Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A combination of factors are being blamed for increasing rents.

Trade Me data for June shows the median weekly rent has increased by $50 since last year.

That means the average renter is paying is paying $2600 more.

Economist Cameron Bagrie says landlord costs including interest rates and insurance are rising.

He says there are other factors contributing-  an inflow of migrants, foreign students and workers will be helping drive the market. 

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Searchers have been scouring areas of interest for missing Christchurch woman Yanfei Bao.

The real estate agent was last seen in Wigram last Wednesday, and police are now treating the disappearance as a homicide investigation.

Efforts are focused on the Halswell River, Greenpark, Lake Terrace Road and near New Brighton and Palmers Road intersection.

NZ Herald senior crime reporter Sam Sherwood says the duration of the investigation and new discoveries coming to light have caused police to launch a homicide investigation.

"As the week has progressed, and in particular, the last couple of days, more information has come to light- which is now why they've launched a homicide investigation." 

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University course completion rates are at their lowest since 2014.

Ministry of Education figures show completion rates dropped from a high of 89 percent in 2020, to 86 percent last year.

Universities New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Whelan says it's been a difficult period with Covid-19.

"There are student who have spent- in some cases- three years at university with their studies disrupted, and a good number as well that have had their studies disrupted before university at school."

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Signs of a divided Labour Caucus, with confidential information leaked to the media.

The Post reports remarks made by a first-term MP in a caucus discussion, in the wake of Kiri Allan's arrest and resignation.

They allegedly told colleagues they'd been aware of allegations against Allan for years and they themselves had been bullied.

Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says this is a sign of bigger issues going on within the Labour Party.

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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has touched down for his first official visit to New Zealand.

He's one of several foreign politicians travelling to New Zealand as part of the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson suspects Blinken plans to use this visit to shore up international relations between the regions following Hipkins' relations with China.

"The US has its own agenda, I think all three countries don't necessarily see eye to eye on policies, but also trade and security and human rights, which is something that can often get swept under the rug."

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The Football Ferns are desperate to keep their World Cup future in their own hands.

The surprise 1-0 loss to the Philippines leaves them needing to beat Switzerland in their final Group match on Sunday to progress into the play-off stage.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave says the Football Ferns have a slim chance of making it through.

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Big changes could be on the cards for New Zealand's weather forecasting system.

The Government's commissioned a review to begin in September, with a final report due in February.

It follows increased bad blood between the two agencies- most recently, MetService alleging NIWA's forecasts may be harmful to public safety when used by DOC.

State Owned Enterprises Minister, Duncan Webb says they have different but overlapping roles, and the goal is to get the best from both.

"So that not only can we kind of predict and forecast weather, we can get that climate change stuff, which is NIWA's speciality." 

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Relentless wildfires are forcing more travellers to abandon their Greek holidays and evacuate.

Thousands of British tourists are struggling to depart from the region, with the emergency conditions stranding people at airports and makeshift shelters.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says thousands more prospective travellers can expect to have their bookings cancelled as the wildfires damage hotels.

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Tonight on The Huddle, independent journalist Clare de Lore and Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster joined in on a discussion about the issues of the day- and more! 

David Parker has given up his tax portfolio because he didn't get his way on the wealth tax. How bad does this look?

Kiri Allan has confirmed she won't be seeking re-election. Is this the right call? Where does her political career go now?

A motorist had guns pointed at him while driving down the motorway over the weekend. Should we be used to this kind of brazen stuff these days, or is it just a one off example we shouldn't be too worried about?

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Rampant inflation and rising interest rates may create difficult times for dairy farmers in the coming months.

Higher farming costs, fast-rising interest rates, and lower prices mean some farmers could struggle to break even- or wind up in debt.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says the debt servicing has gone up from $0.50/kgMS to $1.20/kgMS, creating extra struggle for dairy farmers.

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