Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Air New Zealand has recently released a report designed to prove the company's economic significance to Aotearoa.

The company claims it directly contributed $2.7 billion to New Zealand's economy- including $1.4 billion in wages.

The report also states Air New Zealand facilitated as much as $26 billion in economic activity across tourism, exports and imports.

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Mat Bolland says this report was designed to remind employees and customers of the value Air New Zealand provides.

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A new documentary series explores an infamous set of disappearances around one of New Zealand's most dangerous beaches.

As well as the six missing people who vanished in Piha, Black Coast Vanishings reveals others have had 'near misses'- fuelling speculation there's a serial killer in the area.

Co-director Candida Beveridge says the series was designed to give a voice to concerns about the safety of the community.

"What surprised us is what came out during the investigation- women being stalked, women being terrified in the bush. That, we felt, needs investigation."

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A push to host more women's sport and big music artists has seen Eden Park have a record breaking year.

In the 12 months to the end of October, the Auckland stadium recorded a net operating profit of $8.2 million- a $4.6 million increase on the previous year.

Large-scale events like the FIFA Women's World Cup and Ed Sheeran concerts were big draw cards for patrons.

CEO Nick Sautner says it's been an incredible turnaround over the past five years.

"Women's sport was seen as a curtain-raiser and concerts weren't permitted. It's a credit to the trustees and our staff, who have worked with the community with various stakeholders to deliver this outstanding outcome."

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The Health Minister says Covid-19 tests still play a big role.

The Government's buying another five million RATs, to keep them free for the public through to the end of June.

It'll cost more than $5 million, funded from the existing Covid budget.

Shane Reti says hundreds of people are still using them.

"It's for those who might be at an increased risk, where the option of further treatment would make a difference. Part of that pathway to treatment is having a positive RAT test."

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Warnings the Government's police recruitment goal will mean splashing some cash.

The Police Minister has confirmed in the House 500 new officers will be delivered over two years, as promised in the coalition deal with New Zealand First.

Mark Mitchell had to U-turn on saying recruiting and attrition issues mean it'll take three years.

Police Association President Chris Cahill says they haven't had a pay rise since July 2022.

"Those people can't afford to join if they can't pay their mortgages, can't sort their cost of living state. That's what they need to look at, if they want to recruit and retain, they've got to sort the pay out."

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US President Joe Biden has announced he's decided on his next steps after a drone attack killed three soldiers in Jordan over the weekend.

But Biden is not saying what these steps will be.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Republicans have criticised the administration for not acting strongly enough against the attacks.

"He's going to have to be careful, because you want to have a show of force- but then again, you don't want to have an attack that's going to lead to a lot more retaliation."

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The Athletes’ Cooperative have scored a significant victory over High Performance Sport in a landmark employment case.

The Employment Relations Authority on Tuesday released their verdict, determining that the Government agency is obligated to engage in collective bargaining with the athletes involved.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what happens next.

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Items that once were recycled are no longer welcome in your household collection bins.

Rules are changing from February 1 in a bid to standardise across the country.

Paper, glass, and plastic types One, Two and Five can be put out at the gate for recycling.

Auckland Council's Waste Solutions General Manager, Parul Sood, says people should no longer put out lids.

"So unless the lid is attached - like your aluminium cans - if it's attached you can just push them in. It shouldn't be detached, because what then happens is that it falls within the machinery."

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I feel sorry for Mark Mitchell. He's been thrown under the bus and made to look silly today.

But I think he was just telling the truth, and I suspect we’re all going to find that out in about two years time.

So what’s happened is that the coalition agreement between National and NZ First promised that we would get another 500 police officers in the first two years of this Government.

Recently, Police Minister Mark Mitchell has admitted it is probably actually going to take three years, because it’s very hard to recruit new police officers and the Aussies are nicking the officers we already have.

But Labour got him admitting that in the house yesterday. It hit the news as a story about a broken promise - which technically it is - and then NZ First's Chief of Staff chatted to National's Chief of Staff last night.

Lo and behold, Mark Mitchell got told off by Chris Luxon today for not being careful enough with his words.

And he had to walk all his comments back today, he had to correct the house, and go back to pretending he’s going to be able to get us 500 extra officers in the next two years.

I bet you- he will not be able to do that, and this will come back in two years as a broken promise story again.

The bummer here is Mark Mitchell was just being honest. He was just doing exactly what a decent politician should do.

If a politician makes a promise they can’t keep - and that happens all the time - at the first opportunity, they should clear up that they cannot keep that promise.

It's a smart political management thing to do, it resets expectations.

And it limits the damage. A broken promise will always cop blowback, but admitting it early makes that blowback much smaller.

I feel sorry for him, he was doing the right thing. Now the only way out of this is to get 500 extra officers in the next two years- or go through this whole story again in two years time.

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King Charles has been discharged from hospital after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The 75-year-old monarch was seen smiling and waving to the public, as he left the London Clinic with Queen Camilla.

Daughter-in-law Princess Catherine has also been discharged following abdominal surgery, and is recovering at home in Windsor.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says people are still clamouring to learn the nature of Kate's surgery, as details haven't been revealed. 

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