Simeon Brown: Health Minister on the Government's changes to the Medicines Act

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 inc…

Adam Pearse: NZ Herald deputy political editor on Chris Luxon's visit to Australia

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 deput…

Simon Watts: Auckland Minister says Budget 2026 delivers for Auckland, despite Mayor's pessimism

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…

Chris Penk: Defence Minister on increasing military spend to align with partners

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 pla…

Cameron Bagrie: Economist says NZ Super reform is crucial but unpopular ahead of budget

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…

Andrew Hoggard: Biosecurity Minister announces $79 million to axe wilding pines

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 Macke…

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…