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Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Auckland councillor Richard Hills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Two Wānaka New Worlds may have to deal with some financial fallout after they stayed open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, breaching Easter trading laws. Is this a sign Easter trading laws need to go?  Prime Minister Chris Lux...

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Finance Minister is striking back over claims Luxon is running the country like a business.  Labour has taken a swipe at the Prime Minister, as he revealed his plan for the next quarter- including a promise to cut taxes at the Budget, and launching a school attendance action plan. Minister Nicola Willis says a country is different from a business, but some key disciplines are important. "Accou...

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

The Workplace Relations Minister says Easter trading laws are outdated. Two Wānaka New World supermarkets are likely to be fined after remaining open on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, in a potential breach of the weekend's trading laws. A Foodstuffs spokesperson says it was done to make sure people have convenient access to groceries throughout the break. Brooke van Velden says while people should...

The Department of Conservation says spending nearly $500,000 dollars to kill a single stoat in Fiordland is money well spent. The pest was found on Chalky Island in August 2022, which had been predator-free since 1999. The bill covered things like incident management teams, staff time, dog handlers, helicopter and boat expenses. DOC spokesperson Aaron Fleming says the price tag isn't too high to p...

Labour's Deputy says a new Government list of priorities makes a big deal of ordinary work. The 36-point check-list is to be completed by June 30. It includes tasks such as delivering the Budget, and 'raising the energy' on key international engagements. Carmel Sepuloni says it's over-exaggerating the normal business of Government. "The reality is, it's actually business as usual for any Governmen...

Wellington City Council are putting pressure on the Government to make it easier to remove heritage listings from buildings. A letter from the Council written to RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop states the city has 554 quake-prone buildings, 163 of which are heritage listed. The letter suggests building owners are increasingly becoming unable to meet the cost of quake-strengthening or redevelopmen...

If you’ve been debating the issue of the two New World supermarkets in Wanaka breaking Easter trading laws repeatedly, including this year, I reckon you probably fall into one of two camps. Camp one- It gets on your nerves because these guys are quite clearly deliberately breaking the law, given they’ve done it three out of the last four years and have been fined twice already. And they shouldn't...

This Easter, one NHS doctor is warning people not to eat entire chocolate eggs in one sitting.  Dr Andrew Kelso has written an open letter claiming the average Easter egg contains three-quarters of an adult's recommended daily calorie intake- and urged people to practice moderation. People on social media have taken this as a challenge, with Nigel Farage eating an Easter egg on his live GB News sh...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Recent data has showed Kiwi students are among the worst-behaved in the developed world, with misbehaviour shooting up over the last couple of years. Why is this happening? Can it be addressed? Plans for a...

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

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

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

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

The Government has swiftly rejected Auckland mayor Wayne Brown's proposal that they pay rates on their Auckland properties. Mayor Brown believes the city would benefit from $400 million worth of revenue if the rates were paid on Government buildings- and if the GST charged on rates was given back. He says this scheme would have solved the Government's challenge of helping people through a cost of...

New Zealand Rugby has been on the receiving end of criticism from the provinces amid a proposed shake-up to the board. The national body and several provincial unions remain in a back-and-forth over how to implement a review that recommends sweeping changes to the way the game is governed. Mid-Canterbury rugby union chair Gerard Rushton says it's important for members of New Zealand's rugby commun...

Chlöe Swarbrick expects the pride of Auckland's rainbow community to shine through tenfold after vandalism overnight on Karangahape Road. Three people in balaclavas poured white paint on the road's rainbow crossing, then fled in a car without registration plates. Police are declaring it a hate crime and searched a Flat Bush property this afternoon, seizing a number of items. Green Party co-leader...

The Secondary Principals' Association believes the community should get behind schools and students to help reduce bad behaviour. A new Education Review Office report shows it's worsened over the past two years. President Vaughan Couillault  says Covid lock-downs weren't the only factor. "There's a growing sort of movement where members of the community become indignant when their kid does somethi...

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