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The inflation rate is headed in the right direction, but the Reserve bank won't be cutting interest rates anytime soon.

New figures out today show the annual inflation rate has fallen to 6 per cent for the year to June, from 6.7 per cent in the year to March.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says inflation rates are on par with what the RBNZ is expecting- but the battle to rebalance the economy is far from over.

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New Microsoft Teams data reveals 4pm til 6pm is the new workday 'dead zone' for employees.

The data shows that employees have maintained their lockdown-era flexibility to control their own hours and more leave the office early to fulfil outside obligations.

Massey university Human Resource Management professor says employers stand to benefit from these changes, as some employees return in the evenings to increase productivity.

"This is very much a hangover from Covid, and it just means that workers are actually being more productive. They're realising 4 til 6 is a bit dull."

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A new offence for young people is the latest announcement in the Government's retail crime crackdown.

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says the Government's creating a new offence targeting ram raider and allowing 12 and 13 year olds to be charged in the youth court.

ZB political editor Jason Walls says this announcement is long overdue, as ram raids have been a problem for two years too long.

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The Christchurch trial of a woman accused of murdering her young children in Timaru in 2021 has concluded its third day.

Lauren Dickason admits killing her daughters, but denies it was murder, by reason of insanity and infanticide.

Husband Graham Dickason has been cross examined in the High Court about her relationship with the girls.

The Herald's Anna Leask says the jury also heard details about the couple's fertility battles.

"We've heard some pretty harrowing evidence from him about the couple's fertility struggles in their journey to have children, which included a really sad loss of a wee baby at just 18 weeks gestation."

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The Government promised their modified investor visa scheme would draw high-value investors into New Zealand's economy.

Nine months later, only one visa has been approved under the scheme- to a person who was already in the country.

Immigration Minister Andrew Little says the new Active Investor Plus Visa is designed to encourage wealthy foreigners to use their investments to benefit New Zealand.

"What we didn't want was what was happening under the previous scheme, which was a lot of people turning up, putting a lot of money in Government bonds and bank accounts, generating interest and going back home."

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Wellington mayor Tory Whanau is under fire for breaching the council's tenancy agreement by bringing her dog to work.

Reports claim Whanau has been bringing her staffordshire bull terrier, Teddy, into her Central Wellington office, despite the lease agreement forbidding animals on the premises.

Wellington City Councillor Nicola Young says other councillors who own dogs feel like there shouldn't be separate rules for everyone else.

"It's about the principle. It's not really about the dog. It's that there should be two rules, one for the mayor and one for the other councillors and other people in the building."

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Donald Trump could be facing more legal action.

The former US President claims he has been notified of a Grand Jury investigation of the January 2021 attack on the Capitol building.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump's posted on social media, saying he has four days to report to the jury.

"Which almost always means an indictment or an arrest, we don't know exactly what the charges would be."

Dan Mitchinson says it's not known if anyone else has received similar letters.

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Inflation is falling - but costs remain high for New Zealanders.

The Consumers Price Index rose six percent in the year to June.

It's a fall from the 6.7 for the 12 months to March.

Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says fuel prices have dropped - but other essentials continue to rise.

"Some of that heat across the entire economy is coming out, but there's a very hot core of inflation that is still sticking around. That will be making everyone uncomfortable."

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The Justice Minister's revealed a new law and order strategy to cut down on youth crime.

The Government launched a new legal ram-raiding offence - and 12 and 13 year olds could face the charge in the youth court.

Minister Kiri Allan says these new policies targeting ram-raiders build on from earlier crime prevention measures.

"What that does is- it allows for 12 and 13 year olds to be charged in the youth court. That means there's a whole suite of options available to decision makers that aren't currently available." 

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Kiwis are being urged to get behind the Women's World Cup, which kicks off tomorrow.

Ticket sales have met expectations with 1.5 million people set to attend the 64 matches across the tournament.

But FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants New Zealanders to "seize the moment", with Australia selling nearly triple the amount of tickets so far.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.

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