Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

One educational expert suggests children are growing more narcissistic- and it's creating problems for teachers. Columnist and former teaching academic Jenna Price wrote a piece in the Sydney Morning Herald claiming children have gotten more rude and entitled in recent years. She says children being brought up in Western cultures are being taught to be aggressive and disagreeable by parents enabling bad behaviour. "We've either got to pull ourselves together and get our kids to be a bit more empathetic, a bit more understanding, a bit more able to see the other person's point of view, or we are going to have a nation run by a bunch of narcissists." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two major players in the tech world are reporting strong results this US earnings season. Meta and Alphabet are seeing digital advertising revenue bounce back from the doldrums of of late 2022 and early 2023. Milford Asset Management's Felix Fok says advertising spending is sensitive to economic conditions, and Alphabet and Meta are performing better than predicted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment is rising - but remains historically low - as the election approaches.New Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate reached 3.6 percent for the three months to June. That's up 0.2 percent, from 3.4 percent in the preceding quarter. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says these figures indicate that the start of recession-influenced unemployment is upon us. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US Justice Department's indicted Donald Trump, alleging dishonesty, fraud and deceit. The former US President's scheduled to appear in a Washington DC courthouse on charges to do with alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Counts include conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruct an official proceeding, and infringe citizen's rights. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump has fired back on Truth Social ahead of the trial, accusing the jury of interfering with his election campaign. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claims the Government's top chief executives have been asked to tighten their belts. Our newsroom confirmed the heads of major Government departments met the Finance Minister, and it's understood spending restraint was discussed. Grant Robertson warned the Government had hard choices ahead. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says those choices need to start with wasteful spending. "The public sector spending has been a big worry for this Government. Not just because they've bloated the public services in terms of numbers." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The gap between Labour and National could be starting to widen, as election day gets closer. The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll shows National and Act both up with enough support to see them form a Government Labour has dropped 3.6 points to 32.3 percent, but the Greens are up to 9.6 percent. Former MP turned political commentator Peter Dunne says Labour's dip is reflective of other polls. He says over the last few months, there's been a wider gap between the right and left. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former pupil in the care of a Catholic order in Christchurch has described it as 'Hell on Earth'. The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has published a report on the treatment of children at three Brothers of St John of God institutions in Christchurch, over decades. They were Marylands School, Hebron Trust and St Joseph’s Orphanage. Marylands survivor and former pupil, Darryl Smith, says it's good the extent of abuse is public knowledge. But he wants more than compensation. "I want every member of that order chastised and sentenced to imprisonment for life." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump has been indicted on four counts in the investigation into the interference of the 2020 US election. The former President is scheduled to appear in a Washington DC courthouse on charges of conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruct an official proceeding, and infringe citizen's rights. Former adviser to George W Bush, Scott Jennings, says Trump will still be able to run for President, but these indictments put his campaign in 'uncharted waters. "If this doesn't go to trial and the charges are still pending, if he were to get re-elected President, he could simply order the Justice Department to drop the cases. In some ways, winning the election is his best legal strategy." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Secondary teachers will vote on a new pay offer next week. The Government's agreed to offer the 14.5 percent increase recommended by an Arbitration Panel. $374 million worth of savings have been found within the education budget. Education Minister Jan Tinetti says that includes deferring projects at Te Ao Marama and Hobsonville Point Secondary School. They are part of a Public Private Partnership Schools Expansion. "We are not cutting them, we are deferring them. We are still working through the design process with those schools, but we're just giving ourselves some time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National claims the Government's finances are teetering on the edge. Our newsroom has confirmed the Finance Minister met heads of major Government departments today. It's understood spending restraint was discussed. Grant Robertson today warned the Government had hard choices ahead. National's Nicola Willis says they believe things are much worse than forecast in the Budget. "Grant Robertson has instructed public service leaders to batten down the hatches, desperately dig up some savings- because he's got an almighty gap in the Government books." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It could be too little, too late for some All Blacks players, with the naming of the 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup looming. Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup clash with the Wallabies in Dunedin is the final hit-out for those looking to book their ticket to France. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighs in on what to expect for the upcoming announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Officials deny a potential freeze on hiring back-office police staff is about tight finances. That's despite one of the country's top cops warning staff of a more 'fiscally constrained' environment, in an email seen by our newsroom. It includes cuts to contractors and consultants and a pause on hiring fulltime non-constabulary staff. But Police Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming says it's about looking forward. "Making sure that police are prepared for what's in front of us and making sure we're focused on delivering services in our districts and being a really good steward of the money that we've got." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do not fall into the trap of thinking these latest charges against Donald Trump, just because they’re the most serious yet, are going to change his fortunes in next year’s American election. He is still on track to become the Republican nominee for President. In fact, if anything, we should assume right now that this is going to only make him more popular. Because if you look back, you will see that his popularity in the run up to this upcoming election didn't really take off until he was slapped with the first set of Stormy Daniels charges. Back in February before he was charged, he and Ron DeSantis were virtually neck and neck in polling. Trump on 41 percent, DeSantis on 39 percent. But then the Stormy Daniels charges landed in April and he was arrested- suddenly his popularity took off and he’s been in the lead ever since. So if anything, charging him actually makes him more popular. Who knows why? It could be that Republican voters really do believe that he is the subject of a witch-hunt and so charging him elicits sympathy. It could just be that the charges give him publicity and he has a remarkable talent capitalising on any publicity, good or bad. And take a look at the timeline ahead- this has the potential to play into his hands publicity wise even more. The E Jean Carroll defamation case goes to court on 15 Jan next year, the same day as the Iowa caucuses. The Stormy Daniels trial starts March 25, and he has to attend that. And then the classified files trial starts May 20 and he has to attend that. Those dates are just weeks before the Republican Convention, where the party will pick their nominee on 15 July. And just months before Election Day on November 5. Most normal people would expect that arrests and charges and court appearances and even guilty verdicts would make a presidential candidate less popular, if not unelectable. Everything we’ve seen so far says it doesn’t work like that with Donald Trump. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A handful of UK-based retailers are incorporating facial recognition technology to crack down on shoplifting. UK police are employing pre-existing live facial recognition (LFR) technology to create a database of offenders with the aim of reducing retail crime. UK correspondent Enda Brady says between 340,000 to 8 million shoplifting incidents occurred in 2022, and this is costing companies at least $2 billion per year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! New research reveals a third of Kiwis are thinking of moving overseas to Australia for more opportunities and better wages after recent changes gave Kiwis an easier pathway to Aussie citizenship. Is this concerning for New Zealand's future? A new Roy Morgan poll has National up to 33.5 percent, Labour down to 26 percent, and New Zealand First reaching the 5 percent threshold. Is this the first sign of a bigger trend heading into the election? Auckland's rolling out new green-topped bins for organic waste to mixed reactions. Is a separate food scraps bin a waste of time? Economists are scratching their heads over BNZ's decision to lift home loan rates again, despite the OCR holding steady. Do we have to trust banks aren't ripping us off? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A group of veteran public servants who were appointed to set up four water entities are collecting high salaries for work that no longer exists. Jon Lamonte, Vaughan Payne, Colin Crampton and Michael Brewster were commissioned to run the Government's proposed water super-entities- until they were scrapped for 10 entities in April. NZ Herald business journalist Kate McNamara says their salaries were conceived in 2022, before Three Waters was cut down. "There'll be employment contract fish hooks in there. What it would cost to diminish the pay, I don't know, but it wouldn't be nothing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Analysts are feeling less than optimistic about tonight's GDT auction amid low Chinese demand for dairy. According to the SGX-NZX futures market, whole milk powder prices are expected to fall a further 3 percent. The Country's Jamie Mackay says it's a grim market for dairy farmers following on from environmental disasters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson remains under pressure, as he bats off questions about Labour's tax policy. Robertson is still refusing to confirm whether Labour will remove the GST from fruit and vegetables, amid allegations from National. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Labour's been caught flat-footed, as Robertson would have said so directly if the party weren't considering this policy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New research shows over a third of New Zealand's workforce are thinking of quitting their jobs and moving to Australia. A joint university study highlights those workers are 2.6 times more likely to jump the ditch - after recent changes gave Kiwis an easier pathway to Australian citizenship. Massey Business School Professor Jarrod Haar says Kiwis are struggling financially and more opportunities paired with an easy path to citizenship makes a move to Australia more appealing. "We still have a tight labour market, we can't afford to lose anybody. And the biggest driver for them wanting to leave is financial stress." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ First leader Winston Peters is sticking to his guns in refusing to form a coalition Government with Labour. Peters launched his comeback last week, lambasting both the left and right sides of the aisle on the campaign trail. He says NZ First is aiming to form a 'better Government' without aid from Labour. "Having said, we're ruling out Labour, no question about that. I said we've got to form a better Government. In the future, New Zealand needs a far better Government." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Privacy Commissioner is frustrated by the New Zealand Police’s recent serious privacy breach. Police inadvertently disclosed the email addresses of 147 firearms owners by Te Tari Pūreke on Wednesday, 26 July. Privacy Commissioner Michael Webster says that these firearms owners are in a situation where their personal information has been inadvertently released- again. "If you think about the people involved here- firearm owners- you've got to think about them first." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Broadcaster and commentator Paddy Gower says the horse has already bolted on the Government's attempt to crack down on vaping. All vapes will need to have removable or replaceable batteries, there will be a ban on new vape shops near schools, and new restrictions on 'enticing' flavours. He says these new regulations won't solve the 'gigantic' problem of youth nicotine addiction- an issue he explores in his latest documentary instalment. "This Government has stuffed up and left an entire generation of Kiwis with a massive problem, which is nicotine addiction." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists are baffled over BNZ's decision to bump up the interest rates on three home loan terms. The bank will lift their six-month rate from 7.85 percent to 7.99 percent. Their four- and five-year rates will increase from 6.89 percent to 7.09 percent. Infometrics Chief Forecaster Gareth Kiernan says the six-month rate increase is at odds with BNZ's own economic forecast. "The six-month rate is out of line with all the other banks, it's higher than the other banks are offering. So it's hard to see, unless they're trying to funnel more of the lending out towards the longer end." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don’t think it’s going to surprise you to hear the huge numbers of Kiwi workers thinking about moving to Australia- it's a third of us. Researchers from Massey and Otago Universities asked workers if they would consider moving to Australia. 10 percent said yes, and 26 percent said maybe. Now, thinking about it and doing it are two different things. But I’ve never had this many conversations personally with people wanting to leave. A woman in my family said she’s considering leaving when she retires; she’s in her late 60s. That’s a big call for someone in their 60s. I met a couple while I was on holiday in Fiji last month, he was an investment banker living in Herne Bay in Auckland, so good life here- he’s thinking of leaving, I think to Australia. Another couple I met on holiday who have a baby are leaving to go to Australia once he finishes his medical studies. One of my producers just left on Friday, going to Canada. Another staff member here quit today, going to Canada. And my sister just told me she and her husband and baby are off to Australia, they’ve signed all the documents. It's one thing if the young, single ones are leaving. We expect that, it’s a rite of passage. It's quite another thing to hear this many married couples with kids or even near retirees who own homes and have successful careers uprooting their families and their established lives to go somewhere else And often, not always, but often they will give you the same reason for leaving: They don’t like what’s happening to the country, and they can’t bear the thought of another three years of New Zealand going backwards under Labour. Today’s Roy Morgan poll tells you the same story. 60 percent of respondents say the country’s going in the wrong direction. Only 29 percent say the right direction. That’s a record low for Roy Morgan. This election’s important. We need a change of Government to stop the tide of people packing up and leaving. But we also need the next Government to truly change the country's fortunes. National, if they get in, cannot tinker. They cannot fool themselves that a bit of change is enough and they can otherwise hold the status quo. If they do that, voters will see through it and the number of people leaving will pick up again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expert claims Lauren Dickason showed no evidence of insanity just after killing her children. She's on trial at the High Court in Christchurch, accused of murdering her three daughters in Timaru in 2021. The Crown's first expert, forensic psychiatrist Dr Erik Monasterio, carried out nine hours of interviews with Dickason after the deaths. The Herald's Anna Leask says Monasterio agrees Dickason was unwell, but claims she doesn't reach the threshold of insanity. "He said there was no psychosis, there was no cognitive impairment and there were no delusions." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest Roy Morgan NZ poll shows a National/ACT coalition has a clear lead over the current Government. The right-leaning coalition is up by 2.5 points to 47.5 percent, surging ahead of Labour's 26 percent and the Greens' 9 percent- a historic low for both parties. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is the beginning of the gap between the right and the left- with this poll representing a significant drop for Labour and the Greens. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank of Australia is holding the OCR at 4.1 percent, to assess the impact of prior hikes. The RBA warns that more increases may be needed to ensure inflation drops to their target in a reasonable timeframe. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Australian homeowners and renters will appreciate this pause, however temporary. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United States are hours away from their pivotal football World Cup group clash against Portugal at Eden Park tonight. The US needs at least a draw to advance to the round of 16, with a loss putting the four-time world champions in danger of being bundled out early. Kick-off is at 7pm. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what viewers can expect tonight. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An email containing graphic content has been sent to students at an Auckland high school on their school accounts. Parents of Rosehill College students received a message warning of the disturbing email - sent from an external source. It's been removed from all student accounts and the ability for outside agencies to contact students has been turned off. Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault says the school's response indicates it was serious. "It feels like a one-off, abhorrent piece of information that's been sent- as opposed to a massive systemic risk." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has issued a stern warning to Russia following a recent drone attack. Zelenskyy's remarks came during his visit to Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, as he asserted that the region was growing stronger in the face of Russian aggression. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this marks a major sea change in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and Zelenskyy is clearly infuriated after over 500 days of war. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National have proposed a $24 billion transport plan that includes funding 13 new Roads of National Significance including Whangarei to Tauranga and Mill Road in Auckland. Let's Get Wellington Moving is also expected to be axed. Does this look like a sound plan? Do we think National only needs $24 billion to pay for this? Labour MP Tāmati Coffey has come out of his retirement from politics to stand for the East Coast electorate. The seat opened up after former Minister Kiri Allan announced she would not be standing for re-election. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A $567 million push to make cyclone and flood-affected roads safer and more resilient. The Government's announced funding for immediate works on state highways in Tairāwhiti, Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay, Coromandel and Northland. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says Cyclone Recovery Minister Grant Robertson has a lot landing on his shoulders, and it's unclear how much will get done before the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour unveiled their Party list for the upcoming election- with bad news for several MPs. Leader Chris Hipkins is number one on the list, followed by Kelvin Davis, Carmel Sepuloni and Grant Robertson. Former Ministers Phil Twyford and Michael Wood have taken a nosedive and dropped to 49th and 45th, respectively. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this list makes for a destabilised caucus- another worry for Chris Hipkins between now and October. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US economists are predicting the region will be able to get inflation under control while avoiding recession. The US Federal Reserve is no longer projecting a recession in the near term, and employment and the economy are holding strong. One Nashville-based markets analyst, Scott Shellady, still believes the region is at risk of entering a recession. "The consumer is starting to falter here in the country. We've got foreclosures spiking, auto loan delinquencies are also rising quickly, corporate bankruptcies have spiked. There are a lot of negative signs." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister's staying tight lipped on how much the Government will fork out for managed retreat in Hawke's Bay. The region's councils are being asked to consider and consult on a cost-sharing agreement to buy-out cyclone-stricken homes. The package also includes Government contributions for flood protection projects - to protect houses which can still be lived in. Minister Grant Robertson says the details on the cost-sharing are for the councils to discuss first. "Within the next few days, a week or so I hope, we should be in a position to be able to announce all the details." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National today confirmed they'll scrap Let's Get Wellington Moving- and the Prime Minister hasn't voiced support for the project. The Opposition intends to gut most of the controversial transit plan, including light rail and the removal of cars from several central Wellington streets in order to fund a second Mt Vic tunnel. Greater Wellington Regional Council chair Daran Ponter is disappointed both Labour and National have rejected Let's Get Wellington Moving. "Once you've invested a significant amount of money, you simply can't throw the baby out with the bathwater without pouring the same amount of money back into it to start again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FENZ have issued a warning regarding the dangers of lithium-ion batteries days after a harmful explosion. On Saturday, an e-scooter charging in a central Wellington apartment exploded- leaving a person critically injured. Fire and Emergency NZ risk reduction and investigations manager Pete Gallagher says it's important to be careful when charging lithium-ion batteries- and avoid doing it overnight. "One of the problems with lithium-ion batteries is they don't like being over-charged as much as they like being run totally flat and recharged from 0. Once the battery's full of charge, that's when you take it off." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The secondary schools union says a proposed pay rise would be satisfactory - but not everything they'd wanted. An arbitration panel has recommended a 14.5 percent pay rise, over three instalments. It would shift most secondary teachers' starting rates from $55,000 to about $64,000 by the start of 2025. The Post Primary Teachers Association's Chris Abercrombie says it's more than the Education Ministry is offering. "The Ministry's offer, the 30th of May one, was roughly about $3,000 less a year on top of the scale once this is all finished." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National are defending the cost of their newly announced $24 billion transport policy. Labour's already poked holes in it, saying the four-lane highways between Whangarei and Tauranga plan alone is out by billions. But Opposition transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says this funding covers the first four stages - of what will be a multi-generational project. "This is just like the Waikato Expressway when that was started, it was done in a number of stages over many years." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four missing Australian Defence Force members have been confirmed dead. Significant wreckage has been found from a helicopter that crashed in Queensland. It was conducting joint Australian and US military training off Lindeman Island on Friday night. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the search continues for the bodies. He says the type of helicopter used in the exercise has been grounded as a result. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National’s transport policy is my favourite policy of this election campaign so far. Because we are taking the mickey with the state of our roads, and we need to get smart about this fast. We have a $210 billion dollar infrastructure deficit in this country, and if we want to keep our young people here, we need to get back to looking and feeling like a first world country, and no first world country would put up with the state of our infrastructure. You shouldn’t hit two lane roads only 1.5 hours out of our biggest cities. Depending on where you live, you will have your views on the most important roads announced by the Nats today. But for me, the big ones that are incredibly important to our efficiency and productivity are: Turning Mill Road into a highway so motorists heading south of Auckland have an alternative to State Highway 1. Adding the Warkworth to Wellsford chunk onto the new highway heading north of Auckland. Building a second Mt Vic tunnel to relieve the gridlocked traffic in Wellington. I do not care what these roads cost. Labour’s trying to throw shade, saying National’s got its numbers wrong. For example, saying Warkworth to Wellsford will cost $4 billion instead of National’s $2.2 billion. I don’t care. Frankly, they’re probably both wrong National’s incentivised to price low so it doesn’t look extravagant and Labour's incentivised to price high so it can justify not building the road. As far as I'm concerned, we need the roads, so build them. I don’t care what it costs. We will never regret it. And how to pay for it seems pretty simple to me: Cancel the Light Rail stupidity. Just getting rid of the Auckland project saves $28 billion, and I'm not even counting the cost from the Wellington project. I don’t about you, but I've had absolutely enough of dropping speed limits, of being told to walk, of dodging potholes and of driving windy backroads when we should be and could be on world class highways. This is ambitious and it’s building New Zealand for future generations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Football Ferns are out of the World Cup after drawing nil-all with round-of-16-bound Switzerland in Group A. Norway's 6-nil victory over the Philippines boosted goal difference in their favour after they finished level on 4 points with New Zealand. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains the factors behind the loss here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tāmati Coffey says he's ready to fight for the East Coast. He's taken back his political resignation, and has been selected to contest the electorate seat, replacing Kiri Allan. She's not standing, after her mental health struggles culminated in a car crash last Sunday. Coffey says he previously thought he didn't have enough gas in the tank, but that's changed. "The people of the East Coast want some leadership, they started this year with two senior Labour MPs- they've now got none. And I think that that's what the people of the East Coast need." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An online supermarket says removing GST from fruit and vegetables wouldn't be reflected at the checkout. National says Labour is poised to announce that as policy, and it's been leaked the information. The Prime Minister and his MP's will neither confirm nor deny the idea.Supie Founder Sarah Balle told Heather du Plessis-Allan that if it were to go ahead, consumers would see a one-time sugar hit. She says then the normal market pricing mechanisms of supply and demand would kick back, and then those involved would look to cover the costs of the extra administration. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A suggestion that long workouts aren't essential for those looking to improve their health. Australian researchers have discovered three or four minutes of incidental high intensity movement a day is enough to reduce cancer risk. Sydney University Physical Activity Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it can be small every day activities that will help. He says that can be things like power walking, carrying groceries, and climbing the stairs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A psychiatric expert has told a jury Lauren Dickason was "out of touch with reality" when she killed her three daughters. Dickason is on trial at the High Court in Christchurch accused of murdering her three young children in Timaru. Doctor Susan Hatters-Friedman who focuses on why parents kill, has given evidence in support of Dickason's defence of insanity and infanticide. The Herald's Anna Leask told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the court heard Dickason killed her children 'out of love.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A climate change professor says we should focus more on physics than on feelings. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the era of global boiling has arrived, after scientists confirmed July was on track to be the hottest month ever. New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute's Adrian Macey told Heather du Plessis-Allan that these statements stoke fear and guilt but often not action. He says we should focus on shifting to clean energy, which isn't up for debate because this would create some confidence in people, rather than simply despair. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First thing I thought when I saw the ad that Scott Robertson took out in the paper today thanking fans was that Razor is a bigger asset to the All Blacks next year than I think the rugby bosses realise. Simply because he understands something they don’t seem to, which is the importance of talking directly to the fans. When was the last time you can recall a departing coach doing that when he didn’t have to? Would’ve been much easier to post a short message on Instagram, but instead he took the time to write a long message and then get it printed in the paper. If you think about it, he's actually always taken a similar approach in communicating with fans. He actually tells fans what’s going on, sometimes he tells them too much and lands himself in trouble like he did with the AB's coaching drama. And that is the polar opposite of what we get from the Rugby Union, who definitely do not put fans anywhere close to the centre of what they’re doing. I mean, remember what happened after that awful loss to the Irish last year? They cancelled the press conference Sam Cane and Fozzie were supposed to hold, because they obviously didn’t think they needed to give fans an explanation of what went wrong. Same thing happened this year after the then dominant Chiefs lost the Super Rugby final to the Crusaders, Sam cane didn’t front up. Doesn't matter who was to blame for that, either Sam or the coach made the call that he didn’t need to turn up and talk to the fans. For the longest time the fans have been forgotten. Whether it’s putting on more rugby games than the fans can, or want to watch or putting them on in the evening when plenty of fans say they want to watch in the afternoon, or just not answering question. The word has been that the reason it took so long for the rugby bosses to hire Razor as the AB’s coach is that they were worried about his unconventional antics: saying too much, breakdancing, all that kind of stuff. I think they’ve got it wrong. I think that’s what they need. I think they need someone who does consider the fans, and Razor is clearly is that guy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Acclaimed Irish singer and activist Sinéad O'Connor has died at the age of 56. She released 10 studio albums across her career, but she's best known for her 1990 cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U. UK correspondent Enda Brady says tributes have been flooding in, with Irish President Michael D Higgins praising O'Connor's 'authenticity' and 'unique voice'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Ben Thomas from Ben Thomas PR and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National's Nicola Willis revealed Labour may be planning to take GST off fruit and vegetables and Te Pati Maori plans to create a tax-free threshold of $30,000. Will these new policies make it even harder for Labour to win? New developments surrounding the circumstances of Kiri Allan's arrest- today, it was revealed she was found by police dogs 500 metres from the site of the crashed car. Do we need more insight into this case, or should it rest? Kevin Spacey has been acquitted- should he get the chance to make a comeback? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.