42 councils have held referendums on Māori wards - 17 areas have voted to keep them, while 25 have voted to remove.

The wards have been a flashpoint for debate - there were protesters in Kaipara last year when council voted to remove it.

Te Pāti Māori has described the decision to remove the wards as “racist, targeted attack on Māori, for being Māori” and that it's "an assault on Te Tiriti"

Last year, David Seymour said he'd vote against keeping Maori wards if his council held a referendum - on the basis that New Zealand is made up of people from all walks of life.

He speaks to Tim Beveridge...

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Thousands of teenagers could have their Jobseeker benefit cut next year, as the Government restricts payments.

Eighteen and 19-year-olds without children must pass a Parental Assistance Test to qualify from November 2026.

The threshold will be set at just over $65,000.

Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Tim Beveridge it's the same as the Supported Living Payment, and similar to the Student Allowance test.

She says those on very low incomes below that would not be able to support these teenagers.

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Bowel cancer is New Zealand’s second biggest cancer killer.

Yesterday, the Health Minister confirmed changes to the free bowel screening criteria.

From Monday, the starting age for screenings will be lowered from 60 to 58 in Northland, Auckland, and the South Island.

The rest of the North Island will follow in March 2026.

Health Minister Simeon Brown speaks to Tim Beveridge.

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