Politics Central

0.0 (0)
POLITICS
UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

3D AGO

Feroz Ali: National did a great job with India FTA

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 min
3D AGO

David Seymour: ACT wants to cut number of Govt ministries

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 min
FEB 8

Nick Leggett: Wellington Council "chronically underinvest" in water infrastructure

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 min
FEB 1

Simeon Brown: Prescription changes to free up GP practices

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10 min
FEB 1

Mane Tahere: Luxon's Waitangi Day attendance "very important"

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

14 min
JAN 25

Steve Cullen: Criminal Lawyer discusses balancing sentencing discounts with community trust in judicial system

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 min
JAN 25

David Seymour: Deputy PM and Associate Education Minister comments on increasing attendance numbers

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 min
JAN 18

"The buck stops with me": Police Minister on public transport violence

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. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12 min

See All (795)

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.