Larry Williams Drive

ANZ has followed in ASB's footsteps in lifting mortgage and term deposit rates. Most of the increases target mortgages with two or more years, raising most of those rates by 20 basis points. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says ANZ is blaming rising wholesale interest rates and inflation for these hikes- but it's tough to say if this is a justification.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several Kiwi businesses are feeling the impacts of a tougher economic climate as they report their earnings. Significant cost inflation and rising interest rates have impacted demand, and New Zealand's biggest companies aren't immune to the associated cost challenges. Milford Asset Management portfolio manager Mark Riggall says it's gotten harder for businesses to offset input prices with consumer demand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's highlighting controversial comments by ACT Party candidates. Rangitata candidate Elaine Naidu Franz has stood down after revelations she'd likened Covid vaccines to Nazi concentration camps. In the House, Seymour asked Chris Hipkins if his promise of a rigorous campaign means mis-characterising remarks by other parties- and Hipkins fired back. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the accusation that ACT's being propped up by anti-vaxxers will be the next controversy sticking to the Party. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has added a Cyclone Gabrielle provision into their controversial bright-line taxation rules. It was revealed yesterday some cyclone-affected homes would be caught up by the bright-line test, which charges a capital gains tax on properties sold within 10 years of being purchased. Tax adviser Bruce Bernacchi says this provision only covers those who accepted a buyout from central Government or regional authorities. "It still doesn't address the issue, for example, of people who can't live in their house because their house has been cyclone-damaged and they're out of it for 12 months while it gets repaired." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Government is considering a rule change that would see employers banned from contacting employees outside their working hours. Under the proposed amendment to fair work laws, employees would have the legal right to ignore calls, texts and emails from their bosses off the clock- unless they're being compensated. Australian careers expert Sue Ellson says she approves of the concept, but it comes with 'challenging' practical applications.  "Clearly, there's a lot of people who feel they are always on, and that's been exacerbated by the idea of working from home. For a lot of people, the lines between work and home have become blurred." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former National staffer says diversity is an aspect of the Party's list ranking selections.Dunedin-based List MP Michael Woodhouse said 'diversity won' - and told the Otago Daily Times he lost a contest between diversity and experience. But he denies the paper's reports he also said being male cost him his spot. Former staffer Ben Thomas says there are several ways to get into caucus, and Woodhouse fit none. "The first one is to be part of his Cabinet considerations, the second one is to help with the diversity, and the third way is to win an electorate seat." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure on ACT over past anti-vaccine comments posted by candidates. Elaine Naidu Franz has resigned after creating a post comparing vaccine mandates to Nazi  concentration camps. Another candidate, Darren Gilchrist, has apologised for suggesting drownings were connected to the vaccine. A third candidate called Covid-19 a ScamDemic. ACT Leader David Seymour says the Nazi comment is unacceptable- and says he just disagrees with the others. "If we're going to have purity tests and beat people down and have a 'right way' of thinking, that won't work. Because a whole lot of people, if they don't have the fashionable view, will find democracy's closed off to them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow is D-Day for scientists releasing treated nuclear wastewater from the Fukushima plant into the Pacific Ocean. It'll be done over the course of 30 years. A tsunami and earthquake in 2011 caused the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. It's caused one cancer death, but long-term studies are needed to reveal other radiation related fatalities. Curtin University Physics Professor Nigel Marks says dumping the water mightn't be politically popular - but it's scientifically sound. "They've looked at in in great detail, and there's no question that it's an acceptable thing to do. The real problem is the social and political conception." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The race is on to pick a future Republican presidential candidate- but front-runner Donald Trump is set to skip a key debate. Trump won't join the eight hopefuls gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin tomorrow, and he explained on social media that the public 'already knew' what he could offer. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Trump is set to appear on Tucker Carlson's online show that night- which may steal attention away from the upcoming debate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns not enough is being done to meet demands of an aging population. A report from commercial real estate company JLL says an extra 22,000 retirement village units are needed by 2033, a 33 percent annual increase.It says demand's on track to be met, in terms of construction and planning. The Aged Care Association's Katherine Rich says she's worried there won't be enough beds. "We'd need another 13 and a half thousand by the end of this decade, and the Government has no plan. The problem is, they keep issuing loss-making contracts, so providers are closing their doors and not building enough." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It pains me to say this, it really does, but unfortunately for Michael Woodhouse- diversity does matter in politics, as much as I hate that it does. I think Michael Woodhouse has been treated poorly. There are other white men who work less hard than him and should’ve been bumped down the National Party list instead. But he’s been punished because he’s not in right friendship group in National, and he’s a bloke. That’s really what it comes down to. Now, the Nats will try to avoid admitting that he’s been punted down the list for being a bloke, because they know that heaps of their voters don’t like this kind of diversity nonsense. But that’s absolutely part of what’s happened. Luxon’s been banging on about the need for diversity since before the Tauranga by-election, where the spot to be National’s candidate was fought over by four white men in suits. They got so much grief for that- so Luxon ramped up the calls. Now, of the top 30 on the National list- 15 are women, just like Labour. Six sitting male MPs have

Outrage in the UK as Lucy Letby refused to appear in court for sentencing after she murdered 7 babies. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak labelled her a 'coward' and confirmed the Government plans to change the law to compel convicts to attend sentencing. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this trial has lasted 10 months, and experts should have guessed Letby would do this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Labour has dropped to 29 percent in the latest 1News Verian poll. National is up 2 points to 37 percent- and can form a coalition with ACT's 13 percent. How low can Labour go before the election? Can they turn their luck around? Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has defected to help the Wallabies, shocking rugby fans across the country. Is this a wise move on his part- or is he betraying New Zealand? Labour are under fire for modifying the bright-line test, against advice from a select committee at the time. Someone who leaves their house more than a year could get taxed, even if their kids or spouse stay in the home. Was this deliberate?  LISTEN ABOVE    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US sheep farmers are calling for further tariffs to be imposed on New Zealand sheep meat imports in order to save their industry. Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor has expressed concern over this bid, and the ministry has approached the relevant US agencies. The Country's Jamie Mackay says domestic lamb and mutton production is down 60 percent in the US, and farmers have been taking a hit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the other side of the Tasman, Australians are wondering how much further interest rates can rise. Australia's current OCR is sitting at 4.10 percent, and economists are predicting the RBA will hike interest rates again before the year is out. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says inflation is likely to persist longer, and the Reserve Bank will have to lift interest rates by the fourth quarter of 2023. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Villa Maria’s Māngere operations will start shutting down this October and will affect a total of 14 roles, owner Indevin announced today. Indevin Group, who acquired Villa Maria in 2021, said the decision follows a three-month review into its Māngere operations after the company announced it will move half of Villa Maria’s bottling to the UK next February. The Māngere plant will start decommissioning in October and is expected to continue until next April, the company announced. BusinessDesk managing editor, Pattrick Smellie, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss the move. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour and Chris Hipkins took a significant tumble in a recent political poll. The 1News Verian poll puts the incumbent party down 4 points to 29 percent, while National gained 2 points to 37 percent. National could now form a winning coalition with ACT's 13 percent. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is part of a wider trend, as Labour has descended in the last several political polls. "Polling at 29 percent- it's a follow on from a number of political polls. Roy Morgan put them on 26 percent, the Guardian Essential poll had them on 29, the Curia poll had them on 27 percent." LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi entrepreneur and Zuru co-founder Anna Mowbray has launched a new app designed for the younger wave of job-seekers. Dubbed as 'Tinder for jobs', ZEIL allows candidates to easily browse through and save jobs they're interested in applying for. Mowbray explains that the app will connect job-seekers and employers in a more engaging, enjoyable and intuitive way.  "What's really incredible as well is that organisations can showcase themselves in a completely different light. Rather than Seek or Trademe being the heroes when you advertise a job, it's the organisation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have admitted that the information they released following the disappearance of a 12-year-old girl was 'inappropriate'. The girl went missing from Auckland's Bucklands Beach on August 11, and turned up safe 8 days later. Independent victim advocate Ruth Money criticised the police releasing her name and picture, saying the public release of this information will affect her re-integration into society.  "She's not done anything wrong, the alleged person who'd allegedly taken her or encouraged her, manipulated her, coerced her to leave or remove herself from her family environment may well have committed a crime." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Backlash throughout New Zealand's rugby community as Sir Steve Hansen takes on a role across the ditch. The former All Blacks coach has joined the Australians in France as the Wallabies gear up to complete their tournament preparation against the World Cup hosts this weekend. Former All Black Josh Kronfeld says it's common for coaches to offer their services across the world once their time is up. "My understanding is- Steve and Eddie have always kept up a bit of a relationship outside of their rugby warfare. It seems kind of logical, in a lot of respects, for Steve to go over and give him a helping hand- and feed his pockets." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.