Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The former First Minister of Scotland broke down in tears during the UK Covid-19 inquiry.

Nicola Sturgeon told the Inquiry that she wished she wasn't in the role as the pandemic struck, amid the ongoing investigation into the Covid response.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says the response to Sturgeon's statement has been mixed, with several labelling her address as 'crocodile tears'.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog editor and Curia pollster David Farrar and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has expressed interest in joining up with AUKUS, and sharing defence technology with Australia, US and UK. Will this be good for New Zealand- or jeopardise relations with China? 

Some former police officers have recently claimed the fitness requirements to join the force are too tough- and they should be reduced to boost recruitment numbers? Is this a good idea?

Woolworths has scrapped their Onecard program and replaced it with their Everyday Rewards scheme. Are these deals good value for money?

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The streaming wars have kicked up a notch, as sports have become the newest area for companies to stake their claims.

Disney has struck an exclusive deal with the NFL, and Netflix has formed a partnership with the WWE.

Sam Dickie with Fisher Funds says this is just the beginning, as more companies will look towards streaming their sport-based output.

"It's going to be primarily on these streaming giants or on apps that are owned by the sports themselves, much like the NZR+ app in New Zealand."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's two biggest farming-focused groups appear to be teaming up.

Federated Farmers and noted protest group Groundswell are making conciliatory statements- and speculation indicates they could join together to be 'one voice' for rural New Zealand. 

The Country's Jamie Mackay explains this partnership.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The minimum wage is set to go up by 45 cents to $23.15, starting April 1.

This two percent increase will affect between 80,000 and 140,000 Kiwi workers.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says a reduced increase is the best circuit-breaker for the economy, as the fight to bring down inflation drags on.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A first combined Defence and Foreign Affairs Ministerial summit for New Zealand, across the Tasman.

Winston Peters and Judith Collins have top-level meetings with their Australian counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles, in Government buildings in Melbourne.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Winston Peters has a history of building international relationships and connections.

"New Zealand has to be involved internationally at the moment, because we are in a very strategic part of the world at the moment." 

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's growing hope across the ditch that the RBA will cut interest rates soon.

Australia's Official Cash Rate is currently at 4.35 percent, with reduced inflation data holding it in place.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Australia's Reserve Bank meets next week- and there's a high chance they'll reel the OCR back.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister-in-charge says the Government is striking the right balance on lifting the minimum wage.

It's rising two percent from April to $23.15 an hour from $22.70- affecting up to 145,000 workers.

Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden says it's about protecting the incomes of the lowest paid New Zealanders.

"We're striking a balance between protecting the incomes of our lowest-paid workers in the economy- and also maintaining the labour market settings that encourage employment."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woolworths have recently launched their Everyday Rewards scheme set to replace Onecards.

This development comes as consumer advocates have voiced concerns about the returns on loyalty programs, encouraging consumers to shop around for deals.

Woolworths Director of Digital and Loyalty, Mark Wolfenden, disagrees, claiming Everyday Rewards is 'very generous'.

"It's part of our commitment to offering Kiwis more value and better ways to shop, and we've got a multi-million dollar increase in rewards as part of the new program."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's an exploratory Government mission across the ditch to find out more about AUKUS.

Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins have met with their Australian counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles, in Melbourne.

ZB political editor Jason Walls says they're specifically looking at pillar two of the Australia-UK-US security pact.

"Pillar two is a sort of military, technology sharing agreement, which has been on the table for quite some time."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.