Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Defence Minister's not shying away from the criticisms that his new forward-looking military focus is too aggressive.

Andrew Little's released the Government's updated strategic defence policy — a document which takes a more critical look at China's role in the Pacific.

He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that New Zealand's not willing to sit on the sidelines if areas of strategic importance, such as the South China Sea, are under threat.

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Doesn't the shooting in Auckland overnight illustrate to you that the Police Ministers’ idea of getting volunteers to do patrols in Auckland CBD so police don’t have to is not only cooked, but also dangerous.

The latest from police is that these guys didn’t know each other and got into a verbal altercation on Fort Street.

Next minute, got into a physical altercation, and next minute one chap pulls out a gun and shoots one bloke in the abdomen, another in the head, and then takes off on a Lime scooter. 

For a start, do they really think that people that are prepared to shoot at each other are gonna be put off by a couple of volunteers patrolling the street? 

But even to the point... do we really want to those volunteers walking into a situation like that?

Imagine just for a second, that a couple of Maori wardens came across those men rumbling last night. 

What if they tried to break up the fight where one of those guys had a concealed gun? 

I don’t want to send Maori grandmas and granddads into that, that's nuts. 

It’s crazy that the Police Minister even thought this was feasible. 

Police are doing a valiant job of trying to tell Aucklanders that there’s nothing to worry about today. 

But you’d have to be living under a rock not to notice the increase in violent crime in that part of the city lately; this is the second shooting in two weeks.

It comes after a mass brawl of multiple people laying into one guy on the waterfront in May, and it comes after kids with hammers held up a jewellery store on Queen Street. 

Police Minister Ginny needs to get with the page.

We need more cops. 

Remember those 1800 extra police were recruited to fill a gap that existed in 2017 already. 

That was before Labour emptied the prisons. 

That was before hundreds more 501s arrived here. 

It was before the Comancheros even set up a chapter in NZ. 

Six years on and a heck of a lot more crime, we need more police patrolling Auckland’s CBD, and everywhere else.

We do not need grannies and grandads trying to break up fights, and I’d bet you that even Ginny realised that after last night. 

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In the UK, interest rates are expected to rise a 14th time as the Bank of England struggles to bring down inflation.

Economists have predicted the Bank will lift rates from 5 percent to 5.25 percent.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says interest rates will continue to rise in the coming months, with at least 3 predicted before Christmas.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Radio Hauraki's Matt Heath and Ben Thomas from Ben Thomas PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

ACT leader David Seymour has ruled out a partnership with NZ First and Winston Peters. Should Chris Luxon and National follow suit- or do they need to form a coalition?

Police Minister Ginny Andersen has suggested wardens for Maori and other ethnicities could patrol more in the Auckland city centre to help the police. Is this proof Labour's running out of ideas?

Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says new data released today shows the Government’s targeted approach to waitlists is making a positive difference- can we trust that things are getting back on track?

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US markets plummeted overnight following Fitch downgrading the US credit rating from AAA to AA+.

The agency cited fiscal deterioration over the next three years and drawn-out debt ceiling negotiations.

Fisher Funds senior portfolio manager Sam Dickie says the fiscal situation in the US Government has been heavily publicised, meaning Fitch mulled over their decision to downgrade.

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International milk prices took a fall in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, concerning exporters and analysts.

The GDT Price Index was down 4.3 percent across the board, with an average selling price of $3,100 per metric ton.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says analysts will be reaching for the red pens to cut milk price forecasts.

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Robertson and Hipkins have admitted Government's books are in a more challenging position than expected- but deny claims of a fiscal hole.

The Finance Minister confirmed he met with public service chiefs for a meeting about monetary restraint.

NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann explained that as the economy goes further south and diverges from Treasury forecasts, the gap in the Crown accounts grows- but it's unlikely to be $20 billion.

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Questions over whether a bold makeover for Auckland's waterfront is good for the harbour facilities.

Mayor Wayne Brown's put up plans for an open air saltwater pool, an exhibition centre, a water amphitheatre - and aquaculture.

Maritime Union National Secretary Craig Harrison says it's unclear where Auckland Council is going to get the money to fund this project with.

"Someone else could develop it, but then it's a loss to the Auckland ratepayers and becomes a private playground for someone else."

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Bad news for brunch lovers, with some food joints claiming egg supplies are dwindling.

Bakeries and restaurants are apparently having to lower their usage.

Bakehouse on Bond owner, Tom Bullock, says it's been a frustrating six months.

"Egg powder's playing a part in the actual baking in some products, mostly bread-based products like brioche, etc."

The Poultry Industry Association's Michael Brooks says there was a low point in February, but that's bouncing back.

"I'm really keen to talk to the wholesalers and to the Bakery Association and see what we can do to address this."

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Police believe a ute being driven by missing Marokopa dad Tom Phillips was involved in an altercation in the Waikato area last night.

Phillips was spotted yesterday in Te Awamutu, Te Rapa and Kawhia in three separate sightings.

He disappeared more than 18 months ago with children Jayda, Maverick and Ember.

Police inspector Will Loughrin says the stolen bronze 2003 Toyota Hilux flat-deck ute forms part of the ongoing investigation.

"What we can say is that ute we've had three sightings of was stolen, and it was stolen from an address in that surrounding area."

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