Boris Johnson attempted to apologise for his Covid-19 response- an apology that quickly got hijacked. Protesters swarmed the former Prime Minister and interrupted him as he began his apology for his handling of the deadly pandemic. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Johnson's apology seemed 'rehearsed', as it was more serious than expected. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Police Minister Mark Mitchell has released a letter of expectations for Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. The pair seem to be unified about these expectations- can Coster meet these standards?  Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today put forward a motion calling for those involved in the conflict to take urgent steps towards a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. What did we think of Luxon's response? Treasury has criticised Labour's 'underfunded' plan for transport. Does this cement the previous Government's legacy of non-delivery? Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year- did she deserve it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra has upgraded its milk price forecast and raised their full-year earnings forecast following an 85 percent lift in their first-quarter profit. The forecast farmgate milk price midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25 cents to $7.50 per kgMS, and the forecast range has moved to $7.00-$8.00 per kgMS. The Country's Jamie Mackay says these predictions were boosted by a strong GDT result. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A big gap has opened up between the market and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s views of where interest rates are heading. The two-year swap rate - which can have a bearing on home mortgage rates - is now sitting on 5.21 percent, down from 5.78 percent earlier this year. This goes against last week's hawkish vision regarding higher rates. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains why this is happening. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council has teamed up with NZ Police in a new initiative to enhance safety in the city centre. The 'Together for Tamaki Makaurau' partnership is designed to establish a more visible safety presence on Auckland streets from Karangahape Road to the waterfront. Auckland Council CityWatch and Compliance teams, police, Māori Wardens and Community Patrols NZ (CPNZ) will run co-ordinated efforts to address anti-social behaviour and crime in the CBD. Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck says these efforts will address the social issues and deterioration that's impacted the area over the last three years. "It's about the crime, the social issues and also some of the anti-social types of behaviour. One of the things we have said is that it doesn't replace the need for more police." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi households will had to find an extra $70 per week to cover their living costs, according to ASB economists. It's a smaller increase than the $115 a week lift in 2023- and and is expected to be below the increase in incomes. ASB senior economist Mark Smith says these estimates are influenced by several key factors. "Living costs really reflect what's happening with inflation, that's probably the key factor there. Also things like debt servicing have gone up significantly." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disappointment the Government hasn't gone further in its call for arms to be laid to rest in war-torn Gaza. Foreign minister Winston Peters put forward a motion calling on all parties involved in the conflict to take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire. It was supported by all parties. But Labour's immigration spokesman Phil Twyford says they urged the Government to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire. "I mean for God's sake, 16,000 people have died, the incredible human suffering that's going on right now in Gaza- we got weasel words from the Prime Minster." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year truly belongs to Taylor Swift. The 33-year-old's been named Time magazine's person of the year, a week after becoming Spotify's most most-played artist. Swift beat finalists including Barbie, King Charles and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. KTLA entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin says she's had an 'extraordinary' 2023- full of accomplishments. "The criteria is who has influenced the world for better or worse the most, and in what many described as a very dark year, Taylor Swift has been a source of light for many." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Queenstown is waiting on a final signoff before lifting the town's boil water notice. Businesses and residents have been required to boil tap water for almost three months, after a breakout of cryptosporidium. UV treatment equipment has been installed at the Two Mile water supply. Mayor Glyn Lewers says all they need now is water regulator Taumata Arowai to give the green light. "We've done our bit by putting in the UV disinfection area, we've flushed the system, we've cleaned the tanks- so yeah, we're just waiting." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner says he's aligned with the new Police Minister on the changes needed for law and order. Minister Mark Mitchell has publicly released a letter, outlining his expectations for Commissioner Andrew Coster. That includes refocusing efforts on strengthening policing in communities, removing gang patches and cracking down on youth crime. Coster says officers essentially need to spend less time doing the business of others. "Which we do substantially in the social arena, particularly family harm where there's no violence, mental health- we need to be able to increase our visibility." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unanimous support for a Government motion calling on all parties involved in the Israel and Palestine conflict to take urgent steps towards a ceasefire. It came after the adoption of an amendment from Labour's Phil Twyford that a two-state solution must be maintained. Foreign Minister Winston Peters defended his motion, and hit out at fellow MPs. ZB political editor Jason Walls recapped the standout moments from this first session. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former controversial radio personality and Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been accused of inappropriate behaviour. Jones is being accused of preying on multiple young men, engaging in indecent assaults and inappropriate behaviour without their consent while working at the radio station. The 82-year-old broadcaster firmly denies the allegations. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says there'll likely be more stories about Jones' actions coming to light. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch's largest food bank is set to close just days before Christmas. Foodbank Canterbury has been forced to introduce a service fee to meet rising costs, meaning it's become ineligible for council funding. It says they'd be putting their ability to pay staff at risk if they operated past December 22. The foodbank supports 160 charities across Christchurch. Potters Kitchen manager Robbie Drew says they're now going to lose most of their food. "The funds have run out and it's right on Christmas, so there's going to be hundreds of families that are going to miss out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps know they've got a battle on their hands heading into day two of the second cricket test against Bangladesh. New Zealand will resume under pressure at 55 for 5 in Dhaka, but only trail by 117 runs after skittling the hosts for 172 on day one. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former UK PM Boris Johnson will have a chance to defend his handling of the pandemic in two days of questioning at the Covid inquiry. He is expected to apologise to the inquiry and admit his Government made mistakes during the pandemic.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says sources close to Mr Johnson say he will argue he got big calls right that saved lives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, current affairs commentator Josie Pagani and former National staffer Ben Thomas joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! This year's PISA results left a lot to be desired. National's Erica Stanford has since laid out plans to change these results for the better. Are they something we need to be worried about? Kiingi Tuheitia is inviting iwi to meet at Turangawaewae Marae on January 20 to form a unified voice in holding the Crown to account. National MPs have pushed back- will this achieve anything? Sky Television is putting up the price of its Neon streaming platform next year- and include advertising. Is this a good idea? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for Kiwi motorists, with a pre-Christmas fall in petrol prices. Brent Crude has fallen from $81 US dollars on Friday to $77 this morning. The average price for unleaded 91 petrol has already fallen about five percent since the start of the month. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen explains this sudden shift. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fourth consecutive carbon auction of 2023 failed to clear, leaving millions of units unsold. This means the Government missed out on anther $900 million worth of revenue. Milford Asset Management's Frances Sweetman says all the units built up from this year will be cancelled- but predicts an improved balance for 2024. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is downplaying the impact of new mortgage lending rules they might impose on banks. It's given the banks until April 2024 to prepare for debt-to-income ratio restrictions to be imposed- but has indicated new changes will be too restrictive. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says DTI restrictions are unlikely to have too much of an impact on prospective borrowers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Government has set out its expectations for how the Commissioner of Police should do his job. The publicly-released letter calls for frontline officers to be considered the priority when investment decisions are made. It also reminds Coster of his responsibility to deliver on the Government's law and order commitments. That includes plans to ban gang patches, give police greater powers to search gang members and begin cracking down on youth offending. Police Minister Mark Mitchell says he thinks it's the first time a letter like this has been made public.  "There's been a loss of confidence around the Labour Government and their failure to take public safety seriously or put public safety at the heart of what they're doing, I thought it was important to have a reset." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Council of Trade Unions has fired back against Brooke van Velden, claiming she shared false information. This dispute is centred around the Government's proposed repeal of Fair Pay Agreements, a promise they campaigned on during the election. CTU President Richard Wagstaff says van Velden never had a proper consultation on repealing Fair Pay Agreements. "We had no idea she had a Cabinet paper, she'd had official advice, there was a hold of issues- she never raised anything." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's new battery-powered plane won't carry any passengers. The airline's bought an electric Alia aircraft, which is expected to join the fleet from 2026. The aircraft weighs three tonnes and its battery takes about an hour to charge. Chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin says they'll fly Alia on routes of about 150km and it'll be cargo only. "We just want to do smaller routes- this is all a big learning exercise for us, so we're going to keep it small to start with." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows Kiwi households aren't drawn to their food scrap bins. A food waste survey of 3,000 New Zealanders revealed that two thirds of respondents found them unappealing- citing cost and smell as the key reasons. The professional engineer behind the survey, John Mackie, says he's shared this data with the new Government to find a solution.  "Putting the food waste down the insinkerator, like I do, is equally as good a solution- in fact, it was argued that it was more carbon-efficient." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Māori King has called for a national hui between iwi to unify their voices in holding the new Government to account. Kiingi Tuheitia has announced he will host the meeting at Turangawaewae Marae in Waikato's Ngāruawāhia, on January 20. His chief of staff, Ngira Simmonds, says the Māori community has had grievances with every Government and unity is essential. "Some of the plans the Government have released are of significant concern. I think it's fair to say I don't want to pre-determine any outcomes from the hui, but what I'm hearing is the primary concern." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief our poor PISA results stem from our high child poverty. Scores from 2022 in the international OECD test of student achievement show a big fall in Kiwi maths ability since 2018 - a continuing trend. Average reading and science scores aren't significantly different, but have also declined over time. NZEI President Mark Potter says what goes on at home has a huge impact on children's learning. "We've got a higher than OECD average number of children who don't eat on a regular basis at home, and there's a direct correlation with maths achievement. And that's found around the globe." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly two months on from polling day, Chris Luxon and Chris Hipkins went head-to-head in their first Parliament debate. Hipkins had strong words for the Prime Minister, and labelled the new Government  'pathetic' and a 'disgrace' that lacked a vision for the country. He also accused Luxon of being beholden to Winston Peters and criticised National's decision to roll back Labour's smokefree policy. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon and Hipkins both got some licks in, but Rangitata MP James Meager's speech won the day. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex-Republican congresswoman and vocal Trump critic Liz Cheney is contemplating a third-party presidential run. She's said she plans to do 'whatever it takes' to thwart Trump from taking office for another term. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Cheney runs the risk of dividing her party's loyalties ahead of the 2024 election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand have lost the toss and will bowl first in the second cricket test against Bangladesh. Coming in the wake of the Black Caps 150-run loss in test number one - the second game is getting set to start in Dhaka. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what can be expected. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sky Television is putting up the price of its Neon streaming platform next year. From January 11, a standard monthly plan will go up $2 - to $20 - and ads will now show during pauses. Sky Sport Now prices will also rise for the second time this year. Gorilla Technology commentator Paul Spain says it's not a sweet deal. "Any time you mount these sorts of changes, there will be some people that will exit, particularly when you've got so many streaming options now- is it worth paying multiple subscriptions?" LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rishi Sunak's popularity amongst his party has sunk to an all time low, according to new data. The Prime Minister's approval rating from his fellow Tories has dropped to -25.4, according to Conservative Home.  UK correspondent Enda Brady says this score is among the lowest on record, and he's faring worse than Liz Truss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  The National Māori Action Day Protest happened today- did it achieve anything of note? Will Luxon and National feel the pressure? What comes next? The MBIE has begun an investigation into how a confidential Cabinet paper made it into the public domain- is this a bad look for the Government? A number of councils are staring down the barrel of potential double-digit rate rises as part of their long-term plan discussions. Does the system need an overhaul? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi lamb prices are expected to remain under pressure, as Australia's output floods through overseas markets. Over the past few years, Australian farmers have been able to build up their flocks and take advantage of favourable conditions. Sheep numbers across the Tasman are at the highest they've been since 2007. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains the additional factors impacting the current market.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent real estate survey has revealed fewer agents have observed a notable increase in house prices. Of the 324 respondents, a net 28 percent of agents said prices were rising in their locations in November- down from 34 percent in October. Independent economist Tony Alexander says this indicates a lack of 'frenzy' in the current housing market. "I get the feeling for over summer, a lot of people have had enough- they're just going to turn the brain off for maybe one or two months and come back in February." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eyebrow were raised as the Te Pati Māori MPs stuck to the political swearing-in requirements on the same day organised protests and marches kicked off. MPs are legally required to swear an oath or affirmation of allegiance to King Charles, to sit and vote in the House. Te Pati's MPs first pledged allegiance to their mokopuna and Te Tiriti, then the King. ZB political editor Jason Walls says the MPs avoided putting their pride and egos ahead of the people who elected them into Parliament. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Passenger train services in Wellington are at risk of being scaled back if more funding isn't found for maintenance.   The Greater Wellington Regional Council revealed there was a multi-million dollar shortfall in funding for the capital's rail network. Council chair Daran Ponter says services could be cut in under a year's time if this shortfall isn't addressed. "We're talking about the wholesale closure of particular lines until the work is done. That means some services could be decreased by as much as 50 or 75 percent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing evidence Kiwi supermarkets may not be drawing in as much profit as expected. Woolworths New Zealand’s profits have dropped 52 percent in the last full year- down to $76 million from over $158 million. First Retail managing director Chris Wilkinson says this is proof customers aren't being fleeced at the checkout. "There is a limit to what consumers will pay. Retailers have to try and get that balance right, and this is a really good example of what's happening across the sector." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi company Goodair has developed a drug-free solution to fighting nasal congestion. Nosebuds promise to enhance diaphragmatic nasal breathing in order to reduce the impact of pressure and drainage while providing pain relief. Inventor and designer Dr David White says the buds emit a humming sound that applies mechanical stress to the affected area. "A third of the population suffers from nasal congestion, either through allergy or infection. That's commonly treated through pharmaceuticals- which all have negative side effects." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workplace Relations Minister says she's disappointed unions are mis-characterising plans on Fair Pay Agreements. Elements of the Government's moves to repeal the policy were leaked to media last night. CTU President Richard Wagstaff subsequently told press he was upset unions had not been consulted about the plans. But Brooke Van Velden says his comments are not true. "Look, I was sworn into Government on Monday, and on Wednesday I sat down with both Business NZ and the Council of Trade Unions." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protesters in Whanganui are celebrating shutting down the courthouse during a national day of Māori action. Te Pati Māori led a march on Parliament this morning and car convoys disrupted traffic across the North Island. It's calling the Government's approach to Te Tiriti - and other initiatives affecting Māori - an assault. Whanganui iwi leader Ken Mair says they'll act again on December 20, and ask all Crown agencies in the region close for the day. He says closing the court today was a challenge to a corrupt system. "And we'll continue to do this, as uncomfortable as it may be, towards those that want to continue to uphold that system." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Māori Development Minister says today's protests were lawful - but he believes his Government will deliver for Māori. As many as 800 people marched on Parliament this morning to protest policies they consider racist, and other marches and action were held around the country. Tama Potaka says the Government isn't planning to change its policy agenda. He says they're following commitments made in their 100-day plan. "What we're really focused on is delivering outcomes and working with communities- Iwi communities, Māori communities and others- to make the changes to the inequalities we see on a daily basis." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has opted to keep the OCR on hold for the time being. The cash rate is set to stay at 4.35 percent, with economists citing moderating inflation as the main factor behind the decision. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says inflation is reducing at a positive pace- but time will tell what the market looks like in January. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing claims local Government needs reform. A number of councils are proposing double-digit rate rises for the next financial year, or face cuts to essential services. They're grappling with high interest rates, inflation and looming infrastructure costs. Future of Local Government Review Chair Jim Palmer says a new operating model is badly needed. "That includes some form of re-organisation, but there needs to be investment in the leadership competency of local Government, both at a political and executive level." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So we had the National Māori Action Day protest today. The protests took place across the North Island this morning and they were big, impressively so. There were an estimated 300 cars at the Auckland protest, there were about 50 on the Southern Motorway- which created a 3km backlog- and there were over 100 people at each of the Hamilton, Whakatane, Rotorua, Tokoroa, Taupo and Palmerston North gatherings. That is impressive, those numbers. Because from what I can see, those people were activated by the Māori Party in about 24 hours. If I'm not mistaken, they put up their social media posts yesterday, it got into the news yesterday- and all of those hundreds of people turned up to protest today at 7am. Regardless of whether you agree with the Māori Party and what they advocate for or not, it is pretty impressive that they managed to get that many people together in such a short space of time. That tells you two things, I reckon. <p

The White Ferns have lost their first ever twenty20 series to Pakistan at home, after conceding game two by ten runs in Dunedin. Chasing 138 for victory, New Zealand were 29 for four in the sixth over with Suzie Bates the only top four batter to make double digits. Georgia Plimmer and Hannah Rowe rallied late with 28 and 33 runs respectively but both were dismissed at the death. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what this means for the state of womne's cricket. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More information has come to light about the slip that brought Omid Scobie's book into the public eye. It was revealed that his agent sent a draft manuscript of Endgame to be translated into Dutch- a version that named the royals who expressed concern about Archie's skin colour. Omid Scobie himself has remained adamant that he never put the names of the royals involved into print. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's looking likely that the royals will take legal action. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Te Pati Māori has called for people to come together to protest the Government’s “assault on tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi”. Is this setting up another bad week for the new Government? How big will the turnout be? Auckland's City Rail Link is set to cost ratepayers $220 million per year, once it opens up. It's also looking likely the CRL will miss the November 2025 deadline- is this better or worse for Aucklanders? What did we think of this year's Cop28? Is it a bad look to have people coming together in the United Arab Emirates to reduce emissions and fuel use? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has expressed concern with the scale of financial challenges left behind by the former Government, which she is still uncovering. She's accused her predecessors of leaving the books in a much worse state than they appeared in the pre-election unveil. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says a lot of Government projects were funded on a short-term basis- and Willis shouldn't have been too surprised. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police and Waka Kotahi are working together to prepare for possible disruptions from protests planned by Te Pāti Māori. The party has proposed a nationwide day of action tomorrow against the Government's Māori policy and are rallying people to protest across the North Island. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it would be difficult for Te Pāti Māori to bring people together on a national scale, so it'll be interesting to see how the day goes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts claim New Zealand's ongoing failure to deal with bad debt is costing the country over $2 billion per year. Debt management firm DebtManagers says a human-centred and customer-led approach to debt will reduce the issue- as the current one-size-fits all approach isn't helpful. Executive director Charles Whiting says adding interest and collection fees is counter-intuitive to getting debt repaid faster.  "We talk about people going into arrears- often debt is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to issues they're experiencing."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing accusations the previous Government was disingenuous on finances. The Government books were opened in September in the pre-election reveal - but Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she is now surprised how many projects' funding is about to expire. Willis says the true scale and urgency of the situation wasn't made clear to her before she started. "The effect of the Government not having funded these projects is that it made their books look better than they might otherwise have looked." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'll tell you what's going to be really telling tomorrow with those Te Pāti Māori protests- it's how big they are. It's basically going to be an indication of how much pushback and resistance the new Government's going to get on its plan to roll back the Treaty out of law like they plan to do. I reckon for tomorrow, every single party in Parliament is going to be interested in that crowd size. Te Pāti Māori will obviously want it to be big, because it shows that they're onto something- that they have support for their resistance.   ACT, on completely the opposite side, is also going to want it to be big, because the bigger those protests are tomorrow, the more it's going to annoy motorists and people trying to get on with their jobs.  This will drive more support to ACT, for what they're planning to do. Plus, it's also going to draw more attention to the things ACT are arguing for- which they w

New Zealand has won the first Fossil of the Day award at COP-28 in Dubai. It's been awarded for the National-led Government’s campaign promise it'll revoke the last Government’s ban on offshore oil exploration. Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says Labour got the same award last year. He says it's just a distraction from the summit's real business. "We're focused on the things that really matter, and that's engaging with our national partners when we get over there on the ground. It's something that happens, but it's in the background." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Huge support for a Te Whatu Ora employee accused of taking bulk Covid vaccination data. Barry Young appeared in Wellington District Court today, after data was posted on a conspiracy website. The 56-year-old appeared this morning, then returned to the dock this afternoon, and was granted bail so long as he's released by 1pm tomorrow. Herald Open Justice reporter Ethan Griffiths says Young was cheered inside and outside the the court. "The public gallery was absolutely packed to the brim with supporters who gave Young a standing ovation when he emerged from the cells. Outside court, there were a handful of supporters with signs as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Protesters vowing to cause gridlock on highways tomorrow say they aren't fearful it'll alienate people. Te Pāti Māori are asking supporters to take to the streets in a nationwide day of action. It says the Government's policy programmes are an assault on tangata whenua and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Runanga o Ngai Te Rangi Iwi Trust's Paora Stanley says regardless what Maori do, people will be annoyed at them. "There's a lot of hate going around as it is. People were going against Three Waters not because of what it stood for, but because it was pro-Māori in their view." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The allure of the All Blacks jersey remains strong. That's the view out of New Zealand Rugby after Beauden Barrett's call to re-sign through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He'll be available for test matches next year and the Blues in Super Rugby Pacific from 2025 after his sabbatical in Japan. NZR's General Manger of Professional Rugby, Chris Lendrum is 'stoked' to have Barrett re-joining them for the foreseeable future. "He's played 123 tests for New Zealand, he's been World Player of the Year on a couple of occasions, he's one of our greatest All Blacks."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's biggest supermarkets are set to be scrutinised in a Senate inquiry investigating their prices. Coles and Woolworths have been accused of profiteering during an inflationary period marked by increased food costs. Australia correspondent Oliver Peterson says the supermarket duopoly dominate the market- and people are feeling ripped off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby have welcomed the coveted signature of Beauden Barrett for another four years. The hybrid playmaker's resisted the temptation of further lucrative overseas deals and will remain available to the All Blacks and the Blues until the end of the 2027 World Cup. He'll be available for test matches next year after a season with the Toyota Verblitz in Japan. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland ratepayers will be saddled with a bill of roughly $220 million each year to run the City Rail Link - once it opens. Chief executive Sean Sweeney says the project is 80 percent complete, but there's no guarantee the November 2025 deadline will be met. Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges says there's no excuse for these extended cost blowouts and delays. "It's created a huge amount of problems. Just by the cost blowouts, the fact that this has taken too long and there doesn't seem to be a particularly good end in sight." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Taxpayers Union has offered themselves up to re-brand Government departments on the cheap. The organisation wants to redesign logos at no cost, for departments required to be renamed under the new Government. Campaigns Manager Connor Molloy told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they don't want tax payers money spent unnecessarily, when agencies use the change as an excuse to do a full brand refresh - even though they have no competition. Molloy says the union will also create better brand guidelines and consistency across the public service.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark doesn't understand why the coalition government is yet to accept amendments to the World Health Organisation's regulations. The W-H-O is reassessing its guidelines for how countries should act in public health events, such as during a pandemic. Chris Luxon says he wants to make sure the amendments align with New Zealand's interests. Clark told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that she believes New Zealand First may be influencing the Prime Minister.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's new Minister for Auckland, Simeon Brown, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown met today for the first time since National took office. The pair talked congestion charges, abandoning Auckland's light rail and ditching the regional fuel tax. Simeon Brown told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the meeting "went well", despite having previously clashed on issues like the Regional Fuel Tax.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Labour MP and minister Steve Maharey has resigned from the boards of Pharmac and ACC. He got in trouble earlier this year after penning opinion columns flouting the political neutrality expected of public service board members. There were also calls for his resignation after inappropriate emails were sent within Pharmac about journalist Rachel Smalley. Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland told Heather du Plessis-Allan he's pleased to see Maharey go. Mulholland says he's hoping Chief Executive Sarah Fitt is the next to exit.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Phoenix midfielder Chloe Knott Has spoken out following her sudden departure from the club this evening saying on X that her “values no longer align with the club or current management”. The club released an official statement earlier today claiming that the decision to step back from Football was due to the challenges of balancing a fulltime job and part-time A-League commitments. Newstalk ZB's Sports Contributor Jason Pine told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that her comments where a "Parting Shot" at the club   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Royal expert says it would be highly unlikely for the Royal Family to sue Piers Morgan. The TV host named two senior royals accused of voicing concerns over the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s son Archie's skin colour, reportedly causing the royal family to consider legal action. Royal Correspondent Victoria Arbiter told Heather du Plessis Allan that historically the institution prefers not to give claims like this more publicity. But she says the claims are very damaging, and have the potential to cause long-term issues.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talk show host Piers Morgan has named the royals who allegedly raised 'concerns' over Prince Archie’s skin colour. Shortly after Omid Scobie’s new book Endgame was pulled from shelves in the Netherlands after accidentally revealing these senior members, Morgan took things into his own hands. UK correspondent Enda Brady won't name these individuals, but says it's easy to discover these identities online. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! More Wellington Councillors are calling on Tory Whanau to resign after she admitted to having an alcohol problem. Is there any way back for her now? Consumer NZ has launched legal action against Z Energy amid accusations of greenwashing. Is this a valid action? Will this be good for consumers? More New Zealand schools have banned Crocs because they're starting fights among students- is this a good idea? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlie Munger, investment guru and sidekick in Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway project, passed this week. Munger served as Buffett’s sounding board on investments and business decisions and led Berkshire as vice-chairman for decades. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds says Munger was an instrumental part of Berkshire's success alongside Buffett. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Surprising news out of the opposition, as Hipkins reveals his shadow Cabinet picks.  Many of the roles are a continuation of the portfolios MPs served while ministers in government- but some have been changed. The Country's Rowena Duncum was surprised to see Jo Luxton take over the Agriculture role, and wonders what that means for Labour's future. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's renewed optimism from New Zealand's business leaders about the state of the economy. In the latest ANZ Business Outlook survey, confidence increased by 8 points to +31 in the results for November. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains this boost in optimism. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says there could be Labour MPs within his caucus uncertain about their political future. The Labour leader has outlined his shadow cabinet, revealing which MPs have what portfolios. He says none of his MPs have confirmed they plan to leave politics - but wouldn't rule out if he's had conversations colleagues about bowing out. ZB political editor Jason Walls says he wouldn't be surprised to see Damien O'Connor bow out of Hipkins' cabinet.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Genesis Energy is making moves to meet its promise of producing 95 percent renewable energy by 2030. The company plans to use profits from Kupe gas field to support a $1.1 billion programme to build solar and wind generation and grid-scale battery storage. Chief executive Malcolm Johns says it's likely Genesis will meet their target within the coming years. "We're not starting from a cold start, we have a number of things under way, particularly in the area of solar and wind development. Battery will take us about 18 months to put in place, we're pretty confident." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 24 seasons, the Wellington Lions are set to ditch Sky Stadium and downsize their venue for NPC rugby matches. It was revealed today that discussions have taken place- and the Lions will hold future matches at the Jerry Collins Stadium amid low attendance and challenging finances. Rugby commentator Ken Laban disagrees with this decision- and doesn't think it's the right way forward. "I don't think the answer is to give up on the community and give up on the people supporting Wellington by going to a much smaller stadium- and in comparison, a very underwhelming venue."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Labour Party leader says National's throwing away years of work for ideological reasons. Chris Hipkins has unveiled his shadow cabinet, and vows they're ready to hold the Government to account. Prime Minister Chris Luxon's revealed his 100-day plan, which includes reinstating the Resource Management Act- which Labour repealed. Hipkins says it won't take the country forward. "They were banging on for years about how flawed the RMA was and how it needed to be overhauled. And now they're wanting to go back to the RMA, so it's not like they're going to drive something forward- they just seem to want to throw everything into reverse." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown's public transport plan is being praised. The Public Transport Users Association says his idea to cap total transport costs at $50 a week will mean big savings for people who live further away from the CBD. National Coordinator Jon Reeves says allowing people to use pay-wave instead of HOP cards is great too. "That makes it a lot easier, because I know a lot of people around the city who say- I can't use public transport, don't know where to get a HOP card from, all that jazz." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former mayor is coming to the defence of Wellington's under-fire leader Tory Whanau. Mayor Whanau has admitted she has a problem with alcohol- and is getting help. Councillor Nicola Young is calling on her to resign, citing concerns about the City Council's reputation. It comes after another incident in which Whanau is alleged to have been publicly intoxicated. Former mayor Justin Lester says Whanau has done a great job. "She's been a great ambassador, she's been out leading the charge and getting Wellington's name out there." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brittany Higgins today admitted to getting some key details wrong while being cross-examined in court. Lehrmann has brought a defamation case against media figures over an interview with Higgins in which she alleged she was raped in Parliament House. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Higgins admitted to not having the best memory- but her evidence is as true as she could get it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Rugby is planning a shift away from Sky Stadium for home matches after a 24 season association. Discussions between the union and the Porirua council are advanced to hold all Lions and Pride games at Jerry Collins Stadium from next year. The move comes as provincial unions battle low crowds and challenging finances to connect the provincial game with stakeholders and fans. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what this means for the next season. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer NZ is accusing Z Energy of profiting from misleading sustainability messaging.  The organisation teamed up with the Environmental Law Initiative and Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand Inc to seek a High Court declaration for Z's breaches of the Fair Trading Act. Chief executive Jon Duffy says the evidence contradicts Z Energy's climate-focused public messaging.  "We don't think that stacks up, and consumers shouldn't be misled into thinking that their purchase of an inherently damaging product is somehow better at this company over other companies." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, courts could be handing out rehabilitative community sentences over short-term jail sentences. The Sentencing Council for England and Wales says judges and magistrates should focus on reforming offenders, amid an overcrowding crisis in prisons. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says courts are also being encouraged to rethink jailing women because of the long-term impact on children. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Kiwiblog contributor and pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has admitted to having an alcohol problem, after another incident of public drunkenness got recorded. Is this acceptable behaviour for an elected official? How sympathetic should we be? Prime Minister Chris Luxon revealed his 100-day plan today. The plan is comprised of 49 actions, including repealing Three Waters, Auckland's Fuel Tax and the ute tax- and establishing major targets for the health system. Will these plans help New Zealanders in the long run? Winston Peters has been accusing reporters of taking bribes, and Luxon came to Winston's defence. What do we think of Luxon's management- is he being too soft on Winston? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy

The incoming Government has agreed to disestablish the Productivity Commission, as ACT requested. Staff are disappointed, yet unsurprised, as many were concerned the agency had become too politicised. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says there were already tensions between chair Ganesh Nana and former staffers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has come to the defence of his deputy's scathing attacks on the media. Winston Peters has been accusing reporters this week of taking bribes, in reference to the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund. Applicants to the fund were asked, when appropriate, to produce funded content to support NZ identity, culture and public interest requirements, including support for the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. But, overriding this in NZME's funding agreements - a clause specifically requested by the company - is an acknowledgement of the absolute editorial independence. Chris Luxon says he wouldn't describe the fund as a bribe - but he doesn't support it either - similar to many New Zealanders. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's clear Luxon isn't interested in intervening- and he's going to let Winston be Winston. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/

Retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare has posted a lower-than-expected half-year profit. The company had earned $186 million after tax for the six months to September, a 4 percent decrease from 2022. Chief executive Richard Umbers says this loss is driven by a more subdued housing market.  "The housing market is under pressure. That impacts our ability to sell, which inevitably has a flow-through effect on the business."  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank left the OCR at 5.5 percent during today's review, in line with predictions. The Bank also issued a hawkish statement about future hikes, claiming further hikes would be needed if inflationary pressures got to be stronger than anticipated. Infometrics chief economist Gareth Kiernan says there's a good chance the OCR will need to go up between now and 2025. "Economic activity is running a percentage point higher than the Reserve Bank had been anticipating when it did its' last statement back in August- that didn't sound like a lot, but we knew the economy was highly stretched." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Mayor Tory Whanau has admitted to having an alcohol problem. This statement follows another incident of drunken behaviour- which was recorded at a popular Cuba St establishment two weeks ago. Wellington City Councillor Diane Calvert hopes she's getting the necessary support, but acknowledges the risk this poses. "We need to make sure we've got people with the right skills and the right capabilities to make decisions in the best interests of the city going forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cable car company is pitching gondolas as public transport solutions for a number of cities. A case has been presented to multiple councils by Austrian company Doppelmayr Urban Transport Solutions. Aerial cable cars are being touted as options for Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. Doppelmayr CEO Garreth Hayman says it would be good for getting people to and from airports. "There is a cabin coming very frequently every few seconds, and there is completely level boarding there. It would be quite easy to use- like going on an escalator with your luggage." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite some setbacks, Luxon has unveiled his Government's 100-day plan. The plan features 49 action points, including repealing the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax, the Clean Car Discount scheme, and Fair Pay Agreement legislation- and setting new targets for the health system. Political commentator Grant Duncan says the Government's next phase will need to do more to fix the issues they planned to address. "They need to get serious about their actual plans, particularly with rebuilding the economy. Just repealing stuff isn't rebuilding the economy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank says there may be a need for more interest rates hikes. It has held the Official Cash Rate at 5.5 percent, and their forecast track suggests no rate cuts are on the horizon until mid-2025. Independent economist Tony Alexander says he doesn't think the Reserve Bank will actually do that- or really believes it will have to. "I think today's statement was all about a signal to the market. To say- don't get too optimistic out there, inflation's falling, but maybe you're getting a bit optimistic about the pace which things are going to ease off." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was honoured today at a memorial service. Her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, led other political figures in tribute- including Joe and Jill Biden, Bill and Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, and Laura Bush. Melania Trump also attended, and caused a bit of a stir. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson said American media zeroed in on her unique choice of outfit, as she was the only former First Lady to wear grey. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks captain Sam Cane believes New Zealand Rugby needs to have a conversation about allowing international players to play their club rugby abroad. The flanker's fronted media with new Japan League One club Suntory Sungoliath - where he was alongside South Africa's Cheslin Koble. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the wider implications of this idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Cane is the latest to suggest opening up the All Blacks’ eligibility to New Zealanders playing for overseas clubs. The current All Blacks captain has asked NZ Rugby to consider allowing players overseas to be eligible for national selection. Former Springbok and rugby commentator Kevin Putt approves of this idea, claiming it's been successful for South Africa. "What we've got to look at is- why are we 7th in the world in the under-20s? We've got France and Ireland one and two, we've got years of pain ahead of us at the moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greece's Prime Minister has criticised Rishi Sunak's last-minute cancellation of an anticipated meeting. Kyriakos Mitsotakis had hoped to raise the issue of returning the Elgin Marbles amid heated disagreements. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the Greek Government have been trying for years to get the collection back after the British stole them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&amp;A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Winston Peters is under fire for attacking the media and making inaccurate statements about public funding on the new Government's first-ever Cabinet meeting session. Does Winston have a point? How does this reflect on the Government? An NZ On Air board member has resigned after making a social media post calling out new Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters’ attack on media independence. Is this the right call? LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of the coalition agreement, the Government revealed some new changes for the Reserve Bank. Its dual mandate will be ditched- and focus will return to keeping inflation between one and three percent. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says reduced priorities means the Reserve Bank will only have one clear goal to meet. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's newly appointed Agriculture Minister has promised to review several on-farm regulations before the end of the year. Todd McClay plans to implement new changes to freshwater rules by Christmas- to the approval of the region's farming community. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford welcomes the arrival of McClay and says he and his associate ministers Nicola Grigg, Andrew Hoggard and Mark Patterson will make a great team. The Country host Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A date has been set for disgraced businessman Eric Watson's bankruptcy case to be called. The liquidators of Watson’s company, Cullen Investments, have chased him for roughly $57.4 million, plus interest. Auckland's High Court confirmed that the bankruptcy proceeding will be called on February 1, 2024. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Watson's been staving off problems for over a decade. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has doubled down on conspiratorial comments about the media, and gone further. Yesterday, he called a $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund a Government 'bribe'. Today, ahead of the Government's first Cabinet meeting, Peters asked media to tell the public what criteria had to be signed up to- to get the money. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon will likely be annoyed with Winston's remarks. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's plan to slash the public sector is having an adverse impact on Wellington's property market. According to ANZ's latest property report, Wellington's housing market is lagging behind the rest of the country as people brace for job losses. ANZ economist Andre Castaing says housing markets all over the nation are expected to go sideways within the next year. "The housing market in Wellington- we would characterise that as having the potential to be a touch slower. However across the country, there's a range of things impacting house prices." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac is about to run out of a crucial pain relief drug. The drug-buying agency was warned two years ago the Pfizer factory producing one-milligram liquid morphine is closing. But it hasn't found a replacement before New Zealand's supplies run out next month. Analgesic Advisory Committee member Catherine D'Souza says Pfizer promised to help find alternatives, but didn't. "Which is really disappointing. So then Pharmac looks at opening a competitive process asking for companies to apply to provide New Zealand with this product, but there were no bids at all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warehouse employees have expressed outrage over a new promotion led by the retail giant. The 'ring the bell' giveaway scheme involved staff offering lucky customers $100 off their purchase on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. First Union acting secretary Bill Bradford says workers are frustrated that the company could find money for this promo- but not pay rises. "They see the owner of the store throwing money around like confetti, as far as they can see it. There's no money for them, and they're the ones who do the work and make the profits." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A panel of judges are reconsidering the David Tamihere double murder conviction 33 years on. His case is being heard in the Court of Appeal. Tamihere was convicted of killing two Swedish tourists in 1989, and released on parole in 2010. Open Justice reporter Ethan Griffiths says it's being claimed the convictions were predominantly based on circumstantial evidence. "Tamihere's lawyer essentially told the court developments since the trial raised doubt over the convictions."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT Leader David Seymour says the Public Interest Journalism Fund was silly policy. Deputy Prime Minister Winton Peters yesterday accused media of being bribed by the previous Government's $55 million fund. Today he asked reporters to tell the public what they had to sign up to, to get the money. Seymour says he doesn't believe the media was distorted by the money. "The idea that all the journalists in New Zealand were corrupted by 2 percent of revenue- for me, it doesn't pass the sniff test, but it certainly has created a widespread perception."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hundreds of prominent Australians have come together to condemn anti-Semitism in an open letter. State premiers, industry leaders, athletes and media personalities have signed the double-page letter, which appeared in newspapers across the country. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says anti-Semitic incidents have been on the rise in Australia since the October attack by Hamas. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps are bowling first in the opening cricket test against hosts Bangladesh in Sylhet. Moments ago, Bangladesh were 20 without loss, with New Zealand having a couple of early LBW shouts turned down and burning a review on one of them. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Tauranga gallery's property manager has asked it to remove posters of Palestinian art from its window. A member of the public complained about the exhibition at Kūwao Space. Co-owner Tawahinga Butt says they moved the posters - but now want to change sites. He says he shouldn't have had to move the signs. "It's a bit of an over-reach, it's not included in our tenancy agreement at all that we can't express our political opinion." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Royal biographer Omid Scobie is set to reveal the secret scandals within the British royal family. 'Endgame' is due on shelves come November 28th, and some newly-released excerpts have got the public talking. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the book is meant to examine the fraught relationships within the royal family. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The new Government has copped some backlash over their new changes to smoking laws in order to fund their anticipated tax cuts? Is this criticism justified? Now that the coalition agreements have wrapped up- did National get a good deal? Are Winston and NZ First dragging proceedings down? Is AT's Dean Kimpton right about Auckland's cycleways? Are cyclists not making the most of them?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some of America's most successful business figures are set to arrive in Auckland for the upcoming US Business Summit. Experts from major companies like PepsiCo and Amazon will gather in this half of the world to discuss New Zealand's evolving direction. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan explains the topics that will be covered within these discussions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Prime Minister says he intends to hit the ground running. Chris Luxon was officially sworn in at Government House this morning, alongside his ministerial colleagues. He says Cabinet will meet tomorrow and Wednesday in order to prepare the first 100 day action plan. ZB political editor Jason Walls says the next week will be focused on laying out their long-term and short-term political goals. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement village operators claim that a proposed change in regulations governing the sector will put smaller facilities out of business. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development aims to make it mandatory for retirement villages to buy back units from the residents within a year after they vacate them. Retirement Village Residents Association president Brian Peat says a clearly defined timeframe will be beneficial to residents- or their estates. "We want to see a defined period, whether it's 28 days or 3 months or 6 months- we want a defined period so that residents or their estates know that they will get their money back." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Nicola Willis is ready to get stuck in after receiving her ministerial warrant. The newly sworn in Finance Minister plans to spend her first few days working on fiscal and economic updates in order to address the current economic climate. She says the outgoing Labour Government left her with several fiscal cliffs and risks to mitigate. "There's programs that they had ongoing that they just hadn't put money into for the future that realistically, we're going to have to find the money to fund." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A push from Auckland Transport to get more people on bikes, as the Council discusses cutting cycle lane spending. Wayne Brown's proposed cutting some funding, including only delivering cycleways when AT can make them 'cheaper'. AT Chief Executive Dean Kimpton says he understands why some people aren't yet using two wheels. He says they need to find ways to make it more attractive. "To be fair, for a lot of families with young children- it doesn't feel safe. So we've got a deep commitment to get that right."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A member of the Defence Strategic Review  is offering his resignation to the new minister, and thinks all political appointees should do the same. Judith Collins became Defence Minister this morning, and Sir Don McKinnon has already written to her. He says he was appointed by a Labour Minister, and every minister should be entitled to appoint someone different if they choose. "One, it's the right thig to do, secondly, it's a courtesy to do it. And thirdly, if you think you're brilliant in the job- convince the Minister who's now in charge of you and the person you report to." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Egypt, Qatar and the US are calling for Gaza's ceasefire to be extended. The four-day pause in fighting is due to end tomorrow night, our time. Hamas has so far released three groups of hostages and a number of Palestinians have been freed from Israeli prisons. Israeli Defence Force spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus says Hamas is signalling it's willing to hand over 10 more civilians. "Of course, we have to take everything that Hamas says with a very big grain of salt, but that is the indication." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health experts are raising the alarm over the potential cost of repealing smoke-free laws. The new Government is dumping legislation that aims to have five percent of people smoking - or less - by 2025. That includes laws to lower nicotine in cigarettes, reduce retailers and ban the next generation taking up smoking. Health Coalition co-chair Lisa Te Morenga says modelling shows it'll be a huge mistake. "These measures were predicted to save us $1.3 billion between now and 2040- for the healthcare system." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Terminally ill people located in New South Wales will be able to be legally permitted to end their own lives from tomorrow. This new legislation makes NSW the last Australian state to introduce voluntary assisted dying (VAD) to eligible patients.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there is a pre-existing list of conditions that determines one's eligibility for VAD. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby's provincial unions are preparing to give the governing body's executive leadership a corporate rucking at a meeting on December 8. They've signed a document acknowledging the results of an independent review which found the sport's governance structure unfit for purpose. Sportstalk host Jason Pine reveals what NZ Rugby plans to address in this review. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secondary school teachers warn that the ongoing teacher shortage is set to worsen as recruitment declines. A recent survey revealed 16 percent of principals had to cancel classes due to dwindling staff, and the sector is relying on foreign-trained teachers and teachers over the age of 65. Reports also show the number of secondary teaching students has halved since 2010. Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault says recruitment has gotten harder for specialised educational fields, such as maths and physics. "The unfortunate thing is, the nature of our local supply is such that we're basically stealing off each other. Some teachers move over here, this one's moving over there, they're travelling, they're moving out of Auckland." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has got his wish when it comes to a broader Covid inquiry. National's coalition deal with the party has agreed to look into the use of lockdowns, vaccine efficacy and whether decisions were justified. Peters told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he wants to have it finished by the end of next year.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are confirming threatening emails sent to numerous organisations were bomb threats. Police say the emails went to more than 70 schools, hospitals and worship sites, but they appear to be the same emails, from the same source, and don't pose any actual threat. They were sent from overseas but the Cybercrime unit is yet to determine an exact location. Assistant Police Commissioner Naila Hassan told Heather du Plessis-Allan the threats were not targeted at individuals within organisations.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon is adamant his tax cuts will be delivered as promised, when promised. A coalition deal's now been signed and Luxon becomes the Prime Minister on Monday. National's promised plan for tax cuts now has a hole of 740-million-dollars a year, after New Zealand First vetoed a foreign buyers' tax. Luxon told Heather du Plessis Allan that 100-million dollars will be raised by changing fees free to the final year of university. He says a series of other things will add up, like repealing the app tax and not progressing the 2026 changes to Working for Families. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Promised tax cuts proposed by National are to go ahead following the coalition deal signed earlier today.  Newstalk ZB’s Political Editor Jason Walls spoke to Heather du-Plessis Allan as questions arise on how it will be funded following the scrapping of the foreign home buyers tax.  He said "It seems at this stage we don’t have an answer” on how the government will find the money to fund the initiative but plans are in place to release more details soon.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Veteran anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election. Wilders has proven to be a controversial presence, having called for mosques and the Koran to be banned and speaking out against migration  UK correspondent Enda Brady says Wilders had previously been considered a joke candidate- but he manged to bring down his polarising views ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Government relations firm Capital and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! After 40 days, we're finally on the verge of reaching a coalition deal. ACT, National and NZ First have agreed on policies, ministerial positions, processes and the new Deputy PM. Will it all be worth the wait? Our chief censor's given an unrestricted rating to a controversial sex education book for teens that was pulled in Australia. Parents have expressed their alarm with this decision- does this seem to0 extreme? Wellington Council has put up a Christmas tree of road cones. Some people are terribly upset about this- isn't it just funny? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OpenAI recently reached an agreement for Sam Altman to return as CEO days after his ousting. It caps frenzied discussions about the future of the start-up at the centre of the artificial intelligence boom. As well as Altman's return, the ChatGPT maker has agreed in principle to partly reconstitute the board of directors that had dismissed him. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains what this means for the wider world of AI. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for Kiwi bakers out there- egg prices are on their way down. Eggs have been in short supply - and expensive - since the start of the year when a ban on battery-caged hens came into effect, sparking shortages across the country. The Country's Rowena Duncum says thing brings a positive conclusion to a turbulent year. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac is cutting some of its longer-term fixed special home loan rates- making it the first major bank to do so. The bank's two- and three-year fixed home loan rates will drop 10 basis points to 6.99 percent and 6.75 percent, and the four-year and five-year rates will drop to 6.69 percent and 6.49 percent. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what this means for the wider market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wildfires ravaging through Perth are expected to continue for several days, as firefighters work to contain the blaze.  At least 10 homes have been lost, while over 500 people are without electricity and 100 transmission lines have been impacted by the extreme conditions. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says over 125 firefighters are out on the ground, with several injuries reported. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A stop clock will be introduced on a trial basis in men’s white-ball games from December to April to regulate the amount of time taken between overs. If the bowling team is not ready within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a five-run penalty will be imposed the third time this occurs in an innings. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the practical applications of this rule change. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders can soon expect to see a clear picture of what the new Government will do. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon has confirmed coalition negotiations between National, ACT and New Zealand First have wrapped up. Luxon says the agreements are before the respective parties for sign off- and he'll reveal his Cabinet and their policies tomorrow. ZB political editor Jason Walls says all eyes will be on tomorrow's signing ceremony, where we'll find out the identity of the new Deputy Prime Minister. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meal kit delivery service My Food Bag's latest profits have more than halved as customers seek to cut costs. The company's half year profit shows a significant decline, and a planned dividend has been axed.  Devon Funds Head of Retail Greg Smith says customers have been forced to cut back amid increased interest rates and inflation. "Their average value has gone down- meanwhile, obviously costs have gone up for them, so that's pressurising their profitability." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One Auckland man is stepping up his Movember activism beyond growing facial hair. Robbie Wearing has run a marathon every day of this month - rain or shine - to raise awareness for the cause. He says he's only completed a handful of marathons in his lifetime before November of this year- making this the biggest challenge he's taken on. "I get up and just think- yeah, I'm really lucky to be able to do what I'm doing. I'm trying to keep a positive mindset." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Gisborne woman's died in a police cell overnight- a day after being convicted of her father's murder. 63-year-old Lynne Maree Martin was yesterday found guilty of killing 88-year-old Ronald Allison by burning down his house. After what was thought to be forever a cold case, his daughter was arrested and charged with murder just last year. ZB reporter Chelsea Daniels says it was revealed a police officer went undercover to gain Martin's trust during the investigation. "The officer, who called herself Millie, slowly befriended Martin and her husband Graham in about 2020. She was wearing a wire and the jury heard a raft of conversations between the pair." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All three parties in the incoming Government have agreed on a coalition deal- which will be signed tomorrow. A joint statement from Chris Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters has announced negotiations to form a government that will deliver for all New Zealanders have concluded. ACT party leader David Seymour says the new Government will be ready to tackle the 'substantial' challenges impacting New Zealanders.  "I think ACT has got a very strong policy agenda as part of what will be our shared Government policy- together with New Zealand First and National, I think we'll be able to start tackling those problems." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A controversial sex education book for teenagers that was pulled from shelves in Australia has been given an unrestricted rating by our chief censor. The classification means parents can decide for themselves if the book is right for their teenagers. Family First spokesperson Sue Reid says they've got concerns around the age appropriateness. She says the book is pitched at 14 year olds, but looks like a handbook and has juvenile animations. "We don't think it is clearly targeted at the 14-year-old market- it's definitely aimed at a younger market and that's what we're concerned about." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gang members from around the country are expected to descend upon Auckland for a tangi. William 'Bird' Hines' farewell is expected to be the largest gang funeral in New Zealand history. He had years of poor health from type two diabetes and was released from prison on compassionate grounds. The Herald's Jared Savage says he had a ferocious reputation and younger gang members looked up to him. "He did a lot of very bad things, he had a very staunch obsession with violence and kidnapping- those sort of violent stand overs. He was pretty much the first meth trial in New Zealand's history back in 2000." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I think David Seymour has reason to be pretty salty if he isn't given the Deputy Prime Minister’s job. This is not really about whether the job is really a job or whether it's just ceremonial. The fact is- it is a title. And that title implies seniority, it means whoever gets the Deputy Prime Minister role is the second most senior person in the Government. And it would be pretty bizarre if National gave that to Winston Peters over David Seymour, given how many times National told us before the election they really didn’t want to have to work with Winston. Chris Luxon said it, Chris Bishop said it, Nicola Willis said it- and they weren't subtle. Nicola Willis said: “I don’t want to go into Government with NZ First" Now we understand they didn’t have a choice about going into Government in the end, but that is very different to making Winston the second most senior person in Government when he doesn't even have the second biggest party

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made it clear that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for discussion. Argentina's new Prime Minister Javier Milei recently claimed it was time to 'get them back' and his Government would work to get sovereignty. In a 2013 referendum, the people of the Falkland Islands voted 99.8 percent in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory. UK Prime Minister Gavin Grey says several other ministers have chimed in and claimed the Falkland Islands are UK territory. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Nicola Willis has confirmed she won't be the Deputy Prime Minister, and Luxon said she was never in the running. Is this true? Who are our picks for the role? The incoming Government will have to find a quarter of a billion dollar to give ECE educators pay parity- because their predecessors didn't budget for it properly. What other harmful surprises are waiting in the wings? SailGP has made the decision to not stage the event in Auckland in March 2024. Is this a loss for the region? Are we excited for Black Friday this year? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's early signs that mortgage rates could be on the downswing again. New Zealand's wholesale interest rates have fallen sharply over the last month- and both the two-year and ten-year swap rates have dropped. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says banks still have yet to move their rates down, despite these early signs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nvidia's latest quarterly results have surpassed expectations amid increased demand for AI. Demand for Nvidia’s graphics processing units has been exceeding supply, and the company has tripled its year on year revenue.  Milford Asset Management's Felix Fok explains why the company is thriving amongst the AI wave.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says he didn't lobby for his party deputy, Nicola Willis, to be Deputy Prime Minister. The role remains one of the last sticking points of Coalition negotiations, with policies and other ministerial positions largely agreed. Willis today said she wasn't in the race and Winston Peters or David Seymour are likely to get the job. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's looking likely that Winston's the new favourite to take up the role as Deputy Prime Minister. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk has confirmed that advertising revenue from X, formerly Twitter, will be donated to war-torn Gaza and the hospitals in Israel.  The move comes amid increased backlash against Musk, after he posted support for anti-Semitic content on the site.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Apple, Disney and IBM have already paused advertising on X. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A fruitful season's in the wind for Kiwifruit growers this year. Zespri's seasonal November forecast projects record returns for all its fruit crops. The fruit company is putting it down to growers' efforts to improve quality, despite harsh conditions in recent years. Zespri Head of Global Public Affairs Michael Fox says strong market demand, respect for the brand and strong supply chain partnerships will boost Zespri's returns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Used car distributor Turners Automotive has gone from strength to strength in recent months. The company saw revenue increase 16 percent to $213.9 million, while its after-tax profit rose by 8 percent. Chief Executive Todd Hunter says the combination of a shifting market and a successful ad campaign is helping the company sell more cars. "It's the Tina effect, it's been very good for our lead generation. We're buying a lot more cars off people, we've opened more branches so we're in more places, it's a combination." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts are firing back at the assertion that the perfect steak can be cooked in the microwave. One scientist recently made the bold claim that the best way to prepare a steak is to skip traditional cooking methods- and heat it with a microwave. Beef + Lamb Chef MacLean Fraser says it's unlikely that microwaving a defrosted steak will produce the best result. "There's a few things you should never do- never swim in a calm spot at a surf beach, don't drink and drive, don't count on Winston Peters and don't microwave your steak." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Government needs to find a quarter of a billion dollars to settle a pay parity deal with early childhood teachers. A previous cost estimate for the settlement was found to be vastly too low. NZEI says the outgoing Government committed to paying teachers. National Secretary Stephanie Mills says problems in the sector must be sorted - or things will only get worse. "If we want to stop the real churn in the sector, people going to Australia and the loss of morale, the Government really does need to address this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tātaki Auckland Unlimited today confirmed that SailGP has chosen not to stage their March 2024 event in Auckland. The unavailability of Wynyard Point land as a spectator facility proved to be a barrier, as the land had been contaminated by oil tanks from the old tank farm. Chief Executive Nick Hill says it was always going to be a long complicated process to get that land back. "You need to get to a point where the land could be handed back, and they had no obligations back to the council. If you start using that land- they'll turn around and say you caused the problem." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israel has agreed to a hostage swap with Hamas, but it's unclear where all the people kidnapped from Israel are. The assault on Gaza will be paused four days, in exchange for 50 women and children kept by the Palestinian military group. Israel says it will return three Palestinians for every hostage - and each 10 hostages released will extend the pause on hostilities another day. Times of Israel US Bureau Chief Jacob Magid says some hostages are being kept in underground tunnels. "And not all of them are even with Hamas, there are roughly 30 hostages that are also being held alive in post-Islamic Jihad." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's hosting of a SailGP event next March on Waitemata Harbour has come off the foils. The unavailability of Wynyard Point land as a spectator facility proved an insurmountable barrier for the event owners. No alternative option has been offered yet after Lyttleton hosted this year. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explores some possible solutions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tech commentator is warning people to apply due diligence to Black Friday shopping. Price comparison service PriceSpy found last year, about 15 percent of goods were on 'fake sale'. It found some retailers increased product prices in the weeks before the sale, then discounted them back to normal levels. Commentator Tim Provise says the tech sector is the main culprit. "Especially more niche stuff like camera lenses- and little things, like toothbrushes and stuff like that. I think the technology sector is the one where you've got to be really careful." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying the Government should have 'let people die' rather than impose a second lockdown, the Covid national inquiry heard. Former chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance noted on October 25, 2020 that Sunak, who was finance minister at the time, was against further lockdowns and dismissed the impact Covid had on the elderly. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Boris Johnson agreed the UK's elderly population had had 'a few good innings' anyway. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, former National staffer Ben Thomas and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&amp;A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Waka Kotahi is under fire for spending thousands on pies for construction workers working on the Mt Messenger bypass project in Taranaki. Is this worth the outrage? The post-election talks have turned to delegating ministerial roles, and Nicola Willis, David Seymour and Winston Peters are all vying for the role of Deputy Prime Minister. Who would we pick? Does Luxon have to pick one candidate? National MP Cameron Brewer has copped backlash for his joke about the return of 'pale, stale males'. Is this a rookie error- or grave mistake? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federated Farmers are calling on the incoming Government to repeal David Parker's controversial freshwater reforms. The advocacy group believes repealing the current freshwater regulations will be the quickest way to restore farmer confidence- which is at a historic low. The Country's Jamie Mackay says farmers are waiting with bated breath for these reforms to be scrapped. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Online auction site TradeMe posted a $4.7 million net profit after tax for the year to June, turning around earlier losses. Experts believe the return to profit came from the site raising their prices- especially in its property arm. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains how this increased net profit impacts TradeMe's overall earnings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's trade deficit appears to be getting smaller, according to the latest data. A new report from Stats NZ says imports were down, falling $1.2b to $7.1b compared to October last year. Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado says increased interest rates are restraining demand and causing imports to fall. "We actually saw that our imports surged during the post-Covid period when we had quite a lot of loose monetary policy and expanded fiscal policy- we saw imports rose off the back of that, now we've got really high interest rates." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief opposing views could be behind the ousting of former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. At least 700 of 770 staff at the company famous for creating Chat GPT have penned an open letter calling for the board's resignation after it fired Altman. Tech commentator Paul Stenhouse says no one knows for sure why Altman was shown the door in the first place. "This comes from CNN tech contributor Kara Swisher- he wanted to move super fast, he wanted to monetise everything, he wanted to go to market more quickly and the board wanted to be a lot more cautious."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's top court has turned down appeals from two water bottling companies in Canterbury. Cloud Ocean Water and Rapaki Natural Resources had extracted billions of litres from Christchurch's aquifers each year under a decades-old consent granted for industrial use. The Supreme Court sat in Christchurch for the first time earlier this year, and yesterday released its decision dismissing their appeal. Aotearoa Water Action chair Peter Richardson says he's thrilled with the decision - but it might not be over just yet. "It's perhaps not the end of the matter, it depends on what Cloud Ocean decides to do. They may surrender their existing consent and apply pressure for a new consent. But it would have problems." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Plymouth's mayor is hitting out at those opposing the Mount Messenger bypass project. A decision by Waka Kotahi to give construction workers pies has been under the spotlight and deemed wasteful by the Taxpayers Union. Waka Kotahi prices the pies at $400 a month. But mayor Neil Holdom says the pie criticism is a storm in a teacup. "And it's a reflection of the desperation, because most New Zealanders have moved on and realised- actually it's happening, it's a good thing and we should look after the workers that are on site." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electronics have been found to be the most likely product to come from modern slavery. World Vision has found New Zealand households spend $77 per week on average on products implicated in modern slavery. This includes clothing, toys, coffee, bananas, furniture, phones and laptops. Head of Advocacy and Justice Rebekah Armstrong says EVs, e-bikes and solar panels are also impacted. "It's really interesting that in the transition to cleaner energy, we're actually potentially using products that harm children and people in forced labour." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Deputy Prime Minister disagrees the role's largely ceremonial. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon has confirmed policies have been settled in Coalition talks - and negotiations have turned to ministerial roles. ACT's David Seymour made a public pitch for Deputy, but Luxon has downplayed the role's importance. Sir Don McKinnon was the deputy to Jim Bolger in his National Government, under the single-party system. He says under MMP it can be someone from a different party, but the duties are real. "You're there to do things that your leader, your Prime Minister, doesn't want to do, meet the people he doesn't want to meet, go to the places he doesn't get time to go to." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A prominent Auckland businessman has threatened legal action against Auckland Council if it votes to sell the Downtown Carpark building. Precinct Property was selected as the preferred buyer in September last year- and it plans to use the space to build apartments and office towers. Andrew Krukziener says the Downtown Carpark is a crucial asset to the city centre. "To take it away will diminish business in the city, it'll be terrible for Aucklanders and people who live on Waiheke who use that carpark as a connection point." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Punted Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has spoken of deep-rooted issues in the sport across the Tasman. It comes less than 48 hours after he was given his marching orders from the organisation's board, as the World Cup failure, appointment of Eddie Jones and a centralisation push came to a head. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Again, it's looking pretty positive on the formation of Government today. Here's the update for the day- The policy work is now actually done, all three parties have now reached agreement on the policy agenda for the next three years. This seems like a minor step forward from yesterday, because yesterday ACT and NZ First had reached agreement with National. Today, ACT and NZ First have signed off on each others’ agreements. So minor- but significant. Because that is the hardest and most complex part of the negotiations. The next bit is basically doling out the fancy jobs, and Deputy PM is fast becoming the one we’re all going to watch. Because this is also obviously a battle of the egos. David Seymour is making a big play publicly of wanting it, he said to the waiting media today that he deserves the job because the job should go to the second biggest party - and the second biggest party is ACT. It's kind of weird that he's put

Reports British police have interviewed comedian Russell Brand about alleged sexual offences. The Sunday Times and BBC claim the 48 year old was grilled at a London police station last week. Metropolitan Police say a man in his 40s attended a south London police station, under caution, in relation to three non-recent sexual offences. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's likely authorities will press further with investigations into Brand's alleged offences. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National's Chris Luxon says his coalition partners have made a breakthrough in post-election negotiations, but Winston Peters isn't on the same page. Who is trying to strongarm who in these discussions? Labour leader Chris Hipkins called for a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday- what do we think of this? How does this reflect on National? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

APEC leaders agreed on a reform of the World Trade Organisation- but many were divided on several other key issues. The ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war divided leaders across the Pacific Rim during the two-day summit. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan recapped the highlights of the event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon says he and his soon-to-be coalition partners have achieved a milestone in Government-forming negotiations. The incoming Prime Minister says the policy element of talks with ACT and New Zealand First concluded last night. Luxon says the last remaining step is formalising Cabinet positions - but the end is in sight. ZB political editor Jason Walls says NZ First and ACT still need to approve the final arrangements with National- and Winston Peters won't budge. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwisaver advisors are urging New Zealanders to care about where they put their retirement funds. National Capital's latest Value for Money report finds the difference between top and bottom-performing funds can be as much as 2.55 percent, or $88,000 by the time of retirement. Director and KiwiSaver advisor Clive Fernandes says it's import for Kiwis to consider several key factors before they determine where their retirement funds go. "You've got to take into consideration past performance- but also look at things like fees, capability, the stability of these companies, the processes they undertake to make a decision." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National is celebrating a breakthrough in negotiations, claiming they've agreed to policy deals with NZ First and ACT. Despite what he called significant progress, Luxon wouldn’t say whether it was likely a Government could be formed by the end of the week. Finance Minister-elect Nicola Willis says all three parties still need to sign off on a final deal before the new Government is formed. "We're pleased that we've reached that significant milestone, because our focus has been on getting policy aligned this year. That's ultimately what the Government's going to be judged on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $1.5 million project is underway to revert Rangiora High School's modern open learning space to single cell classrooms. Its giant classroom fitting 500 students opened in 2017 but was found difficult to work in, due to noise, visual distractions, and fluctuating temperatures. Principal Bruce Kearney says they're determined the open structure doesn't suit their vision for the school. "A lot of people talked about modern learning environments as being open barns- and they're not. What they're supposed to be is providing the ability for teachers, for students, classes, schools to be flexible." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iwi groups are proposing renaming the Hutt Valley suburb Petone as Pito-one. The bid to change the spelling and pronunciation is going before the City Council tomorrow, before eventually being seen by the Geographic Board. Pito-one is the original name, which was switched by colonial settlers. Palmerston North Maori Reserve Trust Chair Liz Mellish says many places in the area already use the old spelling. "There seems to be a real feeling in the community, we've got an apartment called Pito-one, we've got a café, we've got a football club." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National says Labour leader Chris Hipkins' call for a ceasefire in Gaza was a surprise. Hipkins yesterday said he believes Israel's Defence Force's response has been disproportionate and indiscriminate. National's Foreign Affairs Spokesperson, Gerry Brownlee, says calling for a ceasefire has no point if both sides aren't willing to cooperate. Brownlee says National backs negotiating efforts from parties closer to the conflict- and that Qatari negotiators are doing a good job. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's David Seymour says he's no longer gambling on when coalition negotiations will wrap up. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon today announced the three parties have reached an agreement on policy. But the leaders of ACT and New Zealand First say they're not all the way there just yet. Seymour says he's closed his account at the TAB - given last week he wrongly predicted a deal was just days away. "So I'm not betting on this anymore, but I think we're a day or two away if I had to put a bet on it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia have won the Cricket World Cup for a sixth time, chasing 241 to beat India by six wickets with seven overs to spare in Ahmedabad. Man-of-the-match Travis Head made 137 off 120 balls. ZB sports commentator Elliott Smith recaps this victory. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The boss of Australian telecommunications company Optus has resigned after a nationwide outage affected millions. CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin quit after a senate grilling last week. She'll be replaced by the Chief Financial Officer. A major cyber attack last year - also under her tenure - compromised personal documents of two million customers. Australia correspondent Oliver Peterson says her handling of the outage was criticised. "She was very reluctant to get onto the front foot, didn't say much- finally came in kicking and screaming to actually reveal what had happened." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warnings malls will only get busier, after shoppers at Westfield Newmarket were trapped inside the carpark for hours on Saturday afternoon. The Auckland shopping centre is apologising to customers left sitting in queues to get out for at least three hours. Newmarket Business Association's Mark Knoff-Thomas says demand will only rise the closer we get to Christmas, with Black Friday likely to be the busiest yet. "We want to be ready for that. There are lots of options- buses ae available, trains are available, people can car-share and if you do take your car, you've got to really plan your time." Knoff-Thomas says Saturday's bad weather, combined with Black Friday pre-sales, to cause road congestion. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A survey of our 200 largest and fastest growing tech exporters shows the sector is booming. Revenue for the so-called TIN 200 increased 11.8 percent to $17 billion in the past year. Current Managing Director at TIN, Greg Shanahan, told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that “the sector is reaching maturity, and the number of large companies is growing dramatically”.    LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Auditor General has slammed the public service after looking at how tax payer money is spent. He's found a lot of them don't measure whether the money they're spending is making a difference. Performance measures for the Education Ministry include how many times the website is visited. Former Work and Income boss Christine Rankin told Heather du-Plessis Allan the timing of this is evident.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland Doctor has been found to have committed professional misconduct after writing thousands of prescriptions for ADHD medication without specialist approval.  Dr Tony Hanne argued that he saw a need to prescribe the medication to help people with the diagnosis.  Heather Du Plessis-Allan spoke to Clinical Psychologist Dougal Southerland who said although he agrees there are negative consequences for people with ADHD if not treated, he did not agree with what the doctor did to get the patients medication. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Act Party Leader says we are still days, not hours, away from a government arrangement. Today marks two weeks since the official vote count, and party leaders say they're getting close to a final deal but negotiations are expected to remain in Auckland over the coming days. Winston Peters earlier said the finish line was closer than people thought, but David Seymour told Heather du Plessis Allan there are still a number of steps ahead.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signs Winston Peters is pleased with today's progress in government-forming talks. Party leaders say they're getting close to a final deal but negotiations are expected to continue in Auckland over the weekend. Peters earlier emerged from a two-and-a-half hour meeting with Luxon. Political Editor Jason Walls told Heather du Plessis Allan he was chipper.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rishi Sunak is determined to push through emergency legislation to resurrect his plan to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda. The UK's Supreme Court had previously ruled this proposal was unlawful in a unanimous rejection. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Rishi Sunak outlined his next steps to push the legislation through before Christmas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The three main parties have stayed quiet about the details of their coalition negations, but some National MPs have said they're close to forming a Government. What do we think of this? Are we over the waiting period?  Auckland Council is making progress on proposed congestion charges, with Wayne Brown being particularly eager to get these charges going. Is this a money-raising exercise? MFAT staff have reduced their use of Te Reo in official documents released to the incoming Government- is this a bad look? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been a significant upswing in global equity markets in the past couple of weeks. The Nasdaq is up by 12 percent, the US Equities Market is up by 10 percent, Europe's markets are up by 6 percent, and even China is reporting an increase. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains this current burst of optimism, and what to expect from 2024. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alliance Group this week announced a significant loss for the 2023 financial year. The co-operative lost over $70 million, as geo-political tensions, inflationary pressures and weakening global markets continued to affect the red meat sector. The Country's Jamie Mackay says the current volatile market has created extra pressure for the struggling sector. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data from REINZ showed the New Zealand housing market cooled in October. Prices declined 2 percent nationally on a seasonally adjusted basis, in the first monthly reduction in house prices since April. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says prospective buyers are feeling less optimistic as interest rates continue to soar. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Post-election coalition talks are still under way, with leaders from all three parties meeting at Auckland's Cordis Hotel. National's Nicola Willis and Christopher Luxon have claimed that negotiations are heading into the final stages. ZB political editor Jason Walls says leaders from all three parties seem to agree talks are progressing well- but it's too soon to know for sure? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Catholic school in NSW's Southern Highlands is the latest to allow students to take a four-day week. Chevalier College will permit students from years 10 to 12 to learn from home on Mondays from 2024, as part of a new set of educational measures. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says these privileges will only be granted to a select few students, who have proven they can learn without supervision.  LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India have beaten New Zealand by 70 runs at Mumbai to advance to the Cricket World Cup final. The key wicket in the chase for 398 was a cramp-riddled Daryl Mitchell, who reached 134. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the mass reaction to the team's loss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daryl Mitchell has addressed the debilitating cramps which crept into his heroic innings against India as the Black Caps fell in the Cricket World Cup semifinals in Mumbai. The 32-year-old's 134 wasn't enough to help New Zealand into their third straight final, coming up 70 runs short after the hosts posted 397. He says the team tries to prepare for environmental factors that might impact them, but the humidity was surprising. "We're pretty detailed with how we prepare before the games, we weigh ourselves, but sometimes the humidity we're playing in- it's hot work." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart discussed climate change, in a first bilateral meeting in seven years. The pair sat down together ahead of the APEC Summit in San Francisco. Biden says Xi Jinping agreed to help disrupt fentanyl drug production, resume military communications and assess AI risk. Herald business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says they also talked about a combined approach to the climate crisis. "Between them, they're 40 percent of emissions for the world. These are major issues, they've got the big meeting up in Dubai coming soon- COP28." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters is expected to emerge from a meeting with National soon, as Government-forming talks continue. NZ Herald political reporter Adam Pearse is outside the Cordis Hotel in Auckland, and says Peters has been with National's leader Chris Luxon for more than two hours. He says the meetings are getting longer, which could mean they are getting into the detail. "The latest we've heard is that there are still policy differences that they have yet to iron out. And I would imagine if you were spending over two hours discussing in a hotel room, ministerial positions  are not the only things you're talking about." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Māori academic says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reducing Te Reo usage is deeply disappointing. Stuff reports the Ministry has removed Māori from some official documents, anticipating an incoming National-led Government. A leaked email from its chief executive discusses the decision to remove Te Reo headings from submission templates. Rapata Wiri says the agency is trying to appease voters. "They're trying to undo all the good work that's been put in place over the last 50 years." An MFAT spokesperson confirms it has adjusted one template, and will consult with the incoming Minister for their preferences on receiving advice. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council's Transport and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed having a team work on timed congestion charges. Mayor Wayne Brown wants to have the charges in place as soon as possible, potentially with discounts for Gold Card holders and people on low incomes. Public Transport Users Association Chair Niall Robertson says it can't be done until public transport options are in place. "If you haven't got all these other alternatives, it's a kind of double jeopardy for the commuter, who might not have any other options but to take the car on the motorway." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The implementation of a controversial new science curriculum has come to a halt- both delighting and frustrating educators. A leaked early version of the curriculum upset some for its lack of any mention of physics, chemistry or biology. Consultation has been put on hold for a second time, with the Ministry of Education waiting to engage with the new Government before it's sent out. St Cuthbert's College principal Justine Mahon says school staff are relieved with this delay. "New Zealand education is in dire straits at the moment, and we need the incoming Government to make it a priority to lift the standard. Scrutinising the draft science curriculum is an imperative." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Probably the most interesting development of the day kind of related to the coalition negations is the fact that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been busted deliberately ramping down its use of Te Reo Māori to make the incoming Government happy. At MFAT, if staff want to write a formal message to a Minister, they use a template. Until about a couple of weeks ago, that template told staff to use Māori words instead of some English words. For example; summary, report, recommendations and conclusions. But since around the time the special votes started coming in- and it was obvious Winston Peters would be a possibility for Foreign Minister, MFAT's chief executive has made the call to dump some of those Māori words and go back to the English words in the template. It's pretty obvious that MFAT is doing this because because of the incoming Government. MFAT brought the Māori words in apparently because the previous Labour Foreign Affai

Former British Home Secretary Suella Braverman has hit back with a 'scathing' open letter to Rishi Sunak. Braverman was recently sacked after she accused the Metropolitan Police of bias in the policing of protests. UK correspondent Enda Brady says people believe Braverman's setting herself up for future leadership in the Conservative party, with many voicing support for her views. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Business Mentors Chief Executive Sarah Trotman and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&amp;A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Luxon, Seymour and Peters finally got in a room today to sort out a new coalition Government. The three leaders met for half an hour- and then Winston and Luxon and ACT and National went on to have longer meetings. What happens next? Is there hope of progress on coalition negotiations?  Newly-retired referee Wayne Barnes has taken aim at Sir Graham Henry and New Zealand in general in his new biography. Are his comments out of line? A record net 44,800 Kiwis have left the country to live elsewhere, according to new data. Is this brain drain concerning- or will this be offset by an uptick in migrants? How can we work to keep young talent around? LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.c

Electronic card spending data recorded the first significant drop since mid-2022 this October. Spending in retail industries fell 0.7 per cent compared to September, down by $44 million, Stats NZ said in a press release. Demand for larger items has declined by 7.8 percent, and spending on apparel has fallen 8 percent. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says retailers are staring down the barrel of a difficult period, as spending is projected to decline for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Latest data shows market confidence has returned to New Zealand. Stats NZ's monthly price report showed airfares, petrol and food prices were down across the board, and the NZX has shot up by 5 points in November. Milford Asset Management Jeremy Hutton explains what this means for the coming months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The incoming Government is expected to contend with a billion-dollar hole in its books created by the upcoming ETS auction.  The final auction of units under the Emissions Trading Scheme for 2023 isn't expected to clear on December 6. Most participants in the carbon market expect this auction to fail, on the grounds that a full year's worth of units will need to be sold. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains why this predicted failure will be good for the market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All sides of the soon-to-be Government want talks completed as soon as possible. David Seymour, Winston Peters and Chris Luxon sat down together this morning for the first time, in Auckland. This meeting will be the first of several collaborative meetings in the city centre this week. ZB political editor Jason Walls says nothing significant has been divulged- but all three parties are keen to get a Government formed quickly. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Joe Biden hopes to put the shaky US-China relationship in a better place at APEC. The summit for Pacific Rim leaders will include a highly anticipated meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping- the first on American soil in over 7 years. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says security has been tightened in the Bay Area ahead of the meeting. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weeks on from a controversial Rugby World Cup final, just-retired referee Wayne Barnes has released a new autobiography. ‘Throwing the Book’ examines the highs and lows of officiating rugby at the top level- and takes shots at New Zealand and former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the mass reaction to this book. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has pulled a controversial video campaign accused of mocking fraud victims. As part of Fraud Awareness Week, the FMA partnered with comedian Tom Sainsbury to depict a 'Boomer Dad' getting scammed out of his planned trip to France. New data released from banks showed that New Zealanders lost almost $200 million in scams in the year to September. Financial adviser Rachelle Bland says this video campaign shamed the people the FMA was designed to protect. "I think it's a case of inappropriate targeting. Maybe it's catchy, but it's really not appropriate to laugh at people who've been scammed." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's hard road to the Cricket World Cup final will become impossible if they don't hold their chances. The Black Caps will face off against hosts India in tonight's semi-final in Mumbai at 9:30pm. There's controversy brewing ahead of the match, with reports claiming India have switched the pitch to favour their spinners. Former Black Cap Peter McGlashan says this is a sign India feels threatened by the Black Caps' chances. "It's one of those things where it's difficult to do late, so I would be surprised if the New Zealand team probably knew about this a day or two ago. Generally when you arrive at a ground to practice, you're shown where the match will be played." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doctors Without Borders is outraged patients and medical staff are being put in harm's way, as Israeli military forces raid a hospital in Gaza. Israel says it's carrying out an operation against Hamas at Al-Shifa Hospital - the largest medical complex in the Gaza strip. Doctors Without Borders' Simon Eccleshall says staff were given just minutes warning before the raid. "And the indiscriminate bombing of the hospital over the last few days has been in blatant disregard for the safety of patients. This is clearly a contravention of international humanitarian law."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's migration has hit record levels, as Kiwis flock overseas. The year to September had a historic net loss of 44,700 citizens. Overall annual net migration was at a record near 119,000 for the same period. Demographer Paul Spoonley says they're extraordinary figures, unlike anything seen before. "Last year, the Productivity Commission did a fantastic report, which looked at migration. One of the things they said is- we've got an infrastructure deficit. I thought we might have a bit of a pause, but no." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political commentator says leaks from post-election talks are rife this year. The leaders of National, ACT and New Zealand First have now all sat around a table together, a first in their negotiations. Prime Minister elect Chris Luxon has wanted talks to stay private. But Ben Thomas says that hasn't been the case. He says it may reflect the parties playing off against each other. "There's the question of how Winston Peters is going to kind of conduct himself as part of this trio, and maybe part of that is distancing himself from the other two." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh from hanging up the whistle after last month's Rugby World Cup final, referee Wayne Barnes detailed the trials and tribulations of officiating at a professional level. In his new autobiography 'Throwing the Book', Barnes took aim at former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry and his response to the All Blacks' upset loss to France in 2007. Former All Black Sir John Kirwan says it's likely Barnes is exaggerating his points to generate interest in the book. "I know Wayne, I know his wife- he's a family man. That's a bit of an exaggeration, he's probably got to sell books. " LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s time that we stop making excuses for why we can’t make it a crime to stonewall the cops. And instead just do the right thing and make it a crime for every adult in the house to stonewall the cops if someone has bashed a baby to death. This is becoming a pattern with child deaths in New Zealand. Just off the top of my head, I can give you four cases where babies have been bashed and the adults didn’t want to tell on each other: The Kahui twins Nia Glassie A case in South Auckland with an unnamed 4 moth old baby who survived months of bashing in 2019/2020 And now- baby Ru There were three adults in the house when baby Ru was bashed, and last we heard none of them are properly assisting police. It is not novel to raise the idea that we should write a law that criminalises those three adults, and any others like them for keeping silent. But every time we have this debate, out come the naysa

David Cameron has been named the UK's new Foreign Minister. It comes seven years after he quit as PM over the outcome of his Brexit referendum. Cameron's appointment is part of a major Cabinet re-shuffle by current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, sparked by the removal of Home Secretary Suella Braverman. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this is a risky decision, as this will alienate many prospective voters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, current affairs commentator Josie Pagani and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! In coalition updates: Luxon's trip to APEC is officially off, Winston has been AWOL from Parliament- but the parties are set to meet later this week. Who knows what's going on? What can we expect in the coming days? NZ First's Shane Jones told Radio Waatea his party supports a 'reset' on the Treaty of Waitangi. Will Luxon approve? Is this too divisive? Former Prime Minister David Cameron is back in Parliament following Suella Braverman's departure? Is this a good move for the current UK Government? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alarm bells are being raised over in Australia, as economists warn the risk of inflation lingering is increasing. The Reserve Bank of Australia raised the OCR to 4.35 percent last week- the highest official cash rate seen in 12 years. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham says the RBA will likely have to do more to raise the OCR and bring down inflation in the coming months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists fear the primary sector is likely to struggle from lower export prices during the economic downturn. Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan also warns increased interest rates are likely to add to the stressful climate for new Zealand's rural community. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains how Kiwi farmers are expected to struggle in the coming months.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has issued words of caution for anyone expecting the incoming Government will be easier on businesses. BusinessDesk's Pattrick Smellie says it shouldn't be a given that the National-ACT-NZ First coalition will take all the pressure of the business sector- and cited their history of policies and statements. Smellie explained that the banks, supermarkets, fuel companies will likely experience discomfort as the incoming Government addresses the cost of living crisis. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First's caucus met today in Wellington- but the Party's leader was noticeably absent. None of the newly elected MPs explained where Winston Peters was, but they said work was progressing in his absence. ZB political editor Jason Walls says senior NZ First MP Shane Jones claimed progress was under way, and Peters would turn up- eventually. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yet more new developments in the case of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips, who vanished in 2021 with his 3 children. A Newshub report revealed a former partner of Phillips, who is helping with the investigation, gave birth to a boy 2 years ago- a boy Phillips is believed to have fathered. Karen Rutherford, who broke the initial story, says police have been in contact with this woman throughout the investigation.  "We've not known about this former girlfriend before, but we understand from a police source that they believe that this woman who had a baby 2 years ago- Tom Phillips is believed to be the father." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An investigation into alleged confidentiality breaches at Wellington City Council hasn't been able to find the leaker. Lawyer Linda Clark has been looking into the conduct of five independent city councillors after a complaint from Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon. The code of conduct complaints alleged councillors had leaked information about a publicly-excluded meeting about the fate of the Reading Cinema site. Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young is among the five councillors accused of breaching confidentiality rules- but denies violating the code. "The code of conduct is very vague- I don't accept that I broke the code of conduct, none of us did. It's extraordinary to take this action against a third of the councillors." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor says he wants congestion charging in place as soon as possible. The council's transport and infrastructure committee is due to consider an Auckland Transport report on the scheme this Thursday. It means motorists idling on busy roads during peak hours will have to pay up to reduce traffic jams and make council revenue. Wayne Brown says if the incoming Government doesn't support it, there will be a squabble. "They expected to do this - Simeon Brown, who expects to be the Minister of Transport, has agreed it's a sensible thing to do." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Suggestions the shock appointment of a controversial former UK PM as Foreign Secretary aims to save the Conservatives' sinking ship. David Cameron will replace Suella Braverman, who was fired after accusing police of double standards in handling protests. Cameron resigned as PM in 2016, with one of the lowest popularity ratings in recent history. Former Kiwi High Commissioner to the UK, Sir Lockwood Smith, says he has a wealth of experience. "And right at this stage, I think what the Conservatives need is to just settle things down a bit, because their polling numbers aren't good- and they've got an election coming up next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fruit, vegetables and similar household staples were the largest contributor to a monthly fall in food prices. Stats NZ says prices were 6.3 percent higher in October than a year ago- but cheaper than in September, down 0.9 percent month on month. LeaderBrand CEO Richard Burke says supply had been restricted and demand strong, but now they're working to recalibrate. "We've got a whole lot of crop out there that's excellent quality, and the only thing we can do is promote it like heck to get it through the market. So that's a win for consumers- and we just hope they get out there and bank that win." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says a referendum on Treaty principles is still on the negotiating table. ACT signalled the policy would be a priority in post-election talks. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon has said a referendum would be divisive, but New Zealand First's Shane Jones today told Radio Waatea he understands Seymour's concerns. Seymour says it's an idea whose time has come. "I think the more people understand what we're proposing to do, the more people hear about that- I think more people see it as a positive." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Separate events were held across Australia over the weekend, as tens of thousands called for a solution to the Israel-Gaza conflict. These events called for a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages, and several politicians have voiced their support. Foreign Minister Penny Wong has urged Israel to act in accordance with international law- but has stopped short of calling for a ceasefire. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says tensions are high in Australia, with the region's Jewish and Muslim communities reporting an uptick in harassment and abuse.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another 'what if' incident for Kiwi rugby fans, as World Rugby privately acknowledges Aaron Smith’s disallowed try should have stood. World Rugby's updated TMO protocol indicates the try should have counted towards the All Blacks' final score in their nail-biting match against South Africa. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A renewed plea for information about missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips and his three children. A red farm-style quad bike with no registration was reported stolen from a Te Anga property on November 2. Police say two people, believed to be Phillips and one of his children, took the bike and drove south. CCTV then shows a child and an adult breaking the front glass of a Piopio superette - fleeing when the alarm went off. Acting Detective Inspector Andrew Saunders says they want the public to report any suspected sightings immediately. "For anyone out there that may be helping him, just remember that this is not a good father looking after his children." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is going to make the Rugby World Cup pain worse, isn't it? Apparently World Rugby has privately conceded that the disallowed Aaron Smith try in the Rugby World Cup final should actually have been allowed. They're not saying this publicly, but media are reporting that World Rugby have privately acknowledged to the All Blacks that the refs got it wrong. What happened was that the refs denied the try because the TMO found a knock-on at a lineout in the lead up to the try. But the trouble is, the knock-on was four phases back. And the World Rugby rules say that if the TMO goes back looking for knock-ons in the lead up to a try, they can only go back 2 phases. And this is not some random, obscure rule, it's a rule that was passed in the middle of last year. So the refs got it wrong, and the try should've stood. Now this is going to start the 'what ifs', isn’t it? Because- what if the try was allowed? Might the All Blacks have w

London police estimate there were over 300,000 gathered at a pro-Palestinian rally in London calling for a Gaza ceasefire. This weekend's rally marked the region's biggest protest since the Israel-Hamas conflict began. At least 145 people have been arrested, many of them counter-protestors who belonged to far-right groups. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says people have been charged with possession of weapons, public disorder, possession of drugs and assault. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Labour chief of staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Chris Luxon has warned coalition negotiations will be extended for another week- and claimed it seems unlikely he'll make it to APEC. Is this a bad look for the National Party, or does this process need more time? MBIE is planning to cut jobs and budgets in the coming months- is this a good idea? ANZ brought in a net profit of over $2.2 billion in the year ending September. Is this a bad look in a cost of living crisis?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon says coalition talks will probably prevent him from attending this week's APEC leaders' meeting in San Fransisco. The summit for Pacific Rim leaders is expected to focus on conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. It will also include a crucial meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first on American soil in about seven years. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says Chris Luxon will miss the chance to do a political sweep and show several key leaders what his Government aims to accomplish. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sticking points in National's tax plan seem be causing friction in Government negotiations. New Zealand First's Shane Jones told media today his party's working out some 'jagged edges'. NewstalkZB understands they involve how National will pay for tax cuts. ZB political editor Jason Walls says two issues are lifting the foreign buyers ban and dipping into the Climate Emergency Response Fund. He says New Zealand First aren't happy for that money to be used on tax cuts- and would rather it go into making regions more resilient to climate change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Henry Nicholls has been cleared by independent commissioners of ball tampering allegations during day three of Canterbury's Plunket Shield match against Auckland at Hagley Oval. Video footage showed the Black Cap scraping the ball on a batting helmet. The commissioners found his actions were unlikely to alter the condition of the ball. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The brains behind New Zealand's largest regenerative beauty brand has her eyes on a new sustainable venture. Brianne West plans to reduce the use of single-use plastic soda bottles with ‘Incrediballs', tablets that add fizz and flavour to a glass of water. West says ‘Incrediballs' will be packaged in fully home compostable wrapping to prevent moisture from damaging the product before use. "We found a company in the UK that literally just patented new technology, that means this product is a lot more stable environmentally."   LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch Mayor Phil Mauger has reached out to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. In a letter written to the President of the global network Mayors For Peace, Mauger said he recognises a state's obligation to defend itself from aggression, but condemned the massacre of innocents. Christchurch City Councillor Yani Johanson says the Mayors For Peace has an extensive global reach and could work together to address the ongoing conflict. "All of us are seeing what is very a disturbing and horrific humanitarian situation in Gaza, and we've also seen the extraordinary loss of innocent civilian lives- I think it's important to do what we can." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's Nicola Willis is defending Luxon as he extends post-election coalition talks. Luxon has begun another week of discussions with coalition partners ACT and NZ First, and it's looking less likely he'll attend APEC on Wednesday. The Finance Minister-elect says she's not going to go into detail about who's talking to who, but coalition discussions are progressing.  "We're making sure we're getting through the issues that matter so we can sign agreements, go to the Governor-General and form a Government."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Coromandel's State Highway 25A's fix has come in ahead of time and under cost. The road between between Kōpū and Hikuai was cut in two by Cyclone Gabrielle in January, with numerous major slips blocking travel. It'll reopen by December 20, a full three months earlier than anticipated. Waka Kotahi's Jo Wilton says the team worked hard and planned ahead- but there were special circumstances behind this faster-than-expected repair. "Because it was emergency work, the consenting process is retrospective. As long as we built to the standard, we could do the consenting retrospectively. Plus, we didn't need to purchase any land." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Minister says the continuing Government negotiations are starting to look bad for Chris Luxon. Another week of talks has begun, and the Prime Minister-elect says he's unlikely to be able to leave for the APEC Summit on Wednesday, with nothing wrapped up. Peter Dunne says Luxon gave the impression his business background would help him strike a deal quickly. "He's got the second-longest set of negotiations since NZ First was first involved in negations. And he's somehow seems to believe he could do it all differently- and better. He's fallen into the same trap others have." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ANZ's CEO is defending its cash net profit, at a time where households struggle with the cost of living. The country's largest bank has reported a 10 percent increase in its cash net profit in the year ending September. Antonia Watson says their profit of over $2 billion is a lot of money in a New Zealand sense. "The thing is, we're just really big- and I think that's the hard thing for Kiwis to get their heads around. Our profits are middle-of-the-road." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Auckland University researcher has raised concerns over the nation's vaping rates. OECD data shows New Zealand has the second-highest number of people aged 15 or over vaping regularly, just behind Estonia. More than 8 percent of those in that age group regularly vape in New Zealand, with higher rates among teens. Researcher Kelly Burrowes says a high percentage of Kiwi teens have been drawn to vaping, surging ahead of other nations. "18 percent of that age group are regular vapers- that is a lot higher than in the UK or Australia, where it's only around 5 or 8 percent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flow-on effects from a cyber attack are affecting Australia's second-largest port operator. DP World Australia, which is responsible for 40 percent of maritime freight, stopped internet access to all its ports on Friday, halting goods movement in and out of the country. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the ports in Perth and Brisbane have just restarted operations. But he says Sydney can't accept export cargo for another two weeks. "So you can imagine the massive delays this is going to create for businesses well into the lead-up to Christmas, they believe they'll be running out of stock in the next few weeks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's starting to get a bit awkward with how long these coalition negotiations are taking, especially now that Chris Luxon’s warned us we might not get a deal until the end of this week. These talks are about to become the second longest set of coalition talks in the history of MMP. Former Green Party MP Gareth Hughes went back through all of the elections and counted how long it took from each election date to the end of the coalition talks. 1996 was of course the longest- and most famous for it because Winston went fishing. 2002 under Helen Clark took 12 days, 2005 took 30 days, 2008 under John Key took 8 days, 2011 took 9 days, 2014 took 15 days, and then 2017 with Jacinda and Winston took 26 days. As of today, these talks are at 30 days. They are tied for the second longest spot with 2005. From tomorrow, they become the second longest only to the infamous 1996 fishing trip talks. That’s embarrassing for Chris Luxon. Because

Calls are growing for the Home Secretary Suella Braverman to resign after she wrote an article attacking the police in London over the decision to allow a pro-Palestinian march the same day as the Armistice commemorations on Saturday.  The boss of McDonalds in the UK is to be questioned by MPs over claims of sexual abuse, harassment, racism and bullying uncovered by the BBC.  A supermarket chain in the north of England has become the first in the UK to ditch almost all its self-service tills and go back to fully-staffed checkouts.  UK Correspondent Gail Downey spoke to Heather du Plessis-Allan.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officially we don't know yet whether Xi Jinping will be at APEC in San Francisco next week, but it does look very likely? If he comes, will he meet with Joe Biden?  Meanwhile, Bloomberg is reporting that Xi Jinping is set to attend a dinner with top us business execs including Tesla's Elon Musk and Apple's Tim Cook.  How was Anthony Albanese's visit to China received over there?  And China has released its long awaited action plan to reduce methane emissions.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blackcaps are on the verge of yet another world cup semi-final after a convincing five wicket win against Sri Lanka.   Meaning that Pakistan needs to win against England tomorrow night by at least 287 runs, while batting first, to overtake them on net run rate.  Essentially, it's all but confirmed the Blackcaps will face favourites India.   And Blackcap's bowler Trent Boult talked to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the results and what to expect for the semi-final.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra's new climate plan has been welcomed by Federated Farmers and climate researchers   The company pledged to reduce farm emissions by 30% by 2030.  Business commentator Rod Oram joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to talk about it.     LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour leader and outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was re-elected as leader. Was he really only the valid option?Where do coalition negotiations currently sit?Should Electoral Commissioner Karl Le Quesne lose his job over the election mistakes?ZB's Political Editor Jason Walls wraps the week that was.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwisaver provider Simplicity has announced it will immediately sell off its shares in three Israeli banks in response to the conflict in Gaza.    Simplicity says after an internal review, it decided the banks don't meet the requirements of its responsible investment policy.   Sam Stubbs is the CEO of Simplicity talked to Heather du Plessis-Allan about it.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight in The Sports Huddle, ZB's Andrew Alderson and sports journalist Lavina Good joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The Black Caps comprehensively beat Sri Lanka and now have one foot in the semi-finals. But can they beat India?Eddie Jones has turned up in Japan after he said he wasn't interested in the job. How toxic is he? And Beauden Barrett could be back in the All Blacks in 2024.LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters and his team have left the capital, after a whirlwind of talks with Act and National.  Newstalk ZB understands New Zealand First's leader has landed in Auckland, to reflect on talks so far, and the next round.  It's understood Act and New Zealand First have laid down the law to National warning Chris Luxon a government he leads won't simply have the minor parties on the side.  Rather they will be an intricate part of any Governing arrangement agreed.  Meanwhile, there's been an early agreement an Act, National, New Zealand First Government will have a strong focus on fast-tracking infrastructure.  ZB Political Editor Jason Walls updated Heather du Plessis-Allan on the progress.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener</

The Bird of the Century winner announcement will now be delayed by two days following an influx of hundreds of thousands of votes thanks to British comedian John Oliver and his Puteketeke campaign.   The winner will be announced on Wednesday 15th November while voting closes at 5pm on Sunday the 12th.  Forest and Bird communications advisor Ellen Rykers spoke to Heather du Plessis-Allan about it.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police investigating the murder of baby Ruthless Empire believe that crucial evidence was disposed of - and have revealed more details surrounding the death of the toddler three weeks ago.   Nobody has been charged and it appears that the three people of interest have not given police the full story.  NZ Herald reporter, Melissa Nightingale, has been following developments today.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Act's leader says a strong relationship with Winston Peters is important, as Government-forming talks continue. David Seymour and the New Zealand First leader talked for just 10 minutes in Wellington today. He told Heather du Plessis Allan it wasn't a long talk, but it was productive. He says it's worth taking the time to speak face-to-face - with three years ahead of them. He says all three parties have to work together and a triangle is always going to be stronger than a V, if all three parties are talking at the same time.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Whitehouse says Israel has agreed to four-hour military pauses in Gaza. This comes after a lot of pressure from the US on Israel.  Meanwhile, there is a year to go until the Presidential Election and there's concern that Joe Biden isn't going to win. But any other democrat candidate could?  And now that the actors have agreed to a deal, when are the shows coming back on, and how much has it cost the industry?  US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson spoke to Heather du Plessis-Allan about it.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Caps batsman Henry Nicholls reported by match umpires for alleged ball tampering in Plunket Shield match. Meanwhile, the Black Caps are all but into the Cricket World semi-finals, but could they beat India?And the Warriors are taking some of their games to Christchurch. Is this a good idea?Weekend Sport host Jason Pine spoke to Heather du Plessis-Allan about these stories and more.    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disappointment with NZQA after major disruptions for Year 11 students sitting an online exam. More than 20,000 tried to sit the NCEA Level 1 English exam today. But the system buckled under the pressure after about 18-thousand pupils had logged on - and access was cut. Avonside College Principal, Catherine Laws told Heather du Plessis-Allan a number of students were distressed. She says those with special assessment conditions already have barriers to communicating what they want to say, so it was really tough for them.   LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don’t Karl Le Quesne the guy who runs the Electoral Commission.   He seems like a serious sort of man who takes his job seriously which is the kind of person I quite like.   So I have nothing against him, but he has to lose his job over the stuff ups this election.   There have been too many stuff ups:    The problem getting getting the Easy Vote cards out before the election.   The computers system crashed for a while on election day.   They lost an entire box of votes in the final count.   15 seats ended up having wrong final counts.   And finally, they thought it was a good idea to put a voting booth in a marae in Manurewa where the CEO of the marae was running for parliament and won the seat and is now an MP.   If you were generous, a

Boris Johnson warned that the Tories were 'drifting to defeat' under Rishi Sunak's leadership. The former Prime Minister claimed Sunak was offering voters 'nothing to rally behind' and that they needed a 'positive agenda for change'. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the Opposition party is currently leading by 45 percent in the polls and they're in with a good chance ahead of next year's election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and BRG director Georgina Stylianou joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Winston Peters held an impromptu press conference about the ongoing coalition discussions, and claimed 'speed is of the essence'. Is Winston getting impatient?  Labour's Helen White is under pressure to defend her campaign, after emails leaked showing her volunteers blamed Hipkins, and the Greens for her election result? What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Industry experts are 'cautiously optimistic' about Fonterra's plan to reduce on-farm emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The dairy co-op has promised to utilise new technology, changes to farming practice and existing and new vegetation to remove carbon. The Country's Jamie Mackay says a 30 percent reduction in 7 years is unlikely, based on current projections. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More eyes are on the Commerce Commission, as Foodstuffs seeks their approval for a merger. The retail giant hopes to merge its North Island and South Island operations into one business, but needs the Government agency to sign off. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says these businesses have to see some threats of legislation or disruption before they get too big. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fifteen voting places have been found to have data entry errors causing changes for electorate candidate results. The Electoral Commission has just released amended official results after doing a full check of party, electorate and special votes. Errors include one electorate where some special votes were entered incorrectly, and 620 votes in the East Coast that were included in the preliminary count but not the official count. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this mistake adds to a worsening look for the Electoral Commission. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creditors of failed online grocery business Supie today voted in favour of liquidation at a watershed meeting. A report from BusinessDesk counted 14 people in multiple meetings held about the company, despite 100 seats being laid out at PwC's Auckland office. Neat Meat founder and former Supie creditor Simon Eriksen doesn't think there's a lot of money left over. "The money has gone, and knowing enough about that business- there probably isn't a lot left over after you pay wages and whatnot." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global logistics company Mainfreight has reported a significant slump in net profit and revenue. Their result shows profits declined 42 percent, to $124 million- after a successful 2022. CEO Don Braid says the company managed to have two really good years, as the company took advantage of unprecedented demand.   "We're now heading towards a more normalised trading environment, freight volumes are down dramatically from the nutty period where we had economic stimulus from Governments around the world." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The head of the under-pressure Electoral Commission has apologised once again, for yet another voting day error. Earlier this week, the Herald revealed 3 voting places where the data entry was incorrect. But after an investigation, the Commission revealed that number was actually 15. Chief Electoral Officer Karl Le Quesne says this was a regrettable error. "It appears the quality assurance checks didn't pick it up- they should have. When we went through yesterday and applied all those checks again, that's when we found things didn't reconcile." Overall results have not been affected, nor the electorates where recounts are underway. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra says their emissions reduction scheme will work for the benefit of its farmers. The dairying giant plans to slash on-farm greenhouse gases 30 percent by 2030 through new tech, farming practices and carbon removal. There's no punishment for farmers not complying- the company instead hopes demand from customers to go green will be incentive enough. Director of Sustainability Charlotte Rutherford says it's about productivity and efficiency. "It's generally a good thing for farmers- it can make them more profitable and can certainly make them more resilient into the future." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac is reconsidering whether or not it will continue to fund the RSV drug Palivizumab. It planned to stop funding, but it's now rethinking that after new information. Auckland University Associate Professor Jane Alsweiler says the drug is highly effective at keeping babies out of hospital. Pharmac Chief Medical Officer David Hughes says the past source of funding has dried up. "Additional Covid-19 pandemic funding from the Government- that funding has ended. And that means Palivizumab needs to be considered through Pharmac's usual process." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An obscured view might be just the ticket for some Taylor Swift fans. Frontier Touring is releasing additional tickets to her Melbourne and Sydney shows, including partially-obstructed side view seats, starting from $80. Promoters Association President Brent Eccles says there might be some small thing that might restrict your view. But he says often it is just a precautionary note. "Part of the show might be obscured by details, maybe a small marquee or something- but you still get to see the full video presentation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Government's launching a review into the nationwide Optus outage affecting millions. Customers started to report an inability to access both mobile and home internet services around 6am yesterday - with emergency services unable to communicate and trains in Melbourne brought to a halt. Services are gradually being restored. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says millions of Australians were left 'vulnerable' as a result of the outage. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11 new faces feature in the Moana Pasifika squad for the next Super Rugby Pacific season. They include English lock Tom Savage, who has earned 179 caps for Premiership team Gloucester. Former All Blacks wing Julian Savea has joined from the Hurricanes, while flanker Sione Havili Talitui  comes in from the Crusaders. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave recaps today's picks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actors are likely to get back in front of the cameras as early as tomorrow, with the SAG-AFTRA actors' union reaching a tentative agreement with Hollywood studios. The 118-day strike was sparked by demands for increased minimum salaries, a share of streaming service revenue and protection from being replaced by digital replicas generated by AI. KTLA entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin says Hollywood's been dormant, now it'll roar back into action. "The actors are going to get back to work literally as soon as tomorrow. On the promotion side, I think production of film and television will resume as soon as next week." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Charles III delivered the British government's agenda for the first time on the throne. The monarch laid out the Government's plans to tackle crime, boost growth and reduce Britain's climate change targets. UK correspondent Gail Downey says law and order is the primary focus of the current Government over the next 12 months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&amp;A and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The Electoral Commission is under pressure to recheck the voting results after the Herald uncovered wrong vote counts at three polling booths. Is this going to lead to a crisis in confidence in future election results? New Zealand's Jewish community is reporting escalating threats and abuse against them. Do politicians have a responsibility to watch their rhetoric in fear of inflaming the situation?  Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger is the latest to oppose ACT's proposed referendum on the Treaty. Does there need to be a debate about the Treaty- or is the threat of civil unrest too strong? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists are wracking their brains over how negotiations are set to shape the incoming Government's economic polices. ANZ's latest economic outlook examined the fiscal outlook for the incoming National-led Government, and noted that the addition of ACT and NZ First could lead to more significant changes. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says National will face potential roadblocks in introducing tax cuts and a foreign buyers tax, as those have divided all three parties. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sky TV has terminated discussions about a potential takeover with an unnamed third party. Last month, the company reportedly received an expression of interest from a prospective bidder hoping to buy the company out. Earlier today, Sky revealed they had received a non-binding offer from the third party that didn't meet their expectations. Milford Asset Management's Sam Trethewey explains why Sky rejected this proposed buyout. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lobbying efforts are already underway to prevent the incoming Government from implementing a new tax on commercial and industrial building owners. National campaigned on removing the ability of commercial and industrial building owners to deduct depreciation as an expense when paying tax. This extra tax would bring in an extra $2 billion over four years and help cover National's proposed tax cuts. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says this is one of the easiest methods National can use to generate extra tax revenue, as less voters are affected by it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand First and ACT have made their first contact in coalition negotiations since the election wrapped up. ACT’s chief of staff Andrew Ketels and NZ First’s Darroch Ball met in Wellington today to establish 'lines of communication'. As of yet, Winston Peters has not responded to David Seymour's invitation for a conversation.  NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan says there's still tension between Seymour and Peters, meaning other party members will have to clear the way. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US is experiencing a shortage of essential over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications. A dwindling supply of ADHD, cancer and diabetes medication is disrupting hospitals and pharmacies- and creating widespread concern. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says even animals are being impacted by this shortage, as medications for pets has also gotten harder to find. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rugby is set to implement smart mouthguard technology to detect head injuries suffered on the field. From January 1, these mouthguards will be mandated into all professional rugby competitions. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the implications of this technology, and whether players will benefit or suffer from this practice. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some University of Auckland managers were uncomfortable with Dr Siouxsie Wiles’ 'celebrity' status during Covid-19 and gave her the nickname 'Brand Siouxsie', a court heard today. Wiles is taking on the university in Employment Court, on the grounds that they should have done more to protect her from threats directed at her during the pandemic. NZ Herald reporter Isaac Davison says the university's dean of Medical and Health Sciences had voiced concern about Dr Wiles' prominence. "He had raised concerns about the nature of that and whether some of her commentary would bring the university into disrepute." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 19-year-old Waitaki candidate has spoken out about the abuse he faced on the campaign trail. Ethan Reille says he went through a 'daunting' experience in his first campaign- he was subject to verbal and digital abuse and threats, and was spat at a rural A&amp;P event. He says young candidates shouldn't have to experience that kind of abuse in politics. "We've seen it progressively get worse as more young people enter the political space. At the same time, as a Pakeha male, I don't share the brunt of what our female, Indigenous and Pasifika candidates face." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A healthy lunch seems to be hard to find at school canteens. Researchers reviewed food in more than 120 primary school tuck shops- assigning green, amber, or red ratings based on how healthy it was. Only 19 percent scored green. Massey University's Carol Wham says she's not surprised to see most items don't meet Ministry of Health guidelines. "They really want at least 75 percent percent of food offerings to be in the green, which is the healthy group items without fat and sugar and salt- not highly processed." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A spokesperson for New Zealand's Jewish community says antisemitism is rising. The fence of an Auckland Jewish community centre was graffitied overnight, with the words 'Free Gaza, save the kids' and 'Ceasefire'. It was then set on fire. Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses says it's hard to quantify, but threats are increasing. "There's a lot of online abuse, there's in-person death threats, there's a lot of bad stuff happening at schools, where children have been quite seriously bullied." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An electoral law expert says a vote counting error could have been easily avoided. The Electoral Commission is conducting a full check, after results from three polling booths were recorded incorrectly. The data entry slip-up saw the Leighton Baker Party and the New Conservatives score votes meant for National. Barrister Graeme Edgeler says it should have triggered alerts when National got no votes at one booth. "You should have two independent people both inputting the data, and then the computer checks if they're the same. I would have assumed they did that, and the fact that this wasn't caught suggested they don't." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington chef says it hurts to see high profile local restaurants closing. In the past fortnight, Field and Green and Shepherd have announced they'll be shutting at the end of the year. Logan Brown chef Shaun Clousten says hospitality is the heart and soul of the city. He says times are tough and he doesn't think the problem is too many restaurants. "We know there's a lot of restaurants, and I can tell you right now that you really don't want to be putting a cap on things and saying- no, you can't do that because somebody else is already doing that." He says restaurants are likely to need to up their prices. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm not about to tell Chlöe Swarbrick that she shouldn't have used that phrase. Right-minded people don't make a habit of policing what people say, I don't think it crosses the line at all or incites people into violence, so it's not going to break the law and she can technically say it if she want to. But she might want to really consider whether she wants to be saying that phrase. Chlöe, as a New Zealand-based politician, is probably not going to change what's happening in Israel. So heading off to the domain in Auckland and chanting that phrase is probably not going to affect what's happening in the Middle East. But it does have the power to affect what's happening here in New Zealand. We have got both Palestinian and Jewish communities in the region who are hurting, and many members of those communities will be quite angry about the situation at the moment. You don't have to look far to see evidence of that. The graffiti on the fen

Harry and Meghan were the subject of another royal family controversy, over claims they snubbed King Charles. The monarch is celebrating his 75th birthday next week, and reports claimed Harry - and possibly Meghan - rejected his invitation. The pair have since responded, claiming they had never received an invitation to the event. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's unlikely Harry would have forgotten this event, and it's likely he was left off the list altogether. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Chris Hipkins will remain leader of the Labour party after securing a vote of confidence from his caucus. Hipkins intends to run again in 2026- and capital gains and wealth taxes are back on the table again. Could these polices help Labour in the future? Is Chris Hipkins the future of the Labour party? NZ Rugby has released a study into concussion among community rugby players, showing the impact on 94 percent of players is lower than on people jumping on trampolines. Does this make you keen to have your kids play rugby? The Melbourne Cup has updated their dress code to allow men to wear shorts- what do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister John Key is taking Zespri's kiwifruit fight straight to top Chinese politicians. Zespri filed a civil case in China's Intellectual Property Court in August, against parties it claims are growing unlicensed golden kiwifruit. Key has since spoken with China's foreign affairs minister Wang Yi on a business trip to Beijing to ensure Kiwi farmers have confidence their intellectual property is protected. The Country's Jamie Mackay says China's unlicensed growth is a threat to Zespri's sales, as 25 percent of their total sales come from the region. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Time is running out for National's proposed pre-Christmas mini-budget. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon and his new Finance Minister Nicola Willis promised to create a scaled-down budget by the end of 2023 back in September. ANZ's latest economic outlook has cast doubt on whether the incoming Government can deliver on this promise. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains the roadblocks National will need to take into account while crafting a mini-budget in this timeframe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs is set to apply to the Commerce Commission to merge its North Island and South Island co-operatives into one national business. The company is half of New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly - and expected to spark big debate on competition issues. Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says this merger is part of a strategy focused on creating better value to customers. "Like any business, we have to look harder at our cost base- and also where our energy and efforts are going." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research on concussions has shed light on how rugby head collisions affect community players. The collaborative study includes research by Otago University and data from local and international rugby governing bodies. It used smart mouthguard technology - obligatory in training and elite matches from next year. Research scientist Janelle Romanchuk says it measured 17,000 incidents across 300 players. "86 percent of that data would be relative to what you might experience jumping on a trampoline or what you might experience on a roller coaster." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chlöe Swarbrick says it's abhorrent to suggest she supports the destruction of Israel. The Green MP is under fire for chanting 'from the river to the sea' at a pro-Palestine rally on the weekend. The phrase has been used since the 1960s to advocate for freeing Palestine from Israel's occupation. The Jewish Council says it's anti-Semitic. Swarbrick says she decries anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and violence in all forms. "The pathway forward for ongoing peace means justice. That means an immediate ceasefire, a return of hostages on all side and a recognition of humanity and shared rights of Palestinians."    LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Labour Minister says the Party's Caucus has made the right move in re-selecting Chris Hipkins as its leader this morning. Hipkins says he plans to stay on as leader until the next election. Former Cabinet Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says Hipkins is the right choice, for now. "Labour needs to spend the time taking stock of the election results- and how they got there." Lees-Galloway says Hipkins has 18 months to prove he's the right man, or someone else will need to step up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins has survived as Labour leader, after securing the confidence of his Caucus in a vote this morning. Carmel Sepuloni was unanimously voted in as Labour Deputy - taking the place of Kelvin Davis, who stepped down. Hipkins also confirmed he plans to run for Prime Minister in 2026, and all previously canned policies are back on the table including capital gains and wealth taxes. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Labour would be better off re-evaluating several key policies, but they should consider leaving wealth taxes alone. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Reserve Bank is taking a crack at inflation - lifting the country's cash rate for the first time since June. It's up 25 basis points to 4.35 percent. Correspondent Murray Olds says inflation was cooling at 5.4 percent- but spiked in the September quarter. "That's because rents are rising very quickly on the back of high immigration numbers, we've got petrol spiking because of international conflict." New Zealand's Reserve Bank is set to review the OCR on November 29,  which is currently on hold at 5.5 percent. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks captain Sam Cane has been suspended for two matches following his high tackle at the Rugby World Cup. The All Blacks captain was the first to be red-carded in World Cup final history, after his shoulder-led tackle connected with Jesse Kriel's head. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what the brief ban entails here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race that stops two nations kicks off in about half in hour. About 80,000 punters will be track side at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup, with 23 horses ready to hit the ground running. Australian correspondent Donna Demaio says the party's already started. "Post-pandemic, it really feels like the Melbourne Cup has got its buzz back." Newstalk ZB will cross live to the race when it begins. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the UK, as King Charles III is set to deliver the first inaugural King’s Speech in 70 years. The ruler is expected to cover the UK's legislative agenda for the next few months, in the lead-up to the general election. UK correspondent Gail Downey says the speech will address key political issues impacting the region. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former National press secretary Ben Thomas and former Labour chief of staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Concerned Christchurch residents have been tracking a woman with a history of poisoning neighbourhood cats and making them sick- do authorities need to intervene? Once the final vote was known, Winston Peters called for a three-way meeting between himself, Chris Luxon and David Seymour. Is this sensible? Is it a good idea for Luxon to get the two of them negotiating together? The Labour caucus is set to meet tomorrow to vote on leadership- is Chris Hipkins the obvious choice? Will his caucus want him to carry on as leader? LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The next phase of establishing a new Government is set to begin, as all the final ballots have been counted. National is in talks with ACT and New Zealand First, after special votes revealed all three are needed to form a Government. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says all three parties will need to have negotiations in person so Luxon can work around Seymour and Winston's complicated history with each other. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthony Albanese has become the first Australian Prime Minister to visit China in seven years- touching down in Shanghai yesterday. He's trying to improve relations with the country's biggest trade partner. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Albanese is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping to repair the damage left by Scott Morrison. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Cap run machine Rachin Ravindra may be the breakout star of the Cricket World Cup but he's keeping his feet firmly on the ground. The 23-year-old is third on the tournament run-scoring list, totalling 523 runs at the stunning average of 74.71. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains Ravindra's success and popularity further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac's CEO has identified a range of reasons for its fall in profits. The bank had a $963 million net profit for the year to September, down seven percent from 2022. Catherine McGrath says Westpac has been investing heavily in key parts of the business to improve the customer experience. "We've been investing in the foundation of the bank, so we've been introducing new tools. For example, we're the first bank in New Zealand to bring in an extra layer of security for our customers to protect them from fraud and scams." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister-in-waiting is letting nothing slip on coalition negotiations. National is in talks with ACT and New Zealand First, after special votes revealed all three are needed to form a Government. A former New Zealand First MP, Andrew Williams, told Mike Hosking this morning leader Winston Peters would want to be Treasurer. But Nicola Willis wouldn't be drawn on it. "One of the things that's been really great about this process, and I think you've seen it from David Seymour, from Chris Luxon, from Winston Peters- is our respectful desire not to negotiate via the media." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerned Christchurch residents have been monitoring a woman with a reported history of harming local cats. A 400-strong Facebook community dubbed this woman the 'harmful cat feeder' and claim she's feeding their pets questionable food and making them sick- or worse. One resident, Kate Russell, says this woman has been creating problems for years, but her behaviour has intensified over the last 18 months. "She has been told again and again, to the extent that people have put signs up on their property asking her not to feed, which she rips down. Local businesses and local medical centres have signs in their windows- she has no permission at all from anyone." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She's dressed royals, A-list stars and even Prime Ministers- and now Emilia Wickstead's designs will be part of Air New Zealand's uniform refresh. The London-based Kiwi designer is set to craft new looks for the airline's 5,000-strong cabin and ground crew. They will be revealed late next year for a wearer trial, before taking to the skies in 2025. Wickstead expressed excitement with this creative opportunity and looks forward to bringing her designs back to her home country. "Essentially, it's like a full circle, when I was a little girl, I had a dream and took it away and built a business abroad- and now I've come full circle and I'm so proud to be doing this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon has shot down ACT's wish for a Treaty referendum, but there's suggestions there could be a consolation prize. The Prime Minister-elect says it would be divisive and unhelpful. He's in negotiations with ACT and New Zealand First, who need to combine to govern. Former National Treaty Negotiations Minister Chris Finlayson says there is a case for looking at the Treaty of Waitangi Act. "The tribunal's coming up to 50 years old- so what's the role of the tribunal in the future once it's dealt with historical grievances?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A report has suggested the average Auckland house deposit could reach $1 million by 2045. The report was shared exclusively with One News. Enable.Me financial adviser Katie Wesney says it's not an inconceivable amount. "A million dollar deposit in 22 years, that's a 6.5 percent rate. And in all reality in the last 10 years, Auckland house prices have risen by 7.8 percent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour MPs are not expected to oppose Chris Hipkins staying as party leader when they meet tomorrow. It'll be the first catch up since Friday's full election result revealed who will stay and go. They'll discuss the campaign and the political road map for the next three years- and they'll also vote on Labour's leadership. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Hipkins is expected to win handsomely. "I've been hitting the phone and speaking to MPs- and the sense that I'm getting is that Chris Hipkins is going to be safe." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High-profile scientist Siouxsie Wiles left a courtroom in tears after recounting a threat made against her on Christmas Eve. She's taking legal action against her employer, the University of Auckland, saying it didn't seriously respond to those threats until more than two years after Wiles first complained. Herald reporter Isaac Davison says Wiles and colleagues with complaints of harassment counted about 60 emails and 7 meetings before they felt the university was responding. He says the university initially got external security advice- and her complaint was much of it was reactive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once again, thanks to MMP, we're back in a state of suspension and waiting for the conclusion of coalition talks. Which for all the parties' claims- are barely progressing. And I think it's important for our collective sanity that we concentrate on what we know, rather than all the ifs, buts, maybes and reckons which we might imagine to be the case. What is it that we actually know? We know that National and ACT and NZ First are willing to form a coalition, and that's pretty much it so far. The big thing we need to do now is to get the three to meet. Now what we know about that was revealed in Winston Peters' only interview thus far, with Sean Plunket- which was held on Friday. And he said two things- he said that all three parties should meet together at the same time. Not National-ACT, then National-NZ First, then ACT-NZ First. All three, at the same time, in the same room. We can also presume that based on his telephone tag with David Seymo

The Black Caps are approaching the pointy end of the Cricket World Cup group stage. New Zealand is hanging on to fourth in the group stage table, ahead of fifth-placed Pakistan on run rate. Tomorrow's clash with Pakistan is one of their two remaining clashes, and need a win to all but secure a semi-final place. Black Caps batting coach Luke Ronchi joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elon Musk declared artificial intelligence “one of the most disruptive forces in history” in a sit down conversation with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that dove into the dangers and opportunities of AI on Thursday, capping off the UK’s inaugural AI Safety Summit.  “AI will be a force for good most likely,” Musk said. “But the probability of it going bad is not zero percent.”  The two men spoke in an interview-style chat from a stage at Lancaster House, a government venue in central London often used for diplomatic purposes, before the conversation was opened up to questions from journalists. The conversation was then posted for streaming on Musk’s personal account on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter that he owns.  Musk was present throughout the two-day event held m

President Joe Biden is expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the White House said, sharing an agreement in principle has been reached on a meeting later this month in San Francisco.  Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stressed that the White House believes the best way to manage competition is through “intense diplomacy,” and said, “It’s going to be a constructive meeting. The president’s looking forward to it.”  Pressed repeatedly on the meeting, Jean-Pierre said she “just confirmed it,” though a White House official later clarified that the press secretary “was speaking to the agreement in principle.”  “We are planning for a constructive meeti

The special votes are in and officially point to a National-ACT-NZ First coalition. They all ran on a similar election promise of turning the country around, including how they pledged to save the economy.  But what could this all mean for businesses? Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian mushroom cook Erin Patterson appeared in court today facing two charges of attempted murder and three of murder. A brief hearing was held at the Latrobe Valley magistrates court, with the case officially adjourned until May next year. Her former in-laws Gail and Don Patterson as well as Gail's sister Heather died from suspected toxic mushroom poisoning in July, and Gail's husband Ian was hospitalised. Melbourne journalist Nathan Currie joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle - Three's Patrick Gower and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The special votes are finally out, and National's two lost seats have all but confirmed they have to form a three-way coalition with ACT and Winston Peters. It's also been a horror day for Labour, after only just clinging onto Mt Albert by 20 votes, and both the Greens and Te Pāti Māori making huge grounds on their special vote speciality. And Labour deputy Kelvin Davis has announced he'll stay on as leader of Labour's Māori caucus, after losing his Te Tai Tokerau seat to Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corrections has admitted it was alerted when New Windsor dairy stabber Mitchell Lam's ankle bracelet went offline an hour and a half before the attack. They say they didn't investigate the issue and didn't call the police because Lam had never tampered with it before. However, Corrections say Lam had also breached bail conditions five times and had been arrested on multiple occasions. Victims advocate Ruth Money joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Rachel Boyack says she's delighted with the final count result for her Nelson seat, but acknowledges it’s a small margin.  On the official count, she leapfrogged National's Blair Cameron to win the seat by 29 votes.  Boyack told Andrew Dickens she's received notification from her National opponent he'll seek a recount for the Nelson seat.  “My expectation is that’ll happen reasonably quickly, and I’m still very hopeful I will retain the seat.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's campaign chair has clarified his earlier warnings of a second election.   The final vote count reveals National's dropped two seats to 48, which means it no longer has a majority with ACT's 11 and will need New Zealand First.   During the campaign Chris Bishop cautioned voters could be sent back to the polls if the three parties couldn't come to an arrangement.   Today he told Andrew Dickens that was only one scenario.   “As things have turned out, there have been really productive and constructive conversations between New Zealand First and National, and also between National and ACT, and so that is not a possibility.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio

The Beatles have released what they say is their very last song ever that’s been 45 years in the making.  ‘Now and Then’ is a cassette track that John Lennon gave to Sir Paul McCartney, and then Sir Peter Jackson used technology to recreate Lennon’s voice with AI and added music from the surviving Beatles Sir Paul and Sir Ringo Starr.  It’s certainly made people think about The Beatles again, and their place in our culture.  Ultra Beatles fan Joanna Jones joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour will be a “formidable opposition” as they work to “win back the confidence of more New Zealanders” over the next term, leader Chris Hipkins says. The party will have 34 of the expected 123 seats in Parliament over the next three years. Hipkins said he felt Labour had picked up some momentum over the campaign, as evidenced by on-the-day versus advance voting results. But the special votes appeared to reflect the advance voting. “Labour has been sent a message and we have heard it. We will be working hard to rebuild support over the next three years and continue to stand up for working people, children and the environment,” Hipkins said. “While Labour governed during an incredibly challenging time for New Zealand, progress was being made. We can’t let that go to waste.” Hipkins said the party’s economic management was seeing the economy turn a corner with inflation and food prices comi

Eric Trump, one of two sons entrusted to run Donald Trump’s real estate empire, today swore he was never involved with or aware of financial statements that New York state lawyers say fraudulently puffed up the ex-president’s wealth and the worth of the family business. But when a state lawyer pulled up decade-old emails in which a fellow Trump Organisation executive asked him for information needed to complete one of his dad’s financial statements, the irritated son strove to clarify. “We’re a major organisation — yes, I’m fairly sure I understand that we have financial statements. Absolutely,” Eric Trump said. But, he insisted: “I had no involvement and never worked on my father’s statement of financial condition.” Later, when told another Trump Organisation figure gave evidence about him being on a video call about his father’s financial statement as recently as 2021, Eric Trump said he could not remember. <p class=

International rugby's most experienced referee Wayne Barnes has announced his retirement after 111 tests. His retirement comes just days after the Rugby World Cup final, where he cited online abuse, including death threats, in his reasoning for stepping down. A must-win game for the Black Caps in Bengaluru against Pakistan. The Black Caps have lost their last three in a row, and need a win to all but secure their spot in the Cricket World Cup semifinals. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says he's confident he will be able to work alongside Winston Peters.   The final Special Votes count has confirmed National and ACT will need NZ First to form a government.  He says he has reached out to the New Zealand First leader but hasn't heard back yet.   Seymour told Andrew Dickens they will need to put aside their differences.  “This is a relationship that’s gonna work basically because the voters are keen and green in any election – they have asked us to work together and that we will do.”  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last Monday when I was hosting afternoon talkback I got a pithy little text that said "We've got rid of the clownshow and here comes the 3-ring circus."  It's pretty funny because it's pretty true and it's happened.  The counting of the special votes has confirmed that Luxon and Seymour need Winston and as we all know Seymour and Peters are not BEST friends. Critics warn of a conservative coalition of chaos. That won't be so but only if it's a coalition of compromise. It could be worse. Labour, the Greens, New Zealand First and Te Pāti Māori together have 63 seats. In a parliament of 123, that means they could have theoretically stolen the election. So thank Chris Hipkins for ruling Winston Peters out before the election.  Now the horse-

After years in the making, the Beatles are set to release their musical farewell to the world. 'Now and Then' features all four members on the track, and will be the last song credited to Lennon, McCartney, Harrison and Starr. The song is being released Friday and the video debuts on Saturday. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this song has been 45 years in the making, with AI enhancing the final product. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle- Sam Johnson, Projects Director at Still and Capital director Neale Jones joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! MPI has ordered 'brain drink' creators Ārepa to publish a notice saying some of its claimed health and performance benefits are unsubstantiated. Is this marketing misleading- or should consumers have known better? A search is underway at Erin Patterson's house in Victoria months after she cooked a deadly mushroom meal for her family. Patterson has been arrested- what happens next? Is there any way she can get a fair trial? The public service costs have continued to increase- up 4.5 percent on last year. The average annual salary for a public servant is $92,000- Will this probably reinforce the incoming Government's view that a trim is needed? Tomorrow's final election results are in- how do we think this will play out? LISTEN ABOVESee <a href="https://

The economic outlook in the United States is looking up. GDP in America has increased at an annual rate of 4.9 percent in the third quarter in 2023, according to recent data. Their inflation is currently at 3.7 percent and consumer spending is surging. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds recaps the less-than-stellar market reaction to the ongoing US quarterly result season. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shareholder confidence in New Zealand's primary sector listed companies has fallen to an eight-year low and dropped 22 percent on the 10 months since January. The S&amp;P/NZX Primary Sector Index dropped to 10,000, a low not seen since January 2016. The Country's Jamie Mackay says only the Fonterra Shareholders Fund has managed to stay positive all year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The incoming National-led Government will soon have to make headway on their plans for the economy. The sector has already reported increased confidence, with data from Auckland's Business Chamber showing confidence levels are up 11 percentage points from before the election. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says the incoming Government will want to begin by clearing up the short-term economic issues. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The nervous wait is almost over for a number of MPs on the cusp of losing their spot in Parliament. The much-anticipated final results - including special votes - will be released tomorrow at 2pm. ZB political editor Jason Walls says a lot's riding on the last 570,000 votes to be counted. "On current numbers, National and ACT can form a slim majority. But it's likely the centre-right bloc will lose at least one or two seats- that means they'll need NZ First to form a Government." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homes have been destroyed and tens of thousands of hectares of pasture have been burned up, as wildfires tear through Queensland. Conditions have eased today, but dozens of bushfire warnings are in place as firefighters struggle to bring the disasters back under control. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says firefighters are working to build containment lines around dangerous areas, as it's only a matter of time until temperatures flare up again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New York Times piece explored the age-old conundrum- should children be excluded from dinner parties? A child-free couple were eager to spend time with friends, but weren't keen on including their kids on the guest list, sparking debate as to what the most ethical solution could be. NZ Listener food columnist Lauraine Jacobs is in favour of leaving kids out of the equation. "If my son and his wife want to see another couple, they often go out. People are prepared to get baby-sitters, aren't they?" LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A wave of business failings is expected on the horizon. BWA Insolvency's latest report shows 20 percent more business fell in the third quarter of 2023, than in the same time last year. Their managing director says more are inevitable, with the central Government attempting to drive down discretionary spending. Bryan Williams says there are also an increase in costs and labour shortages. "And there is a worldwide downturn of commercial activity. Add all those together, and the end of the rainbow doesn't look like gold." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand-made drink company has been forced to publish a notice saying it's made some 'unsubstantiated' claims. Ārepa calls its product a 'brain drink', but the scientific community has questioned the assertion it boosts mental and athletic performance. The Ministry for Primary Industries has confirmed the notice the company had put online was compulsory, after an investigation into its labelling and advertising. Co-founder and co-chief executive Angus Brown says it's tough to balance complex, emerging science with health codes. "The issue with MPI is in relation to our use of the pre-approved health plans for vitamin C." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Australian media contingent's waiting outside a police station in a small Victorian town - hoping a woman at the centre of a fatal mushroom lunch will emerge. Erin Patterson's being questioned and her Leongatha home is being searched after her arrest this morning. Three people died in July after eating a meal she prepared in July. Australian correspondent Andrew McFarlane says Patterson's previously said she bought mushrooms for the dish at a store. "She says she actually ate the beef wellington in this case and she felt sick and went to hospital- but she also says her two kids, who were at the movie theatre when this meal took place, ate the meal the next day, but they scraped the mushrooms off and they were fine." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The mother of baby Ruthless-Empire - whose death is being investigated by police - has spoken out. Storm Angel Wall has told our newsroom after being told the toddler was choking, she rushed him to hospital, where he died. Police are treating the death as a homicide. Herald reporter Sam Sherwood, says Wall told him she denies being involved in the death. "She described him as the happiest little baby you'd ever see, she said that he was a happy, chappy baby. In her words, she said she was more than sad about what had happened." Our newsroom understands the mother was one of three staying at the Lower Hutt property at the time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps deny their fielding standards are slipping after slumping to a third straight defeat at the Cricket World Cup. They've been trounced by 190 runs by South Africa in Pune - New Zealand was rolled for 167 after allowing the Proteas to reach 357 for four. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra students are pressuring the roll, resources and planning at New Zealand's biggest school. Education Ministry data shows student rolls grew by nearly 16,000 pupils in the past year, and it says immigration is largely the reason. Rangitoto College Principal Patrick Gale says the school zone has had a lot of infill housing in the past few years. "And that's leading to higher population density, but the families that are choosing to move into those homes are often immigrants- so those two are inter-connected." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time tomorrow, we will know exactly what we voted for on the 14th of October. The release of the final voting figures will indicate exactly how many seats each party has, and how they can then be part of a coalition, and what the proportion is- and whether they can govern the country or not. To be honest, I had to ask my co-workers what date the election was on, because it felt so long ago. And the reason for that is because it's been over three weeks since October 14th. The length between the election and the counting of the votes has upset many people, including Christopher Luxon. Yesterday, he spoke to Mike Hosking, today he was talking about it in his stand-up. Yesterday, he said he needs to review the electoral law to find out why it takes so long- and perhaps make some changes. That electorate law, by the way? It's had a lot of changes that have been proposed, he's going to also have to look at the independent electoral review, whic

The ongoing inquiry into the UK's response to the Covid-19 pandemic is still underway, and damning allegations have surfaced. Records kept by former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance state that former Prime Minister Boris Johnson believed Covid was 'nature's way of dealing with old people'. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Johnson's pandemic response has been wildly criticised, as he kept flip-flopping as the crisis unfolded. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! A school in Ōamaru is under fire after students were banned from contacting their parents on a school camp when a group of pupils and staff went missing. Do you think the kids should have been allowed their phones back? Chris Luxon says he's had a chat with Chris Bishop after he compared the Hamas attack to the Holocaust in an email to a member of the public. Is this an example of how difficult it is to tread the line when it comes to this issue? The Labour caucus is set to vote to decide whether or not they want to keep Chris Hipkins around to lead Labour. How do we rate his chances? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's sharemarket is in a steady decline, having dropped 20 percent from its January 2021 peak. The selloffs are accelerated, with a reported 10 percent fall over the past 3 months. Milford Asset Management's Mark Riggall explains why the market is in decline- and the role geopolitics has played in these figures. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank warns that mortgage stress is set to increase, with more households expected to default on payments. The banking regulator forecasts the portion of banks’ housing lending deemed “non-performing” will almost double by early 2025. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says portions are predicted to increase- but it won't reach the figures from the 2009 Global Financial Crisis. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon's attempted to rein in a top MP, after the leak of an email Chris Bishop sent a to a constituent, likening Hamas's attacks on Israel to the Holocaust. In the email leaked to social media, Bishop was critical of the murders of woman and children at the hands of Hamas. He said such barbarity has not been seen since the Holocaust. ZB political editor Jason Walls says activist groups against antisemitism have claimed Hamas' attacks on Israeli civilians saw the worst slaughter of Jews since the Holocaust- so Bishop technically isn't wrong. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As fireworks go up for sale ahead of Guy Fawkes Day, a survey has revealed a majority of Kiwis support a ban on their use. According to data released by AA Insurance, 53 percent of those surveyed supported a ban on recreational use and a further 20 percent wanted fireworks banned outright. Adrian Nacey from FENZ agrees with a potential ban, saying fireworks can cause property damage, injuries and harm to the environment. "That's not a decision for us to make, obviously, that's up to the Government. But we would support a ban on the public having access to fireworks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The construction companies behind Transmission Gully are suing Waka Kotahi over the roading project, which remains unfinished. While the road is open, the project is still incomplete after missing multiple opening dates and has exceeded its initial $850 million budget.  Waka Kotahi claimed there's a clear disagreement about the outstanding work and standards that need to be met to complete the project- aligning with the contract. Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett says problems and miscommunications were present throughout all the stages of this project. "This is the lesson from Transmission Gully- we need to build more, we've got a massive $200 billion infrastructure deficit. We've got to be better at renewing the assets we've got." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An Oamaru school's under fire for barring students from calling their parents when a group of pupils and staff went missing on a camp. Two students and two staff from St Kevin's College went missing overnight last month at Mount Somers. Search and Rescue teams found them the next morning. Parenting commentator, Nathan Wallis says if it's school policy, it'd be okay. "If it was imposed on them and there's nowhere written down that they're allowed to do that and the parents could have a reasonable expectation that they could contact their kids at any time- then it's not acceptable." The school says it's ordered a full review. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A marketing professor thinks New World's latest pots and pans promo let customers down. Customers have been collecting stickers to claim MasterChef branded cookware. A Wellington customer claims some pans have run out across the city. Auckland University Marketing Professor Mike Lee says you would think the supermarket would have enough stock. "The customers thought they were going to get something, and that's why they spent that money at New World rather than any other retailer." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chair of General Practice New Zealand says GP capacity issues are becoming a crisis. Te Whatu Ora Health NZ says an overloaded primary healthcare system is to blame for more children turning up at hospital. Bryan Betty says a third of GPs have closed their books, but most are trying to accommodate their base with acute on-the-day appointments, where parents of sick kids can try first. "If capacity is reached or something happens where you can't get in, then you'd need to go to an after-hours medical centre or you'd need to go to an ED if you are concerned, because the prime thing is the child." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts claim rising unemployment is necessary medicine to get inflation under control. Stats NZ says unemployment rose to 3.9 percent for the three months to September, up from 3.6 last quarter- and 3.2 a year ago. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says those figures are still a lot better than they've been in recent history. "Some of the underlying figures suggest that more people coming in from migration, fewer jobs on offer and more people looking for them means there might not be as much additional pressure on prices as we head into next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley is gaining more traction in the polls, as Trump holds a steady lead.  53 percent of Republican voters overwhelmingly favour Trump, according to the latest stats- while Haley holds 22 percent of the vote, overtaking Ron DeSantis. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says it's still anyone's race, but Donald Trump is still likely to lead ahead of February's Republican primary. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A deflated All Blacks cohort have come through the gates at Auckland Airport after returning home from the Rugby World Cup in France. The team's been away for over 70 days, having departed New Zealand back in August. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what's coming next for the All Blacks, as they work to move past last weekend's loss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark says she's shocked by Israel bombing a densely populated refugee camp in north Gaza. Israel has defended the strike, saying it successfully targeted a Hamas commander responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel. Gaza's Health Ministry says the attack killed at least 50 Palestinians. Clark is also a former head of the UN Development programme. She says the past three weeks have been devastating. "The main UN humanitarian agency in Gaza- 67 of their colleagues have been killed. They're among more than 8,500 dead." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Foreign Office officials suggested rescinding Benjamin Netanyahu's invitation to a hotly-anticipated AI summit in Bletchley Park. World leaders, experts and tech executives are set to gather at the famed home of World War II codebreakers to discuss safety measures for artificial intelligence. UK correspondent Enda Brady says officials warned Netanyahu's presence could overshadow Rishi Sunak and distract guests from the topics at hand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Former Act MP and Minister Heather Roy wants a ban on public reporting of polls during the voting period because it influences undecided voters. Is this true? Can polls really sway the choices of voters? New research has revealed the number of Kiwi vegans has dropped in recent months, with only three percent identifying as vegan compared to last year's five percent? Why are people making the switch? Have increased food prices driven these numbers down?  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists across the Tasman have noticed Australia is battling two significant economic shocks at once. Stubbornly high interest rates offset by an increased surge in inward migration are helping keep inflation up- leading to increased concerns that the RBA could hike the OCR up come November. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says the increased number of migrants will boost inflation in the short term, but the shock could ease once figures stabilise.   LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The recent collapse of two high-profile Kiwi startups has raised questions about an incoming downturn for businesses and employment. Online grocery retailer Supie was placed into voluntary administration and craft brewer Deep Creek Brewing went into liquidation today. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says increased interest rates, stubborn inflation and weak consumer confidence could lead to closures becoming more common. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former ACT MP suggests political polls should be banned once voting opens up during an election campaign. Heather Roy argues that polls have the potential to influence undecided voters during an election period- which doesn't mesh with the strict rules against advertising on election day. She says New Zealand would have fairer and more democratic elections if polls were banned once voting began. "With this election particularly, we just had poll after poll in the two weeks while people were voting- politicians aren't quite sure if they're talking to people who have already voted or are about to vote. I think there just needs to be a rationalisation and some consistency around the rules."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Maori is calling on the Government to expel the US ambassador for their country's role in the conflict in Gaza. The Party made the same demand about the Israeli Ambassador, accusing Israel of war crimes. The Maori Party say the US Government has poured billions of dollars into Israel's military and claims it's led to the killing of children in Gaza - not done in self-defence. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's unlikely New Zealand would expel their US ambassador and distance themselves from their international allies. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One meat supplier is offering a lifeline to Supie's displaced former employees. The grocery start-up was placed into voluntary administration, leaving 120 workers and thousands of customers out of pocket. Neat Meat managing director Simon Eriksen says the company has already reached out and interviewed several former Supie employees. "As we approach summer, naturally a business like ours is growing- the needs are probably a group of 10 to 15, maybe more staff over that period, maybe half will be permanent. We need good staff." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After weeks of rumours and speculation, Eddie Jones has finally walked away from coaching the Wallabies. Rugby Australia announced his resignation earlier today- less than a month after Jones denied he was on the move. Rugby writer and former Wallaby Peter FitzSimons says he saw 'disaster' coming, but predicted this move happening years from now. "I saw it ending in tears 4 or 5 years from now. Eddie's a human cattle prod. He takes over teams, he completely exhausts people, he wears out assistant coaches, he wears out players." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hospitalisations of young children that could have been prevented with better primary care have dramatically risen. Te Whatu Ora data shows such preventable hospitalisations for children up to four years old jumped 35 percent in the year ending June. That's nationally - and it's even higher for Auckland alone, at 66 percent. Interim chief clinical officer, Dr Richard Sullivan, says more young people are turning up with pneumonia and gastro illnesses. "So we're really focusing on how we support our communities, our primary care colleagues- to really turn that dial around." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warehouse says the Grocery Commissioner needs to chop-chop on reform. The retailer claimed an investigation into Sanitarium briefly stopping its supply of Weet-Bix isn't happening quick enough. Sanitarium kept up supply to supermarkets. Warehouse Chief Product Officer Tania Benyon says combined with online grocery startup Supie failing - it's reason for prompt action from the Commissioner. "He should really use the powers that he has to stop that. We want a fair and level playing field, and he is the person able to do that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whakaari Management Limited has been found guilty of health and safety failings ahead of the island's 2019 eruption. 47 people were on Whakaari- 22 died and dozens were seriously injured. Newstalk ZB's Chelsea Daniels says the company was found guilty of one charge, but not the other under the Health and Safety Work Act. "What I took away from the verdict was that WML (Whakaari Management Limited) didn't ensure adequate risk assessments were done relating to those tours happening on the island." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No relief yet from devastating bushfires in rural Queensland. More than 50 homes have been burnt down in Tara, about 300 kilometres west of Brisbane- and two people have died. Conditions are expected to worsen tomorrow, with gusty winds and temperatures topping 40 degrees. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says they don't have exact numbers on how many homes have been destroyed. "Because they haven't been able to send assessment teams out to other parts of the fire ground, there could be dozens more. We simply don't know at this point." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The drawn out saga of Eddie Jones' exit as Wallabies coach is officially over. Rugby Australia have confirmed they've accepted Jones' resignation - just 10 months into his five-year deal. It comes less than a fortnight after the 63-year-old declared his commitment to the role. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oranga Tamariki's chief social worker says it's a complete tragedy every time a child dies. An agency source has told Stuff at least 57 children have been killed since the child protection agency was established in 2017, and almost half had a record with the ministry before their death. Peter Whitcombe says it's important every time a child dies through homicide - that the agency works to understand its role, and what can be learned. "Family situations change, often there can be new relationships, there can be things that become really significant stressors. We can only act on what we know." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's only been in the job for a few weeks, but already the new Grocery Commissioner Pierre van Heerden is dealing with the brutal, entrenched reality of the sector that he's been charged with holding to account. It was pretty extraordinary, really. Just amazing timing that on the very same day as online retailer Supie was put into voluntary administration, van Heerden published his top priorities for the Grocery Commissioner role. I think there's one word that would probably summarise all those priorities- competition.  The focus of the Grocery Commissioner has to be fostering a properly competitive environment across the grocery sector. And an environment where he or she cannot be afraid of calling out any flicker, any scintilla of anti-competitive behaviour by the supermarket duopoly. I get it, I get that it's complex, I get that there are land covenants, wholesale supply setups- there are all sorts of contractual bits and pieces, all manner of diff

Boris Johnson's breaking into the broadcasting industry following his stint in politics. The former Prime Minister has signed on with right-wing channel GB News as a presenter, programme maker and commentator. Johnson promises to deliver his 'unvarnished' views on a range of topics, and will play a key role in the channel's coverage of the US and UK elections. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Johnson plans to 'showcase the power of Britain around the world'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, current affairs commentator Josie Pagani and Kiwiblog founder and Curia pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The Rugby World Cup has finally come to an end- with South Africa narrowly beating out New Zealand to take home the title. What did we think of the result? Was this a fair victory? Have TMOs gone too far? Online grocery startup Supie has gone into voluntary administration after two years of operation. Are we sad to see this development? Does the supermarket duopoly need competition- or regulation?  Winston Peters has spoken out and given his first post-election interview. He won't give much away, but expressed interest in getting negotiations wrapped up quickly. What's his goal here? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The incoming National-led Government is expected to step up for two key international summits. The Pacific Islands Forum and APEC are set to happen within the next few weeks- and it's likely Luxon will attend to represent New Zealand on a wider scale. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan explains what to expect in the coming weeks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Noted historian and former Former UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption is adamant free speech is under threat in liberal democracies. The Free Speech Union has brought Lord Sumption to New Zealand as the keynote speaker for their AGM and conference- and as part of a wider speaking tour. Lord Sumption says people are no longer inclined to accept dissent or opposing opinions on various issues. "The willingness to accept dissent, to accept the possibility that most people may think that you're wrong, that you may not succeed in getting your own ideas accepted by democratic Governments and parliaments- the inclination to accept these things is diminishing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seven rising female-led New Zealand businesses are set to receive funding, resources and mentorship from Coralus. Coralus, formerly known as SheEO, has announced its 2023 Ventures today- expanding their outreach by two more businesses than in previous years. Among this selection is Kiwi Launch Pad, an employer-funded digital platform for new migrants designed to help them successfully settle in Aotearoa. Founder Bridget Romanes says this service has attracted several major employers, from Deloitte, KPMG, TVNZ and KiwiRail. "There's 100,000 migrants who've come to New Zealand since the borders opened, roughly, in July last year. The demand is certainly out there." LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's deputy leader won't put a timeframe on how quickly a new Government will form after the final results are in. The party holds the slimmest of majorities if it partners with ACT - but there's still some half-a-million-special ballots to be counted. The official election figures are due out on Friday, and could see the pair needing New Zealand First. Nicola Willis says she knows New Zealanders want them to get on with it. "There's a big job ahead of us to turn the economy around and get things back on track, so we'll be trying to do that in a responsible way- as efficiently as possible."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A World Cup final full of controversial calls ended in disappointment for New Zealand and elation for South Africa. The game saw four yellow cards during the contest - two to each team - with the most prominent being All Blacks captain Sam Cane's card being upgraded to red for direct contact to the head when making a tackle. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Paul Allison says fans were quick to unload their criticisms onto the officials- which he argues isn't fair. "I don't think we should be blaming the referees or the officials for the end result, I think the All Blacks had their opportunity and they weren't able to take them- the South Africans were." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A senior architecture lecturer says the future of Wellington's Town Hall should be considered - along with its heritage. Mayor Tory Whanau wants to consider changing heritage laws, now the building's earthquake rebuild has blown out to a potential cost of $330 million. Dr Elizabeth Aitken-Rose says sometimes buildings are saved that shouldn't be. But she says New Zealand also tends to knock everything down and start again. "If you think about the Wellington Town Hall, it's not just what it is or what it was- but the purpose it actually serves in the community going on." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friends cast-mates haven't yet spoken publicly about the death of Matthew Perry, known to millions as Chandler Bing. The 54 year old was found dead yesterday in the hot tub at his LA home. LA entertainment correspondent Sean Mandell says the only reactions reported so far come from sources close to Lisa Kudrow. "Sources close to Kudrow have expressed that Kudrow is allegedly confused and baffled, believing that Perry was in good health recently, that certainly he had been sober." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A promising challenger to the supermarket duopoly has dropped out of the race. Online grocer Supie has entered voluntary administration- owing an estimated $3 million. Analyst Nick Hogendijk says the start-up battled from day one. "The big pressure point will be the significant amount of investment in resources she was going to need to have from day one- it was always going to be difficult against a duopoly that was so well set up, so well-geared." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's free trade deal with the EU has collapsed. Australian correspondent Oliver Petersen says negotiations had been going on for five years, but the final deal wasn't good enough for either side. He says it's to do with access - or lack thereof - that Australian beef producers can get to the EU. "They didn't even get to the table to say- let's sign this off. What's going to happen here- we're going to just look at New Zealand's model and ask if we can do the same thing. But at this stage, no deal." New Zealand signed its own Free Trade Agreement with the EU last year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters has accused the media of having warped priorities. Speaking to The Platform this morning, he took aim at the coverage New Zealand First received on the campaign trail. He says it seemed sausage rolls were more important than public meetings, and standing on the side of the road waving banners was a substitute for policies. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Winston Peters is concerned about establishing a Government as soon as possible. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hotly-anticipated final ended in disappointment for New Zealand, after the Springboks won the World Cup. The Springboks went scoreless in the second half but managed to hold out a 14-man New Zealand 12-11. Sportstalk host Jason Pine weighs in on the nation's reaction- as some fans are taking the loss out on referee Wayne Barnes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucrative pay and enticing housing packages are luring a number of Kiwi police officers across the ditch. Australian police figures show 77 officers are leaving to work in Queensland, and close to 20 are heading off to the Northern Territory. Constables starting out in the region start out on $100,000 a year, and experienced officers could expect a $118,000 base salary- with $20,000 on offer to cover relocation costs. Police Association president Chris Cahill is concerned these numbers could snowball if officers who leave are open about these incentives. "The real concern is- if they get over there and what they see is as good as they've been told. They'll start telling their mates, one tells one etc. It's a real concern." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sixty years after the onset of Beatlemania and with two of the quartet now dead, artificial intelligence has enabled the release next week of what is promised to be the last “new” Beatles song. The track, called “Now And Then,” will be available Thursday, Nov. 2, as part of a single paired with “Love Me Do,” the very first Beatles single that came out in 1962 in England, it was announced Thursday. “Now And Then” comes from the same batch of unreleased demos written by the late John Lennon, which were taken by his former bandmates to construct the songs “Free As a Bird” and “Real Love,” released in the mid-1990s. Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr and George Harrison worked on “Now And Then” in the same sessions, but technological limitations stood in the way. With the help of artificial intelligence, director Peter Jackson cleared those problems up by “separating” Lennon's original vocals from a piano used in the late 1970s. The much clearer vocals allowed M

Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, once seen as a reform-minded contender to the country’s top leadership role, died of a sudden heart attack early Friday in Shanghai, state media reported. He was 68 years old. Li, who was nominally China’s No. 2 leader until late last year, served as the country’s premier – traditionally in charge of the economy – for a decade from 2013 to March this year under strongman leader Xi Jinping. During his time in the role, Li navigated the world’s second-largest economy through a challenging period of rising technology and trade tensions with the United States, mounting government debt and unemployment, and the Covid-19 pandemic. In his final year in power, the economist by training had been a strong voice warning of challenges to China’s economy amid widespread Covid-19 lockdowns. He backed efforts to boost employment and maintain economic stabilit

All eyes were on Fletcher Building and how shareholders would react at their AGM. Among the issues it’s dealt with recently include the Iplex pipes, directors’ fees and the poor annual results. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Council officials knew about the Town Hall budget blowout six months before councillors did. This week, the council voted to increase funding to earthquake strengthen the Hall, which could reach up to $329 million. But the council’s project team realised the costs were fast increasing at the start of the year, told the Council chief executive in June and told Tory Whanau in September, and councillors found out until this month when they asked for a cash injection. Wellington City Councillor Tim Brown joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are just one win away from sporting immortality. After being largely written off after the opening defeat to France, all that stands in the way of them and the Webb Ellis Cup is the Springboks with their bomb squad bench. Both teams are on three titles, and are vying to stand above the other with a fourth win. But the game could be overshadowed by World Rugby’s new tournament. World Rugby has announced a 12-team Nations League from 2026, with promotion and relegation in 2030. The 2027 tournament will also be expanded to 24 teams. But less than 12 hours prior to kick off, the Black Caps will be in action in India. They take on Australia in Dharamshala as they look to move on from last weekend’s loss to India. Abby Wilson and Scotty Stevenson joined Jack Tame to discuss the week’s sports news<

Former All Blacks coach John Hart thinks the Springboks have made a massive gamble with their 7-1 stacking of forwards on the bench. It was a tactic that worked during when they beat the All Blacks 35-7 at Twickenham before the Rugby World Cup. Meanwhile, the All Blacks have made one change from the team that beat Argentina 44-6 in last week’s semifinal. All Blacks legend Sir Michael Jones joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sport Canterbury has described Christchurch's new sport centre price blow-out as gob smacking. Contractor CPB has increased its claim by more than $200 million to $439 million, sparking a legal dispute with government delivery agency Rau Paenga — formerly Otakaro Limited. Sport Canterbury chief executive Julyan Falloon told Jack Tame the prospect of further delays is heartbreaking. “But to question Rau Paenga’s design at this stage when the facility’s 70 percent completed is sort of becoming a little bit farcical from our perspective.” The increased claim will bring the project's total value to $696 million. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac’s board is backing the CEO and bringing in external contractors to help implement a plan to fix the organisation’s internal culture. I get it, people make mistakes, we all understand that, but in my eyes, Pharma’s leadership has made a couple of massive errors in recent months. The first — if you cast your minds back was the rollout of the Trikafta funding announcement. I personally just thought it was incredibly inappropriate that Pharmac appeared to turn the whole thing into a made-for-TV moment. Medicines funding is so sensitive. Pharmac is literally making decisions about peoples’ lives. The whole Pharma model is supposed to remove emotion from the equation as much as possible. So think about what making a made-for-TV Oprah-style moment means in the context of drug funding and medicines funding. It feels really, really icky to me and in my view, it only incentivises pharmaceutical comp

The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners is hoping ACT can score them a win in coalition negotiations. Party leader David Seymour says he wants to get rid of the Firearms Registry, but will have to convince their coalition partner National. Hugh Devereux-Mack told Jack Tame registering their firearms is burdensome and makes them a target. He claims the register potentially puts them at risk by saying where they live, who is in the household and where the guns are stored. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have named a largely unchanged team for the Rugby World Cup final on Sunday. Brodie Retallick has been named to the starting XV in place of Sam Whitelock — the only change from the 44-6 win over Argentina. Meanwhile, the Springboks have named two changes from their 16-15 win over England, and a 7-1 forward split on the bench. Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon may just be getting closer to a deal with Winston Peters. The Prime Minister-elect and wife Amanda have been over to Peters’ house for dinner, but it’s unclear what the two discussed — particularly as the special vote count looms. However, Peters’ social media posts about the Christchurch mosque attack inquiry just before the two met at his home could be throw a spanner in the works among Luxon’s party faithful. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than 24 hours on from the mass shooting in Maine, and the man allegedly responsible remains on the run. The shootings at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston left 18 people dead and 13 injured. The FBI searched Robert Card's last known address earlier today, but didn't find him. US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Jack Tame they were looking for any evidence they could find — including weapons, electronics, or a plan of the shootings. “Also, several other news outlets over here are reporting that he left a suicide note inside one other home, and that his sister says he may’ve been looking for his ex.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Springboks have taken a hefty gamble ahead of the Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks. They've named a 7-1 split on the bench with more forwards - which they did when they beat the All Blacks 35-7 at Twickenham before the World Cup. But prior to that, the Black Caps have a huge clash of their own in the Cricket World Cup. They'll be looking to get back on track after their first defeat of the tournament to hosts in India, with a mouthwatering clash with Australia in Dharamshala.  Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac's board has agreed to an action plan to improve the organisation's culture after inappropriate emails were sent about journalist Rachel Smalley. Chief Executive Sarah Fitt has also publicly apologised — saying she deeply regrets her actions. Patient Voice Aotearoa had called for the resignation ahead of the Board and Fitt ahead of today's meeting. Chair Malcolm Mulholland told Jack Tame he thinks the outcome is pathetic. “I think there’s only one option available now to change the culture of Pharmac — and that’s for the incoming National government to sack the board and Sarah Fitt.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rishi Sunak is facing the prospect of a by-election after Tory MP Peter Bone was stood down for inappropriate behaviour. An investigation revealed Bone had bullied and sexually harassed a former parliamentary staff member. Bone has since been suspended for 6 weeks. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's increasingly likely that Labour will need to force a by-election following this verdict. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, BRG director Georgina Stylianou and Business Mentors CEO Sarah Trotman joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Winston Peters is in hot water following his inaccurate tweets claiming Kiwis only just found out about the terrorist's pre-attack email to the Beehive. What is his goal here? Mt Maunganui businesses and residents have voiced outrage over plans to introduce paid parking at the beach. Should holiday summer spots be off limits when it comes to paid parking? According to a new study, one in three Kiwis say they've been sexually harassed at work in the past six months - that includes suggestive stories, sexist comments etc. Is this surprising? Three's 7pm news show The Project is set to be axed at the end of the year- is this a sign of the times? Are evening news shows dying? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener</

Kiwi scientists have developed ground-breaking new technology that will allow farmers to measure methane emissions from cattle. Crown institute AgResearch has developed a portable chamber to test individual cows- helping farmers to selectively breed cattle and reduce emissions over time. The Country's Jamie Mackay says this technology is the latest scientific development that will cull emissions and keep farms running. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Innovation is a key driver of global economic growth- and it's moving faster than ever. Science, research, and technology have driven economic growth over the years, ever since the industrial revolution. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds says society has gotten better at adapting to new developments, comparing the fast adoption of AI and weight-loss drugs to the slower reception of earlier technology. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation may be coming down- but three big influences have accelerated living costs for Kiwi households.  The cost of living has gone up by 7.4 percent in a year, with groceries, insurance and interest payments driving up these increases. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says these increases will keep inflation up for longer in a temporary worst-of-both-worlds scenario. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council has voted down introducing Māori seats for the 2025 local body elections, after a tense debate today. Councillors voted 11 to 9 against the decision. Auckland Councillor Alf Filipaina has expressed disappointment with this rejection. "This was about establishing Māori wards for 2025. The argument was a non-argument, because that work is getting done anyway- and it doesn't need to get completed until later on." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing calls for Winston Peters to apologise for his incorrect claims about the March 15 terror attacks. Peters said New Zealand only recently found out that the Prime Minister's office received information about the attack before it happened. But then-Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern revealed at the time her office had received the killer's manifesto. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Peters has tried to appeal to the nation's fringe groups before- but it's perplexing as to why he's making these false claims now. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A council plan to set up more paid parking at one of New Zealand's hottest summer spots has been met with community backlash. Mount Maunganui was set to introduce more paid parking meters this summer season- but that plan has been delayed after residents and business owners voiced opposition. Tauranga Business Chamber CEO Matt Cowley says paid parking has been regarded as an unpopular decision by Mount Maunganui business owners. "We need the commissioners focusing on the bigger issues in the long-term plan, we don't want them to pick a fight with the community." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Workplace sexual harassment is just as detrimental for employers, as it is for employees. A new study has found about a third of the New Zealand workforce have experienced it, with around 36 percent of females and 30 percent of males targeted. It shows employees may be more likely to suffer burnout, stress, or act counterproductively at work and call in sick. Massey University Professor Jarrod Haar says they're also more likely to quit, which is just as bad for employers. "They take the knowledge and the insights from the organisation with them and leave- they're less likely, if they haven't quit, to stay there and not perform as well as they used to." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chairman of Federation of Islamic Associations says the Coronial inquest into March 15 is not the time for political posturing. Winston Peters is refusing to apologise for falsely tweeting that Kiwis only just found out about the terrorist's pre-attack email to the Beehive. It was revealed at a press conference the next day. Abdur Razzaq Khan says it was also in the Royal Commission's report, which he says shows Peters didn't read it. "And to come out after so many years now, on the day when people are trying to find out what actually happened to their loved ones- I thought that was very insensitive." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global superstar pop princess Britney Spears' just-released book is already set to become the highest selling celebrity memoir. Leaked chapters from 'The Woman In Me' are making headlines, including the revelation Spears had an abortion while dating Justin Timberlake. Fans of the singer advocated for years for her release from her father's overarching control of her life. A Free Britney Movement leader, Kevin Wu, says he's so proud she's sharing her story. "It's totally heart-breaking, what she went through. The way she was treated was so unfair, especially by her own family." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police today confirmed they've launched a homicide investigation into the death of a Lower Hutt toddler. Ruthless-Empire Souljah Reign Rhind Shephard Wall was found to have suffered blunt force trauma, with authorities claiming his injuries were 'not accidental'. NZ Herald senior crime reporter Sam Sherwood says police believe the toddler had suffered from injuries for 12 hours before he was taken to hospital. "Police said when he arrived at hospital at 10:30 on Sunday, he was unresponsive. Efforts were done to revive him, but they were unsuccessful- he had multiple injuries to his body." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 21-year-old water polo instructor has been found dead at a prestigious Sydney CBD school, sparking a full-scale investigation. Lilie James was discovered with serious head injuries by police after midnight on Thursday in a campus bathroom. Authorities have launched a manhunt for her colleague, Paul Thijssen, who James had reportedly dated in the lead-up to her death. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the school will be closed to all pupils until Monday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the US, a manhunt is under way in Maine for a shooter who's killed 22 and injured about 60 in a Lewiston restaurant and bowling alley. Police say 40-year-old Robert Card is a suspect, and have posted videos and photos of him and his car. He's described as a certified firearms instructor and a member of the US Army Reserves. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says police will be following the facts - and trying to anticipate his moves. "You're trying to guess where he may be going, what he might be doing next, now that we know that he is somebody with military experience- that's almost the worst nightmare that you can ask for in a situation like this" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Ian Foster is likely to make a couple of changes to his side to face the Springboks in the Rugby World Cup final. In which order locks Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick are used is likely to be the biggest debate. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave shares his prediction here today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I want to start off by reading some Winston Peters quotes, straight from the source. "We waited until today to find out for the first time that the Prime Minister's office received information about the March 15 terrorist attack before the massacre took place." "Jacinda Ardern should be called to the hearing and asked to explain this appalling lack of transparency to the New Zealand public, let alone to the deputy Prime Minister and Government coalition partner." Those are the words of the former deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters. And while they whipped up an intense response among an Ardern-hating, conspiracy-nurturing social media crowd- the words are demonstrably wrong. They're not just wrong, that's not just an opinion, they are demonstrably wrong. We did not wait until now to find out about the Prime Minister's office receiving information concerning the attacks shortly before they began. We, the New Zealand public, to whom Wi

Finnish authorities have recently claimed that the rupture of a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea may have been caused by an anchor dragging along the seabed. Russia was initially suspected of causing the damage as retribution for Finland joining NATO, an accusation Putin denied. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Finland's NBI has since focused their probe on the Chinese NewNew Polar Bear container vessel, which was missing an anchor. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Business owners in Auckland want a bylaw to allow them to trespass people from public spaces who are a nuisance. They say they feel like downtown Auckland has become too dangerous- are these concerns valid? Wellington City Council has voted in favour of pouring millions more into the redevelopment of the Town Hall- is this a good investment?  National's Chris Bishop has opted to sell his shares as he prepares to take a spot in Cabinet- is this a good idea? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newly released provisional estimates from Stats NZ show the country has experience rapid population growth after two years of shrinkage. Auckland's population expanded the fastest in the year to June, with the region gaining 47,000 more people. Otago, Waikato, and the Bay of Plenty also grew faster than the New Zealand average. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says Auckland's economy stands to benefit from an expanding workforce. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big tech companies are posting strong sales results this quarter- with AI aiding this economic turnaround. ChatGPT kicked off the recent AI wave, with chip company Nvidia spurring this growth. Microsoft and Google have seen sales up by 11 percent to 12 percent, with their new AI features and tools generating interest. Milford Asset Management Portfolio Manager Felix Fok explains what this technology could do for the future of work and commerce. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's largest bank, ANZ, has lifted their mortgage and deposit rates by as much as 30 basis points. As of today, the bank's six-month mortgage rates will increase by 26 points, its four and five-year rates will rise by 25 points, and its three-year rates by 20 points. ANZ has also hiked their one-year, 18-month, and two-year rates by between 10 and 14 points. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains the economic factors driving up these rates. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The outgoing Government has joined international calls for a humanitarian pause, as violence in Israel and Gaza escalates. Chris Hipkins, in consultation with the incoming Government, has requested humanitarian corridors in Gaza and designated safe areas that can't be targeted. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this pause would allow aid organisations to go into established safe areas to provide resources, aid and relief. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rugby has approved several key changes and a new 12-strong biennial competition. The concept will start in 2026 and bring together the Six Nations teams, Sanzaar sides and two others in the Pacific such as Japan and Fiji. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what this might mean for the future of rugby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One prospective Cabinet minister appears to have learned from his predecessor's mistakes. Senior National MP Chris Bishop has sold his shares in Kiwi Income Property and plans to sell off his further shares in Paysauce Ltd, Telstra and Parrotdog. Former National MP Steven Joyce disagrees that ministers should have to sell their shares once they get into office. "You keep lifting the bar higher and higher in terms of what people can't do while they're a politician- which makes it less attractive for people. In principle- the Cabinet manual makes it clear people can do things in their private capacity." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Black Sir Bryan Williams is voicing concern over the future of the Rugby World Cup for Tier Two nations. World Rugby has announced an expansion to 24 teams for the next event in Australia in 2027, including two extra pools and a round of 16. There'll also be a 12-strong Nations League starting in 2026, which will pit the Six Nations sides against the Rugby Championship teams, plus two invitees. Williams says this news is 'disappointing' for nations like Samoa and Fiji- and claims there'll be an imbalance at the next World Cup. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland businesses have demanded more action on addressing antisocial behaviour in the city centre. They're calling to adjust a bylaw, which would give the council power to trespass people if they believe they're a risk to public safety. Fort Street restaurant Vivace is planning on giving safety advice to customers and using private security guards. Co-owner Mandy Lusk says the unruly behaviour is a nuisance and hurts their businesses. "But there's also people just out there making a nuisance of themselves- and they seem to get some kind of pleasure out of scaring people and being aggressive." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An international relations expert doesn't believe New Zealand was too slow to call for a pause to the Israel-Hamas conflict. Outgoing Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has joined international calls for humanitarian corridors in Gaza and designated safe areas. Paul Buchanan says our country has done well, considering it has a caretaker Government. "New Zealand has always tried to straddle defence on conflicts such as this. Recognising the Palestinians' cause on the one hand, recognising Israel on the other- they chose the path of least resistance." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington City Councillor says there are ramifications from the Town Hall renovation budget blowout. The council today voted to pay up to $147 million to cover cost increases for earthquake strengthening the CBD venue. The total overall cost could end up as high as $329 million. Councillor Ben McNulty says it'll take a toll on other things. "We have to be clear that by doing this Town Hall project and the extra money, we won't be doing other things. We will be taking away from other things that we should be doing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dozens of US states are suing Meta and its Instagram platform, saying they've fuelled a youth mental health crisis. 33 states have filed a lawsuit in federal court in California, claiming Meta has repeatedly misled the public about its platforms' danger. Meta says it's disappointed by the lawsuit. Auckland University health researcher, Samantha Marsh, says there's strong evidence to support the claims. "Social media in particular has a really negative impact on youth mental health- so that's things like depression and anxiety." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rugby has announced the details for its new men's competitions. 12 teams are going to compete in the new World League outside of the World Cup, though they haven't decided what the actual name is going to be. It could be the World League- or it could be something else entirely, we don't know yet. Anyway, the new competition will put the six nation sides in a tournament alongside the All Blacks, the Wallabies, the Springboks, the Pumas and two other teams. It hasn't yet been confirmed, but the reports at this stage suggest that Japan and Fiji are likely to take up the final two slots. There will be a Tier Two competition with promotion and relegation, but that doesn't start for several years after the Tier One. The other big changes are going to come with the men's Rugby World Cup. The competition will be expanded to more teams, but shortened in terms of its length. So there's going to be a new 16-team knockout round between pool

Police will receive 'clarified' guidance on addressing hate crimes after chaos broke out at a pro-Palestine rally in London. A video of a man shouting 'jihad' at the rally has sparked calls for tougher police action on hate speech. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley agreed existing hate crime laws 'needed re-drawing'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!   Sir Wayne Smith predicts new rule changes will be implemented in rugby, with permissible tackle height being lowered to belly-button level. Are the rugby rules too complicated? Are tackles below the belly button the way of the future? David Seymour wants to make the coalition agreement public, Luxon says he'd be open to it. Do we think Winston would too? Is transparency the way to go when it comes to the coalition? A piece from Thomas Coughlan indicated David Parker could become the next Labour leader- what do we think of this? What does Labour need? Residents of Auckland's Ōrākei and Eastern Bay are protesting against McDonald's opening another restaurant in their neighbourhood. Should communities have a say against junk food? LISTEN ABOVESee <a hre

New data indicates the milk price cycle may be picking up after an earlier downturn. The latest lift on October 17 saw prices move 4.3 percent, with milk powder up 4.2 percent and the overall average price reaching $3202 USD. Fonterra has lifted their forecast by 50 cents and ASB and Westpac have since followed suit and increased their forecasts $7.35/kg MS and $7.25/kg MS respectively.  The Country's Jamie Mackay is confident numbers will pick up after a dismal year for the dairy sector. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two warnings from international credit ratings agencies have sparked concern amongst economists. Standard and Poor expressed concern with National's proposed Three Waters policy, as it could negatively impact the debt ceilings for local councils. Fitch Ratings predicted that the new National-led Government couldn't live up to their promise of producing a budget surplus in 2027. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explained the impact of these warning signals. LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newly released tapes revealed Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt used his wealth to build a relationship with Donald Trump.  The recordings showed that Pratt had bought his way into Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, sent money to Rudy Giuliani, and bragged that his wealth was his 'superpower'. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Donald Trump also leaked information about private calls with the leaders of Ukraine and Iraq to Pratt. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister-elect's leaving the door open to revealing details of a coalition deal. Arrangements in 2017 weren't publicly released, because the Chief Ombudsman ruled details couldn't be requested under the OIA- because it came within Jacinda Ardern's capacity as Labour leader. ACT's David Seymour is in coalition talks with National and says he'd be happy for his promises to be made public. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Seymour is quite transparent as a politician- and he'd want to see which of ACT's proposals made it through. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised as to why competing weather forecasters NIWA and MetService don't work together in times of extreme weather events. MetService has recently concluded its weather forecasting models performed badly before the Auckland floods, leaving staff in disbelief over the inaccuracy. WeatherWatch Head Analyst Philip Duncan says the situation wouldn't have gone this far if the Government hadn't allowed NIWA to commercialise everything. "MetService would have a lot more access to tax-funded modelling and be able to improve it, because climate change- or even the fact that things are warming up- is breaking some of the modelling." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The outgoing head of New Zealand's Insurance Council has advised Kiwis to stop building in 'dumb' places. Tim Grafton has spent 11 years in the role and overseen the pressure earthquakes, cyclones, floods and climate change are placing on infrastructure. He says building houses in risky locations will put people in harm's way and make it harder for insurance to be readily available. "All of those things combined, we should be thinking smarter about where we build- and not just consenting in dumb, stupid, unintelligent places." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Wayne Smith, former All Blacks and Black Ferns coach, suspects new amendments will be made to rugby's laws. Speaking on the Between Two Beers podcast, he claimed rugby would need to 'reinvent' itself by lowering the permissible tackle height to belly-button level. Sky Sport commentator Ken Laban says these potential changes come with 'dangerous' consequences for the future of the sport. "It's a physical contest taking place, this encouraging them to tackle low- to me that's a reduction in the physicality and a reduction in the game's appeal, that's the danger." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jobseekers being ghosted by prospective employers- are often down to the company itself. New Seek data shows 72 percent of Kiwi jobseekers don't hear back about the job they've been interviewed for. Seek career coach Leah Lambart says it happens for a number of reasons, like the company choosing not to inform the candidate isn't the right fit. She says it may also be down to an internal issue in the company that takes precedence. "It could be no hurry to recruit that role- and as a result, it gets put on the backburner because there's some other vacancies that come up that are perhaps more urgent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says he sees no reason why a potential coalition deal shouldn't be made public. Arrangements in 2017 weren't publicly released, when the Chief Ombudsman ruled details couldn't be requested under the Official Information Act - because it came within Jacinda Ardern's capacity as Labour leader. But ACT Party leader Seymour says he'd be happy for this year's finalised arrangement to be in the open. "We're really happy with the way it's going, I mean, we've been chatting through the different challenges that we think the Government will face." Prime Minister-Elect Chris Luxon isn't ruling out it out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A coronial hearing into the Christchurch Mosque attacks has begun, but it's not a question of who is to blame. Coroner Brigitte Windley is tasked with determining the circumstances of each of the 51 deaths - and addressing unanswered questions. It follows a criminal prosecution and a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Herald senior reporter Anna Leask has spent the day in court- and she says the Coroner is clear the responsibility rests on terrorist Brenton Tarrant. She says this is about shining a light on what happened. "Tarrant didn't go to trial because he pleaded guilty and the Royal Commission was done more privately, so there's a lot of the evidence that the families of the victims will only hear during this process." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rugby has launched a formal review into allegations made by England's Tom Curry over a racial slur in their World Cup semi-final loss to South Africa. Curry approached referee Ben O'Keeffe during the first half, alleging South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi made the derogatory remark. The move is poised to disrupt the Springboks build-up to the final against the All Blacks on Sunday morning. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rugby has launched a formal review into allegations made by England's Tom Curry over a racial slur in their World Cup semi-final loss to South Africa. Curry approached referee Ben O'Keeffe during the first half, alleging South African hooker Bongi Mbonambi made the derogatory remark. The move is poised to disrupt the Springboks build-up to the final against the All Blacks on Sunday morning. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democracy activist Ahmed Zaoui is facing a new legal battle- this time for his life. The former refugee to New Zealand was arrested after holding a political meeting at his home. He's been charged with subversion, which can be penalised by up to 20 years in prison, or death. Lawyer Deborah Manning says Zaoui says the charges don't meet international standards. She says he was one of a number of political leaders who returned home when the political situation improved. "Ahmed went there before Covid, and was planning to go between the two countries- but obviously couldn't do that with our borders being closed. And Ahmed loves Algeria, just as any migrant loves their home- and he still has family there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two by-elections have spelt bad news for the ruling Conservative Party ahead of the next general election. Mid Bedfordshire has elected its first Labour MP since the 1930s, and Tamworth also swung towards the Labour Party. Both by-elections were triggered by the resignation of their respective Conservative MPs. Violent crime statistics are down by 28 percent. The decline is driven by a fall in criminal damage and fraud offences. However, shoplifting and knife crimes are on the rise. A late Italian Prime Minister has seen his art collection mocked by leading art critics. Silvio Berlusconi, who died in June aged 86, bought around 25,000 paintings and sculptures over the years, ranging from Titian and Rembrandt to more recent ones from late-night telesales. But top art critic Vittorio Sgarbi, says perhaps six or seven of them are of any artistic value. UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Jason Pine.

Chinese President Xi Jinping promised foreign companies greater access to China’s huge market and more than $100 billion in new financing for other developing economies as he opened a forum Wednesday on his signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative. Xi's initiative has built power plants, roads, railroads and ports around the world and deepened China’s ties with Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Mideast. But the massive loans backing the projects have burdened poorer countries with heavy debts, in some cases leading to China taking control of those assets. At the forum’s opening ceremony at the ornate and cavernous Great Hall of the People, Xi promised that two Chinese-backed development banks – the China Development Bank and the Export–Import Bank of China – will each set up 350 billion yuan ($47.9 billion) financing windows. An additional 80 billion yuan ($11 billion) will be invested in Beijing's Silk Road Fund to support BRI projects. “We will c

Fletcher has its AGM next Friday, but it’s expecting a tough time from the shareholders. It’s expected the Iplex pipes drama will be a hot topic, as well as its persistently poor performance, and a number of shareholders being told to vote against directors’ remuneration. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exporters and importers are calling on Ports of Auckland to lift its efficiency and productivity by at least as much as they’re hiking their user prices. The number of containers moved on and off ships has dropped by 42 percent in the past four years. But at the same time, the Ports put up its prices, including a general increase of 7 percent from next year. New Zealand Council of Cargo Owners chair Mike Knowles joined Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks aren’t taking their Rugby World Cup semi-final opponents lightly at all. Despite having the easier opponent on paper, Los Pumas have beaten Ian Foster twice since the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Meanwhile, the other matchup will see England take on the Springboks in a rematch of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final – but also the 2007 final. NZR’s investigation of the Ranfurly Shield saga has found insufficient evidence of foul play. It confirmed the shield was broken accidentally on a concrete floor – and no drugs were involved. It comes as holders Hawke’s Bay gear up to face Taranaki in the NPC Final this weekend. A tough run of fixtures awaits the Black Caps in the Cricket World Cup. Having won their first four games convincingly with a healthy run rate, they now have to face hosts India this weekend. They follow that with Australia, South Africa and Pakistan, before wrapping up the first round against Sri Lanka.<

The All Blacks are one win away from their fifth Rugby World Cup final – but they’ll have to get past Argentina. Los Pumas have beaten the All Blacks twice in their history – both of those coming in the past four years during Ian Foster’s tenure. Their first win came in 2020 with a 25-15 win in Sydney, before following it up with a 25-18 win in Christchurch last year. Argentina rugby journalist Frankie Deges joined Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington day care centre says its frustrated parents will have to park 50 meters away to drop off their kids while a cycleway is installed. CoKids Daycare Centre on Thorndon Quay claims they've been given less than a week's notice to prepare for a year of disruption. The centre looks after around 100 children and is concerned they may have to close. CoKids' Steve Piper told Jason Pine the lack of communication has been stressful. He says he would've appreciated some notice so he could inform the parents and his staff. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission wants good safety assurance processes in the stevedoring industry. The watchdog has identified serious safety concerns in the sector after investigating two fatal accidents at ports in April 2022. It recommends Maritime NZ work with the sector on minimum training standards and a code of practice. Chief Accidents Investigator Naveen Kozhuppakalam told Jason Pine organisations have largely been left to understand their own risks and put mitigations in place. “There is regulatory oversight, but it only happens after an accident has occurred. What we want to see is more proactive leadership.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks are eyeing up a fifth Rugby World Cup final, as they look to take on Argentina tomorrow morning. Coach Ian Foster says they aren’t looking past Los Pumas in any way, shape, or form to get there though. Since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks have lost twice to Argentina. Former All Black and 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina joined Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Candidates for the Port Waikato by-election have closed, but Labour has chosen to sit this one out. Labour Party President Jill Day says it's an "unwinnable" contest for them, and the party is focusing on its transition to opposition. The by-election was triggered by the death of ACT candidate Neil Christensen just before the election. Meanwhile, negotiations continue between Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters. It's expected that any policy announcements between the two parties won't be announced until after the special votes. NZ Herald deputy political editor Thomas Coughlan joined Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have a chance to make their fifth Rugby World Cup final, but they have to get past Argentina first. However, with two wins over the All Blacks in the past World Cup cycle, the All Blacks certainly won’t be taking this one lightly. The Black Caps remain unbeaten at the Cricket World Cup, but their win streak could be under threat. They have a top of the group clash against hosts India in Dharamshala, where the Black Caps are ahead of India on run rate. Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Thursday over efforts to overturn former US President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, becoming the second defendant in the sprawling case to reach a deal with prosecutors. Powell, who was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the state’s anti-racketeering law, entered the plea just a day before jury selection was set to start in her trial. She pleaded guilty to six misdemeanours accusing her of conspiring to intentionally interfere with the performance of election duties. As part of the deal, she will serve six years of probation, will be fined $6000 and will have to write an apology letter to Georgia and its residents. She also agreed to testify truthfully against her co-defendants at future trials. Powell, 68, was initially charged with racketeering and six other counts as part of a wide-ranging scheme to keep the Republican president in power after he lost the 202

A White House correspondent says US President Joe Biden will likely ask for roughly $100 billion dollars to boost aid to Israel and Ukraine. Biden spoke from the Oval Office, outlining why the US should provide further aid and why they can't sit by and watch the violence inflicted by Putin and Hamas. Reuters' Jeff Mason told Jason Pine the main objective of the speech was to rally Americans' support for the funding. “60 of which is likely to go to Ukraine, 10 of which is likely to go to Israel, and the rest to other regions as well. So it’s a massive package.” The speech comes hours after the US shot down a number of missiles and drones fired from Yemen over the Red Sea possibly heading toward Israel. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has touched down to meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other leaders. Sunak is also expected to visit other regional capitals, which have not been released for security reasons, as the situation intensifies. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Rishi Sunak's visit will re-iterate Britain's commitment to standing with Israel. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Ben Thomas from Capital joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Is it outrageous that Wellington Council wants to buy the land below Reading Cinema, so that the company can use it to renovate the cinema? Couldn't this listed company pay its own costs, especially as plenty of other Wellington issues need the funding? Napier Council is being accused of dictatorship for proposing a lower fence height limit (1.2 metres). Is this reasonable? Auckland Light Rail settled a deal to buy the old Kiwi Bacon building 11 days before the election, knowing that National, ACT and NZ First wanted to do away with the Light Rail project. Are they right to progress the project while it's still alive, or should they have waited for political direction? The Mongrel Mob has expressed concern about the incoming National-led Government, fearing it'll make things harder for gangs- can we be sym

The US has surprised economists by reporting more rapid economic growth. The net worth of the typical US household grew at the fastest pace in more than three decades from 2020 through 2022, and interest rates have stayed low. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains why the US economy has managed to stay so resilient. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.