Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Retirement village operators claim that a proposed change in regulations governing the sector will put smaller facilities out of business.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development aims to make it mandatory for retirement villages to buy back units from the residents within a year after they vacate them.

Retirement Village Residents Association president Brian Peat says a clearly defined timeframe will be beneficial to residents- or their estates.

"We want to see a defined period, whether it's 28 days or 3 months or 6 months- we want a defined period so that residents or their estates know that they will get their money back."

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National's Nicola Willis is ready to get stuck in after receiving her ministerial warrant.

The newly sworn in Finance Minister plans to spend her first few days working on fiscal and economic updates in order to address the current economic climate.

She says the outgoing Labour Government left her with several fiscal cliffs and risks to mitigate.

"There's programs that they had ongoing that they just hadn't put money into for the future that realistically, we're going to have to find the money to fund."

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A push from Auckland Transport to get more people on bikes, as the Council discusses cutting cycle lane spending.

Wayne Brown's proposed cutting some funding, including only delivering cycleways when AT can make them 'cheaper'.

AT Chief Executive Dean Kimpton says he understands why some people aren't yet using two wheels.

He says they need to find ways to make it more attractive.

"To be fair, for a lot of families with young children- it doesn't feel safe. So we've got a deep commitment to get that right." 

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A member of the Defence Strategic Review  is offering his resignation to the new minister, and thinks all political appointees should do the same.

Judith Collins became Defence Minister this morning, and Sir Don McKinnon has already written to her.

He says he was appointed by a Labour Minister, and every minister should be entitled to appoint someone different if they choose.

"One, it's the right thig to do, secondly, it's a courtesy to do it. And thirdly, if you think you're brilliant in the job- convince the Minister who's now in charge of you and the person you report to."

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Egypt, Qatar and the US are calling for Gaza's ceasefire to be extended.

The four-day pause in fighting is due to end tomorrow night, our time.

Hamas has so far released three groups of hostages and a number of Palestinians have been freed from Israeli prisons.

Israeli Defence Force spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus says Hamas is signalling it's willing to hand over 10 more civilians.

"Of course, we have to take everything that Hamas says with a very big grain of salt, but that is the indication."

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Health experts are raising the alarm over the potential cost of repealing smoke-free laws.

The new Government is dumping legislation that aims to have five percent of people smoking - or less - by 2025.

That includes laws to lower nicotine in cigarettes, reduce retailers and ban the next generation taking up smoking.

Health Coalition co-chair Lisa Te Morenga says modelling shows it'll be a huge mistake.

"These measures were predicted to save us $1.3 billion between now and 2040- for the healthcare system."

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Terminally ill people located in New South Wales will be able to be legally permitted to end their own lives from tomorrow.

This new legislation makes NSW the last Australian state to introduce voluntary assisted dying (VAD) to eligible patients. 

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there is a pre-existing list of conditions that determines one's eligibility for VAD.

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New Zealand Rugby's provincial unions are preparing to give the governing body's executive leadership a corporate rucking at a meeting on December 8.

They've signed a document acknowledging the results of an independent review which found the sport's governance structure unfit for purpose.

Sportstalk host Jason Pine reveals what NZ Rugby plans to address in this review.

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Secondary school teachers warn that the ongoing teacher shortage is set to worsen as recruitment declines.

A recent survey revealed 16 percent of principals had to cancel classes due to dwindling staff, and the sector is relying on foreign-trained teachers and teachers over the age of 65.

Reports also show the number of secondary teaching students has halved since 2010.

Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault says recruitment has gotten harder for specialised educational fields, such as maths and physics.

"The unfortunate thing is, the nature of our local supply is such that we're basically stealing off each other. Some teachers move over here, this one's moving over there, they're travelling, they're moving out of Auckland."

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New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has got his wish when it comes to a broader Covid inquiry.

National's coalition deal with the party has agreed to look into the use of lockdowns, vaccine efficacy and whether decisions were justified.

Peters told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he wants to have it finished by the end of next year.

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