Midday Report

The Reserve Bank yesterday raised the Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 5-point-25 percent - a bigger jump than expected. 

It says this will help keep mortgage and lending rates at their current levels, cooling the economy. 

But the reception to the announcement has been frosty - mortgage broker Bruce Patten told Charlotte Cook why.

Donald Trump told supporters America is going to hell.

Mr Trump was speaking from his Mar-a-Lago home, after he plead not guilty at his arraignment earlier today.

He has been very much on the defensive - denying he's committed any crimes, and claiming to be a victim of relentless targeting by Democrats - this is all very familiar - take a listen.

From today students will be caught out if they use Artificial Intelligence systems such as ChatGPT to write their essays, but some people say the technology should be embraced.

The developers of one of the programs used to detect plagiarism, Turnitin, says the software can now spot AI-generated material with 98 percent accuracy and it has switched on that ability for its New Zealand customers.

Academics are worried this technology could be dangerous to the way universities are able to teach.

Otago University Students Association president Quintin Jane spoke to Charlotte Cook on Midday.

The Reserve Bank is expected to announce it will hike the official cash rate again at 2pm. It may be some time before the rise flows on to consumers, but families around Aotearoa are already feeling the pinch - this will be the eleventh consecutive rise. The general consensus among bank and economists is for a quarter-of-a-percent increase which will take the O-C-R to 5-per cent. Heather Lange is the manager and budget advisor for Family Finances in Upper Hutt - she joins us now.

News from the rural farming sector

Midday Sports News for 5 April 2023. Kiwis coach Michael Maguire and Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry have both been re-appointed to their positions, through until the 2025 World Cups.

News from the business sector

Bluebridge customers left stranded by cancellations say Bluebridge won't answer their calls and they are unable to reschedule online.

On Tuesday frustrated passengers went to the Bluebridge ferry terminal in Picton only to have the police called on them - a police spokesperson said although some were 'loud and upset' there were no instances of passengers abusing staff.

On Wednesday another four sailings were cancelled due to an ongoing engineering issue with the Feronia.

Meanwhile, passengers attempting to rebook are being met with an automated test saying the service has been disabled. So what can they do? Consumer New Zealand's CEO John Duffy spoke to Midday Report.

The former US President, Donald Trump plead not guilty to 34 felony charges in Manhattan Criminal Court earlier today.

The charges stem from an investigation into a hush money payment to pornstar Stormy Daniels in 2016, and relate to falsifying business records. Mr Trump denies all wrongdoing.

This is the first time a current or former US president has faced criminal charges, and the arraignment attracted protestors supporting Trump, as well as counter-protestors.

Politico's Josh Gerstein has been following the events from Washington DC and spoke to Charlotte Cook on Midday Report.

A draft Children's Advertising Code wants to raise the age of children covered by the code to all kids under sixteen, and limit the advertising of brands, as well as products.

This would mean brands synonymous with junk food wouldn't be able to have their logo on kids' sports uniforms, for example.

But the code is voluntary - and this draft might not be adopted.

The Advertising Standards Authority Chief Executive Hilary Souter spoke to Charlotte Cook.