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Robertson and Hipkins have admitted Government's books are in a more challenging position than expected- but deny claims of a fiscal hole. The Finance Minister confirmed he met with public service chiefs for a meeting about monetary restraint. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann explained that as the economy goes further south and diverges from Treasury forecasts, the gap in the Crown accounts gro...

Questions over whether a bold makeover for Auckland's waterfront is good for the harbour facilities. Mayor Wayne Brown's put up plans for an open air saltwater pool, an exhibition centre, a water amphitheatre - and aquaculture. Maritime Union National Secretary Craig Harrison says it's unclear where Auckland Council is going to get the money to fund this project with. "Someone else could develop i...

Bad news for brunch lovers, with some food joints claiming egg supplies are dwindling. Bakeries and restaurants are apparently having to lower their usage. Bakehouse on Bond owner, Tom Bullock, says it's been a frustrating six months. "Egg powder's playing a part in the actual baking in some products, mostly bread-based products like brioche, etc." The Poultry Industry Association's Michael Brooks...

Police believe a ute being driven by missing Marokopa dad Tom Phillips was involved in an altercation in the Waikato area last night. Phillips was spotted yesterday in Te Awamutu, Te Rapa and Kawhia in three separate sightings. He disappeared more than 18 months ago with children Jayda, Maverick and Ember. Police inspector Will Loughrin says the stolen bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute forms...

New Yorkers are being encouraged to escape to a new city- our very own Capital. For the Escape to Wellington campaign, a computer was set up on the streets of the Big Apple for a day. Passers-by could click on a button for a glimpse of Wellington's lifestyle benefits on offer. Wellington NZ Chief Executive John Allen says the region needs talent and tourists, and a campaign set up in New York coul...

Progress on reducing waitlists in our health system - despite winter pressures. Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says total planned care treatments, including minor operations, are increasing nationwide. She says staff are moving through the waitlists in stages - starting by treating those who've waited more than three years. "Then we're moving down through that, potentially, with the goal of gettin...

A private investigator trying to find missing Marokopa man Tom Phillips says he'll likely hide again, after being spotted. Phillips disappeared 18 months ago with his children Jayda, Maverick and Ember. He was seen yesterday in Te Awamutu, Te Rapa and Kawhia in Waikato - driving a stolen bronze Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute. Police still haven't found him or his children. Investigator Chris Budge say...

Human remains have been found in the search for four army crew, after a helicopter crash off Queensland's coast. The chopper hit the water off Hamilton Island during a joint Australian US military training exercise on Friday. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explained that positive identification will not be possible at this stage- until more wreckage is brought to the surface. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

ACT's drawn a line in the sand- saying its MPs won't sit around the cabinet table with Winston Peters or his MPs. NZ First scored 4.1 percent in the latest Newshub/ Reid Research poll, edging up to the 5 percent threshold. But David Seymour confirmed he won't be in a Government where Peters is in Cabinet. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says he's not surprised David Seymour ruled out...

All Blacks coach Ian Foster today revealed his picks for for the second Bledisloe Cup test in Dunedin. 12 starting changes have been made for Saturday's test against Australia. That includes test debuts for Shaun Stevenson on the right wing and Chiefs team-mate Samipeni Finau at blindside flanker. ZB sport news director Clay Wilson explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

The Police Minister has suggested volunteer wardens could supplement police in central Auckland. Ginny Andersen says wardens for Maori and other ethnicities could do more patrols. Former mayoral candidate, Leo Molloy, says it's a dumb idea. He says crime has progressively reduced in downtown Auckland - and there are more visible police. "They're around a lot more. You know, they started to listen...

Reasonably significant political news today - ACT’s David Seymour has absolutely ruled out working with Winston Peters in Government after the election.  Saying: “It's impossible to see us sitting around the Cabinet table.” And: "There's no way that you're going to solve the problems that New Zealand needs to solve when you've got someone who's had so many chances and screwed it up so many times b...

Poland has rushed troops to its eastern border after accusing Belarus of violating their airspace with military helicopters. The Belarusian military denied these violations, but had earlier taunted Poland over the presence of Russian Wagner mercenaries near their joint border. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says tensions are being ratcheted up between both countries, which may lead to further conflic...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Business Mentors NZ chief executive Sarah Trotman joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Finance Minister Grant Robertson has met with public sector leaders to discuss spending restraint amid a rumoured hole in the Government books. National says the Government's financial situation's m...

One educational expert suggests children are growing more narcissistic- and it's creating problems for teachers. Columnist and former teaching academic Jenna Price wrote a piece in the Sydney Morning Herald claiming children have gotten more rude and entitled in recent years. She says children being brought up in Western cultures are being taught to be aggressive and disagreeable by parents enabli...

Two major players in the tech world are reporting strong results this US earnings season. Meta and Alphabet are seeing digital advertising revenue bounce back from the doldrums of of late 2022 and early 2023. Milford Asset Management's Felix Fok says advertising spending is sensitive to economic conditions, and Alphabet and Meta are performing better than predicted. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

Unemployment is rising - but remains historically low - as the election approaches. New Stats NZ figures show the unemployment rate reached 3.6 percent for the three months to June. That's up 0.2 percent, from 3.4 percent in the preceding quarter. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says these figures indicate that the start of recession-influenced unemployment is upon us. LISTEN ABOVE See...

The US Justice Department's indicted Donald Trump, alleging dishonesty, fraud and deceit. The former US President's scheduled to appear in a Washington DC courthouse on charges to do with alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Counts include conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruct an official proceeding, and infringe citizen's rights. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump has fired ba...

Claims the Government's top chief executives have been asked to tighten their belts. Our newsroom confirmed the heads of major Government departments met the Finance Minister, and it's understood spending restraint was discussed. Grant Robertson warned the Government had hard choices ahead. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says those choices need to start with wasteful spending. "The...

The gap between Labour and National could be starting to widen, as election day gets closer. The latest Newshub-Reid Research poll shows National and Act both up with enough support to see them form a Government Labour has dropped 3.6 points to 32.3 percent, but the Greens are up to 9.6 percent. Former MP turned political commentator Peter Dunne says Labour's dip is reflective of other polls. He s...

A former pupil in the care of a Catholic order in Christchurch has described it as 'Hell on Earth'. The Abuse in Care Royal Commission of Inquiry has published a report on the treatment of children at three Brothers of St John of God institutions in Christchurch, over decades. They were Marylands School, Hebron Trust and St Joseph’s Orphanage. Marylands survivor and former pupil, Darryl Smith, say...

Donald Trump has been indicted on four counts in the investigation into the interference of the 2020 US election. The former President is scheduled to appear in a Washington DC courthouse on charges of conspiracy to defraud the US, obstruct an official proceeding, and infringe citizen's rights. Former adviser to George W Bush, Scott Jennings, says Trump will still be able to run for President, but...

Secondary teachers will vote on a new pay offer next week. The Government's agreed to offer the 14.5 percent increase recommended by an Arbitration Panel. $374 million worth of savings have been found within the education budget. Education Minister Jan Tinetti says that includes deferring projects at Te Ao Marama and Hobsonville Point Secondary School. They are part of a Public Private Partnership...

National claims the Government's finances are teetering on the edge. Our newsroom has confirmed the Finance Minister met heads of major Government departments today. It's understood spending restraint was discussed. Grant Robertson today warned the Government had hard choices ahead. National's Nicola Willis says they believe things are much worse than forecast in the Budget. "Grant Robertson has i...

It could be too little, too late for some All Blacks players, with the naming of the 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup looming. Saturday's second Bledisloe Cup clash with the Wallabies in Dunedin is the final hit-out for those looking to book their ticket to France. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighs in on what to expect for the upcoming announcement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/liste...