Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Today's Q3 GDP report caught several economists by surprise.

GDP fell 0.3 per cent in the September quarter, lower than the predicted 0.2 or 0.3 percent growth forecasts had predicted.

Across the whole year, GDP fell 0.6 percent overall, sparking more grim predictions.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says Luxon's inherited a long-running recession to address.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's former Finance Minister has stepped up to justify today's disappointing GDP results.

GDP fell 0.3 percent in the three months to September- with political voices blaming the previous Government's decisions for the decline.

Grant Robertson says it doesn't tarnish Labour's economic credibility, as other economies are in the same boat.

ZB political editor Jason Walls says there's a silver lining here, because interest rates could come down sooner than predicted.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Kathleen Folbigg's convictions have been officially quashed, after spending 20 years in prison.

The 56-year-old was released after new medical evidence revealed she didn't murder her four children.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's likely Folbigg will be awarded compensation after her release.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Usman Khawaja feels unfairly targeted by the International Cricket Council following their demand he refrain from writing statements in support of Palestine on his shoes.

The ICC have ruled the opening batter will be fined or banned if he uses the test against Pakistan as a platform to make what they've deemed a political statement.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picton is concerned about what's ahead - with the Government refusing to fund cost increases to the Cook Strait mega-ferries project.

KiwiRail says the plan to have two new ferries and bigger, better ports can't go ahead without Government funding.

Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Pete Coldwell, says a number of people moved to the region for ferry-related jobs.

"There are obviously just questions over what the situation is, jobs-wise, for the next week, next month and the next year."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost 200 countries have agreed to begin reducing the consumption of fossil fuels at COP28.

The Dubai conference came close to being a failure, because some nations wanted to phase them out.

The deal specifically calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems.

Australian National University climate change professor Mark Howden says that's weak and undefined language.

"What does that mean? There's lots of wriggle room here and it's probably not clear enough in terms of its goals."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buller District Council is on paw patrol for the number of cats allowed in homes.

From next Wednesday, only two feline friends are allowed in homes from Carters Beach, Reefton and Westport.

It was initially proposed to increase the maximum to four, but the council U-turned after public feedback.

Buller mayor Jamie Cleine says they're not anticipating a lot of complainants over how it'll be policed for other animals.

"And when you think about an urban area, under this bylaw, people could have 2 cats, 12 chickens and 2 pigs and still be within constricts of the bylaws, so there'll be plenty of livestock in the urban area."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weak economic growth is expected to continue a while.

GDP fell 0.3 percent in the three months to September - a much worse result than forecast by most economists.

BNZ Economist Stephen Toplis says it will take time to get a sunnier situation.

"Market conditions ease, and that gives the economy a bit of a boost. But I think, realistically speaking, we're talking until the middle of next year."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police could be apologising to some Parliament protesters following a report from the police watchdog.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority found excessive force was six times during the weeks-long occupation.

That included knocking a woman's phone from her hand and pushing her to the ground - or spraying people with fire extinguishers.

Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming says they'll work through whether they'll need say sorry.

"And in probably a couple of those cases, an apology would be appropriate."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Water believes a Council top-up could help with a feared water shortage this summer.

The City Council is giving the water entity up to $2 million dollars.

The Wellington region loses about 45 percent of its supply in leaks.

Wellington Water Chief Executive Tonia Haskell says they are asking the regional council to let it also take more water from rivers.

"We're going to try as hard as we can so we never have to put our rest homes and our hospitals at risk this summer."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.