Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Christchurch City Council has agreed to look into the viability of hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games- but not everyone is on board.

Mayor Phil Mauger is keen on bringing the Games to the region, with events spread out to the wider South Island.

Councillor Andrei Moore says without a major overhaul, the cost of hosting the event is unsustainable.

"Yesterday, councillors were briefed on a potential 15.8 percent rates rise- for us to turn around today and explore a Commonwealth Games bid is just not responsible."

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The Prime Minister says he's up for the challenge of defending his Government's policies, even in the absence of a coalition partner.

Chris Luxon addressed the annual Rātana celebrations, as did Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.

But the architect of the controversial Treaty Principles Bill - ACT's David Seymour - did not front to face questions from Māori.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Seymour's absence was disappointing.

"You should have the courage of your convictions. Seymour usually does, he should have got up there and said what he really meant."

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It's official- Auckland's pedestrian crossings come at a far higher price than those in the capital.

Figures from the 2021/2022 financial year show Auckland Transport chewed through $6 million on 12 signalised crossings, at an average cost of half a million dollars.

Meanwhile, Wellington City Council built four cheaper, non-signalised raised crossings for just under $120,000.

Auckland Transport Chief Executive Dean Kimpton says defended the cost of crossings, saying they're fundamentally different from those in Wellington.

"From Auckland to Wellington, the prices are similar. What you're seeing in the $6 million or the 12 pedestrian crossings referred to in 21/22 were a whole range of other things that needed to also be done."

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Awards season is in full swing, with Hollywood blockbusters taking centre stage at the 2024 Oscars.

'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' made the shortlist for Best Picture, and both films have 8 and 13 nominations respectively.

However, 'Barbie' director Greta Gerwig, and lead actress Margot Robbie, have missed out on nods. 

LA correspondent Sean Mandell says it's strange that Ryan Gosling got nominated for his role as Ken while Gerwig and Robbie got snubbed.

"They are getting awards love, and the film itself is getting love- but it's strange that Ken is getting a nomination in a movie called 'Barbie'."

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The Labour Party has hit out at the Government sending Defence Force troops to the Middle East, saying it has shades of the Iraq invasion.

Six personnel will assist in targeting coalition strikes on Houthi rebels, who have been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Parker says they don't believe the country should be embroiled there.

"I think history shows that they've got some very deep-seated conflicts there, they've got warring factions of different religions, they've got long-term civil wars. We don't think New Zealand should be participating in those conflicts."

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Politicians of almost every stripe have descended on Rātana Pā today for the annual celebrations.

ACT's David Seymour was a notable absence.

Over the day, Māori leaders labelled the Government the enemy and warned the Prime Minister not to meddle with te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Chris Luxon assured the crowd his Government is committed to progress for Māori.

NZ First MP Shane Jones was heckled during his speech - but he says he took it in his stride.

"They thought that with loud angry voices, Winston Peters and I would back down. And they met their match in Shane Jones."

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New Zealand has had its smallest annual inflation increase in two years.

CPI rose 4.7 percent in the year to December- in line with the expectations from economists.

That's down from the 5.6 percent recorded for the year to September, and down from the 7.3 percent rise recorded in the year to June 2022.

Kiwibank economist Jarrod Kerr says this means the Reserve Bank will start cutting interest rates to provide relief to households.

"We've had inflation running at over 7 percent, and people had that in the back of their mind. Now inflation's running at over 4 percent, that's quite a drop. By this time next year, inflation will run closer to 2 percent."

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Former President Donald Trump emerged victorious in the New Hampshire Primary.

His opponent, Nikki Haley, conceded she'd lost to Donald Trump in New Hampshire, but says the race is far from over.

US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says it's likely Nikki Haley will pull out of the race by March's Super Tuesday.

"I think she's going to hang in there, see how much she can do in February- but at this point in time, I don't see how she could play catch-up with Donald Trump."

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The Wellington Phoenix are set to ban a group of spectators from their A-League football games.

A small cohort have been identified for antagonising Melbourne Victory fans and causing multiple fights during the 1-all draw at Sky Stadium last week.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave outlines this plan further.

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There's hope the Commonwealth Games could return to Christchurch fifty years on from the 1974 event.

Mayor Phil Mauger has recommended the city host the 2030 Games, and Christchurch city councillors voted to run a viability report.

Mauger hopes an event of this scale will help turn Christchurch into the sporting and events capital of New Zealand.

"We have all these fantastic new facilities, and I want to showcase our facilities to the world. We will, however, have to share the load across the country."

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