Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A reminder every second counts when it comes to the effort of fighting fires. Fire and Emergency New Zealand has criticised Auckland Transport for speed bumps, which it says slows firefighters on their way to jobs. Professional Firefighters Union Auckland President Terry Bird says it doesn't have to be all or nothing. "There's an opportunity to talk about how to design these speed management humps in a way that they aren't obstructing firefighters and slowing them down, there are fire appliance-friendly designs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kensington Palace is refusing to comment on a new image of the Princess of Wales, after concerns it's been manipulated. The picture posted this morning to celebrate Mother's Day in the UK shows Catherine with her three children. But, The Associated Press, Reuters and Getty have pulled the image from circulation. ITV royal correspondent Chris Ship says this photo was meant to dampen speculation around the Princess, but it's done the opposite. "You've now got three or four major international picture agencies who have all pulled it for various reasons, I think one said there were fears it had been manipulated, another said they had serious post-production concerns." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia has fought back from being five wickets down for just 80 runs to beat New Zealand by three wickets in the second test in Christchurch, taking the series 2-nil. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey scored an unbeaten 98, while Ben Sears took four for 65 for the Black Caps. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There were concerns The Holdovers was going to win 'Best Original Screenplay' at today's 96th Academy Awards after plagiarism accusations. The award instead went to Anatomy of a Fall. Screenwriter Simon Stephenson - who also wrote Paddington 2 - claims The Holdovers' story is remarkably similar to a script he wrote in 2013. Hollywood reporter Sean Mandell says by not winning, they've dodged a dicey situation. "The Guild has said - in those correspondence anyway, not publicly - they said that there's nothing really they can do, because it has to be a lawsuit matter." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If the speculation around Kate Middleton's health was at a fever pitch last week, it is off the charts today because of the photo. This drama is very much developing at the moment. By the time the photo-is-manipulated revelation came out, it was very late in the UK already. It's still very early morning over there, so I would expect things to start happening again in the next few hours as people wake up. But let me bring you up to speed on where we're at with this, because I think this has the potential to be quite a serious problem for the royals, depending on how they handle it. Because of the rumours around Kate's health, Kensington Palace put out a photo of Kate and the kids, taken by William for Mother's Day. But then- people started seeing the problems. Kate wasn't wearing her wedding ring and at Charlotte’s left hand, the sleeve disappears in a weird way. Behind wee Louis, a step has an unnatural break in the line, and there's a duplication on his right sleeve by the shoulder. Kate's one hand is blurry while the other is crystal clear- and they should actually be the same because they’re at the same focal point for the camera. And there is a tree in the background that some say shouldn't have leaves at this time of year. As a result, major international agencies like The Associated Press, Reuters and Getty have all issued a kill notice on the photo and told media outlets around the world to delete it immediately because as AP says- "It appears that the source has manipulated the image." The source being the royals. What makes this worse is that Kensington Palace is refusing to comment on it. Which means we can't even ask the question- was this photo just photoshopped (minor problem) or was it totally artificially created and the family never sat for it (major problem)? Now hopefully there is a very simple explanation. Like maybe they just mashed multiple photos together to get the best take of each person. So maybe if Louis had his eyes closed in one shot and Charlotte had her eyes closed in another shot, they took the best shots of everyone and mashed them into a single photo. It might be something simple like that. But whatever it is, they need to start talking fast. Because they put this photo out to quell speculation and rumours about Kate Middleton’s health and they have just turbo-charged those rumours. Let's be clear, it's not that they owe anyone an explanation over a private health problem, but it’s that they need to protect Kate Middleton from what they've just done- and what they've unleashed on her. People are getting so nutty over this that Kate Middleton got papped by TMZ on a school run last week. If people were fascinated then and hungry for that photo, can you imagine the pressure for a pap now? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The price of gold has hit a record high, over $3,500 an ounce. Development West Coast CEO, Heath Milne, says this is great news as a number of gold mining and refining projects are underway. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mothers Ruined Gin co-owner Jo Davy joins Heather to discuss their battle with energy drink giant, Energy Beverages LLC, who claim they own the word Mother. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Minister Shane Reti joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the governments newly announced health targets for 2024. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson joins Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss President Joe Biden's State of the Union address. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Television New Zealand (TVNZ) chief executive Jodi O’Donnell has told Newstalk ZB's Heather du Plessis-Allan she didn’t want to cut any shows, but it had been a day of hard decisions. “It’s only a proposal at this stage," O'Donnell said. "We have spent the seven months working across the business trying to find cost savings,” she said However, it hadn’t been enough, she said. “We need to do something more significant. So we’ve had a look at all our options. I’ve been open about the fact there are no ‘sacred cows’ and we need to find ways to stop doing some things because we need to cut costs." O'Donnell said TVNZ was investing more than $40 million into news and current affairs: “So we absolutely believe in the future of news and current affairs.” She said, though, TVNZ’s operating model was more expensive than the revenue it was making. "We need to find ways to stop doing some things because we need to cut costs." Pressed on specifically which programmes would be cut - including possible changes to Shortland Street - O’Donnell said any show could be affected: “We’re looking at everything.” “We’ll constantly be looking at things to keep our operating model in line with our revenue. “We are a commercial business. That’s the remit we need to work with. She said TVNZ’s decision-making was partly based on which shows would work in a “digital world”. O’Donnell confirmed TVNZ did not consider cutting 1News down to a half hour. "What we see with the one-hour news bulletin, it’s an incredibly profitable hour of broadcasting and it also delivers incredibly strong on our digital platform." She said there had been a continual decline in advertising revenue across this financial year. “Our competitors these days are not [Newstalk ZB] or Sky or Warner Brothers, but they are Google and Meta. These are multi-trillion dollar organisations. “Ninety cents in every dollar spent in digital news advertising is going offshore. That’s 10 cents left for the likes of New Zealand Media and Entertainment, TVNZ, Stuff - any of the local broadcasters, and that’s a challenge. “I mean you still can’t advertise on television on Sunday morning at the moment. That’s how outdated that [Broadcasting] Act is. “I think, particularly in this environment of trust, it’s important that is really clear and it’s still independent." She said she was ambitious about TVNZ’s digital future. “We offer a broad range of content. Local is still an incredibly important part of that. As we build out that platform, that’s the challenge we have in front of us." There were no other cuts planned, she said. - NZ Herald WATCH ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judith Collins is using Chat-GPT to help her write her speeches. She leads a group of MP's in Parliament trying to figure out how to responsibly use AI. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, police in the Bradford area have deployed undercover female officers to crack down on sexual harassment. This is amid a 'concerning' epidemic of young women reporting concerns for their safety while they were out running. UK correspondent Enda Brady says anyone caught harassing a woman under these conditions will face a $2000 fine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! David Seymour is copping some backlash over his comments about TVNZ, namely reporter Benedict Collins and his coverage of Chris Luxon's accommodation subsidy. Was this an immature move on Seymour's part? TVNZ has also confirmed they plan to cut up to 68 roles- our newsroom understands about 35 are news roles. Is this the right decision? How can the broadcaster adapt to our current media market? The Government is pushing through new legislation to fast-track consenting. These measures will give ministers the final say to sign off on initiatives it considers to be of regional or national significance, including mining and roads. What changes will come from this? The public sector has enacted new measures to cut costs. Some have encouraged workers to stay with friends when they travel for work and MSD has scrapped plunger coffee- is this a step too far? How else can the sector save money? Virgin Australia will allow small pets to travel on domestic flights- what do we think of that? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A petition urging the Government to keep the ban on live animal exports in place is gaining traction. Despite the Government promising to repeal the ban during the election, over 13,000 people have signed. The Country's Jamie Mackay says this is a polarising topic that's divided New Zealand's farming community. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Financial journalism veteran Liam Dann aims to guide New Zealanders through the business world using familiar Kiwi terms. BBQ Economics examines everything from interest rates, to economic conditions to the price of cheese- and it's out in bookstores this week. Liam Dann himself explains the purpose of this book here today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese e-commerce firm Temu has been taking the world of online retail by storm. The retailer's 'shop like a billionaire' campaign reflects their too-good-to-be true prices and deals promoted to consumers on social media- and beyond. Brand strategist Jill Brinsdon says Temu's targeting bargain hunters, and they seem determined to sweep the competition. "It's quite a classic strategy, Chemist Warehouse has come to New Zealand and done a similar thing. You have to have big pockets, then you come in and you're the loss-leader- and you clean up the market." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attorney-General Judith Collins has concluded that the Government's move to ban gang patches is against the bill of rights. She tabled the advice in Parliament this afternoon, saying despite some gang members thinking they're above the law- they are also entitled to its protection. The bill seeks to reduce the ability for gangs to operate and cause fear in communities, by banning their patches. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says there have been many cases where the Government has enacted legislation that goes against the Bill of Rights. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hope that the Government's plan to fast-track consents will speed up the production of independently created windfarms- eventually leading to cheaper electricity. The new regime gives ministers the final say to sign off on initiatives it considers to be of regional or national significance. Ventus Energy CEO Glenn Starr says shorter consenting timeframes will allow the company to compete with other generator retailers. "As an independent, it's difficult to keep everything running smoothly through the consent procuress and development process." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concern Australia's Reserve Bank may have gone too far to reduce inflation. The RBA infamously pushed the Official Cash Rate up 13 times in a row, and some economists are concerned Australia's economy may suffer as a result. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says decreased spending has shrunk economic growth in the last three months of 2023. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The motel sector is welcoming the Government's new priority one emergency housing policies. Families with children living in emergency motels are being pushed to the front of the queue for a state house. It's also introducing a new verification system to crack down on who can access emergency motel accommodation to begin with. Hospitality New Zealand Accommodation Chair Troy Clarry says most moteliers want to get back to traditional motel business. "The reliance on MSD income for moteliers has decreased, and you've only got a few operators who are not traditional moteliers, who are still in it for the business." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cats and dogs will soon be allowed in the cabin of some Australian domestic flights. Virgin has announced plans to become Australia's first airline to allow pets to ride onboard, with small dogs and cats to be allowed in specific rows. The service will only be available on select flights. Aviation commentator Irene King says pet travel is best suited to shorter flights. "You have to keep them short and sweet, because otherwise you have very nasty smells in the cabin." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has promised bigger projects will be built faster and more cost-effectively under their fast-track approval scheme. This legislation, which would give power to ministers to sign-off consents for major infrastructure projects, has passed its first reading in the House. Minister for Regional Economic Development Shane Jones says a 'long-term pipeline' of projects will encourage investors. "We need to build a pipeline of projects, to show both ourselves and people overseas that if you want to invest in New Zealand, there's a long-term pipeline of both private and public sector projects." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark says trimming TVNZ's flagship news show in half would be tragic. TVNZ has confirmed it is proposing to cut up to 68 roles. Our newsroom understands about 35 are news roles. It comes a week after Warner Brothers Discovery announced a proposal to scrap Newshub. Clark says we'd barely get 14 minutes of news, then sport and the weather, and that just wouldn't cover it. "You wouldn't carry much of a newsroom to fill a bulletin that literally would be 14 or 15 minutes worth of news- so I think that would be a sad day." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Both of the Warriors' first two NRL home games have sold out. The remaining tickets available for tomorrow night's campaign opener against Cronulla were snapped up this morning. It's the club's first opening round sell-out at Mount Smart since their first match in 1995 against the Brisbane Broncos. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council has proposed moving from weekly to fortnightly rubbish collection times. This concept is among a selection of other suggestions to move the city closer to a zero-waste target by 2040. Auckland councillor Daniel Newman is 'sceptical' about the practical applications of this idea. "Some people will cope marvellously, but there are thousands of families, bigger households, particularly in wards like mine in South Auckland- where the rubbish collection each week is a pretty important occasion." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First it was Newshub, now it's TVNZ. We are still waiting on the details- staff have been told there will be 68 job losses, but the rest they’ll find out tomorrow. The speculation in the media is that half of those job cuts will be in the newsroom. Fair Go and Sunday reportedly will be merged, Breakfast and Seven sharp are affected, as is the late bulletin. Shortland Street will be cut down to three nights a week at some point, and the main news bulletin will reportedly be cut down to 30 minutes, but nothing is confirmed right now. To be honest, if they want to save the ship, that is how brutal they need to be, particularly with that bulletin. That thing needs to be cut in half. When I first started working at TVNZ slightly less than 20 years ago, senior news bosses were already talking about needing to do that. It is well overdue. And it’s actually not unusual internationally to have shorter news bulletins. The Germans have a 15 minute bulletin at 8pm, In the UK, the BBC News at Six is half an hour, it happens all around the world. Seven Sharp, it they want to be brutal, should probably be cut altogether- you can probably buy a half-hour programme from overseas for much cheaper to put in that slot. I don't say this because I want this to happen, I don’t want less news on TV. I don’t want less New Zealand content on screens. But we need to be realistic, people are turning the TV off. And TVNZ cannot keep spending this much money on a product that fewer and fewer people want to use. It's not sustainable to keep pumping the same amount of money in when you're getting less from it. It's a little bit like the postal service. Fewer and fewer people are using it nowadays, so it has to change and trim the budget to reflect the demand. You don't get post delivered five days a week anymore, you get it three days a week. And fewer people are watching the news, so it needs to cut costs. And actually not just the news, it's the whole of TVNZ. At some point, there will be so few people watching linear TV, we will have to pull the plug altogether. In the same way that one day we will have to stop the postal deliveries. There is some hope for TVNZ, they’re going hard investing in TVNZ Plus- which is their online platform that's like the TVNZ version of Netflix. Maybe it’ll work, maybe it won’t. But while that is the future, linear TV is not. So these job losses, sadly, will not be the last. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government is expected to announce a 2 percent cut to National Insurance tax when ministers reveal their annual economic snapshot. The current Government is yet to call a general election date, and experts say they need to boost public favour within a stagnant economy. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the Government is 'diving for support' amid declining public opinion. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Speculation says TVNZ could be looking to cut jobs ahead of their all-hands business meeting tomorrow. What do we think? Is the industry going through a rough patch? The director of a taxpayer funned anti-extremism research group is under pressure, after accusing the Government of being a child-hating 'death cult'. Were these comments a step too far? New research shows more Kiwis are in favour of tipping- does New Zealand need to embrace tipping culture? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Non-residential building work has shot up in the December 2023 quarter, according to the latest data. Commercial buildings have outpaced residential homes, with residential building activity dropping 2 percent in the December quarter. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains what this means for economic growth ahead of the upcoming GDP results. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNZ is following other banks in cutting some mortgage rates, following ANZ and ASB. This comes off the back of last week's Reserve Bank decision to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5 percent. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says higher interest rates are driving prospective home buyers away- and the banks need to win people back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is set to place greater scrutiny on New Zealanders trying to access emergency housing. The Minister for Social Development has announced the verification process, eligibility settings and obligations will be strengthened. It includes checking whether someone has 'unreasonably contributed to their need for housing'. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says more case workers will be needed to address these standards- but change in this area is needed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new survey has revealed a majority of people think contributing to KiwiSaver should be compulsory. Data from financial advice firm National Capital shows 62 percent of Kiwis are in favour of mandatory KiwiSaver contributions. Director Clive Fernandes says younger people in particular are getting more financially savvy and learning the importance of saving. "We've done quite well in the last few years in financial education, especially with the young ones. I think financial education and financial advice is not reaching the people who most need it, and that's the middle group." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing evidence Kiwis are embracing US-style tipping culture. New data from financial information site, Banked, says 47 Kiwis approve of tipping- and at least 60 percent of Kiwis sometimes leave tips. Restaurant Association President and Monsoon Poon owner Mike Egan says customers like to show appreciation for enthusiastic or knowledgeable workers. "When you give good service, you sort of invoke the emotional reciprocation. They thought the staff member knew all about the menu, and was great, and made everyone laugh, and was on to it- and they wanted to reciprocate." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian researchers are calling for a new approach to addressing menopause, amid concerns about 'over-medicalisation'. New research published by the Lancet Series argues for a broader model to support women through this life stage, instead of treating individual symptoms. Nutritional biochemist and author Dr Libby Weaver says women process menopause differently, and not all of them suffer debilitating medical complications. "There are many women who don't suffer at all across the menopausal transition, and some do very mildly, so I think we need a broader conversation about the best ways to support women." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Broadcasting Minister is staying tight-lipped about the future of TVNZ. It is understood TVNZ newsroom staff are bracing for a meeting tomorrow about the future of news operations - which will include job cuts. Minister Melissa Lee says she spoke with TVNZ bosses on Friday about how they plan to remain financially viable. "They did not tell me that they were cutting staff on news- they were talking about programming they will have to consider." It will come a week since Newshub announced its closure, and when asked if she will help the industry, Lee says she doesn't have many levers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An increase in international cocaine production has spiked use of the drug on New Zealand shores. The Drug Use in Aotearoa report shows use grew by 93 percent over 2022 and 2023, compared to the previous three years’ average. Its use is still relatively uncommon compared to other countries, with 1.3 percent of adults here using it in the past year. Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm says the UN warned that more countries could expect use of the drug to skyrocket. "1.3 percent of adults is nothing to be sneezed at, it's more than the number of people who used methamphetamine last year, for example." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the US, the biggest day of this year's primary campaign is under way as 16 states cast their votes. Strong performances from Donald Trump and Joe Biden indicate that the two front-runners for president have been determined. American pollster Henry Olsen says Nikki Haley has no hope left of becoming the Republican nominee. "This was actually a collection of states that she could have done well in if she had strength, but the fact that she lost most of them- that shows this is a campaign that should be over." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former president Donald Trump has dominated Super Tuesday in the US, as voters pick their preferred presidential candidate. Reports are projecting he's won the Republican Primary in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Maine, Arkansas, Alabama and Texas - beating rival Nikki Haley in each. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says support is still running high among Trump's base- there's nothing that could deter prospective voters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kane Williamson is shouldering arms to suggestions of unrest in the Black Caps camp ahead of the second cricket test against Australia. Former skipper Ross Taylor has caused a stir with comments concerning now-retired seamer Neil Wagner and his international retirement. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spark customers with Xtra Mail accounts will have to pay $5.95 a month to use them from mid-May. It's citing rising maintenance costs as the reason. Spark product director Tessa Tierney says the company considered scrapping the service altogether. She says it's hard to say what its future will be. "So it'll be interesting to see over the next few weeks - and months - what decisions customers make. But at this stage, I couldn't tell you how many will decide to leave." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just listening to the commentary on the women’s 'redneck' haka in the last day, I don't think people quite understand what this debate is really about. This isn’t a debate about whether politicians just need to suck the criticism up, it isn’t about whether haka are supposed to be challenging. This is a debate about money. Super Rugby is financially stuffed, and even more so the women’s side of it. Did you see the crowd in the background of the footage of the haka? That's right- there was no crowd, there were just empty yellow seats. That's not a good sign. Super Rugby cannot afford to lose any more viewers or any sponsors from the game, and what the rugby bosses will probably be worried about more than anything right now is that there are viewers of the women’s game who are so annoyed by the politics of that team that they stop watching. Or worse, that it infects opinions of the men’s Hurricanes team as well. Or even worse, that it taints their perception of New Zealand rugby altogether. Also, they’ll be worried about the prospect that enough annoyed people will email sponsors demanding that they take a position. More than any time I can think of, consumers on both sides of the woke debate are making their dollars talk. For ages, there was a time where brands could get away with being a bit wokey for a bit of street cred. But not anymore, particularly since the Bud Light debacle where the company used the transgender actor, provoked a backlash and then suffered a 25 percent fall in sales. Consumers who don’t like the wokey stuff have started punishing brands for it. So quite rightly, the rugby bosses want to stay right out of politics and not annoy either side- and who can blame them? And it’s worth pointing out, they are not taking a side here. Three years ago, former Hurricanes shareholder Troy Bowker made some comments opposed to what he called the ‘left Māori agenda’ and he ended up having to sell his shares and step down as a director. So it's cutting both ways. There is no indication yet of what those women in the team will do, but judging by the haka leader’s comments yesterday- there is a chance that they feel very righteous about this. And if they do, they to need get real. They are clearly heavily subsidised by the men’s game at the moment, and if they want that to continue, if they want the money to keep coming in so they can keep playing their game, they’re gonna have to understand this isn’t about politics and having your say- it’s about money. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The estate of deceased Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor has ordered Donald Trump to stop playing her music at his political rallies. Trump has been playing O'Connor's biggest hit, Nothing Compares 2 U, at campaign events in the lead-up to the November election. UK correspondent Enda Brady says O'Connor lived by a fierce moral code- and would have been 'disgusted' to hear Trump use her music. 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 Hurricanes' women's side called the Government 'rednecks' in a controversial pre-match cheer. Is it wrong for sports teams to take political stances? Will this impact sponsorships? The Air Force Boeing 757 was meant to fly out this morning, but a technical fault with the nose landing gear grounded the plan. Prime Minister Chris Luxon had to fly commercial to get to his Melbourne summit. Do our leaders really need to take private planes? The Government has promised 15 new major roads within the next few years- how likely is it that they'll get built? Will they justify the extra costs to Kiwi motorists? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disappointment in the provinces as Sky TV axes Grassroots Rugby and Mainfreight Rugby. The broadcaster has committed to airing one lower-level Heartland provincial game a week from now on. The Country's Jamie Mackay unpacks the loss of the 'Country Calendar' of rugby. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's decision to hold the OCR in place at 5.5 percent has inspired some banks to lower their rates. This is despite some economists warning inflation is still running too high at this point. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says New Zealand's Reserve Bank is one of the only central banks in the world saying rates might need to go up again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a comprehensive list of challenges impacting the wider world- but fixing them poses a costly challenge. World hunger, health, war, education, poverty and climate change are among the problems that need addressing, but fixing them remains elusive. Author and Copenhagen Consensus Center president Bjorn Lomborg says he's working with economists to identify cost-efficient solutions to these problems. "That's not the only thing you need to think about, but it's an important part. How much will it cost, and how much good will it do? I'm simply saying- why don't we try to do the stuff that does the most good for the least money?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Children's Minister says new military academies for youth offenders will be different from bootcamps which have been tried in the past. Karen Chhour says the Government plans to have a pilot programme operating by mid-year, led by Oranga Tamariki. Chhour says a group of experts and several community organisations have been brought in to put a well-rounded program together. "It focuses on rehabilitation and a trauma-informed approach as well, alongside having that military approach." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former US president Donald Trump will remain on the Republican primary ballot in all states after today's historic Supreme Court ruling. State courts in Colorado, Maine and Illinois moved to take Trump off the ballots, claiming he's ineligible for office after the 2021 Capitol riots. But the Supreme Court has unanimously decided it's not within State power to ban him from the ballot. Former George W Bush advisor Scott Jennings says Trump isn't done with the Supreme Court yet. "They have to rule on whether he has absolute immunity from criminal prosecution- I have a sneaking suspicion he won't be as happy with them when that one comes out later this year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's upset over a court ruling of a man who punched a pensioner at the Posie Parker protest last year. The man was granted permanent name suppression and discharged without conviction. Police say it's an offence to share a name that's suppressed and they have the ability to charge anyone for breaching a court order. Free Speech Union CEO Jonathan Ayling says it would be a part of natural justice to name them publicly. "And it's the right of the victim to be able to say- this is the individual who attacked me, the criminal justice failed in holding him to account. At least, she should be able to say- this is the individual who attacked me." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The countdown is on, as international pop superstar Pink has touched down ahead of her Dunedin concert. Pink is expected to perform at Forsyth Barr Stadium at 7:30 for 32,000 people - one of the largest concerts in the city's history. Dunedin mayor Jules Radich says historically Dunedin's had great concerts since the stadium opened. "We do actively promote the stadium and attract them here, so that has been successful in the past- and we will continue to do that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.