Minimum income related rent contributions for social housing will rise from 25 to 30 percent. That means 84,000 households will be paying an average of $31 more a week in rent. The flip side; more than 100,000 other families will get higher accommodation supplement rates; an average of $15 a week. The assessment for social housing is being redesigned - so its " more tightly prioritised" for those who need it. Housing Minister Chris Bishop spoke to Lisa Owen.

The price of plastic continues to climb because of ongoing disruption to oil supplies out of the Middle East. The use of petrochemicals and plastics is vast, they're used in manufacturing, health care including pharmaceuticals, the construction industry, packaging and recycle bins. New Zealand imports most of the raw ingredients used by the plastics manufacturing sector. CEO of Plastics New Zealand Rachel Barker spoke to Lisa Owen.

The government is shaking up the social housing system - to bring in more stringent criteria about who gets a state house and possibly, new tenancy duration limits. It's boosting support for more than 100,000 families by an average of $15 a week - but leaving another 80,000 worse off by an average of $30 a week. The opposition said the changes are "cruel" and will lead to more evictions of public housing tenants, who will be "driven deeper into poverty." Political reporter Lillian Hanly has more.

All the top stories and other headlines from the day

Twenty people have been charged in an organised crime sting across several jails following an almost year-long investigation. Fifteen prison staff and five members of the public connected to inmates were among those arrested. It's alleged the Corrections' officers working at Mount Eden jail were smuggling contraband like cellphones and meth into the prison. Staff employed by the prison operator Serco have also been arrested. Police believe the mobile phones were being used by prisoners to run their drug importation and distribution operations while locked up. Corrections' chief Executive Rachel Leota spoke to Lisa Owen.

Too much admin and not enough pay. Principal Sam Mortimer from Greymouth High says both are barriers stopping foreign born or foreign qualified teachers coming to our schools. He said newly-qualified teachers aren't paid enough to meet minimum pay rates for work visas, and the paper work is excessive. Meanwhile, a New Zealander with Australian teaching qualifications says she nearly gave up because of the admin and fees. Education correspondent John Gerritsen has more.

Australian and New Zealand police will fund a strike force in Colombia to fight the Pacific drug trade. The announcement comes as Pacific leaders and police chiefs gather in Suva this week to discuss transnational organised crime. RNZ Pacific reporter Kaya Selby has more.

Netball New Zealand is the latest national sporting organisation to fill its Chief Executive vacancy. Experienced sports and major events leader Jennah Wootten has been put in charge of the country's largest women's sport.

A new study has found women working in sectors with an obvious gender pay gap are not just broke, but broken. Researchers at AUT spoke with 47 Lead Maternity Care midwives and their families about their wellbeing and family life. They say what they found was "confronting" Being on 24/7 call with high caseloads led to foregoing sleep, healthy eating, and exercise - contributing to illness and injury. Lead author of the study, James Greenslade-Yeats, a research fellow at AUT Business School spoke to Lisa Owen.

The Trump administration has filed murder charges against Cuba's former president Raúl Castro. The 94 year old is accused of playing a key role in the shooting down of two American planes which killed three US citizens and one resident 30 years ago. It comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries brought on by US sanctions and a push for regime change in the communist nation. Washington DC Todd Zwillich spoke to Lisa Owen.