Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Boris Johnson attempted to apologise for his Covid-19 response- an apology that quickly got hijacked.

Protesters swarmed the former Prime Minister and interrupted him as he began his apology for his handling of the deadly pandemic.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says Johnson's apology seemed 'rehearsed', as it was more serious than expected.

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Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!

Police Minister Mark Mitchell has released a letter of expectations for Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. The pair seem to be unified about these expectations- can Coster meet these standards? 

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today put forward a motion calling for those involved in the conflict to take urgent steps towards a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. What did we think of Luxon's response?

Treasury has criticised Labour's 'underfunded' plan for transport. Does this cement the previous Government's legacy of non-delivery?

Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year- did she deserve it?

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Fonterra has upgraded its milk price forecast and raised their full-year earnings forecast following an 85 percent lift in their first-quarter profit.

The forecast farmgate milk price midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25 cents to $7.50 per kgMS, and the forecast range has moved to $7.00-$8.00 per kgMS.

The Country's Jamie Mackay says these predictions were boosted by a strong GDT result.

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A big gap has opened up between the market and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s views of where interest rates are heading.

The two-year swap rate - which can have a bearing on home mortgage rates - is now sitting on 5.21 percent, down from 5.78 percent earlier this year.

This goes against last week's hawkish vision regarding higher rates.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains why this is happening.

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Auckland Council has teamed up with NZ Police in a new initiative to enhance safety in the city centre.

The 'Together for Tamaki Makaurau' partnership is designed to establish a more visible safety presence on Auckland streets from Karangahape Road to the waterfront.

Auckland Council CityWatch and Compliance teams, police, Māori Wardens and Community Patrols NZ (CPNZ) will run co-ordinated efforts to address anti-social behaviour and crime in the CBD.

Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck says these efforts will address the social issues and deterioration that's impacted the area over the last three years.

"It's about the crime, the social issues and also some of the anti-social types of behaviour. One of the things we have said is that it doesn't replace the need for more police."

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Kiwi households will had to find an extra $70 per week to cover their living costs, according to ASB economists.

It's a smaller increase than the $115 a week lift in 2023- and and is expected to be below the increase in incomes.

ASB senior economist Mark Smith says these estimates are influenced by several key factors.

"Living costs really reflect what's happening with inflation, that's probably the key factor there. Also things like debt servicing have gone up significantly."

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Disappointment the Government hasn't gone further in its call for arms to be laid to rest in war-torn Gaza.

Foreign minister Winston Peters put forward a motion calling on all parties involved in the conflict to take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire.

It was supported by all parties.

But Labour's immigration spokesman Phil Twyford says they urged the Government to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

"I mean for God's sake, 16,000 people have died, the incredible human suffering that's going on right now in Gaza- we got weasel words from the Prime Minster."

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This year truly belongs to Taylor Swift.

The 33-year-old's been named Time magazine's person of the year, a week after becoming Spotify's most most-played artist.

Swift beat finalists including Barbie, King Charles and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman.

KTLA entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin says she's had an 'extraordinary' 2023- full of accomplishments.

"The criteria is who has influenced the world for better or worse the most, and in what many described as a very dark year, Taylor Swift has been a source of light for many."

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Queenstown is waiting on a final signoff before lifting the town's boil water notice.

Businesses and residents have been required to boil tap water for almost three months, after a breakout of cryptosporidium.

UV treatment equipment has been installed at the Two Mile water supply.

Mayor Glyn Lewers says all they need now is water regulator Taumata Arowai to give the green light.

"We've done our bit by putting in the UV disinfection area, we've flushed the system, we've cleaned the tanks- so yeah, we're just waiting."

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The Police Commissioner says he's aligned with the new Police Minister on the changes needed for law and order.

Minister Mark Mitchell has publicly released a letter, outlining his expectations for Commissioner Andrew Coster.

That includes refocusing efforts on strengthening policing in communities, removing gang patches and cracking down on youth crime.

Coster says officers essentially need to spend less time doing the business of others.

"Which we do substantially in the social arena, particularly family harm where there's no violence, mental health- we need to be able to increase our visibility."

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