The Government has announced 140 new hospital beds across the country to ease pressure on emergency departments.

These beds will be part of new wards in Middlemore, Waikato, Wellington, and Nelson hospitals, alongside the new Hawke's Bay ward announced earlier in the year.

Health Minister Simeon Brown says operational funding for the 350 extra staff that will be needed, has already been approved.

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Christopher Luxon is wrapping up his trip to APEC and ASEAN today.

The Prime Minister met with a range of world leaders, even having his hair complimented by Donald Trump, and having dinner with the Canadian and Australian Prime Ministers and the South Korean president.

APEC and ASEAN represent about 60 to 70% of the world's economy, so even casual meeting would have been significant for Luxon and New Zealand.

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Last Thursday was the largest protest New Zealand has had for decades, a combined strike across multiple public sector groups including PSA members and PPTA members.

It certainly sent a message, but that message depends on who you ask. While many sympathise with the issues the public sector is facing, many have also dubbed it 'the start of a five day weekend' for teachers.

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The Prime Minister is off to the East Asia Summit in Malaysia today, before he heads to South Korea to attend the APEC summit.

Xi Jinping will be in attendence, and he's due to meet with President Donald Trump on the 30th of October.

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More strike action from teachers this week, with a full national strike planned for Thursday.

Minister for Public Service Judith Collins says that the number one item on the agenda for the PPTA at a recent meeting with the Government was Palestine, not pay or education.

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From tomorrow, beneficiaries will need to comply with two more obligations to continue receiving welfare.

They will need to provide evidence of at least three job searches a week for four weeks, and attend employment-related training courses for at least five hours a week for four weeks.

The sanctions are aimed at increasing employability, but critics think it's punishing beneficiaries for being out of work.

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42 councils have held referendums on Māori wards - 17 areas have voted to keep them, while 25 have voted to remove.

The wards have been a flashpoint for debate - there were protesters in Kaipara last year when council voted to remove it.

Te Pāti Māori has described the decision to remove the wards as “racist, targeted attack on Māori, for being Māori” and that it's "an assault on Te Tiriti"

Last year, David Seymour said he'd vote against keeping Maori wards if his council held a referendum - on the basis that New Zealand is made up of people from all walks of life.

He speaks to Tim Beveridge...

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Thousands of teenagers could have their Jobseeker benefit cut next year, as the Government restricts payments.

Eighteen and 19-year-olds without children must pass a Parental Assistance Test to qualify from November 2026.

The threshold will be set at just over $65,000.

Social Development Minister Louise Upston told Tim Beveridge it's the same as the Supported Living Payment, and similar to the Student Allowance test.

She says those on very low incomes below that would not be able to support these teenagers.

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