Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

For once, we have a Commerce Commission study that isn’t going nowhere. Nicola Willis says she's going to do what the Commerce Commission has recommended in the banking study out today - and she'll do all 14 recommendations.This is a little surprise, isn’t it? Because we have got very used to these studies coming out and pretty much nothing of any substance being done. We've had the petrol study, the supermarket study, the construction industry study - I was a little cynical about the banking study, but I was wrong. And what's even more surprising is that it's a centre-right Government - who are often accused of cosying up to big business - who are prepared to do the ballsy thing there. Doesn't that make a nice change? Now as to whether it’s actually going to make a difference - the jury is out big time. I mean, I love the idea of capitalising Kiwibank, it'll most likely improve the bank, it'll give Kiwi investors another productive asset to put their money into - it deserves to be beefed up. And for those reasons alone, I'm stoked Nicola Willis is committed to doing it. But I'm not convinced it’s going to be the disruptor and add the competition that's needed. Too many people who know a lot more about economics and finance have said it won't be big enough.With the open banking thing that Nicola Willis is committed to, again, I haven't seen any evidence that this is the game-changer it's being sold as. If anything, it's been really expensive in Australia - it's cost about $1.5 billion without doing all that much for customers.Now, those are just two out of 14 recommendations - and who knows? Maybe in combination these will all together make a difference, but as I say, the jury's still out. But you can't fault the fact that the Government's prepared to do what's recommended. And even if it doesn't affect competition as much as we'd like, at least we're getting on with doing something about Kiwibank. Which, frankly, has been a long time coming. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 20 August 2024, the Finance Minister has declared war on the "cosy pillow fights" between the big banks. Darleen Tana tells Heather they won't leave Parliament and is pushing back at the "cancel culture" that led to their ousting from the Green Party. Mercury Energy boss Vince Hawksworth defends his company's 159% profit rise during times of record electricity prices. Plus the Huddle debates whether the hype around Kamala Harris will last until the election in November. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi wine company Selaks has launched its first 5 percent offering amid increased demand for alcohol-free and low-alcohol beverages. Selaks Origins Breeze 5% promises a low alcohol experience, with each bottle containing three standard drinks. General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Olly Wilson, says this gives consumers more choice. "This is the first time we've had a 5 percent product available, so we're pretty excited about that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Darleen Tana says they have support within the Green Party to stay. They've refused the Party's repeated requests to resign from Parliament. Tana today argued Parliament's proportionality isn't affected, because Te Pati Maori is submitting their vote via proxy - aligned with Green positions. Tana says they're not staying for the money, but because they're kaupapa-driven. "I'm listening to my communities - Green Party members and non-members alike - who have been constantly calling me and reminding me that they voted party Green for Darleen." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports have unveiled a disturbing discovery in Sydney's drinking water. 'Forever chemicals' with links to cancer have been found in several drinking catchments across the region - that serve millions of Australians. Australian correspondent Sam Emery says investigations are still ongoing into the extent of the damage. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Climate Change Minister believes slashing 24 million carbon credits will fix the struggling Emissions Trading Scheme. Companies buy the credits in quarterly auctions - to offset their pollution output. Repeated failures to sell credits triggered the Climate Change Commission to advise there are too many cheap units available, in order to drive down emissions. Minister Simon Watts says it's a simple supply and demand fix, but he can't speculate on the price implications. "What we've done here today is make sure we've put some credibility back into this market - which hasn't been the case in the past." Changes to unit numbers kick in from 2025. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister aims to put an end to the 'cosy pillow fight' between banks and bolster sector competition. A Commerce Commission report has found that the four big Australian-owned banks are turning high profits, far out-stripping international peers. The Commission has recommends open banking practices and tweaks to Reserve Bank rules to ease access for small players. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she's exploring options to raise Kiwibank's capital. "I think Kiwibank needs to remain New Zealand's bank - and exactly how that's defined is one of the questions that's to be discussed during this process." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden's reflected on his legacy - and laid a case against Donald Trump in a rousing address. The President's speech ended the first day of the Democratic National Convention, where Kamala Harris will accept the presidential nomination. Biden says Harris will be a President the nation can be proud of - and will put her stamp on America's future. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Biden didn't hold back in his statements condemning Donald Trump. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After three years of planning, Team NZ is set to compete in the 2024 America's Cup. On August 22, the six America’s Cup teams will take to the water in their new AC75 race vessels for the third and final preliminary regatta before the moments that truly matter. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief the Christ Church Cathedral will be rebuilt eventually, despite ongoing funding issues. The Reinstatement Group has announced it's pausing work - until more funding is found. The Finance Minister confirmed this month that no more cash will go to the project, leaving it short $85 million. Project chair Mark Stewart says the Government needs to play a part in the rebuild, but acknowledged constraints. "People are suffering out there, there is a cost of living crisis, there is fiscal restraint - and we need to be recognizant of that and understand the timing too." He says they're committed to keeping funding conversations alive with the Government, the City Council and donors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government has established emergency measures to ease prison overcrowding as more rioters are being sentenced for their role in the recent unrest. The system, known as Operation Early Dawn, means defendants waiting for a court appearance will be kept in police cells until prison space is available. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says hundreds of people have been arrested over the last few weeks - which puts additional strain on the system. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Logistics and courier company Freightways has recorded a 5.8 percent decrease in net profit after weathering what its leaders believe to be the worst of the economic cycle in New Zealand and Australia. Freightways announced its 2024 results to the NZX on Monday. It reported net profit after tax of $70.9 million, a reduction from its 2023 result that the company said was largely due to higher interest expenses. Earnings before interest, depreciation, tax, and amortisation were $229.1m, up 6.6% from 2023. Freightways CEO Mark Troughear explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNZ’s performance of services index - which measures sentiment across services firms - was up 3.9 points to 44.6 in July from a rock-bottom level of 40.7 in June. While it’s better than June it’s still a very low result - a result below 50 indicates activity is contracting for the fifth straight month. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains how this adds to the proof that the Reserve Bank needed to cut the OCR. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Child Fund CEO Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! There's growing calls to bring back the Wellington-Auckland sleeper train as an alternative to pricey air travel. Is this a good idea? The Government has announced a new crackdown on dangerous drivers to bring down road deaths. Will this help make things safer? The ACT Party caused a bit of a stir by not showing up at Koroneihana? Is this a bad look? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 19 August - The Government is facing pressure to encourage households to reduce their gas usage. Is this a good idea? Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie unpacks this. Police have voiced concerns about the 'organised criminal element' within the increase in boy racers following last weekend's incident in Waikato. Police Minister Mark Mitchell explains further. The Government is still doing well in the polls, according to data from tonight's 1News Verian poll. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says this is good news for National. Later, the Huddle debates whether or not we need a Wellington-Auckland sleeper train - and more importantly, who will fund it? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has seen support in the latest political poll. The 1News Verian poll has National on 38 percent, ACT on 7 and New Zealand First on 6. Christopher Luxon has jumped 5 percent to 28 percent as preferred Prime Minister. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says it's good to see. "We don't watch the polls too closely, they go up and down, but I think New Zealanders can see that we're doing the things we said we'd do. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A driving instructor says one student drove 500 kilometres to sit his full licence test because of months-long wait times. Counties Driving School's Alistair McGregor says the man drove from Pukekohe to Dannevirke. The Government scrapped free driving test re-sits this year to cull long wait times. McGregor says it's taking time to see any effect. "The existing tests need to be worked through, so it's going to take a month or two - maybe a little longer - before it starts to ease." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support is re-igniting for a Wellington to Auckland sleeper train, as air fares soar. The idea was floated at a Wellington council meeting last week. Greater Wellington Regional Council climate chair Thomas Nash says tracks between Auckland and Wellington are seriously under-utilised. He says night trains are popular overseas, particularly in Europe, as a more affordable and lower emission option. "Night trains are absolutely cranking at the moment, more and more services are opening up. They're really well-patronised - and that's partly because of the cost of flights." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One commentator says enforcement is critical for road safety. The Government's announced it wants 3.3 million roadside alcohol breath tests a year, with a $1.3 billion budget over three years. $7 million is for incentives for police - for when they meet targets. Greater Auckland transport blog director Matt Lowrie says police haven't done enough breath tests for a long time. "It's only in the last year that they've actually started doing it - the numbers that they kind of need to do to be able to get that down. And what we've actually seen is that in the last 18 months, the number of deaths on the road has finally started coming down again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says boy racers are terrorising communities throughout the country. Four police vehicles were rammed at a Waikato gathering over the weekend, and an officer suffered minor injuries. Police say a ute involved was stolen, with fake plates - and two people in the picture they've released weren't involved with the meet. Minister Mark Mitchell says they're facing similar issues with gangs and youth offenders. "They all think that they're above the law, they've got no respect for the police, they've got no respect for the public - and that's why we've got a massive public safety program currently underway in Government." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest 1News-Verian poll is due to be released tonight - and it's generated plenty of speculation. The previous poll had National on 38 points, Labour on 29 points, the Green Party on 13 points, ACT at 7points and NZ First on 6 points. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper outlines what to expect. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have bounced back and defeated Argentina - but they'll need to maintain momentum for the Rugby Championships. While a convincing win in the rematch with Argentina was a big improvement on an upset loss in the competition opener - 35 of the 42 points they scored at Eden Park came in the first half. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sydney's long-awaited driverless metro train line has been launched, with up to 200,000 commuters being expected to use the service. The line runs from Chatswood in Sydney's north to Sydenham in the inner west via tunnels under Sydney Harbour. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the project is expected to draw in more international visitors, offsetting the $20 billion spent on the project. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts have warned the Government that there isn't enough gas for both households and industry - meaning users could face increased prices and potential shortages. The Green Building Council says households need to be encouraged to reduce their gas usage, freeing up supply for industrial exporters. Energy Resources Aotearoa Chief Executive John Carnegie says work needs to be done to find a better solution. "What we do need to do is look for solutions that actually protect all Kiwis' energy security and our economic prosperity, not just a small subset." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Papa is going to start charging a $35 entry fee for international tourists starting next month. The national museum says it's because rising energy costs, insurance and paying staff is all becoming too expensive. The move's expected to bring in an additional $5-$10 million per year. Te Papa spokesperson Kate Camp told Heather du Plessis-Allan it will be good value for visitors. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 16 August 2024, the Waitangi Tribunal says the Government's Treaty Principals Bill is discriminatory and unfair. Former Waitangi Tribunal historian Dr Sam Carpenter explains what the issue is. Consumer NZ is hitting out at supermarkets and the Grocery Commissioner after news that shoppers still regularly get overcharged at the till. Damien McKenzie has apologised to the All Blacks after missing a bus from San Diego back to LA - should he be punished? The Sports Huddle weighs in. Plus, should we be nervous about TVNZ looking to start charging you to watch on demand? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Not everyone loves the idea of LIV golf holding an event in Christchurch. Rumour has it that the saudi-backed breakaway competition is looking at holding a tournament in the garden city, possibly as soon as next year. LIV officials have visited christchurch golf club to have a look. Sir Bob Charles is a patron of that club and told Heather du Plessis-Allan they're creating turmoil in the golf industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand and Australia have committed to working "in lock step" like never before over security issues. Christopher Luxon and Anthony Albanese have wrapped up their bilateral meeting in Canberra. Luxon says they have agreed to activate the alliance if either nation faces a severe cyber attack, and have invited defence ministers to renew closer ties. International geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller told Heather du Plessis-Allan when these leaders meet, it's turning everything up a notch each time and very much in opposition to China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Waitangi tribunal released it's first take on the government's Treaty Principles Bill and it doesn't like it. The tribunal says it's unfair and discriminatory - and should be abandoned. The prime minister has already pushed back, saying it's a coalition commitment with Act to pursue the bill to first reading. Former Waitangi tribunal historian, Dr Sam Carpenter told Heather du Plessis-Allan it may cause confusion in the existing law and how principles are understood. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Commission says shoppers are likely to be losing millions of dollars a year due to supermarket pricing errors. Grocery commissioner Pierre van Heerden has called them out for times when the price on the label doesn't match what you end up paying at the counter. He believes when that happens they need to give you the product for free. Head of research and advocacy at Consumer NZ, Gemma Rasmussen, told Heather du Plessis-Allan it should be the role of the commission to be looking into the pricing discrepancies. She says 65% of shoppers are noticing pricing inaccuracies when they go to the supermarket and about 12% are spotting them frequently. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The security around Taylor Swift has been strengthened ahead of the singer's London shows. Swift is set to perform five nights at Wembley Stadium in the UK capital in her first appearance on stage since a terror threat led to her Vienna shows getting cancelled. UK correspondent Enda Brady says fans without tickets have been asked not to gather outside the venue to listen to the gig. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few years ago, the Metaverse was the biggest talking point in the world of technology. Meanwhile in 2024, the virtual platform has declined in popularity and the market has moved on. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains what happened. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's wide-reaching banking inquiry has been met with support from Federated Farmers. Banking spokesperson Richard McIntyre has claimed this inquiry will shine a light on the levels of competition, profitability and transparency in rural lending - information farmers have been waiting for. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data from has confirmed food prices are up - but not as much as predicted. Stats NZ reports show food prices have increased by 0.6 percent in the 12 months to July. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says this is good news for the economy following the recent OCR cut. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced a new immigration pathway for essential seasonal workers. It has created a new subcategory of the Specific Purpose Work Visa - to help employers in upcoming seasonal peaks. Roles must pay at least $29.66 per hour, and offer at least 30 hours each week. EMA's Alan McDonald says these changes will be welcomed by the business sector. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Mark Sainsbury and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! North Korea is set to open back up to tourists at the end of the year. Would we go? We've gotten a look at the new school lunches menu - what do we think? Will these be fit for purpose? Eden Park has asked the council to let it host twice as many concerts as it's allowed right now. Is this a no-brainer? A UK judge has sentenced a keyboard warrior to 15 months in jail. The 53 year old woman had called for someone to blow up a mosque in a local community Facebook group. Will a sentence like this deter other keyboard warriors? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks lineup has entered the spotlight, with four changes made for Saturday's rematch against the Pumas at Eden Park. Rieko Ioane's swapped in for Anton Leinert-Brown to start at centre while Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan are the starting wingers. Ethan de Groot's out with a neck injury so Tamaiti Williams starts in the front row while former captain Sam Cane's onto the bench. Former All Black Sir John Kirwan says this will be a good chance for TJ Perenara to redeem himself after last week's loss. "He'll get out there and make amends - or he'll be under some real pressure. That's probably why he's out there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday August 15, an expert from Massey University shared his theory about where the infamous batch of meth-laced lollies came from. Associate Education Minister David Seymour unveiled his plan for school lunches - and explained how it worked out to be so cost-effective. North Korea is set to open its doors to tourists again. Former Sunday reporter Mark Crysell shared why it might be worth visiting. Former All Black Sir John Kirwan summed up his thoughts on this weekend's team lineup ahead of the All Blacks-Argentina rematch. Plus, The Huddle debates whether Eden Park should be allowed to host more concerts. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

North Korea's set to reopen for international tourists by the end of the year. Two tour companies with connections to the isolated country have made separate online announcements - saying tour groups would be allowed to visit the city of Samjiyon. It's been almost five years since the country shut its borders due to the pandemic. Former Sunday reporter Mark Crysell has been to North Korea, and says he recommends visiting. "Every other country in the world is pretty much the same now because of globalisation - North Korea is like going to the moon. And when you go inside, it's like being sealed in a tupperware container." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Associate Education Minister's unveiled his new plan for school lunches. Newstalk ZB can reveal nine sample recipes from the Ministry of Education include butter chicken, a chicken sandwich, a rice and bean burrito, and Thai chicken curry. David Seymour says these choices are the most cost-effective ways to keep Kiwi students fed. "There's every reason to believe that we're going to be able to deliver what's been indicated - at the prices that have been indicated." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The submissions are open, you can now have your say on whether Eden Park should be allowed to have 12 concerts a year, which is double what they have at the moment. And from me, it is absolutely a ‘hell yes’.Give them 12 concerts, it's a great place for a show. I've been to a few shows there now - Pink, Ed Sheeran, Billy Joel... and honestly, because of how good it was as a music venue, I struggle to imagine a time when Eden Park didn’t host music. It seemed so natural. But they only had their first concert, Six60, in 2021. In the interests of transparency, I have to say for a couple of those concerts, I was there because Eden Park invited me. And I'm not naïve, I suspect they invited me so I could see what a great venue it was. And it worked, because I was quite impressed with it. Obviously, Eden Park isn't the only venue Auckland City's got, there's a whole bunch of them - and if you want to have a big open-air stadium concert, there's Mt Smart. But I still reckon Eden Park beats it on a couple of fronts. For one, it's much easier to get to and from there than it is for Mt Smart. For a big show, Mt Smart is a pain in the butt to get in and out of. With Eden Park, you can just walk out and you're in a bar in Ponsonby in 2.5ks.Plus, there's capacity. Mt Smart can do about 40,000 people for a live show, Eden Park can apparently hold more than 50,000. Obviously, that means more money for Auckland city, which is what I'm interested in.The hotel occupancy for Pink was apparently 97 percent. That means people are bringing in their money from other places in the country and the region. There'll be even more money flowing in for Coldplay, cause they're only playing three shows in Auckland.So far, Eden Park is doing good things for Auckland's economy - and just to underscore the place, think of the biggest events Auckland's had over the past wee while. We had Harry Styles, we had Pink, we had the FIFA Women's World Cup, and we're going to have Coldplay soon. Three of those were - or will be - held at Eden Park. After Coldplay, what's on Auckland's calendar for cool things to do? Outside of stuff like the tennis and SailGP, there's nothing.So I'd argue we actually need Eden Park to have more concerts, cause it attracts the big stuff. And who would turn up the money that comes with it? Plus, if we say yes to these extra concerts, maybe in a few years we’ll struggle to remember a time when we limited them to only six a year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's risk the needs of disabled people won't be met as their ministry is carved up. Support services are moving to the Ministry of Social Development, after a review found a lack of control over funding and services at Whaikaha. Disability Support Network CEO Peter Reynolds says the sector has been struggling for over a decade - and doesn't have faith in MSD. "As recently as June 30, three contracts expired across a couple of hundred providers. No replacement contracts were issued for two months - that's two months that those providers didn't receive any funding." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Opposition leader Peter Dutton has claimed Australia should not accept Palestinian refugees fleeing conflict in Gaza, citing 'security risks'. Dutton's comments have been rejected by senior Albanese government figures, as officials try to keep Palestinian refugees in the country for longer. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Dutton has been accused of trying to stir up division. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infrastructure is high on the agenda for the Prime Minister's meetings in Australia. Chris Luxon and Ministers Shane Jones, Simeon Brown and Chris Bishop have met with top-brass at Kiwi engineering firm Beca, and had infrastructure talks with the New South Wales Premier. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks Luxon's new model for infrastructure. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former captain Sam Cane has returned to the All Blacks in the way he played much of the early part of his test career - via the bench. Cane will back up the loose forwards in Saturday's rematch against Argentina from jersey 20 in his first test since last year's World Cup final. There are four changes to the side that lost in Wellington - with Tamaiti Williams, Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan all starting. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland police have recovered more meth-laced lollies overnight, and are investigating a report someone tried to sell one. The fake Rinda pineapple sweets were donated to Auckland City Mission - which unwittingly distributed them in food parcels. Police have retrieved another 13 since yesterday, bringing the total to 29. Massey University's Professor Chris Wilkins suspects Mexican cartels may have been behind this incident. "The Mexican cartels are particularly innovative and have expertise in smuggling, because they have been, for many decades, transporting drugs across the borders of the US." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK's inflation rate has risen for the first time since December, ticking up to 2.2 percent in the year to July. According to experts, this rise is largely due to prices of gas and electricity falling by less than they did in 2023. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this increase was expected - but it's not good for the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces have now gained control of 74 settlements in Russia's Kursk region. The governor of Russia’s border area of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has declared a region-wide state of emergency - and is appealing to President Putin to declare a federal emergency. New Voice of Ukraine editor Euan MacDonald says it's unlikely Russia expected this latest border attack. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several Kiwi businesses have expressed relief as the Reserve Bank announces cuts to the OCR. The cash rate has been dropped 25 basis points to 5.25 percent - the first significant cut to the OCR since 2020. Milford Asset Management's Katlyn Parker unpacks the wider market response. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's shock and excitement across the nation, as the Reserve Bank makes cuts to the OCR for the first time since 2020. The Bank's slashed the cash rate by 25 basis points to 5.25 percent. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacks what brought this change on - and what caused Governor Adrian Orr to announce this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.