David Seymour: Associate Education Minister on the benefits of the revamped school lunches programme

The Associate Education Minister says a revamped school lunches programme is better bang for buck.  Every student who received a free school lunch under the previous Government will still be fed, but the programme will save $107 million a year. David Seymour told Kerre Woodham that instead of hav…

Bonnie Robinson: Presbyterian Support Northern CEO on Lifeline's struggle to keep up with demand

Lifeline is calling for a lifeline as they celebrate their 60th anniversary. The Mental Healthline is struggling to keep up with demand, taking around 7,000 calls and 20,000 texts a month. On average, 17 people at high risk of self harm or suicide call Lifeline every day. Presbyterian Support N…

Kerre Woodham: There's got to be better ways of managing our mental health services

You will remember there was some alarm in some quarters when the New Zealand Police Service announced they'd be looking to step back from attending calls from people in psychological distress. Over the past decade police say the number of mental health events officers attend has increased by more…

Kerre Woodham: We need the prevention as well as the "cure"

We thought we'd start with the announcement on law and order and Corrections, given that this was one of the big drivers for National and ACT, and indeed New Zealand First’s election campaigns, and one in which the coalition government was elected upon. Still, when you've got a big announcement t…

Alex Penk: Ethos CEO on the 'Students and Social Transition: A Gender Identity Policy Guide'

A new policy guide for New Zealand schools, titled ‘Students and Social Transition: A Gender Identity Policy Guide’, has been emailed to schools across the country today. It was created by Ethos, a charity that supports people with questions about freedom of conscience and belief. Ethos had been …

Kerre Woodham: If there's one thing we leave behind, it should be clean streams, pristine seas and first-world water services

Last week, I think it must have been Wednesday or Thursday, I was harrumphing and muttering away like Waldorf and Statler from The Muppets. I was doing a little bit of that while I was reading about the latest sewage spill into a waterway in Wellington Harbour. I'm like, how in this day and age, ca…

Tami Neilson: NZ Country and soul singer-songwriter discusses New Zealand Music Month

May is New Zealand Music Month, the theme for this year ‘Amplifying Aotearoa’, aiming to shine a light on those who are the heartbeat of the nation’s music scene. One of the artists being highlighted is Tami Neilson, a country and soul singer-songwriter. She’s fresh off a plane from Nashville whe…

Kerre Woodham: Julie Anne Genter deserves all the censure Parliament can throw at her

Remember the Tau Henare-Trevor Mallard stauch back in 2007? Senior Cabinet Minister Trevor Mallard said the punch he threw at National MP Tau Henare is “one of the most stupid things I've ever done in my life” and in a life full of them, that's saying something. The scuffle broke out in the parli…

Kerre Woodham: When is the right time to give MPs a pay rise?

Happy International Workers Day to all the labourers and workers out there. All right, brother. All right, sister. Dedicated to recognizing the contributions and achievements of workers worldwide and taking the opportunity to promote workers rights and opportunities so. Go us, all of us paid grunts…

Stuart Nash: Former Labour MP on the dilemma the pay rise is causing

A former Labour Minister says a proposed pay rise for politicians gives them a real dilemma. The Remuneration Authority's set to increase most MP salaries 10.5% over three years. If implemented, it would be the first pay rise for MPs since 2017 and the first rise of 2.8% will be backdated to the …