Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Minutes from the Reserve Bank of Australia's March 18-19 board meeting have revealed the Bank did not consider an additional increase to interest rates. Minutes show the RBA had canvassed the option at every meeting since May 2022, when the infamous string of 13 rate hikes began. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham says the Bank were content to hold the rates in place- and cuts can't be far behind. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a challenging time for cash-strapped dairy giant Synlait. The company is reporting a $96.2 million loss for the six months to January, compared to a $4.8 million profit in the previous corresponding period. It's won an extension on a $130 million debt repayment and is reviewing North Island assets, including the extensive Pōkeno facilities. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The price of gold has soared to an all-time high- and some Kiwi companies are hoping to take advantage. Gold is currently trading at $2269 USD ($3817 NZD) an ounce. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains how companies like Santana can get ahead. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has unveiled the next phase of new ideas and schemes for this year. Prime Minister Luxon revealed his strategies for 2024's next quarter, which includes reintroducing three strikes, creating an attendance plan for schools, and delivering tax relief by June 30. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon must be careful not to fall into the pre-Budget traps his Labour predecessors were stuck in. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigations into a drug overdose on the Gold Coast. New Zealand woman Danielle Whitaker has died of a suspected overdose at her 40th birthday party. Nine News reports two other people were found not breathing, and one is still in hospital. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says little is known about what substance was involved. "The drug they took, according to the paramedics, makes you stop breathing. And this is apparently what's happened here." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker has set his sights on his next opponent. Lip-synching the words to Take That's 1995 hit 'Back for Good', the WBO interim champion has posted a lipsync video online, calling for a rematch with British fighter Dillian Whyte. The pair last fought in 2018, with Whyte handing Parker his second professional loss by unanimous decision. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is striking back over claims Luxon is running the country like a business. Labour has taken a swipe at the Prime Minister, as he revealed his plan for the next quarter- including a promise to cut taxes at the Budget, and launching a school attendance action plan. Minister Nicola Willis says a country is different from a business, but some key disciplines are important. "Accountability for results, measuring performance, holding people accountable for performance- there's a reason that works in a small business, a big business and there's no reason those principles can't be applied to Government." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pair of millionaire philanthropists are urging the Prime Minister to honour a commitment and chase businesses up for Covid wage subsidy money. Grant and Marilyn Nelson suspect companies have wrongly held on to millions of dollars- and hope the Government can encourage these companies to pay that money back. Grant Nelson says businesses should be treated like beneficiaries and be made to pay back money they owe. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Workplace Relations Minister says Easter trading laws are outdated. Two Wānaka New World supermarkets are likely to be fined after remaining open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, in a potential breach of the weekend's trading laws. A Foodstuffs spokesperson says it was done to make sure people have convenient access to groceries throughout the break. Brooke van Velden says while people should follow the law, she understands the frustration. "This law is outdated- and I'm not ruling out looking into it in a longer-term framework." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Department of Conservation says spending nearly $500,000 dollars to kill a single stoat in Fiordland is money well spent. The pest was found on Chalky Island in August 2022, which had been predator-free since 1999. The bill covered things like incident management teams, staff time, dog handlers, helicopter and boat expenses. DOC spokesperson Aaron Fleming says the price tag isn't too high to protect at-risk creatures. "When you're talking about protecting one of our strongholds of biodiversity and some of the special species we have on that remote island, it's absolutely money well spent." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Deputy says a new Government list of priorities makes a big deal of ordinary work. The 36-point check-list is to be completed by June 30. It includes tasks such as delivering the Budget, and 'raising the energy' on key international engagements. Carmel Sepuloni says it's over-exaggerating the normal business of Government. "The reality is, it's actually business as usual for any Government to go about some of these things. So it's the way it's been packaged- which I think is quite misleading for New Zealanders LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Council are putting pressure on the Government to make it easier to remove heritage listings from buildings. A letter from the Council written to RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop states the city has 554 quake-prone buildings, 163 of which are heritage listed. The letter suggests building owners are increasingly becoming unable to meet the cost of quake-strengthening or redevelopment. Wellington City Councillor Ben McNulty says the current system simply isn't working. "In October, there was no other option but to spend that ungodly amount of $320 million on the town hall in a water crisis because it's category 1 heritage-listed. And that meant we were never going to have a reasonable alternative." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you’ve been debating the issue of the two New World supermarkets in Wanaka breaking Easter trading laws repeatedly, including this year, I reckon you probably fall into one of two camps. Camp one- It gets on your nerves because these guys are quite clearly deliberately breaking the law, given they’ve done it three out of the last four years and have been fined twice already. And they shouldn't do that, because laws are there to be followed. And if you think that, you're a hypocrite, because everyone breaks the law a little bit sometimes. Whether it’s driving 60k in a 50k zone or checking your phone at the traffic lights or taking a beer to the beach when it’s an alcohol free zone- you do it. Or you fall into camp two and you love it- and I'm in this camp. I love it! Because this law is dumb. You know it, I know it, and every time those New Worlds in Wanaka open their doors and invite prosecution, then get prosecuted and then just do it again the next year, it just underscores how dumb this law is and reminds us we can’t just leave it like that, we have to get rid of it. The law is dumb because all it is is inconvenient. All it does is catch out all the people who turn up to Warbirds over Wanaka or the Coromandel or Hawkes Bay or wherever and either forgot the shops were shut or ran out of time to bring groceries. It's dumb because the punishment for breaking the law and opening the shop is so low it’s not worth obeying the law. The maximum fine is $1000, who cares? A supermarket would make that in minutes. So if the law is stupid, which it is, and if it hasn’t got the buy-in of the community anymore, which I'm certain it doesn't, and it's being wilfully ignored by the shops, then go New World. I reckon New World isn’t flouting the law for altruistic reasons, that's stupid. They're probably just breaking the law to make money. But I appreciate the good it's doing to undermine an outdated and inconvenient rule - which is just a pain nowadays. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Easter, one NHS doctor is warning people not to eat entire chocolate eggs in one sitting. Dr Andrew Kelso has written an open letter claiming the average Easter egg contains three-quarters of an adult's recommended daily calorie intake- and urged people to practice moderation. People on social media have taken this as a challenge, with Nigel Farage eating an Easter egg on his live GB News show to protest the 'nanny state'. UK correspondent Enda Brady says obesity and Type 2 diabetes are on the rise in the region, so the warning holds weight. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Recent data has showed Kiwi students are among the worst-behaved in the developed world, with misbehaviour shooting up over the last couple of years. Why is this happening? Can it be addressed? Plans for a giant ocean sanctuary to protect marine life around the Kermadec Islands have been scuppered by the Government. Is this the right decision? The NZDF has responded to criticisms over their Cyclone Gabrielle response- could they have done better? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demand for electric vehicles has ground to a halt in recent months. Growth rates are down in the United States, Europe, and China, according to new data. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds says these decreased stats don't inspire confidence in buyers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DairyNZ's Econ Tracker predicts an increase in profitability for farmers- but warns interest costs could bite. Their latest data shows he national breakeven forecast currently sits at $7.75 kg/MS. The Country's Jamie Mackay recaps the report. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a more hopeful period, business confidence and consumer confidence has slumped again. New data for March indicates businesses and consumers are back to feeling negative about the state of the economy. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says the 'recession' headline comes with a lot of power to sway markets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Educators are calling for a solution after recent data revealed New Zealand is among the worst for student misbehaviour. An Education Review Office report shows behaviour has worsened in the past two years. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper blames the post-Covid educational decline and cell phones for these statistics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has swiftly rejected Auckland mayor Wayne Brown's proposal that they pay rates on their Auckland properties. Mayor Brown believes the city would benefit from $400 million worth of revenue if the rates were paid on Government buildings- and if the GST charged on rates was given back. He says this scheme would have solved the Government's challenge of helping people through a cost of living crisis. "The tax on this GST on rates is a land tax- if they give that back, they'll help everybody. It'd solve their problem, bingo. They should thank me." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby has been on the receiving end of criticism from the provinces amid a proposed shake-up to the board. The national body and several provincial unions remain in a back-and-forth over how to implement a review that recommends sweeping changes to the way the game is governed. Mid-Canterbury rugby union chair Gerard Rushton says it's important for members of New Zealand's rugby community to be on NZ Rugby's board. "It's important to have that culture and ensure that the connection back to the community is represented through the board. It's farcical to think rugby can be treated like a corporate." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chlöe Swarbrick expects the pride of Auckland's rainbow community to shine through tenfold after vandalism overnight on Karangahape Road. Three people in balaclavas poured white paint on the road's rainbow crossing, then fled in a car without registration plates. Police are declaring it a hate crime and searched a Flat Bush property this afternoon, seizing a number of items. Green Party co-leader and Auckland Central MP Swarbrick says it's a sad and petty use of energy. "This is a symbol, which is out there- but you can't paint over people's existence." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Secondary Principals' Association believes the community should get behind schools and students to help reduce bad behaviour. A new Education Review Office report shows it's worsened over the past two years. President Vaughan Couillault says Covid lock-downs weren't the only factor. "There's a growing sort of movement where members of the community become indignant when their kid does something wrong. They aren't backing schools to make the right decisions." Couillault says there needs to be a conversation on student expectations, and how the community will support this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A vast ocean sanctuary around the Kermadec Islands is now off the table. The Government has scrapped plans for the 620,000 square kilometre marine reserve, envisioned by Sir John Key to protect unique biodiversity. Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says the Kermadec Islands are already well-protected. "There's far too much misinformation, and I've had to put up with green muckery over this issue. There is already a host of protective measures there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Children in Alice Springs won't be allowed outside their homes at night for the next fortnight. The Northern Territory Government has mandated an emergency curfew to curb escalating violence in the town. Chaos descended on the region on Tuesday afternoon when a large group attacked the Todd Tavern, causing thousands of dollars worth of property damage. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says residents feel these extra measures were a long time coming. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Defence Force has been on the receiving end of backlash amid claims they were underprepared to handle Cyclone Gabrielle. Documents claimed there were not enough resources, the water tanks dispatched weren't certified for drinking- and a lack of PPE meant personnel were unable to attend rescue efforts. Rear Admiral James Gilmour acknowledged the optics, but claimed the NZDF was required to follow the Health and Safety Act. "What we had was our people racing in with the best of intent- and our role within the Defence Force is to stay within the Health and Safety Act." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour is demanding an end to greyhound racing, saying the industry's been On Notice for too long. Animal activists have been calling for an end to the sport for ages, with demand surging after three dogs dies in a week. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighed in on the controversy today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped again, setting a new low recorded by the British Social Attitudes survey. 24 percent of respondents say they were satisfied with the NHS in 2023, with waiting times and staff shortages being the biggest concerns. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's a divided response to how the UK can improve the NHS. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, Josie Pagani from Childfund and Kiwiblog writer and Curia Pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Auckland University raised some eyebrows after images of designated rooms for Māori and Pasifika students surfaced online. Some students say these rooms are vital, important spaces- do we agree? Amid the buzz around Fred Again.. landing in New Zealand, there's been controversy over his opener getting preferential treatment to get her passport fast-tracked. What do we think of this? The mayors of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch are demanding the Government start paying rates on its buildings in their cities to help with the cities' finances. Fair call? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 'slow grind' lies ahead for households over the next few months, but the end is within sight for the tough fight with inflation. ASB's latest Quarterly Economic Forecast says things will get better after a slow 3 to 6 months for the economy- and rates and living costs will come down again. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says recent data shows people can see the light at the end of the tunnel for the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first trading quarter of 2024 has come to an end, giving investors an opportunity to take stock of what's to come. The market has struggled under the pressure of the economy, with construction, housing, and retail taking a financial hit. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains what this means for the rest of the year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has labelled the Government's Budget Policy Statement a 'sobering reality check' with no surprises. The Finance Minister says a surplus is unlikely to happen by 2026/27 and Treasury has warned the economy will slow down- forcing the Government to borrow more. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacks what this could mean for the proposed tax cuts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lawyer who's represented Gloriavale leavers is suing four Government departments, alleging they allowed abuse to happen for years. The West Coast Christian community's been thrust into the spotlight again, following the release of documentary miniseries Escaping Utopia. Barrister Brian Henry has accused the community of being 'groomers' who abused women and neglected children. "It's all set out there. I'm not saying anything other than what the court says." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland University's Student Association is holding firm on giving minority students designated spaces. A sign outside a campus study area - now removed - read: “This is a designated area for Māori and Pasifika students”. ACT Party spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar called it reminiscent of an ugly past New Zealand's left behind. Association president Alan Shaker says they are absolutely necessary. "We've got a women's space, a queer space, we've got a lot of tuākana spaces, we've got a Muslim prayer spaces- and this is no different from that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chair Dame Patsy Reddy has confirmed she'll resign if the NZ Rugby board reforms don't go through in line with her proposals. NZR's newly released proposal suggests nine independent board members for NZR's future boards. However, the provincial unions want three board members to have had board-level experience at a provincial level. Dame Patsy Reddy says a 'world-leading' governance structure is needed to ensure the continued success of NZ Rugby. "We've been leading the rugby world for 135 years, but we need to have world-leading governance to remain ahead of the game. And a world-leading governance structure does not have a representational model." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says she'll confirm in the Budget how much extra the Government will have to spend - although she's still promising tax cuts in July.Nicola Willis broke convention today when delivering the Budget Policy Statement by not detailing the operating allowance. She says the number will be lower than $3.5 billion dollars previously forecast. But Willis says she's not fazed to be straying from the norm. "Grant Robertson has a practise where he announced the number six months out, and then he'd deliver a completely different number on Budget Day. And I don't think that's particularly helpful, I want to be more reliable than that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Coast Guard says six construction workers missing in Baltimore Harbour are now presumed dead. They were caught up in the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge overnight, after it was hit by a container ship. US correspondent Logan Church says investigations are taking place to find out what happened in the leadup to the tragic collapse. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister is still adamant that the Government will stick to their tax cut plans. Nicola Willis today unveiled the Budget Policy Statement, which broke with normal convention and did not include how much extra spending the Government will take on at the budget. Willis says despite a worse than expected set of fiscal forecasts, tax cuts are still coming in July. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Willis didn't say whether the tax cuts would resemble the ones promised to voters in 2023. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby chair Dame Patsy Reddy has outlined why she believes an independent model for the sport's governance is a must. NZR has released a proposal to change the governance structure and could call a Special General Meeting to vote on it. The proposal suggests nine independent board members for NZR's future boards, and the provincial unions want three board members to have had board-level experience at a provincial level. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Former Defence Minister says our airforce personnel shouldn't train overseas defence forces - against our best interest. Seven former Defence Force personnel were found to have been hired to help train the People's Liberation Army. Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says this shows there needs to be an updated contract clause barring former personnel from training other Defence Forces. "We certainly don't have it in law as such, but I'm not absolutely sure about the current status of the contracts. But if they're not there, they should be." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis to the world, there's been increased interest in the UK's leading cancer charity websites. Macmillan Cancer Support revealed traffic was up 10 percent from last Friday- the highest weekend traffic the website has recorded in years. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this matches the outpouring of support King Charles got following his cancer reveal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital Relations and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Were we surprised to learn about Chinese state-sponsored hacking into NZ MPs and Parliament systems? Do you think NZ got the balance right with their response- or should we have gone harder? NZ Post has revealed they plan to scrap 750 jobs amid changes to the mail sector. Is this an unfortunate necessity? Destiny Church was active today, with members heading out to paint over a rainbow crossing in Gisborne to protest a drag queen story hour. Was this a step too far? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A joint research project between AgResearch and Meat and Livestock Australia has revealed more consumers are interested in the health benefits of red meat. Consumers in the US and Australia have expressed interest in eating more red meat to improve their wellbeing, according to the surveys. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the wider industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shock and surprise throughout the country, as the public today learned Chinese spies hacked into Government systems back in 2021. The hack was revealed to have stolen a small amount of non-strategic information. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains the international implications of this announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A struggling retail sector is urging the Government to roll back the Easter trading restrictions. Under current laws, shops all over New Zealand are required to close this upcoming Good Friday and Easter Sunday. ACT has created a bill that would scrap these trading rules and National has expressed support for it- but NZ First doesn't agree. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says the sector has voiced support for this bill in order to boost economic recovery. "With Easter being early this year, I'm sure there'll still be a number of tourists in and around New Zealand, and that would help generate income for the country as well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Startling revelations about the frequency of cyber attacks on significant New Zealand organisations. The GCSB says malicious targeting of the Parliamentary Counsel Office and Parliamentary Services in 2021 was linked to to actors backed by China. The Government is condemning the actions and publicly backing the UK and US, which have announced retaliatory sanctions over similar claims. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this isn't the first time international agencies have attempted to spy on New Zealand- but the Chinese factor has charged the response. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of New Zealand's most famously car-reliant cities is trialling a new approach to public transport. The new on-demand electric buses work as an Uber-like service- where commuters can summon them instead of waiting for a regular bus. Bay of Plenty regional councillor Andrew von Dadelszen says these buses operate within zones to get people closer to their chosen destination. "You just go on the app and book it- and the bus will come and collect you and take you to where you want to go." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Posties will be no more in four to six years, as NZ Post announces significant change to their delivery service. It's confirmed both mail and parcels will eventually be delivered by courier drivers, meaning up to 750 people will lose their jobs in mail delivery, processing and support roles. Postal Workers Union spokesperson John Maynard says it's clear New Zealand Post hasn't been fighting for new solutions to the changing world. "We agree there needs to be a different way of going about this, but we think the proposition we put to the company will save them tens of millions of dollars of redundancy pay." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Warning: Potentially distressing content Outrage at a Wellington theatre company who cast a man convicted of rape in a lead role. Wellington Repertory Theatre's 'Murdered to Death' stars Harrison Stuart Nicol, who was convicted of rape in 2021. The theatre company has told media in a statement a safety plan's in place. Independent victims' advocate Ruth Money says a rapist poster-boy is incredibly distressing, and she's got concerns about the company's safety practice. She asks if those who wrote the safety practice are trained in sexual violence, and wonders if the theatre company is happy their leading man is a convicted rapist. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister in charge of the GCSB in 2021- when a cyber incident targeted Parliamentary entities - has revealed more about what followed. The spy agency revealed today it became aware the intrusion, linked to a Chinese state-backed actor. China's ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong has called the accusations groundless and irresponsible. Andrew Little says he was told there had been a hack, but lengthy investigation was needed. "Making an announcement, a co-ordinated announcement of this nature, on this particular hack has been talked about for some months. But obviously, all the things lined up for that to happen in the last 24 hours." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.