Podcasts about newstalk zb

More Government cash for the three Crown-controlled gentailers. That's the biggest change to come from today's energy announcement - alongside plans for a new LNG import facility. Energy Minister Simon Watts says a report concluded sector players weren't confident they could ask the Government for money to fund new generation projects. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Sopers says the Government rejected plenty of other ideas on the table. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's pressure on Hamas to agree to a US-led Gaza peace plan. The proposed deal includes ending the war, returning hostages, and pulling out Israeli troops. An interim Palestinian Government would be led by Donald Trump and include experts like former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. A number of western and gulf state leaders have welcomed the deal. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced support for the plan - but he questioned what would happen if Hamas didn't agree. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister says New Zealand remains committed to the peace process in the Middle East. Foreign Minister Winston Peters has told the UN our Government won't be recognising a Palestinian state. Chris Luxon says we can't acknowledge a state whose de facto Government is the designated terror group, Hamas. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Peters delivered a 'well-argued and well-positioned speech' and New Zealand has always had its own foreign policy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters announced New Zealand's stance on Palestinian Statehood this weekend at the UN. We hear the talk around the beehive after Cabinet's decision to not recognise the state. We also discuss the funding of prisons and the upcoming announcement from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on earthquake-prone building law rewrites, and how this will impact Wellingtonians and our businesses. Newstalk ZB political editor Azaria Howel joined Nick Mills for the Beehive Buzz. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on the Sunday Panel, resident economist at Opes Partners, Ed McKnight, and Newstalk ZB host Roman Travers joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed New Zealand wouldn't recognise a Palestinian state at this point in time. Are we surprised by this? The All Blacks managed to turn their luck around and beat the Wallabies 33-24 at Eden Park - and claim the Bledisloe Cup. But would it mean more if we won it over three matches? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stewart Copeland's drumming helped define a generation. As one third of The Police, he played at some of the biggest venues not only in New Zealand, but in the world. He went on to work extensively in composing for film and TV. And now, 18 years since his last visit to New Zealand, Copeland is returning for a very special spoken word tour - ‘Have I Said Too Much? The Police, Hollywood, And Other Adventures'. He told Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame this type of show is a bit more of an intellectual exercise than playing the drums. “Actually having to form sentences and so on, is a little more challenging,” Copeland said. “Fortunately in my 70-something years, I've had a couple of adventures, which are fun to talk about.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have set their eyes on consistency after snaring the Bledisloe Cup for another year. The 33-24 win over the Wallabies keeps the trophy at NZR headquarters - the 23rd consecutive summer it will spend there. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Elliott Smith says the All Blacks didn't fold like they did in Wellington last time, but there's still room for improvement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle: Host of Sky's Aotearoa Rugby podcast Ross Carl and NewstalkZB's own D'arcy Waldegrave join Ryan Bridge to discuss the latest sports news. The Wallabies are facing the All Blacks at Eden Park. Can they conquer the fortress? Have the All Blacks done enough after their defeat at the hands of the Springboks to fend off the Aussies? And can the Black Ferns take 3rd place after missing out on the Rugby World Cup final? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB’s political correspondent comments on Winston at the UN and the CEO’s mood of the Boardroom survey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An inquiry's being held into whether the MP for Whanganui has complied with his obligations to declare interests. National's Carl Bates didn't disclose 25 properties, linked to his family trust, many of which are rentals in the area. They weren't declared on Parliament's list of MP's property and financial interests. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell unpacked the investigation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks have got to perform in this weekend's Eden Park test. They're set to face Australia in the wake of their worst-ever defeat just 12 days ago against South Africa. Newstalk ZB's voice of rugby Elliott Smith told Francesca Rudkin the All Blacks have to turn up, perform, and start finding some consistency. He says consistency won't come soley from tomorrow's performance, but they need to start laying the building blocks. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Early Edition with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast Friday 26th of September 2025, Fonterra's delivered one of its best results ever, Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Karl Dean shares his thoughts. It's the great show down between the All blacks and the Wallabies this saturday night in Auckland, Newstalk ZB rugby commentator and editor Elliott Smith tells Francesca what's at stake for the All Blacks. Our agriculture industry claims the education system is letting it down, NZ Forest Owners Association CEO, Dr Elizabeth Heeg shares her thoughts. Plus UK/Europe Correspondent Vincent McAviney has the latest on former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, sentenced to five years in jail and drones shutting down a Denmark airport for the second time this week. Get the Early Edition Full Show Podcast every weekday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Reserve Bank Governor is pledging to build trust and credibility. Sweden's Anna Breman has been announced to lead the central bank, taking over from interim Governor Christian Hawkesby in December. She'll be the first woman to ever hold the role - selected from more than 300 candidates who were initially identified. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says Breman has revealed the new core ideals of the RBNZ under her leadership - and has voiced her commitment to transparency. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new Reserve Bank Governor is pledging to build trust and credibility. Sweden's Anna Breman has been announced to lead the central bank, taking over from interim Governor Christian Hawkesby in December. She'll be the first woman to ever hold the role - selected from more than 300 candidates who were initially identified. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says Breman has revealed the new core ideals of the RBNZ under her leadership - and has voiced her commitment to transparency. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speculation is building on who'll be the next Governor of the Reserve Bank, and the Government is due to make an announcement tomorrow. A source has told Bloomberg the new Governor is a woman - and is from overseas. Speculation has centred on the Bank of England's Sarah Breerdon. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell speculates ahead of the big announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A guilty verdict for the Auckland woman charged with murdering her children and leaving their bodies in suitcases. Hakyung Lee killed her eight and six-year-old in 2018, after giving them anti-depressants in what she said was a failed suicide attempt. But claims she was insane following her husband's death failed to convince the jury. Newstalk ZB's Emily Ansell says the verdict's in line with evidence from forensic psychiatrist Dr Erik Monasterio. "Who found that there was no proof of any psychotic elements required for that defence, so therefore, he told the jury that he believed she didn't qualify - and that is an opinion they clearly took on board." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speculation is building on who'll be the next Governor of the Reserve Bank, and the Government is due to make an announcement tomorrow. A source has told Bloomberg the new Governor is a woman - and is from overseas. Speculation has centred on the Bank of England's Sarah Breerdon. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell speculates ahead of the big announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another Eden Park test has come around, with the All Blacks facing another challenger to the 31-year undefeated streak - this time it's the Wallabies who look to take the fortress. They're looking a much-improved side this year, having shared wins with both the Springboks in South Africa and Argentina at home. D'Arcy spoke with ZB's own Elliot Smith, who speculated ahead of the big match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's yet to finalise its position on recognising Palestine, despite recent moves by our key allies. Chris Luxon says Cabinet's expected to make a final decision later this week. Three of the Five Eyes members - Australia, the UK and Canada - have formally announced recognition of an independent state of Palestine. Newstalk ZB reporter Azaria Howell says it's expected the coalition will come together to make a statement, and Winston Peters will likely deliver it by Sunday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Rugby Direct, Elliott Smith and Newstalk ZB's Canterbury rugby commentator Nick Bewley reflect on the Black Ferns being knocked out of the Women's World Cup in England at the hands of Canada and ask how it happened and whether the Black Ferns were prepared for what they were facing. We also count down to the opening Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies as the All Blacks look to bounce back from the horror defeat to South Africa and we talk the Ranfurly Shield changing hands once again in the NPC.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kaylee Bell is one of the most accomplished voices in the New Zealand country music scene. She's not only the most streamed female country musician in Australasia, but has a Country Music Award for Global Country Artist to her name. ‘Cowboy Up', Bell's new album, releases next week – an album she made in the midst of being pregnant. “This record was particularly fun to make,” she told Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame. “I was about 34 weeks pregnant when my producer flew out from Nashville .... to bring a bit of Nashville to New Zealand to make the record.” Previously the record making process was hectic, but ‘Cowboy Up' came about more collaboratively, created slowly in a studio at home. “I was like, this is how I want to make my records now,” Bell told Tame. “It just felt like such a wholesome way to make a record.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports show the economy is worse off than previously thought and it's sparked debate about what - or who - is to blame. GDP data shows the economy shrunk 0.9 percent in the June quarter - a more significant dip than the 0.3 percent forecast by the Reserve Bank and similar figures from most economists. Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell says economic conservatives are calling for a bigger reduction in spending, while Labour has called for the whole Government to resign. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New reports show the economy is worse off than previously thought and it's sparked debate about what - or who - is to blame. GDP data shows the economy shrunk 0.9 percent in the June quarter - a more significant dip than the 0.3 percent forecast by the Reserve Bank and similar figures from most economists. Newstalk ZB political reporter Azaria Howell says economic conservatives are calling for a bigger reduction in spending, while Labour has called for the whole Government to resign. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rising number of people on electronically-monitored bail is being used to explain a surge in absconders. Figures released to Newstalk ZB through the Official Information Act show cases of a breach rose from 64 in 2015, to 832 last year. Corrections Chief Probation Officer Toni Stewart told Heather du Plessis-Allan over the last 10 years the courts have granted more electronically monitored bail. She says they report signs of breaches to police, and is assuring the public they have a zero tolerance for non-compliance. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says a new Reserve Bank Governor will be announced “very shortly” as she comes under growing pressure to tackle New Zealand's economic woes. Economists are calling on the Reserve Bank to cut the Official Cash Rate more aggressively after yesterday's shock GDP result. New Zealand's gross domestic product (GDP) fell by 0.9% in the June quarter, a reduction well over market expectations. Expectations were for a 0.4% decline in GDP, while Reserve Bank forecasts were for a 0.3% drop. The worse-than-expected outcome could mean the Reserve Bank will cut its Official Cash Rate (OCR) more aggressively than was previously thought, economists said. In an interview with Newstalk ZB's Mike Hosking this morning, Willis was asked what she expects from the Reserve Bank to address the situation. “I will very shortly be announcing a new governor for the Reserve Bank. Obviously, we've had a chair change at the Reserve Bank. We are refreshing that institution and I think that is very good indeed,” Willis said. She would not give a specific date for the announcement, instead describing it as happening “very shortly”. She confirmed she knew who the new Governor is. Christian Hawkesby is the current Acting Governor of the Reserve Bank. He was appointed to a six-month term in April following Adrian Orr's resignation in March. Willis told Hosking Kiwis shouldn't get down about the latest drop in GDP and we mustn't talk our way into a recession. She says we shouldn't overreact to a bad quarter – we've got to keep playing the full game, dig in, and do the things that are needed to grow the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's on the defensive, after the latest sharp drop in GDP. The economy's contracted 0.9 percent in the June quarter - far more than anyone was expecting. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper weighed in on the latest data - and speculated about when things could improve. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New GDP figures are set to be unveiled tomorrow, and there's concerns from experts that the economy is struggling. The upcoming GDP data is projected to show an economy under pressure, as earlier forecasts of an incoming rebound look less and less likely. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Finance Minister is trying to soften the blow and put things in perspective. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New GDP figures are set to be unveiled tomorrow, and there's concerns from experts that the economy is struggling. The upcoming GDP data is projected to show an economy under pressure, as earlier forecasts of an incoming rebound look less and less likely. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Finance Minister is trying to soften the blow and put things in perspective. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 49, our guest is Sky Television’s sports commentator Tony Johnson. As you might imagine, we’re talking sport, but we’re also chatting about the country’s highways, the Sounds murders and Prostate Cancer. Like many young sports mad kids of his time, Tony Johnson lay awake in the wee small hours, listening under the bed covers to radio commentaries of the All Blacks playing on the other side of the world. There, to the tones of commentator Bob Irvine, a love of radio was born. He grew up in the idyllic surroundings of the Marlborough Sounds, and as his father drove his delivery vessel around the famous waterways, those peninsulas and islands became his playground. A Radio New Zealand cadet programme launched the young Johnson in an industry that would see him become a household name. He talks of lucky breaks leading to opportunities, but one gets the impression that his modesty is underplaying the impact he was making, even at a young age. After four years overseas working as a news and sports journalist for Radio New Zealand, he returned home to stints as a sports presenter with the Paul Holmes breakfast on Newstalk ZB, and as TV3’s sports anchor, before his dream job came along. And so, twenty five years ago he joined Sky TV’s commentary team. As you might expect, this is a high energy and fun discussion about sport. Of course there are the All Blacks, who Johnson has toured with 25 times, but we also share a bird’s eye view of the America’s Cup, Wimbledon and his numerous appearances at the Olympic Games. Like all good media people, Tony Johnson is a storyteller. He talks fondly of memories of his late father and the special affection he has for the rebuilt Kaikoura highway on State Highway 1. There’s even a unique interchange with America’s Cup legend Dennis Conner that most of us won’t have known about. And then there was the afternoon out boating in the Marlborough Sounds with friends on New Years Eve in 1997, a day which culminated in a few hours at the famed Furneaux Lodge, on the same evening that Ben Smart and Olivia Hope disappeared, in what has become one of the country’s most intriguing murder cases. On the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast Tony Johnson shares with Bruce Cotterill that his career hasn’t all been plain sailing and he is refreshingly open about his health challenges, He’s had mobility issues since his late twenties, the result of a neurological condition. And a prostate cancer diagnosis seven years ago has led to him using his profile as an ambassador of Blue September. And the message could not be made more clear. Fellas, get a regular check up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders will no longer be able to look to adopt children from overseas and bring them home from this week. The Government's Adoption Amendment Bill's been introduced under urgency, and will suspend recognition of unsafe international adoptions to prevent harm. It also restricts the Family Court from granting adoptions where the adoptive parent or child are overseas. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks the bill - and reveals why the changes are the way to go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of the 2025 edition of World of Wearable Art (WOW) at Wellington's TSB Arena, Newstalk ZB's Nick Mills is chatting to some of the key figures, both on stage and behind the scenes. Nick sat down with Leonie Trathen, who first modelled for the show in 1990, and is now wardrobe and activations manager for the design competition. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's running its eyes over rules for big events at Eden Park - hoping to attract more money to Auckland. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says the Government will investigate changing the rules if they hinder economic growth. Currently, only 12 music events and 25 night-time sports fixtures can be held each year, while conferences can't have more than 2000 people. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's likely the Government will move ahead with these changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Knox is one of the country's most esteemed authors, known best for her novels ‘Vintner's Luck' and ‘The Absolute Book'. She's also a dab hand at essay collections and young adult stories, though it had been over a decade since she last wrote for a younger audience. That changed with the release of ‘Kings of this World', a young adult novel focused on the sole survivor of a cult massacre. The book is a long time coming, Knox having written it over the span of several years. “I had the bad habit of writing several books at the same time,” she told Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame. “I developed the strategy when I had a lot of distractions in my life, and I decided to distract myself, so I had some power over that.” “And then I came out of it and thought I'd solved the problem and could always keep doing that, but no,” she told Tame. “Bad habit.” Writing young adult fiction is not dissimilar to writing for adults, but there is one central principle Knox abides by when writing for younger audiences. “You can't deprive the readers of hope,” she explained. “With that in mind, I was able to write a, you know, pretty scary thriller, and I don't think that young readers need to be defended from suspense and fear and things like that.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former All Blacks wing Cory Jane has emphasised the importance of aerial kicking battles in international rugby and says the All Blacks must improve their technique under the high ball. It comes after the All Blacks and Springboks were pinged several times for shepherding on the back of contestable kicks, as the All Blacks extended their unbeaten Eden Park streak to 51 games last weekend. Speaking on Newstalk ZB's Weekend Sport with Jason Pine, Jane said with World Rugby cracking down on players shielding teammates catching high balls, “the importance of technique is back”. “I think there are too many guys jumping in the air and turning their bodies, turning their hips. And most teams that are chasing are just jumping to try to whack the ball back, they're actually not trying to catch the ball. “So, you have to be better with your technique and by that I mean being square into the collision. You're allowed to protect yourself with your knee jumping up and being nice and square, and guys should be able to back themselves to catch the ball.” The 53-test All Black said better technique would also lead to safer collisions. “If you turn your body and your knees a little bit sideways and you get hit you could fall on the back of your head, you can flip over the guy, so it's also a little bit of safety for the catcher to get back to a better technique.” Cory Jane says with World Rugby cracking down on players shielding teammates catching high balls, “the importance of technique is back”. Photo / Photosport Asked how tempting it is to look at defenders rushing at you while you're waiting to catch a high-ball, Jane said “you know that they're coming and you can feel them coming when you're watching the ball”. “You should do your homework. I know when I played a long, long time ago, you knew which wingers were chasing and how they like to attack the ball.” Jane said teams are also using a box kick as a weapon now, seeing it as an opportunity to put their opposition under pressure. “If you're playing with the ball and you're going eight, 10, 15 phases and you're not making any inroads into the defence, you can put yourself under pressure. So you see it at international level ... the box kicking or the kicking can take a little bit of pressure off your attack, can put pressure back on to the catching team and then you can put them under pressure with your defence.” He thought the All Blacks would opt for more running rugby in Wellington on Saturday night after being engaged in a kick-heavy affair in Auckland last weekend. “I don't think they'll want to continue to go into box kicks and play, I guess, the way that South Africa have played the game, but it's a great way to not put yourself under pressure.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We talk politics with Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent about 9/11, Tom Phillips, Tākuta Ferris, and Stuart Nash.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, I wonder how those netball players who complained about Dame Noeline feel today, because what they've done has probably, let's be honest, ended her career. And also brought out a swell of support that I can't imagine they foresaw. Silver Ferns legend Laura Langman's gone on social media and called this 'the saddest day in New Zealand netball history'. Gordon Tietjens, the Sevens rugby legend, called us at Newstalk ZB to convey his support for Dame Noels, and former coach Yvonne Willering says Noels is not old school at all and she does listen to her players. Now, the details of what has happened to get to this point are fairly sketchy. Everybody's trying to keep things quiet, but what we know is that two players complained on behalf of a group of players and that sparked a review - and that review has led to her being stood down. And what these players have complained about is her communication style, and that they were 'psychologically unsafe'. Now, you can probably figure out what's going on here, can't you? We've got a generational problem, don't we? This looks to me like a generation of young players who don't like tough feedback and hard words. For whatever reason that is, I don't know - maybe because they are the generation raised through gentle parenting techniques where mum and dad didn't want to have to say no to them, so didn't say no to them, didn't want to tell them they're being bad kids and being naughty. And maybe they're the generation that came through the education system, the current one, where everyone gets a pass and no one experiences failure. They are the ones who've gone and complained because they're 'psychologically unsafe'. To which I think most of us who've experienced a little bit of life and didn't go through this nonsense with parenting and schooling would say - do you know what you need to do? You need to grow up, you need to get hard, life is tough. You're an elite athlete, if your welfare is getting in the way of your excellence, get out of the squad. Unfortunately for us, the person who is out of the squad is someone who understands excellence and has actually achieved a hell of a lot of excellence. And unfortunately, she will probably stay out of the squad, even though she's only been stood down at the moment. I mean, think about it - I can't see her coming back in. If they have to pick between one coach and several players, they're gonna choose the several players, aren't they? And frankly, I don't think that Dame Noels should want to come back - because if her excellence and her skills aren't appreciated by this generation of players, why bother? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Māori's co-leaders are silent during widespread criticism of one of their MPs social media posts, labelled 'racist' by some. Tākuta Ferris posted a video, saying it's unacceptable for other ethnicities to campaign to take a Maori seat from Maori. The party apologised in the past for a previous social media post with a similar sentiment. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper has labelled these comments 'painful' and 'infuriating'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The four-year long manhunt for Phillips and his three children ended early yesterday morning - when police shot and killed him in rural Waikato. One of his children was found with him, and the other two were located at a campsite in dense bush. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper said Police Commissioner Richard Chambers weighed in on the case during a 'sombre' press conference. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has voiced concerns about the missing children of Marokopa man Tom Phillips. Phillips was shot dead by police this morning, concluding a four-year manhunt, but two of his children are belived to be unaccompanied in the bush. Luxon hasn't been briefed on any specific locations the police think the children might be. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon's reflected on the concerns the country must be feeling. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A number of police resources have been deployed to try and find Marokopa fugitive Tom Phillips' two missing children before it gets dark - after he was shot dead by an officer in the Waikato this morning. A quad bike being ridden by him and one of his children was stopped by police spikes after a burglary in Piopio. An approaching officer was then shot multiple times, including in the head, and is receiving surgery on his eye. A second officer arrived at the scene and shot the gunman dead. Newstalk ZB reporter Jordan Dunn says the authorities will be conducting this search 'meticulously' and 'strategically', as there's a good chance the missing children aren't alone. "They do say that there's a good chance they're alone, but the key there is that they're not making assumptions. They're going out there as if there is the possibility that they are being aided." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green MP Benjamin Doyle has resigned from parliament – citing threats against them and their family as the reason behind this decision. They served as New Zealand's first non-binary member of parliament and will give their final valedictory on September 18th. The fallout from a controversial social media post followed Doyle through their time as an MP, and senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the controversy was more impactful than Doyle's time in parliament. ‘The only thing they've done is be the first non-binary person that's entered the corridors of power in parliament, and that's about it.' LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defence Minister Judith Collins has just returned from visiting Ukraine - and says she's seen first-hand the heartbreaking human cost of war to its people. She says Russia's illegal invasion's brought misery and destruction to the Ukrainian people for three and a half long years. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacked the trip further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's showed off its newest weapons in a major military parade in Beijing marking the end of World War Two. President Xi Jinping oversaw the event in Tiananmen Square, with Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin by his side. Former Prime Ministers Sir John Key and Helen Clark were in attendance. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper discussed the event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's been plenty of debate about New Zealand's future in the Paris Agreement, following some comments made by David Seymour. The ACT leader wants New Zealand to pull out of the global climate agreement, unless the targets are realistic. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon won't withdraw from the agreement - at least not until the 2026 election is over. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister has revealed tech-giant Amazon is investing $7.5 billion into New Zealand. Speaking exclusively to Newstalk ZB, Christopher Luxon says Amazon Web Services is scheduled to be announcing the investment. He told Mike Hosking it will create up to a thousand jobs, and make an $11 billion boost to GDP. Luxon says it's probably the largest ever publicly announced technology investment in New Zealand by an international tech firm. Speaking of international investors, the Prime Minister wants foreign investors to feel comfortable here so they invest more. New rules mean Active Investor Plus visa holders can now buy or build one home in New Zealand if it's worth at least $5 million. They'll still need to invest another $5 million separately, as part of the visa's criteria. Luxon told Hosking everything will fall into place for these investors once they have a house here. He says it's not just about the first $5-10 million they're spending, it's what comes after that when they start seeing more investment opportunities. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coalition's confident allowing certain wealthy foreign buyers to buy a home won't drive up house prices. It's agreed to pass changes, allowing people on an Active Investor Plus visa to buy or build one home in New Zealand - worth a minimum of $5 million. The visa requires an additional investment of at least $5 million, on top of the price of the home. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says these changes make sense for investors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Luxon doesn't think the Reserve Bank's reputation has suffered any long-term damage. Neil Quigley resigned as chair of the central bank on Friday night, after Nicola Willis raised concerns over its handling of Adrian Orr's resignation earlier this year. Willis has revealed to Newstalk ZB, she would have asked Quigley to resign, if he hadn't resigned of his own accord. The Prime Minister says Quigley has made the right decision. He doesn't think the current situation is a mess, but it would have been a shambles if it had carried out much longer. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB's senior political correspondent talks politics and the loss of a great mate and a great Kiwi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether it's the government, international organisations, higher education, or the media, one of the defining dynamics of the social media age is the deteriorating trust in public institutions. It's extraordinary, really. At a time when humans are on the whole wealthier, healthier, and more dominant than at any other time in our species' history, we're more distrustful of the institutions that are supposed to serve us. Saturday Mornings is usually a monetary policy-free zone, and I promise to mostly keep it that way for now. But it was pretty remarkable at the close of play last night to see an announcement from the Finance Minister about the Chair of the Reserve Bank. Neil Quigley had resigned, effective immediately, following further revelations about his handling of former Governor Adrian Orr's departure. Nicola Willis confirmed to Newstalk ZB that if Quigley hadn't offered his resignation, she'd have asked for it. I don't expect everyone to follow all of the Reserve Bank dramas. But the long and short of it is that former Governor Adrian Orr got in a dispute with the government over the bank's funding. It turned into a showdown of sorts, the Reserve Bank Board raised concerns with him about his conduct (some of which he disputed), and after taking leave for a few days he ultimately resigned. But instead of being absolutely transparent about the dispute and what had actually happened, the RBNZ Chair Neil Quigley told media that Orr had resigned for “personal reasons”. If this was just some rando then no harm no foul. But Adrian Orr was the Governor of the Reserve Bank, one of the most powerful public servants in the country. His pen stroke and the decisions of his Monetary Policy Committee could be the difference between thousands or hundreds of thousands of people losing their jobs or homes. Like many journalists, I didn't buy the “personal reasons” explanation and felt we all deserved to know more detail about what had actually happened. Ater all, this wasn't a private company. The Reserve Bank serves us. After Neil Quigley's explanation, and after the Reserve Bank declined for Adrian Orr to be interviewed, I even went to the extreme length of sending him a letter at his home asking him to front. It's something I'd almost never do, but the public deserved an explanation. And it's taken until now and a ruling from the ombudsman for us to get the full story. I think there are lessons in this for all of us who work in jobs that purport to serve the public. In my role, I think about trust a lot. And look, I know this is very different to the Reserve Bank, much lower stakes, but I had the chance to reflect on my own work this week, and tried to lean into the spirit of introspection and openness. I was on a podcast, re_covering, in which Newstalk ZB's Frank Ritchie asks journalists to reflect on a story they covered. I didn't choose one which I'd absolutely nailed. Instead, I reflected on my five years as TVNZ's US Correspondent, and on my surprise at the first election of Donald Trump. As I said on re_covering, the fact so many of us were so shocked by the result (including Trump!) shows I and the rest of the news media covering that election had done a massively insufficient job of reflecting the scale of the anger and dissatisfaction with the status quo in the US. That election changed the world. Ultimately, I hope reflecting on my surprise will make me more sceptical of conventional wisdom, and better at my job today. Humans are fallible. We all make mistakes. But the Reserve Bank episode demonstrates the best thing a public institution can do to protect its reputation is not try and protect its reputation. Just admit when you got things wrong. Admit things that make you look bad. Learn lessons the hard way. Convince the public you have nothing to hide by showing us you have nothing to hide. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The initial construction of Transmission Gully is being described as a 'dog's breakfast' as the chipseal and drainage systems prove unable to cope with demand. Newstalk ZB revealed yesterday that NZTA is planning to re-surface and rebuild several kilometres of the road north of Porirua, likely meaning lane closures during the day and full closures at night. Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking the road was rushed and opened without all consents being satisfied. He says New Zealand is not that experienced in building big projects, as things keep getting switched on and switched off. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.