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Tonight on The Huddle, David Farrar from Kiwiblog and Curia and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Yesterday, Melissa Lee said she wasn't concerned about New Zealand having just one TV news station and that there was still a 'plurality of voices'. She's since clarified and claimed she misspoke after copping some backlash- could she have...

Households can breathe a temporary sigh of relief following yesterday's announcement from the Reserve Bank. The Bank has held the OCR steady at 5.5 percent, in line with with what most economists were predicting. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says it's going to be a long battle to get inflation down, so the future's uncertain. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

The world's biggest sheep-shearing event is kicking off in Masterton today. Over 500 shearers and wool-handlers are taking part in the three-day event, an increase of 25 percent on the previous year. The Country's Jamie Mackay says finding sheep has been tougher this year- but they've managed to get at least 3500 ahead of the event. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing concern that the proposed closure of Newshub could be a sign of tougher times for the media industry.  Warner Bros. Discovery revealed they planned to shutter newsroom operations from July, forcing hundreds out of work. AUT media researcher Merja Myllylahti says the entire industry is in trouble, revenue-wise. "For example, results from NZME were not as good as expected because of...

There's salt in the wound for Christchurch Blink-182 fans after bassist Mark Hoppus was filmed ripping on the city. It comes after the band announced they were cancelling their Christchurch show, just two weeks ahead of the event taking place. Consumer NZ Communications and Campaigns Manager Jessica Walker says the band's actions have encouraged fans to seek extra compensation beyond tickets. "It'...

Health New Zealand says it's going as fast as it can to combat huge delays in implementing pay rises. It's been three months since senior doctors and dentists settled pay negotiations, but most still haven't received agreed increases. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists says some of its members have been told they won't get the extra money until June. Health New Zealand Chief People Of...

ACT Party leader David Seymour is investigating making TVNZ pay dividends. He's asked Treasury to look into the returns the station is offering tax-payers, after 1News' competitor Newshub revealed it was broke. Warner Bros. Discovery has proposed shuttering Newshub from July, axing one of the country's biggest commercial news operators. Seymour says it's possible requesting dividends could improve...

An issue with paying for fuel at outdoor pumps has been confirmed as being related to the leap year. The extra day in February has affected Allied, Waitomo, Gull and BP truck stops, stopping customers from paying for their gas. Software provider Invenco was meant to roll out a fix at 3 o'clock - but that hasn't happened. Waitomo Chief Executive Simon Parham says it's surprising because it's not th...

The designation of Hamas as a terrorist entity isn't expected to have implications for controversial pro-Palestine protest chants. Both the movement's military and political wings - which govern parts of Gaza - are now deemed a terrorist group in New Zealand. When pressed, Peters says people just have to follow and respect the law during protests. "When a country makes a decision that is a decisio...

The life and legacy of Fa’anana Efeso Collins has been celebrated at the Manukau Events Centre. Thousands of people, including Prime Minister Chris Luxon, former rugby stars and politicians from all sides came together to pay their respects to the late MP. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Efeso really left a mark in Parliament during his short stay. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.co...

NSW's Police Commissioner has taken the first steps to remove Beau Lamarre-Condon from the state's police force. Lamarre-Condon has been accused of murdering Sydney couple Luke Davies and Jesse Baird several days ago. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Lamarre-Condon allegedly carried out the murder with a police firearm - sparking an investigation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

New Zealand seamer Matt Henry is leading the way on the opening day of the first cricket test against Australia at the Basin Reserve. He's taken three wickets to have the tourists 166 for five early in the final session. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's mayor is celebrating a controversial multi-million dollar development deal. Wellington City Council today agreed to continue with its plan to buy the land under the Reading Cinema complex for $32 million. The complex will then be rented back to the company, with the funds used to pay for quake strengthening. Tory Whanau couldn't go into specific details around certain aspects of the p...

British MPs facing threats to their safety can opt for extra security as part of a new package. £31 million has been allocated to help protect concerned politicians, amid growing safety concerns since the war in Gaza began. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this could include extra bodyguards for MPs who are most at risk. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Sarah Trotman from Business Mentors and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Newshub shocked employees with the revelation they planned to shut down newsroom operations by the end of June. Do we just have to accept that the news sector in New Zealand will continue to shrink? Is there a po...

The Reserve Bank Governor says inflation is still too high to consider cutting the OCR. Adrian Orr held the OCR steady at 5.5 percent today, in line with most economist's expectations.  Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says the Bank's on the right track to bringing down inflation. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank Governor has held the Official Cash Rate at 5.5 percent today, as expected by most economists. Adrian Orr says there was discussion on whether to bring in a small hike, but the Monetary Policy Committee concluded holding was the right move. Milford Asset Management's Katlyn Parker analyses the market reaction to this announcement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis wants to exempt some trusts from paying the new 39 percent trustee tax rate. She hinted the Government planned to modify the bill aimed at lifting the trustee tax rate from 33 percent to 39 percent from April 1. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains how Nicola Willis plans to determine these exemtions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

Chris Hipkins has given a seething speech in the House, slamming the Government's unwinding Labour's smokefree laws. The legislation had restricted retailers who can sell cigarettes, and banned people born after 2008 from buying them. A Bill scrapping the moves is now in its first reading. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says he's never seen behaviour like that from an MP. LISTEN ABO...

Over in the US, President Biden and former President Trump have won their respective parties' Michigan's presidential primaries. Both candidates are still likely to enter an electoral rematch in November, according to political experts. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump and Biden hold a clear lead over the other candidates.  LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

The Black Caps will be without Devon Conway for the first cricket test against Australia in Wellington, with more damage revealed to his left thumb. Conway suffered the injury while wicket-keeping in the second T20 at Eden Park. Additional scans revealed extra issues with the thumb. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what this means for tomorrow. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Christchurch Airport has pulled back and put their controversial Tarras airport project on hold. Chief executive Justin Watson announced that all future work on the airport would be delayed, saying more time is needed to examine the overall impact and consult with local and national stakeholders. Christchurch city councillor Yani Johansen suspects short-term financial constrains caused the delay....

Building back trust is next on the agenda for the rat-plagued Countdown Dunedin South. It reopened today, after being closed for almost three weeks for pest management procedures. Woolworths Stores Director Jason Stockill says foot traffic was down today, but they're determined to regain customers' faith. "We know it's going to be a slow process, but we've got to get the confidence back into the c...

There's a clip of David Seymour making the rounds on social media that has viewers scratching their heads. In the interview, recorded in 2010, the ACT leader was recorded speaking with a clear Canadian accent. Seymour says he adopted the accent during his time overseas to blend in with the locals. "I know people that have lived outside their home country for 30 years, the accent still flickers- an...

Economists at our biggest bank expect the Reserve Bank will increase the Official Cash Rate. ANZ's changed its forecast, now predicting 25 basis point hikes in February and in April. That would take the OCR to 6 percent- from its current 5.5. ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says the Reserve Bank said it was very close to hiking it again in November. "Since then, they've had a series of small, b...