The Weekend Collective

Hearing loss is one of those things that sneak up on you. 

In most cases, it's not something you notice as a sudden change - but you may catch yourself lip reading a little bit more often, or turning up the volume on the TV gradually over a few weeks or months.

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Russian president Vladimir Putin says the war in Ukraine is coming to an end. 

The conflict has been ongoing since Russia's initial invasion in 2022, and Putin had been speaking in the Kremlin following a very scaled-back Victory Day parade.

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Winston Peters has leaked, and the Government has confirmed, that this will be the final year of fees-free support for tertiary students. 

The support was first introduced as a first year free incentive to help get more young people into further education, and was changed to be final year free last year. 

The policy has cost almost $350 million a year since it was introduced, but it seems the Government has decided that money is better spent elsewhere. 

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The cost of having or raising a child is often the most considered issue among couples planning to start or grow their family. 

It's not just the shopping trips for prams and cots and nappies - it's the income loss over the months of parental leave and the endless sick days once daycare starts up. 

Plunket estimates a medium-budget cost for raising a child for the first year comes to just under $16,000. That works out to a whole lot of sacrifice. 

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Staging homes has been a popular way to market your property for years. 

It's not your home as you have lived in it God Forbid  but it gives potential buyers an idea of what their future home could look like if it were intentionally designed and hardly lived in. 

We know our home likely won't look a whole lot like that once we move ourselves in - but there's a rising trend of digitally altered property photos that are harder to see through. 

What was once just higher contrast and saturation, or greener grass, could be a slippery slope to changes that would cost an arm and a leg to make a reality. 

Overseas, a few agents have even gone as far as knocking out a wall or installing a deck digitally to show the potential of a property that may not have a lot to offer otherwise. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Untidy Podcast host Matilda Green and Infometrics CEO Brad Olsen to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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All investment accounts are a bit touch and go at the moment. 

If you're checking your KiwiSaver more than a few times a year, the amount of movement could really start to get to your head. 

But for those close to or at retirement age, or about to withdraw for whatever reason - a volatile market can make all the difference. 

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The weather is cooling down and winter is almost upon us... 

That means winter sports will be starting up soon if they haven't already, and your muscles will be tighter and more vulnerable to injury than in the warmer months. 

What injuries aremore likely when it's colder out, and how can we avoid them? 

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New Zealand has received a preliminary proposal from the United States requesting help in opening the Strait of Hormuz -  possibly as part of a coalition that would restore access to the strait.

So yes we're apparently just one of a number of countries that received a proposal. 

Foreign Affairs minister Winston Peters says we're seeking more information and as such won't be making a decision anytime soon. 

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There's a new trend sweeping through social media - when your child is lost in a tantrum or a pre-teen spiral, you call out for your imaginary helper named Jessica, and more often than not it will confuse them enough to stop them in their tracks. 

Distraction methods like this one have been used for years and years, but why do they work? 

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We've all heard the age-old advice you should buy the worst house on the best street - but is that still the case? 

The divide between what's considered a 'good' or 'bad' street seems to be less obvious than what it once was, and the cost of building or renovating has skyrocketed in recent years.

It's just not as easy these days to throw a little bit of cash and a few weekends of hard work at a run down house to bring it up to the level of neighbours. 

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This week on The Panel, TIm Beveridge is joined by Taxpayers' Union's Jordan Williams and NZ Gardener's Jo McCarroll to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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Divorce is still one of those taboo topics we tend to avoid, but up to 40% of marriages end that way here in New Zealand, so it's probably about time we become a bit more comfortable with it. 

It's not always a hostile end, some couples are even able to "DIY" their split in a sense - but is that really a good idea? 

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We've been hearing for a while an increasing concern around a lack of information about healthy eating. 

You head to the doctor for a minor issue that's been bugging you for a while, and you're more likely to head home with a script for panadol and ibuprofen than a few print outs on maintaining a balanced diet. 

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SailGP won't be going ahead in the city of sails next year as the Government has pulled funding. 

Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston wrote in a letter to mayor Wayne Brown that the event did not meet funding criteria, which requires a specific net economic benefit. 

It's been met with disappointment, as funding continues for larger events such as Robbie Williams and Linkin Park, of which some argue could have sold out on their own, without Government funding. 

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After much deliberation, the Labour Party has announced they'll back the India free trade agreement. 

We do see cross party agreements, but just how important will bipartisanship be for this year's election? 

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Doctors are seeing an increasing number of young people coming in with unexplained symptoms. 

The prominent ones parents are probably seeing most frequently are the random headaches, stomach aches, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much. 

Parents will often treat their children with panadol and electrolytes, take their devices away before bed to avoid blue light, and hope the problem resolves itself.

But these are all common signs something more could be going on - different ways mental health problems present physically. 

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Buyer's agents. They're projected to grow in popularity in the coming years, so what are they and who really needs one? 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Resident Builder Pete Wolfkamp and chemistry professor Allan Blackman to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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We often think of trusts as a way to protect your assets, especially if you work in certain fields - but a surprising number of regular families use them for a range of reasons. 

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For decades we've watched as professional athletes spend a whole lot of time warming up behind the pre-game interviews on game day, from stretching to sprinting and everything in between. 

The professionals take it seriously and so do the amateurs - parents will know the rush to show up an hour or two early to make enough time for a thorough warm up on a Saturday morning. 

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The Green Party have just had their annual State of the Planet Address, and this year they're calling for a National Electrification Plan. 

They say it's in response to the current fossil fuels crisis, and would add to their previous calls for free public transport and solutions to ease the cost of living. 

The plan would lay out a clear plan to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and use renewable energy like solar panels to reduce the cost of living. 

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New Zealand First has announced they will be campaigning on a new policy to end the supermarket duopoly. 

The policy would give the Commerce Commission powers to enforce increased penalties for breaches and reform the role of the Groceries Commissioner, which the party says is currently toothless. 

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You always hear stories about the different ways a person's childhood has had an ongoing impact throughout their life. 

There are some horrible stories out there, but it could even just be the way your parents would cook growing up, or how the way they would react to you relaxing results in habits that follow you into adulthood.  

So at the end of the day, are we all doomed to mess up our children in one way or another? 

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So you want a loan to buy a property. 

The bank sifts through all the money that's gone in and out of your accounts going back an uncomfortable amount of time, and give you a number they're willing to lend you.

You think to yourself, the process is so long and gruelling, and they require so much of your usually private documents, that surely you can afford to meet those repayments - right? 

Wrong. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Fieldays CEO Richard Lindroos and presenter Mark Crysell to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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The hot topic on everyone's minds right now is the price of petrol and diesel. 

It seems to be impacting the price of just about everything else, and we're staring down the barrel of a major risk of high inflation. 

The OCR remains steady for now, but it's only a matter of time before interest rates are on the up once again. 

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At this stage it's probably more common than not to have some kind of wearable tracker to track your steps, heart rate, and the one we're discussing today - sleep. 

They give you data showing how long you've slept, how much time you spent in each of the sleep stages, and some will even provide you with your heart rate variability and how much sleep you'll need based on your stats for the day. 

But are the really as useful as they seem? Or do they provide the every day person with too much insight to stress over? 

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The National Party have called in former broadcaster Rachel Smalley to help Auckland based MPs, including the prime minister, with their communications and media work ahead of the election this year. 

It's come after the public have started to notice Luxon becoming less confident and stumbling over his words recently - in contrast to the precise and decided communication style he's had in the past. 

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Cyclone Vaianu has hit our shores and some regions are being hit particularly hard. 

The East Coast has seen gusts of up to 130 kilometres an hour, thousands of homes in Northland and the Bay of Plenty are without power, and weather watches and warnings remain in place for the whole North Island and parts of the South Island. 

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It's school holidays, and boredom is setting in...

While it can send parents into a bit of a spiral hearing their children complain about how bored they are all day long - being bored is one of those skills we all need to learn at some point. 

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The tide has well and truly turned. 

We've had analysts forecasting a plateau for much of this year, with rates starting to turn upwards near the end of the year.

One thing is for sure - we're not too likely to see the OCR go any lower than where it already stands. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Wilhelmina O'Keeffe and Luke Dallow to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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Many of us change our diets as with the seasons, thanks to availability and pricing. 

But are there health benefits to adopting a seasonal diet? And what should we pick up now before it's gone out of season?

Chef Allyson Gofton joins to discuss seasonal diets, and some recipes to keep you warm as we head into winter. 

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It's election year again in New Zealand, and it's a process that we're all familiar with. 

But few are more familiar than Former PM Helen Clark and Former National MP Maurice Williamson, who joined Tim Beverige to look at what we can expect from election year. 

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Our children are becoming increasingly involved in politics and current events, and they're getting involved younger and younger. 

We want to support their interests, but the news can get pretty dark, and these kinds of events or protests always come with a risk of danger. 

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Have you ever walked into a home and thought - there was so much potential and it's all been lost. 

A room with limited natural light, painted in dark shades and made to look smaller than it is. A poorly shaped couch that throws off the whole room. Or one that we see all too often - old, outdated lighting that can make a gorgeous home immediately look neglected.

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Untidy Podcast host Matilda Green and Auckland Councillor Shane Henderson to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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Prices are going up. 

Food prices are up, and will keep going up alongside fuel. Practically any goods that travel by land air or ocean to get to you will become increasingly unaffordable for the foreseeable future. 

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Health NZ have had to tell their staff to stop using free AI tools such as Chat GPT for writing clinical notes. 

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The latest numbers, as at one week ago, there were 24 days of petrol and 18 days of diesel in the country. 

Things are looking to worsen for the foreseeable future, although an uptick in public transport use and EV purchases point to people taking things into their own hands. 

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New Zealand First will be campaigning on a policy that would see half of all mining royalties go to the region from which it came, rather than Wellington. 

The party says it would build up wealth and infrastructure in the regions, allowing for future development rather than having the money spent across wider national projects. 

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Social media giants Meta and YouTube have been found liable for deliberately designing their platforms to be addictive. 

We don't need to look too far into the details of this specific trial, because parents everywhere will have stories of their own to some extent, but how much of the blame falls on the parents? There are countless things in the modern world that young people risk becoming addicted to - they don't even have to appear sinister. Food, sugar, video games, any number of apps - social media or otherwise. 

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For a long time, the kiwi dream has been to do whatever it takes to get onto the property ladder and work your way up from there, but some investors are moving away from that advice - instead suggesting that it might be a better idea to rent and put your money elsewhere. 

It's not just the cost of the property and the mortgage repayments. You're paying to maintain the property in a way you wouldn't be if it were a rental, you're covering rates, insurance, and all the other little costs that add up pretty quickly. 

That's money that some investors argue could be spent on investments, or on a rental of your own that would at least bring some return. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by psychotherapist Kyle MacDonald and Resident Builder Pete Wolfkamp to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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Tensions are high for everyone right now, and I know most people will either be nervously checking their KiwiSaver balance on the daily, or completely ignoring it until things calm down a bit. 

The most repeated advice advisors will be giving right now is to simply ignore your balance for the time being - that by the time the first bomb dropped, it was too late to change anything. But is that really true? 

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The popularity of Telehealth GP appointments skyrocketed during the pandemic, and it hasn't gone away since. 

Just about every general practice now offers Telehealth appointments, generally as a less costly and more accessible alternative.

But this country has an increasingly urgent primary care crisis, with 50% of GPs planning to retire by 2035 - and Telehealth is just another tool to get more patients seen as GPs leave the workforce. 

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Winston Peters has delivered NZ First's State of the Nation address - the final one ahead of the looming election. 

Peters also announced a National Energy Strategy that would break up power companies, no longer allowing them to control both power and the price. 

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Most kids will take part in some kind of sport throughout their childhood. 

It's a great opportunity to keep them moving and allow them to burn off some energy, but how early should we be getting our children into these teams?

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It's pretty common these days when buying a house to throw in a couple conditions with your offer. 

You're going to want a building report, your bank may want a property valuation before they agree to insure the property, and most commonly - you may need to sell your home first before your able to settle on the next one. 

But for a seller, any one of these could be a deal breaker - and could mean a lower offer is accepted over yours just because it's unconditional. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Jordan Peterson and Paul Spoonley to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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From April 1st, the KiwiSaver minimum default contribution rate will move up to 3.5%. 

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Whether you're getting into a good workout routine for the first time, or you've been at it for a while - the niggling thought of avoiding an injury will be in the back of your mind. 

You don't want to hesitate while exercising - that could actually make things worse - but you also don't want to risk an injury that will put your routine in jeopardy. 

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New Zealand has just over 50 days worth of petrol, and a week less of diesel, while the war in Iran wages on. 

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact the global oil supply, and the countries we generally import oil from are considering closing up shop on exports to ensure their own security.

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Prices are up at the pump, auto shops are selling out of jerry cans, and we've seen the reports of thousand litre IBC tanks being filled up at BP. 

It's raised the question around whether the closure of Marsden Point has been more harmful to New Zealand's fuel security that we had initially realised. 

New Zealand would still be reliant on imports to meet fuel needs, but having the ability to import crude oil rather than just refined oil would likely lift the pressure.

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Kids push limits - it's just what they do. 

From as early as the toddler years, it's completely developmentally normal for children to figure out just how for they can push their parents before a very clear line is drawn - but what about those times where behaviour you never would have imagined doing yourself as a child rears its head?

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Who hasn't at some stage in their life been a landlord or tenant?

For many people, it's the first time they have to think about contracts and legal obligations - but are there red flags which should have you as a landlord rejectying a particuolar tenant - and like wise as a tenant that have you looking for somewhere else to live.

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Brad Olsen and Allan Blackman to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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We've all found ourselves day dreaming about where we'd spend a big Lotto win at one point or another. 

Realistically, many of us will come into a major windfall - but it's likely to come in the form of a bonus at work, or an inheritance. 

Is it okay to buy a new car and go on holiday? Or should we invest it all? 

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You may have heard the suggestion that you should train for your body type, that your workout routine should depend on whether you have an ecto, meso, or endomorph body. 

Is it true? Do different body types have different exercise needs? 

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The Prime Minister's leadership within his own party is being questioned after he didn't fare well in a Taxpayers' Union poll this week. 

It has National down 2.9 points to 28.4% - but most notably, it suggests that the centre-left bloc could form a government in November. It'll be very tight though, with 61 seats for the left and 59 for the right. 

Luxon sits at 21% for preferred prime minister, while Hipkins is at 22.7%. 

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One week on, the war in Iran is progressing by the day. 

In the latest, the United States are gearing up to potentially send ground troops into Iran, Australia is considering whether they should send in troops, and New Zealand supports the US but won't involve itself any further. 

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Early childhood education is darn expensive. 

You want your kids to socialise, make friends, learn some basics - but it costs an arm and a leg. 

So how long can you put it off?

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New builds and townhouses alike have become the best option for first home buyers looking to get into the market. 

Townhouses offer a lower-cost alternative to standalone homes without having to fully commit to apartment living, and new builds often mean low-deposit loans and easier access for first home buyers. 

Problem is, the boom of new build townhouses is quickly slowing down - they're no longer classed as new builds, thus no longer as easy of a first option. 

It's not just a problem for potential buyers - it also means that those looking to sell the townhouses they purchased new a few years back, are waiting much longer for them to sell for not much more than what they were purchased for. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by NZ Gardener editor Jo McCarroll and Crane Brothers founder Murray Crane, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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Ethical investing seems to be a hot topic when it comes to choosing an investment fund or KiwiSaver provider. 

I've often heard providers boast that their fund is ethical - they avoid weapons manufacturers, focus on renewable and sustainable energy - you won't feel a possible sense of guilt around where your money is going. 

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It's common to come up with a myriad of excuses as to why you can't go to the gym a few times a week, why you can't make a balanced meal instead of eating out, the list goes on. 

Quite honestly, almost anyone can spare 15 minutes out of the day to go for a walk or run, but instead we'll spend 30 minutes trying to come up with a good reason not to. 

All too often, we tend to stand in our own way when it comes to improving our health or fitness. But why? And how do we stop it from happening? 

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The Government has highlighted issues within the KiwiSaver Act that have prevented a number of Kiwis from using their accounts to buy a home. 

Many workers in rural areas, like farm workers, rural police and teachers, are often required to live in housing provided by their employer - which stops them from being able to withdraw their KiwiSaver for a first home as they're unable to live in it. 

These issues have also stopped farmers from being able to purchase their own farm as it's not covered by current legislation. 

Changes announced this morning would remove those barriers. 

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A joint US–Israeli strike on Iran overnight has triggered retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran, raising fears of a wider regional escalation.

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes - a claim Iran denied until half an hour ago, with officials saying he was “safe and sound” and “actively commanding the field”.

International reaction has been mixed, with some governments condemning the strikes, others urging restraint, and many calling for urgent diplomatic talks.

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Whether it's a friend, your own parents, or you may be going through it yourself - we've all heard the question of whether a couple should 'stay together for the kids'. 

Realistically, a divorce does have a significant impact on children, even if they're prioritised and not put in the middle of it.

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Mum and dad investors are pulling out of the property market. 

The housing market is shifting to focus on the needs of your everyday owner-occupier, but the demand for rentals as still as high as ever and it doesn't look like that will change any time soon. 

The problem is that, among other reasons, the cost of running a rental is at an all time high, debt-to-income and loan-to-value ratio rules have blocked a lot of access to funding, and long-term capital gains aren't what they once were - all leading to more professional property investors.

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Auckland councillor Shane Henderson and real estate agent Luke Dallow, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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On Saturday Donald Trump announced a 10% levy on all goods coming into the US in response to the Supreme Court ruling his other tariffs unconstitutional.

The new global tariffs were updated to 15% on Sunday.

Economist Cameron Bagrie joined Tim Beveridge to talk about the implications for kiwi businesses. 

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On Sunday the Government announced a plan to grant police the power to issue move-on orders to help deal with disorderly and dangerous behaviour in public places.

The move-on orders apply to anyone displaying disorderly or intimidating behaviour, impeding someone entering a business, breaching the peace, begging, rough sleeping, and behaviour indicating an intent to inhabit a public place.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith joined Tim Beveridge to chat about what this announcement means in reality. 

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Child safety reform in the world of big tech is sweeping the globe at the moment. 

Australia's leading the charge in the social media ban for under 16s, and California has expanded the Coogan Law to cover child influencers, to name a few. 

Although we haven't seen any change here in New Zealand, the conversation has truly started and we may see moves being made soon. 

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If you're declaring yourself as the bank of mum and dad, you'll need to have some conversations with your children about what they can afford - and what happens if that changes. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Infometrics CEO Brad Olsen and presenter Mark Crysell to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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We've started to see spots of what looks to be recovery in our economy over recent months. 

It's not consistent, but it's frequent enough to give us some hope for the year to come. 

Westpac is picking a whole lot of OCR hikes from the end of this year, and other forecasts seem to set a similar scene - a better economy is coming, and rates will have to reflect that when the time comes. 

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We've seen the data - the wait to get mental health or addiction support is getting lower and the system seems to be improving. 

But the system is still under immense pressure, and too many people will have a story about being let down by those who were meant to help them or family, but why? 

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Labour is hesitant to put their support behind an India FTA without the government meeting certain conditions. 

It says free trade is a net positive, but agreements shouldn't cause harm to New Zealand - which is what we risk with this FTA. 

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ACT Party leader David Seymour delivered his State of the Nation address this morning. 

He says this government is on track to produce positive change, but it's not happening as quickly as it could be. 

ACT says there are three ways to break our country's slump: equal rights, positive thinking, and a smaller government. 

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Many parents will be starting to feel the exhaustion from getting back into school and extracurriculars. 

We often go into the new year with high expectations of ourselves - like completely homemade school lunches, no takeout, keeping on top of house work - but quickly realise there was a reason we weren't accomplishing all that last year. 

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Westpac's economists are picking 6 consecutive OCR hikes from December - they're forecasting that it will hit 4% by the end of next year. 

The OCR dropped to 2.25% just before Christmas, which is where it stands now, but there have been rumblings for some time that we'd start seeing hikes soon, as all major banks lifted long-term loan rates. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Co-host of the Untidy Podcast Matilda Green, and Resident Builder Pete Wolfkamp, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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Growing older is expensive - much more expensive than most people realise. 

When you or a loved one either decides to move into aged care or is forced to do so, the Ministry of Social Development will quickly swoop in to flip through all their finances. 

Any assets, gifted funds, trusts, even living rent free - it's all looked at and impacts their chances of government-subsidised care. 

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Getting fit and healthy is just about throwing on your running shoes and making a salad. 

The key to sticking with a workout routine, is finding the right sort of exercise for you so that you don't get sick of it. 

We've seen another wave of fitness trends recently, with Hyrox gaining popularity, 75 Hard, and cold plunges among others. 

We'll often overlook these as just being the current thing, maybe even a fad that will boost your dopamine for a week or two before fading into the abyss of the Ab Roller and other 'As Seen On TV' trends. 

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Moa Point has been testing as non-compliant for all but two months of the last two years. 

The signs were there, but no one seemed to raise concern before the wastewater plant started pumping raw sewage into the south coast of Wellington. 

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A new report this week found nearly 90% of Auckland primary school say there's an increasing number of new entrants starting school without bare basic skills like being toilet trained and talking properly.

These are 5 year olds who are otherwise capable, but some stage of their early childhood seems to have been neglected - they can't even identify the letters of their name or hold a pencil. 

As harsh as it may be, the blame does have to land somewhere. 

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Those in the market to buy a new home either know or will learn very quickly, that an agent is essential in the process. 

Sure, we can search agency websites and windows ourselves, or scroll through OneRoof after work every day - but we're doing ourselves a disservice if we don't have an agent keeping an eye out for a place with the right metrics for us. 

Here's the problem - these agents legally work for the seller. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Taxpayers' Union Director Jordan Williams and National Fieldays Society CEO Richard Lindroos, to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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Relationships cost money. 

It's not just about date nights at expensive restaurants, fancy shoes, or a new watch for Valentine's Day. 

It's moving in together, splitting the power bill, signing on to the rent. At what point in the relationship should you join your finances, and how should you go about it? 

Then there's the other side of the relationship - the part no one tends to plan for. The end of it. 

Are prenups just for the ultra-wealthy, or should we all have gotten one? 

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There's a fairly universal amount of food people should be eating every day. 

It varies based on things like age and height - but for the most part, most adults should be aiming for a certain number of calories and macros. 

But when you start getting a bit more active, working out more regularly or making changes to a sedentary lifestyle, you'll find yourself feeling more hungry, more often.

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From today, New Zealanders will be able to get prescriptions that won't need to be renewed through their GPs for a whole year. 

The change will impact those with long-term conditions like asthma and epilepsy. 

GPs will decide on a case by case basis whether it's safe to prescribe a medication for the full 12 months, and patients will no longer have to see their GP every 3 months for a new script. 

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It's Waitangi Day this Friday and after opting to spend the day at a marae in Akaroa last year, this year Christopher Luxon will be in town to meet with iwi. 

A recent RNZ-Reid poll found 62% of kiwis think it's important for the prime minister to be in Waitangi for Waitangi Day, but previous PMs have all had different approaches. 

Ngapuhi chairperson Mane Tahere joins to preview the week ahead. 

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Schools have started back up and we all, obviously, want our children to do well. 

Parents will be doing drop off and pick up, making sure the homework is done and forms are signed, keeping an eye on grades and reports. 

But how involved should parents really be in their children's education?

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New Zealand's biggest bank, ANZ, has downgraded its forecast for property prices this year. 

It says its previous forecast of 5% is looking unrealistic as the OCR looks to be making a turn soon and market prices are already falling - now saying a 2% rise is more likely. 

Meanwhile, economists are laying out their predictions for when we'll see the OCR make that turn. 

Many say it won't be until 2027, but some are predicting a rise as soon as the second half of this year. 

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This week on The Panel, Tim Beveridge is joined by Luke Dallow and Paul Spoonley to discuss the biggest stories from the week that was. 

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As you get older, your health becomes more and more of a worry, so life insurance seems like a no-brainer. But is it? Do you really need it after the mortgage is paid and the kids are on their own?

And what policies are must-haves, against ones that are just nice to have? 

Financial Author Martin Hawes joins Tim Beveridge to give his insurance advice and explain the pros and cons of different policies. 

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A GP is often the first port of call when you're feeling under the weather, but how do you choose the right one?

Dr Bryan Betty joins Tim Beveridge to discuss what to keep an eye out for, what to avoid, and whether or not you should do some internet research to help solve your illnesses.

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