Al Gillespie: Vladimir Putin suggests the war is coming to an end

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. LISTEN ABOVE

David Seymour: Fees-free doesn't result in more education

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 las…

Dr Geoffrey Miller: "New Zealand could be quite useful" for Iran-U.S. relationship

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 m…

Nick Hill: Govt should support SailGP in City of Sails

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…

Maurice Williamson: Some parties are too far gone for a coalition

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?  LISTEN ABOVE

Chloe Swarbrick: Funding solar panels through rates

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 o…

Ernie Newman: Duopoly to blame for increase in food costs

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.…

Peter Dunne: National Party calls in former broadcaster for comms help

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 ove…

Mark Mitchell: Emergency Management Minister on Cyclone Vaianu

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 a…

Helen Clark and Maurice Williamson: What can we expect from the build-up to the election?

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.  LISTEN ABOVE