See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US President Donald Trump has increased New Zealand's tariff from 10% to 15%.

This increase comes as Australia remains on the previous 10%, prompting questions around the New Zealand government's handling of negotiations.

Former trade negotiator Stephen Jacobi told Heather duPlessis-Allan that this increase could have a bigger impact than many people realise.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ on Air has its fingers crossed its financial support of Shortland St won't be forever.

New Zealand's longest-running drama's been granted 2.5 million in funding for its 2026 season, to help the show transition to the audience's preference of online viewing.

NZ on Air CEO Cam Harland told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they also provided funding last year, but hoped it would assist the show moving to a more financially sustainable place.

But he says the economic environment for ad funded media hasn't improved.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New South Wales is celebrating its new programme - poaching cops from other states - and abroad.

21 experienced, poached, officers are graduating in the Australian state today - seven of them from New Zealand.

The New South Wales Police Minister, Yasmin Catley, is attributing it to a historic pay rise last year - making them the best paid officers in Australia.

Catley told Heather du Plessis-Allan she makes no apologies for taking police from elsewhere.

She says the graduates are looking forward to the endless opportunities in New South Wales.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, was our government too relaxed about the tariffs then?

Cause this is a shock today – isn't it? To find out that we’ve just been bumped up to 15% while Australia and dozens of other countries have stayed on 10%.

Now, it seems to be related, most likely, to our balance of trade and that the US has a trade deficit with us. So we get 15%, but then a trade surplus with Australia, so they get 10%. So perhaps it was inevitable and unavoidable, as long as the balance of trade sat like that.

But then, on the other hand, Australia did kind of lock that in as well. They lifted their ban on US beef imports while we did nothing. Should we have done something similar Because if there's one thing that we know about Donald Trump, it's that he's a trader.

South Korea had their tariff dropped from 25% to 15% by promising to buy $100 million worth of LNG. Sir Keir Starmer sucked up to Trump with a letter from King Charles.

Now we don’t actually know what our diplomats were doing, because they were fairly guarded about it. But the vibe that we kept getting from ministers and officials every time we asked about it was, ‘not a lot going on, we’ll see how this goes, we’re on 10%, we’re no worse than anyone else’

That’s the trouble, though. We are now worse than other people. We export beef to the US, Australia exports beef to the US. Their beef now gets 10%, ours gets 15%.

Now, we can argue about whether US consumers are really going to switch up their $11.50 New Zealand steak if the Aussie steak is only 50 cents cheaper. I mean, what's really the difference between $11.50 and $11? But I chose a butter last night because it was $1 cheaper than the other butter, so maybe they will, which brings me to the question that I asked at the start of this.

Were we too relaxed?

Because we definitely and quite deliberately opted for Winston's head below the parapet approach. But maybe what we should have done was opted for the same approach that Albanese and Starmer took, which is to suck up instead. Given where we are and where they are - both their countries are now on 10% and we're sitting on 15%.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Trade Minister's hitting the phones, as it's confirmed US tariffs on New Zealand will be higher than when they were first announced.

The Trump administration has confirmed base tariffs will now be 15 percent -- up from 10, in a decision that impacts countries including New Zealand.

It's believed the new rate applies to those with a trade deficit with the US.

Todd McClay told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he's seeking an urgent call with American representatives on this.

He says it's disappointing and challenging for exporters, and while there are opportunities, tariffs aren't good for trade.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand is facing a shortage of school board members, as only 60% of the 10,000 required spots have been filled.

School Board Association President Meredith Kennett says that it’s up to community members to get involved.

She told Heather duPlessis-Allan that, ‘it's important that communities continue to get engaged in their school.’

Although the numbers look sub-par now, Kennett says she is expecting a boost in numbers over the weekend.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Donald Trump's flown back to the US after a brief visit to Scotland, but he's revealed he's not done with the region just yet.

Trump expressed interest in leading Scotland after he's done with America - and said Scotland was full of 'fine people'.

UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's important not to underestimate Trump - given how the last 8-9 years have panned out.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.