Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There's fresh concerns about our alcohol consumption.

Health New Zealand's released a report on the population's health, the first of its kind since the agency was established.

It highlights continued alcohol-related harm as one of our key challenges, noting consumption contributes to road traffic injuries, drownings, suicide and relationship disruptions.

Report author Gary Jackson says we saturate our society with alcohol- and there's some worries there.

"About 7 percent of the cancers that we have are due to alcohol, so breast cancer, bowel cancer... it has consequences." 

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Despite ongoing staffing struggles, the Defence Force has continued to discharge personnel for failing to get the Covid vaccine.

The case of Bonnie, a medic at Burnham Army Camp who was dismissed for not getting vaccinated, has caught media attention.

This comes after the Court of Appeal ruled that the Defence Force's 'mandatory retention reviews' were unlawful.

Lawyer Matthew Hague says these 'rigid' mandates are costing people their careers and jobs.

"To impose a blanket requirement across the entire Defence Force of 10,000 people and rigidly subject people to mandatory retention reviews is completely unjustified." 

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There are growing calls for tougher regulations against explicit deepfake content.

Netsafe wants changes to be made to the Harmful Digital Communications Act, namely harsher penalties for AI-generated pornography.

Netsafe's Chief Online Safety Officer Sean Lyons says deepfake content can be weaponised in the same way as traditional revenge porn.

"The technology is improving to such an extent that it is going to get harder and harder... for everyone else who may come across that image, I think it is already difficult, and is only going to get more difficult."

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A man who's advocated for bringing back pseudoephedrine wants official recognition it was a bad idea.

John Key's Government removed the cold and flu medication, hoping to stall meth manufacture.

Associate Health Minister David Seymour is introducing a bill this  to reclassify the drug, so it's available in pharmacies without a prescription.

Blackland PR director, Mark Blackham says a moral panic about meth forced the rushed ban, despite evidence showing it wouldn't work.

"I think the only way of stopping bad decisions in the future is to get Governments to apologise for the role they had."

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Chris Hipkins says he's excited for Grant Robertson about his opportunity to change tack.

The former Deputy Prime Minister today announced he's retiring from politics, and will become Otago University's Vice-Chancellor from July.

He says he's most proud of getting New Zealand economically through Covid.

The Labour leader says it's all only come together for Robertson in recent weeks.

"He's kept me informed- the appointment itself was only finalised first thing this morning, so it's been announced as soon as it was finalised."

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Over in Australia, a taskforce are planning a crackdown on alcohol in Parliament.

This comes days after Senator Perin Davey was filmed slurring her way through a budget hearing.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says he can't see this legislation getting through- but politicians need to be held to a higher standard.

"If it's good enough for everyone else in the community not to be on the turns when you're at work, why is it okay for politicians?"

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The Black Caps are set to square off against Australia in a three-game series starting tomorrow.

This will be the last T20 series for both teams before the upcoming T20 World Cup in June.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.

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St John says it anticipates pulling some ambulances off the road when staff are sick or on leave will continue until the start of winter.

It's limiting calling in extra staff to save money.

Ambulance Services Deputy Chief Executive Dan Ohs says they expect the workload to rise from late May.

"Doing this now enables us to make sure we've got the financial depth in order to ensure we can stand additional resources up for winter."

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In the small Italian town of Monfalcone, mayor Anna Maria Cisint has enacted strict measures targeting Muslims.

The far-right leader has banned prayers at Muslim cultural centres- the latest in a string of contentious measures

UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the mayor has been working to clamp down the town's expanding Muslim population, after a recent influx in migrants.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former NZ First press secretary Georgina Stylianou joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

New Zealand's birth rate has dropped to the lowest level since World War II. What's behind this decline? Is there a solution to this issue?

Chris Luxon has unveiled some tougher measures to get more people off the benefit. What do we think of this? Will this appeal to National's base?

Chris Hipkins' popularity is declining, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. Does Labour need a new strategy? Is Chippy on his way out?

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