As the Salvation Army calls New Zealand's poverty rates a national crisis, Lisa Owen asks Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni about her plans to overhaul the welfare system.

British High Commissioner Laura Clarke talks about the likelihood of a trade deal between the UK and NZ, and about the UK's relationship with Russia.

Ahead of her appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival, US journalist Amy Goldstein talks to Lisa about her book Janesville - An American Story. In it, she looks at what happens to a community when the industry sustaining it goes away.

Then to discuss all this and more of the week's political news, we're joined by Exceltium PR consultant Matthew Hooton, former Green MP Sue Bradford and RNZ's Executive Producer of Podcasts Tim Watkin.

© Scoop Media