Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The outgoing New Zealand Superannuation Fund CEO has slammed the near-$10 billion tax bill as 'nonsensical'.

Matt Whineray believes the Superannuation Fund should have tax immunity status, according to an exit interview. 

NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the next Government will need to make choices about the state of the fund.

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A new international player is determined to snap up Fonterra dairy farmers, as competition intensifies.

Fonterra farmers have put up signs featuring the slogan 'A proud Fonterra farmer' in response to Singapore-based OFI (Olam Food Ingredients) setting up in Waikato.

Fonterra farm source group director Anne Douglas says Fonterra sets the benchmark for dairy prices, and OFI will respond accordingly.

"If you look at how the co-operative dairy model works, we sit here every day looking to maximise milk price and return for our dairy farmers."

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No signs of slowing down from Novak Djokovic after recording his 24th grand slam title.

Djokovic is the US tennis Open champion after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final in straight sets.

ZB sports journalist Nathan Limm explains further.

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Schools across Melbourne are calling for increased security amid ongoing attacks.

Multiple incidents of gang members getting into schools and harming students have surfaced, sparking safety concerns.

Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there are Facebook groups ranking Victorian schools by level of danger- and a solution must be found.

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Support for National has rocketed up to just over 40 percent, with a 4.3 point jump in the latest Newshub-Reid Research poll.

Labour has taken a devastating tumble, down 5.5 percent to 26.8 percent.

ACT has fallen two points to 10 - but can comfortably govern with National.

The Greens are up to 12.3 percent, Te Pāti Māori is on three, while New Zealand First flirts with the threshold at 4.6 percent.

National finance spokeswoman Nicola Willis says they aren't counting chickens yet- but it's positive.

"It's pretty clear New Zealanders want a change of Government, they can see the country's going in the wrong direction and more and more of them are getting ready to vote for change."

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The Warriors are set to go up against the Newcastle Knights this weekend, and expectations are high.

The first home finals match held in New Zealand since 2008 will take place in Auckland's Go Media Stadium Mt Smart at 6.05 on Saturday.

Former Warrior and club ambassador Monty Betham is confident the team can win as demand for tickets soars.

"It really is building like that- the fans are going nuts. My phone's been ringing off the hook, people have been trying to get their link or their chance to buy pre-sales before it goes live tomorrow." 

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Meteorologists expect the El Niño climate system will start drying out parts of the country in the coming weeks.

The North Island and northern and eastern South Island will be the most affected.

Weatherwatch's Phillip Duncan says it'll bring a windier westerly - which very quickly dries the east of the country.

"Parts of Hawke's Bay that were flooded are already now noticing how dry it's become in such a short couple of months."

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Calls for banks to drop mortgage rates- while they bring in record profits.

They are scraping off an extra $2.2-billion dollars annually, from a 17 percent rise in lending profits caused by rising interest rates.

Squirrel Chief Executive David Cunningham says he believes the slow housing market pushed the margin this high.

He says shareholders want steady profits, and rising share-prices regardless of the lack of market growth.

"So the only way to deliver those profits that the market expects- or your masters in Australia expect, in the case of our major New Zealand banks- is to lift the price."

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ACT's Leader denies he's threatening the National Party by suggesting a confidence-only deal, post-election.

David Seymour previously said his party would consider it - if National doesn't co-operate in negotiations.

That would force the larger party to seek the minor party's support for Government spending.

Seymour says ACT's position isn't new or dramatic.

"It's just saying- look, we actually want a tight working relationship, I've said that for a long time. But we reserve the right to stand up for the values and our voters to get better policy for them- and all New Zealand."

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Every Monday until the election The Front Bench will take on the biggest talking points of the election campaign. Heather du Plessis-Allan, Newstalk ZB Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper, former Business NZ CEO Phil O’Reilly and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills have the insight word and analysis. 

The Act Party has thrown a potential cat amongst the pigeons by threatening it may only enter a confidence deal with National.

The panel discuss whether Chris Luxon is losing credibility.

Labour’s polling continues to plummet – is there anything the party can do to turn its fortunes around?

And the panel discuss the potential partners for both National and Labour post polling days.

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