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Electronic card spending data recorded the first significant drop since mid-2022 this October. Spending in retail industries fell 0.7 per cent compared to September, down by $44 million, Stats NZ said in a press release. Demand for larger items has declined by 7.8 percent, and spending on apparel has fallen 8 percent. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says retailers are staring down the b...

Latest data shows market confidence has returned to New Zealand. Stats NZ's monthly price report showed airfares, petrol and food prices were down across the board, and the NZX has shot up by 5 points in November. Milford Asset Management Jeremy Hutton explains what this means for the coming months. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The incoming Government is expected to contend with a billion-dollar hole in its books created by the upcoming ETS auction.  The final auction of units under the Emissions Trading Scheme for 2023 isn't expected to clear on December 6. Most participants in the carbon market expect this auction to fail, on the grounds that a full year's worth of units will need to be sold. NZ Herald Wellington busin...

All sides of the soon-to-be Government want talks completed as soon as possible. David Seymour, Winston Peters and Chris Luxon sat down together this morning for the first time, in Auckland. This meeting will be the first of several collaborative meetings in the city centre this week. ZB political editor Jason Walls says nothing significant has been divulged- but all three parties are keen to get...

President Joe Biden hopes to put the shaky US-China relationship in a better place at APEC. The summit for Pacific Rim leaders will include a highly anticipated meeting between Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping- the first on American soil in over 7 years. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says security has been tightened in the Bay Area ahead of the meeting. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

Weeks on from a controversial Rugby World Cup final, just-retired referee Wayne Barnes has released a new autobiography. ‘Throwing the Book’ examines the highs and lows of officiating rugby at the top level- and takes shots at New Zealand and former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the mass reaction to this book. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener...

The Financial Markets Authority (FMA) has pulled a controversial video campaign accused of mocking fraud victims. As part of Fraud Awareness Week, the FMA partnered with comedian Tom Sainsbury to depict a 'Boomer Dad' getting scammed out of his planned trip to France. New data released from banks showed that New Zealanders lost almost $200 million in scams in the year to September. Financial advis...

New Zealand's hard road to the Cricket World Cup final will become impossible if they don't hold their chances. The Black Caps will face off against hosts India in tonight's semi-final in Mumbai at 9:30pm. There's controversy brewing ahead of the match, with reports claiming India have switched the pitch to favour their spinners. Former Black Cap Peter McGlashan says this is a sign India feels thr...

Doctors Without Borders is outraged patients and medical staff are being put in harm's way, as Israeli military forces raid a hospital in Gaza. Israel says it's carrying out an operation against Hamas at Al-Shifa Hospital - the largest medical complex in the Gaza strip. Doctors Without Borders' Simon Eccleshall says staff were given just minutes warning before the raid. "And the indiscriminate bom...

New Zealand's migration has hit record levels, as Kiwis flock overseas. The year to September had a historic net loss of 44,700 citizens. Overall annual net migration was at a record near 119,000 for the same period. Demographer Paul Spoonley says they're extraordinary figures, unlike anything seen before. "Last year, the Productivity Commission did a fantastic report, which looked at migration. O...

A political commentator says leaks from post-election talks are rife this year. The leaders of National, ACT and New Zealand First have now all sat around a table together, a first in their negotiations. Prime Minister elect Chris Luxon has wanted talks to stay private. But Ben Thomas says that hasn't been the case. He says it may reflect the parties playing off against each other. "There's the qu...

Fresh from hanging up the whistle after last month's Rugby World Cup final, referee Wayne Barnes detailed the trials and tribulations of officiating at a professional level. In his new autobiography 'Throwing the Book', Barnes took aim at former All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry and his response to the All Blacks' upset loss to France in 2007. Former All Black Sir John Kirwan says it's likely Barn...

It’s time that we stop making excuses for why we can’t make it a crime to stonewall the cops. And instead just do the right thing and make it a crime for every adult in the house to stonewall the cops if someone has bashed a baby to death. This is becoming a pattern with child deaths in New Zealand. Just off the top of my head, I can give you four cases where babies have been bashed and the adults...

David Cameron has been named the UK's new Foreign Minister. It comes seven years after he quit as PM over the outcome of his Brexit referendum. Cameron's appointment is part of a major Cabinet re-shuffle by current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, sparked by the removal of Home Secretary Suella Braverman. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this is a risky decision, as this will alienate many prospective...

Tonight on The Huddle, current affairs commentator Josie Pagani and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! In coalition updates: Luxon's trip to APEC is officially off, Winston has been AWOL from Parliament- but the parties are set to meet later this week. Who knows what's going on? What can we expect in the coming days? NZ First'...

Alarm bells are being raised over in Australia, as economists warn the risk of inflation lingering is increasing. The Reserve Bank of Australia raised the OCR to 4.35 percent last week- the highest official cash rate seen in 12 years. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham says the RBA will likely have to do more to raise the OCR and bring down inflation in the coming months. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Economists fear the primary sector is likely to struggle from lower export prices during the economic downturn. Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan also warns increased interest rates are likely to add to the stressful climate for new Zealand's rural community. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains how Kiwi farmers are expected to struggle in the coming months.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.c...

One expert has issued words of caution for anyone expecting the incoming Government will be easier on businesses. BusinessDesk's Pattrick Smellie says it shouldn't be a given that the National-ACT-NZ First coalition will take all the pressure of the business sector- and cited their history of policies and statements. Smellie explained that the banks, supermarkets, fuel companies will likely experi...

New Zealand First's caucus met today in Wellington- but the Party's leader was noticeably absent. None of the newly elected MPs explained where Winston Peters was, but they said work was progressing in his absence. ZB political editor Jason Walls says senior NZ First MP Shane Jones claimed progress was under way, and Peters would turn up- eventually. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Yet more new developments in the case of Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips, who vanished in 2021 with his 3 children. A Newshub report revealed a former partner of Phillips, who is helping with the investigation, gave birth to a boy 2 years ago- a boy Phillips is believed to have fathered. Karen Rutherford, who broke the initial story, says police have been in contact with this woman throughout the i...

An investigation into alleged confidentiality breaches at Wellington City Council hasn't been able to find the leaker. Lawyer Linda Clark has been looking into the conduct of five independent city councillors after a complaint from Deputy Mayor Laurie Foon. The code of conduct complaints alleged councillors had leaked information about a publicly-excluded meeting about the fate of the Reading Cine...

Auckland's mayor says he wants congestion charging in place as soon as possible. The council's transport and infrastructure committee is due to consider an Auckland Transport report on the scheme this Thursday. It means motorists idling on busy roads during peak hours will have to pay up to reduce traffic jams and make council revenue. Wayne Brown says if the incoming Government doesn't support it...

Suggestions the shock appointment of a controversial former UK PM as Foreign Secretary aims to save the Conservatives' sinking ship. David Cameron will replace Suella Braverman, who was fired after accusing police of double standards in handling protests. Cameron resigned as PM in 2016, with one of the lowest popularity ratings in recent history. Former Kiwi High Commissioner to the UK, Sir Lockwo...

Fruit, vegetables and similar household staples were the largest contributor to a monthly fall in food prices. Stats NZ says prices were 6.3 percent higher in October than a year ago- but cheaper than in September, down 0.9 percent month on month. LeaderBrand CEO Richard Burke says supply had been restricted and demand strong, but now they're working to recalibrate. "We've got a whole lot of crop...

David Seymour says a referendum on Treaty principles is still on the negotiating table. ACT signalled the policy would be a priority in post-election talks. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon has said a referendum would be divisive, but New Zealand First's Shane Jones today told Radio Waatea he understands Seymour's concerns. Seymour says it's an idea whose time has come. "I think the more people un...