Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

NZ Post is being criticised for its radio silence, after announcing it's withdrawing services from inside 142 stores.  Despite the changes, 90 percent of customers will still be within four kilometres of an NZ Post store.  Postal Workers' Union organiser John Maynard says NZ Post hasn't talked about the hubs being set up to provide good services.  He says it shouldn't be on the unions to promote the positives.  "It's one thing for the company to adjust to changing mail volumes and people's communication methods, but it's quite another to consistently act in a manner which undermines people's confidence in the postal service." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Right, it seems there’s a very good chance that Tauranga City Council is going to have the inquiry they’ve launched taken off them and run by the Government instead. The Government hasn’t actually said those words out loud just yet. What they have said is that there is a strong case for a Government inquiry. But you can read between the lines here - they’re preparing us, and probably most importantly preparing the Tauranga City Council, for the fact that they, the Government, are going to run this inquiry. And they should be the ones running it. The council can’t investigate its own actions like it’s planning to do. No one is going to believe the council if it concludes the council has done nothing wrong - if you follow what I’m saying. And there are plenty of reasons to think the council may actually have done quite a lot wrong here. From the 111 call they claimed wasn’t forwarded to them - until they realised, whoopsie, yes it was - through to reports that council staff were at the campground before the slip but didn’t evacuate everyone, to the possibility that they were involved in clearing trees above the slip site. Now that, by the way - the trees issue - is potentially quite significant. It looks very much, if you compare the photos, like trees, probably pōhutukawa, were cleared from the site above the slip sometime between 2017 and 2019, probably to stop myrtle rust. If this is what happened - if the council stuffed up by removing trees and not replacing them, when everyone knows that plants stabilise the ground, and if the council was warned about slips in the hours before they happened and ignored those warnings, then they should carry the can for that. I have seen - and I don’t know if you’ve been seeing this too - but I have seen too many councils, lately, get away with dropping the ball. Auckland Council having drinks while the city was flooding three years ago. Hawke’s Bay Regional Council being begged to open the bar to prevent Wairoa from flooding, not opening the bar, and - guess what - Wairoa flooded. If no one is ever blamed for the things they do wrong before an event, then nothing changes. So the Government’s on the right track here. They need to take over this inquiry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A move for schools to leave branded uniforms to reduce costs for parents. Some are calling for rules to be modernised - to let students wear plain, generic clothing. It's been done in countries like Puerto Rico for years. Albany Senior High School Principal, Claire Amos, says it’s increasingly common for Kiwi students to wear coloured items without logos or embroidery. "They're often pretty much the same as what was their uniform - it's just no longer logoed, it's just a simple culottes, or skirt, or pants, and a top."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The new year is well underway and people will be looking to get in shape, but one expert says not every social media trend is worth following on your fitness journey. Between the 75 Hard challenge and Zone 2 training, there are trends that work and trends that are less effective, depending on your level of fitness. Personal trainer Alex Flint says going too hard will lead to soreness, fatigue and late-night snacking, which can do more harm than good. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's considering a wider inquiry into last week's Mount Maunganui landslide tragedy. Six people remain missing - with recovery efforts slow faced by the unstable land, with floral tributes surrounding the cordon. Cabinet's discussing allocating funding to areas hard hit by severe weather. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell says he's spoken to Tauranga mayor Mahé Drysdale - but the council may still proceed with their own investigation.  "Obviously, they'll have to work through their own process in terms of what they want to do, but Mahé knows that we're committed to doing a Government inquiry." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parliament returned today for the first session of 2026, and the focus has turned to campaigning for the upcoming election. Hipkins and Luxon made their statements, with Luxon applauding the coalition's track record and Hipkins accusing the Government of being all about slogans, not delivery. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper recapped the debate. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, a 31-year-old man was charged after a homemade bomb was thrown into a crowd at an Invasion Day rally in Perth yesterday. The man was charged with committing an unlawful act with the intent to harm, and making explosives under suspicious circumstances, and he's set to appear in court later this week.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the bomb was reportedly made out of ball bearings, screws and liquid in a glass container - with investigations still ongoing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A child psychologist thinks social media use is hindering young men from making friends.  Data from Outward Bound shows one in four young men tell them they have no close friends.  Psychologist Sara Chatwin says that's abnormal against historic behavioural patterns. But she says her profession's seeing the trend firsthand and social media is making the young passive and isolated.  "It means that they're just sitting there and looking at stuff and roaming around and allowing algorithms to lead them down rabbit holes. They're not actively seeking out friendships." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks head coaching vacancy came too late for Vern Cotter's consideration. The Blues head coach will switch to the Queensland Reds for the 2027 and 2028 Super Rugby seasons. Cotter meets NZR's criteria, having coached Fiji and Scotland, but was blindsided Scott Robertson's axing. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, policing efforts are set to see a significant shakeup with the launch of a new 'British FBI'. The UK Government unveiled plans for a new National Police Service designed to take on fraud, cyber-crime, and terrorism, leaving local police to focus on everyday issues.  UK correspondent Mike Pearse says the National Police Service will work with police forces worldwide to bring down crime. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.