Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, visited Auckland to meet with Prime Minister Chris Luxon yesterday.

The two exchanged warm words, attended a business conference together, and agreed to elevate the countries' relationship to that of a strategic partnership.

With Auckland being the economic-hub for international businesses here, and the Government's Auckland Deal to consult with the Mayor on significant plans, what conversations has the Mayor Wayne Brown?

Wayne Brown unpacks what's he looking to get from this for the City, and if Auckland has to capacity to help the Strategic Partnership reach its targets.

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Yesterday's Strategic Partnership with India means we've elevated our relationship to more than just a bilateral affair.

We've set out a goal to double two-way trade by 2030, expressed interest in other sectors like tourism, farming, and sport, and agreed to increase our maritime cooperation with India's Defence Force.

With tensions already lurking in the Indo-Pacific with China, and global volatility feeling like it could come from just one wrong-move, how does the partnership with India actually change our geopolitical profile?

Canterbury University Professor Anne Marie-Bradydiscusses the caveats and potential concerns of this agreement.

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The National Party has just announced it's trade policy, should the party be re-elected in November.

They've said that the aim is to secure markets with seven new economies across Europe, Africa and South America, with more to be chased further down the line.

Trade Minister Todd McClay told Tim Beveridge that it's important to expand trade, as the target countries in Europe especially are 'particularly wealthy nations'.

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It's been a busy week between New Zealand and India.

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to make his first official visit to New Zealand as the FTA gets over the line, however Winston Peters has raised concerns around Indian immigrants receiving unfair scrutiny at the border.

The Chair of India New Zealand Business Council Edwin Paul told Tim Beveridge that, 'This is a start of a journey' of trade between India and New Zealand.

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Nicole McKee will be the new ACT Party Deputy Leader, replacing Brooke Van Velden who's leaving politics this year.

Nicole only stood for Parliament six years ago, coming with a background as a small-business owner, volunteer and firearms advocate.

But she's risen through the ranks, becoming a cabinet minister, minister for courts, and rewriting the Firearms Act.

Party Leader David Seymour's confident in her, noting that she's is straight-forward, principled, practical, and never forgets the voters she represents.

So what will Nicole bring to the table, to advance the party's ambitions? The new ACT Party Deputy Leader Nicole McKee joins Tim Beveridge to explain.

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ACT has announced its plans to radically downsize Government departments, and bring fairness back into our benefit-system.

Firstly: They're making medical certification for health-related benefits mandatory, and only issued by MSD-approved doctors with objective criteria rather than a leaving it to a GP's discretion.

Secondly: Those on the Jobseeker benefit for more than four months will be given an electronic payment card that's only designated for essentials like groceries and rent.

Lastly: They want to cut the 43 Government departments into 19, and drop the number of portfolio ministers from 28 to 18.

ACT Party Leader David Seymour joins the Weekend Collective to unpack the party's ambitions.

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GP fees could be frozen for 12 months from July under a proposed Health NZ shake-up of the funding system.

Under the proposals, around 60 percent of practices would receive increased funding through capitation re-weighting and annual funding increased.

Overall funding for GPs would reportedly increase by six percent, as part of a $120.6 million injection for primary health.

Health Minister Simeon Brown joined the Weekend Collective to unpack the overhaul.

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Christopher Luxon has returned from Queensland, after meeting with Anthony Albanese with a group of New Zealand businesses.

No announcements have been unveiled, but the leaders discussed defence options and Luxon has been eying opportunities to get involved in the 2032 Olympics.

NZ Herald deputy political editor Adam Pearse joined the Weekend Collective to discuss.

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