Midday Report

Midday Business News for 18 July 2024

On today's episode, RNZ's Money Correspondent explains the numbers as inflation reaches its lowest level in 3 years. Climate experts say the government's draft emissions reduction plan is confused and light on detail. Two former political rivals have united to criticise the Prime Minister for shifting away from decades of independent foreign policy. Comedy music duo Tenacious D have cancelled the rest of their tour of Australia and New Zealand, a week out from when they were set to perform.

Comedy music duo Tenacious D have cancelled the rest of their tour of Australia and New Zealand, a week out from when they were set to perform. The band, made up of actors Jack Black and Kyle Gass, was supposed to play in Wellington and Auckland. Jack Black has since decided it's no longer appropriate to continue the tour, after jokes made by Gass following the attempted assassination of former American president, Donald Trump. The Listener music columist and Elsewhere.co.nz's Graham Reid says music and politcs are forever intertwined.

Two former political rivals have united to criticise the Prime Minister for shifting away from decades of independent foreign policy. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark and former National and Act leader Dr Don Brash have written a joint statement saying comments Christopher Luxon made to the Financial Times orients New Zealand towards being a full-fledged military ally of the United States, and implies New Zealand will increasingly be dragged into US-China conflict in the South China Sea. Charlotte speaks to Helen Clark.

News from the rural farming sector.

New Zealand will play only one test series on home soil this summer in a domestic calendar dominated by white ball cricket.

Midday Business News for 17 July 2024

A climate change and energy policy expert is describing the government's draft emissions reduction plan as confused and very light on detail. The plan lays out how the government will meet greenhouse gas budgets on the way to reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The document reveals we are no longer on track to meet emissions targets - a marked change from projections released under the previous Labour government. Rather than slashing emissions at the the source, the government hopes to get back on track through more tree planting and carbon capture technolgies. Charlotte speaks to Dr Christina Hood, the head of Compass Climate and climate change policy expert.

Inflation has eased to its lowest level in three years. Data from Stats NZ this morning showed inflation of 3.3 percent in the year to June. That's down from a 4 percent increase in the 12 months to March. Money correspondent Susan Edmunds explain the numbers.

On today's episode, RNZ sports correspondent Jamie Wall reflects on the life of All Blacks great Norm Hewitt. We cross to Washington DC where Donald Trump has officially been selected as the Republican nominee for the upcoming presidential election. An infectious disease expert warns people to go easy on antibiotics over fears about the rise in antibiotic resistant infections. And we talk to a project manager for the Remutaka Conservation Trust, which has captured audio of kiwi above Upper Hutt.