Australia correspondent Karen Middleton looks at $3b in relief for tertiary students in next week's federal Budget because of what had become an alarmingly steep indexation rate.

Australia: Student loan relief, China flares, Bonza dramas

News & Politics

Wild cuisine's Jackie Phillips on the nutritious benefits of consuming foraged food and also how it shores up food security and creates fascinating recipes out of food found in the wild, such as the horopito and onionweed kanuka smoked trout or porcini lasagne.

Wild Cuisine - foraging for the home table

Neale and Tim join Kathryn for a preview of the Budget - what of the pre-Budget announcements so far, how bad might the state of the nation's books be and what does success look like for Finance Minister Nicola Willis? They'll also discuss the government's recent announcements on gangs, charter schools and pick over how the coalition's pledges are proceeding - are some proving trickier than others? Neale Jones was Chief of Staff to Labour Leader Jacinda Ardern, and prior to that was Chief of Staff to Andrew Little. He is the director of public affairs firm Capital. Tim Hurdle is a former National senior adviser, was the National Party Campaign Director in 2020. He is a director of several companies, including Museum Street Strategies, a public affairs firm.

Political commentators Neale Jones and Tim Hurdle

Submissions to Whakatane District Council's long-term plan have councillors worried that residents do not know where to head in a tsunami alert. Diane says another submitter to the long term plan is so concerned about Whakatane's total lack of preparedness for major civil defence emergency, she has organised for a team of scientists from GNS to hold a workshop and is inviting our community leaders to attend. And the town wharf in Opotiki is undergoing a major upgrade at the moment to accommodate commercial boats from local iwi Whakatohea's mussel farm to berth there.

Around the motu: Diane McCarthy in Whakatane

Airini Beautrais reviews Hopurangi-Songcatcher: Poems from the Maramataka by Robert Sullivan published by Auckland University Press

Book review:  Hopurangi-Songcatcher: Poems from the Maramataka

Neuroscientist Dr Charan Ranganath says it's actually a good thing that we don't remember everything.

Australia: Student loan relief, China flares, Bonza dramas

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