First things first

Kiwisaver, IKEA, feeling the heat

This weeks installment covers some boring topics but in the usual casual way. Sunnie and Sonja recap the government's recent Kiwisaver announcement, IKEA coming to Auckland, comment from Winston Peters, proposed changes to councils, and hot days. Sources include: * Listener: Was this the worst financial decision ever made by an NZ Prime Minister? [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/politics/how-new-zealand-missed-out-on-a-trillion-dollar-bonus/premium/L2LSBDB7Z5AYLC6FFAZW3XXELE/?lid=i46qcvxu6uno&utm_source=digi_acquisition&utm_medium=nzh_email&utm_campaign=NZH_Newsletter_Top_Stories_Newsletter_E&uuid=24b0217812744d2d8403841c00139f41&utm_content=Control+group] * Newsroom: Matching Aussie Super ‘impossible without major KiwiSaver overhaul’ [https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/11/25/matching-aussie-super-impossible-without-major-kiwisaver-overhaul/?utm_source=Newsroom&utm_campaign=63003f33c1-Daily_Briefing+27.11.2025&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_71de5c4b35-63003f33c1-97948668&mc_cid=63003f33c1&mc_eid=417a09c698] * RNZ: Regional councils demise: The plans, timeline and thorny issues [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/580070/regional-councils-demise-the-plans-timeline-and-thorny-issues] * 1News: Govt plans sweeping changes to how regional councils work [https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/11/25/govt-plans-sweeping-changes-to-how-regional-councils-work/] * NZHerald: Government proposes scrapping regional councillors and nudging councils towards amalgamation [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/government-proposes-scrapping-regional-councillors-and-nudging-councils-towards-amalgation/GWSEN7RM35GDXPBK452IGISNEA/] * The Spinoff: Underdog tale: the Regulatory Standards Bill is law despite almost everyone hating it [https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/28-11-2025/underdog-tale-the-regulatory-standards-bill-is-law-despite-almost-everyone-hating-it?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The%2520OCR%2520falls%2520again%2520-%2520so%2520why%2520are%2520house%2520prices%2520stuck%2520in%2520neutral%253F&utm_campaign=The%2520Bulletin%2520-%2520November%252028%252C%25202025] * RNZ: Auckland swelters during hottest November day on record [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/580192/auckland-swelters-during-hottest-november-day-on-record?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=The%2520OCR%2520falls%2520again%2520-%2520so%2520why%2520are%2520house%2520prices%2520stuck%2520in%2520neutral%253F&utm_campaign=The%2520Bulletin%2520-%2520November%252028%252C%25202025] * NZHerald: Warmer ocean temperatures signal muggy start to summer [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/warmer-ocean-temperatures-signal-muggy-start-to-summer/XUM3JGEBSRE23KVBW7GGZWK5WI/?lid=07cqqko29n1s] * The Spinoff: Christopher Luxon loves localism, until locals have the wrong opinions [https://thespinoff.co.nz/politics/18-06-2024/christopher-luxon-loves-localism-until-locals-have-the-wrong-opinions?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Is%2520the%2520regional%2520council%2520reboot%2520a%2520government%2520power%2520grab%2520in%2520disguise%253F&utm_campaign=The%2520Bulletin%2520-%2520November%252027%252C%25202025]

Tongariro fire, unemployment, and Lily Allen

This episode, Sunnie and Sonja take you back to 11 November, unpacking the Tongariro National Park fire, the latest employment numbers, the government’s proposed approach to unhoused communities, why Lily Allen’s album unexpectedly connects to Aotearoa, and more. Sources include: * Stuff Live: Nearly 3000 hectares of national park lost to huge fire [https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360880528/tongariro-national-park-fire] * RNZ: Tongariro fire: Tourists helicoptered out as ash fell from sky [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/578437/tongariro-fire-tourists-helicoptered-out-as-ash-fell-from-sky] * NZ Herald: Unemployment hits 8-year high leaving 160,000 Kiwis out of work [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/new-data-due-today-unemployment-tipped-to-hit-8-year-high/JZ3WQ77ESBBWVMNBJPOB2QSOEM/?lid=469fjvnp41qw&utm_source=digi_acquisition&utm_medium=nzh_email&utm_campaign=NZH_Newsletter_Top_Stories_Newsletter_E&uuid=24b0217812744d2d8403841c00139f41&utm_content=Control+group] * Wall Street Journal: NZ's Unemployment Highest Since 2016 [https://www.wsj.com/economy/central-banking/new-zealands-unemployment-highest-since-2016-f394da9d] * RNZ: Unemployment rises again to near nine-year high of 5.3% [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/top/577881/unemployment-rises-again-to-near-nine-year-high-of-5-point-3-percent] * RNZ: Rough sleeping ban in central Auckland considered by government [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577919/rough-sleeping-ban-in-central-auckland-considered-by-government?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email] * RNZ: 'Calm down' - Auckland Central MP Chlöe Swarbrick on coalition's homeless plan [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/577960/calm-down-auckland-central-mp-chloe-swarbrick-on-coalition-s-homeless-plan?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email] * RNZ: Rough sleepers fear being pushed to unfamiliar suburbs as government considers central Auckland ban [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/578126/rough-sleepers-fear-being-pushed-to-unfamiliar-suburbs-as-government-considers-central-auckland-ban] * RNZ: Homeless situation in Auckland now at 'crisis' point - council committee [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/568368/homeless-situation-in-auckland-now-at-crisis-point-council-committee] * RNZ: Outrage at bylaw to remove homeless during World Cup [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/11461/outrage-at-bylaw-to-remove-homeless-during-world-cup] * NZ Herald: Leroy Clampitt, the Kiwi musician who co-wrote Lily Allen’s hit break-up album, West End Girl [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/leroy-clampitt-the-kiwi-musician-who-co-wrote-lily-allens-hit-break-up-album-west-end-girl/KCOV6RURKNAS5GRAAXS3UXZ6BY/] * Youtube: BANGLADE$H - Say it to me now [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF4q078d-sA] * Stuff: Air NZ grounds pets weighing over 60kg [https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360878776/air-nz-grounds-pets-weighing-over-60kg-after-spate-staff-injuries]

Mega strike, kākāpō , and capital gains tax loopholes

This episode Sunnie and Sonja talk through big headlines impacting kiwis including the Labour party's capital gains tax announcement, big news for Kākāpō fans, the mega strike, and more. Sources include: * NZ Herald: NZ spend on health [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-listener/health/nz-spends-more-on-health-than-most-countries-so-why-is-our-health-system-still-sick/DT2O6L64T5FPFJJ2X72UHY7FDU/] * The New Zealand Initiative report: a healthy system on the brink [https://www.nzinitiative.org.nz/reports-and-media/opinion/a-health-system-on-the-brink-of-failure/] * NZ Herald: Mega strike: public sector is walking off the job [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/mega-strike-public-sector-is-walking-off-the-job-on-october-23-as-judith-collins-fires-back/JPFYNE36J5GRDKIVRFCEMD2STQ/?lid=vlk67hycnhjj] * NZ Herald: Public sector mega strike [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/public-sector-mega-strike-up-to-100000-health-and-education-workers-walk-out-the-front-page/C5FCUDT6VBDQ5CZ6MDQ72LTHHA/?lid=bgxsec6csvwj] * NZ History: Workers Rights [https://nzhistory.govt.nz/keyword/labour?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * NZ Herald: Labour's mini-CGT [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/labours-mini-cgt-sets-a-small-target-but-has-big-loopholes-including-for-the-family-home-thomas-coughlan/QZMZZINPO5ATLCDESMPOT4CPJY/?lid=g6r5q4j785x3&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=nzh_email&utm_campaign=HP_Newsletter_Herald_Premium_Daily_Wrap&uuid=24b0217812744d2d8403841c00139f41] * 1News: Labour to campaign on narrow capital gains tax [https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/28/labour-to-campaign-on-narrow-capital-gains-tax/] * RNZ: GPs back funding for doctors from CGT [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/577107/royal-new-zealand-college-of-gps-backs-funding-for-doctors-from-labour-s-capital-gains-tax] * 1News: Chris Hipkins talks capital gains tax [https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/10/28/chris-hipkins-talks-capital-gains-tax-party-leaders-respond/] * DOC: Counting down to the kakapo breeding season [https://blog.doc.govt.nz/2025/06/27/kakapo-breeding-season-2026/] * NZ Herald: Pair charged for indecent act [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/crime/nelson-man-sentenced-for-indecent-act-on-auckland-to-nelson-flight-plus-theft-charges/JJ4XLEP2WVAXTPALGDKTDFK3GY/] * RNZ: Pair charged for indecent act after ‘excessively’ kissing [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/574598/pair-charged-for-indecent-act-after-excessively-kissing-on-auckland-to-nelson-air-nz-flight]

First things first

Get Amongst It pod's first episode. Sunnie and Sonja get into the headline news and how they relate to NZ: Finance Minister told to resign, Nepal overthrows the government, reaction to Charlie Kirk's death, NZ health system under severe strain. News articles sourced: * RNZ [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/573459/former-finance-minister-sir-roger-douglas-calls-for-finance-minister-nicola-willis-to-resign?cid=newsletter] Former finance minister Sir Roger Douglas calls for Finance Minister Nicola Willis to resign * NZ Treasury [https://www.treasury.govt.nz/about-treasury/who-we-are] Who are we * BBC: Nepal politicians get rich so the government was brought down [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg9n760gddo] * 1 News: Nurses turn backs on Health Minister [https://www.1news.co.nz/2025/09/17/dont-guilt-trip-us-nurses-turn-backs-on-health-minister/?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FiveBigThings] * Association of Salaried Medical Specialists report [https://asms.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/New-Zealands-Health-Financing-and-Expenditure-FINAL.pdf] * Stuff: ACT's tribute blocked [https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360821037/act-partys-tribute-charlie-kirk-blocked] * BBC: Charlie Kirk influencer [https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdxqnkwerj7o] * The Guardian: Charlie Kirk in his own words [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/11/charlie-kirk-quotes-beliefs] * NZ Herald: Managing Director backlash [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/charlie-kirk-death-simplicity-managing-director-faces-backlash-over-post-about-activists-shooting/ZVZCRBYWMVEKTECVCZCEDBZKCE/] * Aljazeera: Charlie Kirk killing [https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/15/charlie-kirk-killing-what-we-know-about-suspect-tyler-robinsons-motives]