Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Economists are braced for a small bounce-back ahead of next week's GDP numbers.

The last set of GDP figures released in June 2023 put New Zealand in a recession.

NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says China's downturn could still drag New Zealand down further into recession.

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Kiwi farmers may be expected to do more than their fair share to meet methane reduction targets.

A new scientific report from the Universities of Oxford and Cranfield has raised questions about the ambition of New Zealand’s methane reduction targets- and the responsibility falling on farmers.

Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford says farmers have been told they're responsible for half of New Zealand's overall emissions, but the report says otherwise.

"The current targets that are in place- our farmers just aren't going to accept. We don't mind doing our part and playing our role in what we have to do, but we can't do it with unrealistic targets."

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A Restore Passenger Rail protestor is standing by the group's decision to spray-paint a luxury Wellington car dealership.

Three protestors threw paint at the Gazley Motor Group building on Cambridge Terrace and glued themselves to the footpath.

The trio were subsequently arrested and charges are being considered.

Spokesperson James Cockle claims the luxury cars sold by the dealership are a symbol of excess and wealth inequality impacting this country.

"It correlates directly to the damage that's being done to our planet. We're sending a strong message to the New Zealand people- let's stand up against luxury emissions and reign in the excesses of the mega-rich."

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An Australian multimillionaire property developer is being slammed for his views on unemployment.

Tim Gurner has told the Financial Review Property Summit a sharp rise in unemployment is the only way to lift productivity.

He says there needs to be pain in the economy to remind employees they work for the employer, not the other way around.

Sydney University Business School associate professor Chris Wright says it's an insensitive thing to say.

"Unemployment is a bad thing. There's been a lot of research showing the huge consequences it can have for people in terms of well-being- it contributes to suicide rates."

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Wellington City Council may need to slash tens of millions of dollars off its budget.

City Councillor Diane Calvert says they've had a behind closed doors meeting on the state of the council's finances.

She sought legal advice to reveal the financial details and says capital expenditure needs to be cut by tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars, in the coming years.

She says these financial problems were a long time in the making.

"We really had a spending program that we couldn't afford, because it was clear even two years ago that economic conditions were going to change."

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Three economists have teamed up to scrutinise part of National's tax plan.

The party's proposed ending the ban on foreign buyers - for homes worth more than $2 million- and taxing them 15 percent.

It expects foreigners will buy 1700 houses valued on average at around $2.9 million.

But economist Michael Reddell says it'll be more like 700 in that price range.

"That $2 million threshold really does matter, because average house prices - even in Auckland - are well below $2 million. And there just aren't that many really expensive houses in New Zealand."

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Winston Peters won't close the door on sitting with ACT leader David Seymour around the Cabinet table.

Depending where the chips fall at next month's election - both parties could be in the Beehive as part of a National-led government.

But Peters and Seymour don't see eye to eye, with the latter categorically ruling out working with New Zealand First.

ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Winston Peters is insistent on both parties putting their differences aside to solve the economic and social issues in this country.

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The Australian High Court has revealed every single one of their current judges is a member of Qantas' exclusive Chairman's Lounge.

Described as the 'most exclusive' club in the country, the invitation-only club offers their hand-picked members extra perks on demand.

This comes as Qantas is facing legal action for sacking 1700 staff members during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this is another mark against the airline, following the other controversies impacting the company.

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Shaun Johnson has sat out Thursday's Warriors training due to his calf injury- but coach Andrew Webster is still holding out hope. 

Webster insists the halfback's likely to play in Saturday's do-or-die NRL finals clash with the Knights at Mt Smart.

Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what this could mean for the events of Saturday's match.

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The country's three biggest education unions have joined forces to put education funding on the political agenda this election campaign.

A new BERL report has found public spending per student in 2019 was nearly 25 percent lower than the OECD average.

Tertiary Education Union National President Julie Douglas says more investment would allow better decisions about the sort of system we want.

"I think that we would make sure that the programs are secure and staff are secure, so we can be delivering to a wide range of passions of students."

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