Politics Central: Recent Episodes
Newstalk ZB
Newstalk ZB serves up what you need to know, on all things politics at home, and abroad. The show reviews, previews, analyses and challenges the biggest political issues of the week, with all the big players.
Labour says there's nothing new in National's budget responsibility rules.
National's Nicola Willis unveiled the details today - promising a surplus by 2028/29 and reducing Government spending to 30 percent of GDP.
Labour's finance spokesperson Barbara Edmonds says this is part of their current fiscal strategy.
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National's promising to stick to three spending guardrails if it returns to Government, and is calling on other parties to follow suit.
The party's promising a return to surplus in 2028/29 - and bending debt below 40 percent of GDP.
It's also promising to reduce the size of Government, bringing spending to 30 percent of GDP.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis joined the Weekend Collective to explain further.
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Former Defence Minister Ron Mark is returning to New Zealand First as a candidate this election, standing for the party in the Wairarapa electorate, it's been confirmed.
The former MP was the Minister of Defence, in the first Ardern-Labour Government, and was the Mayor of Carterton between 2010 and 2014, before returning in 2022.
The party says Ron Mark brings much needed experience and skills, and has earned a reputation for strong leadership.
Mark joined the Weekend Collective to reveal why he made his return to the party.
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The ACT Party's campaigning on a classroom disruption crackdown.
If elected it says it will back teachers who reasonably remove disruptive students from the classroom, and force parents to take accountability.
That could include fines if parents refuse to meet with schools about their child's behaviour.
Candidate Paul Henry joined the Weekend Collective to explain further.
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National says its paid parental leave policy was already in the works, despite recent comments from Stuart Nash accusing one of its MPs of being lazy.
Nash resigned from NZ First after it was revealed he called Napier MP Katie Nimon the “laziest MP” for taking time off to have a baby.
National has today announced, if elected, it'll extend leave entitlements to 30 weeks by 2029, with a longer-term goal of reaching 40 weeks.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis joined Tim Beveridge to explain further.
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The Green Party today announced they want a one-year moratorium on new artificial intelligence data centres being consented to give regulation time to catch up.
The aim to create legislation to protect resources and communities during the pause.
The Party also released their 43-page manifesto today at their AGM in Auckland.
Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick joined Tim Beveridge to explain further.
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It's all go at NZ First, after the party wrapped up it's annual convention with a string of policy announcements.
Party Leader Winston Peters said he's focused on making sure New Zealand gets the most out of it's natural resources, likening NZ to Norway.
And Former All Black Taine Randell is the latest kiwi celebrity to join the world of politics. Has Paul Henry signing up with ACT kickstarted a trend?
Former United Future Leader Paul Henry joins Tim Beveridge to analyse the key takeaways of the convention.
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National have announced a post-election policy looking at consent laws.
It aims to better define consent as the presence of a 'yes', rather than the lack of a 'no'.
Labour responded accusing National of walking away from a bipartisan agreement to use this as a campaign piece.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith did not clarify whether the bipartisanship claims were true, but said, "(Labour) had 6 years in government, didn't get around to it, didn't prioritise this."
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Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, visited Auckland to meet with Prime Minister Chris Luxon yesterday.
The two exchanged warm words, attended a business conference together, and agreed to elevate the countries' relationship to that of a strategic partnership.
With Auckland being the economic-hub for international businesses here, and the Government's Auckland Deal to consult with the Mayor on significant plans, what conversations has the Mayor Wayne Brown?
Wayne Brown unpacks what's he looking to get from this for the City, and if Auckland has to capacity to help the Strategic Partnership reach its targets.
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Yesterday's Strategic Partnership with India means we've elevated our relationship to more than just a bilateral affair.
We've set out a goal to double two-way trade by 2030, expressed interest in other sectors like tourism, farming, and sport, and agreed to increase our maritime cooperation with India's Defence Force.
With tensions already lurking in the Indo-Pacific with China, and global volatility feeling like it could come from just one wrong-move, how does the partnership with India actually change our geopolitical profile?
Canterbury University Professor Anne Marie-Bradydiscusses the caveats and potential concerns of this agreement.
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The National Party has just announced it's trade policy, should the party be re-elected in November.
They've said that the aim is to secure markets with seven new economies across Europe, Africa and South America, with more to be chased further down the line.
Trade Minister Todd McClay told Tim Beveridge that it's important to expand trade, as the target countries in Europe especially are 'particularly wealthy nations'.
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It's been a busy week between New Zealand and India.
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to make his first official visit to New Zealand as the FTA gets over the line, however Winston Peters has raised concerns around Indian immigrants receiving unfair scrutiny at the border.
The Chair of India New Zealand Business Council Edwin Paul told Tim Beveridge that, 'This is a start of a journey' of trade between India and New Zealand.
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Nicole McKee will be the new ACT Party Deputy Leader, replacing Brooke Van Velden who's leaving politics this year.
Nicole only stood for Parliament six years ago, coming with a background as a small-business owner, volunteer and firearms advocate.
But she's risen through the ranks, becoming a cabinet minister, minister for courts, and rewriting the Firearms Act.
Party Leader David Seymour's confident in her, noting that she's is straight-forward, principled, practical, and never forgets the voters she represents.
So what will Nicole bring to the table, to advance the party's ambitions? The new ACT Party Deputy Leader Nicole McKee joins Tim Beveridge to explain.
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ACT has announced its plans to radically downsize Government departments, and bring fairness back into our benefit-system.
Firstly: They're making medical certification for health-related benefits mandatory, and only issued by MSD-approved doctors with objective criteria rather than a leaving it to a GP's discretion.
Secondly: Those on the Jobseeker benefit for more than four months will be given an electronic payment card that's only designated for essentials like groceries and rent.
Lastly: They want to cut the 43 Government departments into 19, and drop the number of portfolio ministers from 28 to 18.
ACT Party Leader David Seymour joins the Weekend Collective to unpack the party's ambitions.
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GP fees could be frozen for 12 months from July under a proposed Health NZ shake-up of the funding system.
Under the proposals, around 60 percent of practices would receive increased funding through capitation re-weighting and annual funding increased.
Overall funding for GPs would reportedly increase by six percent, as part of a $120.6 million injection for primary health.
Health Minister Simeon Brown joined the Weekend Collective to unpack the overhaul.
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Christopher Luxon has returned from Queensland, after meeting with Anthony Albanese with a group of New Zealand businesses.
No announcements have been unveiled, but the leaders discussed defence options and Luxon has been eying opportunities to get involved in the 2032 Olympics.
NZ Herald deputy political editor Adam Pearse joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.
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The Government says this year's budget especially strengthens Auckland's role as New Zealand's economic engine room.
They point out that they're investing in health, including funding to purchase land for a future South Auckland Hospital, and a share of the Government's $5.5-billion health package.
Additionally, they highlight plans for housing growth with a new $400-million fund for councils to enable more homes.
Lastly, they're putting aside a billion for rail improvements, and another billion for school upgrades.
But Mayor Wayne Brown says the devil is in the detail - and we'll need more clarity into a timeline of these initiatives, along with an explanation of how the Government's funding their share of the CRL.
So what do these investments actually mean for Aucklanders - and how confident can we be in keeping a globally competitive city?
Minister for Auckland Simon Watts talks to Tim Beveridge to discuss...
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US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says New Zealand is "freeloading" from the American military because of our low military spend.
The remarks were made at an Asia-Pacific security conference in Singapore, attended by Defence Minister Chris Penk.
The New Zealand Government has already announced plans to lift defence spending to around 2% of GDP over coming years — nearly double what we currently spend — but Hegseth says allies should really be aiming closer to 3.5%.
That raises some big questions. At a time when New Zealanders are worried about the cost of living, hospitals and public services, why should defence move up the priority list? What are the risks if countries like New Zealand don’t step up militarily?
Defence Minister Chris Penk joins Tim Beveridge to discuss.
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Finance Minister Nicola Willis will be presenting the 2026 budget on this coming Thursday.
A number of pre-budget announcements have already been made including money directed to maths and literary in schools and maritime security, while social housing and the public sector have faced budget cuts.
Founder of Bagrie Economics, Cameron Bagrie, spoke to Tim Beveridge about what he expects and what he thinks should be done.
One change Bagrie believes is unpopular but crucial is reforming NZ Super saying 'the current system is unsustainable'.
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Today Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard, along with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, announced a $79 million boost over three years for tourism and farming by stopping the spread of wilding pines.
The work will be concentrated around Queenstown, the Mackenzie Basin, the North Island’s Central Plateau, and New Zealand’s largest farm in South Marlborough.
The extra funding will take the total for stopping the spread of wilding pines to $109m over the next three years.
Hoggard joined Tim Beveridge to chat about the pines and their negative impact on our environment.
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Russian president Vladimir Putin says the war in Ukraine is coming to an end.
The conflict has been ongoing since Russia's initial invasion in 2022, and Putin had been speaking in the Kremlin following a very scaled-back Victory Day parade.
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Winston Peters has leaked, and the Government has confirmed, that this will be the final year of fees-free support for tertiary students.
The support was first introduced as a first year free incentive to help get more young people into further education, and was changed to be final year free last year.
The policy has cost almost $350 million a year since it was introduced, but it seems the Government has decided that money is better spent elsewhere.
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New Zealand has received a preliminary proposal from the United States requesting help in opening the Strait of Hormuz - possibly as part of a coalition that would restore access to the strait.
So yes we're apparently just one of a number of countries that received a proposal.
Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters says we're seeking more information and as such won't be making a decision anytime soon.
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SailGP won't be going ahead in the city of sails next year as the Government has pulled funding.
Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston wrote in a letter to mayor Wayne Brown that the event did not meet funding criteria, which requires a specific net economic benefit.
It's been met with disappointment, as funding continues for larger events such as Robbie Williams and Linkin Park, of which some argue could have sold out on their own, without Government funding.
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After much deliberation, the Labour Party has announced they'll back the India free trade agreement.
We do see cross party agreements, but just how important will bipartisanship be for this year's election?
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The Green Party have just had their annual State of the Planet Address, and this year they're calling for a National Electrification Plan.
They say it's in response to the current fossil fuels crisis, and would add to their previous calls for free public transport and solutions to ease the cost of living.
The plan would lay out a clear plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and use renewable energy like solar panels to reduce the cost of living.
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New Zealand First has announced they will be campaigning on a new policy to end the supermarket duopoly.
The policy would give the Commerce Commission powers to enforce increased penalties for breaches and reform the role of the Groceries Commissioner, which the party says is currently toothless.
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The National Party have called in former broadcaster Rachel Smalley to help Auckland based MPs, including the prime minister, with their communications and media work ahead of the election this year.
It's come after the public have started to notice Luxon becoming less confident and stumbling over his words recently - in contrast to the precise and decided communication style he's had in the past.
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Cyclone Vaianu has hit our shores and some regions are being hit particularly hard.
The East Coast has seen gusts of up to 130 kilometres an hour, thousands of homes in Northland and the Bay of Plenty are without power, and weather watches and warnings remain in place for the whole North Island and parts of the South Island.
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It's election year again in New Zealand, and it's a process that we're all familiar with.
But few are more familiar than Former PM Helen Clark and Former National MP Maurice Williamson, who joined Tim Beverige to look at what we can expect from election year.
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The latest numbers, as at one week ago, there were 24 days of petrol and 18 days of diesel in the country.
Things are looking to worsen for the foreseeable future, although an uptick in public transport use and EV purchases point to people taking things into their own hands.
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New Zealand First will be campaigning on a policy that would see half of all mining royalties go to the region from which it came, rather than Wellington.
The party says it would build up wealth and infrastructure in the regions, allowing for future development rather than having the money spent across wider national projects.
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Winston Peters has delivered NZ First's State of the Nation address - the final one ahead of the looming election.
Peters also announced a National Energy Strategy that would break up power companies, no longer allowing them to control both power and the price.
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New Zealand has just over 50 days worth of petrol, and a week less of diesel, while the war in Iran wages on.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact the global oil supply, and the countries we generally import oil from are considering closing up shop on exports to ensure their own security.
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Prices are up at the pump, auto shops are selling out of jerry cans, and we've seen the reports of thousand litre IBC tanks being filled up at BP.
It's raised the question around whether the closure of Marsden Point has been more harmful to New Zealand's fuel security that we had initially realised.
New Zealand would still be reliant on imports to meet fuel needs, but having the ability to import crude oil rather than just refined oil would likely lift the pressure.
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The Prime Minister's leadership within his own party is being questioned after he didn't fare well in a Taxpayers' Union poll this week.
It has National down 2.9 points to 28.4% - but most notably, it suggests that the centre-left bloc could form a government in November. It'll be very tight though, with 61 seats for the left and 59 for the right.
Luxon sits at 21% for preferred prime minister, while Hipkins is at 22.7%.
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One week on, the war in Iran is progressing by the day.
In the latest, the United States are gearing up to potentially send ground troops into Iran, Australia is considering whether they should send in troops, and New Zealand supports the US but won't involve itself any further.
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The Government has highlighted issues within the KiwiSaver Act that have prevented a number of Kiwis from using their accounts to buy a home.
Many workers in rural areas, like farm workers, rural police and teachers, are often required to live in housing provided by their employer - which stops them from being able to withdraw their KiwiSaver for a first home as they're unable to live in it.
These issues have also stopped farmers from being able to purchase their own farm as it's not covered by current legislation.
Changes announced this morning would remove those barriers.
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A joint US–Israeli strike on Iran overnight has triggered retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran, raising fears of a wider regional escalation.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes - a claim Iran denied until half an hour ago, with officials saying he was “safe and sound” and “actively commanding the field”.
International reaction has been mixed, with some governments condemning the strikes, others urging restraint, and many calling for urgent diplomatic talks.
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On Saturday Donald Trump announced a 10% levy on all goods coming into the US in response to the Supreme Court ruling his other tariffs unconstitutional.
The new global tariffs were updated to 15% on Sunday.
Economist Cameron Bagrie joined Tim Beveridge to talk about the implications for kiwi businesses.
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On Sunday the Government announced a plan to grant police the power to issue move-on orders to help deal with disorderly and dangerous behaviour in public places.
The move-on orders apply to anyone displaying disorderly or intimidating behaviour, impeding someone entering a business, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, and behaviour indicating an intent to inhabit a public place.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith joined Tim Beveridge to chat about what this announcement means in reality.
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Labour is hesitant to put their support behind an India FTA without the government meeting certain conditions.
It says free trade is a net positive, but agreements shouldn't cause harm to New Zealand - which is what we risk with this FTA.
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ACT Party leader David Seymour delivered his State of the Nation address this morning.
He says this government is on track to produce positive change, but it's not happening as quickly as it could be.
ACT says there are three ways to break our country's slump: equal rights, positive thinking, and a smaller government.
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Moa Point has been testing as non-compliant for all but two months of the last two years.
The signs were there, but no one seemed to raise concern before the wastewater plant started pumping raw sewage into the south coast of Wellington.
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From today, New Zealanders will be able to get prescriptions that won't need to be renewed through their GPs for a whole year.
The change will impact those with long-term conditions like asthma and epilepsy.
GPs will decide on a case by case basis whether it's safe to prescribe a medication for the full 12 months, and patients will no longer have to see their GP every 3 months for a new script.
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It's Waitangi Day this Friday and after opting to spend the day at a marae in Akaroa last year, this year Christopher Luxon will be in town to meet with iwi.
A recent RNZ-Reid poll found 62% of kiwis think it's important for the prime minister to be in Waitangi for Waitangi Day, but previous PMs have all had different approaches.
Ngapuhi chairperson Mane Tahere joins to preview the week ahead.
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A man who snatched a 3-year-old girl from a Rotorua daycare centre with the intention to rape her will be released from jail in just over six weeks after serving one year in jail.
His release comes under strict conditions including six months of standard release conditions, and he must adhere to other special conditions set out in his probation report.
This case has raised questioins around sentencing discounts going too far, and Criminal Lawyer Steve Cullen told Tim Beveridge that it's a difficult task to balance sentencing discounts with maintaining a streamlined judicial system.
He also added that any moves from the government to limit the discretion of Judges is not helpful for the system.
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Associate Education Minister David Seymour has welcomed provisional Term 4 attendance data, which shows attendance rates were higher than any Term 4 since 2022.
Data shows that in Term 4 of 2025, 57.3% of students attended school regularly, which is an increase from 56.4% in Term 4 of 2024.
He told Tim Beveridge that although the numbers are promising, there is still more work to be done.
He said that it's not just about getting students back to the school gates, but also reintegrating them into the education system so students don't feel behind on their education.
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The victims of an unprovoked attack on an Auckland train line late last year are speaking out, describing injuries and a lingering fear of using public transport.
It’s yet another reminder of the safety concerns many New Zealanders have at the back of their minds the next time they step onto a bus or train.
Auckland Transport data shows hundreds of violent incidents across public transport services in the two years to November 2025 - and based on headlines, there’s little sign that trend is easing.
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is set to give his State of the Nation Address tomorrow and being an election year, it'll be an important one.
The National Party will be trying to recover from their recent polling, while kiwis will be looking for some desperately needed economic recovery.
Health may also be one to keep an ear out for, after Finance Minister Nicola Willis said she'll be looking to shake up funding in the next budget.
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This year's international politics have been unstable to say the least.Trump's Tariffs, Gaza, Ukraine and the Epstein Files have been gifts that keep giving...or not.
But closer to home we've managed to dodge declarations of war. However, there's still lots to reflect on and discuss.
Former Speaker of the House Sir Lockwood Smith and Auckland Councilman Richard Hills join Tim Beveridge to wrap the year's politics, and give an insight into what to expect next year.
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Nato chief Mark Rutte warns Western allies to prepare for war with Russia.
He said that within the next five years, Nato countries will need to be prepared for a scale of war that hasn't been seen since our grandparents or great-grandparents.
Donald Trump is due to meet with Volodymyr Zelenskyy shortly regarding a peace deal.
And the U.S. is keeping very busy as they've also seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela this week.
The tanker went off course two days after its departure, listed to head for a Cuban port but rather off-loading part of its load to another ship before heading toward Asia.
It was seized shortly after this.
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It's been a week of back and forth for the Taxpayers' Union and the Finance Minister.
Nicola Willis has challenged Union chair and former finance minister Ruth Richardson to a debate, which was met with a sweet treat sent to Nicola and media.
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After a tough few months for Te Pati Maori, its AGM is taking place today.
Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the country is "facing the most destructive government in our history," and the party is set on "making this a one term government."
Meanwhile, 3 of 4 of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi's requests in her ongoing legal proceedings were declined by the judge - but her request to remain a party member was accepted until February 2026.
Party President John Tamihere remains in office as the AGM goes forward.
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Former police commissioner Andrew Coster claims he had briefed Chris Hipkins on Jevon McSkimming's alleged misconduct in 2022, and briefed Mark Mitchell in 2024.
Coster stepped down as Chief Executive of the Social Investment Agency this week, after an IPCA report showed failures in how the police dealt with allegations against McSkimming.
Both Hipkins and Mitchell have denied Andrew Coster's claims, and both have released statements saying they would have taken action had they known.
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Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled the party's first policy for next year's election - low-interest loans to support doctor-owned clinics.
The scheme will offer up to 50 ten year long loans a year for doctors or nurse practitioners to open or buy into local clinics, interest free for the first two years.
After announcing their policy of three free GP appointments a year, questions were raised around how our already overwhelmed health system could manage more appointments.
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A deal was reached at COP30 this weekend, boosting finance for poor nations coping with global warming - but there was no mention of fossil fuels.
83 countries signed a roadmap that would push for the end of fossil fuels, but New Zealand was one of the only countries not to sign.
The opposition has spoken out, saying the move has made us look foolish on the world stage.
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The National Party have announced their first election promise - a lift to default KiwiSaver contribution rates.
The changes would mean that by the end of the implementation, savers would be able to contribute 12% to KiwiSaver, putting us on a level matching Australia's superannuation.
Some experts say it'll lead to countless people opting out of KiwiSaver, with other investment methods providing more incentives.
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The IPCA released a scathing review laying out out a chain of senior-level failures around the McSkimming scandal.
The question now is whether the public can have any confidence in the police in general and in its leadership.
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Earlier this year, the United States imposed a 15% tariff on a range of New Zealand exports, most notably beef.
It was a huge blow, as beef is a major export for New Zealand - especially to the States. The tariffs have cost the country over $300 million since they were introduced in April.
This weekend, President Donald Trump signed an executive order removing that extra 15% on beef, coffee, and tropical fruits, among others. The move brings us back down to a tariff of less than 1%.
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The Government has confirmed they're considering action to move rough sleepers out of Auckland's city centre.
Mayor Wayne Brown has given his go ahead, but the opposition as well as housing advocates have said a policy like this would just move the problem elsewhere and end up creating more harm.
No details have been released yet, ministers say they are still working through the issues and how to deal with them, but that hasn't stopped the controversy.
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The Government has released an action plan to deal with the growing issue of methamphetamine use in New Zealand.
They're investing $30 million over four years into the hardest hit communities, increasing maritime operations to stop it before it gets into the country, and we'll soon see a nationwide media campaign to raise awareness - among other policies.
The amount of meth seized both in the country and offshore has increased 266% over the past five years, and the estimated social harm from meth use was $1.5 billion last year.
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The Government has announced 140 new hospital beds across the country to ease pressure on emergency departments.
These beds will be part of new wards in Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington, and Nelson hospitals, alongside the new Hawke's Bay ward announced earlier in the year.
Health Minister Simeon Brown says operational funding for the 350 extra staff that will be needed, has already been approved.
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Christopher Luxon is wrapping up his trip to APEC and ASEAN today.
The Prime Minister met with a range of world leaders, even having his hair complimented by Donald Trump, and having dinner with the Canadian and Australian Prime Ministers and the South Korean president.
APEC and ASEAN represent about 60 to 70% of the world's economy, so even casual meeting would have been significant for Luxon and New Zealand.
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Last Thursday was the largest protest New Zealand has had for decades, a combined strike across multiple public sector groups including PSA members and PPTA members.
It certainly sent a message, but that message depends on who you ask. While many sympathise with the issues the public sector is facing, many have also dubbed it 'the start of a five day weekend' for teachers.
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The Prime Minister is off to the East Asia Summit in Malaysia today, before he heads to South Korea to attend the APEC summit.
Xi Jinping will be in attendence, and he's due to meet with President Donald Trump on the 30th of October.
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More strike action from teachers this week, with a full national strike planned for Thursday.
Minister for Public Service Judith Collins says that the number one item on the agenda for the PPTA at a recent meeting with the Government was Palestine, not pay or education.
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From tomorrow, beneficiaries will need to comply with two more obligations to continue receiving welfare.
They will need to provide evidence of at least three job searches a week for four weeks, and attend employment-related training courses for at least five hours a week for four weeks.
The sanctions are aimed at increasing employability, but critics think it's punishing beneficiaries for being out of work.
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42 councils have held referendums on Māori wards - 17 areas have voted to keep them, while 25 have voted to remove.
The wards have been a flashpoint for debate - there were protesters in Kaipara last year when council voted to remove it.
Te Pāti Māori has described the decision to remove the wards as “racist, targeted attack on Māori, for being Māori” and that it's "an assault on Te Tiriti"
Last year, David Seymour said he'd vote against keeping Maori wards if his council held a referendum - on the basis that New Zealand is made up of people from all walks of life.
He speaks to Tim Beveridge...
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Thousands of teenagers could have their Jobseeker benefit cut next year, as the Government restricts payments.
Eighteen and 19-year-olds without children must pass a Parental Assistance Test to qualify from November 2026.
The threshold will be set at just over $65,000.
Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Tim Beveridge it's the same as the Supported Living Payment, and similar to the Student Allowance test.
She says those on very low incomes below that would not be able to support these teenagers.
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Bowel cancer is New Zealand’s second biggest cancer killer.
Yesterday, the Health Minister confirmed changes to the free bowel screening criteria.
From Monday, the starting age for screenings will be lowered from 60 to 58 in Northland, Auckland, and the South Island.
The rest of the North Island will follow in March 2026.
Health Minister Simeon Brown speaks to Tim Beveridge.
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The Government has decided against recognising a Palestinian state at this stage.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters made the announcement in a speech at the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, grouping New Zealand with a small handful of countries who have also decided not to make the move.
He said as long as Hamas is the Gaza Strip's de facto government, there is no legitimate State of Palestine for New Zealand to recognise.
Peters also laid out a list of conditions that would need to be met before New Zealand makes the move - like the release of all hostages, the renouncement of terrorism, and movement toward an actual democracy - among others.
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Foreign Minister Winston Peters is off to New York today to attend the United Nations 80th anniversary meeting.
He says it's a great opportunity to gather information from a broad range of New Zealand's partners on how they view and manage the major conflicts happening around the world.
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New Zealand's hospital facilities are about to get a $100 million investment boost.
The programme will expand and modernise clinical spaces, and strengthen existing infrastructure to avoid the disruption of clinical services.
The funding boost will provide small-scale upgrades nationwide, as well as building on more major projects like those in Nelson and Wellington.
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The Government has just announced a new $70 million tourism package they expect will supercharge the tourism and events sectors.
The funding includes $40 million to secure large-scale international events from next year, and a regional tourism boost campaign.
The boost in funding will help New Zealand complete with Australia for major events.
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Labour's education spokesperson Willow-Jean Prime has met with education minister Erica Stanford to discuss the Government's plan to scrap NCEA.
It comes after the spokesperson refused to meet with the minister while the reform was in its planning stages.
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New Zealand First's annual conference has just drawn to a close, and leader Winston Peters made a speech to his audience of near 1000.
He announced New Zealand First will campaign on making KiwiSaver compulsory, and introduced 10% contributions, which would be compensated by tax cuts.
All this on top of a potentila new candidate for next year's election - Stuart Nash.
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Former Labour minister Stuart Nash has put his hat in the ring to be a candidate to become a New Zealand First MP at the party's AGM this weekend.
Nash was sacked from Cabinet in 2023 after disclosing confidentiall information from a Cabinet meeting to two businessmen.
Now, Winston Peters says he would be a 'seamless' addition.
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The latest New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey shows 156,000 victims of serious violent crimes in the year to May.
It's down 29,000 from when National took office in 2023, and the drop is largely made up of family violence incidents.
However, the number of sexual assault victims has increased by 3,000 in only three months.
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This week the Government announced an express lane to fast-track consent for supermarkets that would improve competition.
The question now being raised, is whether the cost of groceries is a supermarket problem, or a wage problem.
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NZ Post has suspended most shipping services to the United States and some surrounding countries as they brace for tariffs to come into effect.
Services will stop on the 29th of August, but NZ Post says it can't give customers an exact date for when things will get going again.
They expect the suspension to be short term, but it begs the question of what planning was being done when tariff discussions have been ongoing for months.
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The Government has announced a $2.7 billion defence spending boost to upgrade the aircraft fleet.
The money will be spent on five Seahawk helicopters and two Airbus aircrafts, to replace the Defence Force's "embarrassing" planes, in Judith Collins' words.
It's part of National's pledge to boost defence spending by $9 billion over the next four years, but why now?
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Submissions close tonight for the Online Casino Gambling Bill.
The community sports sector have banded together under the Community Sports Collective, and made a joint submission covering at least 1.67 million people.
They're urging the Government to share the proceeds of online casino gambling with the community, in the same way they do with current grants.
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Donald Trump met with Vladimir Putin yesterday to come to an agreement over the war in Ukraine.
The two left the meeting seemingly happy with how it went, and Trump noted it "went very well", but no deal was announced.
Vlodymyr Zelenskyy will meet with President Trump at the White House later this week.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chris Luxon this weekend, in Queenstown for the annual Australia-New Zealand leaders meeting.
Luxon said in a world that's ever-changing, our relationship with Australia is a "bedrock", and Albanese shared a similar sentiment. But no announcements have been made so far between us.
So what can we expect to come from this? what issues do both leaders agree, or disagree on? and what concerns still remain?
New Zealand Herald Senior Writer Derek Cheng was down there to cover the meeting, and he's with us now...
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The Greens say they're the only ones offering solutions to tax issues, in a time where communities are crying out for change.
With next year's elections coming soon, they held their Annual meeting this weekend, and expressed their desire to lead the next government. The Party's co-leaders called for transformational change, and a future driven by fresh thinking.
So what will that actually look like, and how promising does it sound?
Party Co-leader Marama Davidson joins Tim Beveridge for more.
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Beef + Lamb New Zealand Chair Kate Acland joins Tim Beveridge to discuss the impacts of the newly announced 15% tariff on exports to the United States.
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The Government has announced they will revise the Conservation Act to allow for a fresh wave of concessions on DoC land, as well as increasing the charge for foreign visiters to access the more popular sites.
Forest and Bird have claimed these changes are not conservation reform, but rather "conservation retreat".
Forest and Bird Chief Executive Nicola Toki joins Tim Beveridge to discuss.
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A suite of Electoral Act changes were announced this week, and same-day enrolments are set to be scrapped.
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour caused some upset when he dropped the word 'drop-kick' into the conversation.
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Until now, one company's plasterboard has had a near-duopoly in New Zealand, leading to some of the highest prices in the world - 67% more expensive than the U.S. according to the Minister of Building and Construction.
From tomorrow, thousands of overseas building products including plasterboard and cladding systems will be given the green light for use in construction in New Zealand.
The Government's introduction of a Building Product Specifications document will allow for greater competition in the market, and hopefully less costly building.
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We've had a flurry of education news this past week - giving the impression things are actually starting to look up.
Numeracy and literacy results are up significantly year on year, attendance is improving, and now - the Government wants to put an end to open plan classrooms.
But today, a damning Government briefing points out significant concerns around the credibility of the NCEA system itself.
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The Government has announced the funidng of $6 billion worth of construction projects to begin by Christmas.
New and improved roads, school renovations, and hospital revamps - it's all been added to the National Infrastructure Pipeline which is now over $207 billion.
These projects are also expected to create tens of thousands of jobs in the coming months.
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Around 700 New Zealand soldiers and personnel are in Australia for the largest war-fighting and military training exercise in the Southern Hemisphere.
35-thousand soldiers from 19 nations are taking part in it.
The Defence Force says a key goal for them is to be able to integrate its capabilities into Australian and US relations.
The Government also announced ramping up defence spend earlier this year - but as it stands now, and with tensions abroad - how prepared are we?
Tim Beveridge talks to Senior National Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Tuatini for more.
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With rising global tensions, market volatility, and an unpredictable international landscape, having a strong and credible foreign voice is becoming more important than ever for New Zealand.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters travelled to Malaysia for a summit with his South East Asian counterparts, where he worked towards a comprehensive strategic partnership by October.
But what does that actually mean for us? What would that relationship deliver in real terms? How are we positioning ourselves in an increasingly contested region?
He’s just come back from his trip — Winston Peters chats to Tim Beveridge.
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Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop is also stopping in Houston, Texas to look at how they've implemented affordable housing.
He's speaking to local experts about their planning, funding and tools that have allowed them to deliver effective housing.
Can the same elements be brought to New Zealand?
ZB Political Editor Jason Walls speaks to Andrew Dickens...
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Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop is visiting New York to see the success of their congestion charging.
He's proposing a similar pricing strategy back here, but is it plausible for our roads?
What can be done to solve our traffic issues?
Andrew Dickens is joined by Martin Glynn, AA Policy Director...
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IRD reports that New Zealand will need to restructure the tax system to fund the superannuation.
Capital gains tax could be on the table, and even a GST hike from 15%.
What sort of adjustments should we expect? Is there any other way to fund the super?
Tim Beveridge talks to PwC Tax Policy Leader, Sandy Lau...
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The Government is implementing new sentencing reforms to prevent soft punishments and place victims at the centre of the justice-system.
Will these changes bring back faith in our judicial system? What other work needs to be done
Tim Beveridge is joined by Ruth Money, Chief Victims Advisor to the Government...
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The Government is pausing $18 million in funding for the Cook Islands following their deals with China earlier this year.
What can be done to fix our relationship? Who's at fault?
Tim Beveridge is joined by Tere Carr, Cook Islands Tourism Industry Council President...
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The US has bombed Iran just two days after giving a two-week notice for tensions to deescalate.
With the NATO Summit coming soon, tensions are high.
What can we expect to happen next?
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The Government is legislating health targets to 'lock in accountability'.
It's part of a slue of changes to the health system, with the aim of refocusing on outcomes rather than bureaucracy.
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The Prime Minister is on his way to China next week to meet with Xi Jinping.
New Zealand's relationship with the country has been a hot topic recently, with many saying we need to stop cosying up to the United States.
This past week, prominent New Zealand leaders signed an open letter to express concern about our closeness with the States, and how it could be impacting our relationship with China.
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The Government has announced a new Parent Boost Visa that will allow the parents of New Zealand citizens multi entry access for up to five years.
The sponsor has to earn 1.5 times the median wage, or the parent must bring $16,000 - along with other insurance and health requirements.
The Government says they are trying to make the country more attractive for skilled workers, without straining public services.
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The latest 1News/Verian poll has both National and Labour down, while an RNZ-Reid poll done in the same week has National down and Labour up, and a Taxpayers' Union-Curia poll had both up.
You see the same with overlapping polls by different agencies showing significantly different results in preferred Prime Minister.
So why are polls done this far out from an election?
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In a Parliamentary first, Act MP Laura McClure displayed a naked image of herself to highlight the need for her proposed bill.
The image wasn't truly her, it was an AI-generated deepfake - made in just minutes with technology that can be found on the first page of a Google search.
Laura's Deepfake Digital Harm and Exploitation Bill would restrict the creation of non consensual deepfakes, as well as expanding revenge porn laws.
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Boy racers took over Levin and Palmerston North on Friday night, leaving seven injured and ten arrested.
The meet-up brought together around 1,000 boy racers, becoming so chaotic that police were deployed in full riot gear.
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It's been a big week in politics - we're still managing the aftershocks from the Budget on Thursday.
It's also Winston Peters' final week as Deputy Prime Minister, before he'll be forced to pass the torch to David Seymour on Saturday.
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The Budget didn't bring any changes to the pension - but Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has doubled down on his support for raising the age.
Luxon and his soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour, are on the same page when it comes to raising the pension age to 67, but Seymour says Winston Peters is standing in the way of changes.
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The Government is introducing tougher penalties for boy racers and other, what Chris Bishop called, "idiot drivers".
The changes include a crushed or forfeited car for fleeing drivers, boy racers, and those taking part in intimidating convoys.
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The Government is cracking down on illegal drugs entering the country, starting with Customs.
Customs will get an additional $35 million to help combat the rising rate of organised crime groups bringing illicit drugs into the country.
It will provide Customs with the funding needed for 60 more roles.
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Anthony Albanese's Labor government had a landslide victory overnight, marking the first re-election in Australia since 2004.
It's seen a mix of reactions, with some analysts even saying Albanese has Donald Trump to thank for his win.
Australia correspondent Sam Emery joins with the latest.
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The Government has announce $2 billion from the upcoming Budget has been set aside for new Defence Force helicopters, alongside an additional $957 million in funding.
The current Seasprite helicopters were built in the 1960s and 1970s, and were overdue replacement.
The announcement is part of a bigger plan to improve Defence capabilities.
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Physician associates will soon be a regulated profession working in primary care and hospitals.
These are health professionals who have been trained overseas, who have the function of a GP but have to work under the supervision of a doctor.
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The Government has set aside $68.5 million for an interest free EV charger loan scheme.
The private sector will be able to apply for a loan to increase the number of chargers in New Zealand.
It's committed to 10,000 public chargers by 2030, up from around 1,400 currently available.
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Almost all of our local government representatives have had a public persona before they went forward for the role.
Is that really all it takes?
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Christopher Luxon had a spree of phone calls with world leaders this week regarding the ongoing U.S. trade war, but Winston Peters says he should have been consulted beforehand.
Political commentator Peter Dunne says the Prime Minister was completely in his right to make calls without speaking to the Foreign Minister first.
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The previously announced 60 square metre granny flats that property owners will be able to build without building or resource consent - will now be 70sqm.
Recent changes to the RMA will also help make it easier for these flats to be built as well as more affordable.
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On the Republican Party's 'Liberation Day', President Donald Trump announced sweeping tariffs internationally.
New Zealand was caught in the crossfire with a 10% tariff, but we got off easy compared to other countries. But how is it impacting our global relationships?
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Greens MP Tamatha Paul has come under fire this week after comments about beat patrol police.
She said a lot of people feel less safe with the increase in police on the beat, and claimed that these officers had even been throwing away the belongings of homeless people.
Paul was also in a discussion about what steps could be taken to achieve "radical police abolition", and alternatives to the police.
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The Government wants to make it easier for a third major supermarket to come in and break up the duopoly.
Nicola Willis announced today that she has issued a Request for Information, asking supermarkets what changes are needed to help them compete with the big two.
These include local supermarkets upping the ante enough to compete, or overseas companies launching in New Zealand.
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Winston Peters gave his State of the Nation speech this afternoon, featuring a significant group of protesters.
He called for the re-evaluation of New Zealand's Paris Climate commitments, and a local focus rather than international.
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The ACT Party is call for more powers for Kāinga Ora to terminate tenancies.
It was triggered by a recent ruling by the Tenancy Tribunal, where a tenant with 25 complaints, 6 warnings and police call outs, and even an alleged shooting, will not have their tenancy terminated.
There was an overhaul just last year which made it easier for Kāinga Ora to evict tenants, but ACT says more is needed.
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Trade Minister Todd McClay has met with his United States counterpart, Jamieson Greer, to discuss the trade relationship between New Zealand and the U.S.
In the 45 minute meeting, McClay stressed the importance of an open market between the countries, and Greer agreed to continue dialogue throughout the changing trade policies.
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The Government has done it's best to impress investors over the Investment Summit - and economists are hopeful it has worked.
Multiple projects have already been proposed, and Italian tunnelling company Ghella, who had been planning to leave New Zealand due to lack of work, have confirmed it will keep workers and machinery here after hearing the outlined infrastructure pipeline.
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The Government wants to speed up land acquisitions for critical infrastructure projects.
Private landowners will be offered a premium payment to help the process run smoothly.
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Health Minister Simeon Brown wants to introduce wait time targets for general practices.
GenPro Chair Angus Chambers says GPs want to reduce wait times, and understand very well how bad it can be, but they don't have enough doctors to improve it.
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Laws to keep firearms out of the wrong hands come into effect today.
The Government is expanding firearms prohibition orders to cover gangs and other high-risk offenders.
Courts are now allowed to grant and FPO on the basis of gang affiliation to a crime, keeping guns out of the hands of guns.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance at the White House yesterday.
Things turned fiery when Vance began to question whether Zelenskyy was grateful for U.S. support.
Geoffrey Miller says if Ukraine was asking of New Zealand what they are asking of the United States, we wouldn't be happy either.
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The Government today has announced plans to overhaul the Overseas Investment Act.
Among the reforms announced, it will fast track overseas investment for decisions to be made within 15 days, and empower the Government to intervene if a transaction is not in the country's best interest.
The overhaul would make it easier for New Zealand businesses to get new investment from overseas, as well as pay higher wages.
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More calls for Destiny Church to be struck off the charities list and lose their tax deductibility status; but as the conversation around charity status goes on, questions are being raised on whether other organisations should lose their status.
Sanitarium is just one of the giants that are tax exempt in New Zealand, and with more than 28,000 registered charities with an annual income of over $21 billion, a change would bring the country an influx of cash.
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ACT's David Seymour believes the opposition has drifted too far to the left - and it's dragged the party down.
Seymour has fired back at Labour after a full week of scrutiny and calls to resign following his letter advocating for Philip Polkinghorne and the Land Rover on Parliament's steps incident.
He says Labour used to stand for equality and democracy and fairness, but they've gone adrift over the years.
"They've given up on the idea of one person, one vote. If you take Willie Jackson, one of their most prominent ministers, who says - oh democracy has changed now, one person, one vote's not that important . Actually, one person, one vote is the whole point of democracy."
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Labour's leader has labelled anti-LGBTQ protests 'pathetic'.
People linked to Destiny Church stormed a children's drag event at a west Auckland library, leading to some 30 people had being barricaded inside.
Later, police intervened when a group disrupted Pride Parade festivities on Ponsonby Road with a haka.
Chris Hipkins says we have free speech in New Zealand, but it's not that.
He says that sort of behaviour isn't an exercise in free speech - it's shouting other people down and stopping them from what they're free to do in a democratic country.
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This afternoon the Prime Minister announced New Zealand will be relaxing immigration settings for investors.
Two new immigration categories will be created to encourage wealthy foreigners to invest in Kiwi businesses.
Investors will need to invest a minimum of $5 million over three years, or $10 million over five years.
The visa's English language requirement will also be stripped, which Luxon claimed had scared off potential investors.
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Winston Peters has hinted at relaxing the foreign buyers ban for those who are willing to bring over the big bucks.
The NZ First leader said plans to lift the ban are a work in progress.
He says if foreign investors are willing to pump millions of dollars into other parts of the country , he is open to allowing them to buy property.
Williams Corporation Managing Director, Matthew Horncastle, joins to discuss.
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After saying he would prefer not to have to impose tariffs on China, Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China.
China came out the best of the three, with 10% rate on all imports, while Mexico and Canada were hit with a 25% rate across most imports.
This will likely mean an increase in prices for U.S. consumers, and a potential for New Zealand to step up exports.
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The government has announced plans to double New Zealand's mineral exports to $3 billion in the next ten years.
The Critical Minerals List now includes 37 minerals, after the addition of gold and metallurgical coal.
NZ First's Shane Jones also took aim at big banks limiting lending to the fossil fuels industry, noting his support for the Australian Liberal-National Opposition's attempts to force banks to back the sector.
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ACT Party leader David Seymour gave his State of the Nation speech this week, hot on the heels of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's.
He covered everything from tax cuts to the End of Life Choice Act - but a key point stuck out to many of those listening...
If the soon-to-be Deputy Prime Minister is hardly on the same page as the rest of the coalition, how can we trust that they are operating efficiently?
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The latest Taxpayers' Union-Curia Poll has the Labour Party up 4.0 points at 30.9%, while National sinks 4.6 points to 29.6%.
Although dropping 2.2 points, ACT is still ahead of the Greens, at 10.8% and 9.5% respectively.
Perhaps the most concerning for the National Party, 39% said the country was moving in the right direction, while 53% said it was moving in the wrong direction.
Regardless, Christopher Luxon still leads significantly as preferred prime minister.
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2024 marks this coalition Government's first year in power, and will be one to remember.
They got straight to work repealing and introducing legislation, some being so controversial they triggered unprecedented responses in the way of protests.
Gang patches were banned, the first youth offender bootcamp trial was completed; this year truly had a bit of everything.
Former Speaker of the House and National MP, Lockwood Smith, and former Prime Minister Helen Clark join Tim Beveridge to wrap the year in politics.
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This week on Politics Central, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts opens up about the Government's new action plan set to increase the use of hydrogen energy
Later, Fleur Fitzsimmons from the PSA addresses the backlash towards the Government's new working-from-home policies.
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The Greens have today unveiled their new Emissions Reduction Plan, and taking a hit at the current Government's plan while they're at it.
They claim their plan would reduce carbon emissions more than five times the Government's draft Emissions Reduction plan by 2030.
Some of the proposed policies include the reintroduction of the clean car discount, clean heating subsidies for rooftop solar, and reinstating the oil and gas ban.
Green Party MP Steve Abel joins with more.
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Two participants of the youth offender bootcamp were missing after attending a tangi.
Police were responding to a carjacking in Hamilton when they found the two teens, who now look to be in some legal trouble.
The first youth to go missing was on bail following a court hearing, and was to be accompanied by two Oranga Tamariki stadd.
The Labour Party's Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen joins with her take.
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The Labour Party have just wrapped up their AGM in Christchurch, where they had some big decisions to make.
The party has been in conversation about whether a capital gains tax would be on the cards for the next election, and what that may look like.
Labour leader Chris Hipkins joins with more.
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The Government has released Phase One of the Covid inquiry - all 700 pages of it.
Here are some key points:
- There was an issue with focusing on people's health rather than all aspects of their lives.
- Vaccine requirements were too broad and were in place for too long.
- Ardern's "single source of truth" comment was found unhelpful.
Former Director-General of Health Sir Ashley Bloomfield joins with his thoughts.
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The Local Government Funding Authority has allowed "high-growth" councils to borrow more.
The move is in hopes that councils will be able to deliver projects more efficiently.
Auckland, Tauranga, and Hamilton are just a few of the councils thought to be eligible for the increase.
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The ban on gang patches came into force at midnight on Thursday, with the first arrest only three minutes later.
Police report there were 12 gang insignia-related arrests within the first 24 hours.
Richard Chamber is announced as the new Police Commissioner, after serving as an officer since 1996.
One of the ten youth offender bootcamp participants have been arrested.
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Those participating in the Treaty Principles Bill hikoi have reached Palmerston North today, just days away from Parliament.
On Thursday, Te Pati Maori MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke ripped a copy of the legislation in hald at the Bill's first reading and launched into a haka, soon joined by more MPs.
The haka has gone viral worldwide, and international media and commentators did not have much in the way of kind words in response.
ACT Party Leader and Bill architect David Seymour joins with more.
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The hikoi against the Treaty Principles Bill has reached Palmerston North today, putting pressure on the Government to throw out the Bill.
Despite this, the Bill passed its first reading on Thursday which was followed by a dramatic haka by some Maori Party MPs in protest.
Labour Party's Justice spokesperson Duncan Webb joins with more.
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The United States is one of New Zealand's most significant partners, and the big question is what Donald Trump's win means for Kiwis.
Maurice Williamson is the former New Zealand Consol-General in Los Angeles and he joins to discuss the impact for New Zealand.
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The United States election has wrapped up this week with a landslide victory for Donald Trump.
It came as a bit of a shock after nearly all reputable pollsters predicted a very close race to presidency.
Marco Rubio's former Chief of Staff Matt Terrill joins Tim Beveridge to discuss the impact and what's to come for the States.
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The Government has announced a new charter to improve access to public conservation land for fishing and hunting.
The charter will help the Department of Conservation to provide consistent guidance across the country.
Minister for Hunting and Fishing, Todd McClay, joins Tim Beveridge with more.
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All eyes are on the United States just days out from the presidential election.
Henry Olsen is a pollster and is well-known for being one of the most accurate analysts, correctly forecasting the past two elections.
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Leaders from around the world gathered this week in Samoa for the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting.
Our own Prime Minister had the chance to meet the King and Queen in person and was full of praise for Queen Camilla after sitting beside her at a gala dinner to mark the end of the meeting.
Luxon also announced the New Zealand Government will contribute $20 million for the Pacific Resilience Facility, to help the Pacific prepare for natural disasters and support resilience against climate change.
Newstalk ZB's Political Editor Jason Wall joins Tim Beveridge with more.
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The Israel Defence Force carried out multiple strikes on Iranian military targets this weekend, killing four soldiers.
Israel's army has said the attacks are in retaliation to continuous attacks from Iran.
U.S. President Joe Biden says he's hopeful this will mark the end of a months-long cycle of escalation, but many experts are concerned this will worsen the conflict.
Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller joins Tim Beveridge with more.
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The ten teenagers signed up to the Military Style Bootcamp trial for youth offenders have just finished their three months in the bootcamp portion, learning basic skills like ironing and cleaning.
The teenagers are about to begin the next phase of the trial - transitioning back into the community.
Each child will now have nine months with an individual rehabilitation plan tailored to what they need to best transition them into the real world.
Youth worker Aaron Hendry joins Tim Beveridge to discuss whether this is where it all falls apart.
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NZ First have just finished up with their 31st Annual General Meeting in Hamilton.
The party and its members discussed everything from reliable energy, to the future of the Interislander.
This is their first AGM since they joined the coalition that formed the Government almost a year ago, and a lot of ground was covered.
NZ First leader Winston Peters joins Tim Beveridge to debrief the weekend.
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The Government has announced changes to the Hauraki Gulf Protection Bill, including 19 new marine protection areas, while allowing limited ring-net fishing to continue for some fishers.
The new areas would almost triple the number of spaces protected, but the Government has come under fire for still allowing ring-net fishing.
Opposition parties and conservation groups have pushed back, saying allowing ring-net fishing would undermine a decade of work.
Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka joins Tim Beveridge to discuss further.
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New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui sank this morning after running aground on a reef off the coast of Samoa last night.
The ship caught fire, but the Chief of Navy says it's too soon to speculate on what caused the incident.
Minister of Defence Judith Collins joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss more.
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The government has announced that they will temporarily underwrite private housing developments to support developers who are struggling to pre-sell enough dwellings to get developments off the ground.
The development must have a minimum of 30 houses and the developer must own or have legal use of the land.
CEO of Williams Corporation, Matthew Horncastle, joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss further.
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Alliance Group is proposing a closure to its Timaru meat processing plant.
Consultations are ongoing and will likely lead to the loss of 600 jobs.
Minister for Regional Development Shane Jones joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss further.
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The Government announces a significant shake up to building and construction with reform of the building consent system.
They have proposed a number of potential changes; including establishing consenting authorities to replace the 67 BCAs New Zealand currently has, allowing councils to team up on building consents, and creating a single point of contact for building plans.
Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss further.
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RMA Minister Chris Bishop's revealed two laws will replace the old system -- one to manage environmental effects arising from activities, and another to enable urban development and infrastructure.
Under-Secretary to the Minister Responsible for RMA Reform, Simon Court, joined Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss.
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The Government is working on a potential next step for addressing recreational nitrous oxide use.
New Medsafe advice says nitrous products, or nangs, sold for recreational use, fall under the Psychoactive Substances Act 2013, and are now illegal.
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti, says the rising use of the drug is a trend seen globally in countries like Australia and the UK.
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New statistics show a 22% reduction in serious assaults in Auckland CBD over the past year.
Auckland Council is reporting that crime in the city dropped 35%, and retail crime is down 50%.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss.
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This week Cabinet discussed the draft for the Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the ACT Party.
The three principles that were agreed upon included the Government power to govern and Parliament's power to create laws, the Crown's recognition of hapu and iwi rights, and the right to equality.
ACT Party Leader David Seymour joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss.
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A recent law change saw councils given the choice to either hold a binding poll or disestablish their Maori wards.
Central Hawkes Bay Mayor Alex Walker told Tim Beveridge that publicising the issue removes the power from local governments.
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The Labour Party has started a discussion around a potential capital gains tax.
Leader of the Opposition Chris Hipkins had campaigned against the tax in the 2023 election, but has since changed his mind.
Hipkins told Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective that there are several ways of implementing a capital gains tax, including potentially taxing increased value on a home without it being sold.
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Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is about to jet off with a senior business delegation to Malaysia followed by South Korea.
Retired Professor of International Relations Stephen Hoadley joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the importance and what we can expect.
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The Government has proposed several changes to speed limits countrywide.
This week, proposing to change State Highway 1/76 in Christchurch and State Highway 1 north of Auckland from 100km/h to 110km/h.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss.
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The Local Government New Zealand conference wrapped up this week, with local government minister Simeon Brown hinting at more streams of funding for councils.
But some councillors are unhappy with recent comments from the Prime Minister.
Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the feeling among councils after the conference.
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The Government announced this afternoon that Cabinet has agreed to recommend a suite of changes to the Fast-track Approvals Bill.
These changes would require applications to be sent to a panel of experts to streamline approval.
Minister for Infrastructure, Chris Bishop, joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the new recommendations.
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The Helen Clark Foundation is calling for tougher rules against corruption after a report outlined the levels of transparency in the Government.
The report's author, Philippa Yasbek, says Kiwis should be reassessing the level of threat corruption has in New Zealand to avoid the need for a "too little, too late" reaction.
Political commentator Dr Bryce Edwards joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the report.
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The Government has announced $1.3 billion of funding for a new Road Policing Investment Programme (RPIP) to improve road safety over the next three years.
The funding will be targeted at drunk and drugged drivers, increasing roadside testing and focusing on high-risk times and locations.
Transport Minister Simeon Brown joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the new funding.
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The number of households living in emergency housing has dropped by a third from December 2023 to June 2024.
Auckland saw the biggest drop, from 624 households to 354 households.
Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss what caused the drop and where to go from here.
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Wholesale energy prices are the highest since October 2018, with hydro-lake levels only 32% full.
Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss what can be done to help.
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Act MP Karen Chhour has raised concerns with Parliament becoming an unsafe working environment following personal attacks surrounding her youth offender boot camp.
Former Speaker of the House Sir David Carter joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss whether the conversation around race relations will ever cool down.
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The National Party announced a policy today to improve achievement levels in maths, following their Annual General Meeting this weekend.
Education Minister Erica Stanford joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss this and more.
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Joe Biden and Barack Obama have both given their endorsement for Kamala Harris for Presidency, following Biden announcing he would be stepping down before the next election.
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The Green Party has announced they are pushing back their decision on the future of Darleen Tana as they wrap up their AGM today.
Ricardo Menendez-March joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the outcome from the AGM.
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Tauranga has elected Mahé Drysdale as their new mayor. He joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss his initial plans for the city.
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The Republican National Convention has been and gone with Donald Trump being confirmed as the Republican Presidential nominee, and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his running mate.
U.S. Correspondent Dan Mitchinson joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss how the convention went.
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University of Otago Professor of Politics and Director of International Relations joins Tyler Adams on The Weekend Collective to discuss how the attempted assassination will impact America's upcoming election.
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Housing Minister Chris Bishop expects to see Kainga Ora evictions rise before improving.
This comes after the Government ordered the housing agency to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework in March.
The Minister joined Tyler Adams on The Weekend Collective to discuss what he hopes will come of this.
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Former President Donald Trump is injured after what seems to have been an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania campaign rally.
The former President says the bullet scraped his ear, while two people have died and one is seriously injured.
US Correspondent Mitch McCann spoke with Tyler Adams on The Weekend Collective to give all the latest.
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The trucking industry says it is backing the Government, in its speed limit conflict with Auckland Council.
The two groups have been having a war of words, over raising the speed limits and bringing in variable limits around schools.
Auckland Council wants more power to set their own limits, the final decision is the Government's though.
National Road Carriers Policy and Advocacy General Manager, James Smith, says that's how it should be.
"The rules around setting speed limits should be set by central Government, so you get consistency throughout the country. And then, the local Governments would need a very, very good reason to stray from those guidelines."
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The UK is undergoing a historic political change - leaving other parts of the world wondering what comes next.
The win for Labour marks the end of the Conservative's 14 years in power.
With this comes new Ministers, such as the Minister for Business and Trade as well as Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
Former High Commissioner to the UK, Lockwood Smith, says he believes the only policy change that'll come with this will be domestic.
"I don't think we'll see a big shift in the trade policy or their foreign policy - except for, I think, an attempt to warm up the relationship with the EU, which is needed."
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This week on Politics Central, Transport Minister Simeon Brown joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the scrapping of the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax - and explain why the 'wasteful' spending had to come to an end.
Later, international relations expert Alex Tan unpacks Joe Biden's shaky performance in Friday's debate against Donald Trump - and examines where the Democrats go from here.
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The Transport Minister is focused on building essential infrastructure as the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax is scrapped.
Auckland motorists will save 11.5 cents a litre, with the tax removed from tomorrow.
Simeon Brown says hundreds of millions of dollars from the tax wasn't being spent at all.
"We're stopping the waste, we're focusing it back on the basics. And that remaining funding is going to go towards priority projects, such as the Eastern busway, more trains for the rail link and local roading upgrades."
He adds the Government isn't increasing fuel excise and road user charges in this term.
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Joe Biden is unlikely to step aside from the US Presidential Election.
There are calls for him to stand down after he stumbled answering questions and didn't finish sentences in the debate with Donald Trump.
Many were calling it Biden's chance to prove his physical and mental fitness for another Presidential term.
Canterbury University Political Science and International Relations professor Alex Tan says it would be messy for a new presidential candidate to step in.
"There are others that could, but I'm not sure any of them would want to go into a situation like that."
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This week on Politics Central, Maritime Union spokesperson Victor Billot claimed cancelling the upgrade of the existing Interisland ferry fleet with two large ferries was a critical error from the Government, and Friday's Aratere grounding was a long time coming after years of warnings.
Later, Children's Minister Karen Chhour unveiled her plan to cut down youth offending by introducing a new declaration for young offenders to ensure they face tougher consequences and are better supported to turn their lives around.
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The Children's Minister says initiatives to address youth crime will provide needed consequences for young offenders.
The Government is proposing to introduce a Youth Serious Offender declaration, meaning the courts could send them to a military style academy.
Legislation will be introduced before the end of the year, while a pilot academy begins in Palmerston North at the end of July.
Karen Chhour says we can't keep letting young offenders keep causing harm in local communities.
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Several inquiries are underway after a suspected steering problem saw the Interisland ferry Aratere run aground near Picton.
On Friday night, the ship became grounded.
It was re-floated successfully last night on the high tide.
Maritime Union spokesperson Victor Billot believes it could be a while before the ship is back sailing.
"They're going to have to look at the steering system, obviously, they're going to have to look the hull...it's going to be a long time."
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This week on Politics Central, Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman discusses whether peace in Ukraine is possible as world leaders gather in Switzerland to try and build support for Ukraine’s peace proposals - and if Putin's 'unrealistic' offer is cause for hope.
Later, Minister for Workplace Relations and Safety, Brooke van Velden, talks about the Government's announcement of a roadshow consultation on work health and safety.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin's demands for a ceasefire have been rejected by European leaders at a Ukraine summit.
The leaders of Italy and Germany have lambasted Putin's proposals, which included Ukraine handing over more territory to Russia.
It comes as world leaders meet in Switzerland to discuss ending the conflict.
New Zealand foreign affairs expert professor Robert Patman says Putin wants the invasion to be internationally recognised.
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This week on Politics Central, Minister Shane Jones has confirmed the Government will lift the ban on oil and gas exploration, as he believes New Zealand's natural gas reserves were declining and sustainable sources like wind, solar and hydro were too inconsistent.
Later, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey joined in to discuss the significance of Men's Health Week.
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Men’s Health Week is set to run from June 10-16, encouraging men to get on top of their wellbeing – both physical and mental.
New Zealand still has one of the highest rates of youth suicide in the developed world, and many are suffering from some strain of mental distress.
Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.
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Shane Jones says oil and gas exploration is necessary to deal with energy security issues, as natural gas reserves rapidly decline.
The Government is reversing the oil and gas exploration ban, beyond onshore Taranaki.
It comes after around 20,000 people marched in Central Auckland yesterday, to protest the Fast Track Approvals Bill.
Resources Minister Shane Jones says about 20 percent of all our energy needs are related to gas.
"Because of the chilling effect of Jacinda Ardern's announcement in 2018, we're relying progressively more on Indonesian coal."
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This week on Politics Central, Otago University's Robert Patman shares his thoughts on the implications of Donald Trump's guilty verdict - and what it means for the upcoming US election.
Later, ACT's David Seymour discusses last week's 2024 Budget - and weighs in on Te Pati Māori calling for their own Government.
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Associate Health Minister David Seymour believes the Government can justify spending more on cancer medication.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has vowed they will deliver on spending $280 million on 13 new drugs - an election campaign promise they weren't able to deliver in the Budget.
She told TVNZ's Q&A that an announcement on the drugs is coming very soon.
But Mr Seymour says they have to figure out how to spend more while saving across the rest of the system.
"That's going to be a conversation, I suspect over the next few weeks, around - how do you actually make good on a promise to those people within the confronting financial circumstances?"
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There's fears of further polarisation in the US regardless of whether Donald Trump wins the election.
The former President's been convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records before the 2016 election.
He also faces further legal battles, including his handling of classified documents and his role in the Capitol Hill riots.
Otago University professor Robert Patman fears violence may be possible.
"Either because Mr Trump doesn't win the election - or if he makes good on his promise, he will go after those people, from day one, who incarcerated or jailed Trump supporters for their involvement in the 6th of January."
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This coming Thursday is Budget Day, the day when the Government sets out exactly how much money they have, where they plan to find more, and where they plan to spend it.
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins shares where he would like to see the money spent, and his thoughts on the Pre-Budget announcements.
Later, Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins the Weekend Collective to discuss how the Budget came to be - and what we can expect.
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Labour leader Chris Hipkins says charter schools are the wrong way to address outlying students.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour announced 15 new charter schools will be set up in the next four years, and 35 state schools will be converted in the next two.
Hipkins, who shut down charter schools in 2018, says charter schools don't work and have worse outcomes.
"If people are concerned about kids who aren't achieving in mainstream schooling, the area to look is alternative education and activity centres."
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The Finance Minister has warned the Government won't be spraying money around ahead of the 2024 Budget.
This coming Thursday, Nicola Willis will unveil what services will get a boost in funding, and which will be slimmed down or removed entirely.
Nicola Willis says inflation and interest rates are still running too high - and that impacts the Government books.
"We can't, in this Budget, spray the money gun around - and I don't think anyone is expecting us to."
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The Greens have expressed hope for a more sustainable future in their State of the Planet speech, delivered in Central Auckland.
Co-leader Mārama Davidson says she hopes voters understand the Party stands for supporting the wellbeing of the country and the environment.
Davidson says the Greens aim to reach out to people who are feeling 'disempowered' under new legislation.
"To say to the people who have seen the anti-smoking legislation get completely wound up, to say to the tens of thousands of people who want to protect our ecosystems from the fast-track submissions, to the rangatahi who are feeling absolutely punished instead of understood, to say to people - we are listening."
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Some of the biggest names in New Zealand music are teaming up in an attempt to stop new mining plans.
Anti-mining group Ours Not Mines, have launched the Musicians Against Mines campaign to raise funds for their court battle against the OceanaGold mine, set for DOC land near Whangamata.
25 musicians have donated handwritten lyrics and art, which are available for auction on TradeMe.
Co-founder Morgan Donoghue says the potential economic revenue doesn't justify the environmental devastation.
"You could ruin all of the mussel farming, you could ruin all of the fishing, you could ruin all of the Peninsula - all your friends who have their batches in Whangamata and Pauanui and all down there, they could all be totally devalued."
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This week on Politics Central, Mārama Davidson recently delivered her State of the Planet speech about how the Green Party want to challenge the Government to prioritise people and the planet over profit. Plus, Mārama discusses the standards MPs need to follow after the Julie Anne Genter saga.
Later, big names in New Zealand music are supporting a campaign against OceanaGold’s proposed gold and silver mine underneath conservation land between Waihī and Whangamatā, Coromandel. Campaign organiser Morgan Donoghue joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.
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Ahead of the 2024 Budget, Defence Minister Judith Collins has confirmed the NZDF will receive a $571 million budget increase.
$163 million will boost personnel pay - and the money will also be used to upgrade the military's NH90 helicopter fleet, replace dated military vehicles and improve maritime detection systems.
Former Defence Minister Dr Wayne Mapp says this move was a long time coming.
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Auckland residents say they're feeling blindsided by new 24/7 parking charges.
Cost challenges and better use of road space are some of Auckland Transport's reasons for this change.
Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck believes this is gong to disadvantage Auckland's economy.
She says night time life is a third of the city's spend, so parking needs to be accessible and affordable.
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Big changes are coming for Auckland CBD, as it was announced today residents and visitors will be stung with new 24/7-hour parking charges. Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck joined the Weekend Collective to discuss these changes.
Later, former Defence Minister Dr Wayne Mapp explains why the $571 million budget increase for the NZDF is long overdue.
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Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown and Simeon Brown unveiled their new water plan for the city, which will see an increase of rates by 7.2 percent, rather than the 25.8 percent proposed by Watercare. Simeon Brown joins the Weekend Collective to explain further.
Later, Julie Anne Genter has been accused of 'intimidating' behaviour after a disagreement saw the Green MP leave her seat to confront a Government minister during a transport debate. Former Speaker of the House, Sir Lockwood Smith, joins the Weekend Collective to explain why 'standards have slipped'.
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The standard of Parliament has been called into question as Green MP Julie Anne Genter undergoes disciplinary action.
Ms Genter confronted Minister Matt Doocey on Wednesday.
She has until midday Monday to make any representations to the Speaker, before he decides if she will be referred to the Privileges Committee.
Former speaker of the house Sir Lockwood Smith says Parliament standards have slipped.
"Members of Parliament are meant to be seen as leaders, if you like. How they behave is important, because they should behave in a way that you'd expect of leaders."
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A deal between Auckland Council and the Government has helped Aucklanders avoid the projected 25.8 percent increase in water rates.
Auckland Council will retain local control of water assets, as part of the Local Water Well Done plan.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says councils will have more control over their water assets under their scheme.
Local councils will be asked to put forward their water service delivery plans for the next 12 months.
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This week on Politics Central, former Te Whatu Ora chairperson Rob Campbell criticises the organisation's decision to make savings at the country's hospitals, saying they are 'extraordinary' and signal poor management.
Later, five academics and public figures were set to debate free speech at Victoria University in Wellington last Monday, but backlash within the university has seen the event postponed. Both Victoria University's Students' Association president and the university's Vice-Chancellor offer their takes.
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Victoria University's Vice-Chancellor has his own concerns over an infamous free speech panel event.
A selection of public figures and academics were set to debate free speech, but backlash within the university led to the event being postponed.
Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith says it's a 'travesty' that people are no longer willing to listen and draw their own conclusions.
"That's an issue that I've seen across multiple media - we create bubbles where everyone wants to agree with each other and shout in these polarised extremes."
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There's debate over Victoria University's decision to call off a discussion on free speech.
It comes after outrage within the university, with claims the panellists didn't represent a balance of views.
600 people had registered to attend before the university's Vice-Chancellor postponed the event, saying they were going back to the drawing board.
Students' Association president Marcail Parkinson says some speakers would've made students uncomfortable, and have a history of hate speech.
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Te Whatu Ora has been criticised for telling public hospitals to bring the organisation back to budget, they need to make target savings of $105 million by July.
It said several districts have gone over budget in the past three months.
However, health unions have warned the constraints will impact medical care.
Former Te Whatu Ora chair Rob Campbell says we should be trying to improve our health system - not just saving costs.
"Once you get the emphasis on just saving costs, you end up cutting things that should not be cut."
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Former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr joined Helen Clark at Parliament this week, to warn New Zealand against joining Pillar 2 of the AUKUS defence pact, saying it is "fragrant, methane-wrapped bullsh*t," and funnily enough former opposition leader Don Brash tends to agree.
Later, Shane Jones who has recently ben speaking about mining and fishing, this week let go with a broadside against the Waitangi Tribunal, saying they have "no business running it's operations as some sort of star chamber delivering pre-emptory summons for ministers."
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Today, Israel launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel, in an attack that may trigger a major escalation between the regional archenemies. The United States has since pledged to back Israel.
Waikato University's International Law professor Alexander Gillespie analyses the escalating situation.
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In a widely anticipated move, Iran has launched an aerial attack into Israel.
The Israel Defence Force estimates Iran launched over 200 different kinds of drones, including killer drones, ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.
Waikato University Law Professor Al Gillespie says this attack was to be expected, as both sides had been 'goading' each other for the past few months.
"I think the final provocation was the attack on the consulate, it was the bit that tipped them over the edge. And Iran felt they had to respond, because the provocation was too much."
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Immigration Minister Erica Stanford makes immediate changes to the Accredited Employer Work Visa, by introducing a minimum skills and work experience threshold, as well as introducing an English language requirement for migrants.
Later, marketing professor Bodo Lang talks about about the triggering effects social media has on politics and democracy in this country, and how much political parties are spending on social media advertising.
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There's growing concerns from experts about the impact social media has on the political landscape.
It's been revealed that social media giant Meta has limited the reach of political content on its platforms- inspiring increased worry about censorship.
Massey University marketing professor Bodo Lang says platforms like Instagram and Facebook specialise in short-form content - and he believes those outlets aren't suited for political content.
"We want people to think about these things- and social media isn't the best way to get people to think about these things."
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The Immigration Minister is confident changes to the Accredited Employer Worker Visa will get the balance of skill right.
Changes include an English language requirement for some roles, and a minimum skills threshold.
Erica Stanford says they're focused on attracting and retaining high-skilled migrants where there are shortages, and prioritising New Zealanders in jobs where there aren't shortages.
She says in 2017, about half of migrants were high-skilled, but now that's switched.
"We really had a big switch to low-skilled migrants. And that's not going to improve our productivity, our economy, our GDP- we need to have that switch back."
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The University of Auckland is under fire after a picture of a designated study space for Māori and Pasifika students surfaced online.
The University has since claimed they're obligated to respond to the needs of their diverse student population with facilities, spaces and support.
ACT's Parmjeet Parmar has expressed concern over race becoming a big agenda item for more organizations.
"The discussion is really important in my view. Because we don't want to go backwards, we all have fought hard for the values of inclusivity, and we need to stand by those values."
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Labour leader & now leader of the opposition Chris Hipkins gave his State of the Nation speech in South Auckland today, he joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.
SailGP Lyttelton kicked off in Lyttelton yesterday but was abandoned after a dolphin was sighted on the course. Today, SailGP CEO Russell Coutts delivered an emotional response- Otago University professor Liz Slooten joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.
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A zoologist says Sir Russell Coutts has a simple view of dolphins and boats.
Yesterday's SailGP racing was called off after a Hector's dolphin was spotted on the course.
Sir Russell then said the event is handcuffed by unprecedented layers of bureaucracy and red tape.
He also claimed that dolphins are extremely intelligent and inherently aware of boats around them.
Otago University's professor Liz Slooten says dolphins love to bowride alongside boats, but not at the speed of SailGP boats.
"It's kind of like saying children are inherently aware of cars and trucks, therefore there is never going to be a situation where a child's going to be hit by a truck, the child would just naturally get out of the way."
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Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins has called for a better way to balance our tax system.
Delivering his State of the Nation speech earlier today, Mr Hipkins says now is the time to have the tax debate, despite Labour ruling out both a wealth tax and a capital gains tax last year.
He pledged to spend the next two years releasing discussion documents, to get them best prepared for the next election.
Mr Hipkins says it's something that needs to be taken more seriously, especially when the IMF speaks out.
"The reality is, salary and wage earners are shouldering a disproportionate share of the tax take, and we should be making sure that it's more evenly balanced."
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He mentioned 'bulldust' academia, promised to rid the public service of 'co-governance', and accused the previous Government of holding 'contempt for democracy'.
Today, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters gave his state of the Nation Speech, and he joined the Weekend Collective for an in-depth interview to unpack it all.
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Winston Peters today outlined his plans to turn New Zealand around following his address in Palmerston North.
In his State of the Nation speech this afternoon, the NZ First leader was back in familiar territory, after spending the majority of the first 100-days in Government in ministerial mode.
Peters says he wants Kiwis to understand that the new Government is focused on getting the country lined up properly.
"It'll take some time, but we can turn our present slide, so to speak, in economic and social performance around- and get back to doing what we used to do."
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Winston Peters took a short break from being Deputy Prime Minister this afternoon, donning his New Zealand First leader hat instead.
And no one was safe from his scorn, during his State of the Nation Speech in Palmerston North this afternoon.
ZB political editor Jason Walls broke down Peters' 'combative' speech.
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This week on Politics Central, newly appointed Greens co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick opened up about her new role and the kind of leadership style she aims to bring to the Party.
Later, former Prime Minister Helen Clark talked about the ongoing restructuring of media in New Zealand and how this will affect democracy.
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One former Prime Minister has expressed her outrage at TVNZ's proposed structural changes and job cuts.
The broadcaster has put a number of shows on the chopping block, with Midday, Tonight, Fair Go and Sunday to be scrapped.
Helen Clark has labelled the proposed cancellations of these current affairs programs 'disgraceful'.
"So why these? And it does lead one to wonder- are they putting up the Washington monument in the hope there'll be a rescue?"
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Chlöe Swarbrick believes her leadership style will compliment that of co-leader Marama Davidson.
The Auckland Central MP won every single vote from party members to take over from James Shaw, after he resigned earlier this year.
Her only competitor for the role was Dunedin-based activist Alex Foulkes, who is not in Parliament.
Ms Swarbrick says one key difference between them is Ms Davidson's ability to connect with communities on an emphatic level.
"Whereas, I think one of my strengths is being willing, ready and able to rattle off a number of statistics and citations to bring that evidence base to the policies that we're advocating and championing and fighting for."
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The Finance Minister says the Government is "on track with getting New Zealand on track" as it nears the end of its hundred day plan.
Nicola Willis says there are still about half a dozen decisions to make, and a few pieces of legislation that will be introduced before Friday.
The Government is in the crux of decision making around its next budget, that Ms Willis says will address the cost of living pressures and over-spending.
She says she's working on the budget with other ministers every day to figure out priorities moving forward.
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The Government's 100-day outline is coming to an end this coming Friday- but have they achieved everything they wanted? Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins to discuss.
Plus, Luxon was lambasted for using his $52,000 accommodation allowance on his own apartment, but NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett reveals Premier House needs repairs.
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A new report investigating the state of Premier House does not state the residence is uninhabitable, but it has raised questions about its suitability as a home for the Prime Minister.
The report catalogues a list of problems, from 30 year old fittings and furnishings, to a lack of insulation and draughty, leaky windows.
NZ Herald political editor Claire Trevett says other former Prime Ministers have claimed Premier House is 'substandard'.
"The trouble with Premier House is the political backlash that a Prime Minister gets if they look at even doing basic maintenance jobs- which means they don't do it."
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This week on Politics Central, University of Otago politics expert Robert Patman reflects on the second anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war and weighs in on what more can be done.
Later, Police Minister Mark Mitchell makes a case for the Government's proposed legislation targeting gang patches.
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New legislation the Government hopes will curb gang crime could be written in a matter of weeks.
But we'll have to wait until at least the end of the year to see the ban on insignia pass into law.
The legislation also looks to stop criminal gangs from gathering in groups, by giving police the right to issue dispersal notices.
Non-consorting laws will stop specified members from associating or communicating with each other, for up to three years.
Police Minister Mark Mitchell, says in 2013, insignia was banned in schools, hospitals and public buildings, and it's been effective.
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Western leaders have touched down in Kyiv, to meet Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in the two year anniversary of war with Russia.
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission, estimates more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians, including 528 children, have died in two years.
Otago University Politics professor Robert Patman, says the conflict seems to have arrived at a stalemate.
Patman says Ukraine has exceeded expectations in its counterattack, by stepping up drone and missile strikes on Russia's infrastructure.
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Labour has slammed the Government's plans to shake up sex education in schools.
National and New Zealand First have agreed to refocus the curriculum on 'academic achievement and not ideology' as part of their coalition agreement.
Labour's launched a petition to protect the guidelines, saying removing them will discourage conversations around sexuality, consent and gender.
Labour's Education spokesperson Jan Tinetti says we've become privy to an international culture war.
"We need to make sure that our kids are safe, that they're in an inclusive environment. And kids are working through gender diversity, the schools should be a safe place where they're able to do that."
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There's belief the Government will hit their 100 day plan target.
Prime Minister Chris Luxon celebrated what they've done in the first 81 days in today's State of the Nation speech, including abolishing Three Waters, banning cell phones in class and bringing back 90 day trials.
But Herald Deputy Political Editor Thomas Coughlan says some of the remaining 49 points shouldn't be rushed.
"Particularly in the justice sector, the gang patches legislation and the search powers for firearms- that's the stuff you want to get quite right when you're dealing with a fractured sort of relationship between the police and the gangs."
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Christopher Luxon gave his State of the Nation speech in Auckland, setting out his vision for the country and promising to be 'straight up' with Kiwis about the nation's 'fragile' situation. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joins to discuss.
Later, National's coalition agreement with New Zealand First makes changes to the sex education curriculum.
It will focus on "academic achievement and not gender ideology, including the removal and replacement of the gender, sexuality, and relationship-based education guidelines” But what does Labour's Spokesperson for Education have to say about this?
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ACT have had a dramatic increase in their polling since the election in November.
Tim Beverage spoke to ACT leader David Seymour to understand why.
ALSO
As War in Ukraine continues to be a stalemate and US funding to the region seems in jeopardy. Tim Beverage speaks to Strategic Analysist Paul Buchanan to discuss the long term implications for the war.
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A law professor says New Zealand's deployment of troops to the Red Sea is a good first step.
The Government last week announced six Defence Force personnel would be deployed to support military action against Houthi militants.
Waikato University law professor Alexander Gillespie, says our actions are justified, but we need to be wary of possible escalation.
"One of the risks right now is that it appears that people think they're going up for one reason, when in fact it's something else. So we have to maintain as much as we can in clear, independent foreign policy- and take each step very carefully."
Earlier today, 36 targets in Yemen were hit in a joint US-UK airstrike, a day after the US hit more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria.
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Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka is confident Waitangi Day commemorations won't turn ugly.
The Government will be welcomed to Waitangi on Tuesday, while opposition parties have been visiting over the course of the weekend.
Some MPs used their visit to hit out some of the Government's policies they deem anti-Māori, with Labour's Kelvin Davis describing the Government as spiders, and a den of lions.
But Mr Potaka says despite the variety of concerns, he's not focused on the negatives.
"What we're really focused on is making sure that we really drive outcomes helping to improve situations around health, education and housing- not only for those Māori in need, but for all New Zealanders in need."
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Developments in the Middle East are growing as the UK and US militaries both launched a third round of joint attacks on the Houthis in Yemen in response to the Iran-aligned group's ongoing attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
International Law Professor Al Gillespie, joins the Weekend Collective to discuss how U.S. strikes align with international law. Plus, we ask Al how New Zealand fits into this- should we be doing more in the Middle East or should we stay out of it?
Later, we're joined by The Minister for Māori-Crown Relations Tama Potaka, who gives us an insight into what Waitangi Day means to him, and whether celebrations are as contentious as the media are making them out to be.
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The Government recently scrapped plans that would allow 16-year-olds to vote in local elections.
Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says they will not be entertaining the previous Government's voting age bill - calling it a costly distraction.
Minister Brown says local Governments need to focus on fixing their own infrastructure issues rather than pushing this legislation through.
"There's a lot of activism around this particular issue- I'd just encourage councils who are interested in lowering the voting age to stay focused on delivering their local infrastructure and services for their communities."
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David Seymour says he wants the Treaty of Waitangi made clear for everyone.
The ACT Party leader is hoping to introduce his Treaty Principles Bill by May.
Seymour has given his State of the Nation speech today, and that legislation made up a large part of it.
He says the Treaty has not been clearly defined.
"People say- don't mess with the Treaty. Well I'm sorry, but people have been messing with it for the last 40 years, they're just not democratically elected. And I think it's time we have a discussion about it."
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This week on Politics Central, David Seymour addressed his State of the Nation Speech and claimed New Zealand has gotten more divided as a nation- where people are unable to discuss ideologies without being shut down immediately.
Later, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown explains why he scrapped the previous Government's bill to lower the voting age to 16 in local elections.
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Former MP Golriz Ghahraman resigned last week following allegations of shoplifting, sparking a debate on the mental health of politicians.
Is mental health just a PR tool for getting out of a sticky situation? Commentator Peter Dunne seems to think this is the case for younger MPs.
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It’s been a big week in politics, as a host of Labour's policies have been tipped on the scrap heap as the new coalition Government starts passing laws at pace.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis joins the Weekend Collective to share who her politician of the year is, as well as what we can expect from the mini-budget.
Plus, Jason Walls joins the show to discuss the key moments from the year that's been in politics.
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The decision to scrap Wellington's major infrastructure project is coming as no surprise.
In a joint statement, the Government, Wellington City Council and the regional council announced they'd agreed to dissolve the plans, making way for projects including the Basin upgrade and a second Mt Victoria Tunnel.
The Golden Mile plans will remain solely with the city council.
Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says the news is predictable.
"The Nats said that this is something they were going to scrap as soon as they got in, and they were going to figure out new ways to do it."
Walls says he hopes the Government will figure something out, and not just pay consultants.
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The Finance Minister says New Zealanders will have a chance to take a good-look at how the economy is faring this week.
Nicola Willis will release the new Government's mini-budget on Wednesday.
Treasury will also release its half-yearly set of economic forecasts.
Willis says they want to clearly show people where the challenges are, and how they will respond.
"I want them to know that it's tough, but also that there's hope. Going into Christmas, people should know that we're closing a chapter of economic mismanagement we've had over the past six years."
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The new Government has got a big week ahead, as it races to get its 100-day plan well underway.
The first Question Time last week saw the battlegrounds drawn and Labour taking Opposition for the first time in years.
Newstalk ZB's political editor Jason Walls says he expects the amendments to the Reserve Bank's mandates to show up on Tuesday's order paper.
He says the Labour Government made the Bank be mindful of employment, and the new coalition wants it back to focusing on just inflation.
Scrapping Fair Pay Agreements is also on the coalition Government's hit list this week.
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This week on Politics Central, ZB political editor Jason Walls joined the show to chat about the new faces in Parliament, the Government's 100-day plan, and the theatrics of Te Pati Māori.
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The new Government has poured cold water on the proposed Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme.
The hydro-lake development was proposed by the previous Government, as a backup renewable energy reservoir.
Energy Minister Simeon Brown has announced they're pulling the plug on the project, because it was pouring money down the drain at a time when we need to be reining in spending.
"We actually think the market can deliver this, rather than the Government having to step in and do it themselves with taxpayers' money."
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Prime Minister Chris Luxon has outlined the first moves the newly-formed Government plans to take.
Under the 49-day action plan, Fair Pay Agreements, Three Waters, the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax, and smokefree legislation are all set to be scrapped.
Political commentator Peter Dunne says Winston Peters' controversial comments have left an impact on Luxon's first week in power- and discredit him as a no-nonsense leader.
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The new Government confirmed its plan for its first 100 days, which includes enacting 49 key changes including the scrapping of the Fair Pay Agreement legislation, Three Waters, and the latest smoke-free laws. Peter Dunne joins the Weekend Collective to give his take.
Later, The Minister for Energy and Transport Simeon Brown explains why the Government has chosen to scrap the $16 billion Lake Onslow pumped hydro scheme.
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This week on Politics Central, Nicola Willis joins the show to explain why she has the political chops to be our new Finance Minister- and how her English Literature degree plays into that.
Later, ACT Leader and incoming Minister for Regulation David Seymour explains what his new roles entail- and why so many public sector jobs need to be slashed.
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The incoming Minister for Regulation is promising to make real change.
ACT Leader David Seymour picked up the role during coalition negotiations alongside Associate Health and Education ministerial roles.
Seymour says there's a 'disease of over-regulation' plaguing New Zealand.
"We'll change the way Government regulates, delete a lot of bad regulation and start getting people spending more time producing and less time complying."
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Nicola Willis says her new Social Investment Minister role will be about spending earlier to prevent future harm.
Willis will hold that role alongside Finance, and Associate Climate Change.
She says the Government has real power to intervene early, to prevent dysfunction which has negative consequences for the child.
"To stop that child from ending up ram raiding, to stop that child ending up as a statistic on an unemployment benefit."
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Experts believe Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon should've been at the APEC Summit in San Francisco.
Days of meetings involving ministers and world leaders were ultimately dominated by a meeting between US president, Joe Biden, and China’s Xi Jinping.
Caretaker trade minister Damien O'Connor represented New Zealand at the event, due to a Government not yet being formed.
Former intelligence and defence policy analyst Doctor Paul Buchanan, says if not Mr Luxon, it should've been Chris Hipkins heading along.
"It was a pity Luxon didn't go, because he had the opportunity to represent continuity in our trade perspective."
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Government forming talks will continue this week, as Chris Luxon's been unable to reach a consensus on a number of key issues this weekend.
The incoming Prime Minister met with Winston Peters this afternoon, and has spoken with David Seymour over the phone.
Despite insisting good progress is being made, Luxon says there are three final issues proving to be the sticking points.
ZB political editor Jason Walls says National's proposed foreign buyers tax will likely be a sticking point that NZ First won't budge on.
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This week on Politics Central, Jason Walls recapped the ongoing coalition negotiations and shared his predictions for who will be assigned those top ministerial positions.
Later, Dr Paul Buchanan joins the Weekend Collective to share his insight into the importance of APEC and what we can expect from Biden's meeting with Xi.
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An international law professor is weighing in on claims Hamas is using schools and hospitals to fire against Israel.
Sydney University's professor Ben Saul says Hamas is obligated not to locate military amongst civilians, which is difficult as most of Gaza is an urban area.
Professor Saul says regardless of where Hamas is firing from, it doesn't absolve Israel of its obligation to take sufficient care to spare civilian casualties.
"And I think that's where a lot of the criticism is coming from with world leaders at the moment. From the US to France, to Australia and others- Israel just hasn't been careful enough in its targeting decisions."
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It's been 28 days from the 2023 election and one week since the final results were counted- and coalition talks are carrying on.
Chris Luxon and National will need NZ First and ACT to help form a new Government, after the special votes were weighed up.
Electoral law expert Graeme Edgeler says other Governments have taken extra time to get established, and that this isn't an isolated case.
"It really is the few extra days the recount had added to the timing. Once the recount's done, we'll have MPs and then anyone who's an MP can be a minister."
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It's been almost a month since the 2023 general election, and because of the special votes, and errors made by the Electoral Commission we still don't have our new Government formed.
Barrister and electoral law expert Graeme Edgeleshares his take on whether this electoral system needs to change to speed things up.
Later, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Counter-terrorism Professor Ben Saul breaks down the international law crimes occurring in Gaza, and what outcomes to expect.
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A former Attorney General has faith the parties set to form the incoming Government will get over their differences.
The final election result shows National will need ACT and New Zealand First, if it wants to govern.
ACT leader David Seymour and New Zealand First's Winston Peters butted heads repeatedly during the campaign.
But Former National MP Chris Finlayson says they have plenty of overlap in policy.
He says there will be smart-aleck quips from time to time, but that's the way it is - and the system requires people to work together.
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ACT's David Seymour says the final election results haven't changed his relationship with Winston Peters- but it's their job to make it work now voters have decided.
National and Act now need New Zealand First to form a Government after National lost two seats in the special vote counts.
Seymour says he'd reached out to New Zealand First before that, but they haven't heard back.
"I think now they're clearly made part of a future governing arrangement by Friday's numbers, it's incumbent on them to show up and talk- and I'm sure they will."
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On Friday, the final election results were announced and NZ First brought in 8 seats and the ACT Party got 11.
How will these coalition agreements go? To give us his insight, Former Attorney General Chris Finlayson joins the Weekend Collective.
Later, David Seymour tells us what his bottom lines are- and why he hasn't changed his option of Winston Peters.
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Is Winston Peters senile or cynical?
Political commentator Matthew Hooton explains why Peters is unfit to be in government. Plus, Dr Paul G. Buchanan joins us to give his insight on Israel-Hamas war and why there might be no end in sight.
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The Israeli Defence Force is warning citizens in Gaza to evacuate to the south.
The IDF has apparently dropped flyers in the Sabrah neighbourhood warning people to flee urgently.
It's while the US military is sending more missile defence systems to the Middle East, and placing additional troops on a 'prepare-to-deploy' notice.
Otago University international relations professor, Robert Patman says there was a window of hope in the 90s in conversations around a two-state solution.
"We've never got back on track in terms of getting a serious negotiation going between the Palestinians and the Israelis. We've come close since then- and particularly in the 21st century, the issue has been side-lined."
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Phone calls and negotiations behind the scenes, as National and ACT look set to form the next Government.
With the special votes yet to confirm the make-up of the Beehive, both parties are likely to need New Zealand First in a three-way majority arrangement.
Former National MP Steven Joyce, was part of talks in 2017, when Winston Peters eventually sided with Labour and Jacinda Ardern.
He says it's a different situation now, as Peters had to choose between two parties, while this time Labour's already conceded.
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This week on Politics Central, Steven Joyce weighs in on the key challenges impacting Luxon and National in forming a Government, particularly in negations with their coalition partners.
Later, Professor Robert Patman provides an update on the Israel-Gaza war and how the US can navigate its involvement.
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In 2020 the Labour Government won 65 seats, with National taking only 33.
The tides well and truly changed last night at the 2023 election, and to wrap it all New Zealand Herald's Thomas Coughlan joined Tim Beverage on the Weekend Collective.
Plus, on Saturday, a major setback to the country's efforts for reconciliation with its First Peoples. Australia rejected a proposal to recognise Indigenous people in the constitution.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined to talk about the upset.
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There’s confidence that indigenous rights aren't dead-in-the-water in Australia after the Voice referendum was defeated.
It sought to change the constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia, by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
All states voted no, with ACT the only region to vote yes.
Australian Correspondent Murray Olds said that despite the result, the spotlight is on the situation for indigenous people.
He says there are gaps everywhere, including when it comes to health, education, housing, employment, justice, and safety.
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Claims National is trying to scare people away from voting for New Zealand First.
The party has released messaging warning that there's a real possibility of a second election if they can't get a coalition deal across the line with Winston Peters party.
ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says they're bluffing and that it would be incredibly unlikely.
He believes a move like that could frustrate the electorate.
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Gunmen from the Palestinian group Hamas have rampaged through Israeli towns and left a trail of destruction.
Over 300 have died in the attack, and dozens have been wounded and taken hostage in by far the deadliest day of violence in Israel in decades.
Israel has launched air strikes in response, and its Prime Minister says his country is at war.
University of Otago Politics and International Relations expert Robert Patman explains the extent of the crisis.
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The Hamas surprise attack out of Gaza stuns Israel and leaves hundreds dead in fighting.
Professor of politics and director of international studies at the University of Otago, Robert Patman, joined the Weekend Collective to give his insight.
Plus, with just a week away from the general election Jason Walls joins us to wrap up how the campaigns have gone.
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A change of date could be on the cards for Chris Hipkins' next head-to-head with National's Chris Luxon.
The pair were due to take part in a leaders' debate hosted by The Press on Tuesday, but Hipkins has Covid and is isolating.
The paper's owner, Stuff, is now working through contingency plans, including alternative dates for the face-off.
Labour's Grant Robertson says if someone was needed to step into the breach, they would, but there are conversations being had about deferring it.
"For the sake of everybody, this is a debate between the two people who want to be Prime Minister and I'm sure they can work around that and find a way of making sure that Chris Hipkins and Chris Luxon face off again"
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Winston Peters has a fiery interview with Jack Tame, National announces their 100-day plan, the Green Party are convinced their wealth tax will work and Chris Hipkins gets Covid days before the election- Peter Dunne joins the Weekend Collective to give his take on the week in politics.
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Winston Peters has a fiery interview with Jack Tame, National announces their 100 day plan, and The Green Party are convinced their wealth tax will work- Peter Dunne joins the Weekend Collective to recap this weekend in politics.
Later, Grant Robertson provides an update into Chris Hipkins' health, and what that means for upcoming debates.
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Same policy, slightly different flavour under National, Labour, ACT, and the Greens.
All 4 parties have unveiled new tweaks to existing immigration laws, and Labour is looking to boost struggling sectors with changes to the Green List and Recovery Visa extensions.
17 new roles will be added to the list and the RSE worker cap will increase by 500.
Labour's Immigration Spokesperson Andrew Little says several industries are struggling and will need the extra labour boost soon.
"The construction sector is starting to struggle, the engineering trade can't recruit locally and will have to recruit offshore- so we put those on the list."
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Immigration Minister Andrew Little revealed yesterday that the Government will make immediate changes and tweaks to the Green List, seasonal employment, and compliance visits.
Seeing the RSE cap will increase by 500 spots for the coming summer, he joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the reason for the quick changes.
Plus, Simeon Brown talks about how National wants to increase the speed limit to 100km.
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The National Party wants to change the balance when it comes road safety.
If elected, National would return many state highways to 100 kilometres per hour from 80 and many local roads to 50.
The Kapiti Expressway and Transmission Gully would be bumped up to 110 - as would the Puhoi to Warkworth motorway if it's safe to do that.
Public Service Spokesperson Simeon Brown says speed limits around schools will remain low.
"It makes sense to have a slower speed limit when children are present. We want to see those as variable speed limits- so 30 or 40 kilometres during pick-up or drop-off times."
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Labour's Cabinet turned down a proposal to stop funding gangs.
The National Party's revealed the then-Justice Minister Kiri Allan lodged the proposal to end contracts with gangs in July.
Cabinet didn't agree, which National says is another example of Labour being soft on crime.
National's spokesperson for Public Service, Simeon Brown, says it's a waste of taxpayer money.
"And what we see the Mongrel Mob doing is peddle meth and misery- they're not out there to try and help people become better and get off drugs. It's completely opposed to what they do."
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The ACT Party's campaign took an unexpected turn this afternoon, but leader David Seymour says it's good that his party is being noticed.
Four protesters managed to get past security and heckle Mr Seymour as he gave his speech.
He had to raise his voice several times to drown them out, saying the protesting was a sign his party is successful.
ZB political editor Jason Walls says other parties have had similar problems with hecklers.
"It just goes to show that the people that are disrupting these events have no interest in actually debating ideas- they just want the spotlight on them."
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Labour has released the first ever 'Women’s Manifesto', National still won't release the numbers on their tax policy, and this week brings the first of the leaders debates.
To give his astute insight, Jason Walls joins the Weekend Collective.
Later, National's Simeon Brown reveals that Chris Hipkins’ Cabinet considered whether to stop Government contracts involving funding for gangs in July and deliberately chose to keep doing so.
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National has announced it plans to bring back health targets, if the party gets into power come October.
Leader Chris Luxon confirmed the party would bring back targets - including for emergency departments, with 95 percent of patients to be admitted, discharged or transferred within six hours.
There are also new targets to quash wait times for specialist assessment and surgery, but no percentage figures have been committed to.
Health spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says targets will focus attention and funding to better serve the public- and clinicians agree.
"There's no simpler way to put it- when you set a target, you have a requirement to hold yourself accountable, you hold providers accountable, you hold the system accountable. At the end of the day, that's what politicians should be doing."
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The ACT Party think they have a solution to the problem to the New Zealand housing crisis, Resource Management and housing consenting. ACT's Todd Stephenson joins the Weekend Collective to tell us how they're going to do it.
Plus, The National Party have set out their 5 targets for improving the New Zealand health sector. Dr Shane Reti explains what these are, and how they're going to reform.
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The campaign season is under way, with both Labour and National launching their newest schemes in front of prospective voters.
Labour yesterday unveiled their plan to introduce free dental care, including check-ups, X-rays and basic work, for under-30s.
And earlier, National detailed their eight-point plan promising to tackle inflation, boost academic achievement, restore law and order and reduce healthcare wait times.
Both parties also experienced attempted disruptions from fringe party Freedoms NZ, led by Brian Tamaki.
ZB political editor Jason Walls recaps the weekend's events.
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The Labour Party launched their election campaign on Saturday, where they were joined by former Prime Minister Helen Clark to announce their free dental care policy.
The National Party had their eight-point campaign launch today, but were disrupted by Brian Tamaki's Freedom NZ protesters.
Ignoring the protests, which party came out on top this weekend?
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Donald Trump's day trip to an Atlanta jail could have strengthened his campaign to be the Republican Party's Presidential candidate for 2024.
He handed himself into Georgia's Fulton County Jail on Friday, facing charges alleging he headed a scheme to overturn the 2020 USA election results.
He's the first US President to have a police mug shot taken.
But Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman says Trump continues to overshadow other Republican candidates.
"If you look at the CBS News poll, Trump now has the largest lead in the Republican Primary, garnering the support of 62 percent of likely voters."
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ACT leader David Seymour has fired back against Chris Hipkins' warning about the Opposition parties.
The Prime Minister ruled out working with NZ First, accusing Winston Peters of making trans people the enemy in this campaign.
He's also called out Seymour's 'chilling' joke about Pasifika communities and noted some National MPs celebrated the roll-back of abortion rights in the US.
David Seymour says this is proof that Hipkins and Labour are unable to run on their own 'disastrous' record.
"He's decided that his best hope of getting another few years in the Beehive is to go with a more aggressive and negative style of politics that we've seen. I don't think it'll work for him."
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Chris Hipkins has ruled out working with NZ First and taken aim at the "coalition of chaos", that would be ACT and National. So what does David Seymour think of this?
Plus, what on earth is going on in the USA with former US President Donald Trump?
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Financial skills would become a core part of the school curriculum, if Labour is re-elected.
The Party's promising to make teaching financial literacy compulsory from 2025.
It would mean school leavers will know how to budget, manage bills, invest and open bank accounts.
Labour's Education Minister Jan Tinetti says research shows some schools do this well already, but others schools- not so much.
"The fact that we've got inequity that's happening there for our young people- we need to make certain that all young people come out with a basis of skills."
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National's Mark Mitchell has proposed some solutions as Countdown increases security in response to retail crime.
Over the last six years, the supermarket has seen a more than 600 percent in reported stolen goods and a 300 percent increase in physical assaults.
It's now rolling out more specific team training, store design initiatives, push to talk radios and use of CCTV.
National Police spokesperson Mark Mitchell says they'll combat this by targeting ringleaders and establishing bootcamps for serious young offenders.
"Definitely a result of the soft-on-crime Labour Government, who took their eye off the ball in terms of not just public safety, but obviously retail crime."
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Supermarket chain Countdown has reported a 663 percent increase in reported stolen goods over 6 years, Mark Mitchell joins The Weekend Collective to discuss what needs to be done about this.
Later, Jan Tinetti announces The Labour Party's plans to make financial literacy compulsory in schools.
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The Finance Minister says economists will have to get use to their latest pre-election pitch.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has today announced a boost to the In-Work Tax Credit, which will benefit about 160,000 families.
They'll also cut GST from fruit and veggies, to take effect as soon as April 2024.
Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen has described the idea as pure politics, over economics.
Minister Grant Robertson says people who believe in the purity of the tax system will never like something that upsets it.
"It doesn't suit economists or tax experts, who see these things as models. When you get into real life, this will make a difference."
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This week on Politics Central, Grant Robertson unpacks Labour's plan to GST on fresh, and frozen fruit and vegetables, if re-elected.
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The Greens say hundreds of thousands of people need dental care, but are held back by the cost.
The Party's new plan includes annual check-ups and cleaning and free fillings, sealants, and tooth removals for anyone who needs them.
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson says this plan will be covered by a wealth tax, which will only impact a small percent of taxpayers.
"People just aren't going because it costs too much. There's capacity out there right now, and at the same time, we'd also build up the workforce."
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The Government today announced plans to build an alternative Waitemata Harbour crossing, alongside further upgrades to Auckland's North Shore.
The alternative crossing includes two three-lane road tunnels and a 21 kilometre Light Rail tunnel between Albany and the CBD.
Transport Minister David Parker is confident the second Waitemata Harbour crossing will be built within a clear timeframe.
"We've had extra lines being put in on the railway, we've had the City Rail Link built. Those are political insults, rather than fact-based."
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This week on Politics Central, the Labour Government announced their plans to open a new Auckland Waitematā Harbour bridge and the Green Party announced their policy proposal for free dental care for all.
Transport Minister David Parker and Greens co-leader Marama Davidson joined to elaborate further.
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The ACT Party wants to tweak the country's employment laws.
It also has its sights on the Employment Relations Authority, which ACT says is currently taking an average of 76 days to deliver a decision.
Leader David Seymour says if elected, ACT would require all decisions to be made within a month.
"And if you're a member of the ERA and you don't perform at that level, then maybe it's time for you personally to look for different employment."
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With the election looming, a political expert warns that Labour's string of bad press will have consequences in the polls.
Labour has had a turbulent week, beginning with Kiri Allan stepping down after Sunday night's crash, followed by David Parker resigning from his Revenue Portfolio and National leaking a planned GST policy.
Former Minister and commentator Peter Dunne says the combination of these incidents indicates the Government is losing control of their agenda ahead of the election.
"If National can just keep its' focus and not get similarly distracted, then its' chances go up immeasurably. But this was the week from hell for Chris Hipkins."
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This week on Politics Central, former minister Peter Dunne wraps up the week in politics - from Kiri Allan's car crash, David Parker's departure from the Revenue Ministerial role, and Labour's Tax Policy leak.
Later, ACT leader David Seymour explains the ACT Party's aim to change the ERA.
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David Seymour joined Roman Travers on the show to discuss why road tolls are the answer to fixing New Zealand roads, and Danika Mclean wrapped up NZ Firsts AGM.
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The National Party announced their $500 million Pothole Repair Fund, aiming to introduce new regulations and repair the major problems with the roads and State Highways around New Zealand. National’s Transport Spokesperson Simeon Brown joined the show to give a rundown on how the policy would actually play out.
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The next three months will be a fight for Aotearoa's future.
That's from the Green Party as it lays out a self described 'bold and achievable' plan to end poverty, guarantee everyone a warm home, and take strong climate action.
There's also a strong focus on children, culture, inclusivity, and drug law reforms.
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson says the manifesto gives a clear example of what the party has always cared about.
"Only a few things are new, but that goes to what we've been quite consistent on. And it's also achievable, so a lot of excitement."
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A u-turn from ACT, with the party now proposing a reversal of a National Government law it backed seven years ago.
The just-released election policy would make 17-year-olds be charged as adults when before the courts.
In 2016, National removed them from the adult justice system and put them into the youth justice framework.
ACT supported the move as part of the party's confidence and supply deal.
But party leader David Seymour says when something doesn't work, we should have the courage to change our minds and put it right.
"Letting 17-year-olds out of adult justice was a policy focused on the offender when we should be focused on victims."
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ACT Party leader David Seymour joined the Weekend Collective to discuss his new policy proposal, promising to put 17-year-olds back into the adult justice system.
Later, Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson explained what makes the Green Party different this election and outlined their manifesto.
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Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Dunne joined the Weekend Collective to wrap up this week in Politics.
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The Green Party announced their new renting policy to safeguard tenants from landlords. Ashley Church gives his thoughts on this, and Peter Dunne wraps up the week in politics.
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A threat against Russian President Vladimir Putin is fizzling out.
Putin's been facing an insurrection attempt from Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner Group.
It prompted Russian troops to defend the capital and pull back from warfare.
Former US Government Intelligence Consultant Dr Paul Buchanan says this has been simmering from the onset of the war.
He says Prigozhin has been calling the Russian High Command incompetent and corrupt.
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National says their new sentencing policy is part of it's "tough on crime" plan.
Party leader Chris Luxon has announced new law and order policies during his key-note speaker address at the conference.
A standout policy is a plan to impose a new 40 percent limit on the amount by which a judge can reduce a sentence.
MP Chris Bishop says people can still get discounted sentences.
"The maximum discount you can get should be 40 percent. Any more than that, in our view, undermines the purpose of the sentence and undermines the public's faith in the courts."
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This week on Politics Central, Chris Bishop joins the show to discuss the National Party Conference, plus Dr. Paul Buchanan joins us to unpack the developments in Russia.
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The National Party announced their new gang policy that would make a change to the sentencing act. Specifically, it would make being a member of a gang an aggravating factor. Paul Goldsmith joins Tim to discuss the policy in full.
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This week on Politics Central- Greens co-leader Marama Davidson explains theParty's new tax policy, OliverShaw's Robin Oliver explains whether or not a wealth tax could work, and Judith Collins shares why we need to end the ban on GE & GM.
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National have promised to end New Zealand's ban on gene editing and genetic modification, if elected.
Their Harnessing Biotech Policy would also streamline approvals for trials and use of non-gene editing biotech, in line with other OECD countries.
Judith Collins, National's Science, Innovation, and Technology spokesperson says New Zealand is too far behind when it comes to utilising research and meeting climate change targets.
"We have 7 different Crown Research Institutes, we've got 8 universities, all of which do research. And then we have 18 different independent research institutes. We're researching everywhere, but then nothing is really able to move outside of the lab."
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One tax expert says a wealth tax is unworkable and unnecessary.
The Green Party wants to introduce a wealth tax of 2.5 percent on assets worth more than 2 million.
This would extend to assets worth more than $4 million owned by a couple.
OliverShaw tax advisor Robin Oliver says it's difficult to calculate one's wealth.
"Some things you can value- listed company shares. But outside of that with small businesses, everything else, artwork, it's a matter of judgement and you don't know until someone fronts up with the cash."
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The Green Party wants the wealthiest New Zealanders to pay their fair share of tax.
The party's new tax policy will raise the top rate to 45 percent while raising the corporate tax rate to 33 percent.
In addition, a new 2.5 percent wealth tax will be charged on any asset worth more than $2 million.
Party co-leader Marama Davidson says these changes will affect only 0.7 percent of people.
"We've got what we need to end poverty, and so we're asking those on the highest, highest income and wealth to contribute."
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ACT's Deputy Leader is certain Kiwi voters will be in the mood for change this election.
Brooke Van Velden today delivered an impassioned speech to a sold-out party conference at Auckland's SkyCity Theatre and criticised Labour's management of the economy and Covid-19.
She says the 600-person crowd were in the mood for real change and less regulations going forward.
"Not only are we opposing what a lot of the Government's been putting out for the last few years, we've been putting forward real, practical ideas today."
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A new ACT Party policy proposes new powers to interrogate ministries and cut excess regulation.
If elected, ACT will introduce a new Minister and Ministry for Regulation which would go sector by sector asking what rules are getting in the way.
Political commentator Peter Dunne says there are issues with regulations that need addressing, as they don't follow a similar process to legislation.
"A lot of them remain on the books long after their relevance has passed, and a lot of them could be scrapped without any noticeable impact."
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This week on Politics Central, Peter Dunne joins the show to talk about dirty politics and whether that changes your opinion on an MP's ability to lead.
Later, ACT's Brooke Van Velden joins us live in the studio to discuss their new policy announcement around regulation to control the impact ministers have over the decisions they make for Kiwis.
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The National Party's new housing policy comes with strong conditions for councils.
The opposition has had an about-face on the bipartisan Medium Density Residential Standards allowing three storey housing in all residential areas
Under National's new policy, councils have the option to exclude certain areas from housing development.
Housing spokesperson Chris Bishop says councils still have the chance to use the Medium Density Residential Standards.
"What we are saying is- you can exempt particular areas if you'd like to, but you've got to find the growth elsewhere. In fact, you've got to find even more growth than before."
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Labour have used their recent Wellington Congress to show voters what to expect at the election.
Hipkins has promised to make the currently temporary Apprenticeship Boost programme permanent, keep the Winter Energy Payment and ensure the superannuation age stays at 65.
Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni is standing by her party's decision not to raise the superannuation age.
"Superannuation is such a tollner for New Zealand. It's universal, it's simple and it is something New Zealanders expect. So it's important that we highlight that we have no plans at all to get rid of it."
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The Prime Minister's promising Labour will soon unveil some new, fresh policies.
It comes as the party's told delegates at their Wellington Congress this afternoon that if re-elected, it would make the currently temporary Apprenticeship Boost scheme permanent.
And yesterday, Labour announced it would not be increasing the retirement age and would continue the Winter Energy Payment.
Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says there will be more to talk about in the coming months when Labour reveals their election manifesto.
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Jason Walls joins the Weekend Collective from Wellington to unpack the Labour Party election year congress.
Later, Deputy Prime Minister Carmel Sepuloni shares how important their apprentice boost policy is, and Chris Bishop details why the Nats backed out of their bi-partisan policy around housing density.
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Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce joined the Weekend Collective to talk about Budget 2023 and what he would have done differently.
Later, Climate Change Minister James Shaw joined the show to talk about the Government's biggest carbon emissions project.
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Nicola Willis joins the Weekend Collective to unpack Budget 2023 ahead of Labour's announcement this coming week, and where she thinks money needs to be spent.
Later, Robert Patman joins the show to discuss Germany's $3 billion relief fund for Ukraine.
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The National Party says growers and horticulturalists appear to have been left out of the Government's pre-budget cyclone recovery announcement.
A $1 billion support package will go to flood stricken regions, with the aim of rebuilding roads, railways and schools.
National's Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says if growing in the region doesn't get up and running again, it'll have repercussions.
"That's a lot of jobs at stake, that's a lot of people at stake. It'll end up costing the taxpayer a lot more. So I'm sure they'll be wanting a bit more detail from the Government."
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This week on Politics Central, Matthew Hooton joined the show to discuss the merits of MMP in New Zealand and its flaws.
Later- constitutional law expert Ed Willis unpacked the process of waka-jumping.
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The ACT Party plans to expand its Epsom outreach into the neighbouring Tāmaki seat.
Deputy leader Brooke van Velden will contest the Auckland electorate, up against National's Simon O'Connor.
ACT have made it clear that O'Connor's conservative views on social issues, including euthanasia and abortion were factors in this choice.
Brooke van Velden says she's been asked to stand by many in the Tāmaki electorate over the past year because they need a stronger voice to push back against Wellington.
"With all of those concerns, I've decided that I want to represent the people. But importantly I want to listen to them, because I genuinely believe this beautiful part of Auckland deserves someone to be their voice."
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The Labour Party says the National Party's plan to bring back no cause evictions won't do anything to solve the housing crisis.
Currently, landlords can terminate a tenancy only for justifiable reasons, such as anti-social behaviour or being three weeks behind on rent.
National's housing spokesperson Chris Bishop claims the plan will help tenants by making it easier for a landlord to open up properties for rent.
Housing Minister Megan Woods says we need to move beyond the headlines.
"What we've seen in National's policy that was released this week is nothing short of sentences cobbled together to sounds like policy."
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On this week's Politics Central, we had ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden talking about about her announcement to contest for the Tamaki electorate in the upcoming election.
Housing Minister Megan Woods also joined Politics Central to discuss her thoughts on National's announcement at scrapping the current policy that protects tenants from being evicted without notice.
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This week on Politics Central, we're joined by Christopher Luxon to hear his thoughts on Meng Foon's political donations, plus National's new farming policy.
Aaron Dahmen also joined us to discuss the new law changes made for Kiwis living in Australia.
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National says it will only bring back live animal exports under strict regulations.
The opposition wants to reverse the government's recently enacted ban on the practice.
National's Christopher Luxon says New Zealand doesn't have the luxury of turning off half a billion dollars in revenue.
He says they need safe for the animals, and a select list of countries to which New Zealand can export.
"We can reassure ourselves that we've got really good management of those animals in those new countries if we make sure we have a gold standard and set some really high standards on the transportation."
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Today Chris Bishop joined us to unpack the Labour Party's new water reform, and later Chris Cahill explains why the Rimutaka Prison is nearly at maximum occupancy.
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National's Chris Bishop is among many members of the Opposition criticising Affordable Water Reforms.
Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Minister Kieran McAnulty scrapped several aspects of the unpopular Three Waters reforms, turning the four mega-entities into ten.
Spokesperson for Urban Development Chris Bishop says that the reset is an attempt to rebrand what Hipkins and McAnulty were doing already.
"They've kept the co-governance provision at the heart of it, and they've still confiscated the assets of local councils, none of that actually changed. All they've done is change the name and changed the website."
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Frontline police have been told to consider the necessity of bail arrests as the nation's largest prison nears capacity.
An email sent to Wellington staff on Friday revealed Rimutaka prison is nearing maximum occupancy.
The email warns repeat breach of bail and warrant offenders may be remanded in police custody for longer than usual, and officers should consider that before making an arrest.
New Zealand Police Association President Chris Cahill says it's far from ideal.
"Police stations aren't the place to remand prisoners. These are people who have breached their bail, these are people awaiting trial on serious charges."
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This week on Politics Central, Former United Future leader and political commentator Peter Dunne explained the impact of the recent burst of misbehaviour coming out of Parliament.
Later on, Otago University International Relations professor Robert Patman weighed in on Finland joining NATO this week, and suggested more nations are likely to follow.
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NATO could expand even further, as the war in Ukraine rages on.
Finland became the 31st member of NATO this week, after previously being not keen on the idea.
Otago University International Relations professor, Robert Patman, says Ukraine criticised the UN for failing to prevent the war.
He says in a power vacuum left by the UN, more nations could sign on to the international military alliance.
He says Finland could be followed by Sweden.
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A claim Chris Hipkins re-election efforts are being derailed by staff misconduct.
At a speech at her partner Marni Dunlop's farewell from RNZ Kiri Allan criticised the company's treatment of Maori staff.
It follows the sacking of Stuart Nash from his ministerial roles after he shared private cabinet information with donors.
Former United Future leader, and political commentator Peter Dunne says it's a stark reminder that ministers are never off the clock.
He says Andrew Little has reminded ministers they have to follow their duties 24/7.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says increasing benefits doesn't create a culture of welfare dependency.
Nearly 1.4 million people were affected when the minimum wage, benefits, student allowances and superannuation all rose yesterday.
The minimum wage is now $22.70 an hour, while 8,000 community nurses will have rise of up to 15 percent.
Ms Sepuloni says a large number of those affected are super annuitants.
"And right now, they really do need the support and I certainly think it is the right thing to do."
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We're joined by Carmel Sepuloni who talks to us about the minimum wage increases, plus Scott Opticon informs us on how Donald Trump came to be indicted.
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NZ First's Winston Peters has outlined several pitches to prospective voters- and issued a warning in his State of the Nation address.
Winston Peters proposed more funding for frontline agencies, mandatory prison sentences for people who assault first responders and promised to strip Te Reo names from Government departments.
Peters also warned his audience that a “conniving, cultural cabal” aimed to use Māori to “further their own agenda”.
Winston Peters says a critical part of communication is understanding, and his proposal to strip Te Reo titles from Government departments is not an attack on the Māori language.
"When even hospital names have been changed so that the people who are sick who need to know where they're going right here, right now don't understand, then you're really doing something which is counterproductive with no value."
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A positive reaction to National's new education's proposal.
Chris Luxon says parents and some teachers are excited by the party's plan to teach at least an hour a day of learning in reading, writing and maths.
The plan also includes standardised tests, twice a year, from years three to eight.
Luxon says the new plan will be clearer about what to teach, and when and where.
He says they want the teachers to be more confident in how to teach the basics.
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Australia's Defence Minister has had to defend the country's purchase of US nuclear-powered submarines.
Richard Marles told the ABC once their flag's flying on the three subs in the early 2030s, they'll be under complete control of the Australian government.
Australia will also be working with the US and UK to develop more submarines in future.
The announcement's sparked an angry reaction from China, which is accusing Australia of going down a "path of error and danger".
International relations expert, Professor Robert Patman says there are people here who are concerned New Zealand may be shut out of our region's defence discussions.
"New Zealand as a member of the Five Eyes, has very good bilateral relations with the US and Australia. It's also a partner of NATO, so I'm not sure that's the case."
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The Greens are reminding us climate action needs to go alongside social justice action.
The Green Party has today put out a stark warning to other parties to not show up to the negotiation table without strong climate policies.
Co-leader Marama Davidson says people who are struggling the most will be impacted the most by extreme weather.
She says, for example, preparation messages for the Auckland floods told people what to have on hand, but there are a lot of people who can't dream of thinking about extra costs.
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This week on Politics Central, Green Party Co-Leader Marama Davidson weighed in on Chris Hipkins reprioritizing more climate-focused polices this week, and discussed today's State of the Planet address.
Professor of International Studies Robert Patman also joined the show to talk about Australia's purchase of three nuclear-powered submarines and whether this is a sign of the militarization of the pacific.
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Over 50,000 teachers and principals are planning to strike Thursday, March 16th.
An estimated 811,000 school-aged children will be affected by these strikes, as kindergarten, primary, and high school teachers plan to march for better wages and working conditions.
New Zealand Educational Institute President Mark Potter says there's a long list of needs educators want met, and teachers have been dissatisfied with their working conditions for years, if not decades.
Mark Potter explained that it's not in their industry's nature to strike, but teachers don't have an option at this stage.
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A vaccinologist says two reports of a possible link between pericarditis and the Mpox vaccine isn't a huge concern at this stage.
Medsafe is seeking further information, and is encouraging people to report any adverse reactions to the jab.
Pericarditis is treatable, and involves swelling and irritation of tissue surrounding the heart, causing sharp chest pain.
Auckland University's Helen Petousis-Harris says while smallpox vaccines are known to increase risk of the condition, Covid infections are a much more likely cause.
She says it's just a matter of closely monitoring it, which is happening globally.
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We're joined by Helen Petoussis-Harris talking about our current vaccination rates, and then Mark Potter, President of New Zealand Educational Institute ahead of the Teacher's Strike on Thursday.
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National's Chris Luxon announced a new Family Boost policy set to rebate 25 percent of childcare costs for those earning less than $180,000.
Deputy leader Nicola Willis explained the positive flow-on effects of this policy here today.
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The National Party says its childcare policy will make life easier for struggling families.
National's Family Boost policy would rebate 25 percent of childcare costs for those earning $180,000 and less.
National will pay for that by cutting money spent on consultants.
Deputy leader Nicola Willis says the policy will have positive flow on effects too.
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Simon Watts, National's Local Government spokesperson joined the Weekend Collective to explain what 'Local Water Done Well' has to offer as a replacement for Three Waters.
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The National Party says there is still a role for central Government in water infrastructure restructuring.
National has launched 'Local Water Done Well' - its' plan for the country's water infrastructure.
Three Waters will be scrapped, and assets will be handed back to local councils. Investment, quality and infrastructure will be overseen by new regulators.
National's Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says the quality regulator will ensure the water is not polluted.
Mr Watts says the investment regulator will make sure rates are put back into infrastructure.
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After Cyclone Gabrielle blew through the upper North Island and destroyed property and roads, the discussion turns to climate change mitigation.
Climate Minister James Shaw joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.
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The North Island has had a rough go of it in 2023, with catastrophic flooding and Cyclone Gabrielle lashing the region back to back.
Kieran McAnulty, Emergency Management Minister calls into to debate what this may mean for the future, and whether climate change may make disasters like this more common.
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The Auckland Mayor is reminding people not to put bins or rubbish out tonight and tomorrow.
Cyclone Gabrielle is described as a "significant weather event".
It's likely to impact the northern half of the North Island over the next week.
Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown says they're mobilising everyone they can to dispose of already flood-damaged items.
The mayor says tie down any loose things already out on the curb to ensure they don't become dangerous.
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This week on Politics Central, political commentator Peter Dunne joined Tim Beveridge to talk about new Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and opposition leader Chris Luxon's first session at the annual Waitangi weekend parliamentary pōwhiri.
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Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson was on the ground helping Aucklanders as the region is experiencing extreme weather conditions, and she offered advice as to what mayors and councils can do to support people during this time.
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Today on Politics Central, Massey University Associate Professor Grant Duncan and National Leader Chris Luxon joined in on a discussion about the Hamilton West byelection results and whether Tama Potaka's win is another warning sign for Labour.
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This weekend on Politics Central interviews with Andrew Geddis Professor in the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago on Three Waters entrenchment clause & David Seymour on crime in New Zealand.
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National Party leader Chris Luxon recently suggested sending young offenders into military boot-camp programs.
This has been viewed as controversial and divisive, and International Science Council President, Sir Peter Gluckman is among the latest to weigh in.
He spoke to Tim Roxborogh and Roman Travers about it today.
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Auckland has a new mayor
Businessman and former Far North Mayor Wayne Brown has steamed ahead of efeso collins for the chains, leading by around 54-thousand votes.
Just over 24 hours after the results came in, and he’s already making waves – the Chair of Auckland Transport has resigned, to give him a “clear runway”.
Brown has previously said he would replace all the directors of Council-Controlled Organisations, including Auckland Transport.
He’s also outlined his pledge to Auckland in today’s Herald on Sunday – to fix what he calls a “broken” Auckland, starting with those CCOs, dealing with the question about the port, and tomorrow getting a briefing on the super city’s finances.
NZ Herald Senior Writer SImon Wilson joined Tim Roxborogh and Roman Travers to dissect the issues facing Auckland’s new mayor.
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One of the most surprising results was in Dunedin, where one-term councillor Jules Radich ousted Aaron Hawkins from the mayoral seat – by the final count, he had double the votes.
The new Mayor of Dunedin joined Tim Roxborogh and Roman Travers on The Weekend Collective to talk about his win.
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The results are in, and for many mayoral races around the country as well as a number of council seats, there’s been quite a bit of change.
We've seen Auckland and Christchurch swing from a left-leaning mayor to the right, Dunedin dump out a Green mayor, and Wellington bucking the trend and swung from Andy Foster on the right to Tory Whanau on the left.
Former National Finance Minister Steven Joyce joined The Weekend Collective to dissect the results and what it means.
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The Opportunities Party is wanting income up to $15000 to be tax free. This will cost around $5.2 billion.
To pay for it - there'll be an annual tax on residential land value of zero point seven five per cent.
Raf Manji, The Opportunities Party leader is with us now.
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You'll have likely heard Auckland Transport is dropping speed limits on 16 hundred roads.
That follows Wellington dropping 80 per cent of its speed limits down to 30 kilometres an hour.
Timothy Welch from Auckland University's School of Architecture and Planning is here to discuss this issue.
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The RNZ-TVNZ merger would see both companies folded into a new entity in March, and it's currently being debated at select committee.
The Radio Broadcasters Association and the News Publishers Association is warning against it, saying it would reduce the media people enjoy.
Freelance journalist and former National Party Press Secretary Janet Wilson is with us to discuss the merger.
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This week on Politics Central Tim Roxborough and Tim Beveridge talk to former National MP and Minister of Finance Steven Joyce. The removal of Covid restrictions this week brings renewed calls for a Covid inquiry examining what worked and what didn't.
Minister for the Environment David Parker on the framework to enhance protection for New Zealand's most productive horticultural land. The Government's released a National Policy statement today. It aims to help council map highly-productive land, and protect it from lifestyle blocks so they can continue growing our food.
And finally, Deputy Political Editor Jason Walls from New York ahead of the UN General Assembly.
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This week on Politics Central Tim Roxborough and Tim Beveridge talk to former National MP and Minister of Finance Steven Joyce. The removal of Covid restrictions this week brings renewed calls for a Covid inquiry examining what worked and what didn't.
Minister for the Environment David Parker on the framework to enhance protection for New Zealand's most productive horticultural land. The Government's released a National Policy statement today. It aims to help council map highly-productive land, and protect it from lifestyle blocks so they can continue growing our food.
And finally, Deputy Political Editor Jason Walls from New York ahead of the UN General Assembly.
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Professor Robert Patman of Otago University joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Russia retreating from the east, worries around Europe's biggest power plant and more.
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Professor Robert Patman of Otago University joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the ongoing situation in Ukraine, Russia retreating from the east, worries around Europe's biggest power plant and more.
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Chair of Monarchy New Zealand Dr Sean Palmer joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the proclamation of our new monarch King Charles III, and what this all means for New Zealand.
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Chair of Monarchy New Zealand Dr Sean Palmer joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the proclamation of our new monarch King Charles III, and what this all means for New Zealand.
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Epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the potential changes to the traffic light framework, whether we should still be wearing masks and more.
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Epidemiologist Dr Michael Baker joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the potential changes to the traffic light framework, whether we should still be wearing masks and more.
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Political Commentator and Analyst Dr Bryce Edwards joined the Weekend Collective to discuss Labour's tax u-turn earlier in the week.
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Act Leader David Seymour joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the potential upcoming changes to Covid-19 restrictions.
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National Party Health Spokesperson Dr Shane Reti joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the new report commissioned by the Helen Clark foundation and the Drug Foundation on NZ's response to meth, and the Drug Foundation's proposal for an overdose centre.
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Former intelligence and defense policy analyst and consultant to US government security agencies Dr Paul Buchanan joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the latest news re Trump and the FBI.
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Associate Professor of Psychology at Auckland University Danny Osborne joined the Weekend Collective to discuss a potential threat to local body politics.
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Political Analyst Christ Trotter joined the Weekend Collective to discuss Christopher Luxon not ruling out working with Brian Tamaki in the political future.
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This week on Politics Central Tim Roxborough and Tim Beveridge talked to political analyst Chris Totter about Christopher Luxon and Brian Tamaki, Associate Professor of Psychology at Auckland University Danny Osborne about Disinformation in local body politics and more.
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Immigration Minister Michael Wood joined the Weekend Collective to talk all about extending working holiday visas, other immigration changes, nelson transport infrastructure issues and more.
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Clinical Psychologist Nigel Latta joined the Weekend Collective to discuss youth crime, ram raids and how to solve these issues.
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Political Commentator Matthew Hooton joined the Weekend Collective to discuss, National MP Sam Uffindell, Labour MP Gaurav Sharma, national's potential changes to the job seeker benefit and more.
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Waikato University Law Professor Al Gillespie joined the Weekend Collective to give his thoughts on Nancy Pelosi's controversial visit to Taiwan and what the fallout out could be.
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Political commentator Peter Dunne joined the Weekend Collective to give his thoughts on the National Party's annual conference, which took place in Christchurch over the weekend and whether he thinks National come out better from this after a torrid few weeks.
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Newstalk ZB Chief Political Reporter Aaron Dahmen joins the Weekend Collective to recap the second day of the National Party's annual conference, which took place in Christchurch over the weekend.
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Economic inequality writer Max Rashbrooke joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the cost of living payment, whether it targets the right groups and more.
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Health Spokesperson for National Dr Shane Reti joins the Weekend Collective to discuss potential measles outbreaks, the failed measles catch-up program and more.
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Backpacker Youth Adventure Tourism Association Chair Chris Sperring joins the weekend collective to discuss the border reopening and its effects on the tourism industry.
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Political Commentator Matthew Hooton joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the Green party Co-leader potential reshuffle after their AGM meeting this weekend.
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Associate Professor of Epidemiology Arindam Basu joins the Weekend Collective to discuss
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National Party Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the firefighters crisis.
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With the rise of covid cases in the community, experts are looking at ways we can protect ourselves. Professor Michael Baker believes that masks should be mandated in indoor settings to avoid a really grim winter and that the government has taken a personal responsibility approach for fear of a potential political backlash. Baker joined the weekend collective to discuss the recent covid resurgence and protections.
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Christopher Luxon said that New Zealand businesses have gotten soft in light of COVID-19 but is that a fair comment to make. Businesses have had to deal with changes in restrictions, staff shortages due to sickness and more. CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Michael Barnett thinks some businesses would take offence to this comment, business isn't sitting back with its hand out. Barnett joined the weekend collective to discuss Luxon's comments. LISTEN ABOVE
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The OCR has increased to 2.5%, the highest rate since 2016, and the Consumer price index is expected to increase with results released this week. CTU Economist Craig Renney thinks more needs to be done for low-income families as their budgets shrink. Craig Renney joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the cost of living crisis and how the government can support low income families. LISTEN ABOVE
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Orthopaedic Association president Dr John McKie says “chronic, institutional vacancies” are leading to surgeries being postponed or cancelled altogether, severely impacting the patients' quality of life. He says the solutions are complicated, but migrant workers would make a huge difference. LISTEN ABOVE.
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ACT's Housing spokesperson Brooke van Velden says it's unacceptable that the government hasn't met its own deadlines for ensuring Kainga Ora homes met healthy homes standards, despite having an extra tow years over private landlords. LISTEN ABOVE.
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501 support advocate and co-founder of Iwi in Aus Filipa Payne says she's glad to see Kiwis living in Australia start to be recognised as citizens - but the common sense approach to 501's isn't enough. She'd like to see legislative change implemented. LISTEN ABOVE.
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President of Hospitality NZ Jeremy Smith says the industry needs working holiday visas to include more countries than just the UK. He says they're short of people in the first place, and now need to fill the holes left by covid. LISTEN ABOVE.
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Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard says the FTA deal with the EU on Friday isn't a step backwards, but certainly not forwards either. He says it really only allows for less than 1% of what we produce to enter the European market. LISTEN ABOVE.
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Northland GP Geoff Cunningham says GPs have been left in the dark with the new Health NZ reforms, and they aren't the revamp the sector needed. He says those in the primary sector were left out of conversations with the government. LISTEN ABOVE.
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Green party drug reform spokesperson Chlöe Swarbrick says the majority of Kiwis would like to see a health-based approach to drug laws, based on education and treatment rather than prosecution.
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Retail NZ CEO Greg Harford says retailers should be able to decide their own level of mask rules, as compliance wanes. He says of retailers surveyed most would like rules to be nuanced and looser.
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ACT deputy leader Brooke van Velden says it's distressing to see the fallout from America's Supreme Court's decision to overturn abortion rights established under Roe v Wade yesterday. She says women should know they have the right to a medical procedure, and ACT will support pro-choice policy.
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Director of policy and research for the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Dr Charlotte Chambers says DHBs need more staff than there are jobs advertised which is causing limitations in access to healthcare. She says part of the problem is our reliance on an overseas work force - which has been a struggle in a covid environment.
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Corrections Association President Floyd du Plessis says covid fatigue, further violence and a lack of government support have resulted in 800 front-line prison job vacancies across the country.
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TVNZ US correspondent Anna Burns-Francis joins the Weekend Collective to discuss what we can expect in the second January 6th committee hearing tomorrow, and what it will focus on.
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Former Labour education spokesperson and current Chair of Education NZ Steve Maharey joins the Weekend Collective to discuss what's really behind chronically low school attendance levels, and what really needs to be done.
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National's police spokesperson Mark Mitchell joins the Weekend Collective to discuss National's new plan to tackle gang violence and presence.
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The Herald reported the Government has quietly delayed changes to the tax system designed to stop people using companies to avoid paying the top income tax rate.
Tax partner and PwC board member Geof Nightingale joined Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss.
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PwC tax partner and board member, Geof Nightingale joined the Weekend Collective to chat about why the Government quietly delayed changes to the tax system.
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Hapai te Hauora spokesperson, Selah Hart joined the Weekend Collective to discuss what adding more Lotto games would mean for New Zealand.
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Political commentator, Peter Dunne joined the show to share his thoughts on the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and what's next.
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Chief Parliamentary reporter Jason Walls joins the Weekend Collective straight out of San Francisco where he's following the Prime Minister's trip to the USA. He gives us the latest on her gun reform speech, her meeting at the Oval Office with Joe Biden, the CCTTP, her meetings with big tech giants, her appearance on Stephen Colbert's show, and what the measure of success will be.
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Former Finance Minister Steven Joyce joins the Weekend Collective to discuss what needs to be done as inflation soars, as the Reserve Bank goes hard to combat it.
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ACT's justice spokesperson Nicole McKee joins the Weekend Collective to discuss what needs to be done as we record the 12th gang shooting in Auckland just this week.
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CTU economist Craig Renney joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the recently announced cost of living payment that will be received by all Kiwis earning less than $70,000 anually.
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Emeritus Professor of Politics and International Relations at Macquarie University Murray Groot joined the Weekend Collective in the wake of the Australian Federal election.
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Australian correspondent Murray Olds discusses the Australian election which is coming up in six days and whether we can trust the polls going into Saturday.
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Massey University Associate Professor of Politics Grant Duncan discussed what the Labour Party should look at doing if they want to stay in power after 2023 and suggests a radical proposal.
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The National Party's not anticipating a silver bullet Budget.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson will reveal his fifth Budget on Thursday, with much of the focus tipped to be on climate change and health.
The Opposition's finance spokesperson, Nicola Willis told The Weekend Collective National wants income tax relief for the 'squeezed middle'.
“Those New Zealanders who haven’t benefitted from increases to benefits and working for family entitlements, but who really can’t withstand the additional costs at the supermarket, when they fill up at the pump, their rent, their mortgage payment.”
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National's Local Government spokesperson Simon Watts says the $21 million spent on consultants and contractors is a waste of money with no clear delivery outcomes.
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Police Minister Poto Williams unveiled the direction the new law and order budget will take, ahead of the budget announcement's on May 19th. Some of the funding will be put towards upping the police force and regulating firearm ownership.
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Kaiwhakahaere and co-leader of NZ Nurses Organisation Kerri Nuku says nurses have not been a t the table when it comes to health measures preventing them from working. Nurses who caught covid-19 and must wait three months for a booster shot have been stood down without pay, with little communication from their employers.
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Dr Paul Buchanan says the implications of Putin officially declaring war on Ukraine is massive - up until now it has only been a "special operation" officially. Listen above to find out why.
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Dr Paul Buchanan says the implications of Putin officially declaring war on Ukraine is massive - up until now it has only been a "special operation" officially. Listen above to find out why.
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Local government minister Nanaia Mahuta says that the reason for co-governance within the Three Waters framework reflects the Crowns Treaty obligations. Listen above to see what else she had to say on the new amendments to Three Waters.
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Local government minister Nanaia Mahuta says that the reason for co-governance within the Three Waters framework reflects the Crowns Treaty obligations. Listen above to see what else she had to say on the new amendments to Three Waters.
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There is less than one month until the Australian federal election, with the latest polls indicating Australia will be getting a new Prime Minister. For the latest on this, Australian Correspondent Murray Olds joins The Weekend Collective.
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There is less than one month until the Australian federal election, with the latest polls indicating Australia will be getting a new Prime Minister. For the latest on this, Australian Correspondent Murray Olds joins The Weekend Collective.
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The Prime Minister has returned from her 'bang for your buck' trip to Singapore and Japan. Newstalk ZB's Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls was on the tour and told Francesca Rudkin the biggest thing accomplished was the Security deal signed with Japan.
To talk more about this Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge are joined by Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, Stephen Hoadley.
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The Prime Minister has returned from her 'bang for your buck' trip to Singapore and Japan. Newstalk ZB's Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls was on the tour and told Francesca Rudkin the biggest thing accomplished was the Security deal signed with Japan.
To talk more about this Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge are joined by Associate Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland, Stephen Hoadley.
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The National Party says the government needs to get its priorities right.
National's Māori-Crown Relations Spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says Three Waters and the Māori Health Authority are destined to fail.
He told the Weekend Collective the government doesn't know what Māori are actually concerned about.
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The National Party says the government needs to get its priorities right.
National's Māori-Crown Relations Spokesperson Dr Shane Reti says Three Waters and the Māori Health Authority are destined to fail.
He told the Weekend Collective the government doesn't know what Māori are actually concerned about.
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Chief Political Report at Newstalk ZB Jason Walls discusses with the Weekend Collective the significance of the Prime Minister's trip to Singapore tomorrow.
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Chief Political Report at Newstalk ZB Jason Walls discusses with the Weekend Collective the significance of the Prime Minister's trip to Singapore tomorrow.
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Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard joined the Weekend Collective to discuss why we need the option of GMO to really tackle our emissions in New Zealand.
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Federated Farmers President Andrew Hoggard joined the Weekend Collective to discuss why we need the option of GMO to really tackle our emissions in New Zealand.
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CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Michael Barnett joins the Weekend Collective to discuss just what the Auckland CBD can do to recover from the last two years?
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CEO of the Auckland Business Chamber Michael Barnett joins the Weekend Collective to discuss just what the Auckland CBD can do to recover from the last two years?
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International relations specialist at Otago University professor Robert Patman joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the implications of Boris Johnson's journey to Ukraine, and why the next 3 weeks are so crucial for Putin.
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International relations specialist at Otago University Professor Robert Patman joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the implications of Boris Johnson's journey to Ukraine, and why the next 3 weeks are so crucial for Putin.
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With the border opening to vaccinated Australians on Wednesday the Weekend Collective chat to Electrify NZ Nelson franchise owner and Kiwi Journeys tour company owner Andrew Schwass about how much of an impact it'll actually have on the tourism sector.
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With the border opening to vaccinated Australians on Wednesday the Weekend Collective chat to Electrify NZ Nelson franchise owner and Kiwi Journeys tour company owner Andrew Schwass about how much of an impact it'll actually have on the tourism sector.
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Ricardo Menéndez March joins the Weekend Collective to discuss why the Green Party want to simplify the welfare system, how to bridge the gap.
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Ricardo Menéndez March joins the Weekend Collective to discuss why the Green Party want to simplify the welfare system, how to bridge the gap.
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Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the government's up-coming decision about the traffic light settings, and what health measures we actually need to feel more confident in our new normal.
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Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the government's up-coming decision about the traffic light settings, and what health measures we actually need to feel more confident in our new normal.
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Dr Paul Buchanan joins Politics Central to discuss why Putin can't win this war, and what low morale is looking like in the Russian army.
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Peter Dunne joins Politics Central to wrap the political week, including if the government's focus has shifted, a return to tourism, and co-governance.
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Professor Robert Patman discusses where Putin's gone wrong in his war on Ukraine.
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David Seymour talks to the Weekend Collective about the government's quiet move to remove MIQ and self-isolation for unvaccinated Kiwis entering Aotearoa.
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Andrew Little discusses why the measles vaccine roll-out was postponed during covid, and what that means now.
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Green MP Eugenie Sage is with us to discuss the new recycling proposals out this weekend.
NZ Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann joins The Weekend Collective to talk on how big of an election issue the cost of living will become.
Niamh O'Flynn from Greenpeace joins the Weekend Collective to talk about the peace flotilla that has arrived in Helena Bay, protesting Russian oligarchs.
Al Gillespie, International Law Professor at Waikato University, joined The Weekend Collective on Putin's statement that the West's sanctions amount to a declaration of war.
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National Party Leader Christopher Luxon joined The Weekend Collective on his new tax proposals.
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How effective are the sanctions?
Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark joined The Weekend Collective.
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New Zealand continues to pledge its support for Ukraine.
Kyiv remains on heightened alert as Russian forces close in on all sides.
Two large explosions lit up the night sky south of the Ukrainian capital early Sunday morning local time.
The action appears to have been around Vasylkiv, which has a large military airfield and multiple fuel tanks.
It comes after Ukraine's outgunned forces held the capital for the third day – as battles continue across the country.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson told the Weekend Collective the denunciation of Russia has been worldwide, and clear.
“President Putin hasn’t shown a great degree of interest in that, but I think what he’s meaning in terms of the NATO alliance will certainly be shown in that the global community is rallying around the Ukraine.”
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Concern in Ukraine the west is abandoning the country.
Border tensions with Russia continue to grow as skirmishes increase.
It's thought around 190 thousand Russian troops are stationed near the border and poised to invade.
The US is threatening strong sanctions if the invasion does happen.
Newshub Europe correspondent Lisette Reymer joins Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective from Ukraine. She says Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is demanding more of the west.
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David Seymour is saying that vaccines make no difference in the transmissibility of the virus – is this true?
Helen Petousis-Harris, Vaccinologist and Associate Professor in the Department General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland, joined Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge.
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David Seymour says vaccine mandates are causing massive social problems.
The Act Party leader wants them done away with as protests continue outside Parliament.
Seymour says the Omicron variant of Covid-19 is a game-changer.
David Seymour joined Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge.
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Anna Burns-Francis joined Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge to discuss US President Joe Biden’s meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
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Matthew Hooton joined Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge on The Weekend Collective to discuss the Anti-Mandate protest and the mandates that caused it.
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US Correspondence Anna Burns-Francis joined Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge live from New York with the latest in US politics.
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Sir Ian Taylor joined Tim Roxborugh and Tim Beverage to discuss why he hung up at the beginning of a conference call last Friday, and what he thinks of Dr Ayesha Verrall's reply.
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Not a sound or a soul at the Waitangi Treaty grounds today.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the event's been held virtually to commemorate 182 years since the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Waitangi National Trust Board Chair Pita Tipene told the Weekend Collective they don't regret the decision
He says it was a good chance to do something a bit different.
“And instead of being busy and having a buzz in the air, people are able to step back, think and reflect carefully on what Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi, means for this country.”
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Associate professor of national security and strategic studies at Curtin University speaks to Tim Roxborogh and Roman Travers about the situation in Ukraine.
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Police Association president Chris Cahill speaks to Tim Roxborogh and Roman Travers about the latest stats showing that police are encountering an average of ten firearms a day.
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The Chair of the National Māori Authority, Matthew Tutakaki, joined The Weekend Collective to discuss how we can improve the booster roll out for Māori and other minority groups.
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Epidemiologist Michael Baker joined The Weekend Collective to talk about whether we should follow parts of Australia and reduce booster shot eligibility from four to three months.
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National Party Leader Christopher Luxon joined The Weekend Collective to talk about New Zealand's country-wide move to red, and whether National stands by their 2021 proposal to scrap MIQ by Christmas.
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University of Otago Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker joins us on Politics Central
He says keeping the Omicron variant out of New Zealand will be important while so much is unknown and looking overseas to see the effect it's had on different countries won't tell us the full story.
He also discusses our border opening policy and thinks that we may need to rethink plans.
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ACT Party leader David Seymour joins us on Politics Central..
We discuss the successes of ACT and how far their MPs have come over the year
Also what their strategy is going forward, and how important it is for both ACT and National to keep polling high
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National's Police spokesperson thinks the Government have got the Northland checkpoints completely wrong.
About 300 officers will be stationed on the Northland border with Auckland.
This will include recruits who haven’t finished with training with no powers and iwi with limited training experience.
Mark Mitchell told The Weekend Collective there will be massive gridlock regardless even if you stop every fifth or sixth car.
"It's gonna be a mess, it's irresponsible and it'll fail and fall over within days."
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A top health expert doesn't think any region can change colours in the Traffic Light System yet.
There were 103 community cases across the country today, up from 63 yesterday.
It comes ahead of the Government meeting to review New Zealand's traffic light settings tomorrow.
The decision will be based on factors including vaccination rates and case numbers.
Professor of Epidemiology at Auckland University Rod Jackson told The Weekend Collective it's too early to move.
“I’d say Auckland needs another week, we need to see what happened on Freedom Friday. The rest of the Red areas, they got to get up to 90 per cent vaccination.”
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The dust has settled from the leadership change in the National Party and Deputy Leader Nicola Willis chats to The Collective.
Nicola shares her thoughts on how National are going to win the next election and where she thinks the voters will come from
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Big promises are easy to make, but delivery is entirely different.
That's the response from National Party leader Judith Collins to the Government's pledge to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
It's come on the eve of the climate change conference in Glasgow.
Ms Collins told The Weekend Collective that emissions have gone up, rather than down under this Government.
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The Government's announced New Zealand will reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Climate Change Minister James Shaw made the announcement today ahead of the United Nations climate change conference.
It's the Government's new Nationally Determined Contribution figure to meet the Paris Agreement.
The change comes after the Climate Change Commission recommended a higher target.
Mr Shaw told The Weekend Collective that while a small country, New Zealand's contribution is important.
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A prediction the status quo is likely to remain when it comes to Covid-19 alert levels in various parts of the country.
Cabinet will review the settings in Auckland and Waikato tomorrow.
New Zealand recorded 143 new community cases today - 135 in Auckland, 6 in Waikato and 2 in Northland.
Epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker says he doesn't think a move could be justified in Auckland because the numbers are still rising very steadily.
Professor Baker told The Weekend Collective there's a slightly higher possibility for the Waikato, however suspects Northland will stay put at level two, as will Christchurch given there's no evidence of any unknown chains of transmission.
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Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has revealed just what freedoms the state can expect once it hits a major milestone.
Case numbers in Victoria have experienced a drop as fully vaccinated residents enter their first weekend of freedom. The state reported 1935 new infections – a slight increase from Saturday's 1750 cases – and 11 deaths.
Meanwhile, NSW has recorded 296 new cases and four deaths, with cases expected to rise over the coming days due to the state's eased restrictions.
Queensland has recorded no new local cases despite being on high alert after a rideshare driver was infectious in the community for 10 days.
Authorities said the man is "so sick" he can barely speak with contact tracers.
Victoria is expected to reach its 90 per cent double dose milestone on November 24 - and it will mean "very few rules" for the vaccinated.
"There will be no caps anywhere," Victorian Premier Dan Andrews said.
"There will be no density questions anywhere. Masks will only be required in high-risk indoor settings, such as public transport, prisons, hospitals, aged care, to give you some examples."
Vaccinated economy 'here to stay' in Victoria
Andrews stressed that many of these freedoms will only be available to the "vaccinated economy", which is "here to stay".
"We will retain the vaccinated economy, all those requirements, although settings, where you only get in if you are double vaccinated, and you can tap and verify that for everybody," he said.
"But the vaccinated economy is here to stay. It will not be being folded up moments after it gets too full peak.
"In fact, we will add to the vaccinated economy by asking and mandating that all non-essential retail will have to be vaccinated as well, both to go in, and also to work on those settings."
But as the state opened up, Andrews said Victorians could expect two rules in place through next year.
"Some masks in some settings, principally indoors, where there is a greater risk, and the economy being open to you only if you have had to shots, only if you are fully vaccinated," he said.
"They are two rules that be enduring. They are the two rules that will be with us right throughout 2022."
Victoria
Victoria has recorded 1935 new Covid-19 infections as the virus sweeps through a large cohort of unvaccinated people.
Eleven more Victorians also died from the virus in the past 24 hours, the Department of Health also confirmed.
About 90.3 per cent of Victorians above the age of 16 had received one jab of the Covid-19 vaccine, and 73 per cent were completely inoculated.
Earlier, it was confirmed one group of Victorians was experiencing more infections with the virus than anyone else.
Twenty-nine per cent of all of Saturday's new cases were in Victorians under the age of 19.
That day, there were 1750 infections.
Victoria Police Special Operation Group are seen during an anti-vaccine protest in Melbourne during lockdown in September. Photo / Getty Images
Children aged under 12 remain ineligible for any Covid-19 vaccine available in Australia.
In Victoria's Metro areas, two-thirds of all positive cases were now under 40.
In regional areas, three-quarters of cases were under 40.
"I call out to the young Victorians among us that you are particularly vulnerable at this point in time," Victorian Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar said earlier.
"You're running into friends and associates who are Covid-positive so take every care to make sure you don't become one of those statistics."
Victorians were granted a raft of new freedoms this weekend after the state hit its 70 per cent double-dose vaccination target on Thursday.
From 11.59 pm on Thursday, restrictions to leave home, as well as the curfew, were scrapped.
There was no travel limit within metropolitan Melbourne, but travel authorisation was still required to enter regional Victoria.
Ten visitors, including dependants, are now able to visit someone's home each day.
Sydney
NSW has recorded 296 new local Covid-19 infections and four new deaths...
Calls for Northland to move to Level 3.
This is despite Northland having one new case today, after four yesterday.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Smith told the Weekend Collective there are some sense in moving to Level 3.
"There is some sense perhaps in just making sure we can broaden testing, things of that sort, and just see just if there has been any spread. There may be, there may not have been."
But on the other hand, Smith recognises that the business community is not in robust health after seeing the economic reports.
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Opposition leader Judith Collins joins us to talk the Government's Covid Framework and whether Northland needs to move into level 3.
Vaccinations for Maori made great progress on Super Saturday.
A record 21,000 vaccines were administered to Maori yesterday.
Associate Minister for Health Peeni Henare told the Weekend Collective the total number is a good thing, but those that came forward for their first dose is just as important.
"Over half of those numbers were first-time vaccinators, so that's absolutely fantastic, but we still know we've got more to go, but we'll tick the box on yesterday and call it a success."
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A suggestion more work needs to be done following the Super Saturday vaccination drive.
Just over 130,000 doses were administered nationwide.
It means at least 85 per cent of the eligible population has had their first dose.
But Auckland University epidemiologist Professor Rod Jackson told the Weekend Collective the vaccine push is far from over.
“500,000 eligible Kiwis who are not vaccinated, and that’s where we need to turn our energy to now. We need a different approach.”
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National's health spokesperson is hailing Super Saturday as a "wonderful" day and a real success.
A record-breaking 130,002 people got a Covid-19 jab across the country yesterday.
Deputy Leader Shane Reti spent the day vaccinating in a coastal community in Northland.
He told The Weekend Collective he's happy with the day's numbers.
“I thought if we got anything over 100,000, so the target’s been about 50,000 a day and I thought if we can double that, that it was going to be a good outcome. So I think we should all be pleased to have achieved that.”
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A political commentator says this is one of the worst weeks for the Government when it came to messaging.
After a muddled roadmap for Auckland at the start, it all ended with 60 cases across Auckland, Northland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
Former politician turned commentator Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective it could be the week the extended honeymoon the public's had with the Government has started to wane.
"There seems to be a sense abroad now that what everyone thought of what was happening previously is now not clear what the direction is. There's a sort of a sense of indecision and lack of clarity."
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National says the Government needs to move urgently to make vaccination mandatory in more frontline roles.
Cabinet ministers are due to discuss the issue tomorrow.
National Covid-19 Response Spokesman Chris Bishop says he expects them to agree to make vaccination mandatory for all healthcare workers dealing with Covid cases.
He told The Weekend Collective it's something he's been calling for and fully supports.
“Frankly, probably taken too long. At the moment, you could be a nurse, working on someone with Covid in ICU, and not have to be vaccinated. It’s pretty nuts.”
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Concerns from an epidemiologist following the confirmation of 60 new community cases of Covid-19 today.
There are 56 new cases in Auckland, including 17 that are yet to be linked to existing cases.
There are another three cases in Waikato linked to the initial Hamilton East case and a case in Katikati in Bay of Plenty that was already announced last night.
Auckland University epidemiologist Rod Jackson told Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge he's concerned about the situation in Northland where a Covid case hasn't been cooperating with authorities.
“Doesn't look too bad in the Waikato, I think we might stamp out that one. Auckland, we just have to suppress it until we all get vaccinated. Northland, I’m freaking out in a major way because I think we could have big problems there.”
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Auckland's Mayor says police were put in a tough position yesterday with a Destiny Church organised anti-lockdown protest.
Around 2000 protesters gathered for a rally outside Auckland's War Memorial Museum yesterday.
No arrests have been made so far and police had a scant presence there.
Phil Goff told the Weekend Collective police could have inflamed tensions if they had been harder.
"Their preferred approach was to try to keep the temperature down and hold open the option that they will still charge people for breach of the health order."
Goff said the event was unacceptable.
"I was really unhappy with Brian Tamaki and his group of people who thought that somehow they were above the law and they could have this superspreader event while the rest of us were trying to do the right thing for the city."
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A Covid-19 expert says Waikato's latest outbreak may not be as bad as Auckland's.
Parts of the Waikato region will move to Alert Level 3 at 11:59 tonight.
Auckland went to Alert Level Four with one case.
Auckland University Covid-19 modeller Shaun Hendy says the government might have suspicions the two cases are linked to the Auckland outbreak.
He told the Weekend Collective there may be another cause for optimism.
“Our vaccination programme is a long way along now, it’s still got a ways to go, but actually, the vaccination programme will actually be cutting spread.”
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Efforts to boost ICU capacity are struggling because internationally sought-after nurses can't get into the country, even after accepting job offers and despite the threat to New Zealand from Covid-19.
Some critical care nurses who are already in New Zealand on visas are leaving for much higher paid jobs in Australia and elsewhere, after immigration delays meant they couldn't plan ahead.
Concerned ICU leaders are set to jointly write to the Government to ask for urgent changes.
"Hospitals have got people from overseas who would like to come to work with them, but they are struggling to get them in through MIQ. Then there is a backlog of processing things with the Nursing Council. And there are problems with visas," said ICU doctor Craig Carr, who is the NZ regional chair of the Australia NZ Intensive Care Society.
"The frustration is that even if you interview and get someone, it's a real struggle to be able to facilitate them to get into the country.
A shortage of the highly-trained nurses is one of the main reasons why actual, day-to-day ICU capacity hasn't improved since the Covid pandemic began, despite the Government putting up more funding and buying equipment like ventilators.
National's health spokesman Dr Shane Reti has recently called on the Government to explain why more ICU bed spaces haven't been secured. The party also wants visa categories to be reopened and residence applications prioritised for critical healthcare workers, as well as offering residence class visas on arrival to experienced nurses.
Dr Reti says the short term solution is relaxing our immigration settings to let in the nurses offshore. A longer term solution is to train more nurses here. But he says that’s a seven year plan.
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The Delta outbreak could go either way.
New Zealand has 18 new Covid-19 cases today - two are unlinked.
Canterbury University's Michael Plank says cases could increase in level 3 - but could also be controlled with strict bubbles and contact tracing.
He says we aren't seeing the effect of level 3 yet - but towards the end of this week we'll have a better idea of whether numbers will creep up.
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A Covid-19 modeller says it's concerning we are still seeing transmission between households.
Auckland recorded 24 new community cases of Covid-19 today, and three have yet to linked to the outbreak.
Officials say more cases are expected in the coming days, with some new cases in large households.
It comes as Cabinet ministers are set to decide tomorrow whether Auckland can move out of Alert Level Four.
Canterbury University professor Michael Plank says overall, the cluster is well contained.
Professor Plank says the majority of chains have been stamped out, but it's proving difficult to ring fence the last ones.
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The Black Caps have arrived safely in Dubai following the cancellation of their cricket tour in Pakistan because of security threats.
New Zealand Cricket have confirmed the group of 34 players along with support staff arrived in the United Arab Emirates on a charter flight.
They are now in self isolation at their hotel for the next 24 hours.
Dr John Battersby from the centre of Defence and Security joined the Weekend Collective to help explain what's happened in the last 24 hours.
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20 more Covid-19 cases in the community today and experts saying Auckland won't be leaving level 4 anytime soon.
But Michael Baker is slightly more optimistic, saying the cases sounded worse initially than they actually are.
He says most surprising cases after interviewing and genomic sequencing generally link back to the cluster - making them not so surprising after all.
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20 years on and many are looking back at the 9/11 attacks in the US.
The terrorist strikes killed almost three thousand people, two of them New Zealanders.
The attack caused former US President George W. Bush to launch a war on terror.
Helen Clark was Prime Minister at the time and says that didn't improve the situation.
She says many groups still operate today and New Zealand has recently felt the effects through the actions of the LynnMall terrorist.
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83 new cases of Covid-19 were announced today.
Of the new cases, 82 are in Auckland and one is in Wellington - a close contact of a previous case.
It brings the total number of cases in the outbreak to 496 in Auckland and 15 in Wellington.
Epidemiologist Michael Baker says he'd like to see each day us looking at how people caught the virus.
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New Zealand has 83 new Covid-19 community cases today.
It takes our total linked to the Auckland outbreak to 511.
58 links are still being established
There are seven sub-clusters - the two largest are Birkdale, with 68 and Mangere Church with 237 cases.
All others have fewer than 20 infections.
Thirty-four people are in hospital - 32 are stable, and two are stable but in ICU.
Grant Robertson says that these numbers are "cause for cautious optimism."
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ACT party leader David Seymour gives his thoughts on the vaccine roll out, the future of our Covid 19 elimination strategy, and the news that signing into locations has now become mandatory.
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21 more cases in the community today with cabinet to meet tomorrow to deliberate whether New Zealand's lockdown is extended.
But epidemiologist at The University of Auckland Rod Jackson says there's cause for optimism. He says "it's really easy to stop an outbreak" and that we can knock this on the head in a couple of weeks if New Zealander's all follow the rules.
But he also had a dire warning, saying if we open our borders, people could die.
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Epidemiologist and Professor at the University of Otago Michael Baker chatted with The Weekend Collective about why kids are getting sick with the Delta variant.
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The Weekend Collective chatted to National Māori Authority chairman Matthew Tukaki about what Troy Bowker exiting the Hurricanes means.
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National Party leader Judith Collins promised unity to party faithful on Day 1 of their annual conference. But before Day 2 was over, board member David Carter had resigned after issuing a broadside against president Peter Goodfellow. Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Jason Walls gave Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge a blow-by-blow.
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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has ruled out a vaccine pass, and warned us not to expect vaccination targets for reopening like we've seen from Australia. Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge get epidemiogist Professor Michael Baker's thoughts.
Ashwin Naidu runs a travel bubble group on Facebook, and is being inundated with people asking him for advice on how to get a MIQ space.
Danielle McMullen, President of the Australia Medical Association New South Wales joins us to talk about Scott Morrison's four point plan for easing of social restrictions.
Australia correspondent Murray Olds talks to Tim Roxborogh about the task force NSW police have set up to target anti-lockdown protestors.
Government ministers have arrived in flood-stricken Westport to see the damage to the region firsthand.
Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi, Agriculture Minister and West Coast-Tasman MP Damien O'Connor, joined by Buller District mayor Jamie Cleine, are currently carrying out a flyover of the area to assess the situation before evaluating the flood damage on the ground.
Speaking at this afternoon's press conference, Faafoi thanked the efforts of emergency groups including the Defence Force and police as they work around the clock to help residents.
The Government would offer $300,000 in the form of a mayoral relief fund, he said, as well as $100,000 for the Blenheim-Marlborough region.
Cars and vehicles remain submerged in the Buller District. Photo / George Heard
Faafoi said limited rentals in Westport continued to be a challenge, and as flood waters receded, welfare issues would become "more apparent".
There were still about 1000 people who were still evacuated in Westport, with about 500 of them who still need welfare support, possibly for weeks and months. Many of them were in Kainga Ora housing.
The mayoral relief fund would help those people, Cleine said.
He said the welfare centres that had been set up were so far coping well.
"It's not a long term solution, but they're safe."
Faafoi added there would be challenges for people "for some time yet".
"We do want to send a message to people that if they do need help, they can get it," Faafoi said.
This afternoon more NZDF troops arrived to help with cordons and accessing hard-to-reach houses.
Yesterday 14 personnel from Burnham Military Camp were sent and another 10 arrived today.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopter landed in Westport just before 1pm to assist in the region.
Water boil notices remain in place for the district.
Much of central Westport is still under water. Photo / George Heard
Most houses in central Westport are under water up to window-level.
Murky brown floodwater covers many properties, entire streets are submerged and paddocks are awash.
Cleine said the "massive quantity of water" gushing out of the Buller Gorge breached a river into the township.
"Last night was awful... this morning, although the rain stopped, the water was about the same as it was when I left at midnight last night."
It was hard to see the people in his district struggling.
"It's upsetting. people take a lot of pride in their property," he said.
"It's the uncertainty it creates, we don't have all the answers people are looking for... the people aspect, it's really hard on everybody."
He said recovery was now in full swing and urged people to be patient.
The National Party's leader has high hopes about her "demand the debate" campaign. National has launched an electronic billboard drive, with the first highlighting the controversial He Puapua report.
Former Minister Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective that there is fertile ground National can tap into over these problems, such as hate speech.
However, National has to be cautious about how it handles the debate.
"It doesn't become tinged with things like the race debate or other things that make it look like some form of naked populism."
He says the one thing that gives him doubt is that their approach to He Puapua is "populist racism" and a "cheap shot", which doesn't inspire optimism.
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NSW has recorded 77 new community Covid-19 cases and one death due to the virus - and Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned the numbers are only going to get worse.
Of the new locally acquired infections, 55 are linked to a known case or cluster – 39 are household contacts and 16 are close contacts – and the source of infection for 22 cases remains under investigation.
At a press conference this afternoon, Berejiklian said the person who died - a woman in her 90s - acquired the virus through a household contact.
"Tragically we've seen one older person die and I want to extend my deepest condolences to their families and loved ones and [NSW chief health officer] Dr [Kerry] Chant will provide further details," she said.
"Regrettably, that person did acquire it within the household, within the home setting."
She added that she expected tomorrow's numbers to be even worse.
"I'll be shocked if it's less than 100 this time tomorrow, of additional new cases," Berejiklian said. "So we can't stress enough the importance of not only following the rules but also realising the risk that the people who will suffer the most."
The Premier urged everyone in Sydney to assume they had the virus and act accordingly to stem the spread of the state's Delta strain outbreak.
There have been 566 community cases reported since June 16, 2021, when the first case in the Bondi cluster was reported.
The state yesterday recorded 50 new locally acquired cases. Of those 50 cases, 26 were infectious in the community prior to their diagnosis.
Judith Collins isn't phased about the Act party's increasing support.
A recent UMR poll has put David Seymour ahead of the National leader, by two percent.
Together the two parties have 35-percent of the vote, while Labour and the Greens have 55 percent.
Collins told The Weekend Collective she isn't concerned about it.
"We're just really working well and I just think we've been through a tough couple of weeks, and I feel really good about where we are now."
In a potential counter effort, National is launching a billboard campaign to "demand the debate" for all New Zealanders.
She says Kiwis are being left out of important policy decisions by the Government which she says they didn't campaign on.
She says some include the car tax, Auckland's cycle bridge, changes to Maori wards - while at the same time thousands of children are growing up in motels, and mental health services are in crisis.
Collins says that they need to allow people to have a debate on things such as constitutional issues.
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A Covid-19 expert says Australia's four-stage plan to beat the virus is really nothing new.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison laid out the country's plan which has a heavy focus on vaccines.
Otago University Epidemiologist Micheal Baker says Morrison is still following what is still essentially an 'elimination' strategy.
Baker told The Weekend Collective Morrison is complicating things.
"It's not helped by Scott Morrison using terms and concepts which are clearly politically motivated, they are not good communication."
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Opposition parties have come out strongly against the He Puapua report that makes recommendations for co-governance between the Crown and Māori.
Bridges told TVNZ's Q+A the party was not walking back on the previous National-led government's decision to sign up to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Undrip), on which the controversial report He Puapua was based, but was "concerned" about the Government's signalled implementation.
It comes after Māori Development Minister Willie Jackson this week outlined the next steps for the country to realise its international obligations to indigenous peoples under the Declaration.
Jackson said the Government was not ruling anything out ahead of consultation, first with Māori followed by the general population, sparking further speculation constitutional changes suggested in He Puapua could be on the table.
Act leader David Seymour has called on Parliament to renounce the Declaration completely, meanwhile Te Paati Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi says He Puapua does not go far enough and calls for a completely independent Māori Parliament.
Jackson said a plan to enact the Declaration would be in place by the end of next year, preceded by consultation first with Māori then the general population about what it should include.
It comes after a heated few months in Parliament after opposition parties leaked Government-commissioned document He Puapua, produced in 2019 to advise how New Zealand could realise its commitments under the Declaration.
He Puapua included a roadmap to 2040 by which time it envisages various co-governance and Māori-run arrangements, such as a separate Upper House of Parliament for Māori, to address the huge inequities currently facing Māori.
During the announcement Jackson took pains to state He Puapua was "not the plan".
But while the Government had made clear its dislike of some aspects, such as a separate Upper House of Parliament, they were not ruling anything out.
"It is about the opportunity to have a kōrero," Jackson said.
The Declaration was not binding and any policies that came out of it would need to be consistent with New Zealand's current laws, he said.
Simon Bridges, National's Māori-Crown spokesman, told Q+A broadcaster Jack Tame that Jackson's comments National should be supportive given it had signed New Zealand up to the Declaration was a "fig leaf of an excuse".
"Any government has complete discretion on how to implement it," Bridges said.
The party was concerned the Government was heading towards "50/50" arrangements between Māori and the Crown, something that was "inconsistent with a multicultural, modern liberal democracy," he said.
Rather, Bridges said targeted instead of "top down" approaches were needed to address the inequities facing Māori.
He said he accepted He Puapua was not Government policy, but believed it was still driving some of the ministers in Government.
"There is something a bit religious about this. A sense that 'if we haven't said Aotearoa 18 times by lunchtime, if we haven't referenced the Treaty and tried to do some things in that area, we'll have to go home in the evening and say a few Hail Marys'."
Seymour said Parliament never voted for New Zealand to sign up to the Declaration, beyond a Ministerial Statement that Act spoke against in 2010.
"Act is calling on all parties in Parliament to renounce the Declaration that Government Ministers signed up to without full democratic consent.
"Either New Zealand is to be a liberal democracy where all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, or a kind of ethno-state where some are born more equal than others."
Waititi told Newshub's The Nation the current Parliamentary system was not working for Māori.
"Our people have tried to manipulate and work in the system for a long, long time. But I think it's time for us to start looking at some new systems where it's more equitable and more equal for indigenous people.
"We want to be in...
The Government has laid out a four-year roadmap to deal with problem plastics.
PVC meat trays and polystyrene takeaway packaging will be phased out late next year.
Plastic tableware and plastic straws will be taken off the shelves by mid-2023 and all other polystyrene food and beverage packaging by mid-2025.
Environment Minister David Parker says it gives the industry and businesses time to comply.
"We've already got good alternatives for polystyrene meat trays, which are plastics that are recyclable, so we are pushing for that to happen early.
"For some of the other products, it takes producers a bit longer."
He told The Weekend Collective that there is also a $50 million fund to design new alternatives for plastic replacements.
"We are only phasing out things that we think by the time they phase out we will have alternatives too. Some things we haven't announced a phase out for, we've got on a longer track."
Wet wipes are included on that longer list.
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Australia's Covid battle has significantly worsened in the past 24 hours, as multiple states and territories respond to new cases and expanding contacts.
The Northern Territory, Western Australia and Queensland have joined New South Wales in implementing restrictions as health authorities battle surging Covid cases.
Four new cases connected to an infected miner in the NT has sparked a snap 48-hour lockdown in Darwin, Palmerston and Litchfield, with residents only allowed to leave their home for five reasons: to seek medical treatment, to purchase essential goods and services, for essential work, to undertake one hour of exercise or to give care.
In WA, a traveller from Sydney has also tested positive for what authorities believe is the Delta variant. As a result, the state has reinstated new restrictions across the Perth and Peel areas.
Meanwhile, NSW has recorded a further 30 cases, with the total number of infections in the state currently at 102. Despite this, Premier Gladys Berejiklian said larger daily figures will likely be reported in the coming days.
“We do anticipate that in the next few days, case numbers are likely to increase even beyond what we have seen today,” she said.
“We are seeing that people in isolation, unfortunately, would have already transmitted to all their house contacts.”
Listen above as Australian Correspondent Murray Olds talks with The Weekend Collective live from Sydney's lockdown
A prominent epidemiologist says Wellington has "probably dodged a bullet" with the capital's Covid-19 scare, but has nonetheless called the Government's decision to extend restrictions a wise move.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins this afternoon announced the Wellington region would stay at alert level 2 another two days – until midnight 11.59pm on Tuesday – as local test results continued to come in.
It was also revealed the partner of the Sydney man at the centre of the incursion had now also tested positive in Australia, and may have been infected near the end of their Wellington visit or on the flight home.
No new cases in the community were reported today – a time when modellers predict that anyone who may have been infected in the capital would begin showing symptoms.
Otago University epidemiologist Professor Nick Wilson said while Wellington may have escaped an outbreak, it wasn't time to relax yet.
"The Government has made a wise decision to keep at the current alert level 2 settings for Wellington for at least a few more days – given the major problems being caused by the new Delta variant in Australia," he said.
"Also, we now know that the case who visited Wellington was able to infect others – given his partner has subsequently tested positive."
It was however reassuring news, he added, that thousands of test results for people in Wellington are all negative and that the wastewater test results for Friday had also come back negative.
Fellow Otago epidemiologist Professor Michael Baker agreed the extension was "fully justified".
"More than 2000 people were considered exposed to a potentially infectious traveller from Sydney who visited multiple crowded indoor venues last weekend in Wellington up until they left on Monday, June 21," he said.
"Given the timing, it is possible that some of these contacts are still incubating this infection and will only be identified in the coming few days, though the risk is now low."
University of Auckland microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles told The Weekend Collective that Wellington is still within the incubation period, and we are not "out of the woods yet".
She said that the news the case's partner has tested positive for Covid-19 despite being isolated from her partner shows there is cause for extending.
"That does show the person was infectious, while they were in New Zealand and while they were travelling home."
Covid-19 modeller Professor Michael Plank said it appeared the most likely scenario was that the man entered his infectious period towards the end of his stay in New Zealand.
While he agreed it was good news that most of the 2400 contacts identified have now tested negative, it was still possible there are other contacts that were missed – such as those who hadn't been scanning in wherever they went.
"Given what we know now, finding and testing contacts from Monday morning is particularly important," he said.
"If there is even one case lurking out there, it has the potential to spread like wildfire because the Delta variant is so infectious and our vaccination coverage is too low at the moment to slow it down much."
While New South Wales had one of the best contact tracing systems in the world, Plank said it hadn't been able to keep up with the speed the virus was spreading.
The state today reported another 30 infections, bringing the size of the outbreak to 110 cases as Greater Sydney entered the second day of its two-week lockdown.
"If anyone was infected on Sunday or Monday, now is around the time they would most likely develop symptoms," Plank said.
"So it's essential you stay alert for symptoms, especially if you were in Wellington last weekend, and get tested immediately if you do feel even slightly unwell.
"High testing rates will help authorities have confidence to relax alert level restrictions as soon as possible."
For another Otago University public health expert, Dr Lesley Gray, the risk was personal.
"My family live in the Wairarapa, therefore I...
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is determined to bring the party back to parliament.
In a speech to party faithful in Aukland this afternoon, the former Deputy Prime Minister did not hold back, taking swipes at the Government, the Opposition and the media.
In his first major speech since being booted out of Parliament. Peters made it clear his party is planning a come back.
"We are a phoenix that will again rise as the public wake up to the inexactitude. We are coming back, we are coming back because we believe we can."
But Peters did not say whether he would stay on as party leader during his speech.
NZ Herald deputy political editor Derek Cheng was at the speech, and told the Weekend Collective that there was no discussion of a succession plan.
“As far as the party is concerned, and as far as all the party members are concerned, Winston is the party, and he will be leading it from now until eternity.”
He says that one concern for those in the room was the ongoing court case related to the New Zealand First Foundation, with concerns it could hold them back from Parliament regardless of how it turns out.
“One party member referred to it as an albatross around the party’s neck.”
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Former United Future leader Peter Dunne says it's unlikely Winston Peters will return to Parliament.
In his first major speech since the election, the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' told party faithful that he will be back.
However, Peters did not say whether he would stay on as party leader during his speech.
Speaking to the Weekend Collective, Dunne says that time will tell whether this is a true re-emergence or just a suggestion.
“I think his time has passed. Everyone has a time. I think the types of things he represents, particularly over the last three years, were things he was against rather than things he was for.”
Dunne says that Peters has always craved attention, and the reaction to his speech is giving him exactly what he wants.
He says that it is difficult to see what the party stands for anymore, and they can't simply pitch themselves as a support party to hold Labour to account.
"Being a handbrake isn't good enough, especially, as the polls suggest at the moment, people think the Government's doing a reasonable time."
He thinks that rising again for a third time is beyond even Peters' abilities.
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One of Auckland's biggest sex scandals is set to hit the small screen.
The story of former Auckland Mayor Len Brown's affair with ex council adviser Bevan Chuang will be told in a made for TV movie.
The movie is called Princess of Chaos and will receive $2.6 million from NZ on air.
Chuang made headlines in 2013 when her two year affair with Brown was revealed days after his successful re-election campaign.
Former Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson told The Weekend Collective that, objectively, he would not fund it, but bodies like NZ on Air and Arts Council are at "arms length" from ministers, and this is the kind of "stupid decisions" these bodies make.
"20 odd years ago, the Arts Council decided to fund the Venice Bienalle, and the star attraction was going to be a donkey braying in a toilet."
He says that it's unfair to Brown to put this story back out there, and "some decency" should be shown to his family.
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The Government's scheme for discounts for electric cars comes with a couple of fishhooks: it only applies to newly imported cars, and if the funding runs out the rebates scheme will be paused and cars bought during the pause will not qualify for a rebate.
The scheme is designed so rebates on electric cars are funded from fees paid by people buying petrol cars.
It provides for rebates of $8625 for a new electric car and $3450 for a used imported electric car. There are lower rebates for plug-in hybrids.
The rebates are due to start from July 1 – but Waka Kotahi's website warns that if the funding for the scheme runs dry the rebates will be stopped until the funds are replenished.
"If, due to high demand, rebate funds are exhausted, Waka Kotahi will notify that the rebate window is closed and no discounts (rebates) will be offered during this time. Once we announce the scheme has restarted, only vehicles registered from the restart date will be eligible for rebates."
While there are rebates for both new and used electric cars, they only apply to newly imported cars which are registered after July 1. They do not apply to electric cars which are already registered in New Zealand and being sold on.
The rebates side of the "feebate" scheme starts in July, buyers of new or newly imported used petrol cars will only start facing fees from January next year.
There is another reason to get in quick to get the full rebate under the scheme: for the first six months, a flat rebate will apply, giving the full $8,625 rebate for all new electric cars and $3450 for used. After that, the rebate will depend on emissions.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Michael Wood said a Crown loan would cover the first six months of the scheme and the fees were expected to cover it from then on.
The details of the fees scheme are yet to be finalised, but the Ministry of Transport has estimated those fees will raise $125m and $188m in 2022.
Buyers of new petrol cars would pay a fee of up to $5875 while those buying newly imported used cars face fees of up to $2875.
That fee would be based on emissions – the Ministry has said it would add $2,900 to the cost of a new Toyota Hilux, $1230 to a Kia Sportage, and $830 for a Nissan Navara.
Wood and Climate Change Minister James Shaw set out the scheme on Sunday, saying it was a critical move to try to reduce New Zealand's transport emissions.
It was aimed at lifting the use of electric cars in New Zealand, which Wood said was well behind other countries.
The decision to charge fees for petrol car buyers has been criticised as unfair by Act and National, who say it is a "tax" on tradespeople and farmers who do not have options for electric vehicles.
National's spokesman Michael Woodhouse has said National supports incentives for electric car buyers, but they should be measures such as tax benefits and road user charges exemptions.
"The people who benefit will be higher-income earners who now don't have to pay as much for a Tesla. We don't think it's fair to make tradies pay more for a Hilux so wealthy executives can get a discount on their next electric car."
An online petition calling for a film on the Christchurch mosque attacks to be scrapped continues to gain momentum.
The film "They Are Us" is only in planning at this stage, but already the petition's attracted more than 45,000 signatures.
The movie is said to centre around Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her response to the crisis, with Australian actress Rose Byrne poised to play her.
National Islamic Youth Association co-chair Haris Murtaza told The Weekend Collective they started the petition because of a lack of consultation with those affected.
"Whatever decisions are to be made should be victim-centric, and we haven't seen that.
"Whatever movie is to come out, I don't think anyone except the victims should have a direct and continued input into it."
He says that, from his understanding, the Al Noor Mosque community hasn't been approached for consultation.
"Across the board, I'm yet to speak to someone who was spoken to or consulted on this matter."
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Auckland University professor of medicine Des Gorman tells Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge why we need to be concerned about the recent revelation that 3800 border workers are yet to receive their first COVID-19 jab.
Police Association president Chris Cahill explains to Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge why manslaughter charges weren't the appropriate way to hold the police accountable in the case of the death of Allen Ball.
Heart of the City chief executive Viv Beck says it's time the government started showing a bit more urgency in compensating Auckland businesses affected by the City Rail Link. She spoke to Tim Roxborogh and Tim Beveridge on the Weekend Collective.
Authorities are prepared for the swollen Ashburton river to breach its banks.
The region's one of three - along with Timaru and Selwyn - to declare a state of local emergency after hours of heavy rainfall.
District Mayor Neil Brown says he's never seen the river this high.
But he says the region has planned for a one-in-200-year weather event, and stopbanks are holding the river back.
Acting Minister for Emergency Management Kris Faafoi told The Weekend Collective up to 4,000 people are at risk of evacuation in Ashburton if the river breaks its banks.
"Be prepared to leave if you get the message to leave through friends or neighbours or through the likes of a emergency cellphone alert."
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Opposition parties want the Government to look at our DHBs cyber security.The Waikato DHB's computer system crashed last week after a ransomware attack from overseas.Critics are now pointing fingers at the Ministry of Health, for ditching an effort to secure all DHB computer systems and a lack of funding.National Party Deputy Leader Dr Shane Reti told The Weekend Collective this is a wake-up call.
"We're definitely up for a review to look at what we're doing, how we're doing, are we doing it appropriately, are we practicing at the best of scope?"
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Samoa was plunged into a constitutional crisis when the woman who won an election last month was locked out of Parliament and the previous leader claimed he remained in charge.
The fast-moving events marked the latest twist in a bitter power struggle that has been playing out in the small Pacific nation since it elected its first female leader. Not only is Samoa's peace and stability at stake, but also its relationship with China.
On Monday morning, Prime Minister-elect Fiame Naomi Mata’afa and her supporters showed up at parliament to form a new government, but were not allowed inside.
She and her FAST Party later took oaths and appointed ministers in a ceremony held under a tent in front of the locked Parliament, actions that opponents said were illegal.
The nation’s Supreme Court had earlier ordered the Parliament to convene. And the constitution requires that lawmakers meet within 45 days of an election, with Monday marking the final day by that count.
But Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, who was prime minister for 22 years before his unexpected election loss, doesn't appear ready to give up power. He was already one of the longest-serving leaders in the world.
TVNZ Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver told The Weekend Collective that it is tied up with the courts, with the Court of Appeal hearing a case tomorrow over whether a new seat should be added.
"The HRPP want to go back to the polls, but I don't believe that will do them any favours."
There are also 14 legal cases going on around electoral seats, while the FAST Party's swearing-in ceremony has also prompted a legal challenge.
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The Act party wants to give school principals the power to award high-performing teachers potentially thousands of dollars for their work.
Under Act's policy, a $250 million fund would be divvied up annually, giving schools roughly $5000 for every full-time teacher it employs.
Act leader David Seymour said the school's principal would then award that money to high-performing teachers or use it to attract those who teach hard-to-staff subjects.
Schools would need to develop criteria to help guide its principal on how to allocate the money, Seymour said.
"It's a way of making sure that good teaching and teaching excellence is rewarded ... in the way that it would be in most sectors of the economy.
"The fact that the best and the worst teacher in New Zealand are paid the same and the only way they can be paid more is to serve time, I don't think is in the best interests of New Zealand's children or the future of our country," he said.
When asked if the reward fund could create conflict within a school, Seymour said similar schemes operated in every other part of the economy.
"When people say 'education's so different, this can't work', really? Look at the rest of the economy. Most people accept that people get paid differently in a workplace according to the policies of the workplace and I don't think education is that much different."
The New Zealand education sector's "dirty secret" is that its policy is driven by unions that want one contract for every teacher, Seymour added.
"Because they are so politically organised, they've been able to dominate education policy for decades. The Act party says it's more important that we have the flexibility to get the right teacher in front of the right classroom at the right time and the ... fund is something that will do that."
The party also proposed new standards teachers would have to meet when renewing their practising certificates.
Seymour said Act would ensure primary and intermediate teachers undertake professional development in maths, science and technology, and English, as well as te reo me ngā tikanga.
"These would include minimum standards, for example all teachers should work towards NCEA level 2 maths at a minimum. It's difficult to be inspired to excellence by someone who themselves failed Year 12."
Seymour unveiled the policies at the Act Party's Annual Conference - Honest Conversations - in Auckland.
It is the party's first conference since its best-ever election result.
Act received 7.6 per cent of the vote in the 2020 election - which meant after six years as the party's sole MP, Seymour was joined by nine new MPs.
Act members also met this morning for their annual general meeting, where they re-elected Tim Jago as the party's president.
text by Katie Scotcher, RNZ
British broadcaster BBC, seen as a respected source of news and information around the world, is facing questions at home about its integrity following a scathing report on its explosive 1995 interview with Princess Diana.
Britain's justice secretary said Friday that the government would review the rules governing oversight of the BBC after an investigation found that one of its journalists used "deceitful behaviour" to secure the interview and the corporation obscured this misconduct for 25 years.
Princes William and Harry, Diana's sons, excoriated the BBC late Thursday, saying there was a direct link between the interview and their mother's death in a traffic accident two years later as she and a companion were being pursued by paparazzi.
The interview on the Panorama program came under renewed scrutiny after Diana's brother, Charles Spencer, complained that journalist Martin Bashir used false documents and other dishonest tactics to persuade Diana to grant the interview. As a result, the BBC commissioned an investigation by retired Judge John Dyson, who released a 127-page report on his findings Thursday.
"It wasn't just the decision of a reporter or a production team, there were decisions made much further up the chain about the conduct of these individuals that have now proved, according to Lord Dyson, to be unfounded and wrong,'' Justice Secretary Robert Buckland told the BBC. "And therefore, government does have a responsibility to look very carefully to see whether the governance of the BBC does need reform in the light of these devastating findings."
The BBC, founded in 1922, is Britain's publicly funded but editorially independent national broadcaster. The rules governing its operations are set out in a royal charter that requires the corporation to be impartial, act in the public interest and be open, transparent and accountable. A mid-term review of the BBC's governance is scheduled to begin next year.
Even before the Dyson report, the BBC was under pressure from some members of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Conservative Party who believe the broadcaster has a liberal bias. Johnson said he was concerned about the findings and hoped that the broadcaster would make sure "nothing like this ever happens again.''
At the heart of the scandal were documents made to look like bank statements, falsely suggesting that members of Diana's inner circle were being paid to spy on her.
Spencer alleged that Bashir used the documents to gain his trust so Spencer would introduce the journalist to Diana. He also alleged that Bashir made up stories about the royal family to strengthen Diana's belief that there was a conspiracy against her.
When graphic designer Matt Wiessler, who had been commissioned by Bashir to create mocked-up documents, saw the program, he immediately made the connection between his commission and the interview. He brought his concerns to BBC management, but he has long contended that they made him a scapegoat.
He said there is a culture within the BBC that "the little people'' don't need to be addressed. His business faltered after the BBC blacklisted him from assignments.
"Only under duress do we get some sort of apology and some sort of acknowledgement," he told the BBC.
Amid the outcry following the report, the BBC's director-general, Tim Davie, said the broadcaster "should have made greater effort to get to the bottom of what happened at the time and been more transparent about what it knew.''
But the BBC also insisted that it had strengthened rules making it possible to outpoint failings.
"There has been radical change over the past 25 years. We now have a thorough and industry-leading whistleblowing scheme, which provides clear and independent routes to raise concerns and, if necessary, direct access for whistle-blowers to a non-executive director on the BBC board,'' the BBC said. "That is very different to the past. ''
In the interview, a major scoop for Bashir, Diana famously said that "there wer...
National's claiming South Island water assets are set to be co-owned by Ngai Tahu.
Party leader Judith Collins says the Government is proposing to transfer 50-per cent of publicly-owned water assets, to the iwi.
It's the latest in a series of questions raised by the Opposition Leader, over Labour's interpretation of honouring the Treaty.
Collins says the plan was presented to 23 mayors, and would consolidate all water infrastructure in the South Island into one organisation.
She says mayors have told her, that local councils who have purchased infrastructure through ratepayers, would get no compensation for this.
However, Ngai Tahu is rubbishing the claims.
Chair of the Ngai Tahu freshwater group Dr Te Maire Tau says it's deceptive and wrong.
He says if Collins had bothered to ask them about the proposal instead of seeking headlines, she would have had the facts sooner.
Tau says the tribe hasn't called for ownership of the assets.
Listen above as Judith Collins discusses the latest claims with The Weekend Collective
Act Party leader David Seymour is concerned the Government is using race at the centre of education.
He's taking aim at Ministry of Education's programmes, including Te Hurihanganui, addressing racism in the education system and improving outcomes for Māori learners and their whānau.
Seymour says he wants to know why it's teaching primary school children about white privilege.
"The Ministry of Education is saying that students should be profiled by race and made to apologise for their racial background. It's astonishing stuff."
His comments come after a student at a Whangārei primary school had to stand up in front of their classroom and say what they had done to acknowledge their white privilege.
But advocates of strategies to "de-colonise" Aotearoa's classrooms say rather than "racialise", such topics actually help dismantle the systemic racism that already exists, and holds back non-Pākehā students, particularly Māori.
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A former Republican Party congressman says that he lost everything by turning against Donald Trump.
Joe Walsh served one term as a congressman for Illinois, and after leaving office began hosting a talk radio show.
He initially supported Trump, but during the former President's term he started to turn against him, even launching a short-lived run for the Republican presidency.
Speaking to The Weekend Collective, Walsh describes Trump as a "psychopath" and a "horrible, corrupt, criminal human being", but speaking out against him cost him dearly.
"The Republican Party is a cult. All they care about is Donald Trump. If you are a Republican or a conservative in America and you publicly take on Trump, you are a dead man."
He says that one of the first things that turned him against Trump was the President's interference in the investigation into Russian interference of the 2016 election - and his eventual public support of Russian President Putin over US intelligence sources was the final straw.
"That was the greatest act of disloyalty I've ever seen from an American president."
Walsh says that Joe Biden has been refreshing, as he is getting on with doing his job and not putting himself out there.
He says that Trump will likely win another Republican Party nomination, but is unlikely to win another Presidency as he is not popular outside of Republicans.
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Labour Party supporters are upset by the Government's pay freeze for public sector workers.
The Government revealed public sector workers earning more than $60,000 could only expect pay increases in "exceptional circumstances".
The move also means those on more than $100,000 won't get a cent more over the next three years.
The decision appeared to blindside many in the public sector.
Left-leaning political commentator Shane Te Pou told The Weekend Collective it was an "own goal" from the Government that hits all the wrong notes.
"On Friday afternoon, they announced a Fair Pay industrial relations policy. The fundamentals of that are good faith bargaining.
"How can the Government as an employer say we're not going to bargain with you, but we want other employers to bargain in good faith."
He says it has upset a lot of people, especially unions.
Te Pou says he is not sure how it will be dialled back, but predicts it will be based on the reaction.
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A leading epidemiologist has said it is morally wrong for New Zealand to take part in the Olympics.
The 2020 Olympics - delayed by one year due to the Covid-19 - are due to take place in Tokyo in July.
Many countries are planning to take part and will prioritise vaccine access to their athletes, including New Zealand and Australia.
However, many countries are struggling with slow vaccine rollouts, with many countries in Africa lagging far behind the West.
Otago University epidemiologist Michael Baker told The Weekend Collective that countries like India are struggling with deadly second waves as well.
"The Olympics are all about celebrating this level playing field, global unity, and overcoming Covid-19. So how much global unity and overcoming Covid-19 are we seeing at the moment?"
He says it is not about the safety of New Zealand athletes, but about what it means for low-income countries that are struggling to vaccinate the general public and combat the outbreak.
"It is a matter of life or death for many countries in the world."
Baker believes that the event needs to be postponed once again to make it fairer. He says it has been cancelled three times before due to World War One and Two - and the world is at war now, just against Covid-19.
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Her comments have been labelled desperate - but Judith Collins maintains we're going down a dangerous path on race relations.
The National leader is under fire for a speech at the party's Northern Convention, where she claimed Labour's trying to create a 'two system' New Zealand.
She also went on the attack over the freshly-announced Māori Health Authority.
Collins told the Weekend Collective the Government is going too far.
"This is a matter of principle, and the principle is that we get health out to the regions and the people who need it.
"We don't need to have an entire co-governance system."
Maori Crown Relations Minister Kelvin Davis says he's disappointed but not surprised - and it's a desperate speech from an increasingly desperate leader.
National Māori Authority Chair Matthew Tutaki says comparisons to segregation are completely inappropriate, and says Collins should change her tune on the issue.
"That is just absolutely evil, and she needs to come out and say that is not National Party policy."
He says the return of "dogwhistle politics" and the denigration of Māori are not going to win National votes.
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In hopes of taming a monstrous spike in COVID-19 infections, India opened vaccinations to all adults Saturday, launching a huge inoculation effort that was sure to tax the limits of the federal government, the country's vaccine factories and the patience of its 1.4 billion people.
The world's largest maker of vaccines was still short of critical supplies — the result of lagging manufacturing and raw material shortages that delayed the rollout in several states. And even in places where the shots were in stock, the country's wide economic disparities made access to the vaccine inconsistent.
The country's ambitious effort was also partly overshadowed Saturday by a fire in a COVID-19 ward in western India that killed 18 patients, and the death of 12 COVID-19 patients at a hospital in New Delhi after the facility ran out of oxygen for 80 minutes.
Only a fraction of India's population will be able to afford the prices charged by private hospitals for the shot, experts said, meaning that states will be saddled with immunizing the 600 million Indian adults younger than 45, while the federal government gives shots to 300 million health care and front-line workers and people older than 45.
So far, government vaccines have been free, and private hospitals have been permitted to sell shots at a price capped at 250 rupees, or around $3. That practice will now change: Prices for state governments and private hospitals will be determined by vaccine companies. Some states might not be able to provide vaccines for free since they are paying twice as much as the federal government for the same shot, and prices at private hospitals could rise.
Since state governments and private players compete for shots in the same marketplace, and states pay less for the doses, vaccine makers can reap more profit by selling to the private sector, said Chandrakant Lahariya, a health policy expert. That cost can then be passed on to people receiving the shots, increasing inequity.
"There is no logic that two different governments should be paying two prices," he said.
Concerns that pricing issues could deepen inequities are only the most recent hitch in India's sluggish immunization efforts. Less than 2% of the population has been fully immunized against COVID-19 and around 10% has received a single dose. Immunization rates have also fallen. The average number of shots per day dipped from over 3.6 million in early April to less than 2.5 million right now.
In the worst-hit state of Maharashtra, the health minister promised free vaccines for those ages 18 to 44, but he also acknowledged that the shortage of doses meant immunization would not start as planned on Saturday. States say the paucity of shots is one reason why immunizations have declined.
In a positive development, the country on Saturday received its first batch of Sputnik V vaccines, which it is importing from Russia. Moscow has signed a deal with an Indian pharmaceutical company to distribute 125 million doses.
India thought the worst was over when cases ebbed in September. But mass gatherings such as political rallies and religious events were allowed to continue, and relaxed attitudes on the risks fueled a major humanitarian crisis, according to health experts. New variants of the coronavirus have partly led the surge.
The country's shortage of shots has global implications because, in addition to its own inoculation efforts, India has promised to ship vaccines abroad as part of a United Nations vaccine-sharing program that is dependent on its supply.
Indian vaccine makers produce an estimated 70 million doses each month of the two approved shots — the AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India and another one made by Bharat Biotech.
The federal government is buying half of those vaccines to give to states. The remaining half can then be bought by states and private hospitals to be given to anyone over 18, but at prices set by the companies.
The federal government is buying s...
A former Minister says New Zealand's position in Five Eyes is not likely to be under threat.
The Government has come under fire from Australian and UK commentators over our stance on China and our place in Five Eyes, after New Zealand declined to sign several statements criticising China.
However, Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective that our position in the security alliance is unlikely to be under threat.
He says that our geographic location makes us valuable to the Five Eyes, as we can pick up better signal traffic
"We're of more value to our partners than our partners are to us in this.
"When people start to say 'chuck New Zealand out', I just think that's a bit far-fetched because we contribute more than we get."
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50,000 people packed into Auckland's Eden Park to see Six60 headline the first major concert at the venue.
The band's promoter Brent Eccles told The Weekend Collective acts like The Eagles or Billy Joel would be great there, but he wants to bring Six60 back.
"None of us realised until last night when the crowd was in there what a cauldron it is, and what an exciting live venue it is, it's just phenomenal."
Six60's show follows a successful bid from the Eden Park Trust Board to be able to host gigs at the venue.
Previously, a minority of residents had successfully opposed them.
But early this year the trust board finally won consent for up to six concerts in any 12-month period.
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One of the advisors on the new local version of The Apprentice has defended taking part in a show linked to former US President Donald Trump.
Trump, who had been well known internationally in the 80s and 90s for his business dealings, found new fame after starring in the original Apprentice which he hosted for 15 seasons, plus seven of the celebrity-centric spinoff.
TVNZ is bringing back the local iteration 11 years after a one-season attempt, with Mike Pero this time filling the main slot, alongside newly announced advisors Cassie Roma and Justin Tomlinson.
Cassie Roma, who comes to the show from a background in social and digital media and is known as 'The Kindness Warrior', told The Weekend Collective that she despises Donald Trump, and had many "deep conversations" with TVNZ and the production company to clarify that The Apprentice Aotearoa would be different from the flagship series.
"I was given assurance that the new Apprentice was going to be one built on kindness - it's going to be hard, it's going to be business time, but it would not be with Trump."
She says that all three advisors believe in kindness and compassion is a key part of any business.
Roma says that the production company kept their word and avoided descending into Trump-style TV.
"I think the first question I had from the press was 'how are you not like Ivanka Trump?', and I was like 'in every single way except that we are both white women'."
However, she clarified that it is not a 'kumbaya' and people will still be told 'You're Fired' - but says that business can be done without "being an arsehole", and she did not witness one contestant being bullied.
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Australians are looking forward to the trans-Tasman travel bubble.
The bubble starts at 11.59 tonight, meaning travellers won't have to quarantine when they travel between Australia and New Zealand.
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe told the Weekend Collective Australians are excited about the bubble.
"Huge anticipation. People are really looking forward to seeing our Kiwi friends and family come back."
He says the state has a lot of tourism spots for Kiwis.
"There's so many Kiwis who would normally want to travel the world and look at fantastic locations across the globe, and in Queensland, we have it all."
Meanwhile, Australia's Prime Minister has hinted international travel may resume in the second half of this year for vaccinated Aussies under essential purposes.
Scott Morrison says it will depend on home quarantine being a success.
"If that works, then that means you've freed up your hotel quarantine, and that means essential workers can start to come in.
"Potentially we can do more with other populations in a very controlled and very safe way, but the idea that one day everything is going to open, that's not how this is going to happen."
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Australians are looking forward to the trans-Tasman travel bubble.
The bubble starts at 11.59 tonight, meaning travellers won't have to quarantine when they travel between Australia and New Zealand.
Queensland Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchcliffe told the Weekend Collective Australians are excited about the bubble.
"Huge anticipation. People are really looking forward to seeing our Kiwi friends and family come back."
He says the state has a lot of tourism spots for Kiwis.
"There's so many Kiwis who would normally want to travel the world and look at fantastic locations across the globe, and in Queensland, we have it all."
Meanwhile, Australia's Prime Minister has hinted international travel may resume in the second half of this year for vaccinated Aussies under essential purposes.
Scott Morrison says it will depend on home quarantine being a success.
"If that works, then that means you've freed up your hotel quarantine, and that means essential workers can start to come in.
"Potentially we can do more with other populations in a very controlled and very safe way, but the idea that one day everything is going to open, that's not how this is going to happen."
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Queenstown's mayor predicts an influx of Australian visitors will bring a bumper ski season for the tourist town.
The first quarantine-free flight lands into Queenstown at 2.30pm Monday from Sydney after the trans-Tasman bubble officially opens at 11.59 Sunday night.
Mayor Jim Boult told the Weekend Collective there's been good bookings in hotels.
"Late April, May, early June are usually the quietest months of the year for us. We think we'll have a pretty good time over that time, but we're seriously excited about the ski season."
He believes young Aussies could provide some of the staffing shortfall this ski season, with many hotels and hospitality businesses scrambling to find staff now that the tourists are returning.
Boult says 5,500 migrant workers were a big part of the workforce before the borders closed.
"We think around 2,000 of them have left the district, that has left a big hole.
"But we're trying to attract young Aussie across to work in the ski season."
He says worker accommodation won't be an issue this year.
Air New Zealand is running 30 flights across the Tasman - carrying more than 5,000 people.
Qantas has scheduled 25 flights, and there are four from Jetstar.
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An Auckland University vaccinologist is concerned about the speed at which people here are being vaccinated.
Many have accused the government of a lack of transparency regarding the number of people who have had shots.
It comes amid reports that a new Covid-19 vaccination clinic in Ōtara, South Auckland, could be vaccinating five times the number of people that are booked in.
South Seas vaccination clinic, in the old Manukau Institute tech building, was on its second day of operation today working through people in group one and two due to get their Covid-19 jab.
Today, there were just 100 people booked, with the possibility of a few walk-ins booked by a GP or a non-government organisation.
It meant the clinic was vaccinating only 20 per cent of the people it could be.
It has led to National and other voices declaring the rollout is moving too slowly - but vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris told the Weekend Collective it's difficult to find vaccination numbers to see exactly where we are.
"There's no dashboard for that as this point. Unlike when we always knew every day how many cases we had, we don't have that count of information flowing yet."
She says that it was always going to be something that would need to ramp up - but the questions is are we where we'd like to be at this point.
Dr Petousis-Harris says that the number of jabs every day does seem to be going up, but there is the feeling that we are behind where we should be.
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A former ACT leader says it's possible that National could no longer be the main opposition party sometime in the future.
Richard Prebble, who was one of the founding MPs of the ACT Party and leader from 1996-2004, this week cast doubt on National's leader Judith Collins to stay in the position - calling her a dead leader walking over a failed attempt by her and her deputy Dr Shane Reti to get the caucus to oppose Labour's fluoridation plan.
"Collins was not defeated over her views on fluoridation but her tactics. Her erratic captain's calls during the election concerned National MPs. Last week confirmed their doubts about her judgment.
"Labour is on the ropes on housing and how to return to normal and Collins wants to fight the government on fluoridation!" Prebble wrote in the NZ Herald.
Speaking to The Weekend Collective, Prebble says that this week's Roy Morgan is the latest evidence that National continues to be on the decline, while ACT's popularity is on the rise - as evidenced by the Party adding nine new MPs at last year's election.
Prebble says that under an MMP style Parliament, it's very possible that either Labour or National could stop being a major party, citing Israel's Labour Party as an example.
"It used to be the most successful Labour Party in the world, and had been the government most of the time in Israel's history. They are now reduced to seven MPs in a Parliament of 120."
He says that it is not inevitable, but it is a possibility, particularly given National's current trajectory.
"If you ask me to predict that's going to happen immediately, I would say that's very unlikely but I wouldn't exclude it."
He says that National's problems are bigger than Judith Collins, with their selection process and several problem MPs likely leading to the Party losing the conservative vote.
Prebble says that any potential leadership replacements have to move quickly before the party's prospects get any worse - and Collins has to go by Christmas.
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Prince Philip, the late husband to the UK's Queen Elizabeth II, will be laid to rest on Saturday local time (Sunday early morning NZT) next week, in a ceremony that will be colourful and steeped in tradition, but low key by royal standards.
Philip, who was officially the Duke of Edinburgh, died peacefully at Windsor Castle on Friday morning at the age of 99. He was the nation's longest-serving consort -- a term given to the spouse of a reigning monarch -- and they had been married for 73 years.
Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will attend his grandfather's funeral, but his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, won't be present, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. The couple are living in California and a doctor had advised the duchess, who is pregnant, against travelling to the UK, the spokesperson said.
The couple gave an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired in March, in which they told their side of the story in their rift with the royal family, making explosive allegations against some of its members and the establishment.
Philip's long-standing funeral plans had been adapted to respect certain Covid-19 restrictions, with all the usual elements that involve contact with the public removed. The College of Arms, which oversees many ceremonial aspects of the royal family's work, had earlier confirmed the duke would not lie in state anywhere accessible to the public, which could have seen thousands of people lining up to view his coffin.
Current Covid rules in England limit the number of people who can attend funerals to 30.
In a nod to the duke's preference for driving himself, without a chauffeur, his coffin will be carried by a Land Rover from Windsor Castle to St. George's Chapel, for the ceremony.
The procession will begin at 2:45 p.m. and will be led from Windsor Castle by a band of grenadier guards, along with several heads of military units. A Royal Navy piping party will pipe "The Still" whilst the Land Rover is stationed at the foot of the West Steps. There will be a gun salute and a national minute's silence at 3 p.m. ahead of the ceremony.
The duke's death has been marked in a sombre fashion, as the royal household and UK government have asked the public not to gather or leave flowers at royal residences, with the country still under strict Covid-19 restrictions.
But gun salutes were held across the nation, as batteries fired 41 rounds, at one round per minute, at Windsor Castle, the Tower of London in the capital and at Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, among other locations. Australia, a Commonwealth nation, also paid its respects with a gun salute outside Parliament House in the capital, Canberra, on Saturday morning.
Tributes have flooded in from the UK and abroad for the duke, who had recently spent a month in two London hospitals, undergoing heart surgery and treatment for an infection, before returning in mid-March to Windsor Castle.
Paying tribute in a televised statement, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the duke had "earned the affection of generations here in the United Kingdom, across the Commonwealth, and around the world" and had lived by an ethic of service.
"Like the expert carriage driver that he was, he helped to steer the royal family and the monarchy so that it remains the institution indisputably vital to the balance of our national path. He was an environmentalist, and a champion of the natural world, long before it was fashionable," Johnson said.
But the duke was also a controversial figure. For many Britons, his defining characteristic was not his public service but his off-the-cuff and often offensive comments, including some that were undeniably racist.
The BBC said Friday it was receiving complaints about too much air time dedicated to the duke's death, after the public broadcaster cancelled hours of its usual programming to make way for wall-to-wall coverage of Philip's life and death.
The BBC set up a dedicated feedback form within hours of the news from Buckingham Palac...
Hopes we'll know this week exactly when to get our passports ready for quarantine-free travel to Australia.
An update on the possibility of a trans-Tasman bubble will be given on Tuesday.
Epidemiologist Michael Baker told The Weekend Collective he is expecting a solid timetable to be announced.
But, he says travellers must proceed with caution.
"People travelling across the Tasman will have to go in with their eyes open, realising that if an outbreak were to occur, they would have to stay put."
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There are hopes a new bill will fix confusion around the Easter trading rule.
Online businesses can trade without restrictions over Easter while traditional shops cannot.
The regulations also vary from city to city, further adding to confusion for both retailers and customers.
Act Party small business spokesperson Chris Baillie has introduced a new member's bill which would change all that.
Party leader David Seymour told the Weekend Collective our current rules are an absolute mess.
“The laws are just filled with loopholes, New Zealand has now moved on from being a primarily religious society.”
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Christopher Luxon "tested the waters" this week with his maiden speech in Parliament.
The former Air New Zealand CEO turned Botany MP told Parliament: "It seems it has become acceptable to stereotype those who have a Christian faith in public life as being 'extreme', so I will say a little about my Christian faith.
"It has anchored me, given my life purpose and shaped my values – and it puts me in the context of something bigger than myself," he said.
His faith had a strong influence on who he was and how he related to people.
"I see Jesus showing compassion, tolerance and care for others. He doesn't judge, discriminate or reject people. He loves unconditionally."
Former Minister Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective that Luxon handled the issue well in his speech.
"In a way, that's a little bit of signalling to that evangelical Christian base in the National Party that he's one of them, while flagging to everyone else that he's not a threat."
If it means that he is looking to make a go for National's leadership, Dunne says that his business experience will tell him not to make an attempt until he has the numbers.
"That means make sure you have the numbers in the caucus, and make sure you can win the election."
He says that David Shearer and Don Brash are two examples of former party leaders who were promoted too early based on promise and crashed - so Luxon will need to get some experience under his belt first.
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The Finance Minister's earned fresh ire from the Opposition for his comments about capping rent rises.
Grant Robertson has not ruled out limiting how much landlords can raise rents, saying it isn't on the Government's agenda, but they'll keep an eye on what happens.
National Party leader Judith Collins told The Weekend Collective any sensible person would have ruled it out straight away.
"The fact is he doesn't understand what happens when he causes such immense uncertainty for people who are property investors or who have bought one or two houses than they rent out."
On her own turf, Collins is unfazed by speculation that Christopher Luxon could take up the leadership one day.
The former Air New Zealand boss-turned Botany MP gave his maiden speech to Parliament this week, where he discussed his faith.
Collins says it was really good.
"I don't worry about anyone coming through. I think it's really important that I encourage people so we always have some people we can look at and say 'who else could take over if I got run over by a bus'?"."
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Pressure from Australia is likely to be behind the move from our Government to make a move on the trans-Tasman bubble.
Anticipation is building ahead of Cabinet's discussion around a two-way trans-Tasman travel bubble with Australia.
Ministers are expected to meet tomorrow to talk about a potential start date, and it is understood it could be put in place between mid to late April.
Public pressure over the last week has been seen by some as being a factor in pushing the Government towards this move.
Former Minister and United Future leader Peter Dunne agrees that will be a factor, but he told The Weekend Collective that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's comments criticising the Government's slowness, and reports about the country looking for a Singapore bubble instead, will have a bigger factor.
"I think Australia to some extent has forced New Zealand to come to the party sooner than we might have expected."
He says Australia has very effective Covid-19 controls, and given there is "clear air" there is no reason why we shouldn't go ahead.
Dunne expects families will benefit from the bubble at first - but the idea of travelling internationally might draw people overseas instead of going around New Zealand.
"That might be something our industry will find a little hard to take."
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U.S. relations with its two biggest geo-political rivals are facing severe tests as President Joe Biden tries to assert America's place in the world and distinguish himself from his predecessor.
Airing myriad complaints, the Biden administration took an extraordinarily tough line with China and Russia this past week. Public spats between the countries erupted as Biden characterized Russian President Vladimir Putin as a "killer" and his top national security aides excoriated China for a litany of issues.
Moscow and Beijing both fired back, setting the stage for months, if not more, of escalating tensions that are unlikely to be resolved without intense discussions at the leadership level and major concessions from all sides.
Biden himself kicked off the latest round of recrimination in a television interview in which he sought to draw clear differences between his Russia policies and those of former President Donald Trump. who was accused of being soft on Putin. Just 24 hours later, Biden's top diplomat and national security adviser blasted Chinese officials in face-to-face talks.
Although Biden's strong comments about Putin reflected a shift from Trump's often conciliatory approach to the Kremlin, the harsh criticism directed at China by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and national security adviser Jake Sullivan in many ways mirrored the previous administration's hard line toward Beijing.
The contrasting styles suggested that Biden is intent on reversing years of perceived U.S. weakness toward Russia while rejecting Trump's 2020 campaign allegations that he's not tough enough on China.
In taking a strong line on Russia, Biden has said the days of the U.S. "rolling over" to Putin are done. And, in the interview with ABC broadcast on Wednesday, Biden replied "I do" when asked if he thought Putin was a "killer." Russia responded by recalling its ambassador in Washington for consultations.
Putin then shot back by pointing to the U.S. history of slavery, the slaughter of Native Americans and the atomic bombing of Japan in World War II in an "it-takes-one-to-know-one" response.
As that was unfolding, on Thursday in Alaska, China's top two diplomats reacted in similar fashion to criticism from Blinken and Sullivan about Beijing's human rights record in the western Xinjiang region and Tibet and its aggressive actions in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the South China Sea.
Communist Party foreign policy chief Yang Jiechi and Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the U.S. of hypocrisy for condemning China while at the same time grappling with its own internal issues, including violence against Asian Americans and other people of color and political unrest following the 2020 presidential election.
Blinken and Sullivan took umbrage at those comments and replied that the U.S. was not perfect but sought to openly and honestly address such matters. Sullivan said Americans' willingness to confront their shortcomings was the "secret sauce" of U.S. success.
And, they sought to reframe U.S.-China relations in the context of the Biden administration's resolve to correct those issues, strengthen the U.S. economy and improve ties with democratic allies in Asia such as Australia, Japan and South Korea.
Blinken, having just finished a trip to Japan and South Korea with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, made clear to the Chinese that the U.S. is aligned with its allies.
"I have to tell you, what I'm hearing is very different from what you described," he told Wang and Yang. "I'm hearing deep satisfaction that the United States is back, that we're re-engaged with our allies and partners. I'm also hearing deep concern about some of the actions your government has taken."
Blinken appears to have impressed his boss. "I'm very proud of the secretary of state," Biden said after the testy talks in Anchorage.
A similar effort with allies is underway in Europe with respect to Russia.
Blinken will leave Monday for Brussels for talks with NATO and European Union offici...
An intelligence expert has questioned if police are doing enough to screen right-wing extremists on social media.
The police promised they would keep an eye out for extremist activity on known websites after the Christchurch mosque attacks two years ago.
Expert Paul Buchanan told The Weekend Collective a specialist unit was set up, yet it took a public tip for them to find a man who made threats to the mosques 10 days ago.
"I mean, it wasn't like he was being secretive and encrypted, he was on these public bulletin boards.
"One has to wonder if Police are taking the issue of white supremacy as seriously they should be."
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Queenstown's Mayor is struggling with the injustice of tourist operators being denied a bailout.
Jim Boult says dairy farmers would've had Government assistance a long time ago, but tourist businesses are treated differently.
He told The Weekend Collective they've asked the Government for a trans-Tasman bubble after no luck seeking an assistance package.
"If this was the dairy industry and we couldn't export milk powder for two years, I don't think they'd kill off the herd and start a new one when we're able to start exporting again, and effectively that's sort of what's happening in the tourism industry."
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The Emergency Management Minister says there are clearly things to sort out, following Friday's earthquakes and tsunami alerts.
Major quakes off the East Cape and Kermadec Islands forced mass evacuations in parts of the east and west coasts of the North Island.
Minister Kiri Allan says most people heeded the warnings and did the right thing.
But she told the Weekend Collective there are some things she'll be talking through with officials first thing tomorrow morning.
"They'll be obviously some robust discussion. Officials have been meeting with groups over the weekend.
"I've got questions, I'm sure they do too, and we will be working through those questions."
Those questions include if the signals were received at the right time and if they reached the right people.
Allan says that there have been no reports of significant damage caused by the initial earthquake.
More than 100 aftershocks of magnitude 4 or higher have been recorded in the Kermadec Islands and East Cape since Friday morning.
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A vaccine expert says most New Zealanders will accept a Covid-19 vaccine when they have the information they need.
The Government has revealed it's actively involved in international discussions about vaccine passports -- and expects the passports to be in place by this time next year.
But it's still unclear how many people will take up Covid vaccines, when it become available to the New Zealand public later this year.
Auckland University vaccinologist Helen Petousis-Harris told The Weekend Collective most people will get the jabs, if they're given the right information.
"There's a lot of people who just like to wait and see how it goes.
"The people who really don't want to get it and are never going to get it are quite a small group."
The vaccination roll-out took another step forward this week, with Bay of Plenty essential workers getting their first jabs.
The Government also this week confirmed that healthcare workers will be the next group to get vaccinated, after the families of border workers.
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ACT Party leader David Seymour has attacked the government's Covid-19 response.
Auckland moved to Alert Level Three this morning, while the rest of the country moved to Level Two.
It comes after a new case - a 21-year-old man in South Auckland - was announced last night. He was meant to be self-isolation but had gone to tertiary and the gym while infectious.
Seymour says the government has been too easy on people who flout rules around self isolation.
He told The Weekend Collective that we need to get tougher with people who break the rules.
"Someone who deliberately breaks the rules should have tougher penalties.
"I think repeat offenders should face jail time."
Seymour adds that people who flout the rules in Taiwan are fined.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern last night told media this was "frustrating" and the person was not following the rules.
But she warned against a pile on, as that might deter others from getting a Covid-19 test.
She did, however, call on New Zealanders to follow the rules "on behalf of everyone".
Seymour agrees, saying that people "getting out the pitchforks" would put people off getting tested.
He says that what's "truly unforgivable" here is that the country's defences against Covid-19 have not changed since the August lockdown.
"The Government is being paid quite a lot by taxpayers right now to have a sophisticated defence against this thing."
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It's essential for the whole of Auckland to go to alert level 3 according to one epidemiologist.
Auckland went to level 3 this morning, while the rest of the country went to level 2.
Otago University epidemiologist Micheal Baker told The Weekend Collective it's important to prevent the spread of the virus no matter where in the country you are.
He says that while it wasn't impossible to have small scale borders within Auckland, it wasn't safe enough.
"The trouble is we know that the people move a huge amount across Auckland. There will be people who live in the northern half of the city who cross the Harbour Bridge every day and work in South Auckland, and vice-versa."
The lockdown was also deemed necessary as the case announced last night - Case M - was a 21-year-old man who had not been self-isolating, including going to a gym after getting his Covid test.
However, Baker says that punishment is not the best way to go about making people follow rules.
"I think the law is very strong if it's needed, but the hope always is to promote voluntary behaviour."
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A law expert has condemned Australia's revoking of the passport of a woman accused of being a terrorist.
Suhayra Aden was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia when she was six.
She was arrested at the Turkish border alongside her two children and was accused of being affiliated with Islamic State.
International Law expert Al Gillespie told The Weekend Collective that Australia revoking her passport is not on.
"The difficulty you've got here is where you've got negotiations going on between two countries over how to deal with it, and then one country does the dirty on the other, that's always bad faith."
He says Morrison is playing to his base with these types of actions, and is doing this for political reasons.
"The one thing the Australians are very good at, and Scott Morrison in particular, is reading into polls, and there's strong support for this kind of action in Australia.
"And it's not with regards to this one person. You can also see it with the deportation of hundreds of other Kiwis who have served time over in Australia."
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National is calling for the Government to move Covid-19 quarantine and managed isolation facilities away from central Auckland as a way to safeguard New Zealand largest city from future lockdowns.
Chris Bishop, the party's spokesman for Covid-19 response, says this could be in the form of a purpose-built facility on the outskirts of Auckland.
There are currently 5583 people in managed isolation facilities and 76 in quarantine, many are housed in facilities within the Auckland CBD.
Hotels in the central city currently being used for MIQ are the Pullman, Stamford Plaza, Rydges, M Social and the Grand Millennium.
The National Party's spokesman for Covid-19 response Chris Bishop. Photo / NZME
"The recent Pullman hotel cases showed just how much risk Auckland is at of another community outbreak because of the ingrained problems with MIQ," Bishop says.
"New Zealand can't afford to keep yo-yoing in and out of lockdown and Auckland's economy can't afford to keep bleeding more than $30 million per day."
Bishop said the Victoria government was currently planning a cabin-style hub outside Melbourne's CBD to replace its MIQ hotels following a recent outbreak that led to a lockdown.
"This facility will likely be a village of single-storey pre-fabricated structures with separate ventilation systems for each room. Returnees share the facility but not the same roof," he said.
"Having ample fresh air reduces the risk of airborne transmission among returnees, while the isolated location makes it harder for the virus to find its way into heavily-populated urban areas where it can spread faster."
National believes a similar facility should be built on vacant land near Auckland Airport, Bishop says and is calling for urgent investigations to begin.
The cost could be covered by contributions from the Government, private sector, and payments by returning New Zealanders."A purpose-built facility may prove expensive but its cost will be dwarfed by the economic hit of putting Auckland into more lockdowns," Bishop said.
"The Government should act now to get ahead of the problem before another Covid-19 outbreak forces yet another lockdown. We have had more than enough wake-up calls."
Professors of Public Health at the University of Otago Nick Wilson and Michael Baker had called for the closure of MIQ facilities in Auckland "to protect such a key economic centre" and eliminate shared-space use in the facilities.
"It's clear that New Zealand will need MIQ facilities for some time to come with mass vaccination unlikely until the end of the year," Bishop says.
"We have done well to keep Covid-19 from taking hold but this has come at great cost. Maintaining this effort will require innovative thinking, particularly as the virus mutates.
Bishop said if done right, the new facility could be converted into housing once it has finished serving its initial purpose.
For 13 years, lawyer Megyn Kelly was one of Fox News' most prominent hosts, including hosting the primetime news show The Kelly File for just over three years.
She left in early-2017 after tense moments for Donald Trump on the election campaign pushed her further into the global spotlight.
After speaking out on sexual harassment at Fox and a tenure with NBC, Kelly now hosts her own podcast - The Megyn Kelly Show
In a wide-ranging discussion with The Weekend Collective, Kelly discussed the freedom of getting her podcast, her time with Fox, the pros and cons of working there, her conflict with Trump, the insurrection on Capitol Hill, the impeachment trial, and the future of the Republican Party.
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New data suggests that it may be seven years before the world is normal again after Covid.
The research from Bloomberg says that because of unexpected disruptions the timeline is hard to pin down exactly.
Another factor to consider is that different countries will take different amounts of time to gain herd immunity.
The US, for example, is predicted to have herd immunity just in time for the New Year 2022.
Israel meanwhile is expected to have 75 percent coverage within months.
Otago University epidemiologist Micheal Baker told The Weekend Collective that the report may have failed to consider some factors.
"[One] thing that I think the Bloomberg paper is pessimistic about, it didn't factor in the massive upscaling that is occurring with production all around the world."
He says that vaccines need to be distributed evenly to prevent the pandemic dragging on.
"We have new tools coming out with vaccines that we know can protect populations, and there is a bit of a vaccine nationalism coming in."
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The Government's handling of managed isolation and visa processes has been described as "inconsistent".
A last-minute flip by managed isolation officials has given hope too the family of a New Zealand man stuck in Japan with brain cancer.
46-year-old Trev Ponting had his application for emergency spots in MIQ turned down on Friday.
But after media interest in his case, his family found out last night that the decision has been reversed.
The same day the story was made public, the Government prevented the Le Laperouse cruise ship from docking.
It was approved to operate sub-Antarctic tours with only New Zealand passengers, but it began making its way here before the crew's visas were approved, and 61 out of 90 have been declined twice.
Earlier in the week, Australian kids group The Wiggles were granted MIQ spots, after failing to secure them before selling out multiple shows across New Zealand in a tour coming this March.
Former National Party minister turned public policy advisor Steven Joyce told The Weekend Collective that some of the decisions have been ad-hoc and tone-deaf.
"If it gets publicity, then it tends to get overturned. It seems that the answer is kick up the public fuss."
He says that the Government appears to be acting very reactively to issues at the border, and given that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said the border will be closed for the rest of 2021, he wants to see improvements to the system.
"I know stacks and stacks of companies all over the country who desperately need key people in the country to do particular work," citing Ports of Auckland as one.
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Contradicting his secretary of state and other top officials, President Donald Trump on Saturday suggested without evidence that China — not Russia — may be behind the cyber espionage operation against the United States and tried to minimize its impact.
In his first comments on the breach, Trump scoffed at the focus on the Kremlin and downplayed the intrusions, which the nation's cybersecurity agency has warned posed a "grave" risk to government and private networks.
"The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality. I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control," Trump tweeted. He also claimed the media are "petrified" of "discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!)."
There is no evidence to suggest that is the case. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said late Friday that Russia was "pretty clearly" behind the operation against the United States.
"This was a very significant effort and I think it's the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity," Pompeo said in the interview with radio talk show host Mark Levin.
Officials at the White House had been prepared to put out a statement Friday afternoon that accused Russia of being "the main actor" in the hack, but were told at the last minute to stand down, according to one U.S. official familiar with the conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
It is not clear whether Pompeo got that message before his interview, but officials are now scrambling to figure out how to square the disparate accounts. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the statement or the basis of Trump's claims. The State Department also did not respond to questions about Pompeo's remarks.
Throughout his presidency, Trump has refused to blame Russia for well-documented hostilities, including its interference in the 2016 election to help him get elected. He blamed his predecessor, Barack Obama, for Russia's annexation of Crimea, has endorsed allowing Russia to return to the G-7 group of nations and has never taken the country to task for allegedly putting bounties on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
Pompeo in the interview said the government was still "unpacking" the cyberespionage operation and some of it would likely remain classified.
"But suffice it to say there was a significant effort to use a piece of third-party software to essentially embed code inside of U.S. government systems and it now appears systems of private companies and companies and governments across the world as well," he said.
Though Pompeo was the first Trump administration official to publicly blame Russia for the intrusion, cybersecurity experts and other U.S. officials have been clear over the past week that the operation appears to be the work of Russia. There has been no credible suggestion that any other country — including China — is responsible.
Democrats in Congress who have received classified briefings have also affirmed publicly that Russia, which in 2014 hacked the State Department and interfered through hacking in the 2016 presidential election, was behind it.
It's not clear exactly what the hackers were seeking, but experts say it could include nuclear secrets, blueprints for advanced weaponry, COVID-19 vaccine-related research and information for dossiers on government and industry leaders.
Russia has said it had "nothing to do" with the hacking.
While Trump downplayed the impact of the hacks, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has said it compromised federal agencies as well as "critical infrastructure." Homeland Security, the agency's parent department, defines such infrastructure as any "vital" assets to the U.S. or its economy, a broad category that could include power plants and financial institutions.
One U.S. official, speaking Thursday on condition of anonymity to discuss a matter that is under investigation, described the hac...
The Government has been criticised for leaving two major announcements to the week before Christmas.
On Thursday, the Government announced it is buying the land at Ihumātao from Fletchers for $30 million under a deal that will see it used for some housing – and could eventually see it passed into the ownership of tangata whenua.
Then on Friday, a prepared by the COVID-19 Surveillance and Testing Strategy advisory group, co-chaired by Heather Simpson and Sir Brian Roche, slated the Ministry of Health for bad communication around the criteria for testing, and keeping ministers in the dark about concerns raised by other government departments.
Former Minister Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective that all Governments do it, but this year was particularly bad with the Covid report and the Ihumātao decision.
He says that they held the Covid report until this week, and it looks like media management in its highest form.
"Particularly with the Covid issue as it's flared up again in Australia right now, we need to be absolutely certain that we've got the best systems in place in New Zealand to manage this, and I think delaying the report gives a little bit of anxiety that perhaps we don't."
He says both of these issues were live all year and they should have come out earlier.
Dunne agreed that the Covid report, which was finished several months ago, should have been released much earlier.
"I think particularly when the Prime Minister herself said she had never taken politicos into account when making any decision on Covid. They acted politically."
He says that releasing the Ihumātao deal this week also raises the suspicions about potential consequences.
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The hopes of millions of Britons that Covid-19 restrictions would be eased over Christmas were dashed on Saturday, after scientists warned a new strain of the virus is spreading more quickly than others.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a series of stricter coronavirus restrictions, tightening rules around household mixing that were due to be relaxed over Christmas in England, while leaders in Scotland and Wales also introduced more stringent measures. The UK has among the highest Covid death rates in Europe, with more than 67,000 fatalities, and over 2 million cases.
The PM broke the news that London, and large parts of southern and eastern England, where cases are surging, will enter Tier 4 restrictions, similar to a lockdown, on Sunday.
"The spread is being driven by the new variant of the virus," Johnson said in a hastily called press conference. "It appears to spread more easily and may be up to 70% more transmissable than the earlier strain."
England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, warned Saturday that a newly identified variant of Covid-19 "can spread more quickly" than previous strains of the virus.
"This is now spreading very fast," Johnson warned. "It is with a very heavy heart that I say we cannot continue with Christmas as planned."
Johnson outlined that in Tier 4 areas under the toughest restrictions, there will be no possibility for household mixing over Christmas. In areas under lower alert levels in England, Scotland and Wales, mixing will now be permitted only on Christmas Day.
Alert Level 4 restrictions will be brought forward to apply across Wales from midnight, the country's First Minister Mark Drakeford announced Saturday, meaning that "festive bubbles" can be formed only on Christmas Day, PA Media reported. Under Alert Level 4, people must stay at home except for very limited purposes, and must not meet other households or people they do not live with, while many businesses are required to close.
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon on Saturday said a strict travel ban would be implemented throughout the Christmas period north of the border, warning that people from Scotland should not visit other parts of the UK, and vice versa.
"In order to reduce the risk of more of the coronavirus strain being imported into Scotland, we intend to maintain a strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK," Sturgeon said.
Meanwhile, the toughest level of coronavirus restrictions will be applied to all of mainland Scotland for three weeks from December 26, she added.
No changes in restrictions in Northern Ireland, which is set to go into lockdown on Boxing Day, were announced.
Critics lambast Johnson's handling of pandemic
As recently as this week, Johnson reiterated his pledge to relax rules over the Christmas period, allowing up to three households to mix for five days. But as of Saturday, the entire nation is being asked not to travel and those under the highest level of restrictions, will not be allowed to travel abroad except for work purposes.
Keir Starmer, leader of the opposition Labour Party, criticized the government's handling of the crisis, saying: "Many people will be heartbroken by the news that their Christmas plans are being ripped up.
"I'm really frustrated because I raised this with the Prime Minister on Wednesday, and he dismissed that. He went on to tell people to have a 'merry little Christmas,' only three days later, to rip up their plans," he said on Sky News.
Experts urgently seek clarity on new strain of the virus
According to Whitty, the new variant is responsible for 60% of infections in London, which have nearly doubled in the last week.
Earlier, he said "urgent work" is underway to establish whether the new strain, prevalent in the southeast of England, can cause a higher mortality rate.
"There is no current evidence to suggest the new strain causes a higher mortality rate or that it affects vaccines and treatments although urgent work is underw...
US Covid-19 hospitalizations hit a record high for the seventh day in a row Saturday with 108,487 patients in hospitals around the country, according to the Covid Tracking Project.
And the number of Covid-19 cases reported in the United States reached more than 16 million after the country added 1 million cases in just four days, according to Johns Hopkins University data.
It took the nation more than eight months to reach 8 million cases but less than two months to double that, as the number of new cases continues to soar.
The record hospitalizations come as a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee voted Saturday to recommend the Pfizer and BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for patients 16 and older.
CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield must accept the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices' (ACIP) recommendation before vaccinations can begin. That is expected to happen within hours.
The vaccine couldn't come at a more dire moment.
On Friday, as the US Food and Drug Administration authorized the Pfizer vaccine for emergency use, the US recorded more than 3,300 Covid-19 deaths -- the most ever in one day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. More than 231,700 new cases were reported, another pandemic high.
There have been more than 100,000 Covid-19 patients in hospitals every day since December 2.
Dr. Peter Szilagyi, a pediatrician at the University of California Los Angeles and a member of the CDC's advisory committee, said he voted in favor of the vaccine "because of the clear evidence of its efficacy/safety profile and benefit/risk profile, based on our evidence and policy framework."
"I know we're going to have very tough and hard times ahead because of the surge and a limited vaccine supply," Szilagyi said immediately following the committee's vote. "But I am really hopeful that this is the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic."
Vaccines will be delivered to 145 facilities on Monday
The emergency use authorization (EUA) is a "significant milestone," FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said in a statement Friday. He said it comes after an "open and transparent review process that included input from independent scientific and public health experts and a thorough evaluation by the agency's career scientists."
An EUA stops short of a full approval. Pfizer would have to file a separate application for its vaccine to be fully licensed by the FDA.
But the EUA "holds the promise to alter the course of this pandemic in the United States," said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research.
Once the vaccines leave Pfizer's Kalamazoo facility, they'll be bound for 636 locations across the country, Gen. Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of the federal government's vaccine initiative Operation Warp Speed, said in a news conference Saturday.
"We expect 145 sites across all the states to receive the vaccine on Monday, another 425 sites on Tuesday, and the final 66 sites on Wednesday, which will complete the initial delivery of the Pfizer orders for the vaccine," Perna added.
But it will be months before most Americans will get one. Advisers to the CDC have recommended health care workers and long-term care facility residents be first in line.
In a news conference Saturday morning, Hahn praised FDA scientists working around the clock to review the vaccine.
"I will absolutely take this Covid-19 vaccine pending availability and distribution," he said, "because I have complete trust and confidence in the FDA's career staff's evaluation."
"Science and data guided the FDA's decision," he said.
That said, the FDA's "work evaluating the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine does not end with this authorization," Hahn told reporters.
Additional review is needed, and a full approval is not expected for months.
Of course, Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine is just one of those in development. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar told ABC News on Friday that about...
At the same time Speaker Trevor Mallard was being sued for defamation, he changed the rules so other MPs could also have theirs covered by the taxpayer without disclosing it publicly.
National and Act leaders yesterday said they no longer had confidence in the Speaker after he revealed he'd cost the taxpayer more than $330,600 settling a case after incorrectly calling a former Parliamentary staffer a rapist.
It has also now come to light that the rules for when MPs can claim legal costs when they're being sued were expanded by the Speaker in August so damages and settlements can come from the public purse.
Those applications have to be signed off by the party leader, the Speaker and chief executive of Parliamentary Service.
It brings the rules for ordinary MPs in line with ministers; however, only ministers are subject to public disclosure rules under the Official Information Act. Other MPs and Parliamentary Services are exempt from having to disclose when legal costs are claimed.
Mallard's case was handled by Deputy Speaker Anne Tolley and it was considered that because the Speaker is the Minister responsible for Parliamentary Services, the same rules should apply as for ministers.
The process for Mallard's legal costs was signed off by Tolley rather than Cabinet.
Former Attorney-General Chris Finlayson told The Weekend Collective that it doesn't seem that Mallard has done any harm here.
"Most of the work on this issue was done by the Anne Tolley, so I don't think that Mr Mallard altered the rules to suit himself."
He says it would be helpful to clarify what Tolley's role was.
On the ongoing issues, which has sparked calls for Mallard to go, Finlayson says that those calls from National and ACT are a "non-issue".
"Labour's the majority in the House, and any vote of no confidence will be sort of ritualistic rubbish."
He says that MPs can make comments under Parliamentary privilege, but any comments made outside of the Chamber leave the MP open to being sued.
"I don't have a lot of patience for MPs who leave the Chamber and make all sorts of wild allegations against people. And if people sue them for defamation, then it's their bad luck."
The delays on a Cook Islands travel bubble is causing a headache for the country.
Quarantine-free travel between our two countries is hoped to be set up by the end of March next year.
Before the pandemic more than 160-thousand people visited the island each year - most of them Kiwis.
The head of the Cook Islands Chamber of Commerce and Private Sector says the wait is frustrating.
Fletcher Melvin told The Weekend Collective they're desperate for tourism to return.
"The disappointing part of this is we still don't have a firm date and from what we can see there's no real reason around it," noting that the country remains Covid free.
Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says we're getting ready to open up - but there're still some logistics and outbreak planning matters to be ticked off.
He says that includes arrangements with airlines and airports.
"One of the issues we're working through with the airlines now is making sure that any air crews working in safe travel zones are segregated from air crews working in the hot zones if you like."
There is concern over growing number of firearms incidents, after a dispute ended in a firearm being discharged at a crowded Auckland night spot.
A gun was fired at Dr Rudi's Rooftop Bar in the Viaduct just before 3 this morning.
Police received reports of an altercation after people who were asked to leave the bar became annoyed.
The group became aggressive, with one person pulling out a gun and firing a shot into the ceiling of the foyer.
Police Association president Chris Cahill told The Weekend Collective criminals began arming themselves years ago.
"First they arm themselves, then they start using them against each other. Then they use them against the Police - we saw the worst of that when we lost Matthew Hunt earlier this year - and then the public get caught in the middle of it, and last night was an example of that."
No arrests have been made in relation to the incident yet.
It comes after a police dog was shot in Northland earlier this week, while a shooting was reported at an Auckland strip club two weeks ago.
Cahill says that statistics support the fact that there is an increase in firearm-related incidents.
He says that the gun buyback didn't cover pistols, but it doesn't mean that the buyback didn't work.
"Criminals steal them from legitimate firearms owners."
Cahill wants to see a gun register, which has passed through Parliament, come into force. He says that when a register came into effect in other countries such as Australia, the number of thefts dropped.
"People know the guns are registered to them, know they're responsible for them, and they lock them away and secure them better."
LISTEN ABOVE
It's a waiting game to see how Iran reacts to the killing of one of that country's leading scientists.
Iran's blamed Israel for the slaying of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was gunned down in a car near Tehran on Friday.
His death has raised fears of reignited tensions across the Middle East.
Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman says it plays into the wider relations of the Iran and the US.
He told The Weekend Collective Iran only became more defiant when the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.
"I can't see how this action of assassinating of their top nuclear scientist will make them any less defiant."
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The opening day of Parliament generated a number of headlines, as the Government announced plans for a climate emergency, Jacinda Ardern and Judith Collins clashed on house prices, and Ibrahim Omer delivered a powerful maiden speech.
However, it was also the first day of the new Māori Party, and their two MPs have walked out of the House in protest during Parliament's Address and Reply debate.
Under the rules, party leaders with more than six MPs get 30 minutes to speak and smaller parties only get the chance if time allows before the House rises at five.
However, because they are new MPs, if they spoke in the Address and Reply debate it would constitute their maiden speech, which are not scheduled until at least next week.
Co-leader Rawiri Waititi tried to secure a speaking slot today based on a standing order that such decisions not discriminate against a minority party.
He told reporters he and co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer walked out after being blocked by Speaker Trevor Mallard.
Former minister Peter Dunne says that the whole situation seemed stage-managed.
"It's a sign of how they are going to operate in Parliament."
Dunne says Mallard acted correctly based on the standing orders, but this situation also highlights that there is this rare situation where a party leader also happens to be a new MP.
He says that the Maori Party can play to a very specific constituency, more so than other parties, so they don't have to worry about a
"I think what you're going to see from them over the last three years, is nothing too nuanced but a very blunt appeal about Maori sentimentalism and that Maori base of support to secure their future."
Dunne says the Pakeha system will have to figure out a way of coping, and the more it behaves as it did this week, they will be portrayed as ganging up against the minor party.
with text from RNZ
Another referendum on cannabis is being called for - but this time it's to decriminalise it, not legalise it.
Wellington Central Young Greens activist Mathew Bouma has recently put out a citizen-initiated referendum asking whether New Zealand should decriminalise the possession of cannabis for personal use.
He told Tim Roxborogh believes many people would feel more comfortable with this, than the full blown legalisation we voted on at the election.
"Under a legalisation model, if it's legal, it's commercialised really, so companies can sell it, they can profit of it, it's all above board.
"But what decriminalisation means is you won't be charged for possession."
The proposal is open for comments on the proposed wording until February 1.
House of Representatives Clerk David Wilson and Bouma must then agree on final wording, and the issue will go to a referendum if Bouma can collect valid signatures from at least one-tenth of the country's 3.55 million electors - 355,000 people - within 12 months.
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Act's leader David Seymour is fighting back over plans from Labour to repeal the three strikes law.
Under the 10-year-old law, a person who has three warnings for serious violent, sexual or drugs offending can be sentenced to the maximum jail time without parole.
Not only are they hoping to change the laws, but speaking to TVNZ, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi confirmed that they have sought advice to see if people who are currently on their second or third strike could be re-sentenced.
"We do want the law gone, it hasn't made any meaningful difference to people being safer."
However, Seymour told Tim Beveridge that this would be an early Christmas present from Labour for offenders.
"Why you'd want to give a break to serious violent and sexual offenders - but only if they commit another crime - is beyond me."
He says that the best thing for victims to keep people who commit three crimes incapcitated.
Seymour says that it is too early to say if the law has worked or not, as it takes serious offenders a long time to commit a crime, be sentenced, serve that sentence, and then commit an offence again.
"It takes a few more years from here until you start seeing people go away for a long time."
He says that he is in favour of reducing the prison population, but those who should be incarcerated is those serious offenders.
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President Donald Trump participated in his final Group of 20 summit on Saturday by tweeting throughout the opening session and skipping a special side-conference focused on the coronavirus pandemic.
It was a fitting end to Trump's career in global multilateralism, which he has expressed his displeasure for since his first group summit -- a G7 meeting held cliffside in Sicily -- resulted in the feeling he was being ganged up upon by other world leaders.
It was unclear all week whether Trump would even be present for this year's G20, which is being held virtually because of the pandemic. But on Friday evening, the White House released a schedule confirming his participation.
When the event began, Trump was among the nearly two-dozen world leaders who appeared via video-conference, beaming in from the White House situation room.
But only 13 minutes after the scheduled 8 a.m. ET, start time, Trump was sending tweets focused on his efforts to overturn the results of the US presidential election.
By 10 a.m. ET, the President had departed the White House on his way to his namesake golf club outside Washington, DC.
He was there when the "side event on Pandemic Preparedness" got underway, featuring remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and several other world leaders. Trump did not participate.
He is due to join another session of the G20 on Sunday morning, according to the White House schedule. But that is likely the last time Trump will meet in a summit setting with other world leaders as the end of his presidency nears.
Trump's influence on the global stage is at a low ebb after losing the election. Most of the other G20 leaders have congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on his victory, with a notable exception in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
There had not been high expectations for this year's G20, despite a pandemic that will require global efforts to contain the virus. That is partly down to the absence of American leadership, but other world leaders have also struggled to corral their counterparts into a joint effort to combat Covid-19.
Trump has never been partial to summit meetings, even when they were not held virtually. He departed a G7 meeting in Canada early and rescinded his signature on its final communique. Ahead of last year's G7 in Biarritz, France, he asked his aides whether it was really necessary to attend.
It was Trump's turn to host the G7 this year, but the pandemic foiled plans to host leaders in the United States. At one point, Trump raised the prospect of convening the G7 after the election, but officials say there are no plans in place now to arrange a meeting before the G7 presidency transfers to the United Kingdom in January.
text by Kevin Liptak, CNN
National Party leader Judith Collins hopes her party's leakers are long gone.
Former Prime Minister John Key warned members at the party's Annual General Meeting yesterday, in a speech on what the Party
"Here is my very simple advice to those who like to leak to the media – if you can't quit your leaking, here's a clue: quit the party."
"The public look at it and say 'for goodness sake, if they can't run their own party, how on earth will they run a country'."
He told MPs that it was okay to disagree and to debate ideas but he said that should be done privately.
"We shouldn't do it by going behind people's backs."
Collins told Tim Beveridge that people lapped up the speech and agreed with his sentiment about leakers.
However, she told the Weekend Collective she's not going on a hunt for them.
"I haven't seen anything myself of any importance leaked since the election, and I hope that whoever it was is gone."
A speech that was less well-received was that from National Party president Peter Goodfellow, who compared the 1pm press conference as being like "gospel", and says that democracy was replaced by tyranny.
Collins says that Goodfellow was just expressing his view, and that National did struggle to get air time.
"It's really hard to have the Prime Minister up every day at 1pm talking about what's happening."
She says that there were similar complaints after the Christchurch earthquake, when John Key was on the news regularly after the disaster.
Collins says that it was a "surprisingly good mood" at the AGM, with people more accepting of the defeat than they were in 2002 when she and Key both entered Parliament, and more aware of what needs to be done to right the ship before the 2023 election.
She says that the party needs to think forward and more boldly than the Labour Party.
Fervent supporters of President Donald Trump rallied in Washington on Saturday behind his spurious claim of a stolen election and swarmed his motorcade when he detoured for a drive-by on his way out of town.
"I just want to keep up his spirits and let him know we support him," one loyalist, Anthony Whittaker of Winchester, Virginia, said from outside the Supreme Court, where a few thousand assembled after a march along Pennsylvania Avenue from Freedom Plaza, near the White House.
A week after Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election, demonstrations in support of Trump took place in other cities. Fury at the prospect of a transfer of executive power showed no signs of abating, taking a cue the president's unrelenting assertion of victory in a race he actually lost.
A broad coalition of top government and industry officials has declared that the Nov. 3 voting and the following count unfolded smoothly with no more than the usual minor hiccups — "the most secure in American history," they said, repudiating Trump's efforts to undermine the integrity of the contest.
In Delray Beach, Florida, several hundred people marched, some carrying signs reading "Count every vote" and "We cannot live under a Marxist government." In Lansing, Michigan, protesters gathered at the Capitol to hear speakers cast doubt on results that showed Biden winning the state by more than 140,000 votes. Phoenix police estimated 1,500 people gathered outside the Arizona Capitol to protest Biden's narrow victory in the state.
The crowd in Washington was beginning to gather Saturday morning when cheers rang out as Trump's limousine neared Freedom Plaza. People lined both sides of the street, some standing just a few feet away from Trump's vehicle. Others showed their enthusiasm by running along with the caravan.
They chanted "USA, USA" and "four more years," and many carried American flags and signs to show their displeasure with the vote tally. After making the short detour for the slow drive around the site, the motorcade headed to the president's Virginia golf club.
Among the speakers was a Georgia Republican newly elected to the U.S. House. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who has expressed racist views and support for QAnon conspiracy theories, urged people to march peacefully toward the Supreme Court.
The marchers included members of the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group known for street brawling with ideological opponents at political rallies.
The march was largely peaceful during the day before turning tense at night, with multiple confrontations as small groups of Trump supporters attempted to enter the area around Black Lives Matter Plaza, about a block from the White House, where several hundred anti-Trump demonstrators had gathered.
In a pattern that kept repeating itself, those Trump supporters who approached the area were harassed, doused with water and saw their MAGA hats and pro-Trump flags snatched and burned, amid cheers. As night fell, multiple police lines kept the two sides apart. By early evening, police had arrested at least 10, including four on firearms charges, according to both The Washington Post and WTOP.
Videos posted on social media showed some demonstrators and counterdemonstrators trading shoves, punches and slaps. A man with a bullhorn yelling "Get out of here!" was shoved and pushed to the street by a man who was then surrounded by several people and shoved and punched until he fell face first into the street. Bloody and dazed, he was picked up and walked to a police officer.
The "Million MAGA March" was heavily promoted on social media, raising concerns that it could spark conflict with anti-Trump demonstrators, who have gathered near the White House in Black Lives Matter Plaza for weeks.
In preparation, police closed off wide swaths of downtown, where many stores and offices have been boarded up since Election Day. Chris Rodriguez, director of the city's Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency, said the...
Public health experts argue mandatory rules around mask-wearing will help counter New Zealanders' complacency about Covid-19.
Following the community case in Auckland last week, the government plans to make it compulsory to wear masks on public transport in the city, and all domestic flights.
Public health expert Michael Baker told Tim Beverage mandatory mask use would be a visual reminder to people we're not out of the woods yet.
"If we look back over the last four months, we've had one border failure every two weeks over that period.
"It does remind us that we do want to avoid a repeat of that August situation in Auckland."
Baker says masks will also enable society to keep functioning, when there are small outbreaks like the one seen last week.
He says Taiwan made face masks mandatory even though they haven't had any cases for 200 days now as a way of preventing an outbreak.
He says they are one of the limited tools that the public has to prevent themselves catching the virus.
Baker says that the alert level system could use more nuance.
"When we have a heightened concern as we've had in Auckland, rather than telling everyone they have to stay home as that's tough on businesses, we can say 'carry on, but let's use masks on public transport, and if the risk is higher, than schools, workplaces and meeting places'."
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President-elect Joe Biden's victory was celebrated by civil rights activists and Black leaders who warned that a tough road lies ahead to address America's persistent inequalities and the racial division that Donald Trump fuelled during his presidency.
Biden will take office in January as the nation confronts a series of crises that have taken a disproportionate toll on Black Americans and people of colour, including the pandemic and resulting job losses. Many cities saw protests against racial injustice during a summer of unrest.
During a contentious campaign against Trump, Biden made explicit appeals for the support of Black voters. He pledged to unify the country, acknowledged systemic racism, criticized his rival for stoking division and picked Kamala Harris as his running mate, making her the first Black woman on a major party's presidential ticket. While those were all welcomed steps, Black leaders and activists say they will keep pushing the incoming administration to do more.
"This is just the beginning of change and the election of any one administration does not mean the work is done," said civil rights leader Martin Luther King III, who noted the vision of his father, Martin Luther King Jr., has yet to be fully realized in America, 57 years after he delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech. "Dad and Mom wanted to eradicate poverty, racism and violence from our society and that will take a monumental effort. A Biden-Harris administration has to constantly be challenged and pushed to move."
Black voters powered Biden's successful campaign, particularly in critical states like Michigan, Wisconsin and Georgia. Nine in 10 Black voters nationwide supported him, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of more than 110,000 voters across the country.
"Vice President Biden understands that we are fully formed American citizens who deserve to have full access to all the parts of progress in the United States," said Stacey Abrams, a voting rights activist and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate. "He's been willing to commit not only to plans, but he's been willing to take responsibility for how those plans get lived out. … I want to see proper access to opportunity and I think fundamentally that is the wish, that is the hope, and that is the deserved right of every Black person in this country."
Latino voters supported Biden over Trump, 63% to 35%, according to the survey. White voters, who made up roughly three-quarters of the electorate, were more likely to support Trump, 55% vs. 43% for Biden.
More than 74 million Americans voted for Biden, more than any other presidential candidate in history. But some Black political strategists and activists noted the 70 million votes for Trump, suggesting that some of those Trump supporters at a minimum turned a blind eye to the racism he demonstrated.
"We have been lullabied for so long in this country that when you have somebody like President Donald J. Trump come along and be so blatant with his racism, it's a shock to the senses," said Nina Turner, a Black progressive and former Ohio state senator. "But this country should not be deluded that it's just Trump, it's millions of people. A lot of white liberals, they're very comfortable with pointing the finger at President Trump. But they need to look in the mirror...because he is just a reflection of what is already a reality in this country."
While Biden enjoyed strong support from Black voters, there was also frustration about the pressure placed on their communities to deliver a victory.
African Americans, who are the Democratic Party's most loyal voting bloc, face a battle for racial progress in a nation whose very founding embraced racist, predatory systems that continue to disparately harm Black people today.
And America has yet to fully reckon with that racist past, which left generations of Black Americans struggling to achieve the American dream or to overcome the effects of Trump's election in 2016, which...
President Donald Trump has repeatedly said there's one place he wants to determine the outcome of the presidential election: the U.S. Supreme Court. But he may have a difficult time ever getting there.
The Associated Press called the presidential race for Joe Biden on Saturday morning. Trump, however, has over the last few days leaned in to the idea that the high court should get involved in the election as it did in 2000, and there were no signs Saturday he was ready to concede.
"Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated," Trump said in a statement.
In 2000, the Supreme Court effectively settled the contested election for President George W. Bush in a 5-4 decision that split the court's liberals and conservatives. Today, six members of the court are conservatives, including three nominated by Trump. But this year's election seems to be shaping up very differently from 2000, when Florida's electoral votes delivered the presidency to Bush.
Then, Bush led in Florida and went to court to stop a recount. Trump has suggested a strategy that would focus on multiple states where the winning margins appear to be slim. But to overturn the election result, Trump would appear to have to persuade courts, including perhaps the Supreme Court to set aside votes in two or more states.
Chief Justice John Roberts, for his part, is not likely to want the election to come down to himself and his colleagues. Roberts, who was not on the court for Bush v. Gore in 2000 but was a lawyer for Bush, has often tried to distance the court from the political branches of government and the politics he thinks could hurt the court's reputation.
It's also not clear what legal issues might cause the justices to step in. Trump has made repeated, unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. On Saturday, Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani pressed claims that so-called poll watchers, who observe as ballots are counted, were not allowed to get close enough to witness counting.
Still, Trump has focused on the high court. In the early morning hours following Election Day he said: "We'll be going to the U.S. Supreme Court — we want all voting to stop." And on Thursday, as Biden inched closer to the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House, Trump again told Americans, "It's going to end up, perhaps, at the highest court in the land, we'll see." On Twitter too he urged, "U.S. Supreme Court should decide!"
There is currently one election case at the Supreme Court and it involves a Republican appeal to exclude ballots that arrived after Election Day in Pennsylvania. But whether or not those ballots ultimately are counted seems irrelevant.
Ballots received after 8 p.m. on Election Day were a small fragment of the total vote count. Across Pennsylvania, counties reported receiving under 8,000 late mail-in ballots, though some were still assessing how many they had. Biden's lead over Trump by Saturday afternoon was more than 30,000 votes.
Still, Trump's campaign is trying to intervene in the case, an appeal of a decision by Pennsylvania's highest court to allow three extra days for the receipt and counting of mailed ballots. Because the case is ongoing, those ballots are being separated but counted.
Beyond the Pennsylvania case, if Trump wanted to use a lawsuit to challenge the election outcome in a state, he'd need to begin by bringing a case in a lower court.
So far, Trump's campaign and Republicans have mounted legal challenges in several states, but most are small-scale lawsuits that do not appear to affect many votes. On Thursday, the Trump campaign won an appellate ruling to get party and campaign observers closer to election workers who are processing mail-in ballots in Philadelphia. But judges in Georgia and Michigan quickly dismissed two other campaign lawsuits Thursday.
Biden's campaign, meanwhile, has called the existing lawsuits meritless, more po...
NewstalkZB.co.nz has been using data from the Associated Press for our US Election Results. Here, the Associated Press explains why they called the election for Joe Biden:
As Election Day ground on into "election week," it became increasingly clear that Democrat Joe Biden would oust President Donald Trump from the White House. Late-counted ballots in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Georgia continued to keep Biden in the lead and offered him multiple paths to victory.
The questions, rather, were these — where he would win, when it would happen and by how much.
On Saturday, Biden captured the presidency when The Associated Press declared him the victor in his native Pennsylvania at 11:25 a.m. EST. That got him the state's 20 electoral votes, which pushed him over the 270 electoral-vote threshold needed to prevail.
It was the final piece to fall into place after the former vice president carved a path to the White House by recapturing Democrats' "blue wall," a trio of Great Lakes states — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan — that Trump narrowly won in 2016. Those states had long served as a bulwark against Republican presidential candidates.
But he also made historic gains in the Sun Belt, becoming the first Democrat to win Arizona since 1996. He also held a narrow lead of more than 7,000 votes on Saturday in Georgia, where a Democrat hasn't won since 1992.
Democrats entered Election Day confident that Biden would win. But their hopes for a landslide that would quickly repudiate Trumpism — something that polls helped amplify — did not materialize.
Florida, the president's adopted state and one of the largest electoral prizes, went for Trump on Tuesday.
And a promising early Biden lead in North Carolina eroded. Trump continues to hold a narrow lead there, though the race is still too early to call and mail in ballots postmarked by the Nov. 3 election day can still be counted until Thursday.
On Election Night, both candidates stacked up wins in predictable places. Biden won the West Coast, and carried Democratic states in New England and the mid Atlantic. Trump won much of the South, Texas and rural, sparsely populated states in the Mountain West and Midwest.
Biden's win in Pennsylvania was a dramatic, though not unexpected, turn after Trump jumped out to an early Election Day lead of 675,000 votes and prematurely declared he had won the state.
Overcoming days, as local elections officials tabulated more ballots, Trump's lead dropped sharply, with Biden winning roughly 75 percent of the mail-in vote between Wednesday and Friday, according to an analysis by the AP.
Another reason the late-breaking mail vote broke Biden's way: Under state law, elections officials are not allowed to process mail-in ballots until Election Day.
By Saturday afternoon, Biden's lead in the state had climbed to over 34,000 votes, an edge over Trump of 0.51 percentage points that placed him outside the margin for a mandatory recount.
Under Pennsylvania law, a recount is automatic when the margin between two candidates in a statewide race is less than 0.5 percentage points. Biden's lead over Trump was on track to stay outside of that margin as final votes are counted.
And the slow-going nature of the vote count? Blame the coronavirus pandemic. The election, in many ways a referendum on Trump's poor management of the virus, led to widespread use of mail voting for the first time in many states.
Though five states conducted elections by mail before the pandemic, most did not. Concern that voters could catch the virus by waiting in line at crowded polling sites led election officials across the U.S. to scramble to quickly adopt the voting practice.
But mail ballots also take a long time to verify, process and count, delaying the tally.
Trump, who refused Saturday to concede the race, prematurely declared victory during a news conference at the White House early Wednesday morning, arguing that he was ahead and "it's not like, 'Oh, it's close.'"
But as mail bal...
A former advisor of Donald Trump says he has morphed into a completely different person from when she first met him.
Omarosa Manigault-Newman, a controversial Apprentice contestant who became a White House staffer, resigned unexpectedly in December 2017 in a public falling out with Trump, joined The Weekend Collective before her unexpected resignation in December, provided the controversial audio to NBC.
Despite being a Democrat, she joined the White House as one of just two African-Americans in the room. She says she expected some normalcy, having worked in the Clinton White House, but it was "bizarre from day one" with the early introduction of a Muslim ban.
Manigault-Newman says that Trump was engaging and a good communicator when they first met on the first season of The Apprentice, but that has changed over 17 years.
"The last time I had to brief him, he could not focus, he could barely read what I wrote on the note cards, and he kept forgetting what time of day it was and what event I was talking about.
"In terms of his mental state, there is deterioration."
In terms of Trump's attitude towards race, Manigault-Newman says that he is racist, and that the recent book by his niece, Mary Trump, "shook her to her core".
"She talked about him utilising the n-word throughout her lifetime. Can you just imagine I was around this man for 17 years of my life?"
She says that behind his facade, there is a lot of racism and bigotry in Trump.
Despite cutting all ties with Trump in 2017, asides from ongoing lawsuits over her book, Unhinged, Manigault-Newman says that she still has contacts in his camps.
There are several signs that his standing in the race is deteriorating, she says, including Trump cancelling a planned victory party and downsizing it to a smaller gathering at the White House.
Another critical factor for him is his difficulties raising money.
"He has under-raised money. His campaign is in a significant amount of debt. It has left a trail of bills and debt across the nation at these rallies, not paying people, not paying vendors."
However, if Trump loses, there are many concerns that he will not stand down peacefully.
Manigault-Newman says that the windows in Washington DC are boarded up in anticipation of an "all-out war" that Trump will incite should he lose.
"If he does not win, please note that he will not go peacefully, he has a bloodthirst that is dangerous. He will encourage his followers to respond with violence if necessary."
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The Greens have signed on the dotted line to accept a post-election deal with the Labour Government.
Green Party members agreed last night to what's being labelled the "cooperation agreement".
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it represents the continuation of the Labour-Greens relationship and provides stability.
She says she wants to bring as much consensus as possible, although this agreement didn't require consensus to be formed.
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson told reporters the party understands the opportunity.
She says for the first time in MMP history - a party with a clear majority has afforded ministerial positions and cooperation areas... while still allowing the Greens to maintain a unique voice.
Former United Future leader Peter Dunne told the Weekend Collective the winner from this new cooperation agreement is Labour.
"What they've done is they've thrown out a few little tidbits to the Greens, but the price of that is that they will almost certainly get the Greens vote on everything, as well as confidence and supply."
He says that, from the Greens point of view, they would be happy with the deal by getting the ministerial portfolios.
The danger for them is they could be neutered on issues that are important to them.
"From Labour's point of view, that's precisely what they want, the Greens corralled into a corner where they can't be a conscience to Labour on the left."
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Producer Andy put together a small taste of Trumps most 'brazen and bizarre' comments from the last four years.
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National leader Judith Collins' "very literal come-to-Jesus moment" this week has raised suspicions among some people that she is politicising her faith to win over conservative Christians.
Some political commentators say her public comments and actions about her religion seem to have come out of nowhere, and the New Conservative Party thinks she's targeting voters who may be more inclined to side with them.
Collins is adamant that she has been upfront about her faith throughout her political career.
"I have always been a Christian and I have never been a lapsed anything."
Political commentator and former minister Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective that Collins is entitled to her private belief, but the fact she has raised it so frequently this week is "odd".
"Making it more overt suggests strongly to me that she's pitching out to the New Conservative party voters, because that's where the rump of the old Christian right has ended up.
"Maybe she feels that they are getting too strong or whether she's worried about the votes she is losing from ACT."
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Marine One was idling on the South Lawn Friday as President Donald Trump's advisers were inside the White House making a last-minute push to get him to board the helicopter.
The President, who had recently tested positive for coronavirus, was reluctant to go to the hospital, multiple sources familiar with what happened later told CNN. Though Trump had developed symptoms and was now on experimental drugs, he didn't want to be "hospitalized," he said.
Aware of his hesitancy to appear seriously ill or convey the serious nature of his condition, Trump's aides now appear to be scrambling to provide a portrait of a mildly ill commander-in-chief. But on Friday, medical officials were concerned about his vitals and thought it would be better to monitor his response with the vast resources that Walter Reed National Military Medical Center provided. Trump was told the facility was a more prudent place for him to be in case his condition deteriorated.
"The White House is fully committed to providing transparent and regular updates on the President's condition and recovery," Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, said in a statement.
A decision was made by senior officials to schedule his departure after markets closed to avoid an inevitable tumble, two people familiar with the matter said.
Looking tired and somewhat pale, Trump walked past the cameras he has stopped for so many times with a small wave, and boarded.
At the most fraught moment of Trump's presidency -- or of any presidency in decades -- the White House is facing a credibility crisis with dramatic repercussions for Americans' confidence in their government and its leadership.
Inside some areas of the White House, the lack of information about Trump's condition is causing concern as aides fear speculation and panic could fill the void, some of those officials said. On Friday evening, as the President was being flown to Walter Reed, several high-placed government officials -- including a Cabinet official and two senior Republicans -- had not been briefed fully about the situation, the officials told CNN.
Instead, many even inside the White House and the wider administration are relying on news reports to glean information about the President's health. That includes several White House allies who believe they could have potentially been exposed to coronavirus over the past week, but have not been contacted with instructions from the President's medical team.
Rosy portrait
At a late morning news conference on Saturday, the President's physician offered a rosy portrait of a man on the mend but repeatedly evaded questions about Trump's condition, including whether he'd been placed on supplemental oxygen over the past days and what his highest recorded temperature has been. He offered a timeline that appeared to place Trump's diagnosis well before it was publicly disclosed only to later say he misspoke.
"This morning the President is doing very well," Dr. Sean Conley said. "At this time, the team and I are extremely happy with the progress the President has made."
Moments later, another person familiar with Trump's condition offered a stark and very different portrait of the President's health to a group of reporters gathered at the hospital: "The President's vitals over last 24 hours were very concerning and the next 48 hours will be critical in terms of his care. We are still not on a clear path to a full recovery."
The second official was granted anonymity by the small group of reporters who traveled with the President and isn't known to the wider group. Chief of staff Mark Meadows was the only other White House official present when doctors came out of the building Saturday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center ahead of the news conference.
A day earlier, Meadows told reporters at the White House that Trump was experiencing only "mild symptoms."
The disparity in how Trump is faring made for an astonishing gap in Americans' knowledge of their leader's health. For...
Labour leader Jacinda Ardern wants to make it illegal to discriminate on the grounds of someone's religion as well as possibly sexual orientation or disability.
Her commitment follows a visit to Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch today where Imam Gamal Fouda made an impassioned plea for stronger political leadership around hate speech laws.
The Government has been reviewing hate speech in the aftermath of the March 15 attacks, and NZ First is thought to be why nothing has changed.
Justice Minister Andrew Little told The Weekend Collective that there are already laws around hate speech that are around race and ethnicity, including the Human Rights Act and the Harmful Digital Communications Act.
"The problem with the law is that it criminalises conduct in relation to inciting hostility to others on the grounds of race but not on any other grounds, including religion."
Little says that provisions such as Incite to Violence only apply to abuse targetted at specific people, rather than wider groups.
He says that freedom of speech is there to protect minorities and those who speak up against those in power.
"It's not there to protect against those who want to threaten and intimidate others because of who they are."
The proposed move has prompted criticism from ACT leader David Seymour.
He told The Weekend Collective that they don't want a Government department to decide what people can and can't decide.
"No matter how they try and dress it up, that's the only way it can work."
Seymour says that this is legislating against offence, which he says it will led to high-level censorship.
He says that the current provisions on defending race against hate speech have not worked properly for several decades.
Prior to Seymour coming on the show, Little told The Weekend Collective that Seymour is a smart enough guy to know there should be limits and they can be well-defined.
"He's got to explain why it is that it's a criminal offence to say 'let's kill at the Māoris' but it's not a criminal offence to say 'let's kill all the Jews and the Muslins'. And if his defence to that is to say 'we should be allowed to say let's all the Māoris', then that's on him."
Little says that there are no plans to make it illegal to be offended.
Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a federal appellate judge and Notre Dame law professor, is a proven conservative with a compelling personal story who has long been atop President Donald Trump's Supreme Court short list.
Trump announced he is nominating Barrett to be the new high court justice during a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden. The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings on Barrett's nomination on October 12.
Barrett, the mother of seven children and a former law clerk to the late right-wing beacon Justice Antonin Scalia, Barrett, now 48, was a finalist for the Supreme Court spot that went to Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
She met with Trump to discuss the nomination on Monday, sources close to the process told CNN.
Advocates on the far right have backed her possible nomination because of her writings on faith and the law. Religious conservatives were especially energized for Barrett when, during the 2017 confirmation hearing for her current judgeship, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California suggested to her that the "dogma lives loudly within you." Barrett supporters believed the nominee was being disparaged for her Catholicism.
For all the reasons that Trump sees Barrett as a potential successor to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Democratic senators and liberal advocates have long been poised to oppose her, warning particularly that she could roll back abortion rights and invalidate the Affordable Care Act.
Critics beyond Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, have suggested Barrett's religious views would influence her rulings.
Barrett testified that her faith would not shape her rulings at the Senate hearings for appointment by Trump to the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
2nd Amendment, immigration and abortion
Since joining the appellate bench, Barrett has been a cautious jurist, plainly aware that she remains under a national microscope for any Supreme Court confirmation battle. Still, she has demonstrated her conservative bona fides on Second Amendment gun rights, immigration and abortion.
Last year, she dissented alone when a 7th Circuit panel majority rejected a Second Amendment challenge from a man found guilty of felony mail fraud and prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal and Wisconsin law.
"History is consistent with common sense: it demonstrates that legislatures have the power to prohibit dangerous people from possessing guns," she wrote in Kanter v. Barr, applying an originalist approach that looked to the 18th-century intentions. "But that power extends only to people who are dangerous. Founding legislatures did not strip felons of the right to bear arms simply because of their status as felons."
Barrett concluded, "Holding that the ban is constitutional ... does not put the government through its paces, but instead treats the Second Amendment as a second-class right."
More recently in June, she dissented as a 7th Circuit panel left intact a US district court decision temporarily blocking a Trump policy that disadvantaged green card applicants who apply for any public assistance. In dispute were federal immigration regulations regarding when an applicant would be deemed a "public charge" and ineligible for permanent status in the US.
In her dissent, Barrett wrote that the Trump administration's interpretation of the relevant "public charge" law was not "unreasonable." The 7th Circuit majority in Cook County v. Wolf countered that her construction failed to take account of the immigrants who would "bear the brunt of the" new rule.
In 2018, when the full 7th Circuit declined to reconsider a dispute over an Indiana abortion regulation requiring that the post-abortion fetal remains be cremated or buried, Barrett dissented with fellow conservatives. They began by focusing on a more contentious provision that had been earlier invalidated and not subject to the appeal.
The Supreme Court conf...
Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a federal appellate judge and Notre Dame law professor, is a proven conservative with a compelling personal story who has long been atop President Donald Trump's Supreme Court short list.
Trump announced he is nominating Barrett to be the new high court justice during a ceremony at the White House Rose Garden. The Senate Judiciary Committee will begin confirmation hearings on Barrett's nomination on October 12.
Barrett, the mother of seven children and a former law clerk to the late right-wing beacon Justice Antonin Scalia, Barrett, now 48, was a finalist for the Supreme Court spot that went to Brett Kavanaugh in 2018.
She met with Trump to discuss the nomination on Monday, sources close to the process told CNN.
Advocates on the far right have backed her possible nomination because of her writings on faith and the law. Religious conservatives were especially energized for Barrett when, during the 2017 confirmation hearing for her current judgeship, Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California suggested to her that the "dogma lives loudly within you." Barrett supporters believed the nominee was being disparaged for her Catholicism.
For all the reasons that Trump sees Barrett as a potential successor to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Democratic senators and liberal advocates have long been poised to oppose her, warning particularly that she could roll back abortion rights and invalidate the Affordable Care Act.
Critics beyond Feinstein, the senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, have suggested Barrett's religious views would influence her rulings.
Barrett testified that her faith would not shape her rulings at the Senate hearings for appointment by Trump to the 7th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin.
2nd Amendment, immigration and abortion
Since joining the appellate bench, Barrett has been a cautious jurist, plainly aware that she remains under a national microscope for any Supreme Court confirmation battle. Still, she has demonstrated her conservative bona fides on Second Amendment gun rights, immigration and abortion.
Last year, she dissented alone when a 7th Circuit panel majority rejected a Second Amendment challenge from a man found guilty of felony mail fraud and prohibited from possessing a firearm under federal and Wisconsin law.
"History is consistent with common sense: it demonstrates that legislatures have the power to prohibit dangerous people from possessing guns," she wrote in Kanter v. Barr, applying an originalist approach that looked to the 18th-century intentions. "But that power extends only to people who are dangerous. Founding legislatures did not strip felons of the right to bear arms simply because of their status as felons."
Barrett concluded, "Holding that the ban is constitutional ... does not put the government through its paces, but instead treats the Second Amendment as a second-class right."
More recently in June, she dissented as a 7th Circuit panel left intact a US district court decision temporarily blocking a Trump policy that disadvantaged green card applicants who apply for any public assistance. In dispute were federal immigration regulations regarding when an applicant would be deemed a "public charge" and ineligible for permanent status in the US.
In her dissent, Barrett wrote that the Trump administration's interpretation of the relevant "public charge" law was not "unreasonable." The 7th Circuit majority in Cook County v. Wolf countered that her construction failed to take account of the immigrants who would "bear the brunt of the" new rule.
In 2018, when the full 7th Circuit declined to reconsider a dispute over an Indiana abortion regulation requiring that the post-abortion fetal remains be cremated or buried, Barrett dissented with fellow conservatives. They began by focusing on a more contentious provision that had been earlier invalidated and not subject to the appeal.
The Supreme Court conf...
Has Shane Jones given up on Northland?
The NZ First MP and minister is one of the key players in the party's election hopes. He is contesting the Northland electorate, a seat the party may need to win if they can't reach the 5 per cent vote threshold to make it back into Parliament.
However, speaking to Newshub Nation, Jones admitted that he does not have the "mana" of his leader Winston Peters to secure the victory
"I do believe I can be a bit of a magnet up north, but in order to achieve the perpetuation of our political movement in Parliament, we need to gather votes from everywhere."
The answer raised questions about Jones' commitment to the seat - but Peters told The Weekend Collective that that is not the case.
"What he said was he is not the sole magnitude to harvest votes for New Zealand First."
However, former minister Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective that it is a fair admission from Jones that he can't win the seat.
"I think Jones has admitted the thing that people have begun to suspect anyway that's he not going to win Northland. It requires hardwork and he is a well-known stranger to that."
Dunne says it is difficult to imagine NZ First getting to 5 per cent in the current environment.
Peters was also grilled about his interview with Jack Tame - and whether or not he intentionally called the Q&A host 'James'.
The Deputy PM confirmed that he intentionally misnamed him, and that he had other names in mind!
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Labour is promising voters it will double workers' sick leave entitlements from five to 10 days a year.
If re-elected, it is committing to making the change within its first 100 days and would work with businesses and unions on timeframes.
Labour's workplace relations spokesperson Andrew Little unveiled the party's policy this morning which also promises to increase the minimum wage beyond the scheduled increase to $20 next year, raise the age for workers to be allowed to perform hazardous work from 15 to 16, improve transparency for pay across genders and ethnicity.
Little told The Weekend Collective that the Covid-19 lockdown proved that this was necessary, as many people had already exhausted their sick leave.
He acknowledges that half of the workforce is entitled to more than five days already.
"In countries we compare ourselves to - Australia, the UK, and others - they have better sick leave provisions than we have to, so we thought it was time to set a new minimum standard."
Covid-19 has also changed people's attitudes towards sick leave, Little says, with people becoming more conscious of the fact that they need to stay home when they are unwell.
Little rejects that this is another sign of Labour not being supportive of small businesses, saying that this change "is not a huge burden on business".
"The ability for the New Zealand economy to recover quite quickly has surpassed all expectations."
Bob Woodward, facing widespread criticism for only now revealing President Donald Trump's early concerns about the severity of the coronavirus, told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he needed time to be sure that Trump's private comments from February were accurate.
In Woodward’s upcoming book on Trump, “Rage,” the president is quoted saying the virus was highly contagious and “deadly stuff” at a time he was publicly dismissing it as no worse than the flu. Woodward, the celebrated Washington Post journalist and best-selling author, spoke with Trump more than a dozen times for his book.
“He tells me this, and I'm thinking, ‘Wow, that’s interesting, but is it true?' Trump says things that don't check out, right?” Woodward told the AP during a telephone interview. Using a famous phrase from the Watergate era, when Woodward's reporting for the Post helped lead to President Richard Nixon's resignation, Woodward said his mission was to determine, “What did he know and when did he know it?”
On Twitter and elsewhere online, commentators accused Woodward of valuing book sales over public health. “Nearly 200,000 Americans have died because neither Donald Trump nor Bob Woodward wanted to risk anything substantial to keep the country informed,” wrote Esquire's Charles P. Pierce.
The issue of daily journalists presenting newsworthy information in books isn’t new. The competition for attention is intense, and headlines help boost sales and guest shots for interviews. Reporter Michael S. Schmidt of The New York Times recently attracted attention for his book, “Donald Trump v. The United States,” by reporting new details on an unannounced visit by Trump to Walter Reed military hospital in November 2019. Schmidt reported that Vice President Mike Pence was put on alert that he might have to briefly assume the powers of the presidency if the president had to undergo a procedure that required anesthesia.
Pence later said he didn’t recall being put on standby for the Reed visit, which the White House has said was part of the president’s routine annual physical. But Schmidt’s book renewed speculation about Trump’s health.
Political figures with book deals also have been chastised for holding back timely material. Former national security adviser John Bolton, whose scathing memoir “The Room Where It Happened” came out in June, declined discussing Trump's actions towards Ukraine while the impeachment hearings were being held earlier this year.
Woodward's book, which comes out next week, draws from 18 conversations with Trump between December and July. During his AP interview, Woodward said Trump called him “out of the blue” in early February to “unburden himself" about the virus, which then had few cases in the U.S. But Woodward said that only in May was he satisfied that Trump's comments were based on reliable information and that by then the virus had spread nationwide.
"If I had done the story at that time about what he knew in February, that's not telling us anything we didn't know," Woodward said. At that point, he said, the issue was no longer one of public health but of politics. His priority became getting the story out before the election in November.
“That was the demarcation line for me,” he said. “Had I decided that my book was coming out on Christmas, the end of this year, that would have been unthinkable.”
Asked why he didn't share Trump's February remarks for a fellow Post reporter to pursue, Woodward said he had developed “some pretty important sources” on his own.
“Could I have brought others in? Could they have done things I couldn't do?" he asked. “I was on the trail, and I was (still) on the trail when it (the virus) exploded.”
A crowd of a few thousand packed in Auckland's Aotea Square yesterday afternoon, at the "National Rally for Freedom", organised by Advance Party co-leaders, Jami Lee Ross and Billy Te Kahika.
There was little social distancing and few people in the crowd wore masks.
Criminal lawyer Steve Cullen told The Weekend Collective the police should've taken a tougher position on the protestors.
"For the police to permit thousands of people to gather, which is against the laws of not allowing more than 10 people at gatherings, is a failure of their responsibilities."
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On Thursday night The Atlantic published a bombshell story that alleged -- citing four anonymous sources -- that President Donald Trump had repeatedly mocked US soldiers killed in battle and skipped a visit to a veterans' cemetery in France out of concern that rainy conditions would mess up his carefully coiffed hair.
The report immediately became a massive story, with Democrats -- including Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden -- rushing to condemn Trump for his alleged behaviour and the White House rallying an aggressive pushback against the article, including the President himself.
"To think that I would make statements negative to our military when nobody has done what I've done, with the budgets and the military budget," Trump said Thursday night after returning from a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. "We're getting pay raises for the military. It is a disgraceful situation, by a magazine that is a terrible magazine, I don't read it."
On Friday morning, Trump took his defense to Twitter. "The Atlantic Magazine is dying, like most magazines, so they make up a fake story in order to gain some relevance," he wrote. "Story already refuted, but this is what we are up against. Just like the Fake Dossier. You fight and and fight, and then people realize it was a total fraud!"
National security adviser Robert O'Brien was called in to serve as a character witness for Trump, telling reporters, "You're not going to find anybody who's more sympathetic to their situation than the President." Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News he never heard the President use the language described in the article.
Jeffrey Goldberg, who authored The Atlantic piece, stood by his reporting in an appearance on CNN's "New Day" Friday morning.
"I stand by my reporting," he said. "I have multiple sources telling me this is what happened, and so I stand by it."
So, we're left with this dilemma: Goldberg insists the story is true. Trump insists the story is false. Both of those views can't be right.
On Saturday, a former senior administration official confirmed to CNN that Trump referred to fallen US service members at the Aisne-Marne cemetery in crude and derogatory terms during the November 2018 trip to France to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Fox News, the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Associated Press have also corroborated parts of The Atlantic's reporting.
Trump's insistence that he would never say anything disparaging about a military veteran or the military more generally is belied by, well, facts.
In 2015, shortly after he had officially entered the 2016 Republican presidential race, Trump said this of the late Arizona Sen. John McCain: "He's not a war hero. He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren't captured." McCain was shot down and kept captive by the North Vietnamese for more than five years. The wounds he suffered as a result of the torture he endured during his captivity left him unable to raise his arms over his head -- among other maladies -- for the rest of his life.
In the wake of Gold Star father Khizr Khan's speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2016 -- in which Khan suggested Trump had never sacrificed anything in life -- the billionaire businessman suggested that Hillary Clinton's speechwriters had actually written the speech and that Khan's wife, who stood silently by her husband, was not allowed to speak. As for Khan's claim that Trump had never sacrificed, the Republican nominee responded this way: "I think I've made a lot of sacrifices. I work very, very hard. I've created thousands and thousands of jobs, tens of thousands of jobs, built great structures."
Following the death of US Army Sgt. La David Johnson in Niger in 2017, the slain soldier's wife (and a Florida Democratic congresswoman) said that Trump had told her on a phone call that her husband "knew what he had signed up for." Trump denied the claim.
Last fall, Trump referred t...
The election campaign is officially underway - and the question remains how many of the current parties will make it back to Parliament.
Both NZ First and the Greens are hovering close to falling out of Parliament. The Greens are polling around 5%, while NZ First is down on 2%, with both parties campaigning hard for electoral seats to ensure they make it back.
However, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has made headlines during the first weekend of campaigning for all the wrong reasons.
In a fiery clash with Q+A broadcaster Jack Tame this morning, he accused TVNZ of lying and ambushing him about topics which he had not prepared for.
"I regret coming here this morning, to stop off my campaign, to come along to see some junior who thinks he's going to play Billy the Kid," he told Tame.
Meanwhile, the Greens have dominated headlines over the week after co-leader James Shaw advocated for a Green School to receive $11.7 million as part of shovel-ready funding.
Former MP and United Future leader Peter Dunne joined The Weekend Collective to discuss a rough week for both parties and what it means for the election.
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An independent crash investigator says that a new Police policy is "clear as mud".
Police put out a statement on Thursday saying that there would be a year-round zero-tolerance approach to speeding.
Normally this is only applied to holiday periods, where the usual 5-10km/h leeway is reduced to 4km/h. Now, the buffer has been removed, and anyone caught speeding will be pulled over and fined any time of year, regardless of how much over they are.
However, former police officer and crash investigator Hamish Piercy told The Weekend Collective that the leeway has always been there as some speedometers can often by out by 5 km/h - mean people could think they are driving at 98 when they are actually at 103.
"There are problems there with being strictly 101, you get a ticket. That's going to cause problems."
He says things like tyre pressure and the size of the rims can also alter the speed of your car, while machines Police use to measure speed can also be faulty.
Piercy says that if they are going to enforce speeding, they also need to increase enforcement of slow drivers or lane hoggers.
"We've got to see a balanced level of enforcement."
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With chants of "One person, one vote!" and "No justice, no peace!" a crowd of about 1,000 demonstrators gathered outside a Wisconsin courthouse Saturday to denounce police violence and share messages of change, a week after an officer shot Jacob Blake in the back and left the 29-year-old Black man paralyzed.
The diverse group of protesters also chanted "Seven bullets, seven days!" — a reference to the number of times Blake was shot last Sunday — as they marched toward the courthouse in Kenosha. There, Blake's father, Jacob Blake Sr., gave an impassioned call for changing a system he described as fostering police brutality and racial inequities.
"There were seven bullets put in my son's back. ... Hell yeah, I'm mad," said Blake Sr. He said he wants to ask the police "what gave them the right to attempted murder on my child? What gave them the right to think that my son was an animal? What gave them the right to take something that was not theirs? I'm tired of this."
Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey and two other officers were responding to a domestic dispute call last Sunday when Sheskey shot Blake in the back. Blake Sr. told reporters on Saturday that his son is heavily sedated, but he has regained consciousness.
"He's in a lot of pain," he said. "I just wish I could pick my baby up and make it all right." He called for Sheskey to be charged and for the other two officers at the scene to be fired.
Several of Saturday's speakers encouraged the crowd to vote for change in November, and to push for changing legislation in Wisconsin that would lead to police reform.
"Justice is a bare minimum," Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said. "Justice should be guaranteed to everybody in this country."
Blake Sr. asked those at the rally to raise their fists with him. "We are not going to stop going in the right direction. We're going to the top ... we're gonna make legislation happen because that's the only thing that they recognize," he said.
Blake Sr. also referred to the May 25 death of George Floyd, a handcuffed Black man who died after a Minneapolis officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck. Said Blake Sr., "We all have a knee on the back of our necks, every day."
One of Blake's sisters, Letetra Widman, said she felt recharged "to stand up not just for Jacob, but for all the people who have not gotten justice."
Captured on cellphone video, the shooting sparked new protests against racial injustice and police brutality months after Floyd's death touched off a wider reckoning on race.
Protesters have marched in Kenosha every night since Blake's shooting, with some protests devolving into unrest with damage to buildings and vehicles. On Tuesday, two people were killed by an armed civilian. The commander of the National Guard said Friday that more than 1,000 Guard members had been deployed to help keep the peace, with more on the way.
Most people dispersed from the protest on Saturday before a 7 p.m. curfew. More than an hour after curfew, law enforcement officers, including some wearing U.S. Marshals Service identification, surrounded about a dozen people gathered outside of the Kenosha County Courthouse and made several arrests.
President Donald Trump will visit Kenosha on Tuesday to meet with law enforcement and survey damage from recent demonstrations that turned violent, White House spokesman Judd Deere told reporters traveling with the president Saturday night. Trump, who toured hurricane-ravaged areas of Louisiana and Texas earlier Saturday, had told reporters that he "probably" would visit the city.
Asked to weigh in on Tuesday's shootings in which 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse was charged, Trump demurred and said "it's under investigation" and that "we are looking at it very, very carefully."
Aniyah Ervin, a 16-year-old from Kenosha who is Black, said Saturday that the week has been surreal. Although she protested against racial injustice over the summer, she said there had been a feeling that police brutality was not a proble...
Joe Biden got his moment this week -- five decades in the making -- "to make hope and history rhyme" as he accepted the Democratic presidential nomination.
An unprecedented four-day Democratic National Convention concluded Thursday night with Democratic factions broadly united behind Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris.
The telecast featured segments filmed across the country because the coronavirus pandemic forced convention planners to scrap their plans to hold a massive gathering in Milwaukee.
Next week, Republicans will answer with their own convention nominating President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for a second term.
Here are 11 takeaways from this year's DNC:
Democrats want you to know Biden cares and Trump does not. That was the simple, cohesive message that Democrats communicated over four nights. It was a strategic choice for Democrats to seek to make the election about character. Every segment -- including those focused on policy -- questioned the humanity of Trump's actions and framed the election as what Biden called a "battle for the soul of our nation."
"I will draw on the best of us, not the worst. I will be an ally of the light, not of the darkness," Biden said Thursday night.
Connecting through grief. The tragedies of Biden's life -- the death of his first wife and daughter weeks after he was elected to the Senate in 1972; the death of his son and presumed political heir Beau Biden of brain cancer in 2015 -- were a focal point all week, as Biden's friends and family sought to convey how the lessons he had learned in overcoming grief could help guide a nation facing a pandemic that has left more than 174,000 Americans dead.
"How do you make a broken family whole? The same way you make a nation whole," Biden's wife Jill Biden said Tuesday. "With love and understanding, and with small acts of compassion; with bravery; with unwavering faith."
Everyone will remember the Obamas. The convention was about Biden and Harris, but the former president holding back tears as he warned democracy is on the brink in Philadelphia and the former first lady's somber evisceration of Trump provided two of the DNC's most poignant moments -- ones that will likely reverberate through the remainder of the campaign.
"Do not let them take away your democracy," Barack Obama pleaded.
"Donald Trump is the wrong president for our country. He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head. He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us," Michelle Obama said. "It is what it is."
Harris has the baton now. Biden has called himself a bridge to a new generation of Democratic leaders, and this week showed that Harris will have a firm claim to becoming that new generation's first leader.
That's perhaps no surprise, since she's Biden's vice presidential pick. But no vice president in the last two decades, including Biden, has been seen as the future leader of a party. The week positioned Harris as a successor to Obama's history-making legacy, with Biden as their link.
It was, at times, a Republicans for Biden convention. Or at least that's how progressives saw it. Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Secretary of State Colin Powell and other Republicans got time.
But the most confounding presence was former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has been a Republican and an independent and briefly ran for president as a Democrat, in the final night's final hour. Bloomberg launched his campaign on the premise that Biden couldn't win; he then was roasted by Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren on the debate stage and, after dropping out, has been accused of failing to live up to his financial commitments to his staffers and the Democratic Party.
Rising Democratic stars were showcased in montages that underscored the party's diversity overall, but did not elevate any individual -- a reality made more glaring by Bloomberg's presen...
A top criminal defence lawyer says it won't be an easy call committing the Christchurch Mosque shooter to life behind bars - despite the magnitude of his crimes.
The landmark four-day sentencing will get underway tomorrow - after the 29-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to 51 murder charges, 40 attempted murder charges and one terrorism charge for the March 15 attacks last year.
Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg told the Weekend Collective it would still be a major step imposing life without parole on somebody of his age.
"The actual risk for this person throughout the rest of his sentence is going to always be very high, but to actually take away the prospect of ever getting out, it would be a big call."
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The Labour Party is re-editing a Facebook video after complaints about it featuring Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
The video showed The Prime Minister visiting the Institute of Environmental Science and Research with the Director-General of Health.
A spokeswoman for Ardern denies it was a Labour campaign ad.
But ACT Leader David Seymour says the fact it featured a public servant is completely unacceptable.
"There's no question Labour put a video of Jacinda Ardern and Ashley Bloomfield at the Ministry of Health out on Facebook as part of their campaign."
He told The Weekend Collective that it the visit to the ESR was a "Labour Party film opportunity", and if any other party attempted to do that, they'd be turned down.
"When you have the civil service helping one side or another win an election, that is banana republic stuff."
Seymour questions if the civil servants that featured in the ad had any choice of appearing in the ad.
A Labour Party spokesperson says that no rules were broken with the ad, but Seymour says that the Cabinet manual specifies civil service can't be politicised.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson has urged everyone to take responsibility for false rumours about the Covid-19 outbreak.
A popular rumour that a member of the family at the centre of the new cluster had supposedly entered a managed isolation facility gained traction on social media.
Last night, the Covid-19 response team tweeted: "There is no evidence to support this."
Robertson told The Weekend Collective it is up to everyone to stop the rumours spreading.
"There is a level of responsibility that we've all got here. There is free speech in New Zealand, we have to protect that, but at the same time, we have personal responsibility to think about how we use that right."
He says that a decision will come out of Cabinet tomorrow on extensions to the wage subsidy.
The scheme will be extended nationwide to protect jobs, it was announced on Friday, as lockdown restrictions continue in Auckland until August 26th.
Robertson says that we won't necessarily move to level 3 regionally every time there is a Covid flare-up, but says it is a "horses for courses" situation. The decision was taken for Auckland due to what a significant contributor it plays in the economy.
National leader Judith Collins wants the election delayed by several months, not weeks.
Last week, Collins went as far as saying it would be National's preference that the election should be held next year instead.
Tomorrow morning, Jacinda Ardern will confirm if the election will be delayed. Parliament was due to be dissolved last week but has been delayed to Monday, meaning a decision is needed around how much longer the term can go on for.
Collins told The Weekend Collective she would prefer to see it delayed by months.
"The Electoral Commission has made it clear that the last viable day to have an election this year is the 21st of November," she says, with any delay beyond that date needing Parliament to be recalled.
She says National would vote in favour of a longer delay. She does not think a delay by just a few weeks would work, as advertising campaigns would have to be cancelled.
Collins says it would be "completely outrageous" if the election went ahead on September 19th.
Asked if she would feel differently if National was ahead in the polls, rather than roughly 20 points behind Labour, Collins says she wouldn't.
"I was thinking today if I was around the Cabinet table and either John Key or Bill English was the leader and they were in the same place as Jacinda Ardern, I know the advice we would be getting, which would be don't look like you're trying to use the Covid-19 pandemic and what's going on and people's fear, make sure you actually give the Opposition party a fair go, and give the public a fair go."
Collins says she would have been fine if the date had stayed the same had the resurgence not appeared.
Act leader David Seymour has also said New Zealand couldn't have a "free and fair" election while part of it was locked down.
Asked if National is doing anything to stop conspiracy theories, after Gerry Brownlee's comments earlier this week, Collins says the party is getting sent a number of theories and are flagging them with the Government.
As New Zealand marked 100 days without community transmission of Covid-19, National Party deputy leader Gerry Brownlee says the Government's warning of an approaching second wave is "very puzzling".
The Ministry of Health announced the milestone on Sunday, with no further new cases in of the deadly virus reported for the fourth consecutive day.
There remain 23 active cases of coronavirus nationally, all in managed isolation facilities, while the number of New Zealand's confirmed cases remains at 1219.
Director general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield thanked every person who had been tested for Covid-19, saying Sunday marked a "significant milestone".
"However, as we all know, we can't afford to be complacent," he said in a statement.
"We have seen overseas how quickly the virus can re-emerge and spread in places where it was previously under control, and we need to be prepared to quickly stamp out any future cases in New Zealand. Every person in the team of five million has a role to play in this."
But Brownlee told Newstalk ZB the Government's warning of an imminent second wave of Covid-19 in New Zealand was "puzzling".
"People have made a big effort on this and they expect to get all the relative freedom," he said.
"None of us are complacent about it, I believe, it is something that is going to be with the world from this point on."
In recent days Bloomfield urged Kiwis to "be ready" and have a stock of masks on hand in household emergency kits should we see an outbreak similar to the one sweeping through Victoria.
Health Minister Chris Hipkins last week announced Kiwis would be encouraged to wear masks in public places if New Zealand moved back to level 2, and encouraged them to prepare some in the meantime.
And public health expert Michael Baker suggested a mask day – in which New Zealanders all wear masks to work, as a trial run for a time when Covid might return.
The advice comes after months of officials saying there was not yet enough evidence that mask use protected the public from Covid-19.
Hipkins said the evidence had changed, and that "we are now in a different situation to where we were previously".
After renewed warnings from Bloomfield in the last week about a potential outbreak, Brownlee called on the Government to "come clean" on the rate of Covid-19 infections in New Zealand.
"We have had three months of no community transmission, then inexplicably, the director-general of health Ashley Bloomfield tells the nation that a second wave was a likely prospect," he said in a statement.
"It doesn't add up. Why announce this now when there are few cases?"
But surges of Covid-19 have been seen recently in Victoria, Hong Kong and Vietnam - all regions which had previously kept the virus contained.
On Sunday Victoria recorded the highest number of people to die in a single day in Australia since the pandemic began - 17 people, with another 394 infections announced.
Of the new cases announced, 43 people were in intensive care, and 26 were on ventilators.
Meanwhile on the heels of the National Party's list release, Brownlee said he believed National MP Alfred Ngaro could beat Labour's Phil Twyford to return to Parliament.
Ngaro, who dropped 10 places on the list to Number 30, will almost certainly have to oust Twyford in Te Atatu to return.
"I think he can win that seat," he told Newstalk ZB.
"You're up against Phil Twyford, who, despite being the architect of much of the non-delivered policies from Labour – KiwiBuild and light rail, etc - is number four, so he's going to be in Parliament anyway."
He is also confident that Christoper Luxon, who is at number 61, can win his seat of Botany.
A former MP and Minister believes NZ First's time in Parliament may be at its end.
A 1 News Colmar Brunton poll has Jones on just 15 per cent support, with National's Matt King, the incumbent, on 46 per cent and Labour candidate Willow-Jean Prime on 31 per cent.
The party vote in the poll shows Labour on 41 per cent, ahead of National on 38 per cent, Act on 8 per cent, NZ First on 7 and the Greens just below the 5 per cent threshold.
Jones did not front on TVNZ's Q+A show this morning but admitted he needed to get the "political jack-hammer" out. There was a huge road ahead.
The party has been languishing at about 2 per cent in recent polls, but NZ First has usually done better on election night than in the polls.
Former United Future leader Peter Dunne says that means we can't discount Winston Peters' party just yet. However, he told The Weekend Collective that he would have thought that Jones would be in second, not third, place.
"Northland voters aren't changing their loyalty. And give credit to [Labour's] Willow-Jean Prime. She is running a very strong campaign if Labour has got the lead on National."
He says that Jones' style can draw people in but also put them off in equal measure, and with Labour not offering a deal, Jones will have to do it himself.
Dunne says that most electorate deals are normally based around a MP who has been there a long time, which Jones is not.
As for the future of the party, Dunne says it will depend on Winston Peters' decision and if he wants to stay.
If he doesn't, "do they all just board up and go away, and if they do, where do they distribute their votes too?"
Dunne says it could have a seismic effect on the political scene as those NZ First votes are redistributed.
That redistributing could happen already, he says, if the low poll puts people
US President Donald Trump's estranged niece Mary Trump reveals the presidents poor work ethic in an interview with Newstalk ZB.
Trump is the president's niece and the author of a recent tell-all book that blew up after its release last month.
Mary Trump, 55, is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr, the president's older brother, who died at the age of 42 from a heart attack linked to his struggle with alcoholism.
Titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, the book looks into the life of the now US President.
The White House rejects claims made in the book, and the Trump family unsuccessfully sued to block it.
But it was released on July 14 after a judge sided with the publisher.
Mary Trump told Newstalk ZB when working for the Trump Organisation the now US President would spend hours on the phone gossiping and talking to reporters.
He would also spend large amounts of time searching through newspapers reading articles about himself, praising reporters on their work and other times disagreeing with "negative" articles about himself.
"There was no real sense of work ethic," she said, and believes this is similar to how he works in the White House today.
Mary Trump told Newstalk ZB she believes her uncle is surrounded by enablers, including people who are both weaker and stronger than the president himself.
She describes his inner circle of friends and family as dysfunctional, saying "they are all in it for themselves".
Mary L. Trump, author of Too Much and Never Enough. Photo / Supplied
"They have incentives that have nothing to do with Donald's wellbeing."
When asked about how easy the book was to write Mary Trump said "I had to grapple with things I'd never grappled with before about my family."
"I had to think about things I tried really hard to forget."
Mary Trump said she learnt how cruel her family was to her father.
"Donald is doing his part to be the darkness now," she said, saying her grandfather Fred was once the families darkness.
Despite acknowledging the US President's past, of suffering in his childhood, Mary Trump stressed that he is an adult now and "he needs to be held accountable and take responsibility for his egregious behavior now".
The White House rejects claims made in the book, and the Trump family unsuccessfully sued to block it. Photo /AP
Fred Trump, Donald Trump's father, believed kindness was a weakness. "He did his best to beat it out of his sons".
When her father died she was 16 years old, Donald Trump and his siblings became the trustees for his family. She then learnt she had been disinherited, but said she wasn't that shocked.
Mary Trump said she was disowned by her extended family because her grandfather had no use for her father, and he didn't want his son's widow to get any of the fortune.
The popularly of the book has "shocked" her.
"People are finding the physiological analysis of it enlightening and valid."
In its first week after release, the book sold 1.35 million copies, according to publisher Simon & Schuster.
US President Donald Trump's estranged niece Mary Trump reveals the presidents poor work ethic in an interview with Newstalk ZB.
Trump is the president's niece and the author of a recent tell-all book that blew up after its release last month.
Mary Trump, 55, is the daughter of Fred Trump Jr, the president's older brother, who died at the age of 42 from a heart attack linked to his struggle with alcoholism.
Titled Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man, the book looks into the life of the now US President.
The White House rejects claims made in the book, and the Trump family unsuccessfully sued to block it.
But it was released on July 14 after a judge sided with the publisher.
Mary Trump told Newstalk ZB when working for the Trump Organisation the now US President would spend hours on the phone gossiping and talking to reporters.
He would also spend large amounts of time searching through newspapers reading articles about himself, praising reporters on their work and other times disagreeing with "negative" articles about himself.
"There was no real sense of work ethic," she said, and believes this is similar to how he works in the White House today.
Mary Trump told Newstalk ZB she believes her uncle is surrounded by enablers, including people who are both weaker and stronger than the president himself.
She describes his inner circle of friends and family as dysfunctional, saying "they are all in it for themselves".
Mary L. Trump, author of Too Much and Never Enough. Photo / Supplied
"They have incentives that have nothing to do with Donald's wellbeing."
When asked about how easy the book was to write Mary Trump said "I had to grapple with things I'd never grappled with before about my family."
"I had to think about things I tried really hard to forget."
Mary Trump said she learnt how cruel her family was to her father.
"Donald is doing his part to be the darkness now," she said, saying her grandfather Fred was once the families darkness.
Despite acknowledging the US President's past, of suffering in his childhood, Mary Trump stressed that he is an adult now and "he needs to be held accountable and take responsibility for his egregious behavior now".
The White House rejects claims made in the book, and the Trump family unsuccessfully sued to block it. Photo /AP
Fred Trump, Donald Trump's father, believed kindness was a weakness. "He did his best to beat it out of his sons".
When her father died she was 16 years old, Donald Trump and his siblings became the trustees for his family. She then learnt she had been disinherited, but said she wasn't that shocked.
Mary Trump said she was disowned by her extended family because her grandfather had no use for her father, and he didn't want his son's widow to get any of the fortune.
The popularly of the book has "shocked" her.
"People are finding the physiological analysis of it enlightening and valid."
In its first week after release, the book sold 1.35 million copies, according to publisher Simon & Schuster.
The Australian state of Victoria has recorded 459 new Covid-19 cases and 10 new virus-related deaths, making it the state's deadliest day since the pandemic began.
The state's death toll now stands at 71, after seven men and three woman died from the virus overnight.
The age of the men ranged from 40s to 80s and the age of the women ranged from 70s to 80s.
Of the new fatalities, seven were linked to aged-care outbreaks and three were not linked to an outbreak.
"We, of course, send our condolences and best wishes to those families," Premier Daniel Andrews said.
"This will be a terribly difficult time for them, and they are in our thoughts."
Victoria's total number of cases now stands at 8881. There are 228 people in hospital and 42 of those are in intensive care.
560 active aged-care cases
Andrews revealed of the state's 4233 active cases, 560 are in aged care.
"The exact number of settings will be finalised in that release later today, and we have some 381 active cases among healthcare workers," he said.
"That is a significant challenge, given, whilst we have overall capacity and we've worked very hard all throughout the year to grow the number of people that can be available for our fight against this virus in a clinical sense, whenever we have clinical staff and other critical health workers away, furloughed because they are a close contact or in fact as an active case, that does put some additional pressure on our system.
"That's why we are looking at a whole range of innovative ways to grow the total capacity of our health system."
Andrews said about 200 off-roster paramedics and third-year students are helping with contact tracing.
"It is a wildly infectious virus and whether you have underlying complex health issues or whether you are otherwise healthy, people have died from all of those cohorts and more from right around the world," the Premier said.
"So there is no reason for anybody to think that because they are otherwise fit or because they are not in their 80s, then somehow they have essentially got a vaccine for this."
Workplaces 'driving second wave'
Andrews said there were specific sectors "driving" the state's second Covid-19 wave.
He said recent data indicated some people were continuing to go to work despite feeling sick and showing symptoms.
"Aged care, healthcare, big distribution centres, meatworks, cool stores, big warehouses, these workplaces are driving most of this second wave," Andrews said.
"What that tells you is that some people, for whatever reason – not a matter of judgement, just a fact – some people are feeling sick, they have symptoms and they are still going to work."
He said if this continues, the number of daily Covid-19 cases will continue to rise.
Andrews urged anyone with symptoms to get tested, and reminded people there is income support available for those who might struggle if they have to miss out on work.
"There is the income support, if you didn't have sick leave to fall back on. Then while waiting for your test, you've got to stay at home," he said.
"You can't be going out to the shops, you can't be going to work. All that will do is spread the virus."
Warning over never-ending 'chain of transmission'
Victorians have been warned the state could see a never-ending "chain of transmission" if residents don't all do their part by following the restrictions.
Andrews warned the high level of community transmission meant the state risked cases continuing to rise.
"If we're not careful, [there will be] a chain of transmission that just doesn't end," he said.
"We will finish up with many more people dying, many people that are chronically ill for a long period of time. And a health system that won't cope.
"I want businesses to survive. I want people back at work. I want people finding a Covid normal. We can achieve that.
"But the Government can't achieve it for Victoria on its own. Every Victorian has to play a part in that."
Andrews said the poor actions of a few rule-breakers sho...
It has been over a year since occupiers of disputed land at Ihumātao were served with eviction notices prompting thousands of people to flock there to support the occupation and halting Fletcher Building's construction plans.
Mana whenua and others have remained on site for three years to stop Fletcher Building from constructing 480 houses there.
National leader Judith Collins told The Weekend Collective the Ihumātao land dispute is a commercial and inter-family issue, and has nothing to do with the government who should've stayed out of it.
"It's important to know, even though it's a commercial discussion and contract between Fletchers and the people they brought the land from, there is no point at all for the government being involved, they have only delayed matters.
"I actually think Jacinda Ardern's job is to come forward and tell us after years of negotiations and getting involved, where is this deal?"
Collins says the situation has gone on long enough, and needs to be resolved quickly.
"This is getting crazy. People who are sitting there doing nothing, how are they getting paid? How are they living?
"New Zealanders are getting sick of this type of nonsense. This is land which can be used for housing, which is why it was sold to Fletchers in the first place.
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The Green Party has taken a dig at its other governing parties which haven't released substantial policies by outlining its key battlefronts if returned to power.
It yesterday released a comprehensive 52-page document outlining the bedrock on which it will form its policies and hopes it will be the basis of negotiations to form part of the next Government.
The Greens also launched their campaign slogan and commercials which urge New Zealanders to "think ahead, act now" when they head into the voting booths on September 19.
Co-leader James Shaw told The Weekend Collective the event was strongly received by members and the media, and it couldn't have gone any better.
Mr Shaw says The Greens are going into the election with a set of much more detailed and costed policy priorities for their next term in Government.
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A clash within the South China Sea is now almost inevitable. The US has declared China's territorial grab "illegal". It wants its "bullied" neighbours to stand their ground.
"We are making clear: Beijing's claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them," a US statement issued earlier this week asserts.
It's not a change of opinion. But it is a loud declaration of intent to establish a "line in the sand" that Beijing should not cross.
"The United States is now explicitly declaring it illegal for China to engage in fishing, oil and gas exploration, or other economic activities in those areas, or to interfere with its neighbours' rights to do so," Asia Maritime Initiative senior fellow Gregory Poling says.
"The next time China does engage in illegal harassment of its neighbours within their EEZs [exclusive economic zones], a more forceful US response might lead China to double down out of a sense of nationalism," he added.
China's "wolf-warrior" rhetoric has given it little wiggle room to back down.
"Perhaps now Beijing feels like it's pushed up against a wall," Australian National University School of International Relations doctoral candidate Hunter Marston told news.com.au.
"All these countries are now more or less affirming the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision. Perhaps they [Beijing] say what else do they have to lose? You know, the gloves are off."
And that lays the groundwork for open confrontation.
It's a fear echoed in a report by Council on Foreign Relations assistant professor Oriana Skylar Mastro: "China could see military action as its only recourse if it loses the diplomatic option to assert its sovereignty claims. The continued downward spiral in US-China relations could also encourage Xi to adopt a now-or-never approach to the South China Sea.
US navy sailors conduct pre-flight checks on an MH-60R Sea Hawk in drills in the South China Sea.
Wounded wolves
Beijing is getting irritated. The Chinese Communist Party has called Washington a "spoiler, saboteur and disrupter".
"Although Washington doesn't want to start a real war with China, there is the possibility of the unfolding of miscalculations if it continues to try and stir up trouble in the South China Sea," declares the editor of the Communist Party's China Daily.
Beijing's diplomats are racing to re-establish dominance over the narrative.
"China's position on the South China Sea issue has been consistent and clear-cut. While firmly safeguarding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, China has been committed to resolving disputes through negotiation and consultation with countries directly involved, managing differences through rules and mechanisms, and achieving win-win results through mutually beneficial co-operation," a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the US said.
The embassy declares the South China Sea has "remained peaceful and stable and is still improving", ignoring a recent spate of rammings of fishing vessels, high-seas stand-offs over sea exploration efforts and its arbitrary construction of military bases on artificial islands.
"Under the pretext of endorsing rules, it is using UNCLOS to attack China while refusing to ratify the Convention itself. Under the pretext of upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, it is recklessly infringing on other countries' territorial sea and airspace and throwing its weight around in every sea of the world," the spokesperson added.
Beijing is a signatory to the UN's law of the sea (UNCLOS) but has declared all rulings against its interests as being irrelevant or invalid.
Washington is not a signatory of UNCLOS but is seeking to enforce its jurisdiction over the dispute. But, Marston points out, the US has been conforming to law where Beijing has not.
"I think Washington's really got international law at its back here, and so it's hopefully welcomed as a legally defensibl...
Immigration, and law and order, are on the top of New Zealand First's priority list for this year's election.
Party leader Winston Peters unveiled part of the plan during the party's campaign launch in Auckland today.
It includes setting a target of 1,000 new police recruits over the next three years.
He also spoke of the need to change immigration policies in the wake of Covid-19.
"The end of the crisis is not yet. Our immigration policy needs a fundamental reset."
He also took aim at Labour and the Greens. Peter says his party in government has been an accelerator for good ideas and a handbrake for bad ones.
"We have used our experience to help the Government through many crises, and avoid a number of pitfalls.
"We've used common sense to hold Labour and the Greens to account."
NZ Herald political reporter Jason Walls told The Weekend Collective that the people in attendance are passionate about the party.
"They were happy to see Winston Peters as well. He had a rockstar entrance. It's not what you would expect from a room of older New Zealanders."
Walls says that the new slogan is "Back Your Future", an ironic title as it seems more Back to the Future by retreading the same old points.
"When seen Winston Peters and NZ First put immigration in the crosshairs since the formation of the party, and to see it come up today at a time when New Zealand has almost no immigration is unusual but made sense.
A new bottom line for any coalition partnerships post-election would see NZ First hold the immigration portfolio.
The tough policy stance comes after a weekend spent on "mundane remits", including one around changing the material of brakepads.
National says Kiwis have had plenty of time to get home.
The party's Covid-19 Border Response spokesperson, Gerry Brownlee, has announced that under a National Government returnees will be charged $3000 for quarantine.
Additional adults in a room if a couple had arrived would be charged an additional $1000.
Children under 3 years will have no cost and over 3 years will see an additional $500.
Brownlee says if his party wins the election, the changes will begin at 11.59pm on October 3.
He told The Weekend Collective it's cost around $81 million for the return of about 20,000 New Zealanders - and there's no end in sight.
"There are, of course, hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who live overseas. The Government's allocated a further $280-odd million for the balance of the year, and you just have to think, is that a reasonable charge on the New Zealand tax payer, people who actually live in this country and who are paying their taxes?"
He says New Zealanders have had four months to come home.
"This is just saying, rather than the choices you've made falling back on the taxpayers palm like this, there is going to be a part-payment you will have to meet."
Brownlee says the policy is similar to policies signed off across the Tasman, in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.
The Government is welcoming National's policy. Megan Woods, the Minister in charge of managed isolation and quarantine, says the Government's working through policy options on a cost-recovery scheme, with an announcement expected soon.
She says National’s commitment to a charging regime is a good sign there'll be widespread parliamentary support
A political commentator says National's leader lacks political instincts.
National health spokesman Michael Woodhouse told leader Todd Muller on Tuesday evening that he was also sent Covid patient data by Michelle Boag.
Woodhouse confessed this morning he was sent four unsolicited emails from Boag between June 21 and 25 which contained patient details, but it was not the same information that was sent to disgraced MP Hamish Walker.
A party spokeswoman said today Woodhouse told Muller this on Tuesday night.
But the next day, Muller was specifically asked by reporters "have you checked with Woodhouse, specifically, whether he received that same information from Boag".
"No," replied Muller and a reporter asked "why not?"
"It's very clear from our perspective there's a conversation that's occurred between Michelle Boag and Hamish Walker. We are confident from what we can see that the issue here relates to Michelle Boag and Hamish Walker."
He said it wasn't accurate to say he didn't know whether other MPs in National had access to that information.
"We are confident from what we can see that the issue here relates to Michelle Boag and Hamish Walker ...You've heard very clearly from the participants that the issue was between Michelle Boag and Hamish Walker."
At no point in yesterday's media stand-up did Muller mention that he knew Boag had sent Covid patient information to Woodhouse.
Commentator Ben Thomas says the party leader should have been more up-front.
"Unfortunately probably reflects a lack of character judgement, which are not the sorts of things you want coming into an election."
He told The Weekend Collective that National didn't capitalise on Labour's own mistakes - with David Clark's resignation as Health Minister not forgotten.
Victoria has reported 273 new cases of coronavirus after a shocking week of record new daily numbers for the state.
Victoria has announced changes in its schooling in response to its second spike in coronavirus cases, with students living in Greater Melbourne and the Mitchell Shire returning to remote learning. A man in his 70s also died overnight in Victoria, taking the national death toll to 108.
While Victoria has reported a staggering 273 new cases of coronavirus today, NSW reported five new cases of the virus, and Queensland has reported zero new cases.
It comes as a cluster of eight coronavirus cases has been recorded among staff at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
The hospital says the cluster includes five cases acquired through community transmission and three cases detected through contact tracing.
It’s the second time the hospital had reported a cluster of cases during the pandemic — the first time was at the beginning when a cluster was detected in March.
Currently no patients have contracted the virus through the hospital.
The Greens want to subsidise the cost of installing solar power with a 50 percent government grant.
It's part of a Clean Energy Plan just released by co-leader James Shaw.
He says the Greens will use grants and low-interest loans as a way of getting businesses to transition to solar.
Shaw says the Party will also upgrade all 63,000 social and community homes, with solar panels and batteries.
"Our next Green Government will finance grants to half the costs of installing solar and batteries at home."
The party's also promising to ban new industrial coal boilers in the first 100 days in Government.
It will also create a $250 million Clean Energy Fund for local renewable energy projects and will make it easier to build wind turbines.
Shaw told The Weekend Collective that this policy will save $1,000 a year per household.
On the matter of jobs, he says that Taranaki has moved quickly away from oil and gas after the ban was put into place, and has adopted hydrogen and biofuel.
Greenpeace spokeswoman Amanda Larsson says the closure of the Tiwai Point aluminium smelter means there will be more hydro-energy available on the market.
"And with an injection of solar and wind and other renewables, it is possible to see out the use of outdated fuels like coal and gas."
Shaw says that the closure means that people can move in and utilise that electricity.
Larsson says that more than half of New Zealanders want to be able to produce their own energy, but there are a lot of barriers, including the upfront cost.
"Being able to get some Government support to be able to make that a bit cheaper will be a real incentive for a lot of people who already want to make their own clean energy."
A message of unity from Labour as campaign season kicks off.
The party held its congress in Wellington today, with a headline speech from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
She announced a five-step plan to tackle the economic fallout from Covid-19, which includes investing in people, creating jobs,- and positioning New Zealand on the world stage.
Ardern says we shouldn't put on the brakes when it's time to speed up - with the party yesterday unveiling its election slogan 'Let's Keep Moving.'
She's also announced an extension to the interest-free cashflow loan scheme to the end of the year - and a multi-million dollar package of 23 nationwide projects to clean up waterways.
Political reporter Aaron Dahmen told the Weekend Collective that this shows that the election campaign is underway.
"Above all, I think the take-home was there is confidence. This is a party that believes it can win all out. These party faithful believe in the Labour Party, and it wants to govern alone."
Applications for the Small Business Loan Cashflow Scheme will be extended until the end of the year.
The deadline was previously extended to July 24, but in a speech today, Jacinda Ardern said the scheme will now run until the end of 2020.
The Government has received 90,000 applications so far - and have paid out over $1.5 billion in loans.
Minster for small business Stuart Nash told The Weekend Collective it will help businesses going through hard times.
"It's an interest-free loan if you pay it back in your first year, but you have got five years to pay it back, and you don't have to start paying it back for two years.
"But this is in a sense to help people with their working capital requirements."
Herald Business reporter Liam Dann says small businesses play a key role in the recovery.
"We have to give the small business people enough support to shift their businesses towards where they are seeing opportunity."
Victoria has recorded 74 new cases of coronavirus overnight as thousands of Melburnians get used to their first full day in strict quarantine lockdown across scores of public apartment blocks. Almost 30 cases were identified in the flats, just north of the CBD.
Residents of the blocks, who won’t be able to leave home for at least five days, will get $1500 in hardship payments and rent relief for the next fortnight.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said while today’s cases were a reduction on the 108 yesterday he expected “to see some big days with big numbers in the days ahead.”
However, he and his state government have been slammed as “incompetent” and “deeply unimpressive” following the COVID surge that began after inept hotel quarantine management.
Some residents of the towers have lashed out at authorities claiming the lockdown on some of the city’s most vulnerable was not fair.
Andrews has said that for the residents of the nine public housing blocks that are in hard lockdown, the only response to a request they should be tested is “yes”.
The government has been caught off guard by reports of up to 10,000 Melburnians refusing to be tested in hot spot suburbs.
Andrews said that wouldn’t be happening in the North Melbourne and Footscray flats. He’s told people to call out their non-testing neighbours.
The government has said it needs five days to test all 3000 residents and get their results back. The premier hinted that if people refused to test, the tough lockdown could last longer.
“I expect that everybody will consent to a test because the sooner we have the testing process concluded the sooner we will be able to make decisions based on the data about the restrictions that are appropriate for those nine towers,” he said at a press conference today.
“If someone knocks on your door to do a test the only answer you should give is yes.
“And if you see someone in your family group, in your friendship group, in your street, who is not taking this seriously, then call them out.”
Andrews said he expected only a “small number” of people to refuse a test.
“My message to those residents is content of the test, agree to the test and find out exactly how much of this virus is in these towers”.
Washington is the latest state to pause its reopening plans after a spike in the number of new cases of coronavirus across the country.
"We all want to get back to doing all the things we love in Washington during the summer, and fully open our economy, but we aren't there yet," Gov. Jay Inslee said Saturday. "This is an evolving situation and we will continue to make decisions based on the data."
At least a dozen other states, including some of the most populous in the country, have taken similar measures in the past few days.
More than half of the states are facing a surge of coronavirus cases and it's threatening to overwhelm hospitals.
"The community's infection rate is three times higher today than it was three months ago," Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner told reporters.
Texas and at least five other states -- Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Tennessee and Utah -- reported the highest single-day totals of new Covid-19 cases, according to the state's health departments. Florida, seen possibly as the next US epicenter, reported its highest one-day total of new cases on Saturday with 9,585 cases.
And it is not just those states seeing rising numbers. The national number of daily coronavirus case reports reached a new high of nearly 40,000 on Friday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, and 32 states are seeing the number of new cases grow from the prior week.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Friday that "nothing has changed in the last week" and the surge was the result of a "test dump."
But the governor of Texas, the nation's second most populous state, paused his state's phased reopening plan and ordered further restrictions on businesses including bars.
More governors have announced that they are not moving ahead to their next reopening phases. Those states include Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico and North Carolina.
Metropolitan areas across the US seeing exponential growth in cases means the nation will likely see a "dramatic increase" in the virus' trajectory, Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor and dean of tropical medicine at Houston's Baylor College of Medicine told CNN.
"At least in the metro areas, we've got people wearing masks now, the bars are closed and we've got some advocacy coming out of the county judge and the mayor," Hotez said about Texas. "I don't know how much this will really slow this incredibly aggressive rise. It's like trying to stop a train coming down the tracks."
'For goodness sakes: avoid crowds'
The rise in cases for more than half of the country comes as people venture outside to enjoy summer activities and relaxed restrictions after a spring spent indoors to curb the virus' spread.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, urged Americans to go back to the basics to prevent spreading or becoming infected with the virus.
"For goodness sakes: avoid crowds, wear masks. Those are the fundamentals that -- when you look at the television clips, when you see pictures in the newspapers -- people are not doing that. That's a recipe for disaster," Fauci told CNBC.
Many institutions are taking steps to disperse large groups. A federal judge ruled Friday that the US government must release migrant children held in government family detention centers by mid-July. They must be released into the care of a parent or, if that is not an option, to "available suitable sponsors or other available COVID-free non-congregate settings" with the consent of their parents or guardians.
In Texas, the Pride Houston parade agreed to hold a virtual rally instead of an in-person event, the organization wrote Friday in a statement on Facebook.
"Pride Houston understands that we do not live in a bubble and we are also in the middle of another public health crisis, the Covid-19 pandemic," the organization wrote.
Following outbreaks after large beach gatherings, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Friday that he will sign an emergency order Satu...
Firearms specialist Nicole McKee has become an Act Party candidate and secured No 3 spot in the party list announced today by leader David Seymour.
The party has a new deputy leader, Brooke Van Velden, who replaces Beth Houlbrooke, and will take the No 2 spot behind Seymour.
McKee is a first-time candidate.
Van Velden stood for Act in Auckland Central last election.
Act's No 3 list candidate Nicole KcKee. Photo / Supplied
On current polling, Seymour would be joined to two or three more Act MPs.
Van Velden has been a parliamentary adviser to Seymour and helped to organise to the passage of the End of Life Choice Act, which will put to voters as a referendum at the September 19 election.
Seymour said Brooke van Velden was qualified in international trade.
Her private sector experience as a corporate affairs consultant and political experience at Parliament had given her a deep understanding of the economy and the effect big government policies and rushed laws have on businesses and individuals.
Van Velden said she switched from being a Green Party voter to an Act supporter while studying economics and international trade at Auckland University.
"The ability for free markets to lift countries from hardship was a revelation for me."
Nicole McKee was a small business owner having delivered firearms safety education in rural and isolated communities for New Zealand Police.
She had a background in law, firearms component imports, was the coordinator of the nation's volunteer firearms safety instructors for the Mountain Safety Council as well as being the spokesperson for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners and its Fair and Reasonable Campaign.
McKee said she would be campaigning to raise Act's Party vote in Rongotai.
"I do not believe that emotive and rushed legislation that adversely affects those it is intended to support is viable.
"Our laws should be rooted in policies that recognise our democratic rights to think, to speak and to behave in a legal and unobstructed way."
Chris Baillie, a secondary teacher and former police officer, is at No 4. He also owns a bar in Nelson employing 30 people.
Simon Court, an engineer, is ranked at No 5 and will stand in Te Atatu. He said his youngest son has Down Syndrome and he intended to take a disability perspective to Parliament.
Act president Tim Jago said the calibre and experience of candidates would impress people from every persuasion.
"We have candidates from all walks of life - people who have built their homes, families and businesses and who want to protect and enhance our free society. Our candidates will bring a strong dose of common sense to Parliament," he said.
Among the candidates were End of Life Choice advocates, a former police officer, two teachers, two lawyers, three farmers, four engineers, eleven business owners, and 13 licensed firearms owners.
Act's new deputy leader Brooke van Velden. Photo / Supplied
The full list, of which only 20 are ranked:
1 - David Seymour
2 - Brooke Van Velden
3 - Nicole McKee
4 - Chris Baillie
5 - Simon Court
6 - James McDowall
7 - Karen Chhour
8 - Mark Cameron
9 - Stephen Berry
10 - Toni Severin
11 - Damien Smith
12 - Miles McConway
13 - Beth Houlbrooke
14 - Carmel Claridge
15 - Bruce Carley
16 - Cameron Luxton
17 - Grae O'Sullivan
18 - Myah Deedman
19 - David Seymour
20 - David King
Richard Evans
Robert Andrews
Stu Armstrong
Sean Beamish
Shawn Blanchfield
Kartini Clarke
Jan Daffern
James Davies
Tommy Fergusson
Sean Fitzpatrick
David Fox
David Freeman
Paul Gilbert
Paul Grace
Wayne Grattan
Roger Greenslade
Abby Johnson
Chris Johnston
Judith Kendall
Pete Kirkwood
Niko Kloeten
Tim Kronfeld
Mike McCormick
Brent Miles
Michael Nees
David Olsen
Grae O'Sullivan
Andy Parkins
Matthew Percival
Jack Phillips
Callum Steele-Macintosh
Basil Walker
Blake Webb
Roger Weldon
Bruce Whitehead
Neil Wilson
Ada Xiao
From tomorrow, Victorians were set to enjoy some of the benefits of eased coronavirus restrictions that many other Australians have been revelling in for weeks.
Cafes, restaurants and pubs were set to increase capacity from 20 people to 50, for instance.
But that won’t be happening. In fact, from midnight tonight, Victorians will have some COVID-19 restrictions reimposed – and they will be enforced by police. A state of emergency will remain in place for the next month.
Household gatherings will be restricted to a maximum of five guests, and public gatherings will have a limit of 10 people. And getting pubs and cafes back to some semblance of normality – well that's going to have to wait too.
Gyms, cinemas, indoor sports centres and concert venues will be allowed to reopen, but with only 20 patrons.
Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said she knew it was “frustrating” to have restrictions reimposed.
“We are all getting tired, we are getting fatigued by all of the restrictions that have been in place, but unless we all take this seriously, unless we all exercise a degree of responsibility here, we will have more cases and we will have more people end up in hospitals,” she said this morning.
Victorians are having to digest the reality that in some suburbs, that have become hot spots for community transmission, those restrictions could be amped up even further.
Across the border in New South Wales is the state that’s seen the most coronavirus cases. In comparison to its northern neighbour, Victoria was doing pretty well. Yet, while Sydneysiders are sinking beers with mates in the pubs and getting back to the gym, Melburnians will end up spending most of their time indoors.
They must be wondering how it all went so wrong, so quickly.
The reason is community transmission. NSW’s five cases on Sunday were all returned travellers. But a substantial chunk of Sunday’s 19 new cases in Victoria and 25 on Saturday are from person to person transmission outside of quarantine.
There are real concerns that a second wave of COVID-19 is possible.
Yesterday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews pointed the finger at people with the virus blithely going about their daily lives regardless.
He said the new cases included “large family outbreaks” where the virus was spread among people in a household, and then to others in the community.
In some cases, those people knew they were infected but went to work or social gatherings anyway, he said.
“If you are sick, do not go out. If you are sick, do not go out,” Mr Andrews said. “You’re putting the rest of Victoria at risk. That is not right.”
The new rules will come into place from midnight and stay in place until midnight on July 12. He said the restrictions were imposed to try and “break the cycle” of people who are unwell continuing to socialise.
He said authorities would go door-to-door to ensure the new rules are being adhered to.
“I want to make it really clear that we have seen some families who have not done as they have been asked,” he said.
“We have seen some families who perhaps through a sense of frustration and their hope that this is over, they have pretended that it is.
“I am not happy to have to confirm this but we will go door-to-door getting the message out there to communities across the state and that these restrictions are there for everyone.
“We will also go door-to-door not just in getting good public health advice out to people, we’ll go door-to-door if we have to make sure people are doing the right thing.”
Those restrictions could include going back to restricting the reasons why people can go outside.
Yesterday, the state’s chief health officer Brett Sutton said Victoria is at a “crossroads” after the latest spike in cases.
“We are indeed at a crossroads,” Dr Sutton said.
“The increase in numbers just in the last few days, in absolute terms, doesn’t look like a great deal but it’s a very significant increase from where we’ve been previously.
Dr Sutton said Victorians had to lis...
Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump showed up in an indoor arena Saturday night for a rally that some fear could help fuel nascent spikes of coronavirus cases in some places, concerns that were amplified after six staffers helping to set up the event tested positive for the virus.
State and city health department officials were already bracing for a possible surge in COVID-19 cases from large outdoor demonstrations against police brutality held across the country. Now the Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, shaped up to be the first indoor event of such a massive scale since the coronavirus pandemic took hold and many states issued stay-at-home orders.
More than 120,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus.
During Saturday's rally, Trump told his supporters the United States has tested 25 million people, far more than any other country. He also told the crowd that more testing leads to finding more positive cases.
Trump said that "so I said to my people slow the testing down, please."
Officials said they expected 100,000 people from many states to converge on Tulsa for the rally and other events, but thousands of the BOK Center's 19,000 seats were empty for the rally. Supporters — most without masks — and hundreds of protesters filled streets Saturday around the stadium.
The Trump campaign's communications director, Tim Murtaugh, said in a statement that "quarantine procedures" were immediately initiated and no staff member who tested positive would attend the event. Those who had immediate contact with them would also abstain.
Brian Bernard sported a Trump 2020 hat on Saturday in downtown Tulsa, but no face covering. He said the numbers and media attention on coronavirus are artificially inflated, and that didn't stop him from making a nine-hour drive from his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to attend his second Trump rally.
"I haven't caught a cold or a flu in probably 15 years, and if I haven't caught a cold or flu yet, I don't think I'm gonna catch COVID," said the 54-year-old from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "I don't think it's anything worse than the flu."
The map of the outbreak in the U.S., and elsewhere, has become a patchwork, with infections falling in some areas and surging in others. In New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo didn't hold a televised coronavirus briefing for the first time in months Saturday — a sign of progress in the state that was home to the epicenter of the outbreak — though he did convene a conference call to make an announcement about baseball spring training.
Other states are seeing increases, and Nevada and Arizona, for instance, have reported record single-day jumps in new cases in recent days.
In Tulsa, health department officials have said two large indoor gatherings recently contributed to a spike in new cases. They declined to name the events or say how big they were, but the city has seen the largest increase in infections in Oklahoma in recent days. Several bordering states, including Arkansas, have also seen spikes in community spread of the virus in recent weeks.
That is worrying some experts as Tulsa prepares again for Trump's large indoor gathering.
"I think there's no question that indoor events are more risky than outdoor events. But we don't really know how big that difference is. And certainly other aspects, like how tightly packed things are ... will make a big difference," said Justin Lessler, an associate professor of epidemiology at John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Lessler said large events like the rally or the protests have the "potential to be super spreader events," but their potential to drive the pandemic is short-lived.
"The larger factor is what happens when people go home," he said. "If everybody goes home and doesn't respect the social distancing factors and goes out into the community, then they could push the spread."
On its website, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that people hoping to attend an event take into...
A leading epidemiologist says we could stay at Level 1 indefinitely if we prevent outbreaks of Covid-19 on our shores.
New Zealand has two new cases today, taking the total number of confirmed and probable cases to 1,511.
Both are recent arrivals from overseas who were detected within managed isolation facilities.
It comes after a week where two British women tested positive for Covid-19 after being let out of Auckland's Novotel on compassionate exemptions.
Professor Michael Baker told the Weekend Collective it would be worrying if we had a case come from out of the blue.
"What would be really alarming would be if you saw a case that had no connection with someone who had been through quarantine, as then you'd be concerned about community transmission again."
He says that it is concerning how many people were let out of quarantine without being tested, but we will need to wait to see if they have spread anything.
Baker says we should know the numbers of how many were released.
However, despite the pain and reputational damage this blunder has caused, he says that it was a necessary event.
"You cans ee from the Government's response, additional ministerial scrutiny, the additional staff to oversee the process, in some way, this is the wake-up call we really needed."
A National-led Government would not increase taxes or cut benefits, its leader Todd Muller has promised.
In fact, the new opposition leader today revealed that if he is Prime Minister, National would spend more money on the "welfare safety net".
He also said the previous National Government did not move fast or boldly enough on issues such as climate change and addressing New Zealand's social deficit.
Muller made the commitments in a wide-ranging speech in his home town of Te Puna this afternoon.
The National leader touched on many topics, including his family, his early life and his private-sector experience.
But a major element of his speech was setting out the priorities of a National-led Government.
Chief among those was "the welfare of every New Zealander" and rebuilding the economy in the wake of the Covid-19 recession.
"National will not increase the taxes New Zealanders pay. Nor will we ever cut benefits, and we will continue to increase New Zealand's investment in hospitals, schools and the welfare safety net," he said.
And he revealed he has been getting advice from some National Party heavy-hitters of old."I have taken advice in the last few weeks from my friends, colleagues and mentors John Key, Bill English and Steven Joyce."
Muller praised former Prime Minister Bill English's Living Standards Framework and confirmed that the metrics would be at the heart of any budget put together by a National Government he leads.
Although full of praise for English – a political mentor of Muller's – the National leader was somewhat critical of his party when it was last in Government.
Todd Muller, centre, with former prime minister John Key, left, and Simon Bridges. Photo / File
He said successive governments should have acted "faster and more boldly" on issues such as water management and climate change.
On the latter, Muller said he was proud of the work he had done on getting National to support the first reading of the Zero Carbon bill.
He cited the work done by Greens Co-Leader James Shaw on that piece of legislation.
Muller also said the previous government had not moved fast enough, or boldly enough, to address New Zealand's social deficit, help the underclass, or "however you describe the deep-seated social problems we continue to see all around us".
Although critical of previous governments, Muller was at times complimentary of past Labour governments.
"Credit where due: Helen Clark and Michael Cullen also ran strong surpluses for most of their time in office."
But that was where the credit for Labour began, and ended in his speech.
He took aim at today's Government, accusing it of using "wellbeing" as a "cheap slogan".
"The Government speaks of 'wellbeing' but I struggle to see 'wellbeing' embedded in anything it is doing. For the Government, I think 'wellbeing' means no more in practice than 'KiwiBuild' did."
He lambasted the Government for failing to deliver in a number of areas, including mental health, tertiary education, the economy and child poverty.
"The Prime Minister put herself in charge of child poverty reduction, but her clumsy and incompetent ministers have made it worse," he said.
"It's KiwiBuild, but this time it's more of our children living in poverty, much to the Government's shame."
He said New Zealand could not risk a Labour Government being in charge of the economic and unemployment crisis ahead.
"Someone once said: 'Let's do this,'" he said in reference to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's 2017 campaign slogan.
"I say: 'Sure. But you need a National Government to get it done'.
Martin Luther King's son says there is a clear racial problem within the US police.
It follows weeks of unrest after the killing of African-American man George Floyd by a police officer, and more recently the death of Rayshard Brooks, who was shot by police in Atlanta.
It's sparked protests both in the US and around the world, with demonstrators calling for an end to racism.
The protests have made their way to New Zealand, with two happening today in Auckland and Wellington.
Martin Luther King lll told The Weekend Collective both incidents are truly tragic.
“Policeman know how to apprehend – or at least used to – without killing. When it comes to apprehending black suspects, it always ends up fatal.
“There’s something drastically wrong with that.”
However, he says it is great to see so many people protesting for human rights.
King threw his support behind New Zealand protesters.
“My dad used to say that the greatness of democracy or the democratic system is the right to protest for rights. People are protesting for justice, for righteousness, for equality, all over the world.”
Protesters wait for the start of the Black Lives Matter rally in Aotea Square in Auckland. Photo / RNZ
The Auckland march, which started at Aotea Square, headed down Queen St and ended at the US consulate, where protesters took a knee and observed a minute of silence for George Floyd.
The Auckland rally opened with a karakia at Aotea Square and a mihi whakatau by Graham Tipene, of Ngāti Whātua, who told the crowd to "keep it peaceful".
"Our kids are here, so let's do it right and fight for what's right."
There were some counter-protesters, including some who yelled out "all lives matter" during speeches, but those there for the BLM gathering were told to ignore them, or to take a knee if they saw them.
In Wellington, close to 3000 protesters are marching from Civic Square to Parliament.
Lambton Quay is flooded with those showing solidarity.
Traffic is being diverted away from the street as the march arrives at Parliament.
"This is not a moment, this a movement," one speaker said outside Parliament.
The crowd of thousands erupted into applause and cheers.
"The future is us," the crowd said back.
"The future is change, the future is us, the future is freedom," the crowd can be heard chanting.
The Black Lives Matter march at Parliament. Photo / Jason Walls
Shane Jones has been announced as New Zealand First's candidate for Northland.
Jones is set to go up against National MP Matt King who currently holds the seat, a battle that is tipped to decide this year's election.
Political commentator Shane Te Pou gives Jones a fair go.
"I think there might not be a dead deal on the table, but Willow-Jean Prime is likely to be the Labour candidate, might just tone it down a bit.
"I think he's in with a shot."
Mr Te Pou believes, like Party leader Winston Peters, Jones has enough of an image to win over the public.
"No he's not a Winston, but he is a high-profile in his own right - born and bred in the far North."
Evan Roberts is a kiwi living in Minnesota and gives The Weekend Collective an insight into what life is like as riots erupt across America.
NZ Herald Business Editor at large Liam Dann discusses who is going to be able to bounce back quicker from the economic impact of covid-19.
Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick welcomes the number of people who have travelled into the city over the holiday weekend.
Todd Muller and Nikki Kaye likely face a difficult challenge when it comes to the September election.
The two have rolled Simon Bridges and Paula Bennett for the National Party leadership and deputy role respectively, after two polls showed National and Bridges' popularity had dropped.
However, there are rumours that Muller won narrowly - with some sources claiming there was just one vote separating the leaders.
"It came down to a number of MPs very worried about their survival and about having a job in Parliament after the election."
The issue now for Muller and Kaye is trying to make their mark before going to the polls in September.
If they don't win, Bradford says the party could then be in the same position again at the end of the year.
"If National lose, can they hold onto those jobs, or will the party want to see someone else come in? And that's the risk Todd and Nikki have taken in doing this, is they know the task ahead of them now is massive."
Beijing's plan to introduce a hugely controversial national security law in Hong Kong has sparked widespread fears over its potential impact on the city's much-cherished freedoms.
Residents of the semi-autonomous city only need to look across the border at mainland China to get a glimpse of how "national security" -- broadly and vaguely defined -- can be used as a convenient pretext for the political prosecution of dissidents, activists, human rights lawyers and journalists.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, for example, was sentenced to 11 years in prison for "inciting subversion of state power." Prior to his arrest, Liu helped draft a manifesto calling for democracy and political reform in China. Liu died of multiple organ failure in 2017 after being diagnosed with liver cancer, making him the first Nobel Peace Prize winner to die in state custody since Carl von Ossietzky, who was imprisoned by Nazi Germany.
China enacted its first National Security Law in 1993, which focused on issues relating to espionage activities. That law was replaced by the Counterespionage Law in 2014 with updated rules that more closely targeted foreign spies -- as well as Chinese individuals and organizations who collaborate with them.
In 2015, China passed a sweeping new National Security Law covering a much wider array of areas, including, but not limited to defense, politics, the economy, the environment, technology, cyberspace, outer space, culture, ideology and religion.
The new law is part of a broader push by Chinese President Xi Jinping to strengthen national security. A year after he came to office, Xi set up a powerful National Security Commission -- which he heads himself -- to lead the effort and increase coordination among the various wings of the country's security bureaucracy.
But long before the new National Security Law went into effect, the Chinese government had been throwing dissidents, activists, human rights lawyers and journalists in jail for national security crimes -- a trend that has only intensified under Xi's crushing crackdown on activism and dissent.
Jailed on national security grounds
In 2014, Uyghur economist Ilham Tohti was sentenced to life imprisonment for "separatism." Before he was imprisoned, Tohti was known for his research on Uyghur-Han relations and has been a vocal critic of the government's ethnic policies in Xinjiang, a resource-rich region long inhabited by the Uyghur minority.
In 2015, veteran journalist Gao Yu was handed a seven-year jail sentence for "illegally providing state secrets to foreign entities." She was accused of disclosing an internal party document in 2013 to an overseas Chinese-language news organization.
Known as "Document No.9," it revealed the Chinese Communist Party's ideological battle plan to counter advocates of constitutional democracy, banning public discussions on topics ranging from press freedom, civil rights to judicial independence.
In November 2015, Gao's term was reduced to five years, and was allowed to serve her sentence outside prison on medical grounds. She also served more than five years in jail in the 1990s on similar charges.
More recently, China sentenced Wang Yi, a prominent pastor of one of China's largest house churches, to nine years in jail at the end of December. He was convicted of "inciting subversion of state power."
National security crimes of subversion and inciting subversion were also used by the Chinese government to imprison human rights lawyers and activists detained in July 2015 -- a nationwide roundup later became known as the infamous "709 crackdown."
In the summer of 2016, Lawyer Zhou Shifeng was sentenced to seven years in prison for "subverting state power," and democracy advocate Hu Shigen was jailed for seven and a half years for the same crime.
In 2017, lawyer Jiang Tianyong was sentenced to two years in jail for "inciting subversion of state power," and human rights activist Wu Gan was handed a jail term of eight years for...
National will be hoping that Todd Muller has the same "pixie dust" effect of Jacinda Ardern.
Muller on Friday ousted Bridges for the party's top job today in a Caucus vote on the back of two polls putting the party well behind Labour.
After his win, Muller said he isn't interested in opposing just for the sake of it, as people are all tired of that kind of politics, and he's about ideas that get results.
Former MP Peter Dunne told The Weekend Collective that there is a game-changer for National.
"I've known Todd for probably 25 years so his success doesn't surprise me, though the timing does surprise. Though go back three years, six weeks before the election and Labour changed their leader and the rest is history."
He says that Labour proved last time that it isn't political suicide to change leaders so close to an election.
A Chinese political specialist says there's nothing to panic about when it comes to New Zealand and China's relationship.
Last week, Winston Peters spoke out in support of Taiwan's membership of the World Health Organisation, sparking a rebuke from China.
Professor Anne Marie Brady told The Weekend Collective the Government should be defending the decisions they have made - including closing the borders when we needed to.
"It's just a normal part of our foreign policy that our Government will defend our interests."
The Tourism Minister is defending his tourism support package.
A $400 million support package was announced in the budget last week, to help the industry transition to domestic tourism.
Some businesses say it's not enough, with Hobbiton Chief Executive Russell Alexander calling the package a joke.
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis told The Weekend Collective they're criticizing it before engaging with it.
"To suggest that we should be funding some businesses until international tourism starts again, I think that is unsustainable."
The Tourism Minister is defending his tourism support package.
A $400 million support package was announced in the budget last week, to help the industry transition to domestic tourism.
Some businesses say it's not enough, with Hobbiton Chief Executive Russell Alexander calling the package a joke.
Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis told The Weekend Collective they're criticizing it before engaging with it.
"To suggest that we should be funding some businesses until international tourism starts again, I think that is unsustainable."
The National Party is pushing for religious gatherings to get the green light at alert level two.
At level two, religious gatherings are limited to 10 people.
National MP and pastor Alfred Ngaro told The Weekend Collective there was no rational explanation from the Government to why churches couldn't have more than 10 people.
"If there was one flat rule for all, then no one would be arguing."
He says the country obeyed the level four and level three rules for seven weeks, and people shouldn't be told they can't go back to Church, when restaurants, gyms and retail can operate.
"We don't live in a dictatorship, we live in a democracy, and the very thing that democracy is based on is the freedom of choice."
Earlier this week, the limit for attendees at funerals were increased from 10 to 50.
Last year, Ngaro decided against launching a new political party with a religious focus, that was seen as an attempt to give National a potential coalition partner for this year's election.
With much of the American economy in self-imposed shutdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus, April's colossal surge in unemployment delivered a historic blow to workers.
The US economy lost 20.5 million jobs in April, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said Friday — by far the most sudden and largest decline since the government began tracking the data in 1939.
Those losses follow steep cutbacks in March as well, when employers slashed 870,000 jobs. Those two months amount to layoffs so severe, they more than double the 8.7 million jobs lost during the financial crisis.
For many Americans who lost their jobs and their homes in the 2008 financial crisis, this moment reopens old wounds. It took years to rebound from those setbacks. When the economy eventually did crawl back, US employers added 22.8 million jobs over 10 years — a victory for all those who had weathered the Great Recession.
Now, the coronavirus pandemic stings not only because of the public health crisis it has inflicted — but also because it wiped out nearly that whole decade of job gains in just two months.
The unemployment rate soared to 14.7% in April, its highest level since the BLS started recording the monthly rate in 1948. The last time American joblessness was that severe was the Great Depression: The unemployment rate peaked at 24.9% in 1933, according to historical annual estimates from the BLS.
By all accounts, it's been a devastating two months for American workers.
"Each unemployed person is a person whose life is now in turmoil," White House Economic Advisor Kevin Hassett told CNN's Poppy Harlow, describing the report as "heartbreaking."
How we got here
In late March, state and local governments enacted stay-at-home orders to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Businesses suddenly closed en masse, laying off or furloughing millions of workers.
The government's jobs report shows some of the steepest job losses in leisure and hospitality, which lost 7.7 million jobs, and retail, which lost 2.1 million jobs.
Even as hospitals struggled to serve an influx in patients, health care workers suffered layoffs, too, with outpatient services like physicians and dentists' offices cutting 1.2 million jobs in April.
Food and beverage stores, which have also been essential during the crisis, lost 42,000 jobs.
And as terrible as those numbers are, they don't tell the full story.
The jobs numbers come from a survey of employers, and do not include independent contractors like Uber and Lyft drivers in the gig economy.
Likewise, the unemployment rate, which comes from a survey of households, probably undercounts the number of jobless Americans, too.
People are only counted as "unemployed" by the BLS when they have been out of work but actively searched for a new job in the prior four weeks. Or, if they were a "temporary layoff" with the expectation of being rehired within six months.
Among the 23 million people who were counted as unemployed in April, about 18 million were "on temporary layoff." While that's a stark number, it could be an encouraging sign that for many people, job losses could be short lived — and they'll be able to return to work when businesses re-open.
That said, millions of other laid-off workers were not even included in the unemployment rate. With much of the country still under stay-at-home orders, many jobless workers weren't looking for new jobs in April. Instead of being counted as "unemployed," those people were categorized as having dropped out of the labor force. The employment-population ratio, which measures the share of the US population over age 16 with a job, shrank to 51.3% in April, down from 60% in March and its lowest level on record since the BLS started tracking that number in 1948.
Economists expect many people will be able to find work again as businesses gradually reopen, but it could take months or even years for the job market to return to its pre-pandemic strength.
Ripple effects
Historically, the most disruptive...
The Government is under fire, for its handling of the release of hundreds of official Covid 19 documents.
The documents were proactively released late on Friday afternoon.
A leaked email, obtained by Newstalk ZB, shows ministers were told not to do media interviews on the contents of the documents.
Political reporter Jason Walls told The Weekend Collective the approach doesn't fit the Government's kind and transparent brand.
"For there to be a memo saying basically, 'New Zealanders think we're doing great, we don't have to be as transparent and front up with ministers on this', a lot of people would have the right to be completely disappointed in that."
National says the economy has to be a factor, in any decision on when to move New Zealand out of Alert Level Two.
Cabinet will decide tomorrow whether New Zealand will transition to Alert Level Two later in the week.
New Zealand has recorded another two more cases of Covid 19 since yesterday, and two more people remain in hospital.
National finance spokesman Paul Goldsmith told The Weekend Collective cabinet needs to be cautious - but it can't be too conservative.
"You've got to focus on making sure that we've got contact tracing, so if there is a bounce back, we can move fast.
"But if you're ultra-conservative about it and go very slowly, then every passing week has a real impact on livelihoods and jobs and wellbeing."
Popular tourism towns are disappointed in the potential rules for Alert Level 2.
The Government announced last week that safely reconnecting families and communities was a "social and economic necessity" but re-iterated people should still avoid non-essential travel during level 2.
Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult told The Weekend Collective getting domestic travel back up and running is a priority for many towns who rely on tourism.
"We're making submissions to Government to have social distancing laws in relation to travel restricted so we can get a decent level of domestic business back into the town."
Six months from Election Day, President Donald Trump's prospects for winning a second term have been jolted by a historic pandemic and a cratering economy, rattling some of his Republican allies and upending the playbook his campaign had hoped to be using by now against Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump's standing has slumped as the nation's focus on him has intensified during the coronavirus outbreak, revealing an erratic and often self-absorbed approach to the crisis. The result: He's losing ground in some battleground states with key constituencies, including senior citizens and college-educated men — all without his Democratic challenger having devoted much energy or money to denting the president.
"It's Donald J. Trump versus the coronavirus and the recovery," said Scott Reed, the senior political strategist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. "Biden is a sideshow."
For some Republicans, the prospect of an election that is almost wholly a referendum on Trump is unnerving. Though the president's base remains loyal, a significant portion of GOP voters view him skeptically on a range of personal qualities. He pulled many of those voters to his side in the 2016 election by drawing an aggressive contrast with Democrat Hillary Clinton. He planned to do the same in 2020 with Biden, with the added tailwind of a surging American economy.
Now, that economy is crumbling around Trump. A staggering 30 million Americans have lost their jobs in the past six weeks as businesses have shuttered due to stay-at-home restrictions aimed at containing the pandemic. One of the president's own economic advisers predicted nationwide unemployment could reach 20% by June.
When his back is against the wall, Trump often responds by lashing out at a political opponent, hoping to expose flaws that detract from his own. But with Americans consumed by the pandemic and economic uncertainty, Republicans close to the president and his campaign say Trump's team will struggle to break through with any attacks on Biden for some time. Instead, the public's focus remains squarely on Trump and his handling of the health and economic crises.
"Trump is completely dominating the public's attention, and it's not helping him," said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist who advised Sen. Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign.
In public polling, the president's approval rating hasn't dropped significantly since the fast-moving virus swept through parts of the U.S. According to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research conducted in late April, 42% of Americans approved of Trump's job performance. That's about where it's been for the past few months.
But both Democratic and Republican pollsters and strategists say they are seeing signs of weakness in critical states and demographic groups. Those findings are confirmed by some of the Trump campaign's own data. When briefed on campaign polling in recent days, Trump erupted in anger, according to several people with knowledge of the conversation.
Private polling shows Trump in a weaker position in several pivotal states, including Michigan, Florida and Wisconsin. He's also sagging with senior citizens and college-educated men, according to GOP operatives who have viewed recent polling. Some pollsters said they've seen signs that lower-educated women are also drifting away from the president.
Independents are largely irrelevant, the operatives said, but only because they had already abandoned the president before the pandemic. A half-dozen operatives and pollsters spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss private data.
Trump's campaign argues the dynamic will reset after the president and his team can unleash a full array of attacks on Biden, who became the presumptive Democratic nominee just as the pandemic began bearing down on the United States. Trump campaign aides say they see vulnerabilities in Biden's previous dealings with China and on his support for free trade agreements. The c...
People will still be able to appeal against infrastructure projects but they'll have less time to do so.
The Government's making changes to the Resource Management Act to speed up the consent process.
The changes, which are likely to be passed in June, means roading, walking, cycling, rail, and housing projects can be approved faster.
A panel - headed by an Environment Court judge - will approve consents for housing, transport and environmental projects, instead of councils.
Environment Minister David Parker says it will hear submissions from business, infrastructure and environmental groups.
"The processes that include public participation and appeal rights to the Environment Court are being truncated."
Parker says getting people back to work is the main reason resource consents are being sped up.
"The environmental protections and obligations to comply with regional plans will still apply. It is just that the consent process where people need a consent will run faster."
National Party leader Simon Bridges is still defending his controversial Facebook post.
Bridges was forced to defend himself after facing a flurry of online fury over the post about the Government's decision to extend the level 4 lockdown.
The Facebook post has attracted more than 16,000 reactions – many of them negative - and the Opposition leader has been facing speculation from some in the media that his job might be on the line.
Other members of his party defended his leadership, but many commentators have since doubled down on their criticism of his leadership.
Talking to The Weekend Collective, Bridges repeated his mantra that he makes no excuses and would repeat his comments.
He says that the anger from people could be due to some people being hit harder by the pandemic than others.
"There's a couple kinds of people in New Zealand at the moment. There are those us with a job and are getting paid and at home," Bridges said, quoting Mike Hosking in saying that these people are "baking banana bread".
"There's another group where people are suffering. It could be because their business is going under or they know that their job is gone or in jeopardy."
Asked if he thinks his comments seem that he is not rowing in the same direction as New Zealanders, Bridges says he congratulates the Government and New Zealanders on the job done so far.
“We’ve flattened the curve, but I’m focused on what’s coming.”
He confirmed that there were two statements prepared; one about the extension, which was what was published, and a second if we had moved straight to level three.
Bridges says that the second one would have been “less strong”.
Rumours are intensifying about Kim Jong-un's condition as a Chinese team including health care experts is dispatched into North Korea to treat him, Reuters reports.
The trip by Chinese doctors and officials to Pyongyang comes after reports the North Korean leader was in a critical condition after cardiovascular surgery.
A delegation including the medical staff and led by a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party's International Liaison Department left Beijing for North Korea on Thursday.
Earlier in the week, South Korean news site Daily NK reported Kim was recovering after undergoing a cardiovascular procedure on April 12.
US officials said they were told Kim's condition was critical after the surgery, although President Donald Trump has since cast doubt on the report.
Seoul officials and a source within the Liaison Department have challenged reports Kim was gravely ill.
Speculation about Kim's condition has escalated in the two weeks since he was last seen in public, at a politburo meeting on April 11.
On April 15, he was conspicuous in his absence from birthday celebrations of the founder of the North Korean state, his grandfather and state founder Kim Il Sung.
Kim has been out of the public eye for extended periods in the past, and North Korea's secretive nature allows few outsiders to assert confidently whether he might be unwell, let alone incapacitated. Still, questions about the North's political future are likely to grow if he fails to attend upcoming public events.
Kim is the third generation of his family to rule North Korea, and a strong personality cult has been built around him, his father and grandfather. The family's mythical "Paektu" bloodline, named after the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula, is said to give only direct family members the right to rule the nation.
That makes Kim's younger sister, senior ruling party official Kim Yo Jong, the most likely candidate to step in if her brother is gravely ill, incapacitated or dies. But some experts say a collective leadership, which could end the family's dynastic rule, could also be possible.
"Among the North's power elite, Kim Yo Jong has the highest chance to inherit power, and I think that possibility is more than 90 per cent," said analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea.
"North Korea is like a dynasty, and we can view the Paektu descent as royal blood so it's unlikely for anyone to raise any issue over Kim Yo Jong taking power."
Believed to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo Jong is in charge of North Korea's propaganda affairs, and earlier this month was made an alternate member of the powerful Politburo.
She has frequently appeared with her brother at public activities, standing out among elderly male officials. She accompanied Kim Jong Un on his high-stakes summits with President Donald Trump and other world leaders. Her proximity to him during those summits led many outsiders to believe she's essentially North Korea's No. 2 official.
"I think the basic assumption would be that maybe it would be someone in the family" to replace Kim Jong Un, US national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters this week.
"But again, it's too early to talk about that because we just don't know, you know, what condition Chairman Kim is in and we'll have to see how it plays out."
The fact North Korea is an extremely patriarchal society has led some to wonder if Kim Yo Jong would only serve as a temporary figurehead and then be replaced by a collective leadership similar to ones established after the deaths of other Communist dictators.
"North Korean politics and the three hereditary power transfers have been male-centred. I wonder whether she can really overcome bloody socialist power struggles and exercise her power," said Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea.
A collective leadership would likely be headed by Choe Ryong Hae, North Korea's ceremonial head of state who officially ranked No. 2 in the cou...
The idea of a trans-Tasman bubble is gaining momentum -- but it's unlikely it'll happen anytime soon.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has hinted travel to Australia for business could start more quickly that we think.
Peters says he's open to starting on a state-by-state basis.
But, Finance Minister Grant Robertson says while an arrangement could happen in future, Kiwis shouldn't expect to be freely travelling back and forth to Australia yet.
Epidemiologist, Professor Michael Baker told the Weekend Collective it's something to look forward to but it's some distance off.
"Really it's going to be weeks before we can really have a serious discussion about opening our borders with anyone."
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters says there is "no value" in trying to save people who have coronavirus if it means greater social damage is caused.
We need to save our economy as fast as we can before further damage is caused, Peters told Newstalk ZB's The Weekend Collective.
The decision on whether New Zealand will move down to alert level 3 will be announced at 4pm today.
"The secret is that we keep a sense of balance," Peters said.
"In other words it would be of no value if we save a lot of Covid people in our approach - and yet during it we've got all sorts of things like depression, suicide, breakdowns and a whole lot of other social things having far greater social damage.
"In the end the only thing that's going to save lives, isn't just medical expertise - but an economy that's capable of providing the utilities to face the crisis."
He also hit back at those who say alert level 3 isn't much different to level 4.
Recently National's Judith Collins said level 3 is just like level 4 but with KFC.
Peters said level 3 has changed since the alert level system was introduced 30 days ago, arguing we know more now from watching the pandemic unfold both domestically and internationally.
He said level 3 means 500,000 more people can go back to work.
"It's sad people have to get political in times like this," he said.
"If you can't help then get out of the way of people who are trying to help".
There were nine new confirmed or probable cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand announced on Sunday, taking the total of confirmed and probable cases to 1431.
There was one new death since Saturday, Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield announced at the 1pm Government update.
The death brings the total toll to 12 and was of a man who died in his Invercargill homeand who was linked to the Bluff wedding cluster. It is the first coronavirus death in the community.
The man, aged in his 70s, died in his Kingswell home on Tuesday evening. The Bluff wedding cluster has been connected to more than 90 cases, including the death of the groom's father.
Bloomfield said it was important to get a good understanding of the death so a post-mortem was ordered - leading to the delay in confirmation that it was Covid-related.
The new cases are made up of four confirmed cases and five probable cases.
They are all linked to confirmed cases.
Of the 1431 confirmed and probable cases in New Zealand, 912 people have recovered - an increase of 45 from Saturday.
There are 18 people in hospital, including one each in ICU at Middlemore, Dunedin and North Shore hospitals; two are in a critical condition.
President Donald Trump will watch Easter come and go this weekend without the nation "raring to go" as a new debate buds over whether May 1 is now the target date of revival.
Instead of joining packed pews at his usual 11 a.m. ET service at the stone Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump said this week he'll livestream Easter on a laptop from a megachurch in Dallas. And instead of brunch and an egg hunt on the lawn at Mar-a-Lago, Trump is spending the weekend in Washington anxiously looking ahead to the decision he says is the biggest of his presidency.
In late night meetings inside the White House Roosevelt Room, Trump's advisers this week hashed out what might be necessary to declare the country reopen for business in three weeks' time, according to administration officials. Even as coronavirus cases are expected to peak soon in the United States, Trump has begun looking forward to the day he can tell the American people the worst is over.
If the curve is flattening, sources say Trump has asked in meetings, shouldn't some people be allowed back to work? And if the total number of dead is now projected lower, could a reopening happen sooner?
"We're looking at a date," Trump said Friday. "We hope we're going to be able to fulfill a certain date, but we're not doing anything until we know that this country is going to be healthy."
In public, Trump has been coy about offering a specific date for reopening the country after he was forced to back off his initial Easter timetable. But internally officials are pushing to do so by next month and there are specific discussions underway about May 1, a person familiar with the talks said.
It's a date few health experts, including those advising him at the White House, feel comfortable endorsing outright. Privately they have cautioned that it could take longer to get testing up to speed throughout the country, including not only for the tests that determine if someone has coronavirus but those that determine if someone has had it without knowing. Those health officials are being assured by other aides that testing will be on par within weeks, but doubts remain, people familiar with the talks said.
Aides already predict an eventual clash between those who want the economy reopened and those who caution a more gradual approach.
Trump insisted Friday he would give both sides a hearing, even as he claimed that "staying at home leads to death also."
"I will certainly listen. Two sides, remember. I understand the other side of the argument very well," he said when asked whether he would heed the advice of his health team if they tell him May 1 is unrealistic to reopen the country.
Pressed later what metrics he would use, he simply pointed to his head.
"That's my metrics," he said. "I'm going to have to make a decision and I only hope to God that it's the right decision. But I would say without question it's the biggest decision I've ever had to make."
Everyone bending his ear
As conversations intensify in the White House about how and when to give guidance to reopen the country, the President is talking more and more to friends from Wall Street, hedge fund managers and others in the financial world pressuring him to put a specific date on the calendar for when businesses can reopen -- and to do it soon, according to a person familiar with the President's conversations.
Meanwhile, the President's allies in conservative media have begun waging a campaign to discredit some on his team as narrowly focused on charts and models rather than the economic pain inflicted on millions of Americans.
Rush Limbaugh, the conservative radio host whom Trump awarded a surprise Medal of Freedom during this year's State of the Union address, called Dr. Anthony Fauci -- the nation's top infectious disease expert -- a "Clinton sympathizer" on his program this week. Tucker Carlson, whose intervention in early March helped Trump take the outbreak more seriously, said on his Fox program Fauci had be...
Act leader David Seymour had criticised the Government for carrying on as though business is usual.
The Government is continuing to advance legislation around vaping, tenancy act, and prisoner voting.
Seymour told The Weekend Collective that these issues have been around for years, and could have waited until after the lockdown.
"I think it would be the right thing for the Government to hit pause."
He says that the public has been asked to stay home, and it is difficult to comprehend why the Government is carrying on with these issues.
With warmer weather beckoning, Italians are straining against a strict lockdown to halt the coronavirus that is just now showing signs of ebbing at the end of five weeks of mass isolation.
Italy was the first Western democracy to be hit by the virus, and it has been leading the official global death toll with 19,468 victims through Saturday. Now it is likely to set an example of how to lift broad restrictions that have imposed the harshest peacetime limits on personal freedom and shut down all nonessential industry.
Right now, schools are closed and children are not permitted to play in parks. Walks outdoors are limited to a distance of 200 meters (less than a quarter-mile) and any excursion not strictly a matter of necessity risks hefty fines.
The official line is patience with measures that have shown success in slowing the virus spread, until there is a clear decline in the number of new cases. Still, officials have begun grappling with the question of how to manage social distancing on mass transit, re-open ordinary commerce and relaunch manufacturing without risking another peak.
The so-called Phase II is being described as a cautious reopening, as society continues to live alongside the virus until a vaccine can be developed, perhaps in 12 to 18 months.
"We obviously don't want to delude ourselves that everything will change," Premier Giuseppe Conte told Italians this week.
On Friday, Conte extended the nationwide lockdown through May 3. That includes all nonessential industry, after which, "I hope we can start again with caution and gradually — but restart," he said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for others, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause severe symptoms like pneumonia.
A technical committee advising the government is working to expand testing for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. to get a better picture of how widespread it is in Italy before measures can be eased. Preparations are also underway to launch a mobile app that will allow people to know if they have been near anyone who is positive, something that is expected to take at least a month.
"With this you can allow people to have more freedom of movement," said Walter Ricciardi, a public health expert and member of the World Health Organization board who is advising the Italian government.
The technology for the app already exists, but authorities were working on technical details on how to deploy it.
Experts in Italy are coordinating with their European partners so the tracking can be applied across borders, which have been de facto closed by the virus. The goal is to establish a common technology, which could help in re-establishing freedom of movement among EU nations.
Using the app would be voluntary for anyone wanting to know whether they have come into contact with an infected person that they would have no other way of identifying. Any contacts would be tested, and if positive treated, according to the WHO initiative: trace, test and treat.
Advocates insist that anonymity would be protected and that no personal data would be at risk, likening the app to other widely used applications like Google Maps or TripAdvisor, which help users identify specific data.
Italy's hardest-hit regions in the north are also floating proposals for immunity certificates based on antibody blood tests, which haven't yet proved reliable. Virus experts caution that such documents are a long way off.
"The blood test only tells us if the person has been in contact with the virus," not if the subject is actually immune, said Andrea Crisanti, an expert at the University of Padova who is helping to coordinate the coronavirus response in the northeastern region of Veneto. Significantly, he said, the tests also don't show whether antibodies are active, their quantity or how long they might last.
"On a social level, the blood test would allow us to understand to what e...
The head of the Taxpayer's Unions has admitted it is embarrassing but necessary that they accepted Government money.
The lobby group, which is focused on lower taxes and better public spending, has always vowed it would never take taxpayer support.
However, it was revealed last week it had received over $60,000 from the wage subsidy scheme.
Executive Director Jordan Williams told The Weekend Collective that he never thought they would be in this position.
"Like every not for profit around New Zealand, we're totally reliant on the goodwill of New Zealanders supporting us and donating to our work, and the choice was between laying off staff versus swallowing the principles and saving jobs."
He says that only 15 per cent of their funding last year came from corporate groups.
He says that before the wage subsidy was released, they had released a report calling for the government to use taxpayer money to support businesses and frontline workers.
"This is the rainy day. It is right for the government to be supporting and compensating organisations because of this government's mandated lockdown."
A National MP on the Epidemic Response Committee wants New Zealand to be tougher at the border.
Mark Mitchell told The Weekend Collective that we still haven't got that right, and it's a big risk to tackling Covid-19.
He says that 4,000 people arriving since Alert Level 4 have been allowed to quarantine at their own homes, and thinks they should have been better monitored.
"That should be monitored 24/7 quarantine."
Mitchell says the POlice didn't have the capacity to check each of those plans.
President Donald Trump warned Saturday that the country could be headed into its "toughest" weeks yet as the coronavirus death toll mounts, but at the same time he expressed growing impatience with social distancing guidelines and said he's eager to get the country reopened and its stalled economy back on track.
"There will be a lot of death, unfortunately," Trump said in a somber start to his daily briefing on the pandemic. "There will be death."
Joining Trump were Vice President Mike Pence, virus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the U.S. government's foremost infection disease expert. Each stood far apart from one another on the small stage.
Trump added a twist on his familiar push for a drug that hasn't been clearly shown to work to stop the virus — he said he may start taking it as a preventative measure after consulting with his doctor, even though there's no evidence to show it works for that, either.
The president initially had suggested the country could reopen by Easter but pulled back seeing projections of a staggering death toll even if restrictive measures remain in place. But just days after extending tough national guidelines through the end of April, staring down historic levels of unemployment and economic standstill, he was talking about reopening as soon as possible, and speaking Saturday with leaders of professional sports leagues about filling arenas again.
"This country was not designed to be closed," he said. "The cure cannot be worse than the problem."
The number of people infected in the U.S. has exceeded 300,000, with the death toll climbing past 8,100; more than 3,500 of those deaths are in the state of New York. For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death.
Much of the country is under orders to stay home, including professional sports leagues that were among the first to clamp down in the pandemic. Trump spoke by phone with top leaders including Roger Goodell of the National Football League and the NBA's Adam Silver, telling them he hoped to get people back in seats as soon as possible.
"I want fans back in the arenas," he said. "Whenever we're ready, as soon as we can."
The virus has decimated the sports world with the National Basketball Association and the National Hockey League suspending their seasons indefinitely and Major League Baseball postponing the start of its season. The NCAA basketball tournament was also canceled; so were college spring sports.
A person with knowledge of the call said some of the commissioners weren't quite as optimistic as Trump because of the concerns raised by public health officials but appreciated the president's desire to give people hope and fans a reason to be optimistic. The person requested anonymity to discuss the private call.
California's Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has three NFL teams in his state, was asked if he thought the NFL season would start on time in September. "I'm not anticipating that happening in this state," he said.
Hard-hit states were seeing cases rise. Trump suggested that some states were asking for more medical supplies than they really needed. He said the goal was to stay several days ahead of critical medical needs in each state.
"The fears of the shortages have led to inflated requests," he said.
Louisiana officials have said New Orleans is on track to run out of ventilators by next week. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whose state is at the epicenter of the national pandemic with over 113,700 confirmed cases as of Saturday morning, has pleaded for ventilators for days. New York is poised to get more than 1,100 ventilators from China and Oregon.
Health officials did offer some hope that social distance measures were working. Fauci said he saw the efforts in action as he went out for a wal...
Until three weeks ago, Auckland bar owner Jane* had never imagined lining up for a benefit.
Covid-19 changed her life quickly. Her landlord increased her rent - before a national rent increase freeze was introduced - then the business closed because of the Government-imposed lockdown. Her income evaporated overnight, and she is now seeking help just to put food on the table.
"I don't even know where to start," she said. "This is so far removed that it's really foreign to me.
"I feel this deep sense of shame. Even though I know it shouldn't be there. There's this stigma and shame attached to the fact that I can't provide for my family or my kids."
Jane worked full-time at the bar, and her husband worked part-time. After it closed, they applied for the Government's wage subsidy. They received $691, just enough to cover the $650 rent at their Avondale home where they live with three children.
They have been forced to apply for a hardship grant from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) to pay for groceries. The grants are only available to people who have zero cash in their bank account, which Jane expected to be in two or three weeks.
"This is just unforeseeable," she said. "Nobody was prepared for it. We're not. And without some sort of help from Winz we won't get through it."
Her family is among thousands who are now lining up for help from Work and Income because of the Covid-19 outbreak. For many of them, it is their first experience of the welfare system.
"A lot of people that have never had to struggle and never had to learn their rights are going to really struggle at this time," said Chloe Ann-King, a hospitality worker and welfare advocate.
"If you don't know how to navigate Winz already, it is going to be quite tricky."
New applicants were often surprised at how low the payments were, Ann-King said - even after the Government lifted payments by $25 a week this month.
"Some people will be horrified, and say how am I meant to live?"
People who had worked their whole lives in one sector might find themselves obliged to work in a completely new industry - and risk getting their benefit cut if they refused.
"It can be a shock," King said.
UNDER PRESSURE
New Zealand's unemployment rate is expected to rise from 4 per cent in December to as high as double digits - as bad as the Great Depression. That would mean at least 100,000 more people on benefits.
The surge in jobless numbers and people seeking the wage subsidy is already putting MSD under huge pressure.
"I know a lot of people are trying to get hold of us," said Vic Rickard, deputy chief executive of service delivery in a video on the ministry's Facebook page this week. "I'm really sorry it's taken so long to get hold of our lines."
MSD's call centre is getting 20,000 calls a day, twice its usual workload. The average wait time is 34 minutes, though many are waiting up to 90 minutes. Others said they had waited longer.
"Been trying to get through for a week," one person wrote below Rickard's video.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni said changes were being considered to make it faster and easier to receive financial assistance.
Some obligations, like work seminars, have also been deferred for six months because of the lockdown. A stand-down period for people who have been made redundant has also been removed. As well as a lift to core benefits, winter power subsidies have been doubled.
Welfare advocates believe the public health crisis warrants wholesale changes, starting with a doubling of core benefits. They note that Australia's more conservative government has already doubled baseline payments in response to the economic shock of Covid-19.
Auckland Action Against Poverty co-ordinator Ricardo Menendez said lifting core benefits in New Zealand would reduce the need for beneficiaries to continuously apply for hardship grants.
Applications for the grants were the main cause of delays and bureaucracy within the welfare system, he said. The grants were...
From questioning community newspapers decisions to police pulling over drivers, the opposition leader says he’s on the case in his new role.Simon Bridges is chairing the Epidemic Response Committee, which allows the Opposition to scrutinise the Government’s COVID-19 response while Parliament’s not in session during lockdown.He says the Government’s all in this together, but he’ll be asking the questions Kiwis want answered and helping solve problems.Bridges says questions include potential finger print testing, truck drivers not being able to use public toilets and young mums worried their partner can't come to hospital when they give birth.
The Government is keeping close tabs on the nation's supermarket duopoly through the national lockdown, and ministers will tomorrow discuss a range of topics facing the grocery chains.
Pricing, staffing and stock levels are among issues that will be discussed before Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gives a more general update on supermarkets, she said at today's daily media briefing.
"It is something that we're keeping a very watchful eye on every element - the amount of stock that people are seeing, the ability of supermarkets to restock, and any pricing issues," she said.
Supermarkets faced unprecedented demand in the lead-up to the lockdown, with record sales as people stocked up before hunkering down for a month.
That's led to claims of some price hikes and Ardern said Commerce Minister Kris Faafoi had been quick to contact supermarket bosses over those accusations.
Last week, Faafoi directed the Commerce Commission to adopt a looser interpretation of competition laws to recognise the national emergency. However, price gouging or hoarding won't be tolerated.
Ministers will also discuss whether to let supermarkets trade through the Good Friday and Easter Sunday holiday – two days on which most retailers are prohibited from opening.
Ardern said the Government was in frequent contact with the chief executives of the supermarket chains and would raise the Easter trading issue with them as well.
A decision would need to be made soon, she said.
"But I would like to talk to the leadership within the chains just because of workforce issues and so on."
Ardern said she was also getting advice from Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Iain Lees-Galloway about reports that some supermarket operators were requiring at-risk staff – those over 70 or with compromised immunity – to take annual and unpaid leave.
Sick leave subsidies have been rolled into the wider wage support package, which can only be accessed by firms hit by Covid-19.
Ardern said that meant supermarkets were in a an unusual position in that they hadn't experienced a downturn from Covid-19, and she was seeking more advice on the matter.
New Zealand registered its first death from the Covid-19 outbreak – a West Coast woman in her seventies with underlying health issues.
There were another 63 confirmed and probable cases, taking the country's total to 514. Of that, there have been 56 recoveries.
Ardern said it was too early to draw any conclusions from the number of new cases so far."We must remember that there is a considerable lag time in any of our results. That's one important thing to keep in mind," she said.
"We all need to be vigilant. No-one can be complacent and no-one's willing to draw any conclusions yet."
Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website
US President Trump tweeted on Saturday night (US time) that he has asked the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention to issue a "strong Travel Advisory" but that a quarantine on the New York region "will not be necessary."
Earlier in the day Trump had said that he might order a quarantine for the area, a possibility that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) called "preposterous".
The decision was made at the recommendation of the White House coronavirus task force and in consultation with the governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, Trump said.
He said the travel advisory would be administered by governors "in consultation with the federal government." Full details will be released by the CDC later on Saturday, he added.
New York has become the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States, with New York reporting more than 50,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 700 deaths Saturday. New York City alone has seen 200-plus deaths in the last 24 hours, according to local officials.
But Cuomo had questioned the legality of the strict new measure Trump floated to contain the outbreak in the region.
"This would be a declaration of war on states, a federal declaration of war, and it wouldn't just be New York, New Jersey, Connecticut," Cuomo said earlier Saturday. "Next week it would be Louisiana with New Orleans, and the week after that it would be Detroit and Michigan, and it would run across the nation."
Meanwhile, confirmed US coronavirus-related deaths doubled in two days, hitting 2,000 on Saturday evening, based on reporting from state health departments. Also, the United States has gone over 20,000 officially announced new cases in one day for the first time.
It took about a month from the first confirmed death for the United States to record 1,000, but the toll has risen rapidly, and officials say the worst is yet to come. The earliest death was announced in Washington state on February 29.
For the first time, more than 20,000 new infections were announced in a day, pushing the nation's total past 120,000.
• Covid19.govt.nz: The Government's official Covid-19 advisory website
The sharp rise in confirmed cases and fatalities comes as the pandemic's epicentre has shifted to the United States and as health professionals and officials countrywide sound alarms that hospitals are not prepared for an influx of coronavirus patients.
Globally, confirmed cases now exceed 650,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University tracker.
Ryman Healthcare is shutting the doors of its retirement villages to the public -- in a bid to guard its residents against Covid-19.
From 5pm today, people can't visit care centre or serviced apartment residents.
Only family of those in palliative care or end-of-life care will be able to visit.
NZ Retirement Villages manager Troy Churton told The Weekend Collective other villages should take note.
"All the larger operators are fairly much singing from the same sheet, with very similar sorts of protocols now being effective. It's not just a Ryman thing, it's a very fairly impressive and coordinated industry approach."
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Tasman District is joining several other local councils in shutting down its public libraries in the face of Covid-19.
Mayor Tim King says the closure of the Richmond, Motueka and Takaka libraries will help minimise the risk of inadvertent spread of the virus.
He's also postponed all non-essential Council meetings and will make a decision on recreation centres and pools in the coming days.
They join Hamilton City Council, which has closed all city Libraries, Waterworld, the Aquatic Centre, Hamilton Zoo, Waikato Museum and the i-SITE until further notice.
Gore District Council has also closed its public facilities including libraries and the Multisport Complex.
The cities are joined by Auckland, Wellington, Porirua, Hutt, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill district and city councils.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says the decision is necessary to protect the health and well being of people in the community.
He joined The Weekend Collective to discuss how councils can help battle the outbreak.
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Developing countries need our help in the fight against Covid-19.
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark told The Weekend Collective they're more than likely under-estimating the effect in those countries.
Clark says just last month she spoke to World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom.
"He has an appeal out to be getting support into those poorest countries, because they need testing equipment, they need quarantine places, they need protective gear for people, and they don't have the cash for that."
She says this week, G20 leaders will meet at a 'virtual summit' -- where they'll be urged to coordinate their response and action.
"And also to support these poor countries with enough testing equipment and protective gear. Countries need help now."
The government expects the economy to take a significant hit from tough new border rules, and a relief package is expected this week.
The travel industry is reeling from the new travel restrictions, announced Sunday that mean from midnight tonight all incoming travellers, including New Zealand citizens, will have to self-isolate for two weeks, except for those coming from the Pacific Islands.
All cruise ships have been told to stay away until the end of June.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the economic stimulus package she will unveil on Tuesday, to try to mitigate the blow, will be the most significant measure she will announce as prime minister.
The package is designed to help businesses and staff affected by tough new rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
"I need to make sure that we are actually targeting those businesses that need help the most, and that it's sufficient to keep people in work."
Ardern said we won't be able to stop the spread of Covid-19, but hopes that the tougher measures will help slow it.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson told RNZ's Sunday Morning the government is expecting a serious blow to the economy from the effects of the virus and the travel ban, particularly to the tourism industry.
But the situation could be much worse off in the long-run, if the government didn't act now.
"This is going to have a very serious impact - you cannot have a situation like this without having an impact. But the virus unchecked will have not only a devastating health impact but an even more long-lasting and deep economic impact, and the hit would be far, far bigger," he says.
"We already know that the tourism industry was suffering, people simply weren't travelling from the rest of the world."
Cabinet will meet on Monday to finalise details for the relief package.
"If you just take the tourism sector it's worth 5 or 6 percent of New Zealand's GDP, it employs tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of people if you look at industries that are supported by tourism, so this will be a hit," Robertson says.
"We want to work with those businesses on what we can do to support them to get through this, and obviously New Zealanders will be here and will be in a position to be able to support them.
"But many have been looking at reducing the hours of their staff."
The government will have discussions with Air New Zealand today about how it will be affected by the tough new border rules.
Robertson says Air New Zealand will have to make big operational changes.
"I absolutely recognise a significant period of uncertainty for the 13,000 or so people who work for Air New Zealand, but we are in discussions hour by hour, about how we can support them.
"We want our airline to be able to keep going. There won't as much requirement for international flights, but there are other things that we want to achieve, such as making sure that goods keep moving backwards and forwards."
He said the timing is at the end of the cruise ship season, which peaks through January and February.
But the group representing cruise ships says the ban on passenger ships is draconian, and goes too far.
The Cruise Association's Chief Executive, Kevin O'Sullivan, said the industry is in a state of shock.
"I can understand why the prime minister and government are deciding to take these steps, but they certainly are much harsher than anywhere else in the world.
"And they seem to have the most serious implications for us in the cruise industry."
He said the ban will likely affect more than 140 visits to our harbours by cruise ships on 45 voyages.
- RNZ
Spain locked down its 46 million citizens and France ordered the closing of just about everything the rest of the world loves about it — the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the cafes and restaurants — as governments took increasingly desperate measures to put more space between people and contain the coronavirus.
More borders snapped shut around the globe on Saturday and Sunday: President Donald Trump announced that the U.S., which days ago barred travellers from most of Europe, will extend the ban to Britain and Ireland. In the Philippines, thousands of police and soldiers started sealing the densely populated capital from most domestic travellers in one of Southeast Asia's most drastic containment moves.
Meanwhile, China, where the virus first appeared late last year, continued to relax its drastic restrictions, illustrating the way the centre of gravity in the crisis has shifted westward toward Europe. The virus has infected more than 150,000 people worldwide and killed over 5,600.
In a nationally televised address Saturday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez detailed the battery of exceptional measures put in place as part of a two-week state of emergency to fight the sharp rise in infections.
Later Saturday, Spain's government said Sánchez's wife has tested positive for coronavirus. Begoña Gómez and the prime minister are in good health, the government said.
Two ministers of Sánchez's Cabinet, the minister of equality and the minister of regional affairs, had already tested positive earlier this week. The others member of the Cabinet have tested negative.
In a lockdown similar to the one already imposed in Italy, people will be allowed to leave their homes only to buy food and medicine, commute to work, go to hospitals and banks, or take trips related to the care of the young and the elderly. All schools and universities were closed, along with restaurants, bars, hotels and other non-essential retail businesses.
"From now we enter into a new phase," Sánchez said after a Cabinet meeting that lasted over seven hours. "We won't hesitate in doing what we must to beat the virus. We are putting health first."
Spanish authorities said the number of infections climbed past 5,700, half of them in the capital, Madrid. That represents a national increase of over 1,500 in 24 hours. The country had 136 deaths, up from 120. Spain has the fifth-highest number of cases, behind China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.
For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia. The vast majority of people recover in a matter of weeks.
Despite please for calm from authorities, shoppers packed supermarkets in Spain in the morning. But overall, the normally bustling streets of the country's two biggest cities were noticeably quieter as the message sank in that social distancing is the only way to stop the pandemic.
"We had to close and remain shut for 15 days," restaurant owner Rachel Paparardo said in Barcelona, which was already under regional restrictions. "But this is nothing. It is just so more people don't get infected and we can recover from this."
Some flights bound for Spain turned around as word spread of the lockdown.
In the Philippines, new restrictions for metropolitan Manila — home to more than 12 million people — that went into effect Sunday mean the suspension of domestic travel by land, air and sea to and from the capital region.
Large gatherings like concerts, movies and cockfighting are prohibited and most government work in executive department offices will be suspended in the metropolis for a month. School closures at all levels were extended and curfew was in the works.
"If you'll go to work, go. If you need to go out for medical treatment, go. If you'll buy food, go, but other than that, stay home," Philippine Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano told a news co...
Elizabeth Warren spoke for millions of women on Thursday when asked what role gender played in her presidential campaign.
"You know, that is the trap question for women," she replied, speaking to cameras outside her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as she bowed out of the race. "If you say, 'Yeah -- there was sexism in this race,' everyone says, 'Whiner.' And if you say, 'No, there was no sexism,' about a bazillion women think, 'What planet do you live on?'"
It was a succinct analysis of this unsettled moment for women in America. And it came on a day when many female voters felt a profound sense of sadness, in part because it will be another four years before a woman has a shot at the White House.
The reality sinking in Thursday was that -- after a record number of women declared their candidacies -- the Democratic Party's standard bearer will now be one of two white men in their 70s. The eventual Democratic nominee will take on Donald Trump, a President with a history of crude banter and demeaning statements about women who has been accused of a range of criminal sexual behavior, including multiple assaults, and rape. He has denied all of them.
The irony of that outcome of male dominance in 2020 carried a sharp sting in this dawning age of female empowerment -- when the #MeToo Movement has reshaped office politics and put Harvey Weinstein behind bars; when women voters sent record-breaking numbers of female lawmakers to Congress, leading to Democrats taking back the House; when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi can embody girl power by towering over a table of White House suits pointing an accusatory finger at the President.
California Sen. Kamala Harris clearly felt it, telling reporters on Capitol Hill that this election cycle has "presented very legitimate questions about the challenges of women running for president of the United States."
"Look at what's happened -- there are no women currently in this race," the one-time 2020 contender said, omitting Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who is still running, but has barely registered in the polls and almost certainly won't win the nomination. "We can have a longer discussion about it, but the reality is that there's still a lot of work to be done to make it very clear that women are exceptionally qualified and capable of being the commander-in-chief of the United States of America."
The fresh debate over the role sexism played in Warren's exit raged on social media, just as it did when Harris left the race in December, when New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand got out last summer and when Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar departed on Monday.
"This is so heartbreaking, and it feels so damn personal," writer Jill Filipovic, the author of "The H-Spot: The Feminist Pursuit of Happiness" said on Twitter. "How many times, in how many contexts, have we seen a smart, competent, dynamic woman who is so head & shoulders above everyone else in the room get ignored or pushed out? How many times have we wondered - was I that woman?"
On the trail, Warren cut a particularly steely and unflappable profile as she sought to inspire legions of little girls and young women to seek the highest office in the land.
The Massachusetts senator changed the trajectory of the race with her fierce and unsparing evisceration of former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the debate stage, flattening his candidacy and paving the way for Joe Biden's resurgence. Her embrace of facts, organization and plans -- at once feminine and groundbreaking -- catapulted her to the top of the polls in the summer and early fall of 2019.
And the early hallmark of her presidential campaign was her insistence on dropping to one knee each time she met a little girl to make a pact.
"I'm running for president because that's what girls do," she would say before making a "pinky promise" with her young follower to remember.
But beneath that veneer of optimism about what the next generation should expect, all of the women who ran for pre...
The division between Labour and its coalition partner New Zealand First grew last week - with the Prime Minister saying if voters don't like what Shane Jones has said about Indian students they can show their displeasure at the ballot box.
Jones told The Nation last weekend: "I think the number of students that have come from India have ruined many of those [educational] institutions."
It lead to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern delivered her strongest rebuke to Jones yet, suggesting that if he was a Labour MP, he would face demotion for his comments.
She also urged voters to condemn Jones' comments – which have been labelled "racist" and "irresponsible" by the Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon – and to "act on their values when it comes to election time".
"We are in an election year and that has, I think, driven electioneering out of some of the different parties that are in Parliament – that includes parties in the Government," she told the Indian Weekender.
However, she has not stood him down as a Minister.
Political commentator Matthew Hooton joined The Weekend Collective to discuss the fallout and why Ardern has the power - and should use it - against Shane Jones.
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Former Labour MP and Auckland mayoralty hopeful John Tamihere has confirmed he will stand for the Māori Party at this year’s election.
Following a tilt at the Auckland mayoralty Tamihere said the last thing he wanted to do was re-enter national politics.
However he says he was approached by people asking him to represent them.
Tamihere says his policies will unashamedly promote Māori matters, and he is aware that people will throw in his face that he was once a Labour MP.
Māori Party co-founder Dame Tariana Turia told The Weekend Collective that Tamihere has the experience and knowledge that would make him a strong MP.
She agreed with Tamihere's accusation that Labour's Māori MPs have been missing in action, as there are a number of issues that aren't being addressed.
"I could almost go through all the state agencies where there are significant issues taking place right now, and it's almost as if someone else is calling the shots, and those Māori MPs are definitely not speaking up."
She does not believe that Tamihere's right-wing stance during the Auckland mayoralty will have much of an impact on any future coalition agreements, as they do not view it as a right or left issue.
"It doesn't matter who the Government is, the fact of the matter is that none of them have the Maori knowledge to do the right thing for our people at the right time, and our job is to sit alongside of whoever the Government is.
"It didn't matter if they were right or left or whatever, our job was to do the very best for our people."
She says that she hopes that Māori people have "woken up" over Labour's broken promises.
Joe Biden scored a thundering victory in South Carolina's Democratic primary on Saturday, riding a wave of African American support and ending progressive rival Bernie Sanders' winning streak.
Biden's win came at a do-or-die moment in his 2020 bid as the moderate Democrat bounced back from underwhelming performances in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada. The race now pivots immediately to a new phase when 14 "Super Tuesday" states take the campaign nationwide early next week.
"We are very much alive," Biden declared at an exuberant post-election rally. "For all of you who have been knocked down, counted out, left behind -- this is your campaign."
Sanders claimed second place, though his loss gave a momentary respite to anxious establishment Democrats who feared that the self-described democratic socialist would finish February with four consecutive top finishes.
Billionaire activist Tom Steyer took third place, his best showing of the campaign, but he formally suspended his campaign. He spent more $24 million on television advertising in South Carolina -- more than all of his rivals combined -- but never found a clear lane in the crowded contest.
Seven candidates remain in the Democrats' quest to find the strongest possible nominee to take on President Donald Trump in November.
Biden's allies almost immediately cast the South Carolina victory as proof that he should stand as the clear alternative to Sanders.
The South Carolina primary was the first major test of the candidates' appeal among black voters. And while it gave the 77-year-old Biden a win when he most needed it, he must still prove that he has the financial and organizational resources to dramatically expand his campaign in the next 72 hours. He will also be under pressure to rely on his decades-long relationships with party leaders to create a new sense of inevitability around his candidacy.
The Associated Press declared Biden the winner just after the polls closed in South Carolina. The AP based the call on data from AP VoteCast, a survey of the electorate conducted for the AP by NORC at the University of Chicago. The survey showed a convincing win for Biden.
Even before news of Biden's win was declared, Mike Bloomberg announced his own plan to deliver a three-minute prime-time address Sunday night on two television networks. He didn't say how much he paid for the air time, which is unprecedented in recent decades.
Bloomberg's campaign privately acknowledged that Biden was likely to get a bump in momentum out of his South Carolina win, but they still believe Bloomberg can win in a handful of states that vote on Super Tuesday, including Arkansas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Virginia and North Carolina.
And Sanders was already peeking ahead to Super Tuesday as well, betting he can amass an insurmountable delegate lead at that point. After two consecutive victories and a tie for the lead in Iowa, the 78-year-old Vermont senator's confidence is surging.
Sanders congratulated Biden on his first win and said it was nothing for his own supporters to worry about.
"Tonight, we did not win in South Carolina. That will not be the only defeat. A lot of states in this country. Nobody wins them all," he told a cheering crowd in Virginia, one of 14 states to vote next week. "Now we enter Super Tuesday."
Moments after Biden's victory was confirmed, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe formally endorsed the former vice president and encouraged the Democratic Party's moderate wing to unite behind him. On CNN, he called on several candidates to get out of the race — "not after Tuesday, but tomorrow."
Biden needs help.
Compared to his rivals, he's barely running any television advertising in Super Tuesday states. And both Sanders and Bloomberg have many more staff and volunteers.
With few other options, Biden's team hopes to lean on his growing team of high-profile endorsers, including McAuliffe, to tap their own political networks and help spread his message in the media.
The Democrats'...
Health officials have contacted 18 passengers seated on a flight near the first person in New Zealand to be diagnosed with coronavirus.
The one person in New Zealand to be diagnosed with coronavirus, who returned on a flight last Wednesday, remains in Auckland City Hospital.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today that the patient was in a stable condition and improving. The patient's family members were in self-isolation and were showing no signs of infection.
Health officials were still searching for other passengers on the patient's flight and would go doorknocking if required to contact them.
Ardern said the Government was holding off on imposing wider restrictions on travellers arriving in New Zealand as the coronavirus outbreak spreads overseas.
The Government was receiving advice from health officials as to whether there needed to be further border restrictions.
So far, the only restrictions are in place on travellers from China and Iran.
If someone arrived in New Zealand displaying possible coronavirus symptoms, Ardern said they would "of course" be tested.
But she said the Government won't be just testing anyone "just because they have asked".
People would first need to display symptoms of the virus, such as a high temperature.
Ardern repeated her assurance to the public that there was no need to swamp supermarkets, after reports of mass purchases of items including hand sanitisers, water and toilet paper.
"There is no need to stockpile," she told media at Auckland Airport.
Ardern stressed that said New Zealand has an "incredibly robust" pandemic plan.
"We already had a plan in place… to deal with any further outbreak."
Officials have been planning for a pandemic – that plan is "already in place".
Ardern said its response to date has been "textbook".
Meanwhile major supermarkets are working hard to restock sold-out and high-demand items in the way of apparent panic buying after New Zealand's first case of coronavirus was confirmed.
The Ministry of Health confirmed on Friday that a person in their 60s who flew in from Iran on Wednesday is in Auckland City Hospital with coronavirus after being taken there by family.
They are in an isolation ward and public health officials are tracing other people they have been close to, including passengers on the flight.
The patient is said to be "stable and continuing to improve".
Winston Peters this week maintained his party's done nothing wrong.
The New Zealand First leader has taken to Facebook Live to answer questions about the New Zealand First Foundation.
Donations given to the New Zealand First Foundation are being investigated by the Serious Fraud Office, after the Electoral Commission referred its findings to police.
It was later revealed later that the foundation received tens of thousands of dollars in donations from the horse racing industry.
Peters dismissed the question about him stepping down at deputy prime minister if he's found to have mislead the public and received money he shouldn't have.
He says he did not receive any money nor is he part of the foundation and therefore has nothing to offer the police.
In amongst the rising scandal, a new Colmar Brunton poll suggested that the party has a difficult shot of getting back into Parliament, with NZ First picking up just three per cent.
Political commentator David Farrar joined the Weekend Collective to discuss what impact the scandal will have on NZ First and coalition partner Labour leading into the election.
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There are reassurances from the Police Minister's to those concerned about getting caught in gang crossfire.
Investigations are ongoing into a double homicide in Tauranga last week, with two other deaths connected to it.
The latest body found is that of a woman, who was found at a home in the suburb of Brookfield.
A man was also shot dead by police after a pursuit.
Police say the deaths involve gang members, but aren't the result of gang conflict.
Stuart Nash told the Weekend Collective Police aren't sitting around waiting to solve gang crime.
"It's a matter of going out there and ensuring these gang members obey the law, and when they don't, the Police are there to sort them out."
He says that one of the issues here is the arrival of deportees from Australia.
"There is a massive patching going on amongst our local gangs, your Black Power and the Mongrel Mob."
He believes the Police need more resources, and says that within the next year, there will be legislation passed that will allow them to follow the money from the gangs.
National's Police spokesperson Mark Mitchell says that his party will tighten up the laws if they get into government at this year's election.
He says that their main anti-gang plan - a taskforce they are calling Strike Force Raptors - is a continuation of anti-gang forces that have already operated.
"They are effective, but they're small. Once they've executed a few warrants, they are off the streets trying to prepare prosecution files."
New legislation to regulate vaping will be introduced to Parliament tomorrow in an effort to balance helping smokers quit while not encouraging new users.
The move to regulate the industry has been welcomed but there are fears some rules are too restrictive and could result in "losing people back to cigarettes".
The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Vaping Amendment Bill bans the sale of vaping products to those under the age of 18.
It also prohibits advertising the products, restricts the sale of specific flavours to R18 specialty stores, and introduces a safety system which would allow the Ministry of Health to recall products, suspend them and issue warnings.
Associate Health Minister Jenny Salesa said the Bill was the most significant change to New Zealand's smokefree laws since they were introduced 30 years ago.
"I am proud our Government is introducing a Bill that helps New Zealand achieve our Smokefree 2025 goal by giving smokers choices in how they give up, but that it also discourages our kids from taking vaping up if they've never smoked before."
Salesa acknowledged the legislation had taken a while since plans to regulate the vaping industry were first announced in November 2018.
She would not be drawn on whether the delays were political but said it took time to work through the details.
When asked whether the new vaping rules would be in place by the election, Salesa was confident the process would move quickly.
"You can rest assured that I'll be asking for an expedited process," she said.
ACT leader David Seymour is not pleased with the legislation. He said most vaping sales currently come from flavours, so banning them will mean more adults smoke for longer.
"The Government's wasted two years to slap damaging regulations on dairy owners while kids can still buy vape liquid online. It's got to be the worst legislative initiative of any government anywhere."
Salesa denied that was the case, and said this was just one way for getting more people to give up vaping.
Asked how the Government would stop people from buying the products online, Salesa said that while people will still be able to buy them online, they will be delivered in R18 courier bags to prevent children from getting their hands on them.
ASH NZ director Deborah Hart encouraged all political parties to ensure legislation was passed into law by the middle of this year.
"The rapid rise of smoke-free nicotine products, especially vaping, is the most disruptive influence on smoking in decades. These products are challenging the smoked tobacco's stranglehold on the nicotine market", she said.
Hart said the Bill recognised the importance of flavours for those trying to quit by allowing them to be sold in specialty R18 stores, while putting controls in place to discourage teenagers from starting to vape.
Stores would only be approved as a specialist vape retailer if 85 per cent of their sales were vaping products.
This restriction addresses concerns e-liquid flavours could potentially appeal to children.
General retailers like dairies and gas stations would only be allowed to sell three flavours- tobacco, mint and menthol.
Auckland Secondary Schools Principals' Association president Richard Dykes welcomed the ban on advertising and said it was "essential" to protect young people, but he was concerned about the regulation of specialty shops.
"We appreciate there are responsible retailers in New Zealand, however, we also know from young people that they already purchase vaping products illegally from some resellers, or simply acquire them through older friends or family members."
Vaping Trade Association of New Zealand spokesman Jonathan Devery said the industry was relieved to have the legislation announced, which would help legitimise the industry.
On the face of it, he was supportive of limiting the sale of flavours in independently owned convenience stores, like dairies, but was concerned the likes of supermarkets and petrol chains we...
The National Party claims that the Government will announce this week that they are buying back Ihumātao.
The heritage site was sold to Fletcher Building as a housing development site, but the site has become a tense battleground, with protesters demanding the site be returned to the iwi as it is sacred to them.
The Government asked Fletchers last year to halt plans to begin construction and has sought to find a solution to the problem.
National leader Simon Bridges has now claimed a deal has been sorted – but it will be announced this week while both Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters are out of the country.
Deputy leader Paula Bennett told The Weekend Collective that this is so neither one of them will have to answer questions about the deal.
“It’s not going to reflect well on them. It’s just looking like protesters can do what you do and the Government will end up paying more, I would imagine.”
However, Bennett cannot confirm that there will be public money, but she understands that will be the case.
Bridges says the Crown will buy the land and put it into a trust for heritage purposes.
He says Auckland Council won't be involved.
Last week, Fletchers announced its first-half results for the financial year, and in it criticised the delay.
Newstalk ZB understands a decision over the contested land is close - but not imminent.
President Donald Trump on Saturday defended the firing of Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council.
The President complained about news coverage of the firing in a tweet, saying reporting was done "as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Actually, I don't know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don't believe!)."
On Friday, Trump fired two key impeachment witnesses, dismissing Vindman, the top Ukraine expert at the council, and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. An adviser to Trump told CNN the firings of the major impeachment witnesses was meant to send a message that siding against the President will not be tolerated.
Trump on Saturday claimed that Vindman "reported contents of my 'perfect' calls incorrectly," which those close to Vindman have disputed. Vindman reported concerns about Trump's July 25 phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to other officials with the National Security Council.
The President also attacked Vindman's work performance, claiming he was given a "horrendous" report by his superior that he had problems with judgment and leaking information. Tim Morrison, Vindman's boss at the time and a former top Russia and Europe adviser on the National Security Council, did question Vindman's judgment during congressional testimony in November. He testified he had been warned about Vindman's judgment when he took over the position and claimed Vindman did not keep him in the loop.
Vindman defended himself during his testimony saying he reported his concerns about the July 25 phone call as he was directed to do. Also he brought with him a review from his former boss, then-White House Russia adviser Fiona Hill, who praised his performance, to rebut the issue Morrison raised.
Morrison had testified it was Hill in addition to others who warned him about Vindman's judgment.
When she testified as part of the impeachment inquiry two days after Morrison's testimony, Hill clarified the conversation she had with Morrison about Vindman. Hill said that she was aiming to convey a specific concern about Vindman transitioning to a more political role and not meaning to raise a general concern about his overall judgment.
"I was concerned that if, for example, Colonel Vindman might decide to leave the military, that perhaps he wasn't as well suited for something that would be much more political," Hill testified. "I did not feel that he had the political antenna to deal with something that was straying into domestic politics. Not everyone is suited for that. That does not mean in any way that I was questioning his overall judgment, nor was I questioning in any way his substantive expertise."
Vindman's attorney criticized Saturday's tweets from Trump, saying the comments are "obviously false."
"The President this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman; they conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware. While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation, while too many entrusted with political office continue to remain silent, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military," attorney David Pressman said in a statement to CNN.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer weighed in on the President's Saturday tweets about Vindman, posting on Twitter, "Has any 'President' ever been more disrespectful to U.S. service members?"
Vindman, a decorated veteran who was born in Ukraine, was escorted out of the White House by security and told his services were no longer needed, according to Pressman.
Pressman said in a statement that it is clear his client was fired for testifying in the impeachment probe.
"There is no question in the mind of any American why this man's job is over, why this country now has one less soldier serving it at the White House,"...
Will Northland prove the crucial seat in this year's election?
NZ First MP Shane Jones has all but confirmed that he will be run in the North Island electorate, the seat that was briefly held by party leader Winston Peters.
It would put him up against National's Matt King, who won the seat in 2017.
NZ First's future is in doubt, with some polls putting the party below the five per cent threshold - but winning a seat would send Peters, Jones and co back to Parliament, and would likely deny National the chance to form a government.
Is the Opposition worried? Campaign manager and deputy leader Paula Bennett joined The Weekend Collective to discuss the Northland conundrum.
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National may have closed the door on New Zealand First, but is leaving it ajar for the Maori Party.
National MP Mark Mitchell earlier this week said that the Act Party is a strong partner to National.
He's also predicting a resurgence in the Maori Party and says National could team up with them again.
What does the future hold for the two minor parties? And will New Zealand First need to change its tactic to maintain its presence?
Political commentator Matthew Hooton has predicted that Labour already has the election in the bag - it is simply a matter of whether it will be a coalition with the Greens or with NZ First as well.
He joined The Weekend Collective to discuss where the parties differ, how the gun buyback could change things, and why this election could be disastrous for National.
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Former New Zealand prime minister Mike Moore passed away early this morning aged 71.
Moore was at his home in Auckland when he died, his wife Yvonne said.
Moore, who was the country's 34th prime minister, suffered a stroke in 2015 when he was New Zealand's ambassador in Washington DC and had been in declining health in recent years.
He became the prime minister for 59 days before the October 1990 general election.
Following Labour's defeat in that election, Moore served as Leader of the Opposition until the 1993 election, after which Helen Clark successfully challenged him for the Labour Party leadership.
Mike Moore was a member of the "fish and chip brigade" made famous in a photograph by Herald photographer Geoff Dale of Labour plotters Roger Douglas, Mike Moore, Michael Bassett and David Lange, who brought down leader Bill Rowling in 1983.
Bassett joined The Weekend Collective to reflect on their time working together as MPs and Ministers, and what Moore's legacy will be.
Mike Moore's being praised for the work he did getting New Zealand internationally recognised.
The long-time politician, and the country's 34th Prime Minister, died early this morning at his Auckland home, following years of ill health.
Finance Minister and Grant Robertson told the Weekend Collective Moore always looked outwards and upwards.
"To see the way that he so completely understood the importance of a fair trading system for a country like New Zealand. A small country, we need the rules in place."
As Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Moore oversaw China's entry into the rules-based trading system.
While serving as the New Zealand Ambassador to the United States in 2010 -- he played a significant role in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.
Robertson says that he got out there on the world stage on New Zealand's behalf, and that he was "immensely proud" to be representing New Zealand.
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters says he is unfazed that National has ruled his party out of any post-election governing deals and has a warning for the party's leader, Simon Bridges.
"If Mr Bridges doesn't pick up the phone, someone else within his caucus will do it for him," Peters, also the Deputy Prime Minister, said in a statement.
"He's [Bridges] got a lot to learn about politics. Narrowing your options can be the worst strategic move you will ever make."
Earlier this afternoon, Bridges ruled out working with New Zealand First after the election.
"I don't believe we can work with NZ First and have a constructive, trusting relationship," he told reporters in Hawke's Bay.
He said he could not trust NZ First and would rather be in opposition for another three years than form a government with the party.
New Zealanders, he said, were sick of the "charade" with NZ First and wanted to give Kiwis a clear choice before the election.
Peters said that he had been in politics a long time and has been a member of both NZ First and National.
"The one thing New Zealand First is confident about is that if voters deliver that possibility [of forming a Government], and if Mr Bridges doesn't pick up the phone, someone else within his caucus will do it for him.
Peters said Bridges had also demonstrated he has no insight into what a unified caucus looks like.
"As Douglas McArthur said; 'there'll come a time soon when he'll when want to see me much more than I want to see him.'"
Bridges' move echoes former PM John Key's move in 2008 and 2011 to rule out NZ First - and in 2008 it was one of the factors that got NZ First booted out of Parliament.
If NZ First does not get above 5 per cent, and fails to win an electorate seat, the party will not get back into Parliament.
Bridges would not be drawn as to whether this was part of his thinking.
He did say National was open to working with the Act Party – an indication that the Epsom electorate deal would be back on.
Act Leader David Seymour welcomed Bridges' move this afternoon, and said while he appreciated National's encouragement, he had always believed Epsom belongs to the voters.
"Act and National worked together constructively in the last government and can do so again."
The death toll from the Wuhan coronavirus in China continues rising as authorities and health care workers struggle to contain the outbreak.
Fifty-six people have been killed by the novel coronavirus in China, health officials said on Saturday. Over 1,900 confirmed cases have been reported across the country.
China's state-run Xinhua news agency reported that 237 patients are in critical condition.
Healthcare workers in the Chinese city of Wuhan say hospitals are running low on supplies as they treat an increasing number of patients.
The Chinese central government announced it would send more than 1,200 health workers — as well as 135 People's Liberation Army medical personnel -- to the city in an unprecedented effort to contain the spread of the virus.
Lunar New Year celebrations -- the country's most important holiday -- have been greatly impacted in Beijing, Hong Kong and other major cities due to the virus. Nearly 60 million people are under partial lockdown in the province of Hubei.
While most confirmed cases of the virus are in China, more countries around the world, including France, Australia and the United States are reporting their first cases. They are among 13 places outside mainland China where the virus has been confirmed.
In Wuhan, ground zero for the virus, four healthcare workers -- including doctors -- have told CNN of the difficulties facing medical crews on the ground. They have asked to remain anonymous to avoid repercussions.
Through telephone conversations with CNN and posts on Chinese social media, they told of low hospital resources. In private groups online, those identified as hospital staff are coordinating with members of the public to import protective equipment as they treat an increasing number of infected patients.
"In terms of resources, the whole of Wuhan is lacking," one Wuhan-based healthcare worker told CNN by phone. This person said they were looking for more protective clothing, protective goggles and masks.
"It's really like we're going into battle stripped to the waist," one healthcare worker added, using a Chinese idiom that equates to "going into battle without armour".
One hospital staff member claims healthcare workers have resorted to wearing diapers to work so as to avoid having to remove their HAZMAT suits, which they say are in short supply. A doctor on her Chinese social media Weibo page described similar accounts at another Wuhan hospital.
"My family members are definitely worried about me, but I still have to work," another doctor told. But she said that she is hopeful they will ultimately get the gear they need. "Our bosses, our hospital suppliers will definitely find a way to get these stocks to us," she added.
It's not clear if these accounts are anecdotal or whether there are widespread shortages across Wuhan.
Chinese state media has also shared posts from multiple Wuhan hospitals in which they ask for public donations of medical supplies. They report that one hospital staff member said the current supplies "are only able to sustain three or four days".
The Wuhan Health Commission has requisitioned over 10,000 beds from 24 hospitals to be used in the treatment of confirmed and suspected cases.
On Friday, Wuhan officials acknowledged that local hospitals were struggling to accommodate people seeking medical attention and said measures were being put into place to alleviate the situation.
State media also reported that the city aims to build a 25,000 square meter new facility within a week, increasing hospital capacity by 1,000 beds, and that several medical centres in Hubei province are asking for medical gear donations.
The political year kicked off in full force this week.
As politicians return from their summer break, they already appeared to be in election mode, with both parties touting their achievements and potential ahead of the vote later this year.
The first big event was Rātana, which had both Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and National Party leader Simon Bridges in attendance.
The event had not even begun before the first cross-party spats of the year occurred, with the Government criticised for not sending a representative to a holocaust remembrance service in Israel, and National faced pressure to sign up for Facebook's transparency toolkit after Labour announced it would do the same.
TVNZ political reporter Katie Bradford joined Tim Roxborogh to discuss the first big week on the political calendar and what the events say about the coming election battle.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have announced they will no longer receive taxpayer handouts once they ditch royal life - but there is speculation that Prince Charles will still fund their privileged lifestyle.
They are expected to continue to receive money from the Duchy of Cornwall via Prince Charles, which is currently thought to amount to £2.3 million a year.
As part of today's bombshell announcement this evening that they are giving up their royal roles, Buckingham Palace revealed Harry and Meghan would give up their Sovereign Grant money - which equates to some £100,000 a year.
The have also promised to repay the £2.4 million Sovereign Grant cash that was used for their Frogmore Cottage revamp.
Despite making no mention of being bankrolled by Prince Charles, it is understood he will continue to subsidise their expenses.
The Daily Mail's Royal Correspondent Rebecca English said Harry and Meghan will not receive any further public funding, "but will continue to receive funds from the Prince of Wales privately".
Previously, a former aide told the Daily Mail: "Prince Charles's attitude is always just pay what needs to be paid and move on.
"It's usually the path of least resistance when it's to do with the boys."
However, the Daily Mail's Richard Kay reported that those familiar with some of the eye-watering numbers which have crossed the royal desk at Clarence House say
One figure went so far as to say that the money he spends, not just on Harry and Meghan but also on financing William and Kate, was "draining him".
However, UK correspondent Enda Brady told the Weekend Collective he doesn't think Prince Charles will continue to fund them either.
"I think the Queen would have spoken to Charles at length in private, and I think Harry and Meghan made their decision."
Officially, the brothers and their households are funded out of Charles's Duchy of Cornwall estate, but, in fact, the Prince has at times had to dip into his own private reserves.
At one stage he was paying the Sussexes more than William and his family.
That figure is now understood to be around the same, with Harry and William each receiving approximately £2.5 million.
However, the Prince has let it be known that his funds are not inexhaustible and that there is a limit to how far and how much he can pay.
Insiders speak of the "hundreds of thousands of pounds" the Prince made available to furnish the couple's Windsor home after their decision to abandon Kensington Palace.
According to a source, the figures involved in providing for both boys have in recent times been flagged up to the Prince by his accounting staff on more than one occasion.
"There's usually a raised eyebrow, but the Prince always just signs them off," says the source.
All the same, he has made it clear that while he will continue to fund his sons, there can be, as one courtier put it, "no blank cheque".
The couple will now be free to do any commercial deals they like and appear to be continuing their 'Sussex Royal' brand, even though they are no long Royal Highnesses.
If Meghan were to go back to acting she could be in for a princely sum of money, as she made £3million from appearing on American TV show Suits.
A source said the couple will spend the majority of their time in North America, and had not signed any commercial agreements as yet.
The Government spent almost half a million dollars on foreign advertising in a bid to woo overseas teachers to come work in New Zealand as the country grapples with a teacher "supply crisis".
Teachers' Unions say the Government needs to be doing more to train additional Kiwi teachers.
But the Government says it inherited major issues with teachers supply when it won power in 2017 and has blamed the previous National Government for not training enough teachers.
National's Education spokeswoman Nikki Kaye disagrees and said the Government has had two years to sort this issue out and blaming National was not good enough.
Information, released under the Official Information Act (OIA), reveals that since June 2016, the Government has spent almost half a million dollars on advertising in a bid to attract overseas teachers to work in New Zealand.
In the year to June, 2019 the Government spent a whisker under $200,000 on an advertising campaign to attract foreign teachers to the country.
And it appears the campaign was a success.
According to the Ministry of Education, more than 500 formally overseas teachers have been placed into roles since September 2018.
As well as this, more than 860 overseas-based teachers have received relocation grants to take up teaching positions in New Zealand.
"Following the campaign, there have been more than 17,000 applications from overseas teachers to work in New Zealand," the Ministry ofEducation's Deputy Secretary of Early Learning and Student Achievement Ellen MacGregor-Reid said.
She added that there are currently close to 800 overseas teachers who have been screened and are ready for schools to interview.
But NZEI President Liam Rutherford said the Government's focus should be on training teachers in New Zealand, not looking to bring in more from overseas.
Although he welcomed overseas teachers coming to New Zealand, he said that should only be a short-term solution.
Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) President Jack Boyle said although the advertising campaign was "well worth the money" it is disappointing that it has got to the point where the Government had to look offshore for teachers.
"Due to a range of factors, including people leaving the workforce and an increase in the student population, we found ourselves with some pretty desperate shortages, particularly in secondary schools in Auckland."
He said the Government needed to do something to get sufficient teachers as quickly as possible to cover the shortfall.
On behalf of the Minister of Education, Duty Minister Jenny Salesa said the Government inherited a "teacher supply crisis" when it came into office in 2017.
Teacher enrolments were down by 40 per cent, she said.
However, she said the Government has been working to turn that trend around and Education NZ's overseas requirement drive is part of that plan.
She said that scheme was a "short-term measure to fill current gaps".
"We also have a comprehensive set of teacher supply initiatives to grow the number of New Zealand trained teachers in the medium to long-term."
Kaye said there has been "serious issues for some time" about how the Government attracts and retains quality teachers.
She said if National wins this year's election, it will put in place financial incentives which would help address both of those issues.
She added that there was a case to be made about having overseas teachers, but it is important that the balance is right.
Donald Trump's legal team filed its formal response Saturday evening to the Senate summons of the President, offering the first glimpse into what will ultimately be the White House's impeachment defense.
The response -- which calls the articles "constitutionally invalid" and says they are an attack on Americans -- argued both substantively, against the charges in the articles, and procedurally, against the House's impeachment inquiry.
"President Trump categorically and unequivocally denies each and every allegation in both articles of impeachment," the document reads.
The legal team argues that the first article of impeachment, abuse of power, "alleges no crime at all, let alone 'high crimes and Misdemeanors,' as required by the Constitution." The team cited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's repeated denials that he felt any pressure from Trump as evidence that Trump did not abuse his power during the July 25 phone call.
The team pointed to the fact that the President released transcripts of both the July 25 phone call and an earlier one on April 21 to argue the conversations were "perfectly legal, completely appropriate and taken in furtherance of our national interest."
Defending Trump against the second article of impeachment, obstruction of Congress, the legal team claimed the administration "replied appropriately to these subpoenas and identified their constitutional defects."
The legal team highlighted the fact that House Democrats did not seek to enforce their subpoenas in court. Democrats have said they chose not to do so because they did not want the investigation to get bogged down in a months-long court battle when they felt they had collected sufficient evidence already.
The legal team cast the White House's refusal to cooperate with the impeachment inquiry as an effort to exercise its executive branch authority, and accused the House of attempting to "bypass our Constitution's system of checks and balances."
House Democrats argue Trump threatens 'national security'
Meanwhile, House Democrats on Saturday released their argument for why President Donald Trump should be removed from office by the Senate in the upcoming impeachment trial, calling on the Senate to "eliminate the threat that the President poses to America's national security."
The House impeachment managers filed to the Senate their trial brief, a summary explaining why the House passed two articles of impeachment last month charging Trump with abuse of power and obstruction of Congress ahead of the trial arguments kicking off next week.
"President Trump's conduct is the Framers' worst nightmare," the managers wrote in the brief.
The House managers made their case directly to the senators who will act as jurors in the impeachment trial.
"History will judge each Senator's willingness to rise above partisan differences, view the facts honestly, and defend the Constitution," the managers wrote. "The outcome of these proceedings will determine whether generations to come will enjoy a safe and secure democracy in which the President is not a king, and in which no one, particularly the President, is above the law."
Trump's legal team
A source close to the White House who speaks to Donald Trump regularly said the President has appeared "distracted" by the impeachment trial that begins on Tuesday, telling people around him Friday night at Mar-a-Lago in Florida that he "can't understand why he is impeached."
"Why are they doing this to me," the source quoted Trump as saying repeatedly.
Trump has been telling associates and allies around him that he wanted a "high profile" legal team that can perform on television, the source said. It's simply who Trump is, the source continued, adding Trump loves having people who are on television working for him.
This in part may explain why Kenneth Starr and Alan Dershowitz were added to the legal team representing the President.
Starr, the hard-charging prosecutor whose work led to President Bill Clinton's imp...
Political commentator Shane Te Pou joins The Weekend Collective to look back on the year in politics for 2019.
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Michael Lueck, AUT Professor of Tourism, joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the future of tourism on White Island and the inherent risks of adventure tourism.
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Nicole McKee, secretary for the Council of Licenced Firearms Owners, joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the gun buyback scheme.
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UK correspondent Enda Brady joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the recent UK election and what Labour needs to do to rebuild.
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A ban on all advertising of cannabis products, no online sales - and a minimum purchase age of 20.
Those are key restrictions in a draft cannabis law released this week ahead of next year's referendum.
Justice Minister Andrew Little says it's important voters are well informed before the 2020 General Election - and can participate in the referendum process.
The ballot will ask a simple Yes/No question.
National's Drug Reform spokesperson Paula Bennett says it's well-intentioned, but not delivering what it needs to, and there are too many questions for voters.
Is this just the beginning of the mudslinging and debate ahead of the contentious vote?
One News political reporter Katie Bradford joined The Weekend Collective to discuss what this week's announcement means and what will come next.
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Ridding New Zealand of single-use plastic items is a "personal priority" says Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who this morning revealed the Government's next steps in its fight against plastics.
"There is more to do," Ardern said.
Her comments came after she announced a ban on more single-use plastic items, including meat trays, cups and takeaway food containers.
This comes six months after the official plastic bag-ban came into force.
This morning Ardern's Chief Science Adviser, Professor Juliet Gerrard, released a report called: Rethinking Plastics in Aotearoa New Zealand.
It made a number of recommendations but its overall message to the Government was more needs to be done to get rid of single-use plastic items.
Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage says a lot of plastic waste doesn't need to be created in the first place.
She says the report will now go to the Ministry for the Environment.
"Will look at all the recommendations more closely, come back, and I hope within six months we'll have a really serious response to the plan."
"Our goal must be to make Aotearoa and economy where plastic rarely becomes waste or pollution," Ardern said.
She revealed that through the Provincial Growth Fund, the Government was looking into funding "optical scanners to improve plastic recycling".
She said the Government was also eyeing out new projects which would support the conversation of plastic waste into other products.
"People want to get plastics out of our environment and live up to our image as tidy Kiwis – we just need a plan to get there."
Ardern said she gets a lot of letters from people, mainly children, concerned about the amount of plastic in the ocean.
She said she reads every letter from a child that is sent to her. One letter contained a checklist of how to save turtles – step one, stop throwing plastic in the ocean.
"Good tip," Ardern said.
Looking ahead, Ardern said any future moves on plastics would require co-ordination not just from the Government, but from business, communities and individuals.
Ardern this morning talked up the Government's plastic bag-ban, saying it has already made a significant difference in New Zealand.
However, she said New Zealand still had "enormous long-term" challenges when it comes to plastic waste.
Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is. Photo / Mark Mitchell
But critics say the Government needs to front up with more evidence that this new ban is actually needed in New Zealand.
Act Leader David Seymour called on the Government to explain how strong the evidence supporting these bans actually is.
"The Government is making the lives of New Zealanders slightly more difficult when there appears to be no real evidence of the scale of the problem."
Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage said there was no silver bullet when it comes to reducing plastic pollution, but admitted New Zealand needed a "system change".
She said she aimed to have a full Government response to the report within six months.
LISTEN TO SKY NEWS' ENDA BRADY TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE. TEXT BY LUKE MCGEE, CNN
The UK is finally reaching the end of a weird few weeks. On Thursday, Brits will go to the polls to vote in what might be the most important election in a generation.
Most people expected this election to be a high-energy, nasty and personal contest. Brexit has left the UK bitterly divided, as the political class has failed to reach anything resembling a consensus. Instead, it's opted to spend the past three years engaged in a screaming match over the preferred outcome to the most important issue facing the country.
However, the campaign itself has been eerily quiet. Boris Johnson has been accused of dodging media interviews, most notably with the BBC's veteran presenter Andrew Neil, and avoiding press scrutiny. Which is important, when you consider that Johnson has serious questions to answer on his own Brexit policy, Islamophobia in his Conservative Party, and the fact that his campaign stands accused of publishing deliberately misleading information more than once on its own social media platforms.
The opposition Labour Party is also far from innocent. Its manifesto is full of promises to spend huge amounts on public services and radical giveaways, such as nationalising the internet and providing free broadband. It's also promised to hold a second referendum on Brexit, should Labour win a majority.
Both men have popularity issues. Johnson also struggles with the public, particularly on the question of trust. However, if recent polling is to be believed, he is less unpopular than Corbyn, meaning that if he can reach polling day without having taken many big punches, he should still comfortably win on December 12.
This might explain why Johnson's election campaign has been so low-key, and why he's the only party leader to have dodged the Neil interview.
Bruises to punch
The accusation is that Johnson is deliberately avoiding Neil because he knows how badly it might go for him. Neil eviscerated Corbyn in his interview, asking him very difficult questions about his own Brexit position, his ambitious manifesto and the anti-Semitism scandal that has engulfed his leadership since 2015.
Only this week, a group called the Jewish Labour Movement submitted a dossier to the Equality and Human Rights Commission, which is investigating allegations of antisemitism in the Labour Party. Neil's strategic demolition of Corbyn led the news agenda for days.
Johnson has also been accused of making racist statements. Last year, he wrote a newspaper column in which he said that women who wear Islamic face veils looked like "letterboxes." He'd previously described citizens of Commonwealth countries as "flag-waving piccaninnies" with "watermelon smiles" and members of his own party have accused it of having a huge problem with Islamophobia.
That, coupled with the fact his party has deliberately misled the public, and that his own Brexit policy is more complicated than he's willing to let the public know, would give Neil several bruises to punch.
A senior Conservative source defended the decision, telling CNN that the "public are fed up with interviews that are all about the interviewer and endless interruptions. The format is broken and needs to change if it is to start engaging and informing the public again."
But this is bigger than one interview. Johnson has been criticized for taking relatively few questions from journalists and not appearing in as many televised debates as his rivals. His Conservative campaign team say this criticism is unfair, given he has given more than 100 interviews to local and national media, has appeared in two debates with Corbyn and has done two lengthy phone-ins with the public.
The perception that Johnson is avoiding scrutiny remains, although it doesn't seem to be damaging him. The Financial Times' poll tracker shows that since the election was called, Johnson's poll lead of roughly 10% has remained consistent.
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Health experts are predicting the death toll in Samoa's escalating measles epidemic will reach 70.
As of Friday afternoon, more than 3,100 people in the island nation were infected with the disease, and 42 had died.
The death toll figure was calculated by Auckland University scientists, based on the number of reported cases and percentage of population currently immunised.
Immunologist Dr Helen Petousis-Harris says it's "absolutely devastating" and highlights how important it is for people to get vaccinated as soon as possible.
She says a distrust in the Samoan health system is partly behind the country's low vaccination rate.
LISTEN TO REPORTER BARBARA DREAVER TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
New Zealand First is accusing the Government of gouging the poor with plans to increase tobacco excise.
Winston Peters has invoked the Coalition clause of agree to disagree over the 11 and a half percent hike for January.
Peters says tax rises have little effect on smoking, particularly among Maori and Pasifika.
He says cigarette smuggling has increased more than 350 percent since 2015.
He says our prices, which are among the highest in the world, have provided an opportunity for organised crime.
Peters says the increase is punitive for the Kiwis who can least afford it.
It's a way supported by former Chairman of the Tax Working Group Sir Michael Cullen. He told The Weekend Collective upping the price is not effective.
"The initial increase had a big effect in reducing smoker, but we seem to be getting down t the residual group of smokers who are becoming less sensitive to the price, even though they are on low income."
His working group recommended that this year's excise should be the last.
A battler for prisoner voting rights says it was inevitable the government would reverse the law.
The Government is reversing the ban, which was brought in by National in 2010.
It means those serving sentences of less than three years will be able to vote - before next year's General Election.
The decision comes after a ruling from both the Supreme Court the ban breached the bill of rights.
Human rights lawyer Richard Francois has been working with Arthur Taylor end the ban, since 2013.
He told the Weekend Collective it's a very satisfying result.
"It really was inevitable that the Government of the day, having faced a Supreme Court judgement, would go and revert that to the 2010 position."
National leader Simon Bridges says he will reintroduce the bank if he gets into government, but Francois says it might not be that simple.
He says he has a case before the UN at the moment which he believes will go in prisoners' favour.
"In which case there would be quite a damning statement to any other political party that's got an idea of reverting back."
Prisoners have won some voting rights, but the Opposition isn't happy about it.
Justice Minister Andrew Little has announced those sentenced to less than three years behind bars will be able to vote before next year's General Election.
But National leader Simon Bridges says he'll reverse the move if he ends up in government.
He says the move shows the Government's soft on crime.
"You look at these parties. Labour is out of touch, and NZ First if they do this, it will be their death knell."
A Colmar Brunton poll last month showed 53 per cent of the population supported the move, but Bridges disputes those figures.
"I think the overwhelming majority of New Zealanders actually know that if you've gone to jail, you've gone for something serious. While your there it's proportionate and a right that you don't get to vote."
Former jailhouse lawyer Arthur Taylor, who has campaigned against the ban, says Bridges' judgement is off.
"Simon's a bit behind. Being a lawyer, you should know the law a bit better than this. Things have moved on since that ban was passed in 2010."
Human rights lawyer Richard Francois says it might not be that simple for the ban to be overturned.
He told The Weekend Collective he has a case before the UN at the moment which he believes will go in prisoners' favour.
"In which case there would be quite a damning statement to any other political party that's got an idea of reverting back."
Bridges says that it is a question of values for Parliament to decide, and they are not required to do what the Waitangi Tribunal rules on.
The biggest story of the week has been the scandal surrounding the New Zealand First Foundation, but what happens next?
The Electoral Commission is seeking information from the party and its foundation, following claims of undisclosed donations.
Some donors have told Stuff they weren't aware donations were going to the foundation, and not the political party.
Party leader Winston Peters says the foundation is to help promote democracy in New Zealand.
He says there's nothing illegal or secret about the New Zealand First Foundation and says the idea his lawyer and others were seeking to do something illegal is preposterous.
If any irregularities are found, it could be passed on to the Serious Fraud Office, with politicians such as David Seymour already threatening to do that.
Political commentator Shane Te Pou told The Weekend Collective that if the foundation is behaving illegally, why would the party have called it the New Zealand First Foundation?
"Brian Henry's got a 20 plus year history with Winston Peters, I think it looks transparent with me."
He says one of the big consequences of this could be changes to electoral law and donations, with a greater level of transparency.
"Our laws really were designed in a simpler time. Politics is complex, and there's a lot more money in the political system than there was 10 to 15 years ago."
Retiring Green MP Gareth Hughes says the pace of change in the current Government is not fast enough for his liking but that is not the reason he is quitting politics.
"It is not transformational on the scale of some of the big turning points in our country's history from the 1930s to the 1980s.
"There have been pockets of transformation but for me it has been a frustration that the pace of change hasn't been as fast as I'd like to see or in fact the Green Party would like to see."
He said he was retiring next election because 10 years was long enough and he and his wife wanted to travel the world with their two kids – aged 12 and nine - for a year.
"Talking to my wife, we feel it is the right time our life to spend some real solid quality time together and actually going travelling as a family would be a great way to do that and home-school the kids for a year."
He said he would possibly be making the same decision to leave had he been made a minister.
"I've been reflecting that my eldest is going to be 16 by the end of the next term and I have found it more difficult the older my kids have got because they are more aware of what's going on and dad's absence.
"My kids have grown up knowing nothing but a parliamentary life so I'm quite excited about spending more quality time with them.
"I always said that 10 years was about right and it feels right."
Hughes is one of only two men in the Green caucus of eight MPs and unsuccessfully contested the male co-leadership role in 2015 to fill Russel Norman's vacancy.
He rejected speculation that he may not have secured a winnable list position for next year's election.
"To be frank, it's going to be a guy's election for the Green Party, given the gender imbalance. I was confident that I would have been returned."
Green caucus from left: Jan Logie, Chloe Swarbrick, Gareth Hughes, James Shaw, Marama Davidson, Julie Anne Genter, Eugenie Sage and Golriz Gharahman.
Any prospect of promotion to a minister would have meant more time away from his children "and that would have broken my heart."
He has 10 areas of responsibility including energy and resources but has struggled for profile since the Greens entered Government for the first time in 2017.
In terms of lack of progress, he cited the capital gains tax – which did not have the numbers to pass in Parliament - and the ban on new offshore oil and gas exploration permits – but he also cited the ban as a high point.
"To push that in the confidence and supply negotiation [with Labour] but be unsuccessful but then to be able to achieve that afterwards was a real highlight."
The announcement of the ban in April 2018 was a shock because it had not been promised by Labour before the 2017 election, nor had it been in the confidence and supply agreement with the Greens - and officials had argued it would increase greenhouse gas emissions because of reliance on less efficiently produced imported fuel.
Hughes believed it was agreed in the end because of a confluence of factors – "good timing, groups such as Greenpeace were pushing incredibly hard at the same time and we made a very strong pitch to the Government that here was an opportunity to draw a line in the sand on what was our country's nuclear-free moment."
Hughes said a low point was losing colleagues along the way such as Russel Norman, whom he had been close to, and Catherine Delahunty.
He believed the party has done as well as it could have in Government.
"We've tried our best. We've got a tiny team that has worked their arses off for our policies and values.
"We've had some incredible wins; we've also had to compromise. We haven't always got our way. That was always going to be the nature of being in Government. I think we've as good a go as we possible could have."
Some of the wins were achieved behind the scenes in changes to Cabinet papers or proposals that cold not always be communicated.
If he had any advice for the Greens in a new term of Government it would be "that the G...
The future king, Prince Charles, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, have arrived in New Zealand for their third official visit - the first in four years.
The royal couple's whirlwind tour will include visits to both the North and South Island before the prince is spirited away to Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands on his way home.
The six-day jaunt of Aotearoa starts today in the City of Sails after the couple arrived at the RNZAF base in Whenuapai this afternoon.
Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy was among those who greeted the royal couple as they stepped onto New Zealand soil.
Pleasantries and handshakes were exchanged on the tarmac as a line of neatly dressed dignitaries welcomed the pair.
Prince Charles waved to the onlookers before leaving in a waiting car.
New Zealand Herald Focus reporter Will Trafford says there wasn't a big turn out from the public, but there's a reason for that.
"They keep it really locked down n terms of how much they tell the public. It wasn't heavily promoted. There were people there and they were waving."
While in Auckland the pair will attend a wreath-laying ceremony at Mt Roskill War Memorial Park tomorrow morning before enjoying the central city's waterfront the following afternoon.
The couple will then visit the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on Wednesday.
Charles & Camilla: Royal tour itinerary 2019
Monday - Auckland
Tuesday - Auckland
Wednesday - Bay of Islands
Friday- Christchurch
Saturday - Christchurch, Kaikōura
Best chances to glimpse the royal couple
Monday - The wreath-laying ceremony at Mt Roskill War Memorial Park
Tuesday - The public walkabout at Auckland Viaduct in the afternoon
Friday - The public walkabout at Christchurch's Cathedral Square in the afternoon
Saturday - The Prince of Wales will take part in a public walk in Kaikōura
Landlords will no longer be able to get rid of tenants without reason, under law changes due to be announced today.
At present, landlords can give a tenant 90 days' notice without having to provide a reason and 42 days' notice in some circumstances, such as landlords or their family wanting to move in, or if the property has been sold.
Tenants have to give only 21 days' notice.
The Government plans to remove the right of landlords to end a tenancy for no cause and to increase notice periods for some specified reasons.
Landlords will have to give tenants 63 days' notice if the property is to be vacated for family use, and 90 days if the property has been sold – both an increase on the current 42 days' notice.
Anti-social behavior and rent arrears will still be cause for eviction notices but the Government is proposing to require the landlord to apply to the Tenancy Tribunal in such cases with three notices of such behaviour or arrears within a 90-day period.
Landlords will also be limited to one rent increase a year instead of the current law which allows rents to rise every six months.
Associate Housing Minister Kris Faafoi is planning to hold a press conference this afternoon to announce a raft of changes to the Residential Tenancies Act.
The changes are being promoted as giving tenants greater security as the number of households renting increases – about 32 per cent now compared with 25 per cent about 20 years ago.
Former Housing Minister Phil Twyford pushed through a ban on letting fees.
New Zealand's newest political party, Sustainable NZ, has launched today with a promise of increasing Conservation funding by $1 billion over four years in a bid to halt the extinction of native species.
Leader Vernon Tava said the funding could come from New Zealand First's $3 billion provincial growth fund.
And he has endorsed the use of gene technology to help reduce predators.He described the party as a "full-time environment party".
"Until now, if you had wanted to vote for the environment, you have had to support a party that has been a clearing-house for New Zealand's left-of-Labour activist movements, often putting social justice ahead of protecting the environment."
Tava is a former Green Party member and unsuccessfully stood as male leader in 2015 against James Shaw, arguing at the time that the party should be able to partner Labour or National in Government, against its traditional position of ruling out National.
At the launch in Wellington day, Tava said his party would put the environment first.
"A true sustainability-based party can work with either of the major parties to get the best deal for the environment. We are that party."
He said the party would work with rather than against farmers and industry.The party was pro-progress, pro-technology and pro-science.
"A clean, green prosperous New Zealand could be a world leader in clean-tech innovation.
"We are at a fortunate juncture in history where clean-tech is driving the next wave of economic activity by eliminating wasteful and harmful byproducts, delivering more with less."
Tava said party policy would be informed by science and her had already criticised Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage curbing research on gene technology.
"The latest techniques can be likened to accelerated selective breeding. They show huge promise in the control of introduced predators and in reducing livestock emissions."
He said gene technology was still in its infancy "yet these powerful tools are denied us based on an ideological position formed in the 1970s, before current technologies were developed.
He also expressed concern about the widespread planting of pine trees under the Government's one billion trees policy.Tava paid tribute to former party secretary, former head of the Fire Service Mike Hall, who was killed in a plane crash in the Tararua ranges last month.
He announced the party's principles and conservation policy including a target for conservation spending to comprise one per cent of Government spending by 2025.
Principles• Enhance and restore healthy ecosystems.
Protect our native plant and animal species from habitat loss and degradation.
Aim to make 2050 Predator Free.
Partner with communities and businesses to build a team of 4.7 million New Zealanders working together to protect the natural environment.
Wage war on weeds and wilding conifers.
Apply the best science and modern technology to advance conservation.
Support improved on the ground farm management to protect ecosystems.
Extend the national network of marine protected areas.
Conservation Policy
Provide $1 billion conservation funding boost over four years to restore and enhance our ecosystems:
Extend the significant natural areas under active pest management from under 50per cent to 75 per cent plus of New Zealand's significant natural ecosystems.
Double core funding for Predator Free 2050 to $19 million a year.
Increase Department of Conservation (DOC) funding to maintain, restore and protect ecosystems, habitats and species by 10 per cent or $26.374 million a year.
Protect areas of high ecological value through purchase or covenant by doubling the Nature Heritage Fund to $12.194 million a year.
Double the funding for the protection and management of Historic Heritage to $11.62 million a year.
Increase funding of DOC's Conservation in the Community programme of publiceducation and building conservation partnerships by 10 per cent or $3.86 million a year.• Increase the Crown's contribution...
Jami-Lee Ross is not ready to give up his electorate just yet.
The Independent MP will next year face off against his former party, National, in the general elections.
Ross quit National last year after a public falling out with leader Simon Bridges and a battle with mental health.
He told The Weekend Collective that he admits the end of last year was "a bit rough", but he is still confident of his abilities.
"As a MP who sits in between the two parties now, it means I get a lot more done now."
Christopher Luxon addresses the National Party candidate selection meeting for the Botany electorate. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Ross says that he is already door-knocking and is out there every day talking to people, and an independent MP has a better chance at advocating for their party.
He says that people can vote for National as their party vote, but they can still pick him as their MP.
As the country prepares for two potential referendums next year, there are concerns about misinformation clouding the debates.
The Minister of Justice has plans in place to combat misinformation and manipulation in any campaigns leading up to, potentially, two divisive referendums at next year's election.
That includes a special team within the Ministry of Justice to direct people to information aimed to be as accurate and neutral as possible, and to be on the look-out for any attempts to deliberately mislead the public.
It's the first time core public servants have taken on this role, and they'll have to walk a tightrope between providing credible public information and getting drawn into any partisan debates.
Voters will not only have to choose the government come 2020, but will also have their say on legalising recreational cannabis, and potentially, voluntary euthanasia.
However, the man behind the euthanasia bill, David Seymour, does not think that such a team is necessary. He told The Weekend Collective that he thinks New Zealanders are well-equipped to work out "b-s".
"Their going to be competing with so many sources of information trying to get attention, I'm sceptical as to how effective it can be."
He says that people are already sceptical of information coming from the Government, and it may have the reverse effect of sending them to other sources.
Seymour says that he is happy to have a debate about his End of Life Choice Bill based on real information.
"Wisdom of crowds will win out, and we will actually be able to pass the referendum."
- with content from RNZ
Black and white, they sat together on the edge of the dusty township street where Nelson Mandela once lived and watched their Springboks win the Rugby World Cup again.
The late Mandela would surely have liked what he saw — both the picture of unity among the South Africans watching the game on TV near his old house on Vilakazi Street in Soweto, and the Springboks' victory in the World Cup final half the world away in Yokohama, Japan.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mandela's friend, fellow Nobel Peace Prize winner, and at one time his neighbor on that famous road, certainly did.
"We are incredibly proud to be South Africans," Tutu and his wife, Leah, said in a public message to the victorious South Africa team. "You have achieved much more than winning a Rugby World Cup; you have restored a self-doubting nation's belief."
Just like in 1995, when South Africa won its first Rugby World Cup, the Springboks came to their beleaguered country's aid on Saturday when it needed a little inspiration.
Unlike '95, this wasn't at home and in front of Mandela, South Africa's beloved anti-apartheid leader and first democratically elected president who died in 2013. This one wasn't just a year after the apartheid system of racial segregation was officially dismantled. It didn't help hold together a country on a knife edge after decades of race-fueled violence. Many think no Springboks team will ever live up to the one of '95, whose against-the-odds victory in the first Rugby World Cup South Africa was allowed to play in remains one of sport's most enduring moments.
Captain Siya Kolisi's team came close in Japan, though.
🗣 “I have never seen South Africa like this. We were playing for the people back home. We can achieve anything if we work together as one.”Hear from @Springboks’s Siya Kolisi on what is not just a #RWCFinal win - It’s more than that 👏👏#RWC2019 #ENGvRSA #WebbEllisCup pic.twitter.com/qgfv0STIlr
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) November 2, 2019
The 2019 Springboks fought back from a loss to defending champion New Zealand in their first game at this World Cup to beat England 32-12 in the final, becoming the first team to win the title after losing a game in the tournament. Triumph out of adversity.
That was one of the chords that struck back home, where South Africa is still gripped by desperate poverty and inequality.
Where violent crime statistics are appallingly high.
Where racial tensions still simmer.
Where the economic outlook is gloomy.
And where revelations of a corruption scandal involving former president Jacob Zuma, one of Mandela's successors, has left South Africans angry and dispirited.
Suddenly, (hashtag)Imstaying appeared from South Africans on Twitter, a reference to renewed positivity in a country that has seen many leave for Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, or anywhere that offers something better.
South Africans were undoubtedly united for a day while watching the Springboks, the crowds diverse in the black township of Soweto but also in the formerly white sports clubs of suburban Johannesburg. They waved the country's multicolored flag. They sang and danced and drank beer in the summer sunshine. Strangers hugged and kissed spontaneously.
Yet only the most eternal of optimists will believe a rugby game can solve South Africa's significant social problems. On Twitter there was also (hashtag)UntilMonday from some. As in, come Monday the same old problems will still be there.
After all, even the magic of Mandela and '95 wore off in some ways. Nearly a quarter of a century after Mandela wore a Springboks jersey to that World Cup final in Johannesburg, and South Africa won in fairytale fashion, his country still battles many of the same issues.
If its rugby team is a microcosm of South Africa, then South Africans should take heart because the Springboks have solved their problems.
The team Mandela cheered on in the '95 final was all white save for one player. And in the early part of that tournament i...
There are set to be fireworks this week, not just in the night sky, but the court room.
More than two years after it was revealed he'd been overpaid superannuation, lawyers for Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters say they're set to explain how the error happened.
Peters will tomorrow take the stand to give evidence in a privacy lawsuit he's bringing against former National Government ministers Anne Tolley and Paula Bennett, the Ministry of Social Development, the chief of the public sector watchdog, and a top civil servant.
Since 2017, the New Zealand First leader's argued he was the victim of dirty politics when media were told he'd paid back seven years of superannuation overpayments.
National has consistently denied being behind the leaks, as has the Public Service.
Otago University electoral law expert Professor Andrew Geddis told the Weekend Collective there's no doubt Peter's annoyed.
"Basically he's going after everyone he could possible do in the hope he will finally get someone."
He says that there may be some public good out of the legal action.
"Why it might actually matter is that the Government holds a huge information. If that information can be fed on to ministers and used whenever ministers find it politically useful to do so, that's a little bit worrying."
Over the next three weeks, politicians, officials and journalists will front the High Court to figure out whether Peters was wronged - and if so by whom.
Former Labour Party president Mike Williams disputes suggestions the party is in trouble.
The Coalition Government has celebrated two years in power this week, but growing concerns over the deliverability of certain proposals, and dropping poll numbers, has raised doubts about their re-election hopes.
However, Williams told The Weekend Collective that they have every reason to feel positive.
"I don't think there's any difficulty at all. I think they face a positive election year. They've got a lot of achievements to talk about, particularly in redistributing income to poorer people."
He defended Labour's inability to get some policies through as they are having to clear up nine years of neglect from when the National Government was in power.
Williams says that polls he has seen show Labour significantly higher than National.
However, he admits that KiwiBuild is likely to be Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's main regret.
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National's spokesperson for economic development says the Government should be pleased to still be in power - and that's it.
The Labour-NZ First-Greens coalition celebrated two years in power this week.
However, National's Todd McClay says that the coalition has failed to deliver on many of their promises, and that New Zealanders are starting to notice.
He told the Weekend Collective that the number of working groups over the last two years shows that the Government was not prepared.
"I don't think they, Labour, did the work before they got into government."
McClay says that the "three-headed hydra" of the coalition means that New Zealanders aren't getting what they deserve.
He says that he is not sure if National would have been able to handle NZ First better if they had entered into a coalition with them, but that Labour "chucked the kitchen sink" at them and didn't say no.
McClay dismissed the Government's surplus, and feels they are sitting on too much money.
"I think we're paying too much tax. If the Government doesn't need that much money, then actually they shouldn't just take it off Kiwis."
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Former Prime Minister John Key met with China's President Xi Jinping this week, where the Chinese leader reportedly spoke highly of Key's contribution to the New Zealand/China relationship.
The pair met in the Chinese capital of Beijing on Wednesday where, according to media site Xinhuanet, Xi noted the situation in the world had undergone profound and complicated changes.
Xi said China had become even more willing to co-operate with other countries, given this change.
China sticks to the path of peaceful development, Xi is reported as saying, adding that China's door will be open even wider to the world.
The purpose of the meeting is still unknown. The National Party knew it was happening, but Simon Bridges and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not.
International relations expert Stephen Hoadley told The Weekend Collective that protocol would have been to let the embassy know it was happening.
He thinks that this may be a way of the Chinese government trying to get New Zealand on board with the Belt and Road Project.
"I think Xi Jinping is reaching out to the National Party through John Key as he sees this as the more sympathetic party."
Hoadley says that Labour will say that they are in close touch with their Chinese counterparts, and likely won't mind what John Key has done.
This meeting comes as China faces pressure as it ramps up efforts to crackdown on protesters in Hong Kong.
Last week, China's foreign ministry threatened unspecific "strong countermeasures" if the US Congress enacted legislation which would support the protesters in Hong Kong.
Despite this, Chinese media reported that Xi said China welcomed all countries and their companies to "grasp the opportunity provided by China's development to better realise mutual benefit".
Xi reportedly spoke highly of Key's contribution to the China-New Zealand relations in his capacity as Prime Minister and said he hoped Key could continue to enhance the friendships between the two countries.
Key congratulated China on its 70th anniversary and said he would continue to play an active role in promoting the "understanding and cooperation" of the two countries, according to Xinhuanet.
When Key was Prime Minister, he made regular trips to China and often spoke highly of the two countries' relationship.
In 2018, two years after he resigned as Prime Minister, Key said: "Xi Jinping's going to go down in history as a good leader of China."
A former Mediaworks news anchor says you should never rule out the underdog.
About 520 current staff are facing an uncertain future, with Mediaworks putting its TV arm and Auckland headquarters up for sale.
There are no obvious buyers, nor Government intervention, in sight.
Former newsreader for 3 News Neil Waka told the Weekend Collective the network was always close to folding, right from the start.
He'd love to see it in local hands.
"There should be, could be, an opportunity for people in New Zealand to buy it. Why not put New Zealand interests at the forefront instead of having a lot of overseas people, who have run it before."
New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has lashed out at the National Party in a speech signalling his party's direction for the election.
But he's stopped short of saying he wouldn't do a deal with the current Opposition.
In a lengthy closing his party's annual conference on Sunday, Peters mentioned National about 15 times, roughly the same number he mentioned his own party.
He came into the room to billowing inspirational music, the party's members asked to stand as he walked to the stage.
While the speech was thin on policy, Peters spent most of his speech on National and its MPs, including Paula Bennett, Simon Bridges and John Key.
"We are seeing a desperate opposition perverse new grounds and issues of dirty politics. We see in New Zealand, for the first time, a descent into fake news."
Peters said that: "Unless they change, and we hope they do, a future National facing economic headwinds will embark on austerity policies, condemning New Zealand to more social fall out."
"We hope they change but the fact is New Zealand First, right now, as a party of the centre, is the National Party, when it had a capital N".
But Peters insisted his party was not picking sides for next year's election.
"New Zealand First will talk to any party that shares our vision for growing the country's wealth," he said.
US correspondent Charles Croucher joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the latest in the Trump impeachment proceedings and the withdrawal of US troops from Syria.
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New Wellington mayor Andy Foster joins the Weekend Collective to discuss his victory over rival Justin Lester.
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Dave Cull, former Dunedin mayor and president of Local Body Government NZ, talks to the Weekend Collective about the election results.
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Isabelle Steger, Deputy Asia Bureau Chief at Quartz Global News, joins the Weekend Collective to discuss the ongoing protests in Hong Kong.
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Dr Bryce Edwards joins the Weekend Collective to give his take on an interesting week for New Zealand First.
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Chloe Swarbrick, Green Party spokesperson for drug law reform, joins the Weekend Collective to discuss drug safety checking at music festivals.
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Former Christchurch mayor Sir Bob Parker joins the Weekend Collective to share his thoughts on whether voting in local body elections should be mandatory.
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As President Donald Trump’s whistleblower scandal continues, the impeachment probe has him pitted against the Democrats.
The President is accused of asking his Ukrainian counterpart to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden and the Democratic candidate's son during a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.
US correspondent Charles Croucher joins The Weekend Collective to make sense of it all.
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A caregiver allegedly put her hands around the throat of a frail patient, a woman was left on the floor overnight after a fall and other rest home residents were left soaked in urine.
Those claims are part of a raft of complaints made this year about a number of aged care facilities, details of which have been obtained by the Herald on Sunday.
Grey Power president Mac Welch has heard dozens of stories like these over the years and says we need an Aged Care Commissioner to look over rest homes and home care.
He joins The Weekend Collective to talk about the shocking claims.
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Critics of US President Donald Trump say there’s never been a stronger case for impeachment than right now.
There are allegations that Trump pressured Ukraine to reopen a closed investigation into Democrat Joe Biden’s son’s dealings in the country around the time of the annexation of Crimea in 2015 and 2016.
US correspondent Charles Croucher joins The Weekend Collective to discuss the allegations and whether an impeachment could be on the cards.
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The “Make it 16” campaign has launched and been brought to parliament.
Supporters of the campaign want to lower the voting age in New Zealand from 18 to 16.
To explain more, political scientist Sandra Gray talks to the Weekend Collective.
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Winston Peters has described Spark Sport’s Rugby World Cup service as a “disaster”, following widespread issues with last night’s coverage of the All Black’s victory over the Springboks.
The acting Prime Minister watched the game on his phone and said he could “understand what the people are talking about”.
He talks to the Weekend Collective about Spark Sport and whether the Rugby World Cup should be offered free-to-air for all New Zealanders.
LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW ABOVE
Medical centres nationwide have been given $6 million to provide mental health services.
The Government's allocating the hundreds of millions of dollars it set aside in the Budget for mental health initiatives.
About $30 million has been set aside for the first round of pitches from providers who want to offer free mental health services from 2020.
Jacinda Ardern says the services are for the number of New Zealanders who aren’t getting the help they need.
"$455 million was put aside so that we could roll out primary mental health care services throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and we're starting today."Changing Minds CEO Taimi Allen told the Weekend Collective it's an enormous deal.
"We're actually be able to collaborate together to create new frontline services with a new model of care which means people will get immediate support, they won't be waiting for long referrals."
Allen says it will allow far more choice to be offered.
Embattled British Prime Minister Boris Johnson suffered a new blow Saturday when a Cabinet minister resigned, saying she did not believe Johnson was sincere about getting a Brexit deal with the European Union.
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said in a letter to the prime minister that she was resigning because "I no longer believe leaving with a deal is the government's main objective."
Rudd also slammed Johnson's expulsion of Conservative lawmakers who oppose his Brexit plans, calling it "an assault on decency and democracy."
This week Johnson kicked 21 lawmakers out of the Conservative group in Parliament after they sided with the opposition to pass a law designed to prevent Britain from leaving the European Union next month without a divorce deal.
Those expelled included the longest-serving Conservative in Parliament, Ken Clarke, and Nicholas Soames, grandson of World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
"This short-sighted culling of my colleagues has stripped the party of broad-minded and dedicated Conservative MPs. I cannot support this act of political vandalism," wrote Rudd, who said she is also quitting the Conservative group and will sit as an independent.
Johnson says Britain must leave the EU as scheduled Oct. 31 even if there is no divorce agreement with the bloc. But his plan is meeting fierce resistance, including from some members of his own party.
This week the prime minister's younger brother, Jo Johnson, also quit the government over Brexit, saying he had been "torn between family loyalty and the national interest."
Johnson is seeking a snap election on Oct. 15 as a way to break the deadlock over Brexit, but lawmakers last week rejected his call for an early poll.
He is due to try again Monday, but opposition parties say they will veto that attempt, too. They want to postpone an election until Britain has secured a delay to the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline, removing the risk the U.K. could crash out without a deal.
Last night, Britain's House of Lords has approved a bill designed to prevent the country leaving the European Union next month without a divorce agreement.
Parliament's unelected upper chamber voted Friday for the bill, which has already been passed by the elected House of Commons.
It will become law within days once it gets the formality of royal assent.
The law, backed by opposition lawmakers and Conservative rebels, compels Prime Minister Boris Johnson to ask the EU to postpone Brexit if no divorce agreement is in place by Oct. 19.
Johnson says the U.K. must leave the bloc on the currently scheduled date of Oct. 31, even if there is no deal.
Most economists say a no-deal Brexit would severely disrupt trade with the EU and plunge the U.K. into recession.
Johnson said this week he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than seek a postponement, leaving government and Parliament at odds — with no obvious solution.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament for part of the run-up to the Oct. 31 Brexit deadline faces mounting legal and political challenges ahead of a weekend of planned street protests.
There are three ongoing court tests to Johnson's plan, which he says is routine but which will shorten the time in which opponents in Parliament could seek to pass legislation blocking a disorderly "no deal" departure from the European Union.
A Scottish judge Friday declined to issue an immediate injunction to block the suspension of Parliament but set up a full hearing Tuesday on the legal bid launched by cross-party legislators determined to keep Parliament in session.
A separate case in London has also received the heavyweight backing of former Prime Minister John Major — a fellow Conservative from Johnson's party — and from Tom Watson, the deputy leader of the opposition Labour Party.
Major hopes to formally join the case started by activist Gina Miller so he can argue that Johnson has exceeded his authority by asking Queen Elizabeth II to shutter Parliament for several weeks during the crucial period before the Brexit deadline.
"If granted permission to intervene, I intend to seek to assist the court from the perspective of having served in government as a minister and prime minister, and also in Parliament for many years as a member of the House of Commons," he said.
A case is being heard in Northern Ireland, as well.
The various courts are being asked to intervene in what is seen by Johnson's opponents as a power grab that undercuts the sovereignty of Parliament.
It is too early to gauge the possible impact of street protests planned for Saturday in London and other major British cities. Activists hope a massive turnout could influence vacillating members of Parliament when it reconvenes on Tuesday after a summer recess.
Organizers say more than 30 protests have been planned in cities throughout the United Kingdom.
Opponents of a possible "no deal" Brexit will have to hustle to craft a bill in the constrained time period. Success may depend on whether a significant number of legislators from Johnson's Conservative Party are willing to join forces with Labour and other parties to frustrate the prime minister's oft-stated goal of taking Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31 regardless of whether a deal is in place.
Shami Chakrabarti, a senior adviser to the Labour Party on justice issues, told BBC radio that she is hopeful there is enough opposition in Parliament to block Johnson from carrying out a "no deal" departure.
"If they try any more of this stuff we will use any means necessary to prevent this undemocratic behavior — that includes people taking to the streets, that includes people taking to the airwaves, that includes people going to court."
In Scotland, Judge Raymond Doherty turned down a bid for an immediate intervention but said a "substantive" hearing Tuesday would allow the case to be heard in a timely fashion. He did agree to move the full hearing from Sept. 6 to Tuesday to speed up the process.
"It's in the interest of justice that it proceeds sooner rather than later," he said.
The case was brought by a cross-party group of roughly 70 legislators seeking to broaden the period for parliamentary debate in a bid to prevent a disorderly departure by Britain from the European Union.
The legislators backing the legal bid want Johnson to submit a sworn affidavit explaining his reasons for suspending Parliament. It is not clear if such a statement will be required.
The defiant prime minister warned Friday that opposition to his plans is weakening Britain's negotiating position by giving EU leaders the impression that Parliament may step in to block Brexit.
"I'm afraid that the more our friends and partners think, at the back of their mind, that Brexit could be stopped, that the U.K. could be kept in by Parliament, the less likely they are to give us the deal that we need," Johnson told Sky News. H...
The Health Minister is paying tribute to the couple who led the massive outcry over inequalities in cancer care.
The Government has today announced it's setting up an independent national cancer agency.
Health Minister David Clark says the Cancer Control Agency will be fully established by December. It will have its own CEO, but will be housed within the Ministry of Health.
The cancer action plan also includes a $60 million dollar Pharmac boost, with $20 million for this year.
The agency will be tasked with ensuring an end to so-called 'postcode lottery' care.
Clark told the Weekend Collective it will ensure the same standards of care apply across New Zealand.
"We don't think it's acceptable in some areas get better treatment than others. We think everyone should be able to access that same high level of care."
He recognised Blair and Melissa Vining, the couple who led a massive petition for change, calling them wonderful people.
He says he's been moved by their plight.
"They drew attention to the fact that there is different standards of care around the country. That's something we've inherited as a government. It's not worth dwelling on how it came to be that way, but suffice to say, as Health Minister, I see it as my responsibility to improve on that situation."
However, Melissa told Newstalk ZB that the pair are disappointed with the Government's decision to not lower the bowel screening age to 50, the disease which her husband is dying from.
"Not lowering the age to 50, that's really sa.d We've got a really big problem in New Zealand. We're 10 years behind other countries with bowel screening, and we think it's disappointing that there's not more urgency around that."
A nightmare situation for hundreds of young people whose private details may have been compromised.
Information around 300 young people gave to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage has been exposed because its web security wasn't up to scratch.
It includes passports, birth certificates and drivers' licences, which had been used when those affected had applied to be part of Tuia 250 commemorations, marking 250 years since the Captain Cook landing.
They information was not secure on the initiative's website due to a coding mistake.
Tech commentator Paul Brislen told the Weekend Collective it's a big deal for those impacted.
"These are things that we use to identify ourselves for all kinds of service, so that's why this is such a serious breach."
He says that when an organisation is asking for information, they have to be held responsible for it.
"Clearly, someone wasn't doing that in this case. I'd like to see the outcome of the inquiry into this find just who is being held responsible."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is Minister of Culture and Heritage, and admitted disappointment in what had happened.
"The breach – which happened as a result of an information management issue - means that identity documents, and other personal information, were able to be accessed via the Tuia 250 website," Ardern said.
"This is very disappointing, and Manatū Taonga will be commissioning an external review to determine how this occurred. It is too early for me to comment further."
The Government wants to take on the cost of petrol, but may have difficulty doing that.
The Commerce Commission last week delivered its draft findings into the retail fuel market.
The 424 page report identified several factors affecting competition that are preventing the industry from being as competitive as it should be or could be.
The watchdog says problems include regional differences in retail fuel prices and lack of a wholesale market.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters afterwards that it shows that consumer are being "fleeced", and wants to take action after the final report comes out.
TVNZ political editor Jessica Mutch-McKay told the Weekend Collective that it could be a vote winner for the Government, but it will be difficult for them to do that.
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President Donald Trump is threatening to use the emergency authority granted by a powerful but obscure federal law to make good on his tweeted "order" to U.S. businesses to cut ties in China amid a spiraling trade war between the two nations.
China's announcement Friday that it was raising tariffs on $75 billion in U.S. imports sent Trump into a rage and White House aides scrambling for a response.
Trump fired off on Twitter, declaring American companies "are hereby ordered to immediately start looking for an alternative to China." He later clarified that he was threatening to make use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in the trade war, raising questions about the wisdom and propriety of making the 1977 act used to target rogue regimes, terrorists and drug traffickers the newest weapon in the clash between the world's largest economies.
It would mark the latest grasp of authority by Trump, who has claimed widespread powers not sought by his predecessors despite his own past criticism of their use of executive powers.
"For all of the Fake News Reporters that don't have a clue as to what the law is relative to Presidential powers, China, etc., try looking at the Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977," Trump tweeted late Friday. "Case closed!"
The act gives presidents wide berth in regulating international commerce during times of declared national emergencies. Trump threatened to use those powers earlier this year to place tariffs on imports from Mexico in a bid to force the U.S. neighbor to do more to address illegal crossings at their shared border.
It was not immediately clear how Trump could use the act to force American businesses to move their manufacturing out of China and to the U.S, and Trump's threat appeared premature — as he has not declared an emergency with respect to China.
Even without the emergency threat, Trump's retaliatory action Friday — further raising tariffs on Chinese exports to the U.S. — had already sparked widespread outrage from the business community.
"It's impossible for businesses to plan for the future in this type of environment," David French, senior vice president for government relations at the National Retail Federation, said in a statement.
The Consumer Technology Association called the escalating tariffs "the worst economic mistake since the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930 — a decision that catapulted our country into the Great Depression."
And trade association CompTIA stressed the logistical strain that would follow if companies were forced to shift operations out of China, saying it would take months for most companies.
"Any forced immediate action would result in chaos," CEO Todd Thibodeaux said in emailed comments.
The frequent tariff fluctuations are making it hard to plan and are casting uncertainty on some investments, said Peter Bragdon, executive vice president and chief administration officer of Columbia Sportswear.
"There's no way for anyone to plan around chaos and incoherence," he said.
Columbia manufactures in more than 20 countries, including China. This diversification helps shield the company from some fluctuations, but China is an important base for serving Chinese customers as well as those in other countries, Bragdon said. The company plans to continue doing business there.
"We follow the rule of law, not the rule of Twitter," he said.
Presidents have often used the act to impose economic sanctions to further U.S. foreign policy and national security goals. Initially, the targets were foreign states or their governments, but over the years the act has been increasingly used to punish individuals, groups and non-state actors, such as terrorists.
Some of the sanctions have affected U.S. businesses by prohibiting Americans from doing business with those targeted. The act also was used to block new investment in Burma in 1997.
Congress has never attempted to end a national emergency invoking the law, which would require a joint resolution. Congress...
We're being urged not to be passive bystanders in the upcoming local body elections.
The vote takes place via postal ballot from the 20th of September until the 12th of October.
However, just 38.5 percent of residents in our biggest city had their say in 2016.
Actor, writer and comedian Oscar Kightley is working with Auckland Council, using his profile to encourage people to have their say.
He told the Weekend Collective local bodies impact our every day life, yet so very few people are having their say.
"If you look at how many people care about things on social media, you would think it would be easy to transfer that effort into doing something real."
Kightley had a few suggestions on how more people
"I think we could lower the age to 16. I think we could invest the millions in looking at doing it online I think we could look at bringing back the ballot box on the day so its not just people posting in their votes."
One report from the week says that there are more councillors in New Zealand named John then there are councillors born after 1980. It also shows that most councillors are male, white and aged between 50-70.
Kightley says that it shows more people from diverse backgrounds need to get out to get representation that matters to them.
A spokesman for China's ceremonial legislature condemned statements from U.S. lawmakers supportive of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, as more protests were planned Sunday following a day of dueling rallies that highlighted the political divide in the Chinese territory.
You Wenze called the lawmakers' comments "a gross violation of the spirit of the rule of law, a blatant double standard and a gross interference in China's internal affairs."
He said that Hong Kong's 7.5 million people and Chinese population as a whole rejected the actions of a "very small group of violent protesters" as well as "any interference of foreign forces."
You did not mention any specific lawmaker, but numerous U.S. senators and Congress members, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have affirmed the U.S. commitment to human rights and urged the Hong Kong government to end the standoff.
Congress also has the power to pass legislation affecting Hong Kong's relationship with the U.S. in ways that could further erode the territory's reputation for stability and rule of law.
That includes the recent re-introduction of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act in Congress, which would among its other provisions require the Secretary of State to issue an annual certification of Hong Kong's autonomy to justify special treatment afforded to the city.
More directly, President Donald Trump could simply issue an executive order suspending Hong Kong's special trading status with the U.S., a move that could have a devastating effect on the local economy at a time when Beijing and Washington are engaged in a bitter trade war.
On Saturday, pro-democracy protesters marched on one side of Hong Kong's famous harbor for the 10th weekend while a pro-government rally called for an end to the sometimes violent movement.
"The government right now doesn't listen to the people, and the police are too violent," said Bobby Tse, a retiree who watched the pro-democracy march from a bridge. "It didn't used to be like this. We didn't have to protest every week. But now even though we have protests every week, the government still gives no response."
At the pro-government rally, speakers on a stage said they love both Hong Kong and China and asked the protesters why they are afraid of China. Supporters gave a thumbs-up to police officers and posed for photos with them.
Driver Leo Chen said he came out because he wants peace in his city.
"Before, everyone in Hong Kong helped each other, it was very harmonious," he said. "Now to see it become like this, I'm not happy, so I've come out to show a little strength."
Earlier Saturday, thousands of schoolteachers marched to the official residence of Hong Kong's leader, Carrie Lam, to show support for the protesters who include many students.
Carrying signs that read "Protect the next generation" and umbrellas to ward off intermittent downpours, the teachers tied white ribbons to a metal fence near Government House. They said the government should answer the protesters' demands and stop using what they called police violence to disperse demonstrators who have taken over streets and besieged and defaced government buildings.
The movement's demands include Lam's resignation, democratic elections and an independent investigation into police use of force.
A rally in Victoria Park has been called for Sunday by a pro-democracy group that has organized three massive marches through central Hong Kong since June.
Members of China's paramilitary People's Armed Police force have been training for days across the border in Shenzhen, including on Sunday morning, fueling speculation that they could be sent in to suppress the protests.
The Hong Kong police, however, have said they are capable of handling the protests.
The Government is putting $54 million into support schemes aimed at preventing people from becoming homeless.
Associate Housing Minister Kris Faafoi and Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni on Sunday announced new funding for a series of programmes aimed at keeping those at high risk of losing housing off the streets.
About $31 million will be spent over four years on 67 intensive case managers at the Ministry of Social Development, whose job it will be to help families with children and mental health needs currently living in emergency motel accommodation.
"MSD has identified a distinct group of people that face a range of complex issues that are a barrier to finding and keeping a home of their own, such as mental health and addictions, criminal history, or family violence," Sepuloni said.
Another $6.6 million over two years will go towards expanding the Government's Sustaining Tenancies programme.
The scheme gives practical budget advice, property maintenance and mental health support to people in state housing, in three cities - Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.
Faafoi said the new money would mean the programme could expand into five new regions, and into the private housing market.
Welfare payments for emergency housing across New Zealand skyrocketed almost 200 per cent in 2018.
In the first three months of this year, the Government paid out $23 million for emergency motel accommodation.
The grants were introduced in 2016 to help those who needed temporary housing.
The Opposition has blamed growing demand for emergency housing grants on an increasing cost of living, but Sepuloni has attributed the situation to the housing crisis.
The Government says the new funding is the first phase and a stopgap as part of a larger plan aimed at tackling homelessness.
The money is coming out of a contingency fund set aside in the May Budget for tackling homelessness and comes on top of $197 million set aside for boosting a nationwide scheme aimed at getting people into housing.
About 806 homes had been filled by that programme by June.
New Zealand First is being given little to no chance of getting its abortion referendum.
The party this week blindsided their coalition partners by revealing they were considering calling for a referendum on the issue.
This is despite Justice Minister Andrew Little working closely with New Zealand First MP Tracy Martin on the legislation, which passed its first reading on Thursday.
However, the party is unlikely to get their wish.
Political commentator Bryce Edwards says it doesn't have support from Labour, National or the Greens for it.
He told the Weekend Collective New Zealand First already knows that.
"They need to at least for their own supporters say that they tried to get a referendum because a lot of New Zealanders wants a referendum and probably other New Zealanders as well."
Edwards says this allows New Zealand First to state it tried to give New Zealanders a say.
This morning, Andrew Little told Andrew Dickens he is not bothered by the calls.
"New Zealand First are who they are and what happened is what happened. I'm not particularly fussed by it, it go through the first reading."
Little says he isn't a fan of referendums as he maintains MPs are elected to make decisions.
John Tamihere says as Auckland's mayor he would create an 0800 JACINDA hotline to call if residents see rough sleepers or beggars.
Anyone who called the number would find a "person all loving and caring that knows everything about your wellbeing" on the other end, he said. A social worker would then be sent to work with the beggar.
Homeless people causing a "nuisance" by sleeping rough would be asked to go with the social worker - or find themself in breach of the law, Tamihere said in a statement this afternoon as he released his begging and homelessness policy.
Tamihere claimed he would also force social workers to change their work hours, working three shifts so they would be available around the clock.
"Under no circumstances should any Auckland citizen have a fit of conscience and believe they are doing any fellow Aucklander a favour by handing over donations to a beggar," he said.
"We have enough social workers in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland to deal with working one-on-one," Tamihere said.
"With each person found on the streets, social workers, like a lot of other workers in the supply side of our economy, must wake up to the fact that social work is a 24/7 job, and there will be a requirement that they work three shifts."
Tamihere told the Weekend Collective homelessness is not a local government issue.
"The ratepayer in Auckland shouldn't be double taxed by having to fix homelesness which is a central government issue. It's as simple as that."
That 0800 number is not up and running, and Tamihere says he wouldn't be worried if someone bought it out from under him.
"Doesn't matter. I've made the point."
The council would also build more social housing under his leadership, in partnership with central Government.
Tamihere said he was in the mayoral race because Phil Goff had decided there would be a cap on social housing on publicly owned ratepayer land.
He said he had filed an urgent claim to the Human Rights Tribunal requesting that that policy be deemed a breach of Human Rights, particularly affecting superannuitants, beneficiaries and those earning under $80,000 per year.
"Council owns some of the most strategic and important land parcels that could bring an end to homelessness in the city, but more importantly they are brownfield sites close to transport and existing infrastructure."
Last year's homeless count on September 17 found there were an estimated 800 people living without shelter in Auckland, and at least 2,874 people in temporary accommodation.
But Tamihere called the count a "$500,000 political stunt" and said he didn't need that to know the number of homeless and rough sleepers or where they sleep.
"The millions of dollars that Auckland Council splurges on subsidising central Government failure must stop," he said.
Homelessness was an issue for central Government, not local government or police, he said.
The Government has unveiled the first tranche of its cancer plan, announcing a $25 million spend on 12 new radiation machines nationwide.
But the plan, announced by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Health Minister David Clark at Wellington Hospital today, stops short of a commitment to setting up a National Cancer Agency.
Ardern said the Government would be unveiling a further "major announcement" when it releases its Interim Cancer Action Plan later this month.
The new linear accelerator machines will replace older ones in places such as Hawke's Bay, Taranaki and Northland.
Linear accelerators (LINACs) are used to deliver external beam radiation treatments to cancer patients. They can provide individualised treatments based on a patient's specific needs and are operated by radiation therapists.
Ardern said the new machines offered radiation treatment in more regions than ever before, ensuring improved treatment and fairer access to cancer care in the provinces.
They will provide more precise treatment to patients and would help lead to faster recovery times.
"We know for some lung cancers, newer technology can reduce treatment times from as much as six weeks to as little as three days. It can also mean improved life expectancy when every day is precious," Ardern said today.
"A cancer plan that works has to be comprehensive and must include radiation treatment as well as pharmaceuticals and preventative measures."
Ardern said that one in two people with cancer would benefit from the use of radiation therapy.
"But in New Zealand only one in three are currently accessing these services. That's why we are making the single largest Government capital investment in it."
The $25 million spend over three years comes as part of the $1.7 billion the Government earmarked for health services in May's Budget.
At the moment, if someone living in Northland, Hawke's Bay and Taranaki need treatment, they have to travel to larger cities.
Ardern said today's announcement will mean 1200 people each year will be able to access radiation treatment locally rather than travelling long distances.
The second tranche of the Government's cancer response plan will be the release of the Interim Cancer Action Plan later this month.
Before the 2017 election, Labour promised to put $20 million towards setting up a National Cancer Agency.
Speaking to Breakfast last week, Clark hinted that a plan for such an agency was being developed and would be unveiled soon.
"I'm determined to get the plan right – we won't be rushed into doing that; we want to make sure we get the plan right and that's backed up by action."
New machines will be installed this year at the Auckland, Canterbury, Capital & Coast (Wellington) and MidCentral (Palmerston North) DHBs (two machines).
MidCentral is intending to locate a replacement LINAC in Hawkes Bay in 2020/21 and Taranaki the following year.
Green co-leader James Shaw has told supporters that they can't always get what they want as the party comes under fire from some supporters.
High ranking Green Party member Jack McDonald, the party's policy co-convenor, is stepping down ahead of next year's election. In a Twitter post, he made the decision because of the party's centrist drift under James Shaw.
He says we don't have time for centrism or moderation. He also cited his disappointment at Metiria Turei's resignation in 2017.
McDonald also ran on the party's list in last election, but will not be seeking re-election.
Excited to be at the Green Party AGM in Dunedin this weekend. I announced I won't be standing for re-election to the leadership position of Policy Co-convenor. I've also decided that I won't be standing as the Greens' candidate for Te Tai Hauāuru in next years' general election. pic.twitter.com/KDfhKoB17J
— Jack McDonald (@tautokai) August 2, 2019
Shaw told the Weekend Collective it's what happens in a MMP government.
"This is always going to be part of the transition from being a party of opposition into a party of government, especially when you make up one of three parties. You're not always going to get everything that you want."
The controversy has overshadowed the party's latest announcement at their annual conference in Dunedin. The Greens announced that they are ready to negotiate a rent-to-own policy as part of the Government’s KiwiBuild reset.
Co-leader Marama Davidson says it's about giving people a secure home of their own and a sense of belonging in a community.
Other proposed reforms include changes to the Residential Tenancies Act, and a mandatory warrant of fitness to enforce proper standards.
National's promised to put $200 million towards fighting cancer - if the party makes its way out of opposition.
Leader Simon Bridges has unveiled the plan today during the second day of their annual conference in Christchurch.
He says a National Government will fund an independent Cancer Agency and set up a multi-million dollar fund dedicated to cancer drugs.
He told the Weekend Collective that everyone in the country is touched by.
"People shouldn't have to start a GiveaLittle page, they shouldn't have to move country to get the cancer drugs that people can get in Australia."
Bridges says that there are big cancer drugs that are funded in Australia that are not speculative and have proven results, but are not funded here.
He says that the Government has the $50 million a year to spend but are spending it instead on programmes such as the Provincial Growth Fund.
The agency would be implemented if National wins the 2020 election, but Bridges insists that is capable despite only polling around 40 per cent.
He says that leaked poll results last week shows that Labour is spooked by the threat of National.
"Halfway through, they haven't got the confidence, they haven't delivered."
Asked if they have the coalition partners to get back, Bridges says that NZ First and Greens may not reach the five per cent threshold. He also suggested that a Christian or "true Greens" party might come up organically, but denied that National has any role in setting one up.
With Britain's departure from the European Union due in less than 100 days, new Prime Minister Boris Johnson is a man in a hurry. But he's not rushing off to Brussels.
The U.K. leader has no meetings scheduled with EU officials. Instead, he was in central England on Friday, talking about his promise to recruit 20,000 more police officers. In the coming days he'll speak on other aspects of a packed domestic agenda that looks suspiciously like an election platform.
Britain's next scheduled election is three years away, but signs suggest Johnson may be preparing for a snap poll within weeks or months to break the Brexit impasse that defeated his predecessor, Theresa May. She resigned after failing, three times, to get Parliament's backing for her divorce deal with the EU.
Johnson won a contest to replace her as Conservative leader and prime minister by promising that the U.K. will leave the 28-nation bloc on the scheduled date of Oct. 31, with or without a divorce deal.
But Tim Durrant, senior researcher at the Institute for Government, an independent think-tank, said Johnson "has exactly the same parliamentary arithmetic to deal with as May" — no overall House of Commons majority and a set of lawmakers who so far have rejected all attempts to leave the EU either with or without a divorce deal.
"He is clearly positioning himself as the person to get Brexit done, and the way to change the parliamentary arithmetic is to have an election," Durrant said.
Asked Friday if he would rule out calling an election, Johnson said: "Absolutely." But his predecessor, Theresa May, also insisted she would not hold a snap election — and then did, in 2017.
In the House of Commons on Thursday, Johnson said Britons had had multiple chances to vote recently, with two elections and an EU membership referendum in the past four years.
"The people of this country have voted in 2015, 2016 and 2017, and what they want to see is this Parliament delivering on the mandate that they gave us" to leave the EU, he said.
Laying out his priorities in his first Commons statement as prime minister, Johnson said he wanted Britain to leave the EU with a deal. But he also insisted the EU make major changes to May's spurned withdrawal agreement, including scrapping an insurance policy for the Irish border that has been rejected by U.K. lawmakers.
The EU, which has long said it will not change the agreement, called Johnson's stance combative and unhelpful.
Irish Deputy Prime Minister Simon Coveney said Friday that Johnson was putting himself on a "collision course" with the bloc.
"The approach that the British prime minister seems to now be taking is not going to be the basis of an agreement," he said. "And that's worrying for everybody.
"From a Brexit negotiating perspective, it was a very bad day yesterday."
From a British political perspective, however, there's a logic to Johnson's moves. University of Nottingham politics professor Steven Fielding said the prime minister was preparing to blame Brussels if the Brexit talks fail and Britain faces a disruptive no-deal exit.
"The most likely scenario is Boris goes off to Brussels, Brussels says no, Boris says 'Brussels is dictating to us . We want to do a deal but they won't let us do a deal,'" Fielding said. "Ramping all of that up and then saying, 'Come and support me on the road to our glorious Brexit' — and call an election."
Fielding said "it makes more sense for him to go to the country before Brexit than after" because of the potential upheaval that could follow a no-deal exit.
Economists warn that leaving the bloc without an agreement on terms would disrupt trade by imposing tariffs and customs checks between Britain and the bloc. The British government's financial watchdog says that could send the value of the pound plummeting and push the U.K. into recession.
British election campaigns last five weeks, so Johnson would have to act in September if he seeks a vote before Oct. 31.
A snap election needs to be...
The head of the Maori Council says the impasse at Ihumātao is a broader issue than a dispute over historic Maori land.
Thousands of protesters have descended on the South Auckland site, buoyed now the Prime Minister's stepped in to pause planned housing development.
Maori Council head Matthew Tukaki told the Weekend Collective we need to have a broader national discussion about the pressures of population growth.
"This is not just a Maori issue. This is very much an issue for all New Zealanders to say what is the future of our country when it comes to population density, where we should be building, and what sites should we be protecting for future generations."
He says that the land is significant to all New Zealanders, and likens building houses here as akin to demolishing Auckland Town Hall to build a casino.
"This may be a Maori protest, but there is a broader national discussion to be had around planning and discussion by-laws."
Tukaki says that successive governments have stuffed this up, but it dates back to the initial confiscation of the land in the 1860s.
Former MP Hone Harawira told the Weekend Collective that he expects that the protesters will remain on the site for some time.
"I don't think it's a case of winning or losing," he says, but he would like to see the Government and Fletchers come to a deal to return the land to other people.
He thinks the Government could give Fletchers other land around the country in return for the land.
A political commentator says it's over the top to claim the National Party is our biggest climate change threat
Columnist Simon Wilson wrote this week that National's refusal to endorse the Zero Carbon Bill, among other things, is undermining the country's effort to address climate change.
But Vernon Tava told The Weekend Collective this isn't true.
"Labour and it's coalition partners could get this bill through on numbers, so to then claim that the whole scheme is being threatened by National opposition is pretty over the top."
Tava is widely expected to launch his own so-called Blue/Green Party in time for next year's election.
2:56pm NZ time today marks exactly 50 years since Neil Armstrong took his first steps on the moon and uttered those legendary words "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". We look at the celebrations around the world and how Apollo 11's moon landing changed space flight forever.
A moonstruck United States celebrated the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11's "giant leap" by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin at parties, races, ball games and concerts today
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Aldrin showed Vice President Mike Pence the launch pad where he flew to the moon in 1969. At the same time halfway around the world, an American and two other astronauts blasted into space on a Russian rocket. And in Armstrong's hometown of Wapakoneta, Ohio, nearly 2,000 runners competed in "Run to the Moon" races.
"Apollo 11 is the only event in the 20th century that stands a chance of being widely remembered in the 30th century," the vice president said.
Neil Armstrong's historic first steps on the moon, 50 years ago today. Photo / AP
Wapakoneta 10K runner Robert Rocco, 54, a retired Air Force officer from Centerville, Ohio, called the moon landing by Armstrong and Aldrin "perhaps the most historic event in my lifetime, maybe in anybody's lifetime."
At the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Gilda Warden sat on a bench and gazed in awe at the Apollo 11 command module, Columbia, on display.
"It's like entering the Sistine Chapel and seeing the ceiling. You want to just sit there and take it in," said Warden, 63, a psychiatric nurse from Tacoma, Washington.
Neil Armstrong's iconic photograph of Edwin 'Buzz Aldrin' from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission which saw the first crew to land on the moon. Photo / AP
On July 20, 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin undocked from Columbia in lunar orbit and then descended in the lunar module Eagle to the Sea of Tranquility. The Eagle landed with just 17 seconds of fuel to spare. Six hours later, Armstrong was the first to step onto the lunar surface, proclaiming for the ages: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
It was humanity's first footsteps on another world.
In a speech at Kennedy, Pence paid tribute to Armstrong, Aldrin and command module pilot Michael Collins — if they're not heroes, "then there are no heroes" — as well as the 400,000 Americans who worked tirelessly to get them to the moon.
Aldrin, 89, grabbed the right hand of Neil Armstrong's older son, Rick, at Pence's mention of heroes. He then stood and saluted, and received a standing ovation. Armstrong died in 2012. Collins, 88, did not attend the Florida ceremony. But Apollo 17's Harrison Schmitt, the next-to-last man to walk on the moon in 1972, was there.
Pence reiterated the Trump administration's goal of sending American astronauts back to the moon within five years and eventually on to Mars. He said this next generation of astronauts will spend weeks and months on the lunar surface, not just days and hours like the 12 Apollo moonwalkers did. Alongside the stage was the newly completed Orion capsule that will fly to the moon and back, on a test flight without a crew, in another year or two.
NASA had other celebrations going on today, most notably at Johnson Space Center in Houston, home to Mission Control; The US Space and Rocket Center next door to Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where the Saturn V moon rockets were born; and the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington.
And where better to celebrate than Apollo, Pennsylvania — located in Armstrong County not far from Moon Township and the town of Mars. The historical society revived the annual moon-landing celebration in honor of the big 50. All of the Apollo astronauts have long been honorary citizens of Apollo, the society's Alan Morgan said.
The three crew members of Apollo 11 pose for a group portrait a few weeks before the launch, May 1969. Left to right, Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins, Buzz Aldrin. Photo / AP
A...
John Banks is seriously considering a tilt at the Auckland Mayoralty, saying if he stands and is elected he will chair the board of Auckland Transport.
Banks has hired a team of political strategists and held focus groups to determine his chances, telling the Herald today he will make a final decision in the next two weeks.
"Phil Goff's mayoralty reminds me of grandma's boiled cabbage. It never gets better by the day," said the former National MP who entered Parliament with Goff in 1981.
Banks, who is 72 and lives at the Viaduct on the city's waterfront, said he gets approached every day to stand for the mayoralty.
He said the focus groups showed that many people will not vote for a mayoral candidate, Auckland's leadership is colourless and mostly invisible and people want a mayor who understands the city and the effects on people's daily lives.
If no-one steps up to the plate, said Banks, the city faces a democratic disaster and more of the same.
Banks said his team included Topham Guerin, the New Zealand digital and creative agency that helped Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison get re-elected and Andrew Laidlaw, who has worked for the controversial political strategists Crosby Textor. No-one from the established political machinery in New Zealand was involved, he said.
Banks said he would bring innovative ideas to provide financial responsibility, stop wastage and contain debt.
He said there is widespread concern about the lack of accountability by council-controlled organisations and he would seek to change the law so councillors could sit on the boards of all CCOs.
At present, councillors are only allowed to sit on the board of Auckland Transport.
"If I was the next mayor of Auckland I would chair the Auckland Transport board. Within a week I would change the culture and have a direct link of communication between the ratepayers, local communities and the AT board," said Banks.
Asked if he was too long in the tooth to return to politics, Banks said, "Yes, life is running out but I still feel I have got a lot to contribute".
"I'm fit as a fiddle. I walk every day and still fly my aeroplane," he said.
The centre-right has been struggling to find a high profile candidate to take on Goff, who thrashed the centre-right's Vic Crone by 76,000 votes in 2016.
One political source said the centre-right needs to put up a candidate by the end of this month to have any chance of competing with Goff, who is standing as an independent but has the backing of the Labour Party and volunteers at hand.
Banks stood for election at the first Super City elections in 2010 where he was comfortably beaten by Manukau Mayor Len Brown by 66,000 votes.
He was mayor of the former Auckland City Council from 2001 to 2004, a tumultuous term that saw him defeated by the left-leaning businessman Dick Hubbard. A 'transmogrified" John Banks beat Hubbard in the 2007 local body elections, serving out the last term of the old council.
Will the refusal to build 12 major roading projects send the Coalition lose the 2020 election?
The Business Advisory Council, chaired by Air New Zealand chief executive Christopher Luxon, last week presented a damning indictment of New Zealand's infrastructure regime saying there is "no overarching vision or leadership in New Zealand for infrastructure development".
"This means there is no nation-building narrative upon which to build a strategic direction," it says.
They want the Government to proceed with 12 roading projects that are on hold or under review, and open them to private investment, saying that public sector does not have the funding mechanisms to properly run these projects.
However, while Transport Minister Phil Twyford dismissed the report when he appeared on Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive later that day.
du Plessis-Allan in turn wrote an opinion piece disparaging the response. "When Phil Twyford out-of-hand dismissed the advice to resurrect 12 crucial highways, the texts and emails flooded in to me on the radio. Business lobbyists and roading advocates asked for a chance to respond. All wanted to make a case for why we need those roads."
She says that "refusing to build these roads is an election loser".
"It might not lose the entire country, but it can lose electorates for sure. Labour's dying to steal Hutt South from National's Chris Bishop. Good luck to them given how angry Hutt South voters are about the Melling Interchange being put on ice."
du Plessis-Allan joined The Weekend Collective to discuss the piece and what can be done about public transport.
One Canterbury gun owner says the atmosphere at the first gun buyback event had an interesting atmosphere.
Author Ray Berard was one of the 169 owners who attended the event at Riccarton Racecourse yesterday.
A total of 224 guns were handed in yesterday, the first of 258 that will run across the country over the next three months.
On top of more than 200 guns, owners handed in 217 parts and accessories, with the total compensation cost coming to $433,682.
Berard says he was happy to hand his guy over. It was a 45 minute process, and he received 90 per cent of what he had paid for the gun as compensation.
He says that most people seemed to be fine with the process, but there were some that were still divided over the process.
"It's a big thing when the Government decides to change the law and buy it back."
Berard has accepted that he had to hand it back. He says that he has come to understand that military style rifles should not be in the hands of private citizens.
"My rifle was a beautiful rifle, but my rifle in the wrong hands could kill a lot of people really, really quickly."
Berard intends to buy a bolt-action rifle with his compensation, and will continue to hunt at least once a year.
The head of Customs has handed back $302,000 seized from a mysterious foreign diplomat after he failed to declare the vast sum of cash in his luggage.
The experienced traveller, part of an official delegation invited to New Zealand, was let off with a warning instead of being prosecuted. They had claimed that they had forgotten they had the money in the bag.
The identity of the individual involved is not known, nor the country they were representing or when the cash was sized.
The money was confiscated, but has since been returned following a review.
Anyone arriving in the country with $10,000 or more must declare the cash under anti-money laundering laws, or face three months in prison.
Money laundering expert Dr Ron Pol told the Weekend Collective he questions whether a New Zealander would be treated the same.
"If it was just an ordinary New Zealander in the situation, if we had made an honest mistake, we'd love to have our money back as well."
He says that the element of secrecy may be less now that the case is over, we may learn more about it in the future.
Customs Minister Jenny Salesa said she was satisfied Customs had acted appropriately and "without pressure or influence".
However, National's spokesperson for foreign affairs Gerry Brownlee told The Weekend Collective that there is something very odd about this.
He says that it is hypocritical, as if a New Zealander had ordered something online and the seller did not fill the form out properly, the goods are seized and the New Zealander is forced to pay a fee.
"A little bit of consistency here from Customs, and certainly an explanation that is well and truly overdue."
A small-town mayor is calling for the creation of a mayoral political party to contest parliamentary elections because of his difficulty getting a hearing in Wellington.
Embattled Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen has pitched the idea to the mayors and chairs of New Zealand's 78 territorial and regional councils ahead of the Local Government NZ conference that starts in Wellington on Sunday.
"My concerns are that members of Parliament are out of touch with local government and communities in New Zealand ...," Feyen says in a letter sent today to the mayors and chairs and obtained by the Herald on Sunday.
"Personally I have had no opportunity to get appointments with MPs on any matter," Feyen says in the letter.
He believes chief executives and the bureaucracy hold the power at councils and that Local Government NZ - the councils' association and lobby group - prevents direct access to central government decision-makers.
Feyen, who is seeking re-election as mayor, says he is prepared to stand against Otaki MP Nathan Guy for his seat in Parliament.
Horowhenua Mayor Michael Feyen is promoting the idea of mayors standing for Parliament. Photo / Horowhenua Chronicle
He wants his proposed mayoral party to contest electorates and to campaign for the party vote.
The idea has been dismissed as unfeasible by a political historian.
Dr Michael Bassett told the Weekend Collective they are two distinct jobs and you can't do both.
"I mean, what's he going to be doing? Is he going to be going to Wellington on Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays if he was elected? What happens to the people of Horowhenua?"
He does not think that this proposal would affect turnout for local body elections.
Mayoral responses to his pitch were mixed.
"It sounds a bit bonkers," said Wellington Mayor Justin Lester. "I strongly doubt it will happen any time soon - through lack of support from mayors and most importantly the public."
Lester said it would be impossible to do both jobs effectively.
Feyen describes himself as a "minority mayor" and has failed to get his way on council issues including his pick for deputy mayor and his opposition to selling pensioner housing.
He has said he has "hit brick walls with literally everything that I've wanted to do".
He told the Herald on Sunday that if he was both mayor and MP he would take only the MP's salary. He would want to have two mayoral deputies and for the mayor's and deputy's salaries to be shared between the two deputies.
Invercargill Mayor Sir Tim Shadbolt said Feyen's idea was "well worth looking at", but he wouldn't join the proposed mayoral party. He believed local government could have more influence by keeping out of national party politics.
"Because we are in battles all the time with Parliament - the latest one is over amalgamating all the polytechs and technical institutes into one organisation, we are very opposed to that - but I think we can be more effective by not belonging to a political party."
Dr Bassett says that support does not change a lot, as Shadbolt has "always rowed the boat slightly differently from everybody else".
Lester said Local Government NZ was a very effective organisation and added that mayors had a responsibility to build relationships with government decision-makers. "We've managed to do that effectively in Wellington."
Local government historian Dr Graham Bush pointed to two mayors who had simultaneously been MPs: Christine Fletcher and Sir Robert Macfarlane.
Fletcher, a current member of the Auckland Council, was elected mayor of the old Auckland City in 1998 and remained a National MP until the 1999 general election.
She said last night she hadn't wanted to risk causing a general election by leaving Parliament early. It was "taxing" doing the two jobs but "very productive" in getting the Government to engage in Auckland issues such as redeveloping hospitals.
Macfarlane was a Labour MP from 1939 to 1969, and Speaker from 1958 to 1960. He was mayor of Christchurch from 1938 to...
After a six month phase in, New Zealand's ban on single-use plastic bags takes effect tomorrow.
Supermarkets made the switch by the end of last year.
Associate Environment Minister Eugenie Sage says Kiwis really support the move.
She says research found in April last year 56 percent of shoppers surveyed were bringing reusable bags, and that figure rose to 91 percent by September.
"Banning these bags means that we;ll be saving tens of millions of bags going to landfill or getting into rivers and streams and into the oceans, protecting our marine life - fish, seabirds and marine mammals.'
Bin liners, dog poo bags, and the bags used for meat, fruit and vegetables are not included in the ban.
Sage told the Weekend Collective it does include compostable, degradable bags.
"We don't have the facilities around New Zealand to deal with compostable bags, and they don't degrade in home compost heaps."
Sage was unsure about the rules for the stronger plastic bags Countdown has been selling.
Still confused? Here are the five other things you need to know:
There's a precise definition for what's actually banned
The rules apply to any type of plastic less than 70 microns in thickness, that's new or un-used, has carry handles, is provided for carrying sold goods, and is made of bio-based materials like starch. It also covers bags made of plastics that are degradable, biodegradable or oxo-degradable.
These are sometimes marketed as "not plastic". The typical type of bag covered are those offered at supermarkets and stores - the old yellow Pak N Save bags measured about 35 microns, while those from clothing or department stores are usually between 50 and 70 microns.
The bags many people are using now are jute or polypropylene bags, that can be reused over and over.
The Government was encouraging retailers to clarify with their suppliers on the thickness of their bags they offered, and recommended they choose reusable ones.
Over the six-month phase-out period that led up to the law kicking in, supermarkets have already switched away from single-use plastic shopping bags, stopping tens of millions of them from entering circulation.
Kiwis also appear to have adopted the change early, with survey results showing more than 80 per cent of shoppers were bringing their own reusable bags with them as at last September - up from just over half a few months before that.
That said, a Herald survey conducted in central Queen St last week counted what appeared to be five new single-use plastic shopping bags carrying goods out of four shops.
Noel Leeming, Farmers, Daiso Japan, Yummy Jianbing takeaways, Jay Jays, Mirrou and Hannahs all said they would have compliant bags from tomorrow.
The survey counted 25 paper, woven and other types of bags, which would be permitted after Monday.
Many people put smaller purchases in their own bags or into a pocket.
Bio-bags are banned too
Even though bio-based plastic bags are sometimes made from plants, their manufacturing process prevents them from breaking down as quickly or as easily.
Compostable bags, for example, if not composted properly, ended up being a problem too, and not everyone had access to a home compost that could process these bags.
But the Ministry for the Environment has advised that this part of the ban might be revisited if the right infrastructure is developed.
Lots of other types of bags can still be used
People will still be able to buy lightweight barrier bags, like the ones that you get in the deli or butchery, along with bin liners, pet waste bags and nappy bags.
Also exempt were bags used in packaging, like bread bags and pouches for cooked chicken.
The Government's reasoning was that these types of bags were needed for hygiene purposes, and at this stage, it wasn't looking at extending the ban to them.
The rules also didn't apply to long-life synthetic fabric multi-use shopping bags.
These were bags usually between 45 and 75 microns in thickness and made wholly or predominantly of nylon...
Is Jacinda Ardern a smiling assassin or a wimp unable to make the big calls?
The Prime Minister unveiled her first ministerial reshuffle last week, with the biggest change the splitting of the housing portfolio role between three ministers.
Kris Faafoi got the biggest promotion, moving into Cabinet and picking up one third of the new housing roles, while Phil Twyford lost control of KiwiBuild but picked up the Economic Development portfolio.
The move for Twyford led to split reaction from political commentators, with some saying Ardern was too soft while others praising the move.
Saturday Mornings and Q+A host Jack Tame joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the reshuffle, and he went straight down the middle.
Kiwis will be able to vote at next year's general election while doing their weekly food shop.
Justice Minister Andrew Little has announced that ballot boxes will be in more venues at the 2020 election - including supermarkets and shopping malls.
"New Zealanders deserve to have their votes counted. Nearly half of voters are now exercising their right to vote prior to election day," Little said.
"Those early voters are able to both enrol and vote at the ballot box. It's only fair that people who vote on election day have the same right to enrol as those casting an early vote.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE AS DR SANDRA GREY SPEAKS TO THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE
President Donald Trump says he abruptly called off the military strikes on Iran Thursday because the likely deaths of 150 Iranians would have been out of proportion to the shootdown of an unmanned American surveillance drone.
He is also indicating he still hopes for talks with Iranian leaders rather than any escalation of military conflict.
Trump says he is "in no hurry," adding that increasingly severe sanctions meant to push Iran to the nuclear negotiating table are "biting" the Iranian economy.
Iran, though, is showing no public inclination to negotiate. It is unclear whether Trump, who says the U.S. military had been "cocked and loaded" to hit Iran, is considering new military options.
One thousand doctors have signed a letter saying they "want no part in assisted suicide".
They have urged politicians and policy-makers to let them focus on saving lives and care for the dying, rather than taking lives, which they deemed unethical - whether legal or not.
The letter comes as Parliament is due to start the second reading debate on Act MP David Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill on Wednesday.
The doctors said they were "committed to the concept of death with dignity and comfort", including effective pain relief and excellence in palliative care. And they uphold the right of patients to decline treatment.
Pacific Island people opposing the End of Life Bill at Parliament. Photo / Mark Mitchell
But the 1000-strong group said it believed "physician assisted suicide and euthanasia are unethical, even if they were made legal".
"We believe that crossing the line to intentionally assist a person to die would fundamentally weaken the doctor-patient relationship which is based on trust and respect," the letter reads.
"We are especially concerned with protecting vulnerable people who can feel they have become a burden to others, and we are committed to supporting those who find their own life situations a heavy burden."
Finishing, they said: "Doctors are not necessary in the regulation or practice of assisted suicide. They are included only to provide a cloak of medical legitimacy.
1000 doctors put their weight behind full-page advertisement opposing Act leader's bill.
"Leave doctors to focus on saving lives and providing real care to the dying."
The letter - along with 1000 names of the doctors who support it - has been published as a full-page advertisement in today's Herald on Sunday.
The advert was taken out by the Care Alliance, a charitable trust committed to nurturing better conversations about dying in New Zealand, according to the website: doctorssayno.nz
It lists the names of all the doctors who have supported the letter, and urges others to sign up too.
The letter publication comes after a Canadian doctor who has taken part in champagne parties before administering lethal drugs to her patients urged Kiwi MPs to support the vote to legalise euthanasia.
Dr Stefanie Green says 90 per cent of her medical practice has become euthanasing people since Canada legalised euthanasia in 2016. Photo / Supplied
Dr Stefanie Green, who has personally euthanised 150 people since Canada legalised assisted dying in 2016, has been brought here by the End of Life Choice Society.
The bill passed its first reading by a massive 76-44 margin in December 2017, but MPs opposing the bill predict a dramatically tighter margin of less than five votes on the second reading.
Seymour says the second reading debate is likely to start at 7.30pm on Wednesday, with a vote expected around 10pm.
Green, a former maternity doctor, said she stepped up to help people wanting to end their lives because other doctors were unwilling to do it after Canada legalised euthanasia. Euthanising people is now 90 per cent of her practice.
"We have had about 8000 assisted deaths, with no charges against any physicians for any abuse of the system," she said.
Patients had to meet "rigorous criteria", she said, and about a third of people who requested euthanasia did not receive it.
But she said the actual deaths for those who were approved were usually in "a very beautiful environment".
"For some people it's quiet, and for some people we've had 50 people and champagne - quite often there is champagne," she said.
"There is often a celebration of life just before the death. Assisted death enables people to have a chance to say goodbye to their loved ones and for their loved ones to say goodbye to them."
David Seymour plans to amend his bill to allow euthanasia only for those who will die anyway within six months. Photo / File
As currently drafted, Seymour's bill would allow New Zealanders to request assisted dying if they hav...
Anne-Marie Sharon Brady is a New Zealand politics researcher and full professor at the University of Canterbury who specialises in Chinese politics. Listen to the audio above as she speaks to The Weekend Collective.
HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong was bracing Sunday for another massive protest over an unpopular extradition bill that has highlighted the territory's apprehension about relations with mainland China, a week after the crisis brought as many as 1 million into the streets.
Pro-democracy activists say Chief Executive Carrie Lam's announcement on Saturday that she was suspending work on the bill that would allow some suspects to be sent for trial in mainland Chinese courts is not enough. They want the proposal withdrawn and are calling for Lam to step down.
The communist government in Beijing issued statements backing Lam's decision.
Over the past week, hundreds of thousands marched to demand Lam drop the legislation, which many fear would undermine freedoms enjoyed by this former British colony but not elsewhere in China.
The battle over legislation has evolved into Hong Kong's most severe political test since the Communist Party-ruled mainland took control in 1997 with a promise not to interfere with the city's civil liberties and courts.
On Sunday, mourners laid flowers on the pavement near where a man fell to his death a day earlier after hanging a protest banner on scaffolding on a shopping mall.
Emergency workers tried to cushion the man's fall but failed to catch him.
Critics said Lam should withdraw the plan for good, resign and apologize for police use of potentially lethal force during clashes with protesters on Wednesday.
"Democrats in Hong Kong simply cannot accept this suspension decision," said lawmaker Claudia Mo. "Because the suspension is temporary. The pain is still there."
The decision was "too little, too late," she said.
"Hong Kong people have been lied to so many times," said Bonny Leung, a leader of the Civil Human Rights Front, one of the groups that has helped organize the demonstrations.
Lam has said the legislation is needed if Hong Kong to uphold justice, meet its international obligations and not become a magnet for fugitives. The proposed bill would expand the scope of criminal suspect transfers to include Taiwan, Macau and mainland China.
China has been excluded from Hong Kong's extradition agreements because of concerns over its judicial independence and human rights record.
Speaking to reporters after announcing her decision Saturday, Lam sidestepped questions over whether she should quit. She insisted she was not withdrawing the proposed amendment and defended the police.
But she said she was suspending the bill indefinitely. It was time, she said, "for responsible government to restore as quickly as possible this calmness in society."
"I want to stress that the government is adopting an open mind," she said. "We have no intention to set a deadline for this work."
She emphasized that a chief concern was to avoid further injuries both for the public and for police. About 80 people were hurt in the clashes this past week, more than 20 of them police.
"It's possible there might be even worse confrontations that might be replaced by very serious injuries to my police colleagues and the public," she said. "I don't want any of those injuries to happen."
Lam apologized for what she said were failures in her government's work to win public support for the bill, which is opposed by a wide range of sectors in Hong Kong, including many teachers, students, lawyers and trade unions.
But she insisted the bill was still needed. "Give us another chance," she said.
The extradition bill has drawn criticism from U.S. and British lawmakers and human rights groups, prompting Beijing to lash back with warnings against "interference" in its internal affairs.
But analysts say China also has to weigh the risk of seeing Hong Kong, a vital port and financial center of 7 million people, possibly losing its spe...
Listen to the audio above as David Seymour, leader of the ACT Party, joins the Weekend Collective.
Freedom is the buzz word at the ACT Party's relaunch in Auckland today.
It's announced a freedom to earn, and a freedom of education policy, to go alongside its freedom of speech pledge.
ACT Party leader David Seymour says they plan to bring in a universal tax rate which would be 17.5 percent.
He says the government shouldn't be taking more money from people as a punishment for success.
As part of the relaunch, ACT has added the colour pink to its logo and called today's conference the party's watershed moment.
Leader David Seymour says the colour change represents a modernisation and shows the party is inclusive.
He says it's not about any particular group - but with the colours yellow, blue and pink they cover everybody.
Speakers at its annual conference also highlighted free speech policy and opposition to gun laws passed after the Christchurch shootings.
Listen to the audio above as Tracey Martin speaks to The Weekend Collective
The Minister for Children Tracey Martin has announced an inquiry by Oranga Tamariki will take place into the process around the attempted uplift Hawke's Bay Hospital last month.
Martin met with Ngāti Kahungunu chairman Ngahiwi Tomoana, Minister of Crown/Māori Relations Kelvin Davis and Minister of Māori Development Nanaia Mahuta in Hastings this afternoon.
"We have to remember this is about a family. This was a family that didn't have a lot of power to start with if any, and they're actually now experiencing quite a lot of things going on around them again without them having any power over it," Martin said.
"This is their information. It is an internal review around what happened to them. There will be a level of information that will be shared with them and iwi but will not go public because this is their journey," she said.
"This will be led by the voice of whānau and there will be an independent person that Ngati Kahungunu is comfortable with as part of that process".
She said further details would be announced in the next two days.
There has been "universal condemnation" at the actions undertaken by the Australia federal police against two media organisations.
The head of Australia's public broadcaster ABC said she has "grave concern" about a recent police raid on the corporation's headquarters in connection with a 2017 story based on leaked documents that indicated the country's military forces were being investigated for possible war crimes in Afghanistan.
Australian Broadcasting Corp. Chair Ita Buttrose said the raid Wednesday in Sydney was "clearly designed to intimidate."
Buttrose said Friday she had a "frank conversation" with a government minister and that, "As ABC chair, I will fight any attempts to muzzle the national broadcaster."
The Sydney raid, in which documents were taken, came a day after federal police searched the Canberra home of Annika Smethurst, the political editor of The Sunday Telegraph of Sydney, over a 2018 story detailing an alleged government proposal to spy on Australians.
News Corp. Australia, the parent company of The Sunday Telegraph, said the raid "demonstrates a dangerous act of intimidation towards those committed to telling uncomfortable truths."
ABC host Michael Rowland told the Weekend Collective that the two raids has sparked fears over freedom of speech.
He says that people feel it is not coincidental that the raids have come shortly after the Australia election.
"There are many question marks raised over this. In terms of the ABC raids, there are question marks as a military lawyer has put his hand up and said he gave us the documents. The Federal Police know how we got the documents."
Rowland says that people feel that this may not have happened had the Liberal-led Coalition not won the election, but that both major parties have very similar views on national security.
"When you look at it more broadly, both parties are complicit in this, but we do have the Labor Party expressing its concern and calling for a wider review."
There were no arrests in either raid. Australian law forbids officials from disclosing secret information, and the police warrants in both raids were based on a law enacted in 1914.
Police said in a statement that the two raids were not linked.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the ABC raid was a matter of police "soberly and calmly" enforcing the law.
"What is important here is two things: the government is committed to press freedom ... (and) the government is absolutely committed to ensure that no one is above the law."
A new report reveals an overwhelming sense of desperation and frustration with our justice system.
Key themes include the over-representation of Maori, the silo approach of government departments and a jargonistic court system.
The report was produced by the Safe and Effective Justice Advisory Group.
Chair Chester Borrows, who has worked in the justice sector for over 40 years, says he's not surprised by what's come through.
"I'm always shocked at how blunt a lot of the bad behaviour and the bad responses people get is."
He says the report is a voice from the public.
"A voice that's largely been unheard and it's a pretty stark reminder that people don't think the Justice System is working very well at all."
Speaking to The Weekend Collective, Borrows says that the Police Commissioner has admitted himself that Police have been engaging in habits that are considered racists for some decades.
He says that evidence shows that people who are Maori going through the justice system are more likely to be prosecuted or receive a longer and harsher sentence.
"If you say 'are Justices racist', well, it's pretty public for them to make this accusation, and that's what we are hearing."
Borrows' report has also found that victims find the court process as traumatic as the crime that was committed against them.
Borrows wants to see an end to the 'silo' approach of all the organisations within the justice system, and is calling for a new, 'joined-up view' that will see a collective approach to tackling these issues.
"We need to do something about it. It's all our job as New Zealanders."
Some principals are warning of a new wave of inequality after the Government announced plans to scrap school donations for some schools - but not all.
The 2019 Budget included more than $75 million a year to pay $150 per child to schools in deciles 1 to 7 if they agreed not to ask families for donations.
Albany Senior High School principal Claire Amos joins The Weekend Collective to discuss the issue.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO
This Tuesday will mark 30 years since the bloody event, which saw Chinese authorities brutally shut down long running student protests, killing thousands of people in and around the central square in Beijing.
Stephen Hoadley is Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland. He joined The Weekend Collective to discuss the 30 year anniversary to one of China's darkest days.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE
Listen to the audio above as NZ Herald Business Editor at Large Liam Dann speaks to The Weekend Collective ahead of next Thursday's Budget announcement by Finance Minister Grant Robertson.
Political commentator Ben Thomas joins The Weekend Collective to look back on the busy week of New Zealand politics.
From Trevor Mallard's announcement that a man who has committed what he calls "rape" three times in the parliamentary workplace is still working at Parliament, to next week's planned teachers strike taking place following yet another climate change protest, the political issues making news this week are all discussed.
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE
Listen to the audio above as Newstalk ZB British Correspondent Enda Brady speaks to The Weekend Collective on the latest news regarding Theresa May announcing her resignation as British Prime Minister and what this means for Brexit.
Theresa May became prime minister in 2016 with one overriding goal: to lead Britain out of the European Union.
Three years on, the U.K. is still in the EU, and May's time in 10 Downing St. is ending. She announced Friday that she will step down as Conservative leader on June 7, remaining as caretaker prime minister during a party leadership contest to choose her successor.
She will be remembered as the latest in a long line of Conservative leaders destroyed by the party's divisions over Europe, and as a prime minister who failed in her primary mission. But history may also see her as a leader who faced a devilishly difficult situation with stubborn determination.
The daughter of a rural Anglican vicar, May attended Oxford University and worked in financial services before being elected to Parliament in 1997.
She was quiet and diligent, but also ambitious. One university friend later recalled that May hoped to be Britain's first female prime minister, and "was quite irritated when Margaret Thatcher got there first."
She was not a natural political campaigner; her stiff public appearances as prime minister landed her the nickname "The Maybot." Her only touches of flamboyance are a fondness for bold outfits and accessories like brightly patterned kitten-heel shoes.
But she soon established a reputation for solid competence and a knack for vanquishing flashier rivals.
May served for six years in the notoriously thankless job of home secretary, responsible for borders, immigration and law and order. In 2016, she beat flashier and better-known politicians, including Brexit-backer Boris Johnson — now the favorite to succeed her — to become Britain's second female prime minister, after Margaret Thatcher.
May was the surprise winner of a Conservative leadership contest triggered when Prime Minister David Cameron stepped down after voters rejected his advice to remain in the EU, instead voting 52%-48% to leave.
In her first speech as prime minister in July 2016, May sketched out plans for an ambitious policy agenda. She spoke of giving the poor a helping hand and lifting barriers to social mobility.
But Brexit soon crowded out almost all other policies.
Like Cameron, May had campaigned to remain, but in office she became a champion of Brexit. "Brexit means Brexit" became her mantra — a meaningless one, said her detractors, as it emerged that undoing 45 years of ties with the bloc would be a fraught and complex process.
Attempting to win the support of Conservative Brexiteers suspicious of her past pro-EU leanings, May set out firm red lines in negotiations with the EU: Britain would leave the bloc's single market and customs union and end the right of EU citizens to live and work in the U.K.
For a time, May's resolve helped her unite the warring factions of her party, which for decades has been divided over policy toward Europe.
But she then gambled on a snap election in June 2017, in an attempt to bolster her slim majority in Parliament and strengthen her hand in Brexit negotiations with the EU.
The move backfired. May ran a lackluster campaign on a platform that included plans to cut benefits to pensioners and change the way they pay for long-term care — quickly dubbed a "dementia tax." The Conservatives lost their majority, and May had to strike a deal with 10 lawmakers from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party to stay in power.
The DUP's support became a complication when the border between Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland emerged as a major issue in Brexit negotiations. The unionist party strongly opposed special measures to ensure the border remained free of customs posts and other barriers, worrying they might weaken the bonds between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K.
May...
The head of Women's Refuge says addressing the nation's violence issues won't come cheap.
The Government's sinking $320 million into tying to break the cycle of family and sexual violence.
The cash, which will be allocated in the upcoming Wellbeing Budget, will also be used for better support services for survivors.
It'll be spread across a range of initiatives and services.
It will be used for a range of initiatives, including improving support services for survivors.
Women's Refuge CEO Ang Jury told the Weekend Collective the money earmarked for prevention makes her optimistic.
"We've never invested as a country in prevention work before, and if we are ever going to make a difference, we're going to have to."
She says that none of the money is tagged specifically for her organisation, which is disappointing.
"At the same time I recognise that family and sexual violence is an absolute bloody scourge in this country."
Jury says it's going to be expensive to fix.
Did Scott Morrison miraculously defy the polls, or were the polls just wrong?
His Liberal coalition will be returned to government, a win which flies in the face of surveys giving Labor the edge heading into the election.
Sky News chief political reporter Kieran Gilbert told the Weekend Collective he agrees there needs to be a reset in the way pollsters gather data.
He says there also needs to be a reset in the credence we give them.
"I just think that this result should be a wake up call. I hope it is. I certainly will be taking that approach of giving a lot less weight to these fortnightly if not monthly surveys."
He says that these polls should not be considered relevant outside of the election years.
Morrison has credited the "quiet Australians" for coming out to support him, and Gilbert says that the opinion and internal polling did not pick up on this.
However, the prediction that climate change would be a major point in the election proved correct. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott lost his seat against a former Winter Olympian who ran on a purely climate change platform.
Polls have also failed to predict the results of Brexit and the US election.
One commentator says it is "disappointing" that neither Donald Trump or Marck Zuckerberg will attended this week's social media meeting in Paris.
The summit, known as the Christchurch Call, was convened by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and French President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of the March 15 terror attack.
Neither Facebook's CEO or COO Mark Zuckerberg or Sheryl Sandberg will attend, despite Zuckerberg speaking with Ardern after the mosque attacks. Instead, global affairs head Nick Clegg, the former British deputy Prime Minister, will attend.
John Battersby from Massey University's Centre for Defence and Security Studies says that this is a good initiative, but told the Weekend Collective that there are clearly going to be a lot of issues that need to be addressed.
"It does seem to look like a very little step. There is a whole range of internet related issues around crime, around terrorism, around fraud that's happening in one country and victimising the issue."
He says that this may be too small of a step that has come too late, and no appearance from two of the bigger names involved will add to the issues.
One matter will be how you can enforce laws on multi-national companies that are active internationally.
However, Battersby says that the backlash against social media sites over their handling of the footage of the mosque attacks has already had an effect
Several extremist voices were banned from Facebook and the platforms they own last month.
"They are perhaps starting to feel that they are going to get a little bit more scrutiny than they already are," Battersby says.
The Government will spend $200 million on housing more than 1000 long-term homeless people in New Zealand.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described today's pre-Budget announcement as the single largest Government investment in tackling chronic homelessness.
"We are committed to tackling homelessness. That's why we have made it an investment priority for the second year in a row by boosting support for the internationally-acclaimed programme Housing First even further."
Housing First is a collective response to homelessness, offering people immediate access to housing.
Partners include Auckland City Mission, Link People, Comcare Trust, Te Taumata o, and Lifewise.
The $197 million has been allocated over four years.
It comes as part of the Government's first Wellbeing Budget.
"I cannot think of an announcement that really captures the idea of wellbeing more than [today's announcement]," Ardern said.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff welcomed the Government's announcement of more funding.
"Homelessness is unacceptable in any society. There is a huge social cost and extra funding provided by Government means that we can do more to tackle and eliminate homelessness in Auckland."
Goff hoped a "significant amount" of the funding would come to Auckland, where there was the most need.
"Since launching Housing First, Auckland Council and a collective of five agencies have housed 922 people, including 436 children, who were homeless. This extra funding will mean we can provide more homes for those who need them the most."
Ardern said the programme recognised that most long-term homeless people had a number of complex problems such as mental health issues and addictions; and that they have a much higher chance of addressing them once they are housed.
The Government funds the programme in Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton and Rotorua.
"Housing is a basic human right and allows people to love with dignity," the Prime Minister said.
She added that the Government was committed to tackling homelessness which is why it has made priority housing for homeless a priority.
"Budget 2019 is continuing to invest in Housing First and funding 1,044 new places. This will raise the number of people the programme can help to 2,700," Jacinda Ardern said.
Since 2017, the Housing First programme has housed 720 households, including 431 children, in Auckland.
"Homelessness is the sharp end of the housing crisis," Ardern said.
She added that the Government has made almost 1000 transitional housing places available since it started it first term in 2017.
She said the Government is "well on track" to provide 6400 more public housing places by 2022.
Although this is good progress, Twyford said the housing crisis was not going to be fixed overnight – "we still have work to do".
The NZEI President says that education is a crisis, and a significant change is needed to change the industry.
Primary and secondary teachers have rejected the latest deal from the Government and will hold a combined strike on May 29th, on the eve of the Government's 'Wellbeing Budget'.
It will be the largest-ever industrial action by New Zealand teachers, covering almost 50,000 members across the two unions.
NZEI President Lynda Stuart says the union's members want the government to realise their resolve has remained strong and steady.
"The teaching profession is not going to give up because the issues of fair pay and sustainable working conditions are too important."
She told the Weekend Collective that their pay has not kept pace with where it needed to be.
"If our teachers decided to go over the ditch to Australia, they would be getting 30,000 more a year," though she insists that is not the only matter. Stuart insists they want a package that will cover matters such a better support for those children who have additional learning needs.
"It's about a package that can attract and retain our teachers."
Stuart believes that public support for teachers is at the same level this month as it was last year.
"Our parents and our communities see the reality of what life is like for teachers."
Will a wedding help secure Jacinda Ardern a second term?
The Prime Minister confirmed her engagement to long-term partner Clarke Gayford on Friday, after she was spotted wearing an engagement ring. The two have become engaged over the Easter holidays, her office said.
TVNZ's political editor Jessica Mutch-McKay told the Weekend Collective that, when the news was released, she felt a bit sorry for opposition leader Simon Bridges.
"You just compete with an engagement announcement."
She says that Bridges will likely have a "sinking feeling", but his political hopes may depend on when the wedding is held.
"If she decides to get married in election year, that's going to be a major distraction."
Mutch-McKay says if it was her choice in that position, she would wait until leaving office, as it would put less obligation to include the media and the public.
She says that the post-Cabinet press conference tomorrow will reveal the first plans about the wedding.
North Korean state media on Sunday showed leader Kim Jong Un observing live-fire drills of long-range multiple rocket launchers and what appeared to be a new short-range ballistic missile, a day after South Korea expressed concern that the launches were a violation of an inter-Korean agreement to cease all hostile acts.
Pyongyang's official Korean Central News Agency said Kim expressed "great satisfaction" over Saturday's drills and stressed that his front-line troops should keep a "high alert posture" and enhance combat ability to "defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance of the country."
The weapons launches were a likely sign of Pyongyang's growing frustration at stalled diplomatic talks with Washington meant to provide coveted sanctions relief in return for nuclear disarmament. They also highlighted the fragility of the detente between the Koreas, which in a military agreement reached last September vowed to completely cease "all hostile acts" against each other in land, air and sea.
South Korea said it's "very concerned" about North Korea's weapons launches, calling them a violation of the agreements to reduce animosities between the countries. The statement, issued after an emergency meeting Saturday of top officials at the presidential Blue House in Seoul, also urged North Korea to stop committing acts that would raise military tensions and join efforts to resume nuclear diplomacy.
"Praising the People's Army for its excellent operation of modern large-caliber long-range multiple rocket launchers and tactical guided weapons, he said that all the service members are master gunners and they are capable of carrying out duty to promptly tackle any situation," the KNCA paraphrased Kim as saying. "He stressed the need for all the service members to keep high alert posture and more dynamically wage the drive to increase the combat ability so as to defend the political sovereignty and economic self-sustenance of the country and ... the security of the people from the threats and invasion by any forces."
The North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper published photos that showed Kim, equipped with binoculars, observing tests of different weapons systems, including multiple rocket launchers and what appeared to be a short-range missile fired from a launch vehicle, and also an explosion of what seemed to be a target set on island rocks.
Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said the North Korean missile appeared to be modeled after Russia's 9K720 Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile system. The solid-fuel North Korean missile, which was first revealed in a Pyongyang military parade in February, is potentially capable of conducting nuclear strikes on all areas of South Korea, Kim said.
"The North tried to clearly demonstrate its abilities to strike any target on the Korean Peninsula, including U.S. troops stationed across the country in areas such as Seoul, Pyeongtaek, Daegu and Busan," Kim said.
South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that "several projectiles" had been launched from near the coastal town of Wonsan and that they flew up to 200 kilometers (125 miles) before splashing into the sea toward the northeast. That roughly matched the distance between the area and the South Korean capital of Seoul, although the North in Sunday's report did not issue any direct threat or warning toward the South or the United States. Experts say the North may increase these sorts of low-level provocations to apply pressure on the United States to agree to reduce crushing international sanctions.
The launches comes amid a diplomatic breakdown that has followed the failed summit earlier this year between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un over the North's pursuit of nuclear bombs that can accurately target the U.S. mainland. The North probably has viable shorter-range nuclear armed missiles, but it still needs more tests to perfect its longer-range weapons, according...
A Kiwi study says sugary drinks are more dangerous than high-sugar foods, and are each year causing an estimated 184,000 early deaths across the globe.
The study found that sugary drinks carried a greater risk of causing harmful "metabolic changes" that lead to illnesses, such as obesity and diabetes.
Typical sports or energy drinks contained 27g of sugar - or about 7 teaspoons per cup of liquid - while "fizzy drinks" had 26g and sweetened teas and flavoured milks had 24g.
It's led health experts to call for a tax on sugary drinks as an urgent measure in tackling obesity, type 2 diabetes and rotten teeth.
Researcher Dr Simon Thornley told the Weekend Collective sugary drinks are uniquely harmful.
"We're calling on the Government to show some leadership by taxing these and increasing the price to send a signal to the consumer that sugary soft drinks are less healthy than the diet versions."
He says that New Zealand is now the third fattest nation in the OECD, and children are on lengthy waiting lists to get their teeth sorted.
Health Minister David Clark has said that he is not "even considering" a sugar tax, which Dr Thornley is disappointed by/.
"He seems to be taking a softly-softly approach. He seems to not want to upset the food industry."
He says that evidence supports the introduction of a sugar tax.
Sri Lanka's president is banning two groups allegedly linked to the Easter bombings under emergency powers that came into effect on Tuesday.
The office of President Maithripala Sirisena said in a statement Saturday evening that National Thawheed Jammath, or NTJ, and Jamathei Millathu Ibraheem, or JMI, would be banned by presidential decree.
Presidential spokesman Dharmasri Ekanayake says the move allows the government to confiscate any property belonging to the two organizations.
On Monday, officials confirmed that the alleged leader of the Muslim extremist group, an offshoot of NTJ, had died in one of the coordinated suicide bombings at churches and hotels that killed more than 250 people.
The Islamic State group, meanwhile, claimed three of the militants who blew themselves up during a bloody police raid in Ampara linked to the Easter bombings.
In a statement carried by the extremists' Aamaq news agency, IS identified the bombers by their noms du guerre as Abu Hammad, Abu Sufyan and Abu al-Qa'qa. It said they opened fire with automatic weapons and "after exhausting their ammunition, detonated ... their explosive belts."
Sri Lanka's military said the gunfight Friday night near the town of Sammanthurai left 15 dead, including six children, when militants opened fire and set off explosives in suicide bombings as security forces closed in on their safe house.
IS falsely claimed their militants killed 17 "disbelievers" in the attack. The militants often exaggerate their claims.
The IS report carried a photograph of two men before an IS flag, one carrying a Chinese variant of the Kalashnikov rifle like the one found at the scene, another smiling.
A girl and a woman survived the explosion but were critically injured and being treated at a hospital, police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said.
Photographs taken by The Associated Press show the charred remains of one child and the body of another wearing a green T-shirt with the words "good boy" written on the back. The bodies of an adult woman and man were found after the explosion with their clothes burned off.
The military said security forces had recovered explosives, detonators, "suicide kits," military uniforms and IS flags during the raids in the area.
Gunasekara said officers acting on information from intelligence officials also found 150 sticks of blasting gelatin and 100,000 small metal balls, as well as a van and clothing suspected of being used by those involved in the Easter attacks on three churches and three luxury hotels that left more than 250 people dead and hundreds injured —the bloodies assault linked to the IS in South Asia.
The government on Saturday formally banned two extremist groups purportedly connected to the attacks, allowing officials to confiscate their property, presidential spokesman Dharmasri Ekanayake said.
The government, crippled from a long political crisis between the president and prime minister last year, promised swift action to capture militants still at large.Sirisena said about 140 people had been identified as having links to the IS.
A "major search operation has been undertaken," Sirisena said. "Every household in the country will be checked."
Police confirmed that the leader of the local militant group blamed for the attack, Mohamed Zahran, died in the suicide bombing at the Shangri-La Hotel, one of six hotels and churches attacked. Zahran appeared in an IS video claiming responsibility for the coordinated assault, and authorities in both Sri Lanka and Australia confirmed links between IS and the attack.
Sri Lanka is majority Buddhist but has significant Hindu and Muslim populations. About 7% are Christian, and most are Roman Catholic.
Corrections Minister Kelvin Davis is backing a decision to spend more than a million dollars on slushy machines for prison staff.
Corrections bought 193 slushy machines to cool down staff during the hot summer months.
Opposition leader Simon Bridges has slammed the spending as irresponsible and wasteful.
But Davis says Corrections was right to consider the health and well-being of officers wearing gear that weighs up to six kilos.
"It gets up to 30 degrees. They're working in a very dangerous, tense environment, and I think that anything we can do to help alleviate the heat and that - good on Corrections, they are looking after the workers."
Davis says that he has been informed by Corrections that research has found that ice machines are the quickest way for reducing core body temperatures.
He says that prison guards are hard working and have a tough job to do, which their heavy uniform doesn't make any easier.
"I challenge anybody to throw on six kilograms worth of gear and walk around in 30 degree heat for eight hours a day."
Police are also affected, Davis says, as they have to wear a similar weight, but have the benefit of air-conditioned cars that prison guards don't have.
He says that anyone who picks apart this policy is not focused on the bigger picture. He rejects Simon Bridges complaints, saying that there is no "car too small" for him to bark at.
Davis says that any questions around the validity of the research and whether the slushy machines were value for money need to be directed to Corrections.
The 11 guns allegedly stolen from a police station are continuing to elude police.
"The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. Eleven firearms remain unaccounted for," the police told the Herald today.
Alan James Harris, 38, has been charged with burglary over the disappearance of the guns from the Palmerston North Police Station on Thursday.
No-one else had been charged over the incident, the police said today.
They have previously appealed for public help in tracking down the missing guns.
The missing weapons were not police firearms; they were being held as exhibits or had been handed in for destruction.
The embarrassing loss occurred while gun owners are surrendering military-style semi-automatics (MSSAs) and assault rifles nationally as part of a Government buy-back scheme following the Christchurch mosque shootings.
MSSAs and assault rifles were banned in rapid law changes after the March 15 shootings. An amnesty for handing in the weapons is operating until the end of September.
When the buy-back was announced, Police Minister Stuart Nash sought police assurance they had strong processes for handling the firearms. Police said at the time they were confident they could manage the collection of the guns.
Following the alleged station burglary, Nash has sought a new assurance.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush has demanded an investigation into how Harris was allegedly able to get into the Palmerston North station. Stations' firearms security nationwide is also being reviewed.
Police are investigating a manifesto which indicates the California synagogue shooter may have been inspired by the Christchurch mosque attacks.
One woman is dead and three other people are injured after a man opened fire in the synagogue in Poway near San Diego.
Police have 19-year-old John Earnest in custody and say he's also being investigated over a fire at a mosque in a nearby city last month.
An open letter posted online in his name references other attacks on houses of worship, including the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh and the mosque shootings in Christchurch.
Police are investigating its validity.
However, one terror analyst says the depths of the internet are making angry young men all the more dangerous.
Intelligence analyst Paul Buchanan told the Weekend Collective we are talking about people who want to find justification for their unhappy, rotten lives.
"And in the old days., they would have to go up and meet up with like minded spirits physically. Today, you can do all that online in the confines of your bedroom."
The news comes as it is revealed that New Zealand police have put together a watchlist put following the Christchurch terror attack, which left 50 people dead and as many injured.
More than 100 people are reportedly being actively monitored by police.
People on the list include white supremacists, people "disaffected" with firearm licences, and others with racist and radical views are also included.
Buchanan told the Weekend Collective it's a very good step.
"Police have decided to modify their profiling of potential terrorist suspects, and rather than looking at communities, such as the Muslim community, because there are a few bad eggs in it, they are now looking at behaviours, including online behaviour."
Buchanan says that of this list of people, there could be people that are simply ranters.
"This leak could serve as a warning to them that they better back off, as they have now attracted attention."
He believes that in general we are quite safe, but the gunman accused of the attack is part of a larger community.
"We seem to be seeing a backlash from alt-right, neo-Nazi, white supremacists around the world, and New Zealand is not immune from that."
Despite this, Buchanan says that there is a slim chance of a revenge attack.
Police aren't commenting on the list, but urge anyone who has concerns about someone to report them to their local police station or Crimestoppers.
Three quarters of those surveyed by a new poll are against the Crusaders changing their name.
The team's branding has been the subject of debate after the Christchurch mosque attacks as it's associated with the religious Crusades, a 'holy war' launched against Muslims.
The 1 NEWS-Colmar Brunton poll shows 76 percent are against a name change, and just 14 percent are in support.
Otago and Southland residents are most likely to support keeping the name.
But NZ Rugby boss Steve Tew says change is coming, as the imagery of horse-mounted knights along with the Crusaders name is too closely linked to the holy wars.
They're exploring two options: keeping the name but changing their branding and imagery, or ditching the name and starting their brand again from square one.
On whether it is a good idea or not, Tim Roxborogh and Tim Wilson went head to head with callers on what the team should do next.
French yellow vest protesters set fires Saturday along a march through Paris to drive home their message to a government they believe is ignoring the poor: that rebuilding the fire-ravaged Notre Dame Cathedral isn't the only problem France needs to solve.
Like the high-visibility vests the protesters wear, the scattered small fires in Paris appeared to be a collective plea to French President Emmanuel Macron's government to "look at me — I need help too!"
Police fired water cannon and sprayed tear gas to try to control radical elements rampaging on the margins of the largely peaceful march, one of several actions around Paris and other French cities.
The protests marked the 23rd straight weekend of yellow vest actions against Macron's centrist government, which they see as favouring the wealthy and big business. Protesters view themselves as standing up for beleaguered French workers , students and retirees who have been battered by high unemployment, high taxes and shrinking purchasing power.
But violence and divisions have marred the movement.
Associated Press reporters saw a car, motorbikes and barricades set ablaze around the Place de la Republique plaza in eastern Paris. The smell of tear gas mixed with the smoke, choking the air.
Paris firefighters — who struggled earlier this week to prevent the 12th-century Notre Dame from collapsing — quickly responded to extinguish the flames at Saturday's protest.
Masked protesters hurled paving stones and flares. Helmeted riot police repeatedly charged as they tried to contain the crowd. AP reporters saw at least two journalists injured in the melee. Troublemakers also ransacked at least two stores and one black-clad protester jumped on a parked Mercedes, smashing its windshields.
Paris police said authorities detained more than 200 people by early afternoon and carried out spot checks on more than 20,000 trying to enter the capital for the protest.
The violence contrasted sharply with the peaceful atmosphere at another march through Paris, where demonstrators mourned the Notre Dame blaze while also keeping up the pressure on Macron. They tried to march to Notre Dame itself, but were stopped by police a few hundred meters (yards) away.
Young women at that march skipped down a street along the Seine River, accompanied by drummers and singers. One protester carried a huge wooden cross resembling those carried in Good Friday processions.
Many protesters were deeply saddened by the fire at a national monument . But at the same time they are angry at the $1 billion in donations for Notre Dame renovations that poured in from French tycoons while their own economic demands remain largely unmet and they struggle to make ends meet.
"I think what happened at Notre Dame is a great tragedy but humans should be more important than stones," said protester Jose Fraile.
Some 60,000 police officers mobilized for Saturday's protests across France, and the heavy security thwarted some tourists trying to enjoy the French capital on a warm spring day.
"Paris is very difficult right now," said Paul Harlow of Kansas City, Missouri, as he looked sadly at the damaged Notre Dame.
He and his wife Susan were in Paris only for a few days and didn't make it in time to see the cathedral. On Saturday, their efforts to visit museums were derailed by closed subways and barricaded roads.
"I don't think we'll be back," he said.
Other visitors showed solidarity with the yellow vest cause.
"I am not interested in joining them, but I can understand what they're angry about," said Antonio Costes, a retiree from the Paris suburb of Montreuil who came Saturday to see the damage to Notre Dame. "There is a lot of injustice."
Macron champions pro-business policies that he believes will create much-needed jobs in France. He had been scheduled to lay out his responses to yellow vest concerns on Monday night — tax cuts for lower-income households and measures to boost pensions and help single parents — but cancelled the...
Parliament's work environment has been described as "very unique".
Stuff reports that 35 back office staffers at the Beehive have left over interactions with senior management.
The report claims that multiple people have signed non-disclosure agreements and agreed to pay-outs
Former Labour Party member and union official Shane Te Pou has worked in Parliament. He told the Weekend Collective that there is a lot of conflict between the different parties.
"You're employed by one employer but you're in conflict with half your workmates as you may work for Labour and they work for National and you have to one up them."
He says that there is also conflict amongst the party, as staffers try and push the agenda of their MP or Minister.
Te Pou says that it is a very "insular" environment that exists amongst those offices, and he wants to see something done about it.
"The Speaker who has ultimate responsibility needs to get on top of it."
He has personally witnessed Ministers and MPs being toxic and unpleasant towards staffers and people who work beneath them, such as drivers.
Fletcher Construction CEO Peter Reidy says a new Construction Industry Accord will create safer and healthier workplaces.
The accord, announced today, calls on the industry, its clients and the Government to change the way they work together.
It's so they can jointly tackle systemic problems that have led to high-profile building company collapses, poor-quality builds and skills shortages.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says the wellbeing of New Zealanders is intrinsically linked to safe, durable and affordable homes, buildings and infrastructure.
She says to meet the future needs of New Zealand, both Government and industry recognise they need to work differently.
Reidy developed the accord with the government, and says it's a game changer for the industry.
"If we can improve the contracts and not make them so risky that people take shortcuts, that will have a positive impact on the way people feel about the project when they get up in the morning and go to work."
He says the government and industry have committed to taking the pressure out of projects.
"We've started to get industry leaders now to say that if the Government's prepared to look at it, we'll come to the table. It's a real partnership. This is step one of a catalyst of change."
Reidy told The Weekend Collective that construction is very fragmented, with a lot of smaller builders making up the bulk of the industry.
"The Government's asked how we can incorporate the people and understand what the issues are."
One issue that the Government has acknowledged that they need to look at how contracts are awarded for big contracts, where price has normally been the key determent.
"It's always going to be a key criteria, but what Government's now saying is if there is another lens with which we can also review around larger construction and what outcomes are we looking for for the country."
Factors such as what the commitment to workforce training and capacity will be amongst the new considerations.
Reidy says the next step is engaging with the wider industry about what the next steps are.
British lawmakers are heaping pressure on the government to make sure that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange faces Swedish justice if prosecutors there reopen a rape investigation against him.
There is mounting concern that Assange should not be allowed to sidestep the Swedish investigation stemming from his 2010 visit to Sweden. The complaints from two women eventually led him to seek refuge in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London rather than return to Sweden for questioning.
Some are calling for the British government to extradite Assange to Sweden, if it makes an official request, rather than to the U.S., which seeks him on conspiracy charges.
More than 70 British lawmakers signed a letter late Friday urging Home Secretary Sajid Javid to "do everything you can to champion action that will ensure Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden in the event Sweden makes an extradition request."
Most of the lawmakers who signed the letter are from the opposition Labour Party, whose leader, Jeremy Corbyn, wants Britain to refuse to send Assange to the U.S. After Assange's arrest, Corbyn praised him for exposing U.S. atrocities committed in Iraq and Afghanistan when WikiLeaks released tens of thousands of confidential U.S. documents in 2010.
Prominent Conservative Party lawmaker Alistair Burt, a former Foreign Office minister, said Saturday that it's "quite disturbing" to see the sexual allegations minimised.
He said the testimony of the two women makes it "essential" that Assange face justice, to either be cleared in a Swedish court or be convicted.
Assange, 47, has denied the sexual misconduct allegations, which he claims are politically motivated. He claims the sex was consensual.
Sweden suspended its investigation into possible sexual misconduct against Assange two years ago because he was beyond their reach while he was living in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London with political asylum status. Prosecutors said the investigation could be revived if his situation changed.
Assange was arrested Thursday after Ecuador withdrew his asylum. He is now in Belmarsh Prison in southeast London, waiting to be sentenced for jumping bail in Britain and facing an extradition request from the United States on charges of conspiring to break into a Pentagon computer.
WikiLeaks says Assange will fight the U.S. extradition request and has been meeting with his legal team to plan his defence.
He has not had a chance to enter a plea in response to the U.S. charge, but he says all of his WikiLeaks actions are those of a legitimate journalist.
If Britain receives competing extradition requests, lawyers say the Home Secretary would have some leeway in deciding which takes priority. Considerations usually include which request came first and which alleged crime is more serious.
British politicians are free to lobby the government for a certain course of action, but it's up to the courts to decide whether the U.S. request for Assange's extradition — and a possible future request from Sweden — should be honoured.
The Home Secretary, a senior Cabinet official, can block extradition under certain circumstances, including cases where a person might face capital punishment or torture in the country seeking their extradition.
Swedish prosecutors opened an investigation into Assange after two women accused him of sexual offences during a 2010 visit to Sweden. Some of the sexual misconduct accusations are no longer viable because their time ran out. But Swedish prosecutors have said a rape case could be reactivated since the statute of limitations for that runs until August 2020.
After Assange's arrest this week, Swedish prosecutor Eva-Marie Persson was tapped to look into a request from a lawyer for one of the accusers, to find out whether the case can be pursued.
Elisabeth Massi Fritz, the lawyer for the woman who reported being raped by Assange, told The Associated Press that she would "do everything" to have the Swedish case reopened so Assange can be extradi...
A number of high-profile lawyers have come together in order to highlight their concerns over the End of Life choice bill.
After 16 months, the Select Committee discussing the End of Life Choice Bill, tabled by David Seymour, released their report. The only consensus it found was that cannot agree on most major recommendations.
Advocacy group Lawyers for Vulnerable New Zealanders unanimously reject the Bill, claiming that the law is poorly written and opens the door for coercion against patients.
Spokesperson Richard McLeod joined the Weekend Collective to discuss the bill and why the law as written is fundamne
It is set to be a busy week for New Zealand politicians, as changes to gun legislation are set to become law by April 12.
The Government has rushed through legislation that will ban semi-automatic weapons, amongst other changes, in response to the Christchurch terror attack.
50 people were killed after a single gunman used military-style weapons to attack two mosques in Christchurch last month.
There has been criticism that the legislation has been rushed through, as the select committee process has been reduced from the standard six month time period.
Otago Law Professor Andrew Geddis told The Weekend Collective says that this time, the select committee process will be reduced to just one week.
He says that the six month time frame is so laws can be considered carefully.
"The six month period allows for people to actually know an area, as normally parliament legislates in an area where lots of people in the community have expertise they can feed into the process."
There are concerns that the rushed law change could allow room for mistakes.
The Herald on Sunday found several examples of firearms or devices designed to get around prohibition on semi-automatic weapons that could be imported by gun enthusiasts.
Police Minister Stuart Nash says that this initial law change is the first step in what could be future changes.
"The second phase of changes, which we hope to introduce in June, will address the need to future-proof our gun laws. We need to make it easier for future Parliaments to respond quickly to further technological and social change."
Geddis says that that is possible, as there is a "Henry the Eighth clause" that will allow them the freedom to alter the law.
"If and when gun manufacturers start playing with the way they make guns to get around whatever definitions are put into this act, the Government can change the definitions of firearms without having to come back to Parliament."
He says this shows that the Government understands this is an area that will constantly change. However, the clause could raise concerns about the ease with which future Governments can change the law.
"We want MPs in Parliament to change the law, not Ministers."
Secretary of the Council of Licensed Firearm Owners Nicole McKee agrees, telling the Weekend Collective that the Government does not need to rush as there is already a moratorium in place on the guns.
"Why not use this moratorium time to actually get some effective legislation so we can actually go about the Government's intent properly?
Despite the threat of being in contempt of Parliament, Government Statistician Liz MacPherson says now is not the time to release some information about the 2018 Census.
MacPherson has twice refused to provide Parliament's governance and administration committee with the number of partially and fully completed responses to the 2018 Census.
The National Party's statistics spokesman Jian Yang called it an "extraordinary stand-off" but MacPherson said that without context, the numbers would be open to misinterpretation.
Yang told the Weekend Collective that MacPherson has refused twice to answer the committee's question twice.
"It is important for us to know some basic information about Census 2018, as one of the key responsibilities of the committee is to ensure our government agencies are working properly."
He says that the Census was botched and "is a shambles", and they need to know how bad it was. Yang says the participation rate was the lowest ever, with around 90 per cent of people taking part. "Over 400,000 people were not counted in the Census."
MacPherson has instead intended announcing at the end of April when Statistics New Zealand would release the first set of results for the Census.
"It is my hope that the committee will appreciate that I have made this determination after careful thought and application of statistical best practice," MacPherson said in a statement.
According to Stats NZ's interim calculations, around 10 per cent of New Zealanders didn't fill out their Census forms, resulting in the lowest participation of the past five surveys.
The calculations, released last year, showed that full or partial information for only 90 per cent of individuals was received, compared with 94.5 per cent for the 2013 Census.
The low participation has caused a delay in the release of information collected, which was due to be released in October, then March, now on the date yet to be announced.
Stats NZ will also have to use other sources of information and different imputation approaches to fill in the missing data.
The 2018 Census was the first time Stats NZ used a digital-first approach, which encouraged respondents to complete the census online.
MacPherson had told the committee on February 13 that the number was available and would be provided but then declined to provide it, saying it needed more context.She again declined to provide the number when she appeared before the committee last week.
"The committee has taken the extraordinary step on invoking Standing Orders and requiring an answer," Yang said."Parliament is entitled to know the size of the statistical hole from those who did not participate, as well as those who did not complete Census 2018. The refusal to provide this information is inconsistent with the Government's pledge to be the most open and transparent ever."MacPherson said her announcement at the end of April would outline what would be included in the first release and provide context.
"In light of the select committee's request, I will be providing information on the breakdown of census forms that were full and partial responses.
"Stats NZ is an open and transparent organisation. When we produce information for the public we outline the methodology and limitations of any data produced," she said.The select committee's annual review of Statistics NZ, released last week, said it had sought from MacPherson information about the proportion of Census forms that were fully completed.
"We believe this is important data around the performance of the Census, and that if a large portion were unanswered it would raise concerns about the quality of the Census output, and also about the value for money in the overall expenditure."
The committee had formally required her to respond with an answer under Standing Order 227 (2). That Standing Order requires a witness to answer a question.
National MP Nick Smith said if the information was not provided by April 10 he would seek to refer MacPherson to the...
Tauranga's Mayor is promising fines will be a last resort as the city cracks down on beggars and rough sleepers.
From tomorrow, beggars will be banned from being within five metres of shops in parts of the Tauranga CBD, Greerton and Mount Maunganui.
Mayor Greg Brownless told the Weekend Collective they won't be immediately dishing out fines.
"We're just gonna first of all try the friendly approach and ask them to move somewhere else so people who are trying to get on with the hard business of earning a living can do so unencumbered."
He says council staff will do this initially, but police will be brought in if necessary.
Brownless believes it is necessary that they do this to stop people sleeping in doorways or leaving human waste behind.
"If you're going to sleep, don't do it near someone's doorway when they are trying to do business."
He says business is tough in the city, and that people have been feeling intimidated by "aggressive beggars".
Part of the issue is that many of the beggars are part of 'begging gangs' who get dropped off into the CBD, Brownless says.
He notes that there are groups in Tauranga that exist to help homeless people.
The accused Christchurch attacker has complained about his jail conditions, but an expert says that determining whether he's been deprived isn't so simple.
The 28-year-old Australian white supremacist has lodged a formal complaint with the Department of Corrections, claiming he is being deprived of basic rights.
A Corrections spokesperson says he's been denied the right to have visitors and has no access to newspapers, radio or TV.
The spokesperson says he's being managed in accordance with the provisions set out in the Corrections Act.
Criminal Bar Association president Len Anderson told The Weekend Collective that while prisoners do have rights, they aren't black or white
"While prisoners are entitled to visitors, the visitors have to be approved and be suitable people. And similarly, while they are entitled to make phone calls, they have an unlimited right to make calls to legal advisers, but outside of that there is some control over it."
Anderson says that some restrictions are put in place because of the condition of the prisoner, such as isolation to protect them from themselves.
However, he stresses that prisoners do have rights and they are enforceable.
"If it is a justified complaint, there can be some action taken in respect of it."
Anderson does not believe that the complaint suggests anything about the gunman's behaviour and how he will behave during the trial.
The country's lowest paid workers will tomorrow see a boost to their paycheck from tomorrow.
The minimum wage will increase up a $1.20 to $17.70 tomorrow.
It will lead to an extra $48 a week for those on the lowest income bracket, which Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says will significantly benefit them.
He told The Weekend Collective economic growth has not been matched by wage growth.
"Speak to any economist you like, and they will say that wage growth is what has been missing in the recovery since the Global Financial Crisis."
The Government wants to reach $20 an hour by 2021, which Lees-Galloway says is a significant increase.
The increase will put pressure on smaller businesses, but the Minister says that they have signalled this early to give them time to prepare.
"I have absolute confidence in our small businesses. They are resilient, they are agile, and I think they'd be able to adapt to this. I think what they will find is that it leads to improvement to productivity, and profitability overall."
He denies that the increase is a replacement for failures in the social welfare system. Lees-Galloway says that both the public and private sector have a role in the distribution of income.
"Good wages encourage a more productive economy, and that's something we need to focus on more in New Zealand."
Wages for those on the lowest tiers have stagnated over the last 20 years, Lees-Galloway says, and something needs to change.
UK Correspondent Gavin Grey speaks with Tim and Tim following reports of a political coup against Theresa May from her own cabinet.
Listen to the audio above.
Attorney General William Barr scoured special counsel Robert Mueller's confidential report on the Russia investigation with his advisers Saturday, deciding how much Congress and the American public will get to see about the two-year probe into President Donald Trump and Moscow's efforts to elect him.
Barr was on pace to release his first summary of Mueller's findings on Sunday, people familiar with the process said.
The attorney general's decision on what to finally disclose seems almost certain to set off a fight with congressional Democrats, who want access to all of Mueller's findings — and supporting evidence — on whether Trump's 2016 campaign coordinated with Russia to sway the election and whether the president later sought to obstruct the investigation.
No announcement was expected Saturday as Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller and oversaw much of his work, analyzed the report and labored to condense it into a summary letter of main conclusions. Mueller delivered his full report to Barr on Friday.
The Russia investigation has shadowed Trump for nearly two years and has ensnared his family and close advisers. And no matter the findings in Mueller's report, the probe already has illuminated Russia's assault on the American political system, painted the Trump campaign as eager to exploit the release of hacked Democratic emails to hurt Democrat Hillary Clinton and exposed lies by Trump aides aimed at covering up their Russia-related contacts.
Barr has said he wants to release as much as he can under the law. That decision will require him to weigh the Justice Department's longstanding protocol of not releasing negative information about people who aren't indicted against the extraordinary public interest in a criminal investigation into the president and his campaign. Democrats are already citing the department's recent precedent of norm-breaking disclosures, including during the Hillary Clinton email investigation, to argue that they're entitled to Mueller's entire report and the underlying evidence he collected.
Even with the details still under wraps, Friday's end to the 22-month probe without additional indictments by Mueller was welcome news to some in Trump's orbit who had feared a final round of charges could target more Trump associates or members of the president's family.
The White House sought to keep its distance, saying Saturday it had not been briefed on the report. Trump, who has relentlessly criticized Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt," went golfing and was uncharacteristically quiet on Twitter. Not so one of his guests, musician Kid Rock, who posted a picture with the president and the tweet, "Another great day on the links! Thank you to POTUS for having me and to EVERYONE at Trump International for being so wonderful. What a great man, so down to earth and so fun to be with!!"
In a possible foreshadowing of expected clashes between the Justice Department and Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a letter to members that Barr's offer to provide a summary of principal conclusions was "insufficient." Pelosi later told Democrats on a conference call that she would reject any kind of classified briefing on the report and that the information must be provided to Congress in a way that would allow lawmakers to discuss it publicly.
The conclusion of Mueller's investigation does not remove legal peril for the president. He faces a separate Justice Department investigation in New York into hush money payments during the campaign to two women who say they had sex with him years before the election. He's also been implicated in a potential campaign finance violation by his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who says Trump asked him to arrange the transactions. Federal prosecutors, also in New York, have been investigating foreign contributions made to the president's inaugural committee.
As for Mueller, with no details released at this point, it was not known wheth...
Was it a vigil, a political rally - or both?
Speeches calling out racism, colonialism and white supremacy at an Auckland vigil for victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks had some attendees leaving early, saying it was "too soon" for such discussions.
But organisers and speakers have defended what some called a "political" tone of the Jummah Remembrance vigil held at Auckland Domain on Friday, saying they were "hard truths" Aotearoa needed to address.
Thousands attended the vigil, where official speakers strongly challenged the rallying cry that last week's atrocity that killed 50 Muslim worshippers and injured dozens more was "not us".
Muslim and tāngata whenua speakers covered experiences of everyday racism and violence they face, and spoke to New Zealand's white settler history and colonial violence.
Sharon Hawke, of Ngāti Whātua Orakei, said hatred existed in New Zealand.
"White hatred is its foundation."
She spoke of atrocities committed against Māori throughout New Zealand's history, including at Parihaka, and even Okahu Bay in Auckland in the 1950s, where the Auckland Council burned down her hapū's village.
Israa Falah of the Auckland Muslim community said the Christchurch massacre was the result of the normalisation of xenophobia.
People should call out racism when they saw it, she said.
Zainab Mussa attended the vigil with her two young children but they left early partly because of the "uncomfortable tone".
"Even being non Pākehā, I did feel uncomfortable at times with the continued mentions of white extremism and white terrorism."
While she said she understood the need for a conversation about racism and white supremacy, she felt a week after the attacks was too soon.
"I think there was too much mention of 'white' and colonial times. To me that wasn't a remembrance of the victims and not the way to push for unity."
Another attendee said they left early because they wanted the vigil to be more focused on the victims.
"No one disagrees the conversations need to be had, just not last night.
"That vigil was important to Aucklanders. It was important to me, to collectively show respect and love to the victims and the Muslim community, to weep quietly at the insanity and savagery of it, to be human and together in that response."
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, who also spoke at the vigil, said rather than it being "too soon" it was actually "too late" to be having these conversations.
"People are already dead, it is too late.
"A lot of people wanted to separate what happened in Christchurch from politics, but if we have any hope of truly honouring those who passed we need to listen to our Muslim, Māori, Pacific and migrant communities, all saying this is not just about a violent shooter, but about everyday racism."
She said she was "optimistic" though, as even though some people left early, most said it was more about timing.
"I know that it felt like such hard truths for many. I know this is uncomfortable. I am optimistic because I hear most of you who left in protest, saying it was more about timing.
"These were the voices from the front line of everything we need to heal."
This view also appeared to resonate with many Pākehā who attended the vigil.
Activist Ricardo Mendendez-March says he understands why people may have been uncomfortable, but he told The Weekend Collective that he felt the tone was respectful.
"The people who have been meeting the political call are from the Muslim community, who for too many years have been warning the government that they've been under attack, that they feel the police haven't taken their concerns seriously."
He says that politics have to change to prevent another attack from happening.
Mendendez-March says he does not believe that the disgruntled voices reflected a majority of voices.
He is attending a rally today that has been organised in wake of the protests
Auckland man Jake Law said he stayed until the end, and as Pākehā he needed to listen to the voices...
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Thursday that an "erosion of trust" and "lack of communication" with his former justice minister led her to resign and accuse him of applying inappropriate pressure in a corruption prosecution — a dispute that has shaken his government.
But the prime minister made no apologies as he discussed the issue at a nationally televised news conference.
Former Justice Minister and Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould told a parliamentary committee last week that Trudeau and senior officials tried to pressure her into instructing prosecutors to avoid criminal prosecution of Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin and instead require it to pay fines for alleged bribery in Libya.
The case has led to the resignations of two high-profile Cabinet ministers and his top aide, as well as opposition calls for him to step down
Trudeau and his aides deny doing anything wrong, saying they were only pointing out that prosecution could endanger thousands of people's jobs because a conviction would make the company ineligible for government contracts.
"In regards to standing up for jobs and defending the integrity of our rule of law, I continue to say there was no inappropriate pressure," Trudeau said.
The prime minister said Wilson-Raybould told him on Sept. 17 that she was declining to seek a remediation agreement, which would allow the company to pay a fine instead of facing criminal prosecution. But Trudeau said he and other officials felt she was still open to arguments on the issue because such an agreement would be possible until the last moments of a trial.
"We considered that she was still open to hearing different arguments and different approaches on what her decision could be," Trudeau said.
"What we see now is that she wasn't prepared to change her mind."
Trudeau said Wilson-Raybould did not come to him to express her concerns about inappropriate pressure and said he wishes she had. He said situations were "experienced differently and I regret that."
"I am obviously reflecting on lessons learned," he said. "There are things we have to reflect on and understand and do better next time."
Wilson-Raybould was demoted from her role as attorney general and named veterans affairs minister in January as part of a Cabinet shuffle. She resigned weeks later.
Wilson-Raybould has said she believes she was demoted for failure to give in to the pressure.
Trudeau's former chief aide Gerald Butts denied that in testimony to a parliamentary committee on Wednesday. He said the shakeup, which involved several other Cabinet posts, was due to other factors.
Trudeau said he tries to foster an environment where his lawmakers can come to him with concerns, but one of his Liberal party colleagues, Celina Caesar-Chavannes, took issue with that, tweeting, "I did come to you recently. Twice. Remember your reactions?"
Caesar-Chavannes, who is not running for re-election, did not elaborate and did not immediately return messages seeking comment. She has issued messages of support for Wilson-Raybould on Twitter.
Other Liberal lawmakers have rallied around Trudeau in an election year.
National is accusing the Government of wasting taxpayers' money on using Tax Working Group chairman Sir Michael Cullen as a "hired gun," after his contract was extended.
But Cullen – who was also once a Labour Party Finance Minister – rubbished the claim and said he was only staying on to "defend the integrity of the report".
Speaking on The Weekend Collective, Cullen said he although people may assume he is biased towards the Labour Party, he is solely focused on the tax working group.
"My job is to defend the integrity of the process and the recommendation and facts which it is based. That is what I am being paid to do."
LISTEN ABOVE AS SIR MICHAEL CULLEN SPEAKS TO THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE
ACT leader David Seymour says the Prime Minister has an opportunity to really test her leadership.
It centres on Shane Jones, who is being criticised for helping to gain almost $5 million in funding for a cultural project in Northland which he previously had connections to.
While Jones did declare he had been in line to run the project, he still went to a key ministerial meeting at which the grant was discussed.
David Seymour says Shane Jones has to go.
"There is no question what would have happened to Jones if Helen Clark was still Prime Minister and the question is whether Jacinda Ardern has the same metal."
Speaking on Newstalk ZB's The Weekend Collective, Shane Jones was asked if he had any plans on offering his resignation, and he didn't hold back at the ACT party leader.
"I am not particularly interested in that urban gravedigger, he is after a political corpse but it will be a long day in hell if he finds it in me."
LISTEN TO THE AUDIO ABOVE AS SHANE JONES AND DAVID SEYMOUR SPEAK ON THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff today launched his bid for a second term, pledging to continue "building Auckland's Future" but providing no new policies and little in the way of detail behind the slogan.
"There are hard decisions that must be made over the next three years. None of it is easy. The challenges are immense," Goff told Labour MPs, councillors and other supporters at the Mt Albert Memorial Hall.
In an exclusive interview with the "Herald" before the launch, Goff said general rates would increase by 3.5 per cent a year in his second term - an increase on the 2.5 per annual cent rate rises in his first term.
The Mayor said he aimed to keep rates low in his first term against all the challenges and pressures on the cash-strapped council, but his long-term budget set rates increases of 3.5 per cent in his second term, which he would stick to.
Goff told The Weekend Collective that over the last three years, Auckland has had the lowest rate increases across any city in New Zealand.
He said the council consulted with the public about the next 10 years and the amount of investment needed.
"The feedback that we got was in support, and almost all councillors voted for it in favour of, a 3.5 per cent general rate increase going forward."
He says it would still make our rate increases amongst the lowest in the country.
Goff says that you could have no rates increases, but then the city's infrastructure would remain stagnant and traffic would not improve. He says that the rest of the country can't pay for Auckland's problems.
"We've got to put our share in, and we equally expect from the Government to have their matching share to tackle those problems."
Phil Goff hopes to win a second term as mayor. (Photo / NZ Herald)
Goff is placing trust at the centre of his campaign as he squares off against former Labour MP John Tamihere with former National MP Chris Fletcher as his running mate.
"This year's mayoral election is about who Aucklanders trust with the job of building the future of their city, and whose values and vision best matches up with their own," Goff said.
He said he would be standing on his merits, integrity, skill, experience and trustworthiness.
Tamihere has "welcomed" Phil Goff's announcement that he is seeking a second term but labelled him "a puppet for central government". Goff is standing as an independent with the endorsement of the Labour Party.
On Goff's announcement, Tamihere said Goff had "stumbled" on a decision to seek re-election and claimed the incumbent was a "reluctant" candidate.
"It's game on. I've been waiting for Phil to make up his mind and I'm glad he has finally come to a decision," he said.
"Auckland desperately needs strong leadership and that's why I've committed to being Mayor for three terms if I am elected."
Tamihere said there were huge problems in Auckland that Goff had "totally neglected".
"In fact, they've got worse under his lack of leadership – and it's time we got these issues out in the open and got them sorted," he said.
He told the Weekend Collective that he is a viable candidate there is deep dissatisfaction about leadership in the city.
Tamihere said council spending and debt levels were also "out of control" and there had been huge cost blowouts in infrastructure projects.
"And Phil's the only mayor in New Zealand that has imposed new petrol taxes on his own people.
However, Tamihere says that he cannot say that he will scrap the regional fuel tax.
"I've got to get the mandate and the votes of Aucklanders in order to have that conversation with the previous Government. I've got to go back down to Wellington re-negotiate."
He says there is no other region with a such a prejudiced tax against it.
John Tamihere and running mate Chris Fletcher will challenge Phil Goff for the Auckland mayoralty. Photo / Michael Craig
Smiling and holding up his clasped hands in a victorious pose, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday boarded his private train at the Vietnam-China border for a 60-plus-hour ride home, ending a trip to Vietnam that saw a summit breakdown with President Donald Trump.
He spent his last day in Hanoi laying large red-and-yellow wreaths at a war memorial and at the mausoleum of national hero Ho Chi Minh, surrounded by Vietnamese soldiers in crisp white uniforms and his own entourage of top North Korean officials. At the border, he got out of his armored limousine and clasped his hands, waving to a crowd of people cheering his departure.
Since Trump flew home to Washington, Kim has stepped assuredly into the spotlight, keen to show himself as a poised leader taking his rightful place on the international stage. He met Friday with President Nguyen Phu Trong, the country's top leader and Communist Party chief, grinning broadly as he was feted by top officials and escorted down a red carpet.
As Kim met with officials in Hanoi, the United States and North Korea have both been spinning their versions of what happened during one of the most high-profile diplomatic collapses in recent years.
But some experts believe that Kim, by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump at a summit that captivated many around the world, will have one sure win: He'll be able to portray himself to his people and supporters as the charismatic head of a nuclear-armed power, not an international pariah that starves its citizens so it can build nukes and missiles.
On Saturday, Kim, his trademark high-and-tight pompadour a bit disheveled, walked slowly behind a wreath with his name on it and a message that said, "I mourn the heroes and patriotic martyrs," as it was taken to the Monument to War Heroes and Martyrs. He also oversaw the presentation of a large wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, where he bowed and walked inside.
Talks between Kim and Trump broke down on Thursday, the second day of their two-day summit, in a dispute over how much sanctions relief Washington should provide Pyongyang in return for nuclear disarmament steps. Despite a senior North Korean official's suggestion — in a rushed, middle-of-the-night news conference called to dispute Trump's version of the summit's end — that Kim may have "lost the will" for diplomacy, the North Korean leader seems to have emerged from the diplomatic wreckage as a winner.
Kim answered questions with humor and ease when confronted by an aggressive international media contingent here. And, crucially for his image at home, he stood firm on his demands for the relief of sanctions imposed over a nuclear program North Korea says it built in the face of unrelenting U.S. hostility meant to end its leadership.
Kim, as he considers his next move after Hanoi, will be backed by state-controlled media that were already busy portraying the summit as a victory for their leader, saying Kim and Trump "appreciated that the second meeting in Hanoi offered an important occasion for deepening mutual respect and trust and putting the relations between the two countries on a new stage."
North Korea said it had asked for partial sanctions relief in return for closing its main nuclear site at Yongbyon, an important nuclear-fuel production facility but not the only place the North is believed to make bomb fuel.
The United States also has been spinning the summit breakdown, with senior officials saying that North Korea wanted billions of dollars in sanctions relief in return for only partial dismantlement of Yongbyon, and demanded the North scrap more of its nuclear program for such a high level of concessions.
It's unclear what will come next: Working-level meetings among experts to close the negotiating gap? Another summit? Or will Trump, consumed with controversy in Washington and burned by the failure in Hanoi, lose interest?
The worst-case scenario would be a return to the personal insults and threats of war between Tr...
New Zealand faces another year of strike action, with question marks hanging over multiple industries.
Secondary school teachers are the latest threatening to strike over pay increases, following strikes throughout the medical sector so far this year, including lengthy action from junior doctors.
It comes after 2018 saw more strikes in one year than in the previous 10 years, and employment lawyer Max Whitehead says that we can expect more "crippling" strikes to come this year.
He told The Weekend Collective that there is no coincidence that this started after Labour got into power.
"The unions put Labour into power. They funded them, they got their members to vote for them, and what they are saying is 'we want you in power as we want more wages'."
He says they are clearly not very pleased about the rates they are currently getting.
Whitehead says he is not sure why they waited until National was out of power.
"I think they smelt blood. As soon as Labour got in, they sensed they'd get a big wage rise."
Whitehead says that strike action is quite an aggressive action to take.
"It is violent action on an employer; 'If you don't give me a raise, I'll shut your business'."
He says that it is a frightening time for employers, with unions getting special treatment to come into businesses and pressuring them into engaging.
The Green Party is urging Justice Minister Andrew Little to adopt a Greens members' bill which would ban foreign donations to political parties and enabling prisoners rights.
Greens electoral reform spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman is introducing a bill which she said would "stop unfair influence and potential corruption in politics".
As well as cracking down on foreign donations, the bill would also overturn a ban on prisoner voting, enable Māori to change roll types at any time and lower the MMP threshold to 4 per cent.
Although New Zealand has a strong democratic system, Ghahraman said there is "definitely room for improvement".
"The bill seeks to stop unfair influence and potential corruption in politics," she said.
One of the key measures will give prisoner's back the right to vote.
Ghahraman defended the measure, telling the Weekend Collective that the current legislation is a breach of human rights, which goes against the criminal justice system.
"By removing people from the community, we're trying to make the community safer, we're trying to rehabilitate them and reintegrate them back in. We know that being disconnected from society hinders that, so that should be the key aim of the criminal justice system."
She says prison is a punishment already, and taking away their rights erodes all our human rights.
"The punishment is encompassed in the imprisonment itself, it does not apply to other rights."
Ghahraman says we are an anomaly when it comes to this, and warns that it puts us on the same level as Iran and Saudi Arabia when it comes to human rights.
Given the example of Malcolm Rewa voting on sexual assault reform, she says that is an extreme example and that it would make for bad law.
The law will also tackle electoral donations. Current electoral law prohibits overseas donations of more than $1500 to political parties, but Ghahraman said she wants that made zero.
"We should absolutely not be seeing political donations come from overseas and we need to reduce the anonymity threshold so that we can see who is donating to political parties."
She appears to have an unlikely ally in her quest to stamp out foreign donations.
Last month, veteran National MP Nick Smith signalled electoral reforms were needed to ensure the integrity of the New Zealand electoral system.
"The existing electoral law does put limits on foreign donors, but needs strengthening. Only Kiwi citizens and residents should be able to donate to political parties or to campaigns that seek to influence an election outcome," Smith said.
A members' bill goes into the ballot and are picked at random to be debated in the House. There are 70 bills in the ballot, meaning the likelihood of a bill being pulled is slim.
That's why Ghahraman is urging Little to pick up her bill, meaning the Government could introduce it at any time.
She has spoken to Little about it and he is now in the process of looking into it, she said. "I am hopeful that the Government will pick it up."
Her bill would also implement all 10 of the 2012 MMP review recommendations.This includes reducing the proportion of votes a party has to win to get into Parliament from the current 5 per cent, to four.
Ghahraman's bill would also mean Māori would be able to choose which role they are on at any time. At the moment, Māori can only change to the Māori roll once every five years.
Housing Minister Phil Twfyord is remaining coy on how Government changes to rental properties will affect rents.
This morning,Twyford unveiled new requirements for landlords as part of the Government's new healthy homes standards, which will come into effect between 2021 and 2024.
These include requiring all rental properties to have a heater in the main living room, as well as making sure kitchens and bathrooms have extraction fans.
But the most expensive requirement for landlords, according to the New Zealand Property Investors' Federation (NZPI), would be the new requirements around insulation.
The new rules will require the minimum level of ceiling and underfloor insulation to either meet the 2008 Building Code, or – for existing ceiling insulation – have a minimum thickness of 120mm.
The National Party and a property lobby groups say the cost of the Government's new rental minimum standards will be borne by renters in the form of increased rents.
Twyford told The Weekend Collective that these changes would cost approximately $7,000 for landlords to bring a three bedroom home to standard, but he believes only a small majority will be affected.
“Half the rental properties out there have extractor fans. Two thirds have a fixed heating source. We’re really talking about bringing the bottom end of the market up to where everyone else is and setting a minimum standard.”
He says that Housing New Zealand has 68,000 properties, and they will need to spend over $200 million, which will come off their balance books.
“We’ve set three years from now, basically, they have to have all their houses being compliant.”
NZPIR executive officer Andrew King said more than 90 per cent of the landlords represented by his group have already insulated their properties.
"A large proportion of those are going to now have to turn around and top it up to meet these new requirements."
He said the cost of bringing the level of insulation up to the new required level would cost roughly $1500-$2000 per home.
The insulation material itself does not cost a lot, he said, but the cost of the labour will be high.
"It costs just as much to top up insulation as it does to install it."
He said this cost – and the cost of complying with the rest of the new standards – would be passed on to the tenants, in the form of higher rent.
Meanwhile, he said just adding more insulation would not even have a major effect on keeping homes warm, if the home is already insulated.
National's housing spokeswoman Judith Collins agreed.
She said rents have increased in many parts of the country over the past year and the Government's new rules would see rents climb even further.
"There will be some landlords who are going to say 'it's just not worth it for me to retrofit this property'."
Instead of renting the property, Collins said many would-be landlords would just sell it on the open market.
Speaking at the unveiling of the new standards this morning, Lynley Thomas, a property owner and landlord, said although she would not increase her tenants' rents, there would likely be a flow-on effect whereby the costs could flow on to the tenant in the wider market.
"Indirectly, through a market rent raise which I think will inevitably happen, that's where the rent will go up."
There were already concerns over rising rents after the prospect of a Capital Gains Tax was raised by the Tax Working Group.
When that was put to him by the Weekend Collective, Twyford did confirm or deny that rents would rise.
He says that we have to do a lot to get the housing market back on track and bring it into the 21st century.
“We can’t wait around for the ideal moment of history to improve the quality of housing.”
Twyford says that when it comes to Capital Gains Tax, there’s no evidence from overseas countries that a tax would force rents up.
The Maori Climate Commissioner wants school students to protest for action on climate change.
On March 15th, some New Zealand students will 'bunk' school to strike in a bid to push politicians to act aggressively on climate change.
It follows a string of similar protests around the world, where school students have been staging regular strikes in order to fight back against climate change.
Maori Climate Commissioner, Donna Awatere Huata told the Weekend Collective the impact of a few hours off school doesn't compare to the impact of climate change.
"They sent a strong message to their elders, to their parents and grandparents, that they must take climate change more."
After reports that Australian coal had been blocked at a key port in north-eastern China, officials have defended the action.
A Chinese official said yesterday that the delays were a result of stepping up efforts to check the quality of imported coal,
“In recent years, China Customs has found that some of the imported coal didn’t meet our environmental protection standards when it carried out inspection and testing on safety and quality risks of the imported coal,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters during a routine briefing in Beijing.
Customs officials were simply complying with strengthened quality and safety inspections of imported coal “in accordance with relevant laws and regulations” to better protect Chinese importers and ensure environmental safety, Geng said.
He also shot down reports of an Australian coal ‘ban’, saying: “I would like to clarify those reports are false.”
It was feared that the holdups in coal processing was an act of political retaliation, after Australia’s blocking of telecoms gear giant Huawei Technologies from rolling out its 5G networks.
Australian Trade Minister Simon Birmingham has since downplayed the delays, saying on Friday he had no reason to believe China is banning Australian coal.
“I want to provide reassurance that we have no basis to believe that there is a ban on Australian coal exports into China or into any part of China,” he said.
The Minister for Trade also said he did not see any problem in the relationship between the two countries.
Since coal is one of Australia’s largest exports, reports that China might be blocking shipments caused the Australian dollar to tumble, coal stocks to fall, and officials to scramble for answers.
China’s markets are vital for Australia and relations are sensitive after the decision by Australia last year to keep Huawei out of its 5G network due to security concerns.
But Senator Birmingham was confident the delays had nothing to do with Huawei.
Chinese import quotas and product testing for quality assurance “may be slowing down the processing of coal in certain ports across China”, he explained.
He also pointed out that China was applying its rules to all countries and wasn’t discriminating against Australia.
Australia is working to clarify China’s policies and to reassure Australian coal companies, he said.
According to the ABC, Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe wasn’t concerned by the reports either, saying the volumes involved were a relatively small proportion of Australia’s coal exports.
“If it were to be the sign of a deterioration in the underlying political relationship between Australia and China, that would be much more concerning.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was travelling in New Zealand, advised people to avoid jumping to conclusions.
“This is not the first time that on occasion, local ports make decisions about these matters,” he said.
“This happens from time to time, and we will just work constructively with our partners in China about those issues.”
A Thai political party swore loyalty to the king after its stunning decision to nominate the monarch's sister as its candidate for prime minister backfired when the king called the move inappropriate and unconstitutional.
The statement of fealty comes as the country ponders a whirlwind Friday in which Princess Ubolratana Mahidol broke with tradition proscribing the monarchy's involvement with politics to become a candidate for the Thai Raksa Chart Party, only to have her brother, King Maha Vajiralongkorn, invalidate her action with a late night order.
Thai Raksa Chart's statement said the party loyally accepted the king's order and expressed deep gratitude to Ubolratana for her kindness toward the party.
Ubolratana, who is active on Instagram, did not directly mention the king's order in a Saturday message, merely thanking people for their support and encouragement and insisting on her sincere desire to see Thailand progress with rights and opportunities for all its people.
Thailand's March 24 election will be the country's first since a 2014 military coup put in place a junta determined to reshape the political system to eradicate the influence of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whose allies have won every national election since 2001.
So it was not only a shock that Ubolratana was formally entering politics, but also that she was doing so in alliance with a Thaksin-backed party. Her candidacy would have pitted her against the junta leader and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the preferred choice for premier of the pro-royalist military.
Thaksin has been in exile since 2008, two years after was ousted by the military in a 2006 coup. Thailand's establishment has spent more than a decade trying to neuter his political machine through court rulings, constitutional rewrites and other changes to the electoral system. In addition to deepening political divisions that have flared into protests and street violence, the campaign has had little success.
"Chin up and keep moving forward! We learn from past experiences but live for today and the future. Cheer up! Life must go on!" Thaksin tweeted on Saturday.
Just eight years after ousting him, the military stepped in again to remove his sister's government.
Thaksin remains wildly popular with the country's rural majority, who were drawn to his populist policies such as universal health care and rice subsidies and were willing to overlook accusations that he was enriching himself while in office. But Thaksin's popularity made the country's Bangkok-based establishment uneasy and some saw his popularity as a threat to the monarchy itself.
Thaksin, who escaped from Thailand to avoid serving prison time on a conflict of interest conviction he insists was political, was generally believed to have been involved in setting up Ubolratana's candidacy. That shook the Thai royalists, who have long seen their campaign against Thaksin as way to protect the monarchy.
It was widely assumed that Ubolratana, thought to be close to her brother, had at least received his approval for her action. What actually had happened behind the scenes is unlikely to become public, because the royal family's private affairs are almost never leaked.
Vajiralongkorn's order stressed that Thailand's Constitution insists that the king and those around him stay above politics, and the principles of democratic government also put politics off-limits.
It directly addressed the point that his sister was a member of the royal family even though her formal royal titles had been lifted decades ago when she married a foreigner.
Her candidacy had caused great excitement, because it offered the possibility of a strong challenge to Prayuth winning his job back. Her association with the monarchy was seen as making it difficult for royalists in parliament, which picks the prime minister, to vote against her.
Prayuth had been considered the front-runner, because changes in constitutional law and election rules...
Don Brash has been invited to speak at the lower marae at Waitangi, where he was once pelted with mud by protesters.
The mud was turfed in 2004, when he was National leader.
It was just a few days after his infamous speech to Orewa Rotarians in which he railed against special treatment for Māori.
He is now spokesman for Hobson's Pledge, a group which campaigns against racial separatism or favouritism under the Treaty of Waitangi.
Dr Brash told the Weekend Collective when he received the invitation to speak at Te Tii Marae he was surprised, but pleased.
"Initially I was a bit suspicious, I thought 'is this a have'? I began to wonder if the person who invited me actually have the authority, but it turned out he did have, and I'm absolutely delighted to be accepting it."
He says he has written a speech for the purpose, and he believes there will be a panel discussion.
Brash says he was told to expect some strong opposition at that panel, and people are already making their views heard.
He says he is pleased to have been invited, especially after his Massey University ban.
"That's an appalling thing for a university to do, and the marae leadership showed themselves to be in a completely different place to allow someone who they may not agree with to have a say."
Maori Development Minister Willie Jackson says he is not looking forward to hearing the former politician speak.
"I have no interest in listening to Don's carry on and rhetoric."
He says there is no need to hear his rhetoric again, and he says it is a waste of time to listen him.
Organisers say while some people are unhappy Brash is speaking, they want to hear his side of the story, and he will be safe.
In Politics Central, the two Tims quiz Finance Minister Grant Robertson on his tax plans. Then political analyst Ben Thomas gives his take on how Kiwis will take the possibility of a Capital Gains Tax.
Next up medicinal cannabis, with a warning on the issue from Medical Specialist Dr Stephen Child.
Finally, Joy Reid has the latest on the Brexit debacle, straight out of London.
A National MP believes surf life saving clubs should receive public funding, because they're providing an essential service.
At the moment, surf clubs rely on grants, fundraising and private sponsorship to run patrols on New Zealand beaches.
Some lifeguard services are supported by local bodies, but the clubs take care of themselves.
Helensville MP Chris Penk says life saving should be recognised as an emergency service.
"They perform a vital function of keeping our lives safe, both Kiwis and visitors."
The National Party has launched a petition to recognise life savers as an emergency service.
CEO of Life-Saving NZ Paul Dalton told the Weekend Collective that the petition is interesting, but there are already discussions going on behind the scenes.
"The potential for government funding is very, very much up for discussion."
He says that it would probably cost around $20 million a year to fund the entire country.
Dalton says that life saving is all driven by passion, with the people involved utterly committed to the work they do.
"It is a very hand to mouth kind of a game. Every year, you start with a clean slate, and you try to get enough money to do what you need to do."
He says that Penk seems genuine, and probably does not know what is happening already, so doubts he is playing politics.
An iconic New Zealander producer does not think there is much to worry about when it comes to Lord of the Rings filming here.
It has been reported that Amazon Studios held meetings with the New Zealand Government over filming the new television adaptation of the fantasy series here.
However, there are concerns that a lack of studio space could prevent the show from being filmed here.
John Barnett, who has produced four of New Zealand's top 10 movies, says that it would be a good thing for the country.
However, he told the Weekend Collective that he does not think that there is much of a "crisis" to this story.
"I think that the headlines today have been a little bit of slow news day."
Barnett says that it was likely a regular meeting that would otherwise be handled by the regulatory body.
He says we have not lost it because no one has said that the series would be filmed here.
"The regime that we have with regard to foreign production coming here is very friendly and very conducive to this kind of production."
Barnett says things are tight when it comes to studio space, but we do have an "elasticity" in this industry that could handle the scale of the production.
LISTEN TO JOHN BARNETT TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE
Some educators say they are willing to march on Parliament in opposition to the Government's proposed Tommorrow's Schools plan.
The board and headmaster of Auckland Grammar have written to parents, asking for help to fiercely oppose the notion, saying that the proposals are radical and would end the notion of the traditional secondary school in New Zealand.
Auckland Grammar's headmaster Tim O'Connor says the vast majority of school boards are just fine, and there's no rationale for direct state control.
"It is a proposed attack on state education as we know it, and the only winners out of this will be private schools, who will continue to be able to establish a culture and a values base and operate in a manner that is purposeful to their community."
O'Connor's main concern is idea of Education Hubs, taking over the likes of property, employment, and allocating government funding.
"That really would surpass the role of a board of trustees and boards of trustees would effectively become glorified PTA's or advisement groups to principals. So schools would lose their own personalities and their own cultures."
Macleans College principal Steven Hargreaves told the Weekend Collective that if the recommendations were to be enacted, he believes there'd be people marching on Parliament.
"I know that sounds like a crazy thing to be doing, but we would, because there are some serious things here that I feel would interfere with the way successful schools are run."
Hargreaves says that having 125 schools reporting to one hub logistically doesn't make sense.
However, Bali Haque, Chairman of the Tomorrow's School taskforce, says that much of what the critics believe is simply wrong.
He says the whole reform is based on developing an education system that meets the needs of all our students.
"Currently, the way we've got it set out, with 2,500 independent, autonomous boards, it really isn't working. That's indicated when you look at the stats of student achievement."
Haque says that thet went around the country and spoke to boards about the proposals.
"We've attended 200 meetings, we've listened to Boards of Trustees, and what Boards of Trustees say is they want to focus on important stuff of teaching and learning, and that's what our proposals allow them to do."
Haque is urging those claiming it will destroy the school system to calm down, sit down and read the report.
Principals' Federation believes adopting Tomorrow's Schools would be the courageous option.
Principals' Federation president Whetu Cormick says the consultation phase is really important, but then it's up to the Government.
"Will the Minister of Educations and his ministers have the courage to put in place some these courageous recommendations that are outlined in this document? So the proof will be in the pudding to see whether that really does land next year."
Submissions are open on the drastic and sweeping changes mooted in the Tomorrow's Schools report.
An online feedback survey will also be open next month and there will also be regional hui in February and March.
Cormick says feedback is important, even if it means cutting into holidays.
"Whilst it's going to mean more work for school leavers, we're up for the consultation period and we want to have a strong voice in determining what's happening in education for the next 30 years or so."
The mother of a 15-year-old boy killed in a drunken hit and run says she started a petition calling for a longer sentence for the teenager so other families don't go through the same pain.
Air force cadet Nathan Kraatskow, 15, died in May when a learner driver hit him at an intersection in Albany in north Auckland.
Rouxle Le Roux, 19, had drunk wine and smoked cannabis earlier in the day before her Mercedes crashed into Kraatskow as he crossed the intersection on a small bike.
Charlene Kraatskow told The Weekend Collective she is upset and angry over the way the justice system has failed her family, after Le Roux was given a sentence which was reduced because of her rough childhood.
“Why should we take the consequences of her rough upbringing? I don’t see why she should be discounted because she had a rough upbringing, that’s not our fault."
Kraatskow says she has seen social media posts from Le Roux which she feels make a mockery of the judge believing Le Roux has any remorse for what she has done.
"All of her Instagram posts, she posts nearly every day. Her captions on social media, especially the one on Halloween in the orange jumpsuit really upset us. Everything she has said doesn’t make sense."
With thousands of people showing support by signing a petition against the light sentence, Kraatskow believes something should be done to make sure this doesn't happen again.
"She took a son, brother a grandson away from us, and it is like a big joke from her. All she has got is a slap on the wrist.
This is the worst thing we have ever had to go through. I hope she learns from her mistakes, but I don’t think she will. She has been boasting to some of her friends how she got away with what happened."
LISTEN ABOVE AS CHARLENE KRAATSKOW SPEAKS TO THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE
The Government has announced $1.4 billion to make dangerous roads safer over three years to save lives and prevent serious injuries.
The Safe Network Programme will make 870km of high-volume, high-risk State Highways safer by 2021 with improvements like median and side barriers, rumble strips, and shoulder widening, according to Transport Minister Phil Twyford and Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter.
Genter told The Weekend Collective the issue of road safety is high up on the agenda, and will be a major issue in the coming years.
"This government has made road safety one of our highest priorities. We have looked at 870km of state highways which can be improved. Central and local government will be partnering together to improve our roads and reduce injuries."
Genter says no other industry accepted hundreds of people dying each year as normal.
"Its really good value for money when you consider what the previous government was spending on our highways. We are going to avoid 160 serious injuries per year with the improvements."
The programme will target an estimated $600m to $700m of state highway safety improvements and $700m to $800m of local road safety improvements.
LISTEN ABOVE AS JULIE ANNE GENTER SPEAKS TO THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE
An Auckland school is facing criticism for making a Christmas lesson overly religious.
Katherine Hogg told Stuff that she kept her seven-year-old son at home from school after his class was asked to act out the Nativity.
She told the newspaper that her son did not want to join in, but would have to move to another class if he did not participate.
Hogg said she was unhappy that Stanmore Bay School had made the Christmas activities biblical.
The Secular Education Network agrees.
The Public Relations Officer David Hines says that it crosses a line.
"I'd agree that schools have a proper role of putting books of popular culture, religious and non-religious, into their program, but when you get them to act in the play, I feel you're getting into the territory of training in Christianity."
The network's Jeff McClintock told The Weekend Collective that we expect schools to cover different cultures, but this school went too far.
He says the teacher told a student who said they didn't believe in Santa was told to be quiet and not interrupt other people's learning.
"That's where the teacher crossed a line between teaching about Christmas and promoting her own views."
McClintock says he does not want schools to avoid talking about Christ when teaching about Christmas, but it should be done in a manner that is inclusive to everyone.
He says that in this case, the student who voiced their non-belief was "banished" to another classroom.
"You wouldn't banish Maori kids to another classroom because you're teaching about European history. That's off."
But Amanda Gregan, the communications advisor for the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, disagrees.
"The nativity is central to the celebration of Christmas."
Gregan says that Christmas is central to the Christian faith.
LISTEN TO JEFF MCCLINTOCK TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
LISTEN TO TVNZ EUROPE CORRESPONDENT JOY REID TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
The rumble of armoured police trucks and the hiss of tear gas filled central Paris on Saturday, as French riot police fought to contain thousands of yellow-vested protesters venting their anger against the government in a movement that has grown more violent by the week.
A ring of steel surrounded the president's Elysee Palace — a key destination for the protesters — as police stationed trucks and reinforced metal barriers throughout the neighbourhood.
Stores along the elegant Champs-Elysees Avenue and the posh Avenue Montaigne boarded up their windows as if bracing for a hurricane but the storm struck anyway Saturday, this time at the height of the holiday shopping season. Protesters ripped off the plywood protecting the windows and threw flares and other projectiles. French riot police repeatedly repelled them with tear gas and water cannon.
Saturday's yellow vest crowd was overwhelmingly male, a mix of those bringing their financial grievances to Paris — the centre of France's government, economy and culture — along with groups of experienced vandals who tore steadily through some of the city's wealthiest neighbourhoods, smashing and burning.
Police and protesters also clashed in other French cities, notably Marseille, Toulouse and Bordeaux, and in neighbouring Belgium. Some protesters took aim at the French border with Italy, creating a huge traffic backup near the town of Ventimiglia.
The French government's plan was to prevent a repeat of the Dec. 2 rioting that damaged the Arc de Triomphe, devastated central Paris and tarnished the country's global image. It did not succeed, even though it was better prepared.
Although Saturday's protest in the French capital started out quietly, tear gas choked the Champs-Elysees Avenue by early evening.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that 135 people had been injured and 974 taken into custody amid protests around the nation. Paris police headquarters counted 71 injuries in the capital, seven of them police officers.
An estimated 125,000 people demonstrated around France while 10,000 took their anger to the streets of Paris, double the number in the capital last week, the interior minister said. Toughening security tactics, French authorities deployed 8,000 security officers in the capital alone, among the 89,000 who fanned out around the country.
A Starbucks near the Champs-Elysees was smashed wide open and people were seen stepping over broken glass and serving themselves to beverages. The window of a nearby bank was smashed in with a wrought-iron decoration used to encircle city tree trunks.
All of the city's top tourist attractions — including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre museum — shut down for the day, fearing the kind of damage that hit the Arc de Triomphe a week ago. Christmas markets and soccer matches were cancelled. Subway stations in the city centre closed and the U.S. embassy warned citizens to avoid all protest areas.
Yet in a sign of the financial disconnect that infuriates many of the protesters, a few blocks from the famed boulevard, people were sitting in Paris cafes, drinking cocktails and chatting.
Amid the melee, President Emmanuel Macron remained invisible and silent, as he has for the four weeks of a movement that started as a protest against a gas tax hike and metamorphosed into a rebellion against high taxes and eroding living standards.
The mayor of the city of Saint-Etienne, a town in southeast France hit by violence Saturday, castigated Macron for failing to speak out, saying it "feeds the resentment."
"This silence becomes contempt for the nation," the mayor, Gael Perdriau, of the opposition conservative party, said on BFMTV. "He has a direct responsibility in what is happening. He can't remain closed up in the Elysee."
France's yellow vest protesters have political stances ranging from the far right to the far left but the leaderless group is united in...
A New Zealand woman has spoken out about her experience of being given a nickname by her boss.
Julie Savage went to a South Australian Employment Tribunal after her boss, Vili Milisits of Vili's Cakes, kept calling her 'Kiwi' rather than by her name.
The news was met with some ridicule online, but Savage has told The Weekend Collective that it was more about respect.
"There was always someone making a joke."
She says Vili always called her 'Kiwi' and never once addressed her by her name.
Savage says that if she complained, nothing ever happened, and that she was not alone in feeling uncomfortable working there due to the nickname habits.
"A lot of people left before me because of racial comments."
Savage says she is a proud Kiwi, but that's not the point of her argument. She says that she worked every weekend at the bakery for nine years, and she expected to be treated with more respect.
However, her case was thrown out by the tribunal. Savage says it has left her in an awkward predicament, and now her name is out in the media.
LISTEN TO JULIE SAVAGE TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
The National Party have again come under fire, this time with allegations of bullying and abuse of power within Parliament.
Former MP Deborah Coddington gives us an insight into the political culture and why politicians react the way they do.
LISTEN TO THE FULL DISCUSSION WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
The Ministry of education has come out swinging at the credibility of internal exams for NCEA.
They have found that students are two or three times more likely to get excellence if assessed by a teacher compared to only 11 percent of those with external exams.
We talk to the President of the PPTA Jack Boyle to discuss whether or not internal exams have a place in our secondary schools?
LISTEN TO THE FULL DISCUSSION WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
LISTEN TO ROBERT PATMAN TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
It's crunch time for UK Prime Minister Theresa May as she hopes the EU will sign off on a draft Brexit deal at a summit in Brussels overnight.
May, who arrived in Brussels Saturday evening for preparatory talks with EU leaders, will then have the momentous task of selling the deal to a recalcitrant British Parliament and a nation still fundamentally split over whether the U.K. should leave the EU on March 29 and under what conditions.
International Relations Expert Robert Patman says the deal on the table is no good.
"And the deal she's delivered seems to have the worst of both worlds. Britain actually becomes weaker than it was when it was within the EU."
He told The Weekend Collective that it's highly unlikely the British Parliament will vote for the current deal, and may even lead to another referendum.
The latest developments come after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Saturday that Madrid would support the Brexit divorce deal after the U.K. and the EU agreed to give Spain a say in the future of the disputed British territory of Gibraltar, which lies at the southern tip of the Mediterranean nation.
Spain wants the future of the tiny territory, which was ceded to Britain in 1713 but is still claimed by Spain, to be a bilateral issue between Madrid and London, not between Britain and the EU.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk assured Sanchez that Spain's "prior agreement" would be needed on matters concerning Gibraltar.
"Europe and the United Kingdom have accepted the conditions imposed by Spain," Sanchez said. "Therefore, as a consequence of this, Spain will lift its veto and tomorrow will vote in favor of Brexit."
May said Britain had conceded nothing on the sovereignty of Gibraltar.
"I will always stand by Gibraltar," May said after meeting with Juncker. "The U.K. position on the sovereignty of Gibraltar has not changed and will not change."
The move should allow EU leaders speedily to sign off on the Brexit agreement between Britain and a special summit Sunday morning.
The future of the free fees policy is up in the air.
The Government was left red-faced this week when figures revealed that the free first year of tertiary education scheme did not boost first year enrolments.
It also showed that the people benefiting from the scheme the most were white and middle classed.
However, political commentator Bryce Edwards says that one year is too early to tell if the scheme is working.
"We might actually see that after a while we might see it changes the culture, and poorer people will see there isn't the barrier there."
Edwards doubts that Labour will do a u-turn, but says it is likely that the rollout of the second and third year parts of the policy may be scrapped.
LISTEN TO BRYCE EDWARDS TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
The Mental Health Foundation is calling on a leading retailer to drop what it says are unethical and potentially illegal recruitment practices.
People applying for jobs at Kathmandu are being asked to list any prescription drugs or medications they're taking.
Applicants can't proceed unless they surrender the information.
Mental Health Foundation chief Shaun Robinson says people should be judged on their abilities, not the medications they take.
"It's just a completely unnecessary, unfair and illegal approach to employment, and it really needs to stop."
Robinson says it's a dangerous policy.
"It can make people not want to seek help, not want to get on medications, because they don't want to be discriminated against. They can see it could disadvantage them/"
He says medications are often an indicator a person has their illness under control.
Kathmandu has not so far responded to a request for comment.
LISTEN TO SHAUN ROBINSON TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
National's accused the Government of being soft on crime, after 84 people caught importing drugs got off with warnings.
Police carried out raids as part of an operation targeting people buying Class A and B drugs on the dark web, and shipping them in from overseas.
National's Mark Mitchell says the Police Minister has questions to answer.
He claims Stuart Nash and the Government is sending signals to police, about how they should operate and apply drug policy.
Mitchell says anyone who brought in more than a personal amount, should be criminally charged.
"They've taken a very soft approach on people that are actually importing Class A drugs, serious drugs that can do a lot of harm, and they are going around giving a warning. To me, it's just not acceptable."
LISTEN TO MARK MITCHELL TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
A tattoo removal programme may be reintroduced in prisons.
The Government's considering reviving a similar programme to the one which was ditched in 2006.
That was after controversy was sparked when taxpayers paid thousands for a violent offender to have a "Mongrel Mob Forever" tattoo lasered off.
The Government has now asked Corrections for advice on how a revived tattoo removal scheme might work, and whether it would be user pays.
Corrections Chief Custodial Officer Neil Beales told the Weekend Collective tattoos are proving a roadblock for prisoners trying to re-enter society.
"It's hard enough for a prisoner who wants to go on straight and narrow to be accepted back into society as is. Even harder when they've got a tattoo that some may deem offensive or insulting."
LISTEN TO NEIL BEALES TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
LISTEN TO TVNZ POLITICAL REPORTER JESSICA MUTCH-MCKAY TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
Over 100 vendors, mainly women, turned up to see Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern officially open Gordon's Market in an outer suburb of Port Moresby this morning.
And they got a rallying cry from her to get involved in politics in PNG – where there are no women MPs.
She made the 7.30 am event before official meetings of the day got underway at the Apec leaders' summit being hosted by Papua New Guinea.
It was very much a women's focused project and women's focused event.
Most of the stall holders are women and photos of the former market show trade previously being conducted on the dirt and around puddles and great piles of rubbish.
When the complex is complete in a few months – Fletchers it doing it – it will provide two vast levels of covered area for about 2000 stall holders, funded to the tune of $7 million from New Zealand's Overseas Development Assistance.
"Gutpela monin tru olgeta," Ardern began (good morning everyone)."Welcome to your new home."
Up to 90 per cent of the vendors at Gordon's market were women "and behind them will be families and behind them will be the success of their community so this is a very deliberate project on behalf of the people of New Zealand."
If you want a community or a country to thrive you look after the women she said, to applause.
"I hope that as a result of this project, the women here thrive, they are safe, they have a safe space where they can work, where you can build your business, where you can build the well-being of your family because that's where success builds.
"And I hope also that as a result of more women thriving in their communities, building their business, maybe some of them will go into politics as well because we can always use more women in politics.
Ardern mingled with most of the stall holders afterwards although avoided the table at which vendros were selling bunches of tobacco leaves grown in their own garden.
PNG Foreign Minister Rimbink Pato was there and got a special reception from a group of women originally from his electorate.
Jacinda Ardern meets some of the stallholders after the official opening. Photo / Audrey Young
Asked why there were no women MPs, he told the Herald that women had stood in most electorates last election but none had been elected.
"The elections are fair open and free and I have said many a time and so has the Prime Minister that we are about gender equality, empowerment of girls and women and we would like to get representation of women in the Parliament of our country."
The constitution provided for unelected representation "and because of the lack of women in Parliament we are thinking of invoking that provision to ensure women are represented – at least by one."
Foreign Minister Winston Peters was not at the event but later in the morning he attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony on a St John Ambulance operation centre which New Zealand funded to the tune of $1.1 million.
The Government has also announced a $10 million contribution specifically for polio vaccinations for PNG where there has been a recent outbreak.
The teachers' strike is going ahead tomorrow because the venues for union meetings were already booked.
The primary teachers' union offered that explanation when asked why the pay offer it received on Thursday wasn't enough to avert next week's action.
Principals and teachers will be rallying on more than 100 street corners in Auckland at 7.30am tomorrow, and will br holding mass meetings to consider the current situation later in the morning.
Other regions will follow throughout the week.
The NZEI's teacher lead negotiator Liam Rutherford told the Weekend Collective the offer came through really late in the piece.
"And so to that extent, we didn't consider calling off the strike because we've got venues booked around country."
Rutherford says they have been really flexible, but when you already have so many meeting venues booked, a half day to consider an offer is not enough.
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More than 30 million Americans have cast early ballots ahead of Tuesday's midterm elections, eclipsing the 2014 early totals nationally and suggesting a high overall turnout for contests that could define the final two years of President Donald Trump's term.
At least 28 states have surpassed their 2014 early votes. And perhaps even more indicative of the unusual enthusiasm this midterm cycle, some states are approaching their early turnout from the 2016 presidential election.
Here's a look at some highlights:
MASSIVE TURNOUT
The 30.6 million ballots includes data from 48 states, with several of those still collecting absentee ballots and welcoming in-person early voters. The total early vote in 2014 was 28.3 million in an election where more than 83 million Americans voted. That was a low turnout (about 36 percent) even by usual standards of a midterm, when there's an expected drop off from presidential elections.
Forecasters aren't predicting that overall turnout this year will hit 2016 levels (137.5 million; more than 60 percent of the electorate), but Democratic and Republican analysts, along with independent political scientists, say turnout could approach 50 percent, levels not seen for a midterm since the turbulent 1960s.
BOOMS IN STATES NOT USED TO EXCITING MIDTERMS
It's one thing to see Virginia more than doubling its 2014 early turnout. Voters there showed their intensity last year in their governor's race, with record absentee ballot requests and returns and a solid turnout for both parties.
But then there's Tennessee. The state has settled firmly into Republican-dominated territory. In 2014, there wasn't a single statewide race that received national attention or a truly competitive House election.
But with an open Senate seat thanks to the retirement of Republican Bob Corker, voters are more than eager this year. Through Thursday, early turnout was 217 percent of what it was in 2014. It's even approaching early turnout from 2016, at 80 percent of that presidential-year mark.
Several other states with competitive Senate or governor's races — Texas, Nevada, Georgia, among others — are nearing double the 2014 early totals.
DEMOCRATS EDGING REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY
In states that require party registration, Democrats have cast 41 percent of the early ballots, compared to 36 percent for Republicans. Party strategists on both sides say they are far exceeding their usual numbers in key locales — urban strongholds for Democrats and more rural counties for Republicans.
A word of caution from prognosticators: The party analysis isn't always an indicator of final outcomes. There are crossover voters, even in this hyperpartisan era. And there are independents and third-party voters, as well. For the record, those latter groups account for about 23 percent of the ballots in party registration states.
For the scorekeepers, though, Virginia, among the states that doesn't have party registration, is replicating its 2017 voting boom — and Democrats swept the top offices last year even amid strong GOP turnout.
YOUNG VOTERS IN FLORIDA
Trends in Florida's early voting suggest a surge in young voters, a group that historically has low turnout in midterm cycles.
Of the 124,000 Floridians aged 18 to 29 who had voted in person at early polling stations as of Thursday, nearly a third did not vote in the presidential election in 2016, according to analysis by University of Florida political science professor Daniel Smith. About half of those new voters were newly registered.
"There are newly energized voters who sat out in 2016, or have registered since then, who are turning out. There's no question about that," Smith said.
In contrast, for people 65 and older who had voted early and in person, about 7 percent didn't vote in 2016.
NEW VOTERS IN GEORGIA
It cannot be said enough: It's the voters who don't often participate in mid...
The primary teachers' union says the Government's pledge to fund 600 Learning Support Coordinators is a huge deal.
The Prime Minister has announced the roles will be filled from 2020, by qualified teachers.
They will be tasked with ensuring children with learning needs, such as autism, get the support they need.
NZEI President Lynda Stuart told the Weekend Collective the need for more support for children with additional learning needs has never been greater.
"We've been crying out for this role to be acknowledged, to be fully funded, and for there to be professional development, so to hear this announcement today, NZEI members are absolutely delighted."
Stuart says it's a huge deal for educators, our children and their families.
LISTEN TO LYNDA STUART TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
The Minister of Immigration is within his rights to grant residency to a controversial drug dealer.
The National Party's Michael Woodhouse has demanded Iain Lees-Galloway explain why he used his power of "absolute discretion" to cancel deportation liability and grant residence to Karel Sroubek, also known as Jan Antolik.
Immigration lawyer Richard Mcleod says that we likely will never know why Sroubek was granted residency, but Lees-Galloway is allowed to do it and likely has strong reasons for granting the exemption.
He says that there have been strict conditions imposed on the residency.
"It doesn't seem to be a soft touch there."
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The dramatic saga that has dominated political headlines for the last few weeks has raised questions over how to report mental health.
Jami-Lee Ross shook up Parliament when he made several startling allegations about his leader Simon Bridges. The credibility of his claims was drawn into question when Ross' mental health was brought up, with the rogue MP admitting he had had a mental breakdown several weeks prior.
Political commentator Bryce Edwards says there is a lot to learn from this saga, but he has yet to see a consensus around how reporters and politicians should act moving forward.
Edwards told The Weekend Collective that it shows we do need to take mental health seriously.
"I think we've learnt that we often look for the good guy and the bad guy, and sometimes it's not as simple as that."
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If Jami-Lee Ross wasn't a politician, no one would care what he has to say.
That's the view of commentator Sean Plunkett. He told The Weekend Collective that this past week has been a big drama over nothing.
He says that Ross' comments have been used by a media that decided they would be damaging to Simon Bridges and his leadership before they had even heard anything.
LISTEN TO SEAN PLUNKETT TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE
The Deputy Prime Minister doesn't think Simon Bridges or Paula Bennett will survive the Jami-Lee Ross saga, but says it will take a while before heads roll.
The National Party leader has stayed staunch in the face of media attention after a week of accusations from rogue MP Ross.
Winston Peters told The Weekend Collective that the Party will wait before it acts.
"They'll want to put distance between this event before they move on. First of all, Paula Bennett, and then [Bridges]. That's the way it usually happens. You pick off the weakest one first and then you go for the top one."
Peters says it's ironic that the first use of the waka jumping legislation might go to Simon Bridges, despite the National Party's opposition to the Bill.
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Auckland's rough sleepers will now get the chance to take hot showers and get their laundry washed for free.
A custom-built van with a built in shower in the back, two washing machines and two dryers, begun operating today in central Onehunga.
It won't always stick around there though, it's set to make its way around Auckland and, soon, the rest of the country.
Orange Sky Australia started the initiative four years ago with a single van. It now has 27 operating around the country, relying on more than 1400 volunteers.
Brand manager Benjamin Knight told the Herald they can usually get through 12 loads of washing and up to 10 showers in a two- or three-hour shift.
He said the appliances on board were run by a diesel-powered generator and, ideally, they would plug into power and water sources wherever possible too.
Knight said New Zealand's rate of homelessness was particularly alarming and they hoped to have the same "massive" impact that they've had across the ditch.
About 800 people were sleeping rough in Auckland last month, along with another 2874 people, including 1299 children in temporary and emergency accommodation, according to initial figures released from the Ira Mata, Iri Tangata: Auckland's Homeless Council.
Knight said it's expected that like any new service, it'll take time for people to warm to it and take advantage of it.
He said it was just a matter of time before more of the vans were brought in and rolled out around New Zealand.
The service is partly funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The Minister for Housing and Urban Development Phil Twyford said while support services are working hard to reduce homelessness and get roofs over people's heads, the laundry service goes some way to bringing rough sleepers one of the simple things many take for granted.
LISTEN TO JOHN MINTO TALK WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOUT PENNY ABOVE
Mourners are arriving at St Matthew-in-the-City for the funeral of activist Penny Bright.
Bright died 10 days ago at Mercy Hospice, aged 64, after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
People are signing her plain plywood casket before it is taken into the church under a guard of honour with streamers in her favourite colours of black, red an white.
Inside the central city Anglican Church are many of Bright's banners, such as 'New Zealand is a polluted, corrupt TAX HAVEN'.
Among the mourners are Maori activist Tama Iti and Council of Trade Union convenor Marney Ainsworth who first met Bright in 1996 when firefighters were losing their jobs.
"Her contribution has been phenomenal to honest process and getting people off their high horse," said Ainsworth.
Lisa Prager, a close friend and fellow activist, earlier told the Herald the service would be "a state funeral for a fallen warrior".
Bright's partner of 13 years, who simply goes by the name of Julian, also said, "It will be a celebration of her achievements and what she did for Aucklanders. It will be a very Penny Bright funeral."
Despite her illness, Bright was still battling Auckland Council to establish how much ratepayers' money was spent pursuing her refusal to pay rates on her Kingsland home in a quest to "open the books".
"She was still talking politics on her deathbed. That was the nature of the woman," said Julian.
Today, family, activist friends and politicians gather inside the central city Anglican Church that has opened its doors to gays and lesbians, held civic memorial services for the victims of Aids and welcomed Nelson Mandela to thank New Zealand for its role in ending apartheid.
Apartheid in South Africa put Bright on the path to political activism when she started a branch of Hart - Halt All Racist Tours - while at Kuranui College in the Wairarapa in the early 1970s.
The veteran protester shot to prominence in Auckland 20 years ago through the Water Pressure Group, set up to oppose "user pays" for water. She was evicted and dragged from council meetings, arrested more than 40 times and was not afraid to harangue mayors, bureaucracy, police and the judiciary.
She stood, unsuccessfully, for Parliament and the Auckland mayoralty on numerous occasions, referring to herself, tongue-in-cheek, as "Her Warship".
Prager earlier said the church will be filled with "as much good humour, love and laughter as we can muster".
"It will be a celebration and taste of her wonderful life and who she is."
Prager and other activist friends will be among the speakers. There will be poems and readings and a "very uplifting" song in the middle of the service.
Julian is to close the public farewell before a private wake for family and close friends.
The Government has enough money, so they should scrap the petrol taxes.
That's Simon Bridge's view on the petrol tax.
National's leader has launched a petition to try and convince the Government to drop their tax increases in the face of increasing fuel prices.
Bridges told The Weekend Collective that the Government's budget surplus announced this week shows they don't need the taxes to fund their transport plans.
"When you've got a $5.5 billion surplus, the reason the Government has more money is because you as a Kiwi have less."
Bridges says the only thing the Prime Minister can do to affect the cost at the bump is drop them.
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Could a Chinese company be the answer for frustrated residents of Auckland's burgeoning Whangaparaoa Peninsula?
A Chinese infrastructure firm is offering to pay for the Penlink route, connecting the peninsula with State Highway 1.
It would collect the toll for 20 to 25 years in return.
Auckland Business Chamber chief executive Michael Barnett told the Weekend Collective congestion is only getting worse - and thousands more houses are on the way.
"If I have a look at the interchange at the morning, that queue has gone from 500 metres to about five kilometres each morning, so there's a need for it, and we can't get it with Auckland money."
Barnett says New Zealand is dependent on foreign investment, and we shouldn't be afraid of where the money comes from.
"Being afraid of where the money comes from to my mind is foolish. What we need to do is ensure that the rules and regulations around construction and the way it is managed is done and done well."
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ACT Party leader David Seymour joined the Weekend Collective after his party's annual conference today.
He outlined a potential rebrand of the ACT Party, after the party managed to recoup just 0.5% of the vote in the last general election.
Seymour said a name change is possible, although believed the ACT brand was still well known across New Zealand.
Suggested alternatives to ACT include The Liberal Party, The Reform Party, or just simply, The Taxpayers Party.
"I'm a bit inclined to change - but I'm just one member of the party ultimately," Seymour said.
His preferred choice? The Reform Party.
"ACT is a party of reformers... we are fundamentally different from the National Party because we want to reform," he said.
Seymour earlier announced his plan to slash the number of MPs to 100 - and erase the Māori seats.
After being criticised by some for copying a previous NZ First policy - Winston Peters campaigned on a similar policy before the last election - Seymour told the Weekend Collective that the now deputy PM is doing nothing about it.
LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW ABOVE
Australian writer Simon Copland joined the Weekend Collective today, after he attended the Sydney event of far-right speakers Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux last night.
He live-tweeted the whole event on Twitter, saying Molyneux argued that Australia Aboriginal culture is backward, and that Southern spoke against multiculturalism.
Copland told the Weekend Collective that New Zealanders attending next week's speaking event can likely expect a similar talk based around Maori culture.
The controversial duo are set to talk in Auckland on August 3, at a currently undisclosed venue.
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Security Expert Paul Buchanan joins the Weekend Collective to talk about the Football World Cup - have we seen the 'true face of Russia' in this World Cup?
Why has it been such an incident-free event?
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The Herald's Business Editor Liam Dann joins the Weekend Collective to talk about his article 'Business still feels pained by Labour'.
It comes after surveys that show businesses are feeling pessimistic about the economic outlook and – more worryingly – increasingly down about their own prospects.
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Tessanee Vejongsa, an AP Video Journalist based in Bangkok, Thailand, joined the Weekend Collective to give an update on the Thai caving rescue operation.
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Green Party MP and Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter joins the Weekend Collective to talk about gender equality in the workplace.
She says while quotas are not a "priority" in order to get gender equality on boards in the private sector, they are a possibility if the private sector doesn't "up its game".
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The Herald's Business investigations reporter Matt Nippert joined the Weekend Collective to talk about a slightly bizarre story from this morning.
Nippert has been working on a series of stories exploring the nexus between the Wellington-dominated film industry and the Beehive.
One such example features a pavlova - in an effort to attract people to our country, $1.6 million was paid to producers of the TV show Power Rangers in return for references including having a New Zealand-born character spend an entire episode trying to bake a pavlova.
LISTEN ABOVE TO MATT NIPPERT SPEAKING WITH THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE
TVNZ Political Editor Corin Dann joined the Weekend Collective for their weekly political wrap.
They started by chatting about Winston Peters and his conversation with the US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo.
Dann says they almost certainly would have discussed North Korea, as well as the steel tariff issue which is still hanging over the relationship between New Zealand and the United States.
The Weekend Collective also talked about the new Families Package which has been implemented today.
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Teaching seems to be on life support in New Zealand, with shortages in parts of the country - particularly in Auckland.
The Weekend Collective spoke with Tim O'Connor, the headmaster of Auckland Grammar school to get his opinion on how (or if) teaching can be saved in New Zealand.
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Jacinda Ardern will hold the country's top job, up until the eleventh hour.
The due date for Ardern and Clarke Gayford's first child has arrived, but still there is no word of Ms Ardern's arrival at Auckland Hospital.
TVNZ Political Editor Jessica Mutch told the Weekend Collective Jacinda Ardern is still very much the Prime Minister at the moment.
"As soon as she walks into the hospital that's when Winston Peters tags in, then he'll become the acting Prime Minister for the six weeks that she is on maternity leave."
LISTEN ABOVE AS THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE SPEAKS WITH JESSICA MUTCH
Earlier in the week the PM was forced to give Phil Twyford a slap on the wrist after he admitted to using a phone on a plane after it had been cleared for take off.
Tim Wilson has five excuses he reckons Twyford might have given Jacinda Ardern for why he was on the phone.
They're, well - judge for yourself how funny they are.
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Bryce Edwards joined The Weekend Collective to talk politics.
In particular, he discussed National's efforts to make the Speaker, Trevor Mallard, look bad after a difficult week in Parliament.
Edwards said National have been pushing Mallard to remain impartial.
He thinks we focus too much on what MPs can and cannot say in the House - and reckons Parliament should be a place where people can say whatever they want.
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David Greenslade, a financial advisor discusses independence in millennials leaving home or continuing to live at home rent free.
But how long is too long? LISTEN AS DAVID GREENSLADE TALKS TO THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE ABOVE.
Political commentator Dr Bryce Edwards joins Tim Wilson and Tim Roxborogh to re-cap this week's budget, and talk about a new EQC-style fund for biosecurity threats.
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Sido Kitchin, Editor of Women's Day talks all things Royal including the mystery surrounding the Royal Dress. LISTEN ABOVE AS THE WEEKEND COLLECTIVE SPEAKS TO SIDO KITCHIN