The Health Minister's admitting his decision to request Heath NZ and the senior doctors union go to arbitration is unusual. 

Heath NZ's agreed to participate in arbitration in an effort to resolve 12 months of collective agreement negotiations. 

The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists is yet to respond. 

Minister Simeon Brown says his request comes after the union indicated it's looking at striking.

"I guess it's unusual in that I'm asking both parties to come to the table. I've formally written to them, but I have been saying for some time that we have to negotiate these deals. Striking's not the answer."

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The Immigration Minister says changes to deportation laws were started because of the Mama Hooch rapists' case. 

Erica Stanford is proposing to make deportation possible for visa holders who've been here less than 20 years and also committed a serious crime. 

That's up from the existing 10 years - and could also apply to historic crimes. 
 
Stanford says Australian serial rapists Danny and Roberto Jaz currently can't be deported because they've been here over 10 years. 

"This is where all this work started from, which is just toughening up to make sure that we can deport people who've committed serious sexual and violent offences."

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Defence Minister Judith Collins has just returned from visiting Ukraine - and says she's seen first-hand the heartbreaking human cost of war to its people.

She says Russia's illegal invasion's brought misery and destruction to the Ukrainian people for three and a half long years.

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the trip further.

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The search for alleged cop-killer Dezi Freeman is still ongoing, but his wife is also the subject of an investigation as the situation continues.

Freeman is accused of gunning down two officers before disappearing into the bush, but authorities have evidence to prosecute the fugitive's wife, Amalia Freeman, for obstructing police at the time of the shooting.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Amalia Freeman and a 15-year-old were arrested during a raid last week, but there's been no update since.

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Wallace Sititi will start at number eight for the All Blacks against South Africa at Eden Park on Saturday, sliding Simon Parker to six and Ardie Savea to start his 100th test at openside.

Halfback Cortez Ratima's been ruled out with a rib injury, allowing Finlay Christie to start and Kyle Preston a probable debut off the bench.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks Robertson's selections further.

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There's only three months until New Zealand's first Ikea store opens its doors in Auckland's Sylvia Park.

The Swedish furniture giant's 34,000 square metre store will host seven-and-a-half thousand products.

It'll also see its restaurant open with foods like its famous Swedish meatballs. 

Ikea NZ Market Manager Johanna Cederlöf says they've already hired 200 people, with 320 more joining soon.

"Every week, it's going to be very busy - so approximately 30 to 80 people joining and onboarding themselves to what will be ahead of them."

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The UK Government is planning a new law in England to stop anyone under the age of 16 buying energy drinks from supermarkets, restaurants, cafes, vending machines and other retailers.

Up to one third of UK children are thought to consume these types of drinks every week, despite protective measures existing in some stores.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says experts have linked energy drinks to headaches, sleep deprivation, heart problems and seizures - and concerns have been raised.

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A busy reporting season has concluded for the NZX-listed companies, with some doing better than others.

A2 Milk stood out as a success story from this season, but other listed businesses haven't fared so well.

Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explained further.

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There are fears the Government’s proposal to change who is liable for shonky buildings risks leaving homeowners in the lurch.

The Government is proposing to prevent local councils from being lumped with big bills if they consent buildings that turn out to be leaky or defective.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny reveals why homeowners have voiced concerns.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from The Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! 

Yesterday's big Amazon announcement turned out to be a big pile of nothings, according to new reports. Does this mean we need to be more careful when overseas companies come in making big promises? 

Voter turnout in the Tāmaki Makaurau byelection is abysmal so far, with just 3700 of the almost 44,000 eligible voters casting their vote. What do we make of this? 

Nearly 60,000 people have signed a petition to get NZ-born neo-Nazi Thomas Sewell deported back to NZ. Is he their problem or ours?

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