Fallout from war in the Middle East is hitting kiwi farmers from multiple directions, including a massive jump in the price of fertiliser. Rising fuel prices means gassing up machinery like harvesters is costing thousands of dollars more. About 40 percent of the world's fertiliser is produced in the Middle East using natural gas. The farmer owned co-operative Ballance Agri nutrients is a fertiliser importer, but also a manufacturer. Ballance Agri nutrients CEO Kelvin Wickham spoke to Lisa Owen.

Heritage advocates are warning shifting Dunedin to a higher seismic zone will damage the city's economy and put its iconic buildings at risk. Under a new earthquake-prone buildings bill, Coastal Otago - including Dunedin - will shift from a low to a medium seismic risk area. But a select committee was today warned of the harm this could do to a city known for its historical architecture. Tess Brunton has more.

Increased fuel costs could drive some trucking business under according to an industry association. War in the Middle East has effectively closed the Hormuz strait, a vital shipping lane, meaning oil prices are volatile. A barrel of Brent Crude is just over $100 US dollars. The New Zealand Trucking Association says fuel has now overtaken labour as the biggest cost for trucking companies. CEO David Boyce spoke to Lisa Owen.

Heinz Wattie's growers and staff are reeling following the company's proposed closure of three factories in Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin. The move would see 350 workers made redundant, 220 suppliers affected and the end of Wattie's frozen vegetables, Gregg's coffee and other household names. Keiller MacDuff has more.

A licence to assault that could result in deaths. That stark warning to the Justice Select Committee today as it considers amendments to the Crimes Act, including breeding the circumstances under which retailers and others can carry out citizens arrests. The Police Association and Retail NZ say that as well as potentially ending in tragedy, this could see retailers in the dock charged with manslaughter. It's one of the proposals from the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime, whose chairman Sunny Kaushal today gave a robust plea for tougher laws. Jimmy Ellingham reports.

The All Blacks rumour mill has continued to churn away. The latest speculation surrounds Tana Umaga, who has been touted to join Dave Rennie's coaching team. Sports reporter Jonty Dine spoke to Lisa Owen.

There is an operation underway to help the critically endangered Kākāriki Karaka, or orange fronted parakeet. In February Kākāriki Karaka eggs were scooped from nests high in the treetops of a Nelson predator free sanctuary and flown to Christchurch to hopefully be hatched by surrogate birds at the Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust. It is estimated there are only about 450 of the birds left in the wild. DOC Ranger Megan Farley spoke to Lisa Owen.

United States correspondent Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen about reports that a strike which killed dozens of Iranian school children may have been the result of a targeting mistake by the US military, meanwhile, figures have come to light about the financial cost of the war to the US.

The primary teacher's union is accusing the government of divide and conquer tactics in their stalled pay negotiations. The Public Service Commission has decided to extend a pay offer to about 10,000 teachers who are not bound by the NZEI collective agreement ahead of settling with unionised teachers. NZEI claims it is a deliberate and serious breach of good faith and would undermine teachers collective bargaining. It is now threatening legal action. NZEI's lead negotiator for the primary teachers collective, Liam Rutherford spoke to Lisa Owen.

United Kingdom correspondent Lucy Thomson spoke to Lisa Owen about the HMS dragon departing the UK for the Mediterranean to join the UK's defensive operations, as well as some significant developments around travel to and from Britain.