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...

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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?

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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?

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.