Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Government is reassuring Auckland motorists they will soon reap the benefits without a regional fuel tax. Mayor Wayne Brown says the end of the fuel tax on June 30th will leave a shortfall in transport funding of $1.2 billion over the next four years. But Transport Minister Simeon Brown is intent on making that back through other projects they've agreed to help fund like congestion charging. He says it's about ensuring a benefit from what they're paying for. "There's a lot of other things there, which I think are of low priority to me and the mayor- such as speed bumps, reducing speed limits, cycleways, more bus lanes. Those are what he has been against, what I have been campaigning against, they won't receive funding." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Opposition party is backing Anthony Albanese's proposed changes to stage three tax cuts. This follows on from weeks of leader Peter Dutton criticising the new policy. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the party eventually had no choice but to vote for the changes. "If they hadn't backed the changes, it would have been a drawn out fight with the Opposition standing in the way of cost of living support for those on the bottom end." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland's mayor is hitting back at the Government over the scrapping of the Auckland fuel tax. It will be gone on June 30. Wayne Brown says the decision will leave a $1.2 billion dollar shortfall in transport funding over the next four years. He says it could lead to the pausing of bus upgrades, cycleways, the freight network and ferry charging infrastructure. He says he wants to be making decisions about what projects go ahead. "We've got to decide, and we want to decide what goes in Auckland. This is my city, not theirs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good news for Kiwi rugby and league fans, as Sky promises a new dose of free-to-air sport. Friday Night Footy will see 25 NRL games shown for free- plus 19 Super Rugby Pacific matches, all available through Sky Open. Hurricanes CEO Avan Lee is 'surprised' by this decision, considering how much Sky pays for rugby. "To put a decent amount of content on free-to-air is quite a change, quite a shift. It's fantastic, great for Super Rugby fans." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A human element will be key factor during Foodstuffs North Island's facial recognition technology trial. Up to 25 New World and Pak'nSave stores will have the technology trialled over the next six months, to potentially reduce retail crime. The technology analyses facial features and matches them against the store's record of offenders and accomplices. Foodstuffs North Island general counsel, Julian Benefield, says they have a minimum accuracy threshold of 90 percent before staff intervene. "Two highly trained store team members then need to look at the image and confirm that for themselves that it is the repeat offender before they take any action." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi sports fans are set to benefit from Sky's latest free-to-air lineup. Friday Night Footy for NRL and Super Saturday rugby matches will launch on Sky Open from February 24. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scrapping of funding by the Government for pre-sentencing cultural reports has been criticised. The reports consider how an offender's personal, family or cultural background may have contributed to their crime. Convenor of the Criminal Law Committee Chris Macklin says the process has evolved from Judges asking for more information. "These reports are not just full of excuses, they often have within them a whole ambit of things- running from very poor decision-making, through to some very tortured -and difficult to hear - background stories." Those before the court who wish to provide a cultural report will have to fund it themselves. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's official, the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax is gone-burger from 1 July. Aucklanders will not have to pay $11.5 cents a litre more everyone else in the country every time they fill up their cars. Toyota Hilux drivers will save $9.20 a fill and Toyota Corolla drivers will save $5.75 a fill. Good riddance to bad rubbish. That was a rort, wasn’t it? Remember what Auckland was supposed to get for that? We were supposed to get upgrades to Mill Road, the road I'm obsessed with because of how desperately the city needs it- running from Manukau down to Drury as an alternative to the jam-packed Southern Motorway. Did we get it? We paid for it for six years. Did we get it? No, of course we didn't. Did we get the Lake Road upgrade we’ve been talking about since at least 2017? No, we didn't get that. Did we get the Glenvar Road upgrade we’ve been talking about since at 2016? No, we didn't get that. And the list goes on. Instead, the money got used for cycle lanes and speed humps. And do I need to remind you about those speed humps? How about the one got laid in Three Kings, then got ripped up two years later and laid again because AT stuffed up- and it cost us $600k? How about that one? Mayor Wayne Brown is not happy about the loss of funding. He's released a list of projects at the end of a press release, with no explanation for the list. The inference, I'm thinking, is that these are the projects that are going to get cut, because they haven't got the funding. Let me list some: Mangere West cycleway. Road safety programme, including high-risk intersections. The safe speeds programme, aimed at reducing vehicle speeds near schools. Small scale projects to improve local cycling connections. New low cost cycle ways to improve safety and travel options. Upgrades to multi-modes roads, paths, and intersections to support Kainga Ora. I doubt very much that many Aucklanders are going to cry tears over this because of one reason. We have paid this under the mistaken belief that we were paying for better roads. What we got instead was AT squandering money on their own inability to just construct a basic pedestrian crossing. But more importantly, what we got was a city that is now more congested and harder to drive around. So as far as I can see, very little has improved for what we've paid, and much of what we're seeing is worse. I'm happy to defund Auckland Transport. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Harry returned to the UK shortly after his father's diagnosis was revealed. King Charles is being treated for cancer, which was discovered during a separate procedure for benign prostate enlargement. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says reports claim Harry spent a half-hour with the King- and has no plans to meet with William or other family members. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! How do we feel this week's Waitangi event went for the Government? Was it better than predicted- or worse? King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer- what will this mean for the royal family? Who else can step in to fill in for the King? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Increased unemployment figures are a sign of a stronger overall economy, claims one expert. Stats NZ figures show unemployment has crept up to 4 percent- the highest level since June 2021. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says the number of employed people in the country has also increased over this quarter. "When we looked through the numbers, we saw that the labour force in December was about 15,000 people larger than it had been back in September. Of those 15,000 who were looking for work, 12,000 got it and 3,000 didn't." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fletcher Building can expect a significant financial hit, after revealing they put another $180 million aside for repairs. Costs have blown out on two big projects- Auckland's International Convention Centre and the Wellington International Airport Car Park. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton says this cost blowout is putting a strain on Fletcher's balance. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand has requested more money from the Government to cover the cost of their vault refurbishments. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains that these underground vaults are quite old and need 'significant' repair. "The Reserve Bank has warned the new Finance Minister, Nicola Willis, that it's going to need quite a bit of money to upgrade the vaults." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simplicity are calling for Fletcher Building's board and management to be scrutinised further. Fletcher's stock has dropped following a multi-million dollar cost blowout on two big projects in Auckland and Wellington. Managing director Sam Stubbs says they called for the chair's resignation two years ago- and action hasn't been taken. "In those two years, the directors paid themselves $4 million in fees- and then they had the absolute cheek last year to ask for a 25 percent pay increase, which they were ultimately talked down from." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has unveiled their promised law and order crackdown. Section 27 reports and Labour's prison reduction targets have been thrown on the scrap heap, and sentencing discounts have been capped at 40 percent. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper approves of taxpayer-funded 'cultural reports' being brought down. "Doing away with the reports doesn't stop friends and family writing to the court or turning up at the courts- they can still do that. The offender can still have some sort of representation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the US, a Michigan woman has become the first parent convicted of manslaughter over their child's shooting. Ethan Crumbley is serving life in prison for killing four classmates in 2021. Today his mother, Jennifer Crumbley, has been found guilty of negligence in letting her son have a gun, and ignoring warnings signs of his mental health. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says this case was the first to address who bears responsibility in a school shooting. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Activist and iwi leader Mike Smith has won the right to sue the likes of Fonterra for their role in causing climate change, in a Supreme Court ruling delivered this morning. He wants them to either stop polluting, or start bringing emissions down quickly. Greenpeace Executive Director Russel Norman says it means Fonterra may have to pay for some of the harm they're causing. "Climate pollution means more cyclones and more extreme weather events, that harms a lot of people. Currently they don't pay for that, but if this court case was successful- when it goes to court, then they'd have to pay." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

King Charles' cancer diagnosis is casting doubt on his future role. The Palace reports he will continue official duties until further notice. Sydney University Constitutional Law expert Anne Twomey says what duties he performs, remain within his control at this stage. But she says if he becomes incapacitated, decisions will move to his spouse Queen Camilla, two Parliamentary officials and two people from the court. "Amidst those five, if three of them decide that he's incapable of fulfilling his activities, he can have a regent. And then the regent can take over his powers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm pleasantly surprised - aren’t you? - by how things went at Waitangi this year. There were no dildos, no mud, no manhandling, there were no ugly scenes and none of the stuff that many of us were probably expecting. Given what’s happened in the past, and how much more tense it was predicted to be this year, because of the Government's Māori related policies. Instead, things were handled exactly how they should always be handled, with conversation. The people responsible for the policies fronted up like grown ups to explain themselves and listen, and the people who weren’t happy about those policies let it be known. There were a couple of people who kinda let their teams down- Winston getting all het up wasn't that flash, Peeni Henare chose a bad turn of phrase, and Hone Harawira swearing like a school boy did him no favours. But otherwise, it was mostly fine. And I tell you what, it gives me some heart that we can actually get through this debate over the Treaty Principles Bill like adults. That has been the thing that has worried a lot of people the most. That yes, we absolutely need to talk about this, and we almost certainly need to change some things here. But getting to that point was what really worried me, because I thought things were going to be very ugly. Well, we’ve just had a demonstration that we can do it. That we can debate and challenge ideas without resorting to the violence that we have been warned will inevitably come. It doesn’t have to. If it didn’t happen at Waitangi, which is one of the most combustible political venues, then it doesn't have to happen And hopefully, based on what we saw this week, it won't. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns the unemployment rate will rise more. Stats NZ released its labour market update for the December quarter today, with unemployment up to four percent. 3000 more people were unemployed than in the previous quarter, hitting 122,000. Employers and Manufacturers Association Advocacy head, Alan McDonald, says many members called them about restructuring and redundancies in late 2023. "That hasn't probably worked its way into those numbers yet, and that's what I think we'll see when the next quarter numbers come out for the start of this year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has released a slew of law and order changes, in line with its 100-day plan. Cultural reports have been scrapped, alongside Labour's targets to reduce prison populations by 30 percent. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says their target is to reduce the number of people victimised by violent crime. "We're making it crystal clear to the whole system- we're on about public safety, not some arbitrary reduction in prison numbers. Which is important, the targets we set, the whole system- do matter." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Criticism of crowded Auckland school buses from worried North Shore parents. Video footage has shown a bus meant to carry about 40, appearing packed with about 100 kids. Some were standing on seat backs, grabbing a handrail. One mum, Evelyn Araujo, says just braking could be disastrous. "Students can stand on the bus, that's normal. What is not normal is having over 60 kids standing on the bus, tat's beyond ridiculous." Auckland Transport Operations Manager, Rachel Cara, says it's unacceptable - and they are fixing things right now. "At the moment, we're in conversations with operators around extra-large buses, if available, and looking to put on some extra services, if possible." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parking charges for some SUVs are set to triple, following a recent landmark vote. This is the latest move by Socialist Mayor Anne Hidalgo to make the city greener and friendlier to pedestrians and cyclists ahead of the Paris Olympics. The election had a low turnout - 5.7 percent - but over 54 percent of voters supported the change. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says these increased fees apply to cars weighing over 1.6 tonnes from outside the city. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! It's been a fiery start to the Waitangi Day event, with protestors heckling Winston Peters and David Seymour and the new Government being called 'spiders' and 'a den of lions' by Kelvin Davis. Will this sway anybody in Government from their agenda? It's come to light that taxpayers paid $340 million to subsidise EV purchases, because the subsidy was so popular and the ute tax didn't bring in enough to pay for it all. Was that a waste of money or reason for celebration? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fletcher Building has delivered grim news of a $180 million dollar hit to accounts on two big projects. Costs for Auckland's International Convention Centre are up another $165 million, and a Wellington car park's tally has risen $15 million. The company's half-year results are due out next Wednesday. Jarden's Grant Swanepoel says this is the fourth concerning financial 'surprise' from Fletcher in the last 13 months. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's speech seems to have done little to soothe anxieties at Waitangi. Chris Luxon and his delegation of National, ACT and New Zealand First MPs gave addresses at the Treaty Grounds today. Tensions are high over ACT's Treaty Principles Bill, which has coalition support to select committee stage. ZB senior political reporter Sophie Trigger says interestingly - Luxon's speech totally shied away from addressing the legislation. "I spoke to some attendees afterwards who didn't really feel like their concerns - in terms of threats to Te Tiriti and Te Reo - had been lessened in any way by what was said LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KiwiSaver providers are turning away from controversial companies, instead gravitating towards ethical ones. Data from Mindful Money shows several of the largest KiwiSaver providers have reduced their investment in companies with a harmful output. In the six months to September last year, there's been a 72 percent drop in investment in tobacco companies, a 35 percent reduction in weapons, and a 29 percent reduction in gambling. Mindful Money founder and CEO Barry Coates says most consumers want to make ethical choices. "Investments in tobacco companies, weapons, gambling, human rights violations, fossil fuels, etc- for most people, they don't want their money to go into those things." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis is stressing the importance of open discussion on the evening before Waitangi Day. The Government is facing anger and concern over the proposed Treaty Principles Bill, with David Seymour and Winston Peters being heckled during today's speeches. Nicola Willis says the gathering in Waitangi left room for a range of approaches- but most people have been peaceful. "There has been an attempt to understand each other, to listen, and to find those areas where we can make good progress. Over the past few days, I and other ministers have had hui with iwi, with a number of Māori entities." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Grammy's Song of the Year award has gone to Billie Eilish and Finneas - for the Barbie track 'What Was I Made For?'. Eilish has thanked director Greta Gerwig for making the best movie of the year. It's the pair's second songwriting award, after winning with 'Bad Guy' in 2020. KTLA entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin says it was a big night for the entertainment industry. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hawke's Bay leaders say they're in the dark on when money from a special Lotto appeal will be dished out. More than $10 million raised by the draw set up in the aftermath of Cyclone Gabrielle has sat unspent with the Department of Internal Affairs for nearly a year. It expects there'll be action this month. Chair of the Hawkes Bay Fruitgrowers' Charitable Trust, Brydon Nisbet, says he didn't even know there was money available until early this morning. "There's still a huge amount of need out there, we're nearly a year since the cyclone and there's still a massive amount of work to do, there's still people who are displaced, that are homeless." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plug-in hybrid owners look to be trying to swerve new Government Road User Charges. The exemption for electric vehicles ends from April, and light EV owners will pay $76 for every 1000 kilometres travelled. Owners of plug-in hybrids will pay $53, because they also pay tax on fuel. One plug-in owner, Peter Garlick, says he wants to remove its electric plug to avoid paying double taxes. "So, an about 120 kilometre round trip into Nelson- I get 15 of those Ks off the mains power, and the other 105 kilometres I'm using petrol. And I'm paying more road user taxes on that petrol already." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT leader David Seymour says the overwhelming majority of people at Waitangi were respectful during his address. The National Trust chair has apologised to Seymour, MP Nicole McKee and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters. All three were drowned out by jeers - and Pita Tipene says more effort should have been made to ensure they could express their views. Seymour says many were listening politely. "Unfortunately, it's one of those things where a small number of people ruined it for everyone. And it's really important to recognise this isn't all Māori who were doing this, this was a very small minority of people who don't represent much." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 15-year-old has been arrested and three other teenagers are on the run following the brutal stabbing of a 70-year-old woman. The woman, identified as Vyleen White, was attacked in a Queensland car park- and died shortly after the encounter. She had been shopping at the Town Square Redbank Plains shopping centre in Ipswich with her grandchild, who was unharmed. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this has sparked discussion about the rise in youth crime, with people calling for harsher penalties. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand have been dismissed on the second day of the first cricket test against South Africa at Mount Maunganui. Rachin Ravindra top-scored with 240, but the last five wickets fell for 38 runs. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recaps the day's events. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concerns younger teens are being targeted by vape marketing. An Auckland University study shows people aged 14-to-17 are more likely to see vaping ads than 18-to-20-year olds. Half of the 3500 in the study had been exposed through social media. Marketing professor, Bodo Lang, says more needs to be done to control messaging around vape products. "It's really been shown to be a very powerful entry drug for young people, particularly non-smokers to get them into vaping- and then potentially get into something else." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hotels in Queenstown are building their own staff accommodation to combat the housing shortage in the area. They say it is a gamechanger for recruiting staff in the industry. Board Member for Tourism Industry Aotearoa James Doolan told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that although it is a good idea, it is not sustainable across the whole industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has announced the new National Concussion Guidelines for community sport. These include when a player suffers a concussion, they must have a minimum period of 21 days away from full competition. Sports Injury Research Expert Dr Doug King has said that people need to understand the severity of some head knocks that take place. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Aiken is one of the relationship experts on Married At First Sight, one of the people pairing up the brides and grooms and trying to help them build up a partnership. The desire to find a match and be in a romantic relationship is common, spawning a variety of reality shows based entirely on the premise, MAFS being one of many. The reason behind this, Aiken told Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan, is that humans are wired to be with someone else. “The companionship, and the support, and the communication you can get from it.” “When you’re in an intimate relationship and you can have that, it’s very reassuring and grounding.” Reality TV known more for its drama than its forming of lasting relationships and Married At First Sight is no different, with only five relationships still intact after over 11 seasons. “You don’t really know whether they’re going to find the fairy tale or just blow up.” Aiken’s role as an expert is to hold a mirror up to people’s behaviour and give them the hard truths and feedback they need for the partnership to be a success. “When I look at them I’m not thinking about their personalities as in good or bad people, what I’m thinking about is their behaviours.” “What is gonna sabotage this, and what’s going to be better moving forward?” In the interview, Heather posed the question of how to know if when she’s quarrelling with her husband, if she’s the problem, he is, or if its both of them. “I guess you’ve got to look at the context.” Aiken said that you have to look at it over a period of time and ask who’s doing what. “You start to realize, well, this person's actually doing a lot more damage in the relationship than the other person who's not engaging in those behaviours.” Watching Married At First Sight is a bit of a commitment, taking about eight hours a week to watch all of the episodes. Aiken likes to think that viewers commit to it for educational purposes. “Singles watch it and they go, ‘I’ve got to avoid that person or that type’, and couples watch and they go, ‘we absolutely cannot talk like those two or behave like that.’” “You can learn what not to do by watching Married At First Sight.” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greens co-leader hopeful Chloe Swarbrick is vowing to grow the party's caucus until it's big enough to lead the Government. The Auckland Central MP has announced her candidacy to replace James Shaw - who resigned this week - and will step back in March. Swarbrick told Heather du Plessis-Allan she sees herself contributing to a movement which turns the Greens into the major left party. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's asking for input as it looks to expand the Covid-19 Inquiry. It wants the panel to look into the use of lockdowns, socio-economic impacts and how much disruption was caused for business, education and healthcare. Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they want to hear from people about the terms of reference. Engagement will begin in February, with details soon to be announced by the Royal Commission. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve been surprised by the number of people who still underestimate her I've had texts and in person conversations with people who don’t think she's got what it takes Yes she does Her winning Auckland central back in 2020 was a big deal. Even Jacinda Ardern, the darling of the left internationally, couldn't do it. She Tried twice and eventually pulled the pin. Not only Chloe win it, But she held the seat which is the something the greens have never managed to do before And she did it in the face of the red covid wave of 2020... and then the blue backlash wave of last year She regularly appeared in preferred prime minister polls, Which basically never happens for an MP in a minor party who isn’t the leader of that party A couple years back David Farrar the guy behind the curia polls pointed out how popular Chloe is. He said a poll he’d done "showed Swarbrick had three times the favourability of James Shaw with all voters – she was at 23 per cent and Shaw at 8 per cent". And that says a lot given James Shaw was commonly referred to as the acceptable Green Well... she’s a lot more acceptable So Chloe's got the chops, She can do the job and she’s made no secret today of the fact that she wants the greens to be bigger than Labour It's not crazy The greens in Germany have at times polled much higher than their Labour party equivalents. Can she do it here? I refer you back to David Farra who said this week “Chloe could well lift support for the Greens at the expense of Labour.” So strap yourself in because if Chloe gets the co leadership, and there is no reason why she shouldn't We are going to watch a fierce battle on the left of politics for top dog status Labour vs green Chippy vs Chloe And come on... if you’re a centre left voter... which of those two has more charisma? Which of those two parties look more energised? Don't underestimate Chloe SwarbrickSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former First Minister of Scotland broke down in tears during the UK Covid-19 inquiry. Nicola Sturgeon told the Inquiry that she wished she wasn't in the role as the pandemic struck, amid the ongoing investigation into the Covid response. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the response to Sturgeon's statement has been mixed, with several labelling her address as 'crocodile tears'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog editor and Curia pollster David Farrar and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Foreign Minister Winston Peters has expressed interest in joining up with AUKUS, and sharing defence technology with Australia, US and UK. Will this be good for New Zealand- or jeopardise relations with China? Some former police officers have recently claimed the fitness requirements to join the force are too tough- and they should be reduced to boost recruitment numbers? Is this a good idea? Woolworths has scrapped their Onecard program and replaced it with their Everyday Rewards scheme. Are these deals good value for money? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The streaming wars have kicked up a notch, as sports have become the newest area for companies to stake their claims. Disney has struck an exclusive deal with the NFL, and Netflix has formed a partnership with the WWE. Sam Dickie with Fisher Funds says this is just the beginning, as more companies will look towards streaming their sport-based output. "It's going to be primarily on these streaming giants or on apps that are owned by the sports themselves, much like the NZR+ app in New Zealand." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's two biggest farming-focused groups appear to be teaming up. Federated Farmers and noted protest group Groundswell are making conciliatory statements- and speculation indicates they could join together to be 'one voice' for rural New Zealand. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains this partnership. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The minimum wage is set to go up by 45 cents to $23.15, starting April 1. This two percent increase will affect between 80,000 and 140,000 Kiwi workers. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says a reduced increase is the best circuit-breaker for the economy, as the fight to bring down inflation drags on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A first combined Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministerial summit for New Zealand, across the Tasman. Winston Peters and Judith Collins have top-level meetings with their Australian counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles, in Government buildings in Melbourne. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Winston Peters has a history of building international relationships and connections. "New Zealand has to be involved internationally at the moment, because we are in a very strategic part of the world at the moment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing hope across the ditch that the RBA will cut interest rates soon. Australia's Official Cash Rate is currently at 4.35 percent, with reduced inflation data holding it in place. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Australia's Reserve Bank meets next week- and there's a high chance they'll reel the OCR back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister-in-charge says the Government is striking the right balance on lifting the minimum wage. It's rising two percent from April to $23.15 an hour from $22.70- affecting up to 145,000 workers. Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden says it's about protecting the incomes of the lowest paid New Zealanders. "We're striking a balance between protecting the incomes of our lowest-paid workers in the economy- and also maintaining the labour market settings that encourage employment." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woolworths have recently launched their Everyday Rewards scheme set to replace Onecards. This development comes as consumer advocates have voiced concerns about the returns on loyalty programs, encouraging consumers to shop around for deals. Woolworths Director of Digital and Loyalty, Mark Wolfenden, disagrees, claiming Everyday Rewards is 'very generous'. "It's part of our commitment to offering Kiwis more value and better ways to shop, and we've got a multi-million dollar increase in rewards as part of the new program." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.