Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

New Zealand's farming community are feeling hopeful about the new changes in Government.

While the nation's 54th Parliament won't be finalised until November, several prospective MPs from National and ACT have backgrounds in the primary sector.

Grant McCallum, Suze Redmayne, Miles Anderson, Mike Butterick, Andrew Hoggard and Cameron Luxton are among the new faces bringing their rural backgrounds and insight into the Beehive.

The Country's Rowena Duncum says Kiwi farmers will be feeling a weight lift off their shoulders as more rural voices step in.

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Christopher Luxon has been batting off questions about National's ongoing coalition discussions.

The incoming Prime Minister has confirmed he'll remain tight-lipped as National negotiates with ACT and NZ First as the special votes are still tallied.

BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie says Luxon's trying to establish a style of leadership where his team gets things done- as opposed to discussing plans.

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Chris Hipkins says he's still the leader of the Labour Party.

He delivered the impassioned message after a marathon caucus meeting with new and current MPs.

He's confirmed there was no leadership challenge, but the team will hold a vote within three months of the election.

ZB political editor Jason Walls says Labour doesn't know the makeup of their future caucus yet- and there's still time for the Party and Hipkins to reassess their options.

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Australia's Government is back to the drawing board after the failed Voice Referendum.

All but one state voted No to changing the constitution to allow an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, with a nationwide support of around 40 percent.

Australia's former ambassador to the United States, John McCarthy, has claimed this rejection will be viewed negatively by the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds explains what this means for the future of Australia's Government. 

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Christchurch City Council is warning cutbacks and hard decisions will have to be made to avoid significant increases to rates.

Mayor Phil Mauger says the council's 'up a creek' financially, and cuts to libraries and swimming pools are on the cards in order to avoid an 18 percent rate rise.

Christchurch City Councillor Jake McLellan says the situation is a challenging one.

"We're obviously subject to the same pressures that every organisation is, but I certainly don't want to see libraries or swimming pools closed and I'm going to be working hard to make sure that doesn't happen."

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A Wellington woman is trying to hunt down her wedding dress that accidentally got donated to an op shop.

Donna McQuaid lent her wedding dress to a friend who was recently engaged.

But that friend accidentally donated the designer dress to a Lower Hutt charity shop.

McQuaid has called every charity shop in Wellington to no avail.

She says if you saw it in an op-shop, you would know you've stumbled upon something special.

"It's really got some sentimental value to me, and I would love to get it back."

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Mount Albert's Greens candidate says the narrow margin in the seat shows elections are no longer two-horse races.

Labour's Helen White has won on early numbers by just over 100 votes.

It's traditionally a Labour stronghold, previously held by Jacinda Ardern, David Shearer, Helen Clark - and Michael Savage.

White's blaming her slim-win on the Greens splitting the vote.

Ricardo Menendez-March says his Party's proud of its record result.

"No one, not the Greens, not National or Labour, can take any electorate for granted."

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Belief New Zealand's winning the war on inflation.

Figures out today show annual inflation rose 5.6 percent in the year to September, down from 6 percent in the year to June.

Kiwibank Senior Economist, Jarrod Kerr, says it's great some pressures are finally easing.

"There's some frustrations in there, with petrol and a few other bits and pieces, but when we look at the broad basket of goods and services that we consume- prices are coming off."

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Former Labour Leader Andrew Little says he's thinking of the Party and its future as he quits politics.

He says it's important those who'll form the next Labour Government get the chance to be nurtured and developed.

Little says he doesn't believe people should hang on too long.

"I feel very privileged to have been in the roles that I've been in and to have done what I've done, but I'm also at an age where I could do some other things outside of Parliament- and I'm very keen to explore that."

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Eddie Jones has admitted regret at his explosive press conference at the airport before leaving for the Rugby World Cup.

The Wallabies coach told Australian media to give themselves an uppercut after fielding questions about their losing streak and leaving Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper out of the squad.

Jones has denied talks with Japan's rugby union and has reaffirmed his intention to lead the Wallabies to the next World Cup.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.

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