Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Government is taking the first steps towards dismantling the Māori Health Authority.

A Bill to bring about its end will pass under urgency tonight, with the Authority being scrapped for good by June 30.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Minister Shane Reti has claimed axing the Authority will improve healthcare for all New Zealanders.

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New South Wales police are still searching for missing Sydney couple, Jesse Baird and Luke Davies.

They've accused 28-year-old constable, Beau Lamarre-Condon, of murdering them in Baird's home.

Detectives are again scouring a rural property visited by Lamarre-Condon, after finding nothing yesterday.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the accused constable is refusing to co-operate with the ongoing search.

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Black Caps paceman Neil Wagner has called time on his international cricket career.

The 37-year-old left-arm pace bowler will bow out after two-match series against Australia, but appears unlikely to play them.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains his impact within the sport.

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New data has revealed a sharp spike in people using their phones behind the wheel.

The latest figures show over 42,210 offences by phone-distracted drivers had been recorded in the first nine months of 2023.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has also claimed he's willing to increase the $150 fine for distracted drivers.

Brake NZ Development Director Caroline Perry says it's 'disappointing' that so many people are choosing to take this risk.

"A lot of people are still choosing to put both their own lives and the lives of others at risk by doing this."

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The UK Government has announced £4.7 billion will be used to fund transport projects outside big cities in the Midlands and northern England.

It’s a redirection of funds from the scrapped northern legs of the HS2 rail line.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this announcement has been met with mixed reactions from the Opposition and prospective voters.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Child Fund Chief Executive Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Hundreds of people, including fellow politicians Chloe Swarbrick, Carmel Sepuloni and Chris Hipkins, came to Auckland to pay tribute to deceased MP Efeso Collins. What will people remember about Efeso's legacy- or political promise?

New legislation will soon ban gang insignia in public places. Courts will also be able to issue orders to stop members consorting with each other. Will these proposed changes get past the Bill of Rights?

Ginny Andersen has apologised publicly for her controversial comments about Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Was the apology honest enough? Should she face more consequences? 

Former Deputy Prime Minister Paula Bennett has confirmed she's considering taking a run at Auckland's mayoralty next year. Will she appeal to voters? Will this split right-leaning voters.

After 27 years, Hamilton is now the fastest-growing city in New Zealand. Is this surprising?

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Several trade ministers from the World Trade Organisation are expected to gather over the next few days.

The MC13 gathering, held in Abu Dhabi, will be co-chaired by New Zealand's own Trade Minister- Todd McClay.

NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says New Zealand has a lot to gain over this timeframe, if McClay does well.

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Hundreds of school building project plans may need changing.

The Government is launching a Ministerial Inquiry into cost overruns, with up to 350 projects possibly in peril.

Already, the Education Ministry has frozen major projects at 20 schools.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's message about 'wasteful spending' sets the tone for the upcoming budget.

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Michael Hill is boosting its presence in Australia as New Zealand sales drop amid ongoing thefts.

Overall half-year earnings were down by 55 percent on last year, with New Zealand being marked as a 'laggard' for the company.

CEO Daniel Bracken says Australian consumers are feeling more positive about the state of their economy than New Zealanders.

"There's been a number of things at play in the New Zealand market. Not just the economy, but political turbulence, Government taking time to get formed, new polices taking time to get issued."

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The Finance Minister is committed to ensuring the fees-free policy is shifted to the final year of tertiary education, rather than the first.

Questions have been raised about the effectiveness of the scheme, after data revealed there was no discernible evidence it helped low decile school students into university.

Minister Nicola Willis says fees-free for first year students has failed in its stated objective to boost university attendance.

"Our approach is about rewarding students who actually achieve what they go to their tertiary institution to achieve- that is, they complete their classes and they do a good job."

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