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Children in Alice Springs won't be allowed outside their homes at night for the next fortnight. The Northern Territory Government has mandated an emergency curfew to curb escalating violence in the town. Chaos descended on the region on Tuesday afternoon when a large group attacked the Todd Tavern, causing thousands of dollars worth of property damage. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says res...

The New Zealand Defence Force has been on the receiving end of backlash amid claims they were underprepared to handle Cyclone Gabrielle. Documents claimed there were not enough resources, the water tanks dispatched weren't certified for drinking- and a lack of PPE meant personnel were unable to attend rescue efforts. Rear Admiral James Gilmour acknowledged the optics, but claimed the NZDF was requ...

Labour is demanding an end to greyhound racing, saying the industry's been On Notice for too long. Animal activists have been calling for an end to the sport for ages, with demand surging after three dogs dies in a week. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighed in on the controversy today. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, public satisfaction with the NHS has dropped again, setting a new low recorded by the British Social Attitudes survey. 24 percent of respondents say they were satisfied with the NHS in 2023, with waiting times and staff shortages being the biggest concerns.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's a divided response to how the UK can improve the NHS. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.co...

Tonight on the Huddle, Josie Pagani from Childfund and Kiwiblog writer and Curia Pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Auckland University raised some eyebrows after images of designated rooms for Māori and Pasifika students surfaced online. Some students say these rooms are vital, important spaces- do we agree? Amid the buzz around Fred...

A 'slow grind' lies ahead for households over the next few months, but the end is within sight for the tough fight with inflation. ASB's latest Quarterly Economic Forecast says things will get better after a slow 3 to 6 months for the economy- and rates and living costs will come down again. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says recent data shows people can see the light at the end of th...

The first trading quarter of 2024 has come to an end, giving investors an opportunity to take stock of what's to come. The market has struggled under the pressure of the economy, with construction, housing, and retail taking a financial hit. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains what this means for the rest of the year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has labelled the Government's Budget Policy Statement a 'sobering reality check' with no surprises. The Finance Minister says a surplus is unlikely to happen by 2026/27 and Treasury has warned the economy will slow down- forcing the Government to borrow more. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny unpacks what this could mean for the proposed tax cuts. LISTEN ABOVE See om...

A lawyer who's represented Gloriavale leavers is suing four Government departments, alleging they allowed abuse to happen for years. The West Coast Christian community's been thrust into the spotlight again, following the release of documentary miniseries Escaping Utopia. Barrister Brian Henry has accused the community of being 'groomers' who abused women and neglected children. "It's all set out...

Auckland University's Student Association is holding firm on giving minority students designated spaces. A sign outside a campus study area - now removed - read: “This is a designated area for Māori and Pasifika students”. ACT Party spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar called it reminiscent of an ugly past New Zealand's left behind. Association president Alan Shaker says they are absolutely necessary. "We...

Chair Dame Patsy Reddy has confirmed she'll resign if the NZ Rugby board reforms don't go through in line with her proposals. NZR's newly released proposal suggests nine independent board members for NZR's future boards. However, the provincial unions want three board members to have had board-level experience at a provincial level. Dame Patsy Reddy says a 'world-leading' governance structure is n...

The Finance Minister says she'll confirm in the Budget how much extra the Government will have to spend - although she's still promising tax cuts in July. Nicola Willis broke convention today when delivering the Budget Policy Statement by not detailing the operating allowance. She says the number will be lower than $3.5 billion dollars previously forecast. But Willis says she's not fazed to be str...

The US Coast Guard says six construction workers missing in Baltimore Harbour are now presumed dead. They were caught up in the catastrophic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge overnight, after it was hit by a container ship. US correspondent Logan Church says investigations are taking place to find out what happened in the leadup to the tragic collapse. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listen...

The Finance Minister is still adamant that the Government will stick to their tax cut plans. Nicola Willis today unveiled the Budget Policy Statement, which broke with normal convention and did not include how much extra spending the Government will take on at the budget. Willis says despite a worse than expected set of fiscal forecasts, tax cuts are still coming in July. ZB senior political corre...

New Zealand Rugby chair Dame Patsy Reddy has outlined why she believes an independent model for the sport's governance is a must. NZR has released a proposal to change the governance structure and could call a Special General Meeting to vote on it. The proposal suggests nine independent board members for NZR's future boards, and the provincial unions want three board members to have had board-leve...

A Former Defence Minister says our airforce personnel shouldn't train overseas defence forces - against our best interest. Seven former Defence Force personnel were found to have been hired to help train the People's Liberation Army. Former Defence Minister Wayne Mapp says this shows there needs to be an updated contract clause barring former personnel from training other Defence Forces. "We certa...

After Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis to the world, there's been increased interest in the UK's leading cancer charity websites. Macmillan Cancer Support revealed traffic was up 10 percent from last Friday- the highest weekend traffic the website has recorded in years. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this matches the outpouring of support King Charles got following his cancer reveal....

Tonight on the Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital Relations and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Were we surprised to learn about Chinese state-sponsored hacking into NZ MPs and Parliament systems? Do you think NZ got the balance right with their response- or should we have gone harder? NZ Post has revealed they plan to scrap...

A joint research project between AgResearch and Meat and Livestock Australia has revealed more consumers are interested in the health benefits of red meat. Consumers in the US and Australia have expressed interest in eating more red meat to improve their wellbeing, according to the surveys. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the wider industry. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

Shock and surprise throughout the country, as the public today learned Chinese spies hacked into Government systems back in 2021. The hack was revealed to have stolen a small amount of non-strategic information. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains the international implications of this announcement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A struggling retail sector is urging the Government to roll back the Easter trading restrictions. Under current laws, shops all over New Zealand are required to close this upcoming Good Friday and Easter Sunday. ACT has created a bill that would scrap these trading rules and National has expressed support for it- but NZ First doesn't agree. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says the sector h...

Startling revelations about the frequency of cyber attacks on significant New Zealand organisations. The GCSB says malicious targeting of the Parliamentary Counsel Office and Parliamentary Services in 2021 was linked to to actors backed by China. The Government is condemning the actions and publicly backing the UK and US, which have announced retaliatory sanctions over similar claims. ZB senior po...

One of New Zealand's most famously car-reliant cities is trialling a new approach to public transport. The new on-demand electric buses work as an Uber-like service- where commuters can summon them instead of waiting for a regular bus. Bay of Plenty regional councillor Andrew von Dadelszen says these buses operate within zones to get people closer to their chosen destination. "You just go on the a...

Posties will be no more in four to six years, as NZ Post announces significant change to their delivery service. It's confirmed both mail and parcels will eventually be delivered by courier drivers, meaning up to 750 people will lose their jobs in mail delivery, processing and support roles. Postal Workers Union spokesperson John Maynard says it's clear New Zealand Post hasn't been fighting for ne...

Warning: Potentially distressing content Outrage at a Wellington theatre company who cast a man convicted of rape in a lead role. Wellington Repertory Theatre's 'Murdered to Death' stars Harrison Stuart Nicol, who was convicted of rape in 2021. The theatre company has told media in a statement a safety plan's in place. Independent victims' advocate Ruth Money says a rapist poster-boy is incredibly...