Midday Report

Inflation is driving up the cost of a comfortable retirement for New Zealanders living on super with as much as $1 million now required to bridge the gap. 

Massey University's latest savings report shows the projected savings needed to live to the age of 90, on top of super payments, has increased.

Kim Moodie has the business news.

Players from the Hawke's Bay Rugby team have yet been disciplined after their Ranfurly Shield celebrations on Saturday night, which left the coveted log of wood broken, and photographed with white powder on it.

Magpies vice captain Brad Weber and head coach Brock James fronted to media after their training this morning, but neither were at the event on Saturday night where the shield was dropped.

New Zealand Rugby has launched an investigation into the matter.

Hawkes Bay rugby chief executive Jay Campbell spoke to Charlotte Cook.

The Algerian democracy activist and New Zealand citizen Ahmed Zaoui, has been arrested at gunpoint by Algerian security forces after making public comment about human rights violations.

Lawyer Deborah Manning says Zaoui, who was recognised as a refugee here in 2003, returned to his native Algeria on a New Zealand passport in recent years to spend time with his family.

Deborah Manning spoke with Midday Report's Charlotte Cook.

Wellington City Council is estimating an extra $70 million to $147 million will be needed to go towards strengthening and redeveloping the city's Town Hall which has been closed for 10 years.

This means the cost to complete figures could balloon as high as $329 million.

RNZ reporter Ashleigh McCaull spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Investigations are continuing into the cause of the cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown, but Te Whatu Ora is warning the source may never be known.

Queenstown remains under a boil water notice, but transmission of the bug is now occurring between patients as well.

Southern Medical Officer of Health Dr Susan Jack spoke to Charlotte Cook.

Asparagus growers, in the two key growing regions of Waikato and Horowhenua, are on tenterhooks with temperatures predicted to plunge overnight.

Monique Steele has the rural news.

The All Blacks won't be easing off the intensity as they prepare for their last World Cup pool match against Uruguay.

The team to play Uruguay will be named tonight with captain Sam Cane and prop Tyrel Lomax, who came off the bench against Italy following injuries, expected to start this week.

Daniel Gilhooly has sports.

Business sentiment is slightly less downbeat, but is still faces a gloomy outlook in the year ahead.

The Institute of Economic Research's September quarter business survey shows a net 53-percent of respondents think economic conditions will get worse in the coming year, compared to a net 60-percent in June.

Kim Moodie has the business news.

The stoush over Weet-Bix has finally been resolved with Sanitarium agreeing to resume supply to The Warehouse. 

Last week the manufacturer said it would stop sending stock to the retailer due to supply constraints.

The decision outraged customers, worried the company was playing favourites with the supermarkets, which set higher prices.

The Warehouse laid a complaint with the Commerce Commission.

Sanitarium declined our request for an interview, but in a statement said it will reduce the amount of Weet-Bix it exports to Asia and the Pacific to ensure enough stock for The Warehouse.

The Warehouse's Chief Product Officer Tania Benyon spoke to Charlotte Cook.

National is promising longer after-birth hospital stays for mothers, and free glucose monitors for children with type-1 diabetes, if elected. 

The party's leader Christopher Luxon announced the policy this morning.

Under the plan, hospitals would receive extra funding to allow new parents to remain there for up to three days.

The party says funding glucose monitors for under-18s, would also save families with a diabetic child up to 50 dollars a week. 

National also committed to increasing the number of psychiatrist and psychologist training places.

National's mental health spokesperson Matt Doocey spoke to Charlotte Cook.