Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There's growing worries measles is spreading undetected through the country. Three new cases in Manawatu and Nelson were announced yesterday, bringing the total of current infections to four. Health New Zealand hasn't been able to confirm how each became infected - and is warning of a potential national outbreak. Immunisation Advisory Centre medical director, Dr Nikki Turner, says four cases might not sound scary - but measles is highly infectious. "If we don't know it came from travel - then where did it come from? We do not want this bug spreading through our communities." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner is suggesting unions are striking to get it out of their system.  At least 100,000 workers in health, education and public service are walking off the job tomorrow, protesting pay and conditions.  Some picketing's moving indoors and some rallies cancelled in Wellington and Canterbury - with extreme bad weather looming.   Commissioner Sir Brian Roche says despite him being willing, unions haven't stepped up to negotiate for the most of the past two weeks.  "It just seems to me, based on my engagement with the unions, that they had to do this for reasons that escape me. I think it was all avoidable, it's extremely regrettable."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Public Service Commissioner's again sounding a negative note over New Zealand's major health and education strike tomorrow. About 100,000 union members across various sectors will stop work across the day - expressing frustration over pay and working conditions. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this is expected to be the biggest strike in New Zealand's history since the 1970s, with many unions expected to take part.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plans for a second Trump-Putin meeting to discuss the Ukraine war have been shelved, days after they were proposed. Last week, Trump said he and the Russian president would hold talks in Budapest to discuss the war in Ukraine. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says reports claim Russia isn't happy with some proposed terms. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

High Performance Sport NZ has quietly footed the bill for an independent review and player wellbeing support in the Silver Ferns' camp amid the ongoing Dame Noeline Taurua saga. While Netball NZ grapples with the fallout following Taurua's suspension, HPSNZ has offered funding, strategic advice, and resourcing behind the scenes. Sportstalk host Elliott Smith explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With gas prices going up all over the country, there's debate over whether households should make the switch to electricity.  Contact Energy recently revealed it's hiking gas prices by an average of 17 percent, as the decline in production has hit faster and harder than expected. Master Plumbers CEO Greg Wallace says making the switch is a big decision - and could set households back by thousands of dollars. "The costs are anything between five and a half to $10,000 dollars to change over, so that capital investment is a considerable investment, and that payback takes some time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Andrew has not paid rent on his Royal Lodge for more than two decades, according to a new release by The Crown Estate. The release of this tenancy agreement follows calls for transparency on Andrew's residence, on top of another week of scandal. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's suspected William wants to get ahead of a bigger mess before he becomes King. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour unveiled their first major policy a year out from the 2026 election, and it's prompted mixed reactions from experts. Some have lambasted the proposed New Zealand Future Fund for being light on details, and Labour has yet to confirm which public assets will be managed by this fund. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie offered his take on the proposed idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Tim Wilson from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day, and more!  Should the Public Service Commission be putting out ads about Thursdays' mega strike, in a bid to attack the unions? Should we be concerned here?  Sports Minister Mark Mitchell is weighing in on the Netball New Zealand v Dame Noeline Taurua saga, after Labour's Willie Jackson asked the Government to freeze Netball NZ's funding. What do we make of all this? A coroner is concerned no member of the public stepped in to help a girl that drowned in a public fountain in a busy park. What happened here? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Partially selling one of New Zealand's largest meat companies should give it much-needed capital, according to some. Farmer shareholders of Alliance Group voted to let Ireland's Dawn Meats buy a 65 percent stake in the company, for $270 million. The remaining 35 percent will still belong to the co-op. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.