Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Finance Minister Nicola Willis wants to exempt some trusts from paying the new 39 percent trustee tax rate.

She hinted the Government planned to modify the bill aimed at lifting the trustee tax rate from 33 percent to 39 percent from April 1.

NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains how Nicola Willis plans to determine these exemtions.

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Chris Hipkins has given a seething speech in the House, slamming the Government's unwinding Labour's smokefree laws.

The legislation had restricted retailers who can sell cigarettes, and banned people born after 2008 from buying them.

A Bill scrapping the moves is now in its first reading.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says he's never seen behaviour like that from an MP.

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Over in the US, President Biden and former President Trump have won their respective parties' Michigan's presidential primaries.

Both candidates are still likely to enter an electoral rematch in November, according to political experts.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump and Biden hold a clear lead over the other candidates. 

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The Black Caps will be without Devon Conway for the first cricket test against Australia in Wellington, with more damage revealed to his left thumb.

Conway suffered the injury while wicket-keeping in the second T20 at Eden Park.

Additional scans revealed extra issues with the thumb.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what this means for tomorrow.

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Christchurch Airport has pulled back and put their controversial Tarras airport project on hold.

Chief executive Justin Watson announced that all future work on the airport would be delayed, saying more time is needed to examine the overall impact and consult with local and national stakeholders.

Christchurch city councillor Yani Johansen suspects short-term financial constrains caused the delay.

"We've got massive amounts of things we need to focus on, there are much greater priorities than a new international airport in central Otago."

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Building back trust is next on the agenda for the rat-plagued Countdown Dunedin South.

It reopened today, after being closed for almost three weeks for pest management procedures.

Woolworths Stores Director Jason Stockill says foot traffic was down today, but they're determined to regain customers' faith.

"We know it's going to be a slow process, but we've got to get the confidence back into the community. Our team have been doing a great job keeping in touch with the community."

Stockill says finances have taken a hit, but customers are the priority, and are today being treated to free coffee and chocolate.

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There's a clip of David Seymour making the rounds on social media that has viewers scratching their heads.

In the interview, recorded in 2010, the ACT leader was recorded speaking with a clear Canadian accent.

Seymour says he adopted the accent during his time overseas to blend in with the locals.

"I know people that have lived outside their home country for 30 years, the accent still flickers- and there's other people who are kind of like chameleons in some terms, it's the way people are."

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Economists at our biggest bank expect the Reserve Bank will increase the Official Cash Rate.

ANZ's changed its forecast, now predicting 25 basis point hikes in February and in April.

That would take the OCR to 6 percent- from its current 5.5.

ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says the Reserve Bank said it was very close to hiking it again in November.

"Since then, they've had a series of small, but very consistent surprises that do suggest that inflation's just going to take a bit longer to get back to target."

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Warner Bros. Discovery's Asia Pacific president reckons shutting down Newshub at the end of June is the best way forward.

Staff were shocked as the company announced they would close down Newshub's newsroom and website- blaming financial headwinds and a tough advertising market.

President James Gibbons says he's come to the conclusion this is the right approach.

"We've certainly come to the conclusion this is the best way forward, but we really do welcome hearing from both the team- and indeed all news stakeholders in New Zealand." 

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Uncertainty over the future for hundreds of Newshub workers, following the shock announcement its newsroom will close.

Warner Brothers Discovery executives told staff today they're shutting the newsroom and website, from the end of June.

The former-Mediaworks news company says it's battled financial headwinds and plans to focus on streaming service, ThreeNow, not news.

Media commentator Bill Ralston is predicting he expects more media failures over the next six months.

"Once you start chewing into losses of $100 million, and then more, and then more on top of it- it becomes unstoppable." 

Ralston expects some who've lost jobs will head overseas.

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