Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

David Seymour's denying the Coalition's back in choppy waters over National's proposed social media ban.  Education Minister Erica Stanford is looking into ways to restrict access for under-16s. Prime Minister Chris Luxon claimed Seymour's on the same page, despite the ACT leader calling it unworkable.  Seymour says he still has questions about how it's possible.  He says within days of the Bill coming out, Luxon admitted more work was needed - which proves his point.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says she's excited to expand maths tutoring - after a pilot with 3,000 children launched. About $40 million will go into small-group tutoring in years seven and eight.  It's part of a $100 million boost in maths funding over four years, announced as part of Budget 2025.  Erica Stanford says just 20 hours of tutoring is already producing a marked improvement.  She says it's great for students.  "They can now be involved in the whole class teaching because they understand the concepts - so it's been massively positive across the board." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister won't comment on the resignation of New Zealand's second most powerful cop, Jevon McSkimming. The Deputy Police Commissioner had been on suspension since December - but Police Minister Mark Mitchell has now confirmed he's resigned with immediate effect after new serious allegations. Mitchell says the Prime Minister had already been considering recommending the Governor General immediately remove McSkimming from office.  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls explains further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Liberal Party MPs will meet tomorrow to vote in replacing defeated opposition leader Peter Dutton. As well decisively losing to Labor's Anthony Albanese - Dutton also lost his long-held Queensland seat.  Deputy leader Sussan Ley, shadow treasurer and immigration minister Angus Taylor and Dan Tehan are among the leading Liberal party contenders. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Angus Taylor is currently the front-runner ahead of tomorrow's vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A hectic few hours for Ryan Fox in the wake of one of the biggest triumphs of his golfing career. He's won on the PGA Tour for the first time - chipping in from off the green to win a three-way playoff at the Myrtle Beach Classic in South Carolina. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes that tougher penalties for boy racers and fleeing drivers will do the trick.  The Government's establishing a presumptive sentence of vehicle destruction for street racers, those who flee police, and intimidating convoys.  Police will also get greater powers to manage illegal vehicle gatherings by closing roads or public areas.  Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden has voiced support for these new measures. "Hopefully, this sort of implementation of this sort of policy will be a deterrent for them all." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 9 May 2025, the Government is pushing ahead with its review of the Waitangi Tribunal. Minister for Maori Development Tama Potaka tells Heather whether the tribunal is going too far. Plus Erica Stanford talks through the changes to the redress scheme for victims of abuse in state care. We find out more about the new leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV and speak to Cardinal John Dew who was in the conclave itself. Heather has plenty more to say about the state of New Zealand Rugby finances. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sports Journalist Lavina Good and Newstalk ZB's Adam Cooper join the Huddle.  The Huddle discusses Netball New Zealand's current rules stating players must play in the ANZ Premiership to be available for the national team.  Nine Kiwi crickets have left Pakistan as the Super League transfers to the UAE amid ongoing tensions between Pakistan and India.  Where does this leave the players? New Zealand Rugby has posted huge losses despite a record income last year. Could we expect job losses?  The Huddle discuss all this and more.  LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has agreed to cut tariffs on UK autos, steel and aluminum in a trade deal. In the deal, the United Kingdom will buy more US beef and ethanol, streamlining it customs process for goods from the country. Who came out better in the deal? UK Correspondent Gavin Grey discusses the terms, the impact on domestic industries and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trade officials from the worlds biggest economies are coming together for discussions this weekend.  US-President Donald Trump says tariffs on goods from China may come down.  Asia Business Correspondent says people shouldn't get their hopes up.  "These aren't really negotiations about trade, they're talks about having talks," he said.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It didn't take long for cardinals to decide on Leo XIV as the new pope.  One of the cardinals in attendance was New Zealand's very own John Dew.  He joins the show to discuss what his experience in Rome was like.  LISTEN ABOVE.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The IRD has uncovered more than $150 million is undeclared tax and GST from the property sector. Developers and rental property owners haven’t been paying the correct GST, income tax and bright-line test taxes. Inland Revenue Senior Manager Tony Morris talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the revelation. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Catholic Catholic Church’s new pope is already making headlines for his criticism of his President Donald Trump. Auckland Bishop Steve Lowe says as pope, Leo XIV will occasionally weigh into politics. “He’s got to uphold the teachings of Jesus Christ and sometimes that might come into conflict with some political leaders around the world,” he said. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you are at all interested in understanding what's going wrong at rugby headquarters in Wellington, can I recommend that you read Gregor Paul's piece in the Herald today? It's an excellent summation.   The question that we had yesterday when we were looking at the financials was how on Earth is it that New Zealand Rugby pulls in more money than it ever has in a financial year and still manages to not make a profit? How do you do that? The answer is it seems going by Gregor's piece, it's just wasteful spending and spending in the wrong places.   For example, New Zealand rugby spent more than seven and a half million dollars last year on paying board members and executives. That is more than the seven million it spent on Heartland rugby teams last year and it is more than five and a half million it spent on its five Super Rugby clubs. No organisation should spend more on the people running the thing then on the thing itself, that's nuts.   New Zealand Rugby flew two board members, Dame Patsy Reddy and Bailey Mackey, to the UK last year when they were leaving the organisation the following month.   What's the point of that?  If you know that people are leaving, stop flying them places. They're now redundant, aren’t they?   When the All Blacks played in Tokyo, they took players and coaches and management. Fair enough.   But then they also took administrative staff and executive staff.   That was 75 people for a rugby game. Honestly, that's way too much.   Do you know how much they were paying at the hotel they were staying at? $900 a night.   That is an organisation spending like it's in the gold mining game, not like it's an organisation making more annual losses than profits in recent memory.   Gregor Paul suggests some people are going to lose their jobs and I think that's probably fair.   To be fair to NZR, we all understand what's going on here and not all of it is their fault.  The biggest problem they've got is that rugby is boring. That's because the rules suck and NZR has only got so much control over the rules. It's really a World Rugby problem. But for NZR, it has been obvious for ages that the problems that they face with participation and viewership, attendance, and money are not going to get solved anytime soon.   Now, if you know things are tough and they're not improving, do you not put the credit card away? Do you not cut the spending?   You and I might, but not NZR, apparently, and that's their fault.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced how they will pay compo to victims of abuse while in state care. There will be no new compo scheme, instead the Government will top up the current system. Lead coordination minister Erica Stanford talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about the payment cap, how much is set aside financially, the pay equity bill and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Any changes to the Waitangi Tribunal will be introduced before the end of the year. The Government’s announced a review will kick of mid-year, with any advice to be given to the Government by September. The Minister for Māori Development Tama Potaka says it’s timely. “It runs enquiries according to very, very old legislation ... and the way it conducts itself needs to be modernised,” he said. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History has been made with the Catholic Church electing the first pope from the United States, Robert Francis Prevost.  He has a history of missionary work in Peru and is said to have a keen grasp of the inner workings of the Church. The US-UK trade deal remains vague - but markets are responding positively.  US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about all things US news.  LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government’s announced a review into the Waitangi Tribunal will begin shortly. The review was announced on Friday by Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka, who said it would ensure the tribunal “remains focused, relevant, effective and fit for purpose”. Political Editor Jason Walls says no one should be surprised this is happening. “Every time Christopher Luxon has talked about the Waitangi Tribunal, he essentially says it has been removed from it’s brief.” LISTEN ABOVE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The issue of dog attacks is back front and centre after a young girl was attacked on a West Auckland sports field. Auckland Council says the rise of off-leash dogs is a concerning trend. Auckland Council’s Licencing and Compliance Manager Robert Irvine talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan about how the Council's monitoring the issue, how the prosecution process works and more. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After speculation football's A-league final would be held at Eden Park, it's been confirmed it will go ahead at Mt Smart's Go Media Stadium if Auckland FC make it. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joins the show to discuss the advantage of the decision and the Crusaders hosting the Chiefs tomorrow night. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports indicate a 'major' trade deal between the US and UK is set to be announced. US President Trump has teased that a partnership with a 'respected world nation' is in the works - and Downing Street hasn't denied that the UK isn't involved. UK correspondent Enda Brady speculates further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand is urging the Government to close farming loopholes before 'more damage is done' to the sector. The organisation want loopholes in the guidance around limits on carbon forestry closed - as concerning news of further whole-farm sales emerges. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're two weeks away from Budget 2025, and the Government has been dropping hints about what we can expect. Prime Minister Luxon recently confirmed the Government will increase total capital expenditure allocated in the upcoming Budget by $400 million. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Lundy has divided our workplace out there. Some of my colleagues think that it's really gross that the Herald, who we work with, have taken photos of Mark Lundy today after he got out of jail yesterday. Now, the photos aren't anything particularly special - he's sitting in the passenger seat of a car, all you can really see is his face, that funny little beard he's got, some sunglasses and his latte coloured hoodie. It tells you nothing and it shows you almost nothing. And I suspect the reason it shows you almost nothing is because there are very heavy suppression orders about where he lives at the moment. So anything that identifies the town outside of the car, I would imagine, cannot be published. So they're a little bit limited in what they can show you. But even though there's almost nothing to see in these photos, boy, are we clicking on this particular story. It was, when I last checked, the most read and most viewed story on the Herald - so people are interested. And shouldn't the media be reporting and taking photos of things that we're interested in? I would say yes. Now, I can understand why people are grossed out by this. I suspect a lot of that comes down to the fact that there is significant doubt amongst some people as to Lundy's guilt - just as there was doubt with David Bain, just as there was doubt with Scott Watson. And so the feeling is, if you think he hasn't done it, then you feel gross about the fact that he keeps on being harassed after serving his time. But remember, until he proves otherwise, he is a man who was convicted of murdering his wife and daughter, and his trial and his behaviour around that gripped the nation and frankly turned him into one of the most famous - or infamous - people in the country. So he is a legitimate news story And it's not really a question of whether the Herald should have taken those photos, it's actually just a question of where you were going to see that photo first. Because you were going to see it somewhere. If it wasn't on the Herald, it would be on some other news outlet, or just someone popping down to the local coffee shop, seeing Mark Lundy there, taking a photo of him, and putting it on social media. Cause we all know what he looks like, and clearly we're all interested in him - and it was going to happen sooner or later, wasn't it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Minister Stuart Nash and broadcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The first photos of Mark Lundy have appeared in the Herald. Should these photos have been released at all? The pay equity saga continues, with protests planned around the country for tomorrow. Did the Government stuff this up? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the end of an era - as WeightWatchers files for bankruptcy after 62 years in business. The company's New Zealand arm closed in-person workshops last year, and it's seen struggles across the world as weight-loss trends change. Nutritionist Nikki Hart says the advent of injectable treatments like Ozempic has played a role in the company's downturn. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 8 May 2025, the Government has been advised to crack down on cash to reduce organised crime. Customs Minister Casey Costello is pondering whether to stop cash payments in sectors like construction. The Herald has released first pictures of convicted murderer Mark Lundy out in public, and Heather is wondering whether it's ick or satisfying what readers want to see. New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson tells Heather why NZR has delivered its third loss in a row despite record revenue. Plus, Rotorua's mayor comes out swinging telling Heather Rotorua is definitely not dying! Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rotorua is hoping to boost its reputation as a top tourism destination - despite some media blowback. TRENZ, New Zealand’s largest international tourism event, just wrapped up - bringing over 1200 travel buyers from 26 countries into the city. Rotorua mayor Tania Tapsell disagrees with the claims that the city is 'dead' and says the city is 'smashing it' in regards to tourism. "We were pretty surprised when we saw this very negative media article. Are we surprised... no. Will we fight back? Yes." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby has posted a loss of $19.5 million for 2024, despite also bringing in record income. The result was announced during today's AGM in Wellington - and is New Zealand Rugby's third consecutive deficit following a $8.9 million loss in 2023 and a $47 million loss in 2022. The national body recorded income of $285 million, in what it describes as being a 'near break-even result', highlighted by growth in commercial revenue. NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson says there's been significant investment in all levels of the game. "The investment has gone into record levels of investment into the women and girls' game, to the work we're doing in content and digital strategy and game development - we've never had higher levels of investment in the community game." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Op-shop rubbish fees are piling up as people dump masses of 'unusable' items outside.  The SPCA says it's spent $250,000 this year.  Retail general manager Cathy Crichton says the charity's grateful to receive donations of quality items - but people also leave damaged or unhygienic items it must throw away.  She says binning large items like mattresses can cost a lot. "That, in itself, is eroding the good work that our volunteers and team members are doing and building fundraising - and that's the commercial challenge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Encouraging investment is a top priority in this month's upcoming Budget, according to new reports. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says it'll come from a small number of measures, including more funding for a R&D tax credit. BusinessNZ Advocacy Director Catherine Beard says New Zealand is currently one of the hardest OECD countries to invest in. She says the new agency, Invest New Zealand, is one positive measure. "Much more like a concierge sort of treatment for investors - and they will have the door flung open and the welcome mat put out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Customs Minister says using cash can help hide exploitation.  A Ministerial Advisory Group has released its second report - criticising our response to modern crime and money laundering.  It shows cash and assets seized by police total just 4.2 percent of the $1.6 billion criminals make each year.  Casey Costello says cash payments also aren't good for workers.  "In terms of protection of workers and assuring that deductions are being done properly and pay is being managed properly and that they are getting all their entitlements - the cash process makes it very difficult concerning those things." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With two weeks left to go until Budget day, Chris Luxon addressed a crowd at a BusinessNZ event in Auckland today. Luxon reiterated that the Government won't be splashing the cash this year - and claimed the Finance Minister was right to promise it won't be a Budget lolly scramble. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says this wasn't the kind of pre-Budget announcement that would make the nation sit up and take notice - and that was by design. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Liberal leadership race is on, following Peter Dutton's sweeping loss in the Australian election. Angus Taylor and Sussan Ley lead the pack as potential contenders - but neither one has been publicly nominated. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Ley has gained more attention - but it's unclear if sections of the party will get behind a female leader. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ruahei Demant has been named at 10 in the Black Ferns side for their opening match of the Pac4 against the Wallaroos in Newcastle on Saturday. Coach Allan Bunting has opted to give his co-captain first crack at first-five in 2025 leaving Hannah King on the bench. Teenage fullback Braxton Sorensen-Magee will debut. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the selections further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Ayesha Verrall says tobacco's unique harm is why industry links to Government need tighter checks.  She's put forward a Members' Bill designed to ban any linked people working on tobacco policy.  Labour hopes it'll have cross-party support. Verrall says other products, like vaping, don't need such strong restrictions - but tobacco's incredibly deadly. "It kills half the people that use it - we don't have other products like that. So that's why we need this specific focus on tobacco." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A boost in trade for the UK and India after finalising a long-desired free trade deal. It focuses on tariff reductions for British and Indian goods across almost all sectors, with a boost on UK car and alcohol industries. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the deal further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Briscoe Group sales fell 2.58 percent on the year to $178.3 million in the first quarter, weighed down by weaker homeware sales. Briscoes Homeware store revenue fell 4.66 percent to $103.6m compared with the first quarter last year, while Rebel Sport’s revenue grew 0.47 percent to $74.7m. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  It's day two of the pay equity saga - what do we make of all this? Has the Government mishandled this? Was it a bad call to rush the law through the way it has? Should they admit they're just doing it for the money? Should we take Donald Trump seriously when he floats ideas like making Canada the 51st state? How much attention should we give statements like these? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 15 years since Auckland became a supercity, and new data has revealed what people believe the city needs in order to improve. A total of 575 Aucklanders participated in the survey, casting 46,000 votes on statements, creating what’s been called a “digital snapshot” of the city’s sentiments. Former Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Graham Quirk, outlined some other point of concern - as Brisbane prepares some upgrades ahead of the 2032 Olympics.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six shipbuilders have been shortlisted for the job of delivering the much-anticipated new Cook Strait ferries. This comes after the Government pulled the plug on iReX because of cost blowouts, which was set to deliver new port-side infrastructure and two rail-enabled hybrid ferries. Ferry Holdings chairman Chris Mackenzie won't disclose the names of these companies. "We're not making anything public...we will not announce who the six are, we will be announcing the successful shipyard further down the track."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 7 May 2025, good news on the unemployment front... things have not gotten worse. Kiwibank's Jarrod Kerr tells Heather there's still a good case for more interest rate cuts. Underhand, sneaky and cowardly - Heather doesn't hold back when it comes to telling you what she thinks of the Government ramming through changes to the pay equity system under urgency. Sportswriter Gregor Paul explains why he thinks we should scrap post-match interviews with sportsplayers for fear of them swearing. Plus, the Huddle debates whether we should take Donald Trump seriously when he talks about making Canada a part of the US - or should we just accept he's joking and move on? Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Black Ferns captain Sarah Hirini raised a few eyebrows after she dropped the f-bomb on live TV - and it's prompted some debate. After the team claimed the world championship title in Los Angeles, Hirini gave a post-match interview, which sparked some controversy.  NZ Herald rugby writer Gregor Paul wrote an opinion piece critiquing the practice of post-match interviews - and he stands by it. "I'm not a big fan of sports stars - or anyone really - swearing in public as part of an entertainment package, I think it's unnecessary." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let me make a prediction for you on this pay equity drama that's been playing out for the last 24 hours - the Government is going to pay for this in a big way. I reckon that this could become one of the defining moments of this Government when we look back on it in years to come. Kind of like the 'Mother of All Budgets' came to define Ruth Richardson and Bolger's Government and the way the cup of tea came to define David Lange's Government - I think this is a moment for this Government. Not because it's the wrong thing for this Government to do, but because of the underhanded and sneaky and cowardly way that they have done it. Now, I personally think that the pay equity system did need an overhaul. I mean, I think it is ridiculous to have librarians, as I said yesterday, compare themselves to engineers to justify similar pay. You can see those jobs are not even the same, right? But I do not think that it should have been rushed through with the shock and awe that it has been. ACT, in particular, has spent so much time in the past criticizing the previous Labour government for using parliamentary urgency to get around normal processes and keep people out of deliberations. And yet, here they are doing exactly the same thing because it suits them. And this is significant. It should have been flagged with people because it affects so many people - and yet, there was no indication whatsoever until yesterday that this was going to happen.  Where was it on the list of the Prime Minister's action plans for the first quarter, or even the 2nd quarter or any quarter? It's just popped up absolutely out of nowhere and it's taken everybody by surprise. And what's more, they need to stop pretending in Government that this isn't being done in a hurry to have an impact on the Budget. This is being done in a hurry to save money for the Budget. We know that - because David Seymour said so yesterday. So everyone, and especially the National Party, needs to pretend that this is being done for some sort of principle, when actually what it's being done for is to save billions and billions and billions of dollars. The primary problem here, I think, is cowardice. It feels like these guys are rushing this through as quickly as possible with as little notice as possible, so they do not have to own their own decision. They should own it. It's not a bad decision, but they're making it feel like a bad decision.  And I'll tell you what, oppositions can sense weakness - and they know that these guys are weak on this and they're going to strike on it, which is why I think this Government is itself making this a defining moment. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transpower says upgrading the Cook Strait electricity cable would come at a very small cost to consumers.  It's consulting on a $1.4 billion proposal - to upgrade existing cables and allow for building a fourth. CEO James Kilty says the plan is to get another 40 years of stable electricity.  He says because costs will be paid for over that 40 years, prices won't surge.  "It'll be a few dollars a year - but by the time it's spread across every connection in the country, it's spread over 40 years. It'll be a reasonably small amount." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After many hours of debate, MPs have reached the final stage of the controversial pay equity legislation. The Government introduced the Bill under urgency yesterday - which lifts the bar for claims of sex-based discrimination and forces existing claims to restart. NZ College of Midwives Chief Executive Alison Eddy says it's unclear how much of the sector will be impacted. "We have to wait for the court to decide that...we've still got some way to go."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overall employment's held steady - but the hours people work have notably contracted. In figures out today, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.1 percent in the three months ending March.  But total hours worked are down three percent over the year.  Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr says numbers of part time workers are rising, with those working full-time falling.  "Businesses are clearly cutting hours to reduce costs and fight their way through what's quite an awkward period, and that's weighing on households." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's fears of escalation between India and Pakistan among experts. Pakistan claims Indian missile attacks have killed eight people - and India's claiming three died when Pakistan shot down five of its planes. Auckland University Global Studies Professor Chris Ogden says both countries have nuclear weapons.  He says that could actually be beneficial.  "It might actually enhance the possibility for a limited war - this happened back in 1999, when both sides were testing weapons in 1998."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final stage of a bill to increase the threshold of pay equity claims is expected to pass in Parliament. It'll extinguish 33 active claims, requiring them to re-start under the new model - with the changes expected to impact hundreds of thousands of workers. This bill has been met with outrage from unions and the Opposition - describing it as a 'dark day for women'.  Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls weighed in on the bill's progress. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney says his country and the US are in the process of re-defining their relationship. He's been at the White House talking trade and Canadian sovereignty with Donald Trump. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Carney made it clear that Canada was not for sale - but Trump is still hopeful this will change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.