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David Seymour is calling for culling of the government. 

He’s floated a policy that would reduce the number of ministers and government departments, calling into question the necessity of some. 

Racing, Hunting and Fishing, Hospitality, Space, and Child Poverty Reduction were a few he named. 

Jan Tinetti is the former Minister for Women and Child Poverty Reduction, and she told Heather du Plessis-Allan the reason these ministries exist is to take a specialised look at issues. 

She says that while they are often covered under other portfolios, they would simplify the issues far too much, and we wouldn’t get anywhere in solving them. 

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Court's adjourned for the weekend after day four of the accused mushroom killer trial in Melbourne. 

Erin Patterson's estranged husband took the stand once again, presenting a series of texts demonstrating a strained relationship between the accused and his late parents. 

Herald Sun reporter Brooke Grebert-Craig told Heather du Plessis-Allan the messages also highlighted the pair's on and off dynamic. 

She says they had a friendship going until 2022, when it turned sour over tax returns and child support. 

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A short term as US National Security Advisor for Mike Waltz, who's been removed from the role by Donald Trump. 

Current Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take over the job in the interim, as Waltz has been nominated for Ambassador to the UN. 

This comes after he says he inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal group chat, where officials planned military strikes in Yemen. 

US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis-Allan that no one really believes this is a promotion for Waltz. 

He believes Trump wanted to avoid the criticism that would come if he fired him altogether, and this has been coming for some time. 

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A passionate author and a man with a sharp wit and unapologetically colourful personality who shaped New Zealand politics. 

Sir Bob Jones is being remembered by friends, former MPs, and current political leaders. 

The property investor, ex politician, and boxing aficionado died at his Wellington home today at 85, surrounded by family. 

Sir Bob grew up in a state house and made his riches in the world of property.  

Former Act MP and friend of his, Deborah Coddington told Heather du Plessis-Allan his actions were different from his words, which you shouldn't take too seriously. 

She says he was very generous with his money, offering a scholarship for refugees to go to university. 

Coddington says he was a realist, who always found the funny side of life. 

She describes him as very well read, clued-in about world affairs and politics, and a good writer. 

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Speculation's flying around about the future of Shortland Street.  

The prime-time soap opera's lost its head writer to the UK and other staff have reportedly been told to find new jobs.  

TVNZ hasn't confirmed the show will return next year.  

Former South Pacific Pictures managing director John Barnett says the show scaled back its set and storylines when it transitioned from five days to three days a week. 

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's also been tough to attract audiences with changes in viewing habits. 

Barnett says in the meantime, going to three days a week hasn't been nearly as profitable. 

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Politicians are among those paying tribute to prominent businessman, author, and former politician Sir Bob Jones.  

The 85-year-old, who launched the New Zealand Party in the 1980s, has died peacefully at his Wellington home.  

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins described him as a colourful character, saying there’s no doubt he impacted the political landscape, while Christopher Luxon described him as a legend, and paid tribute to him as a businessman. 

NZ Herald Political Editor Thomas Coughlan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to break down the responses to Jones’ death. 

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Napier residents will still be able to dance the night away. 

The City Council has rejected a proposal that would force bars to close an hour earlier – at 2am instead of 3. 

It was part of the city’s draft Local Alcohol Policy. 

Councillor Richard McGrath told Heather du Plessis-Allan that though they had evidence that connected alcohol and trouble, there didn’t seem to be a correlation between that and age. 

He says that in the same time period, there was roughly an equivalent amount of harm in a suburb with two alcohol licenses as there was in the suburb with the nightclub – an area that has up to 30 licenses.  

McGrath says that in his view, there’s no evidence its the clubs and pubs causing the problems as opposed to off-licenses and house parties.  

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Very sad news this afternoon that Bob Jones has passed away. 

It's not altogether a surprise – he was getting on in age, and he had been feeling unwell and slowing down for at least a couple of years. 

But still, it is the passing of a great, colourful, larger than life character. 

I can’t remember when I first met Bob, but I've known him for close to twenty years. 

He was actually the first person I saw at my wedding on my wedding day... because he was leaving. 

I was late —which frankly is a bride’s prerogative— but he was so cross at how late I was that he stormed out of the wedding, bumped into me outside, fortunately turned around and went back in. 

And then afterwards, he gave me a rundown of the things he enjoyed and didn't enjoy about the wedding, inducing: could’ve kept the champagne and canapes going for longer and could've skipped the dinner. 

He gave some pretty unusual life advice. 

When I was pregnant with my son, we had dinner with Bob one night and he spent a long time telling me that my son would wear me out because boys are energetic, and that if I had a girl next I would probably think there was something wrong with her, and might want to take her to the doctor but there would be nothing wrong with her – boys are just more energetic than girls.  

He was right of course. 

Not everyone loves Bob. I know that. He was a polarising character, but he had something that many of us could learn from, and that was a wicked sense of humour. 

He laughed a lot. He played pranks. He enjoyed mocking things he didn’t like. 

He was incredibly wealthy, but not pretentious – e grew up in a state house in Naenae after all. 

And he was very clever. Read anything he’s written – you’ll wish you could write like him.  

I count myself lucky to have known Bob Jones. 

He's one of those characters we seemed to have had a lot of in the 70s and 80s but don't seem to make nowadays. 

As someone else said today: New Zealand is duller without him. 

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Voters across the UK are set to vote for a new lawmaker, councillors and mayors in the coming days in the local elections.

This local election is predicted to favour the right-wing populist Reform UK party - led by Nigel Farage.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says people are divided about Starmer's performance as Prime Minister - and Farage has managed to attract plenty of coverage in the lead-up.

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