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UK inflation has cooled more than economists predicted and dropped to 7.9 percent. Experts had forecasted a drop to 8.2 percent, following a higher than expected 8.7 percent in May. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says declining fuel prices contributed to the decrease, but supermarket prices remain stubbornly high. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US earnings season for the June quarter is officially underway. Economists warned of a recession risk in the lead up, but those concerns have since moderated. Milford Asset Management Portfolio Manager Felix Fok says the US economy is facing similar issues to other developed economies- interest rates and moderating cost pressures are on the rise. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

The inflation rate is headed in the right direction, but the Reserve bank won't be cutting interest rates anytime soon. New figures out today show the annual inflation rate has fallen to 6 per cent for the year to June, from 6.7 per cent in the year to March. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says inflation rates are on par with what the RBNZ is expecting- but the battle to reb...

New Microsoft Teams data reveals 4pm til 6pm is the new workday 'dead zone' for employees. The data shows that employees have maintained their lockdown-era flexibility to control their own hours and more leave the office early to fulfil outside obligations. Massey university Human Resource Management professor says employers stand to benefit from these changes, as some employees return in the even...

A new offence for young people is the latest announcement in the Government's retail crime crackdown. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says the Government's creating a new offence targeting ram raider and allowing 12 and 13 year olds to be charged in the youth court. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this announcement is long overdue, as ram raids have been a problem for two years too long. LISTEN...

The Christchurch trial of a woman accused of murdering her young children in Timaru in 2021 has concluded its third day. Lauren Dickason admits killing her daughters, but denies it was murder, by reason of insanity and infanticide. Husband Graham Dickason has been cross examined in the High Court about her relationship with the girls. The Herald's Anna Leask says the jury also heard details about...

The Government promised their modified investor visa scheme would draw high-value investors into New Zealand's economy. Nine months later, only one visa has been approved under the scheme- to a person who was already in the country. Immigration Minister Andrew Little says the new Active Investor Plus Visa is designed to encourage wealthy foreigners to use their investments to benefit New Zealand....

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau is under fire for breaching the council's tenancy agreement by bringing her dog to work. Reports claim Whanau has been bringing her staffordshire bull terrier, Teddy, into her Central Wellington office, despite the lease agreement forbidding animals on the premises. Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young says other councillors who own dogs feel like there shouldn't be...

Donald Trump could be facing more legal action. The former US President claims he has been notified of a Grand Jury investigation of the January 2021 attack on the Capitol building. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump's posted on social media, saying he has four days to report to the jury. "Which almost always means an indictment or an arrest, we don't know exactly what the charges would be...

Inflation is falling - but costs remain high for New Zealanders. The Consumers Price Index rose six percent in the year to June. It's a fall from the 6.7 for the 12 months to March. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says fuel prices have dropped - but other essentials continue to rise. "Some of that heat across the entire economy is coming out, but there's a very hot core of inflation tha...

The Justice Minister's revealed a new law and order strategy to cut down on youth crime. The Government launched a new legal ram-raiding offence - and 12 and 13 year olds could face the charge in the youth court. Minister Kiri Allan says these new policies targeting ram-raiders build on from earlier crime prevention measures. "What that does is- it allows for 12 and 13 year olds to be charged in t...

Kiwis are being urged to get behind the Women's World Cup, which kicks off tomorrow. Ticket sales have met expectations with 1.5 million people set to attend the 64 matches across the tournament. But FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants New Zealanders to "seize the moment", with Australia selling nearly triple the amount of tickets so far. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTE...

Question marks over an American soldier who went into North Korea without authority. He crossed the border as he was being escorted back to the US for disciplinary action. He's the first American detained in the North in nearly five years. Asia Political Risk Analyst Ross Feingold says they don't know what consequences he'll face. "Whether or not North Korea's going to treat him as some crazy tour...

Well, the Consumer Price Index is 6 percent. The numbers were out this morning and I think with 6 percent, we can say with confidence that, barring disaster, headline inflation in New Zealand has peaked. From the post-pandemic high of 7.3 percent a year ago, we’ve now recorded 3 successive quarters of data heading in the right direction. I think we can call it a trend. Today’s number isn’t surpris...

The summer holidays have begun in England and Wales- and many travellers are staring down the barrel of huge queues at Dover. Cross-Channel ferry passengers are expected to endure waiting times of two and a half hours between 6am and 1pm. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this is due to post-Brexit passport checking measures lengthening expected delays. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Tonight on The Huddle, Taxpayers' Union Executive Director Jordan Williams and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Victoria has pulled the plug on hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, with Premier Daniel Andrews citing ballooning costs as the reason for terminating the contract. Is this the beginning of the end for the Games? Are they wo...

Rural economists are less than optimistic about the expected results in the GDT auction. Falling global dairy prices, adverse weather conditions and surging grain prices following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Initiative are contributing to a negative outlook. The Country's Jamie Mackay says all agricultural commodity prices are taking a hit- including meat, milk, and horticulture. LISTEN...

ACT co-founder Roger Douglas has turned his back on his former party, claiming they “represent only the wealthy”. Douglas voiced opposition for ACT's reluctance to end 'bracket creep'- which increases tax paid by average wage and salary earners because doing so would require higher taxes on wealthier people. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Roger Douglas had a clear libertarian v...

The Victorian Government is under fire after pulling the pin on hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games. The state has withdrawn after cost estimates blew out to at least $6 billion from an initial $2.6 billion estimate. Australian correspondent Murray Olds suspects that Daniel Andrews may have backed out to alleviate the Victorian cost-of-living crisis. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Another chapter in the saga of former Labour Minister Michael Wood and his failure to disclose shareholdings. Speaker Adrian Rurawhe today referred Wood to the Privileges Committee. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says it comes after a damning report on Wood's actions. "It says his conduct 'cast a shadow over the trust and confidence that the public are entitles to expect of their elected...

The Green Party plans to table an amendment to the Therapeutic Products Bill to ban advertising for prescription medicines. New Zealand and the United States are the only two countries that allow unrestricted advertising of branded prescription medication. Green Party health spokesperson Ricardo Menéndez March says pharmaceutical advertisements do not equip the public with the information that the...

Netball NZ's Chief Executive has expressed disappointment over Victoria's withdrawal from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth games. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews informed the Commonwealth Games authorities that the estimated $6 billion cost was too prohibitively expensive. CEO Jennie Wyllie says the Commonwealth Games are a unique and special experience for the New Zealand team.  "Normally when we go...

Assurances taxpayers won't bear the brunt of costs from a landslide threatening the new Pūhoi-Warkworth motorway. Cracks have appeared in concrete barriers and it's possible sections of land are moving under the one-month-old road. Transport Minister David Parker says he's expecting a briefing, and this could potentially be a safety risk for motorists. Waka Kotahi has acknowledged it knew the land...

An irate Rodney ratepayer is firing back against the 'ridiculous' charges laid by Auckland Council consultants. Dave Crow has identified several inflated costs incurred across two resource consent applications, including a $197.40 bill for forwarding an email. He says he had an advantage in this situation- and somebody had to take a stand.   "I'm just a ratepayer for the property, I'm not someone...

The High Court at Christchurch has heard evidence from Graham Dickason at his wife's murder trial. Lauren Dickason admits killing their daughters in Timaru in 2021 - a six-year old and two-year-old twins, but she's mounting a defence of insanity and infanticide. Her husband told the court via audio visual link from South Africa about his wife’s anxiety, depression and struggles with fertility and...