Early Edition on Newstalk ZB

Electoral paperwork is landing two MPs in hot water. 

The Greens have referred suspended MP Darleen Tana to the Electoral Commission for failing to put a promoter statement on a magazine advertorial. 

The party itself is investigating what she knew about allegations of migrant exploitation relating to her husband's business. 

At the same time, National has stripped MP David MacLeod of...

Passengers have described their terror when a Singapore Airlines flight from London to Singapore dropped suddenly.  

A 73-year-old British man has died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of others were injured.  

A statement from the airline says 23 of the 211 passengers were from New Zealand.  

Flight SQ321 was diverted to Bangkok.  

UK correspondent Gavin Grey told...

Police response times in Australia’s Northern Territory have gotten worse. 

A domestic violence inquest has heard that police response times have increased in the past year, more than doubling over the previous five. 

NT Police Commissioner Michael Murphy revealed that between 2022 and 2023, the number of hours spent on domestic violence cases increased from 712,000 to 882,000, costs increasing wit...

Local councils want a new approach to move decision making away from central government and back into communities. 

Local Government New Zealand is proposing city and regional deals, a system which would see councils team up with the government on specific projects. 

Whanganui Mayor Andrew Tripe told Mike Hosking that it will give more control to local communities. 

He says communitie...

The death of Iran's President isn't expected to have immediate impacts internationally. 

President Ebrahim Raisi and the foreign minister have been confirmed dead by state media after a helicopter crash near the Azerbaijan border. 

Iran has announced five days of public mourning. 

Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman told Mike Hosking reaction will come dow...

Immediate changes are in store for Kainga Ora, in light of a critical independent review. 

It found the public housing agency needs significant savings to become financially viable. 

Housing Minister Chris Bishop's indicated a total refresh of the board but rules out a mass sell-off of state houses. 

Community Housing Aotearoa Deputy CEO, Chris Glaudel told Mike Hosking that the repor...

A sellout crowd is certain as it's just one day til Wellington Phoenix chants ring out across the city. 

The nix are playing the Melbourne Victory at a packed Cake Tin. 

Excitement's been building up in the capital about the A-League semifinal clash, as the team goes into the second leg on a nil-all aggregate score, at home. 

Weekend Sport host Jason Pine told Mike Hosking that he get...

King Charles has been attending garden parties as he returns to public duties.  

The monarch returned to work in late April, about two months after it was announced he was being treated for cancer.  

UK correspondent Vincent McAviney told Mike Hosking that he appeared in good spirits at the garden parties this past week.  

He says hundreds of people are invited to the parties, which h...

The Workplace Relations and Safety Minister's being urged to address the huge cost of workplace bullying. 

A report by the Human Rights Commission and KPMG has found the cost of bullying and harassment to employers is about $1.5 billion a year. 

Equal Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Karanina Sumeo told Mike Hosking that Minister Brooke van Velden wants to look at health and safety laws and...

Federated Farmers says most farmers are looking at Fonterra's change in strategy with cautious optimism.   

The dairy giant's signalled its intent to divest well-known brands such as Anchor and overseas brands Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka.  

It wants to focus on producing ingredients and selling them to consumers and other businesses.  

Federated Farmers Dairy Chair Richard...

After months of goading, Donald Trump has his wish. 

Joe Biden has finally agreed to presidential debates, but on a different schedule. 

He released a video on social media earlier today saying that he’s ready to debate, and that Trump is available on Wednesdays, referring to the day that Trump’s hush money trial is not in session. 

US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Roman Travers tha...

Hundreds of appointments and surgeries have been cancelled as junior doctors begin another strike. 

They’re continuing to fight for better pay and work conditions.  

More than 2000 doctors walked off the job at 7am for the second time in two weeks, the strike planned to last two days. 

Sarah Dalton, Executive Director of the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, told Roman Trav...

There's a small silver lining for regional councils amid slowing local economic growth. 

The March Infometrics Monitor reveals economic activity has increased just 0.2% over a year, the slowest growth since the first Covid-19 lockdown. 

Building consents have dropped almost 60% in the Tasman District and fell around 25% for all regions. 

Tasman District Mayor Tim King told Roman Trave...

Labour's anticipating many Kiwi police officers will take up New South Wales' incentivised offer. 

The state is 1500 officers short and has announced it'll fast-track New Zealand officers as recruits. 

Training requirements will be shortened and Kiwis with at least seven years' experience can keep their current rank, up to senior constable.  

Labour's Spokesperson on Police, Ginny And...

With any promise there’s always an element of wiggle room, misinterpretation, or perhaps reversing out at high speed. 

Although I have huge admiration for anyone who keeps their word and sticks to a promise verbatim, the coalition government’s promise of tax cuts isn’t a promise I’m happy for them to keep. 

Anyone who only heard that promise in the runup to the election and based their voting decis...

A UK study has found that obesity jabs could reduce health risks. 

Researchers looked at semaglutide, otherwise known as Wegovy and Ozempic, and found that the weekly shots could reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. 

It was found to benefit cardiovascular health even if the user didn’t lose much weight. 

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Roman Travers that it’s too early to sa...

If you feel as though you’ve been living in some kind of whack job, futuristic Netflix series when it comes to this country’s deplorable attitude to crime and our increasingly farcical judicial system you were probably suitably blown away by yesterday’s announcement by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. 

Finally, there is good news. Finally, there’s hope that we’ll get to re-establish more than a modicum of cont...

It's thought the Christchurch Call's refresh is in-line with technology's rapid evolution. 

The call —designed to battle online extremism and hate content— is becoming a foundation. 

Taxpayer funding ends in July. 

Dame Jacinda Ardern will become patron, rather than New Zealand's special envoy. 

Gorilla Tech Chief Executive Paul Spain told Roman Travers that the tech wor...

Some police officers are sceptical about the Government's new crackdown on gangs. 

The Police Minister and Police Commissioner have announced the establishment of a new National Gang Unit. 

It'll have around 30 people and up to seven ring-fenced officers in each police district. 

Police Association President Chris Cahill told Roman Travers that if it doesn't have more funding, you're ...