7+ min ago (99+ words) Labour party leader Chris Hipkins joins Francesca Rudkin to discuss the party's focuses for the next election. Follow the podcast on Labour has shifted into campaign mode as the party meets for its annual conference in Auckland. With less than a year until the next election, Labour party leader, Chris Hipkins opened with an emphatic message "Believe We Can Win. Hipkins told Francesca Rudkin that the party has been focusing on what Kiwis didn't like about their last election campaign. 'We've spent time really focusing on what didn't go well for us and what we need to change.'...

1+ hour, 47+ min ago (943+ words) A pregnant woman was advised that she didn't need to do further testing for Down syndrome because there was an extremely rare chance her daughter would have the genetic condition. But, the baby girl was born with the disability and multiple other conditions. Six months after giving birth, the mother applied to the Accident Compensation Corporation for cover for herself, and her daughter, on the basis that her decision to continue the pregnancy could be classed as a treatment injury. She said she wouldn't have continued with the pregnancy if she had known about the risk. The corporation declined hers and her daughter's applications, and, earlier this year, she took her fight to the District Court, where a judge found that the medical advice she had been given was incorrect. According to that ruling, the woman, who has name suppression,…...

3+ hour, 31+ min ago (412+ words) Ariana Grande has again responded to the ongoing speculation about her health. The Thank U, Next singer posted a clip of a 2024 interview on Instagram yesterday, captioned "resharing this from last year " as a loving reminder to all". Grande describes herself as a "specimen in a petri dish" in the video, emotionally addressing the impact of the time she has spent in the public eye, according to Page Six. "I think that it's something that is uncomfortable no matter what scale you're experiencing it on", she said. "In today's society, there is a comfortability that we shouldn't have at all " commenting on others' looks, appearance, what they think is going on behind the scenes or health or how they present themselves." The press tour for Wicked: For Good has reignited commentary around Grande's appearance, with fans discussing what has been…...

8+ hour, 20+ min ago (488+ words) Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has confirmed an action plan has been created for "move on orders" after a meeting between Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and mayor Wayne Brown. "Move on orders" would enable police or maybe a council officer to order a rough sleeper to leave for a period of time because of "anti-social behaviour". With a new convention centre, the City Rail Link set to open and cruise ships arriving over summer, Luxon told Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking he wants the CBD to be seen as a safe place. Luxon confirmed a meeting took place last week between the Auckland mayor and the minister to create an action plan on what happens to the rough sleepers once they are moved on. He said he expected an announcement to be made by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith before Christmas. Additionally, Luxon…...

8+ hour, 20+ min ago (952+ words) Opponents of Auckland's planning rule changes for greater intensification argue that Christchurch has been given a softer target. Character Coalition chairwoman Sally Hughes said RMA Minister Chris Bishop had allowed Christchurch 30 years of zoned development, while she claims Auckland must provide more than 100 years. Auckland councillor Christine Fletcher and "r'kei Local Board member Troy Churton highlighted the contrast between the country's two largest cities, saying Auckland had capitulated to the Government's "golden number" that had to be met or exceeded. However, Bishop said Auckland Council was not required to zone for 100 years of development, and noted that the requirements for the two cities differed. Public consultation is under way on Plan Change 120, a controversial council proposal for a major makeover of Auckland's skyline. It would allow for greater intensification, which opponents claim would provide capacity for two million homes over…...

10+ hour, 7+ min ago (107+ words) The Prime Minister Chris Luxon joins Mike Hosking in the studio to discuss the 'big banks' not passing on the benefit of OCR cuts to the consumer. Follow the podcast on Chris Luxon says banks need to be passing on their OCR cuts to customers - and customers should be switching banks if they don't. Mortgage rates have been falling significantly, following recent OCR cuts. But the Reserve Bank says the banks still have room to move, to be cutting the rates further. The Prime Minister says [told Mike Hosking] banks should be competing for customers, and customers should be trying to get the best deal they can....

10+ hour, 16+ min ago (92+ words) Repeatedly low wheat prices are driving more farmers to turn to dairy. The Canterbury Regional Council says up to 25-thousand more dairy cows could be added to the region this year - with 32 new farms given the green light. Federated Farmers' confidence survey in July found 81 percent of dairy farmers surveyed were making a profit, compared to just 40 percent of arable. National Dairy Chair Karl Dean told Mike Hosking that dairy has a more consistent cash flow. He says arable farmers are the ones with the land to convert....

12+ hour, 14+ min ago (119+ words) A new era begins for TVNZ's 6pm bulletin tonight." After almost 20 years in the 6pm chair, Simon Dallow read his last bulletin on Friday, with Melissa Stok ... Follow the podcast on A new era begins for TVNZ's 6pm bulletin tonight. After almost 20 years in the 6pm chair, Simon Dallow read his last bulletin on Friday. His replacement starts tonight, with Melissa Stokes promoted to the 6pm duties. Stokes told Francesca Rudkin that she is nervous but prepared for the step up. 'I fill in for Simon when he's been away, so it is the same team that I'm going into, the same desk, the same login, the same password, the same news tonight.'...

19+ hour, 25+ min ago (215+ words) Eighty years ago, the Nazi high command was put on trial in Nuremberg." A brand new film, named for the trials, follows a lesser-known story, that of a US Army psychiatrist tasked with determining whether the detained officials were fit to stand trial." It features Kiwi actor Russell Crowe as the charismatic Hermann G'ring, Hitler's longtime second in command, and Rami Malek as psychiatrist Douglas Kelly. " The film was written and directed by James Vanderbilt, best known for his work on The Amazing Spiderman and Zodiac." As much as the film is about the atrocities committed by the Nazi's, it's also very much about the dynamic between G'ring and Kelly." Vanderbilt told Jack Tame that one of their early inspirations was "Silence of the Lambs', with a person going into a cell and sitting with a prisoner. " "In our film…...

19+ hour, 26+ min ago (1240+ words) The Civil Aviation Authority says it is still safe to fly, despite a day of chaos caused the sudden grounding of Airbus A320 planes around the world. "The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is aware of the Airbus A320 situation and is working closely with Air New Zealand (and other relevant agencies) in response to an emergency airworthiness directive from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), requiring A320s to have a software update," the CAA said in a statement. "CAA would like to reassure passengers that it's safe to fly and that this is a precautionary software update and does not present an immediate safety risk to flights. "At the same time, we'll monitor and manage any passenger queues at Aviation Security caused by flight disruptions. "We encourage anyone flying over this weekend to stay up to date with their airline, arrive at…...