Q+a

With Nikhil Ravishankar, William Dalrymple, and Stephen Rowe

Stephen Rowe from the conservative Cato Institute in the US joins Q+A to discuss his expertise in how AI should and shouldn't be used in political campaigning. He is also a former colleague of Charlie Kirk, and discusses the legacy of Kirk and Turning Points USA.

New Air NZ CEO Nikhil Ravishankar joins Q+A to talk about the challenges in navigating an increasingly volatile world, how technology is changing the airline business, and how Air NZ can meaningfully contribute to the country's GDP. He also discusses his background, parents, and how he came to be in New Zealand.

William Dalrymple: Empire, India, and Mamdani's remarkable win by Q+A with Jack Tame

With minister for children Karen Chhour and Labour leader Chris Hipkins

Minister for Children Karen Chhour joins Q+A to talk about the reduction in youth crime rates, along with the complex picture of harm emerging for children in Oranga Tamariki care. She admits to misspeaking in a previous interview about the nature of harm being suffered by children outside OT residences, after previously appearing to downplay the severity of some of those incidents. And with an estimated half of all children in state care affected by Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Minister Chhour talks about the new FASD action plan. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins joins Q+A to go through the finer points of the capital gains tax policy, and whether Labour is projected to bring in enough revenue to pay for its promises. Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Maroš Šefčovič: Trump's tariffs and Europe's trade position by Q+A with Jack Tame

With Climate Change Minister Simon Watts, CTU's new president Sandra Grey, and researcher Kali Mercier.

Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has slashed New Zealand's methane targets, saying they're more realistic for farmers. Q+A asks him what impact it may have on the country's international commitments and trade deals. . As Energy Minister, Watts is facing calls to do something about the energy industry. It follows the closure of multiple businesses which cited high energy prices as a factor. . Watts is also questioned about the sustainability of the local government sector as it tackles rates rises, infrastructure deficits, and low voter turnout. . Q+A with Jack Tame is made with the support of New Zealand on Air.

New Zealand is rapidly ageing: Today there are about 870,000 Kiwis who are 65 or older, making up about 17% of the population. In 25 years, that number is forecast to almost double and make up about a third of the population. As well as the pressure on universal superannuation and healthcare, the ageing population will also put infrastructure under strain. Researcher Kali Mercier has considered the implications in her new report, Age-proofing Aotearoa, published by the Helen Clark Foundation and WSP.

About 100,000 workers are planning to walk off the job this week as the Council of Trade Unions welcomes new president Sandra Grey. Meanwhile, Public Service Minister Judith Collins has accused unions of choosing to strike for political reasons. Q+A asks Grey about the Minister's comments, her plans for the CTU, and the state of the union movement.

With 1News reporters Yvonne Tahana, Abbey Wakefield, and Ali Pugh; artist and activist Tāme Iti; former Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse; NZ Initiative local government specialist Nick Clark; and ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar.

Q+A speaks to 1News reporters across the country as another local government election wraps up. . 1News' Yvonne Tahana also reflects on the results of the referenda on Māori wards. On preliminary results, 17 councils have voted to keep them and 25 have voted to remove the wards. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

On preliminary figures, national turnout for the local elections stands at 33%, according to Local Government New Zealand. While numbers are expected to increase as more results roll in, it's likely to fall well short of the 41% recorded just three years ago. . New Zealand Initiative's local government specialist Nick Clark and former Auckland Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse joins Q+A to discuss the state of the sector, and why more people aren't interested. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Tāme Iti has lived a life. . From his childhood in Ruatoki, he was on the frontlines of the Springbok Tour protests, the 1975 land march, and even tried to join North Vietnamese fighters during the Vietnam War. . At times, Iti has been a controversial figure. In others, he has been revered. . Q+A visited him at his studio in Whakatāne. Iti reflects on his life as he releases his autobiography: Mana.

With Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk, Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby, and global tax expert Michael Keen.

A year into her role as Race Relations Commissioner, Melissa Derby reflects on the threats to social cohesion and race relations in New Zealand. She says social media tends to amplify extremist content, and she worries about people becoming radicalised online. . As an academic, and before her appointment as Commissioner, Derby had publicly questioned the impact of notions of systemic racism, particularly with regards to Māori. Q+A asks her about these views and her opinions of affirmative action. . She also says the Government's approach to the Treaty Principles Bill debate "probably wasn't helpful" given "the unilateral nature of that". . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

The Government has announced an overhaul to the classification of earthquake-prone buildings, introducing a new system that will see thousands of buildings moved out of the regime. . Under the changes, existing New Building Standard percentage ratings for strengthening or demolishing buildings would be removed, in favour of a "more proportionate" system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. . Q+A asked him what impact it could have on safety. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Full interview: As the Labour Party debates the shape of its tax policy in next year's election, and economists keep an eye on the effect of the Government's Investment Boost tax deduction tweaks, Q+A spoke to global expert Michael Keen. . As the former Deputy Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department at the International Monetary Fund, Keen shaped the institution's policies on tax. He praised New Zealand's broad-based GST system and questioned why that same logic didn't apply when discussing the possibility of a Capital Gains Tax. Keen also said the country needed to consider its relatively high corporate tax rate in any discussions about upping productivity. . He also considered people's ideas of a "fair" tax system, and what taxing wealth and multi-national corporations could look like. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.