ACT's Brooke van Velden

This is another of our weekly segments, where Producer Alex will speak with the Deputy Leader of the ACT Party, Brooke van Velden, discussing the hot political topics of today and tomorrow and how one of our most important minor parties feels about them. 

Earlier today, we chatted about the medium density residential standards (MDRS), central government legislation that will outlaw single family zoning in New Zealand and, instead, will allow more and larger houses and terraces in our suburbs, as well as the government’s announcement yesterday of 4,000 special humanitarian visas for Ukrainians with family in NZ.

This week Producer Alex Wierzbicki interviews ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about the ongoing Russian invasion of the Ukraine and our government's response to it. Also discussed is the easing of self-isolation for New Zealanders coming into the country. 

This week News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston interviews ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden , about how the first three months of assisted dying being an option for New Zealanders suffering with terminal illnesses has gone. They also touch on the second reading of the bill that would ban conversion therapy that took place in Parliament yesterday. 

Yesterday the government announced that face masks worn in the red setting must be medical, surgical or three-layer cloth masks rather than scarves, t-shirts or other face coverings. They are also expected to announce the next two phases of their Omicron response, including incorporating rapid antigen tests (RATs) more into New Zealand's testing strategy. 

News and Editorial Director Jemima Huston speaks to ACT Party Deputy Leader Brooke van Velden about the government's latest change to mask mandates under the red setting and bringing in the more regular use of RATs.