Politics Central

One of Auckland's biggest sex scandals is set to hit the small screen.
The story of former Auckland Mayor Len Brown's affair with ex council adviser Bevan Chuang will be told in a made for TV movie.
The movie is called Princess of Chaos and will receive $2.6 million from NZ on air.
Chuang made headlines in 2013 when her two year affair with Brown was revealed days after his successful re-election campaign.
Former Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson told The Weekend Collective that, objectively, he would not fund it, but bodies like NZ on Air and Arts Council are at "arms length" from ministers, and this is the kind of "stupid decisions" these bodies make.
"20 odd years ago, the Arts Council decided to fund the Venice Bienalle, and the star attraction was going to be a donkey braying in a toilet."
He says that it's unfair to Brown to put this story back out there, and "some decency" should be shown to his family. 
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New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is determined to bring the party back to parliament.
In a speech to party faithful in Aukland this afternoon, the former Deputy Prime Minister did not hold back, taking swipes at the Government, the Opposition and the media.
In his first major speech since being booted out of Parliament. Peters made it clear his party is planning a come back.
"We are a phoenix that will again rise as the public wake up to the inexactitude. We are coming back, we are coming back because we believe we can."
But Peters did not say whether he would stay on as party leader during his speech.
NZ Herald deputy political editor Derek Cheng was at the speech, and told the Weekend Collective that there was no discussion of a succession plan. 
“As far as the party is concerned, and as far as all the party members are concerned, Winston is the party, and he will be leading it from now until eternity.”
He says that one concern for those in the room was the ongoing court case related to the New Zealand First Foundation, with concerns it could hold them back from Parliament regardless of how it turns out. 
“One party member referred to it as an albatross around the party’s neck.”
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New Zealand First leader Winston Peters is determined to bring the party back to parliament.
In a speech to party faithful in Aukland this afternoon, the former Deputy Prime Minister did not hold back, taking swipes at the Government, the Opposition and the media.
In his first major speech since being booted out of Parliament. Peters made it clear his party is planning a come back.
"We are a phoenix that will again rise as the public wake up to the inexactitude. We are coming back, we are coming back because we believe we can."
But Peters did not say whether he would stay on as party leader during his speech.
NZ Herald deputy political editor Derek Cheng was at the speech, and told the Weekend Collective that there was no discussion of a succession plan. 
“As far as the party is concerned, and as far as all the party members are concerned, Winston is the party, and he will be leading it from now until eternity.”
He says that one concern for those in the room was the ongoing court case related to the New Zealand First Foundation, with concerns it could hold them back from Parliament regardless of how it turns out. 
“One party member referred to it as an albatross around the party’s neck.”
LISTEN ABOVE

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Former United Future leader Peter Dunne says it's unlikely Winston Peters will return to Parliament. 
In his first major speech since the election, the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' told party faithful that he will be back. 
However, Peters did not say whether he would stay on as party leader during his speech.
Speaking to the Weekend Collective, Dunne says that time will tell whether this is a true re-emergence or just a suggestion.
“I think his time has passed. Everyone has a time. I think the types of things he represents, particularly over the last three years, were things he was against rather than things he was for.”
Dunne says that Peters has always craved attention, and the reaction to his speech is giving him exactly what he wants.
He says that it is difficult to see what the party stands for anymore, and they can't simply pitch themselves as a support party to hold Labour to account. 
"Being a handbrake isn't good enough, especially, as the polls suggest at the moment, people think the Government's doing a reasonable time."
He thinks that rising again for a third time is beyond even Peters' abilities.
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Former United Future leader Peter Dunne says it's unlikely Winston Peters will return to Parliament. 
In his first major speech since the election, the New Zealand First leader Winston Peters' told party faithful that he will be back. 
However, Peters did not say whether he would stay on as party leader during his speech.
Speaking to the Weekend Collective, Dunne says that time will tell whether this is a true re-emergence or just a suggestion.
“I think his time has passed. Everyone has a time. I think the types of things he represents, particularly over the last three years, were things he was against rather than things he was for.”
Dunne says that Peters has always craved attention, and the reaction to his speech is giving him exactly what he wants.
He says that it is difficult to see what the party stands for anymore, and they can't simply pitch themselves as a support party to hold Labour to account. 
"Being a handbrake isn't good enough, especially, as the polls suggest at the moment, people think the Government's doing a reasonable time."
He thinks that rising again for a third time is beyond even Peters' abilities.
LISTEN ABOVE

One of Auckland's biggest sex scandals is set to hit the small screen.
The story of former Auckland Mayor Len Brown's affair with ex council adviser Bevan Chuang will be told in a made for TV movie.
The movie is called Princess of Chaos and will receive $2.6 million from NZ on air.
Chuang made headlines in 2013 when her two year affair with Brown was revealed days after his successful re-election campaign.
Former Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chris Finlayson told The Weekend Collective that, objectively, he would not fund it, but bodies like NZ on Air and Arts Council are at "arms length" from ministers, and this is the kind of "stupid decisions" these bodies make.
"20 odd years ago, the Arts Council decided to fund the Venice Bienalle, and the star attraction was going to be a donkey braying in a toilet."
He says that it's unfair to Brown to put this story back out there, and "some decency" should be shown to his family. 
LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An online petition calling for a film on the Christchurch mosque attacks to be scrapped continues to gain momentum.
The film "They Are Us" is only in planning at this stage, but already the petition's attracted more than 45,000 signatures.
The movie is said to centre around Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her response to the crisis, with Australian actress Rose Byrne poised to play her. 
National Islamic Youth Association co-chair Haris Murtaza told The Weekend Collective they started the petition because of a lack of consultation with those affected.
"Whatever decisions are to be made should be victim-centric, and we haven't seen that.
"Whatever movie is to come out, I don't think anyone except the victims should have a direct and continued input into it."
He says that, from his understanding, the Al Noor Mosque community hasn't been approached for consultation.
"Across the board, I'm yet to speak to someone who was spoken to or consulted on this matter."
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The Government's scheme for discounts for electric cars comes with a couple of fishhooks: it only applies to newly imported cars, and if the funding runs out the rebates scheme will be paused and cars bought during the pause will not qualify for a rebate.
The scheme is designed so rebates on electric cars are funded from fees paid by people buying petrol cars.
It provides for rebates of $8625 for a new electric car and $3450 for a used imported electric car. There are lower rebates for plug-in hybrids.
The rebates are due to start from July 1 – but Waka Kotahi's website warns that if the funding for the scheme runs dry the rebates will be stopped until the funds are replenished.
"If, due to high demand, rebate funds are exhausted, Waka Kotahi will notify that the rebate window is closed and no discounts (rebates) will be offered during this time. Once we announce the scheme has restarted, only vehicles registered from the restart date will be eligible for rebates."
While there are rebates for both new and used electric cars, they only apply to newly imported cars which are registered after July 1. They do not apply to electric cars which are already registered in New Zealand and being sold on.
The rebates side of the "feebate" scheme starts in July, buyers of new or newly imported used petrol cars will only start facing fees from January next year.
There is another reason to get in quick to get the full rebate under the scheme: for the first six months, a flat rebate will apply, giving the full $8,625 rebate for all new electric cars and $3450 for used. After that, the rebate will depend on emissions.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Michael Wood said a Crown loan would cover the first six months of the scheme and the fees were expected to cover it from then on.
The details of the fees scheme are yet to be finalised, but the Ministry of Transport has estimated those fees will raise $125m and $188m in 2022.
Buyers of new petrol cars would pay a fee of up to $5875 while those buying newly imported used cars face fees of up to $2875.
That fee would be based on emissions – the Ministry has said it would add $2,900 to the cost of a new Toyota Hilux, $1230 to a Kia Sportage, and $830 for a Nissan Navara.
Wood and Climate Change Minister James Shaw set out the scheme on Sunday, saying it was a critical move to try to reduce New Zealand's transport emissions.
It was aimed at lifting the use of electric cars in New Zealand, which Wood said was well behind other countries.
The decision to charge fees for petrol car buyers has been criticised as unfair by Act and National, who say it is a "tax" on tradespeople and farmers who do not have options for electric vehicles.
National's spokesman Michael Woodhouse has said National supports incentives for electric car buyers, but they should be measures such as tax benefits and road user charges exemptions.
"The people who benefit will be higher-income earners who now don't have to pay as much for a Tesla. We don't think it's fair to make tradies pay more for a Hilux so wealthy executives can get a discount on their next electric car."

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's scheme for discounts for electric cars comes with a couple of fishhooks: it only applies to newly imported cars, and if the funding runs out the rebates scheme will be paused and cars bought during the pause will not qualify for a rebate.
The scheme is designed so rebates on electric cars are funded from fees paid by people buying petrol cars.
It provides for rebates of $8625 for a new electric car and $3450 for a used imported electric car. There are lower rebates for plug-in hybrids.
The rebates are due to start from July 1 – but Waka Kotahi's website warns that if the funding for the scheme runs dry the rebates will be stopped until the funds are replenished.
"If, due to high demand, rebate funds are exhausted, Waka Kotahi will notify that the rebate window is closed and no discounts (rebates) will be offered during this time. Once we announce the scheme has restarted, only vehicles registered from the restart date will be eligible for rebates."
While there are rebates for both new and used electric cars, they only apply to newly imported cars which are registered after July 1. They do not apply to electric cars which are already registered in New Zealand and being sold on.
The rebates side of the "feebate" scheme starts in July, buyers of new or newly imported used petrol cars will only start facing fees from January next year.
There is another reason to get in quick to get the full rebate under the scheme: for the first six months, a flat rebate will apply, giving the full $8,625 rebate for all new electric cars and $3450 for used. After that, the rebate will depend on emissions.
A spokesman for Transport Minister Michael Wood said a Crown loan would cover the first six months of the scheme and the fees were expected to cover it from then on.
The details of the fees scheme are yet to be finalised, but the Ministry of Transport has estimated those fees will raise $125m and $188m in 2022.
Buyers of new petrol cars would pay a fee of up to $5875 while those buying newly imported used cars face fees of up to $2875.
That fee would be based on emissions – the Ministry has said it would add $2,900 to the cost of a new Toyota Hilux, $1230 to a Kia Sportage, and $830 for a Nissan Navara.
Wood and Climate Change Minister James Shaw set out the scheme on Sunday, saying it was a critical move to try to reduce New Zealand's transport emissions.
It was aimed at lifting the use of electric cars in New Zealand, which Wood said was well behind other countries.
The decision to charge fees for petrol car buyers has been criticised as unfair by Act and National, who say it is a "tax" on tradespeople and farmers who do not have options for electric vehicles.
National's spokesman Michael Woodhouse has said National supports incentives for electric car buyers, but they should be measures such as tax benefits and road user charges exemptions.
"The people who benefit will be higher-income earners who now don't have to pay as much for a Tesla. We don't think it's fair to make tradies pay more for a Hilux so wealthy executives can get a discount on their next electric car."

An online petition calling for a film on the Christchurch mosque attacks to be scrapped continues to gain momentum.
The film "They Are Us" is only in planning at this stage, but already the petition's attracted more than 45,000 signatures.
The movie is said to centre around Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her response to the crisis, with Australian actress Rose Byrne poised to play her. 
National Islamic Youth Association co-chair Haris Murtaza told The Weekend Collective they started the petition because of a lack of consultation with those affected.
"Whatever decisions are to be made should be victim-centric, and we haven't seen that.
"Whatever movie is to come out, I don't think anyone except the victims should have a direct and continued input into it."
He says that, from his understanding, the Al Noor Mosque community hasn't been approached for consultation.
"Across the board, I'm yet to speak to someone who was spoken to or consulted on this matter."
LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.