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister is standing by New Zealand's planned defence spending, after Pete Hegseth's accused New Zealand of freeloading off the American military. The US Secretary of War has used a global security summit in Singapore, to call on US allies to lift defence spending to 3.5 percent of GDP. He says New Zealand's goal to bring defence spending to 2 percent of GDP within the next eight years doesn't go far enough. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says New Zealand's economy isn't big enough to invest that kind of money into defence spending. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of Newstalk ZB's most familiar voices has been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours, two decades after first being sounded out. Barry Soper's been named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to journalism, recognising 43 years in the parliamentary press gallery. He says he considered the honour 20 years ago while serving as political editor, on the advice of senior colleagues. "And asked their opinion on whether it would be seen, or I could be seen as politically biased - and I think the conclusion was: that was a possibility. So I didn't want to compromise my independence." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB political correspondent Barry Soper joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to chat all things budget week. They also discuss the other political news you may have missed in all the budget noise. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2026 Budget was delivered by Finance Minister Nicola Willis today, and it aimed to be more 'careful' amid the ongoing economic turmoil and international conflicts. Healthcare, education, and infrastructure were the key priorities - and the Government's claimed the books will return to surplus in the 2028/29 financial year. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Winston Peters has lucked out, as he's secured an extra financial boost in terms of foreign aid. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2026 has been unveiled, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed this is a 'careful' Budget with an eye to the future. Healthcare, education, and infrastructure are the top priorities, and the Government's forecasting an earlier than expected return to surplus. There's also a new levy on banks and other financial market participants from mid-2027. Infometrics Chief Executive Brad Olsen says it illustrates a targeted approach. "There is a much greater focus on user pays, so instead of just general taxes paying for stuff, if you're using a service, if you're getting a benefit - you're paying for a whole lot more as well." Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Labour's been waiting to see how much money's in the kete - before announcing its election policies. He says there's clearly not much. "I think this Government's resisted, probably against a number of odds, of maybe offering a few tantalising pieces, to go towards the election." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank Governor acknowledges many Kiwis are doing it very tough right now. Anna Breman used her casting vote today, to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 2.25 percent. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee was evenly split on hiking or holding the rate. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank Governor acknowledges many Kiwis are doing it very tough right now. Anna Breman used her casting vote today, to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 2.25 percent. The six-member Monetary Policy Committee was evenly split on hiking or holding the rate. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MPs are set to receive a pay rise from July of about 2 percent. The base salary for the MPs will increase to $181,200, while Cabinet ministers will get $327,100, and the Prime Minister's salary will jump to $520,500. Newstalk ZB senior correspondent Barry Soper says this increase is on the lighter side, compared to other political pay bumps. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cruises are being scaled back further next summer season, with ports already feeling the pinch. Preliminary data released to Newstalk ZB shows the North Island will lose 41 port calls, but they'll rise in the South - up 23. Last season, the number dropped by more than 250. Cruise Association CEO Jacqui Lloyd says there's growth in other parts of the world, but there's plans in place to make New Zealand more attractive to the right clients. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new initiative will make up to $1.2 billion of bank loans available for businesses, to enable them to reduce or eliminate their dependence on gas. $48 million dollars is set aside in this week's Budget to cover potential losses from the Gas Transition Loan Guarantee Scheme. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this stands to benefit many Kiwi businesses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glimmers of hope for Wellington despite another drop in cruise visits. Preliminary data released to Newstalk ZB shows a 3% drop in port visits compared to last season. The North Island fell 41, and the South Island gained 23. The capital was the worst hit, losing 24% of port calls. WellingtonNZ General Manager Destination and Marketing Todd Barberel told Ryan Bridge visitor numbers and spend is increasing, though they're not at pre-Covid levels yet. He says there's positive momentum and the challenges from cruise lines need to be balanced with their long-term objectives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Budget 2026 is set to be unveiled this week, and there's plenty of speculation about what it might bring. Ahead of Thursday's big reveal, new announcements about defence spending, education, and healthcare have been released. Newstalk ZB political reporter Ethan Griffiths says the Government's looking to be 'bold' this time round, with their controversial announcement over public service job cuts raising some eyebrows. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s show: Jono’s petty court battle finally ends… with a very unsatisfying outcome Behind the scenes, the big boss puts pressure on Mike Hosking We somehow end up live on Newstalk ZB! A listener got in trouble at work after being told to twerk on their lunch break Megan Papas gets told off by a teacher at school drop-off One of us accidentally booked the exact same date as our partner… awkward Join the Itty Bitty Hitty Committee HERE!Instagram: @THEHITSBREAKFASTFacebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono, Ben & MeganSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the end of each week, Mike Hosking takes you through the big-ticket items and lets you know what he makes of it all. Tourism: 7/10 This has been a good vibe week. TRENZ had them coming from everywhere, the sentiment is good, and the numbers are excellent. Kiwifruit: 9/10 This story is starting to outshine dairy. Not in numbers, but in terms of growth. At almost $6 billion and booming, this is mana from vines. Add it to dairy and we are laughing. Chris Hipkins: 2/10 This has been, far and away, his worst week of the year. Mystery policy detail and the arrogance to say we aren't interested in detail anyway. He is National's election year dream come true. Trump: 4/10 We still don't have a deal, but we do have a slush fund. He looks increasingly tawdry. But he's just as influential – just ask Thomas Massie. Newstalk ZB: 8/10 Guess who's popular? Ratings day yesterday was party day – the audience is up, and on some shows, up a lot. We thank you and appreciate you, as always, from the bottom of our hearts. LISTEN ABOVE FOR MIKE HOSKING'S FULL WEEK IN REVIEW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I asked yesterday whether Chris Hipkins thought we were stupid. And as luck would have it, he answered our question – yes, he does. First you have the Future Fund, a cornerstone policy, revelation that they aren't telling us who's money goes in and what sort of job creation they are expecting because they got bogged down in the Treaty issues, so we will need to wait until after the election. That's a massive problem given they only have one policy and that policy looks to be a huge waste of our money. Policy number two is a secret. But according to Chris, who appears to literally be melting in front of our eyes as the election year blowtorch gets pointed his way, he says on our behalf we "don't really care about the detail". That's what he said. Did he ask you? He didn't ask me. But he seems confident to suggest we don't really care about the detail. The breathtaking thing about that is I think he actually believes it. I think he has shown a side of the limousine left. They genuinely think we are a bit thick, that they are intellectually superior, and the complicated stuff really should be left to those who know what they're doing or think they know what they're doing. Can you name me any other party that takes their cornerstone policy and tells you that you don't need to know the detail? And further, to go on to suggest you're not really interested anyway. This would be bad enough if these guys hadn't been running the place for a while. But they ran the place three years ago and that very same "you're dumb, we know what we're doing" sunk them. Hipkins in Auckland last week says everyone is over lockdown except the Newstalk ZB audience. Hipkins this week says no one is interested in policy detail. So one policy on tax, one policy that's secret, and two observations that show the guy is literally either having a breakdown, or he is setting out to destroy his party in real time. If you're remotely connected to Labour and want to help, get to him fast and hose him down. Because he is the Government's greatest gift. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says she's disappointed by revelations MFAT is exempt from cutting spending this year. It's been confirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade won't be given a reduced baseline budget. Most agencies face two percent cuts - but MFAT will be subject to the same five percent reduction for most agencies next year, and the year after. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour has admitted key details about its Future Fund, including the cost to the Crown and which state assets will be rolled into it, will not be released until after voters have gone to the polls. Labour's finance spokeswoman Barbara Edmonds admitted the party doesn't itself know which public assets will go in the fund, and won't know until it gets advice from officials after the election. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has dismissed this as 'rubbish' - and questions what this means for Labour's capabilities. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $131 million education boost aiming to lift maths results and teachers' confidence teaching it has been revealed. Funding's going to new workbooks and digital tools, as well as a Year Two literacy check and Year Five maths check. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Erica Stanford's responding to the needs of teachers, and ideally they'll support these changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden has announced she is pregnant. The Tamaki MP in March revealed she would leave Parliament this year and won't be standing at the election. She explained that this isn't why she's standing down, but she says it seems like it was meant to be - and she is thrilled to be starting the journey into motherhood. Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell says the baby is due within days of the November election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Chris Hipkins missing a gene? Does he have a self-destructive predilection? Or is he just a pillock by nature? He rolls into Auckland to tell the nation's biggest city and engine room in election year that she's all good and everyone has moved on from the lockdowns. His lockdowns. The home handyman from the Hutt, telling Auckland what's what. What an arrogant twat. He was in Auckland to build rapport, to patch up the damage, to scope the joint and to see what sort of chance his party has come November. Love or hate Auckland, elections are won and lost in the city. No one gets to Government without a good day in Auckland. Even for a small country it is true to say there are countries within countries, or cultures and vibes within cultures and vibes. It took me a while to get a grip on Wellington before I moved there. It's different to Christchurch. It's different to Dunedin, and Auckland is different to each of the other urban centres. I think Chris Bishop has found that out by suggesting his two million home debacle. He's from Wellington too. If you are too entrenched in Wellington, you don't get Auckland. Hipkins suggested the only people who ever ask him about lockdown these days is Newstalk ZB. 1) That's not true and yesterday was an example given the person who asked wasn't from Newstalk ZB. 2) Newstalk ZB is the biggest game in Auckland and by a long way. Dismissing the biggest radio player in Auckland, and the country, is about as stupid as saying Aucklanders have moved on from lockdown. Ultimately, it's another example of why I have said all year that this election is over before it starts. Labour will not win. The pain, suffering and incompetence of 2020-23 is still too raw, real and recent to forgive and forget. Making it worse is the fact the very same people who did the damage are still there waiting for another crack. Judging by yesterday, they've learned nothing, want to learn nothing and are as arrogant as last time. Hipkins may well realise that, come election night when he loses and inevitably has to resign given he will have lost twice. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll has National stuck in the high 20s, with Labour seven points ahead. National's on 29 percent in the Talbot Mills poll, with Labour on 36. Both parties haven't moved since last month's poll. NZ First is down one to 14 percent, and ACT down one on seven percent. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what these results mean for the coalition's odds. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, artist and local Government politician Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour's Chris Hipkins recently claimed no-one outside of Newstalk ZB is fussed about the Auckland lockdowns from 2021. Does he have a point? Will we find out come November? Yesterday, Prime Minister Chris Luxon said he'd always choose social cohesion over businesses bottom lines when it comes to immigration. Labour's Chris Hipkins has raised concerns, especially following some other comments from Winston Peters and Shane Jones. Does he have a point? How badly did we get ripped off if it's true we paid $3 million to get Robbie Williams here - especially if Singapore reportedly paid $3 million for six Taylor Swift concerts two years ago? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 14 May, 2026, we confront Labour leader Chris Hipkins on his claim not one person outside of Newstalk ZB is raising Covid lockdowns with him. Air New Zealand's chief executive tells us how it'll cope with a loss of nearly $400 million. A Christchurch City Councillor on his warning that Airbnb is turning parts of the city into "ghost communities". And on The Huddle, Oscar Kightley and Tim Wilson tell us if they think Robbie Williams is worth a reported $3 million to bring to New Zealand. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promise of more public sector cost-savings, as Budget Day nears. The Prime Minister told business leaders today that the Government's cutting another $300 million dollars from the Budget operating allowance - to $2.1 billion dollars. Chris Luxon says responsible economic management and fiscal discipline are more important than ever. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this development was largely expected. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new poll has the coalition returning to power - despite a drop in support for the minor Government parties. The latest Taxpayers' Union Curia poll has National up slightly to 30 percent and Labour down to 31.9 percent. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the minor parties have taken a hit, with ACT and NZ First looking less solid than they did in earlier polls. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has backed the decision to scrap the fees-free scheme for good. Last week, Winston Peters revealed to Newstalk ZB on Friday the Government's doing away with the free final year of tertiary education. Nicola Willis says it's important for the Government to invest in things that Kiwis really need and want - not a failed policy that didn't achieve any of the goals it aimed to accomplish. "New Zealand has been in deficit since 2019, we're carrying a heck of a lot of debt, we've got some real priorities for our budget in terms of the health system, the education we want to give our young kids, the defence system we want to build up, the infrastructure we want to build - all of those things have a better call on money." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coalition appears to have good odds of winning the next election, largely thanks to New Zealand First. The NZ Herald - Motu Research Poll of Polls suggests there is an 88.3 percent probability the coalition will win a second term. The model shows it's extended its lead over the opposition by two points in the last 12 months. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained how this data is calculated - and whether voters can take it seriously. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's hard to believe that superannuation is still a “thing”. The OECD report told us we need to bump the age. Nicola Willis told us Friday we have to do something. The Prime Minister then goes on Newstalk ZB and tells us they will campaign, again, on bumping up the age. We should not be here. In 1982 when I started work at the age of 16 it was very clearly in my mind that I had to sort my future financially, given the debate at the time was that superannuation is not affordable, and the state could not always be relied upon to be there for you. So if it was a debate in 1982, why is it still a debate in 2026, having achieved or solved nothing? The answer of course is because it has been political dynamite. No party really wants to risk losing votes over what has been seen as an entitlement. So first port of call, is it an entitlement or not? If it is, bump the age. There is no question that we live and work longer, therefore retirement is not what it was and it will continue to evolve. Or, my preference, make it a benefit. We see Labour's free doctor's policy as the money wasting joke it is. Why does a person like me on a good salary need a free doctor? I don't. Stop wasting money. So why not apply the same to retirement? Do you need it? If yes, you get some assistance. If no, then save the dollars for someone else. But some still argue it's the reward for a life's work. Is it? The reward for a life's work is money in the bank, some travel and no alarm. The country doesn't owe me anything. Equally, that farcical, old line about you having paid your taxes was never true. The taxes you paid have been spent every year. Almost every year we spend more than we earn. There are no savings, no surplus. Your taxes paid for healthcare and Government departments and roads and beneficiaries. Like so many of life's issues, when you complicate them and fiddle with them they remain unsolved. Kicking it down the road isn't a skill. It's a lack of backbone. At some point someone has to be honest enough to pull the pin. It's not 1968 and 65 years-old isn't old. This thing has been debated so long now it's become boring. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns about what the Government's latest pre-Budget announcement means for students. Winston Peters told Newstalk ZB on Friday that they'd get rid of the final free year of tertiary education, and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has confirmed it. She says they will have more to say on it in due course. NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan says it's likely the Government isn't thrilled with Peters leaking these details - and it wasn't pre-authorised by Willis or anyone else. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newly appointed New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Lancaster has doubled down on the organisation's eligibility policy, confirming returning first five-eighth Richie Mo'unga will not be selected for the All Blacks' initial squads for the July series or the tour to South Africa. Mo'unga has signed an 18-month contract with New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to return home after spending the past three years with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in Japan. The deal begins in July and runs through until the end of next year's Rugby World Cup. The timing of the contract means the 31-year-old must first play for Canterbury in the NPC before becoming eligible for All Blacks selection again in October. The NPC season kicks off in late July. That means Mo'unga would miss the three tests in New Zealand against France, Italy and Ireland before the team heads to South Africa for a four-test tour, which also features midweek matches against provincial sides. Lancaster said NZR had discussed Mo'unga's situation internally but had not asked the board to relax the rules at the recent AGM, which require overseas-based players returning to New Zealand to play domestically before becoming eligible for the All Blacks. Speaking to Newstalk ZB's Jason Pine on Weekend Sport, Lancaster reaffirmed the current policy remained the best long-term option for NZR. “This is something we regularly revisit with the board,” Lancaster said. “It's a relevant thing for our board as governors of the game to regularly consider and reflect on. “We haven't asked the board to relax that policy around Richie. We think the policy works for us. It keeps our best players in New Zealand playing in our competitions. “We've got some world-class players in the same position, and a number of those have committed to stay in New Zealand and play on the basis of the policy. We've got to think about the implications of the policy and relaxing the policy at any point in time.” The same rules also apply to Shannon Frizell, who is currently playing alongside Mo'unga at Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, but is set to return to New Zealand at the end of the Japan season to link up with Tasman. Lancaster said All Blacks coach Dave Rennie wanted Mo'unga available for selection, although he had not formally requested an exemption. When Rennie was announced as All Blacks coach in March, he was asked about the overseas selection policy and said he would love to have former All Blacks lock and test centurion Brodie Retallick available for his squad. New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie wanted wanted Mo'unga available for selection. Photo / Dean Purcell Retallick plays for Rennie's club in Japan, the Kobe Kobelco Steelers. “Dave's very clear, he would like Richie to be available for selection because his job is to ultimately win the World Cup next year and he wants the best talent available to the All Blacks,” Lancaster said. “That's a really healthy tension for us to have, where we've got a coach who rightly has a focus on winning today and tomorrow, and then we've got ourselves as the administrators of the game who have to have a systems lens and a medium to long-term lens on what's best for the game.” While the current policy means Mo'unga will miss the initial squads for both campaigns, Lancaster said he could become available for the latter stages of the South Africa tour if injury strikes in the All Blacks squad, similar to what happened with Leicester Fainga'anuku last year. “Once Richie's back in New Zealand and playing and if we do have injuries, then potentially he could be eligible,” Lancaster said. Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's claims new legislation brings the most significant reform of conservation law in nearly 40 years. A Government bill's been lodged, to allow reinvestment of international visitor fees into conservation, with estimates it'll raise $60 million a year. The reform will also speed up DOC decision making, with claims it will add consistency to processes for applying Treaty obligations. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says tourism on conservation land brings in billions every year, and it helps create jobs for Kiwis. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority is being binned, and the Government's moving to let media companies regulate themselves. The Authority was established in 1989 - but the Government says the media landscape's changed beyond its control. Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith says print media already regulates itself through the Media Council, which broadcasters can join. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this move reflects the changing media market, and it'll save the taxpayers' money in the long run too. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The RMA Reform Minister says simplifying our councils is a crucial part of changes to Resource Management. The Government's today announced a fast-track amalgamation process - asking councils to submit proposals for merging with neighbours to form unitary authorities. They have three months to submit a rough plan. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained what this could mean going forward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A first of its kind agreement to secure New Zealand fuel. Prime Minister Chris Luxon and other ministers are in Singapore, for the signing of a fuel and food security Memorandum of Understanding. Singapore will supply us fuel in times of crisis - and New Zealand's will supply food - in a mutually beneficial deal. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explained the significance of this deal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's praise for the 'tight ship' Immigration New Zealand's running. Data released to Newstalk ZB reveals just over 65 thousand visa applications were turned down in 2025, plunging from more than 83 thousand in 2024. The rejection rate last year sat at around 6.3% – while the two years before both sat at 7.3%. Queen City Law Managing Director Marcus Beveridge told Mike Hosking Immigration New Zealand's making efficient decisions to keep the bad guys out. He says they've had computer and personnel issues in the past, but it now seems they've got things humming pretty well. There's also little surprise at the countries making up rejections – India made up almost a third of them, followed by China and Pakistan. Beveridge told Hosking India's seen similar numbers for years, as it's always been considered a high-risk country, but Fiji often sees quite a bad rejection rate as well. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TVNZ's Maiki Sherman's had her access to Parliament suspended for five days, after an altercation with an MP. The decision comes after National complained to TVNZ, alleging Sherman aggressively banged on party whip Stuart Smith's office door for several minutes. TVNZ says it has a different view of events. Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper the issue could lead to tighter rules for all reporters. "I think what you'll find as a result of all this is that Speaker Gerry Brownlee, he'll be tightening the rules yet again and just explaining to the journalists that you don't chase MPs around Parliament." The suspension's unrelated to claims Sherman lobbed a homophobic slur at another journalist at drinks in Nicola Willis' office last year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis has taken aim at Shane Jones' 'butter chicken tsunami' comments today, following the Government signing the NZ-India trade deal. NZ First has criticised the free trade agreement, with Winston Peters claiming both National and Labour have signed the country's future away. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the gloves were off in Parliament today, as we get closer to the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions have been raised over the media's handling of an incident concerning TVNZ's political editor, Maiki Sherman. Reports have emerged that TVNZ threatened to sue Newstalk ZB after a producer raised questions with the state broadcaster about Sherman's alleged use of a homophobic slur. Massey University Journalism Programme Leader James Hollings says TVNZ has handled this situation poorly. "It's not a good look, really, when you're a public broadcaster, to be telling another news outlet not to run a story about something." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the commentary I'm seeing online, it's clear there is a perception that no one reported on the Maiki Sherman revelation because the media were protecting one of their own. I can tell you that perception is true. It's not imagined - it is true. It is not true for Newstalk ZB. And I'm not saying that because I'm employed by Newstalk ZB; I'm saying it because I was involved in some of the phone calls around this particular - shall we loosely call it - investigation. I know we tried to publish this but we ran into a couple of obstacles, which, frankly, happens with investigations. There's no need to get too dramatic about it. I can't tell you the number of things I've wanted to report on, or tried to report on, that I've never been able to. There's a long list. I also don't think the press gallery members who were at the party in Nicola Willis' office last May can necessarily be judged for not reporting on what happened. As I said yesterday on the show, I worked in the press gallery too. I know there's a lot of boozing in the press gallery - I did it myself - and sometimes there's bad behaviour because that's what happens with booze. It doesn't always get reported. Do you narc on all your mates every time you're out drinking and they do something stupid? No, you don't. What was not okay, however, was that when it became known in Wellington that Newstalk ZB was trying to run a story, members of the press gallery got in touch to raise concerns. My recollection is that they were worried that if we went public with what Maiki Sherman said to Lloyd Burr, we would be breaking a long-held convention of not reporting on what happens during “drinky poos” in Parliament. They feared ministers would then panic about breaches of Chatham House rules and stop inviting the press gallery into their offices for drinks. That crossed the line, in my opinion. That was actively trying to stop media outside Wellington from reporting on what happened in Wellington, involving one of their own. In the end, it didn't influence us at all. And I'm not telling you this because it does me any favours - it doesn't. I expect I'll be ostracised the next time I see some of my friends in the press gallery for saying this. But I think it's worth saying because it's a reminder to all of us in the media that our job is to report the facts, not to suppress them - even when it involves our mates. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the radio show we talk to Dai Henwood about the Warriors, we run a Friday Top 5 about Things To Put On Your Toast, and we hear from The Big Show about a challenge they want to put to us. Plus ACC Head G Lane about the weekend of sport, and we hear some absolute filth from Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking. Follow The Hauraki Breakfast Show on Instagram Subscribe to the podcast now on iHeartRadio, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts! Featuring Jeremy Wells and Manaia Stewart, "The Hauraki Breakfast" a radio show like no other weekdays from 6am on Radio Hauraki. Guaranteed to teach you bad new habits, raise your eyebrows, and make you smirk on a regular basis. News, sport & music that rocks!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.