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The Australian Reserve Bank has taken economists by surprise and lifted key interest rates. Australia's OCR has been raised by 25 basis points to 3.85 percent, defying predictions the RBA would pause rate hikes for a second month. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham was surprised by this increase, as he expected the RBA would extend the pause to assess the impact of earlier hikes on the economy. "If...

Federated Farmers have voiced their opposition to the Ute Tax increase announced this morning. The group's transport spokesperson has claimed farmers don't have reliable alternatives to utes for towing equipment and safely getting around their land. The Country's Jamie Mackay says it's ironic that the Government would try to take down wealthy New Zealanders one week and subsidise them into Teslas...

Months on from Cyclone Gabrielle, no-one is willing to discuss a course of action for all the red-stickered homes. An expert from BusinessDesk is suggesting these affected homeowners could be the 'canary in the mine' for the future of long-term managed retreat. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says whatever ends up happening to the affected residents will become a template for the fut...

The Government has made some tweaks to the Clean Car Discount Scheme. The changes announced include narrowing the focus to more fuel-efficient vehicles earlier, increasing fees, adjusting eligibility and reducing rebates. ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says these changes are another example of the current Government announcing a scheme and having to overhaul it when it didn't work...

The Warriors have named the key members to play in their Magic Round squad for Sunday's match against Penrith in Brisbane. Warriors skipper Tohu Harris and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad have both been confirmed, but they'll likely have to prove their fitness over the course of this week. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

The Australian Government says a proposed ban on recreational vapes is long overdue. It's looking to make them prescription only, and limit flavours and colours. The Federal Health Minister Mark Butler also announced a five percent hike to the tobacco tax. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Minister is pushing back on claims vapes are mostly used to quit smoking. "They are full of chemi...

The sugar hit many businesses received during the pandemic is starting to wear off. Company liquidations are on the rise again as the Covid-related protections that once shielded businesses are subsiding. Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association chair Kare Johnstone says the number of liquidations from the first quarter of 2023 is 265, up 29 percent from early 2022. "While liquidations...

The Hawke's Bay region is calling out for more Government assistance following Cyclone Gabrielle. A report has found the area will have ongoing economic losses of $3.5 billion dollars over the next 10 years if no support arrives immediately. Rockit Apples chair John Loughlin says they'd like $750 million dollars to help with clean ups and replanting efforts. He says if they don't get help, the res...

A new tool for working parents has gone live today. The NZ Parental Leave Register features policies from almost 200 Kiwi employers, making it the largest database of parental leave information in the country. Founder Stephanie Pow says they have some big name employers on board with it. "We've got 8 of the 10 largest employers in New Zealand, but also we've got employers with anywhere to 4 employ...

A fourth man has been found not guilty in connection to the drugging and sexual assault of women at a central Christchurch bar, following a 2018 investigation. The man was accused of sexually violating a women he met at the bar. The Herald's Anna Leask says Judge Paul Mabey weighed up everything put before him at the Christchurch District Court today. "There was too much reasonable doubt for him....

An original member of the Polynesian Panthers says she's not surprised the dawn raid tactic is still being used. Immigration New Zealand's confirmed it has had eighteen interactions during night-time hours in the past ten months. That's despite the Government apologising two years ago for the infamous dawn raids in the 1970s. Melani Anae says this aligns with what she's been hearing. "Well, I've h...

A Christchurch business owner is expressing frustration at the disruption created by maintenance. For the last four weeks, traffic management and road cones have been set up outside the Vehicles Under $6990 dealership. According to the Council, this is being done to fix waterworks. Owner Hamish Cross has observed that work on this project has only taken place during one six hour period over the co...

I'm not going to be pledging my allegiance to King Charles during his coronation on Sunday night. What a cringe of an idea . And what a weird misstep from the palace. Because everything else in the coronation seems pretty on point with modern times. It's a cost of living crisis so they're going small for the coronation. They've got diversity , they’ve got a black baroness and heaps of women partic...

Former Prime Minister Liz Truss is disputing a £12,000 bill relating to her use of the Chevening country house in Kent. This bill covers her use of Chevening house during 2022, when she was foreign secretary and preparing to be leader of the Conservative Party. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the rules are clear about what can be claimed back by those who had access to Chevening and Truss is bein...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Kaine Thompson, former Labour Press Secretary joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The Government is placing a toll charge onto Penlink, the arterial line connecting State Highway 1 to the Whangaparāoa Peninsula. Is it fair to toll this road, on top of the regional fuel tax.  A rapid review has be...

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has confirmed he will be meeting King Charles III during his visit to London for the coronation.  Hipkins will also meet his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak at Downing Street to advance the Fair Trade Agreement between the two countries. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says this trip will be important for Hipkins, because the bilateral FTA may be nudged forward by...

The National Party and tax experts are predicting a capital gains tax is likely after the release of the IRD report.  On Wednesday, an IRD report confirmed that New Zealand's wealthiest families paid a median tax rate of 9.4 per cent, half of what middle-income Kiwis paid. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says this report wasn't meant to test the waters for a capital gains tax, despite David Parke...

The Chiefs are eight points clear at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings after beating the defending champion Crusaders 34-24 in Hamilton. This win puts the Chiefs eight points clear of the second placed Brumbies with a perfect nine from nine record. Sportstalk host Jason Pine boldly predicts the Chiefs will take home the title at the end of the season, because they've been playing well t...

Police turned up at a South Auckland home around 5am, with one resident suspected to be overstaying a visa. Immigration hasn't denied that similar visits haven't happened before, according to the lawyer involved in this case. ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this lawyer suspects this raid technique has happened within the Pacific community. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/liste...

The former Finance Minister behind the 'Mother of all Budgets' doesn't hold high hopes for this year's one. Chris Hipkins has already ruled out major tax changes and a levy to fund the Cyclone Gabrielle recovery, promising the upcoming Budget will be a 'no-frills' solution to tough economic times. Former Finance Minister Ruth Richardson predicts that this year's Budget will be a dimmed-down versio...

The early childhood sector has initiated the Fair Pay Agreement process. NZEI has lodged the application on behalf of Early Childhood Education teachers, after more than 5,000 workers signed in support. Representative Sandie Burn says teachers would like to be paid enough so they don't need a second job. "There are a lot of teachers out there that are going and doing another evening job or a weeke...

A fourth man is standing trial in relation to the drugging and sexual assault of women at a central Christchurch bar, after an investigation from 2018. Two men have already been found guilty on almost 70 charges of stupefying and assaulting more than 20 women, and a third guilty of offering to supply an illegal drug. The Herald's Anna Leask says the fourth man successfully argued to have allegatio...

Looks like we’re in for another round of the old Auckland stadium debate   of whether we upgrade Eden Park or get rid of it and build a new one on the waterfront. The reason this is starting up again   is because Eden Park has announced that it wants to tart the old girl up. With a new roof  and a flash pedestrian promenade like they’ve got at the Cake Tin in Wellington. And immediately, the water...

The Coromandel continues to suffer from bad weather. State Highway 25, the back-up road for the devastated State Highway 25A is blocked. Thames-Coromandel mayor Len Salt says they are working hard to clear a slip, and it should be open again soon. Salt says the vulnerability to bad weather makes it hard for businesses and the community. He says it's a longstanding issue. "This is the discussion th...

The Transport Minister's raising the alarm over maintenance of KiwiRail's sole track car for inspecting the lines. The Government's today launched a rapid review after the vehicle broke down. Metlink now says Wellington commuter services should be back to normal by Thursday - after major disruption today - a day sooner than first announced. Michael Wood says it's clear KiwiRail needs to do better....