New Zealanders will soon be able to travel to the Cook Islands without having to quarantine for two weeks.
The announcement has just been made public.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Cook Islands counterpart Mark Brown have instructed officials to continue working together to put in place all measures required to safely recommence two-way quarantine-free travel in the first quarter of next year.
Newstalk ZB Newsreader Niva Retimanu joins The Panel to discuss this, along with the other big stories making news this week. 
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This week on Smart Money we were joined by Financial Commentator Amanda Morrall. 
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This week on the Health Hub we were joined by our resident psychotherapist, Kyle MacDonald. 
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There is concern over growing number of firearms incidents, after a dispute ended in a firearm being discharged at a crowded Auckland night spot.
A gun was fired at Dr Rudi's Rooftop Bar in the Viaduct just before 3 this morning.
Police received reports of an altercation after people who were asked to leave the bar became annoyed.
The group became aggressive, with one person pulling out a gun and firing a shot into the ceiling of the foyer.
Police Association president Chris Cahill told The Weekend Collective criminals began arming themselves years ago.
"First they arm themselves, then they start using them against each other. Then they use them against the Police - we saw the worst of that when we lost Matthew Hunt earlier this year - and then the public get caught in the middle of it, and last night was an example of that." 
No arrests have been made in relation to the incident yet.
It comes after a police dog was shot in Northland earlier this week, while a shooting was reported at an Auckland strip club two weeks ago. 
Cahill says that statistics support the fact that there is an increase in firearm-related incidents. 
He says that the gun buyback didn't cover pistols, but it doesn't mean that the buyback didn't work.
"Criminals steal them from legitimate firearms owners." 
Cahill wants to see a gun register, which has passed through Parliament, come into force. He says that when a register came into effect in other countries such as Australia, the number of thefts dropped. 
"People know the guns are registered to them, know they're responsible for them, and they lock them away and secure them better."
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Parenting Expert and host of Real Life on Newstalk ZB John Cowan joined The Weekend Collective to share his advice with managing children and their expectations over Christmas.
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What should you take into account with your first investment property?
How do you do an accurate budget, insurance, property managers, maintenance, occupancy consistency?
Property expert Sara Hartigan joined The One Roof Radio Show on The Weekend Collective to share her advice.
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TVNZ has announced it is rebooting The Apprentice after 10 years - leaving the tantalising prospect of who will sit in the boss' chair.
It's understood the format is likely to be close to the UK version, which saw British business magnate Lord Alan Sugar with two close business associates at the boardroom table. That means avoiding the glitzy Trump-led US style of the show.
Broadcaster Miles Davis joined The Panel on The Weekend Collective to discuss this, along with the big issues making the news this week.
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This week on Smart Money we were joined by Financial Advisor Martin Hawes.
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This week on the Health Hub we were joined by certified Health Coach Kent Johns. 
See more at www.kentjohnshealth.co.nz
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It's a waiting game to see how Iran reacts to the killing of one of that country's leading scientists.
Iran's blamed Israel for the slaying of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, who was gunned down in a car near Tehran on Friday.
His death has raised fears of reignited tensions across the Middle East.
Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman says it plays into the wider relations of the Iran and the US.
He told The Weekend Collective Iran only became more defiant when the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018.
"I can't see how this action of assassinating of their top nuclear scientist will make them any less defiant."
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