A deal between Auckland Council and the Government has helped Aucklanders avoid the projected 25.8 percent increase in water rates.

Auckland Council will retain local control of water assets, as part of the Local Water Well Done plan.

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says councils will have more control over their water assets under their scheme.

Local councils will be asked to put forward their water service delivery plans for the next 12 months.

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A review by the Education Hub found just 60 percent of the country's 15-year-olds were achieving above the most basic levels of reading and writing.

This means 40 percent of 15-year-olds struggle with reading and writing, so what role do parents need to play in encouraging their kids to read? Expert Nathan Wallis joins the Weekend Collective with his advice.

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The coalition Government will not proceed with the Labour Government’s plans to regulate residential property managers, despite backing from a renters’ lobby group and lawyers.

How does regulation affect buyer interest - and was it the right decision? Debbie Roberts from Property Apprentice gives her take.

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Today on the Panel Tim Beveridge was joined by Mark Crysell and Simon Wilson to dive into the biggest stories from the week that’s been. 

On the Green Party: should Julie Anne Genter be sacked? What will James Shaw’s legacy be? 

On finances: the Department of Corrections has spent $315,000 of taxpayer money on slushies, and should Christchurch City Council step in and help out the Christchurch Arts Centre? 

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What are the best lessons to teach your children about money? 

How soon should you be setting them up with a trust fund, or a personal savings account? 

Hannah McQueen of Enable Me joins the Weekend Collective to discuss. 

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The London Marathon took place on April 21, and a record number of runners were using carbon-fibre shoes. 

How important is it to have the best sporting equipment? Can you make do with the basics? 

Sports Biomechanist Greg Pain joins The Weekend Collective to discuss. 

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This week on Politics Central, former Te Whatu Ora chairperson Rob Campbell criticises the organisation's decision to make savings at the country's hospitals, saying they are 'extraordinary' and signal poor management.

Later, five academics and public figures were set to debate free speech at Victoria University in Wellington last Monday, but backlash within the university has seen the event postponed. Both Victoria University's Students' Association president and the university's Vice-Chancellor offer their takes.

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Victoria University's Vice-Chancellor has his own concerns over an infamous free speech panel event.

A selection of public figures and academics were set to debate free speech, but backlash within the university led to the event being postponed.

Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith says it's a 'travesty' that people are no longer willing to listen and draw their own conclusions.

"That's an issue that I've seen across multiple media - we create bubbles where everyone wants to agree with each other and shout in these polarised extremes."

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There's debate over Victoria University's decision to call off a discussion on free speech.

It comes after outrage within the university, with claims the panellists didn't represent a balance of views.

600 people had registered to attend before the university's Vice-Chancellor postponed the event, saying they were going back to the drawing board.

Students' Association president Marcail Parkinson says some speakers would've made students uncomfortable, and have a history of hate speech.

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Te Whatu Ora has been criticised for telling public hospitals to bring the organisation back to budget, they need to make target savings of $105 million by July.

It said several districts have gone over budget in the past three months.

However, health unions have warned the constraints will impact medical care.

Former Te Whatu Ora chair Rob Campbell says we should be trying to improve our health system - not just saving costs.

"Once you get the emphasis on just saving costs, you end up cutting things that should not be cut."

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