Labour’s Chris Hipkins and National’s Christopher Luxon will face-off in the first televised debate next Tuesday.
Massey University Politics Professor Richard Shaw says the impact on swing and undecided voters from the debates, could be significant.
FARMERS FEEL THE PINCH
A warning to dairy farmers that financial challenges will continue, as the Chinese market isn’t expected to re-balance in the short-term.
However, Rabobank’s latest Global Dairy Quarterly report makes it clear the pain won’t last forever.
It says there’s a possibility a demand resurgence could emerge well before milk output can recover, due to lower global prices stemming supply growth in key dairy production regions.
Report co-author Emma Higgins says there’s no doubt farmers are being challenged, with low forecast milk prices, below production costs, for many.
FLOOD RECOVERY FEEDBACK
Auckland’s Deputy Mayor is encouraging people to have their say on the proposed flood recovery package.
The two billion dollar proposed package is to be 50/50 funded between the council and Government.
It includes a buyout of damaged properties, repairs to the transport network and building future resilience.
Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson says Aucklanders will be able to give feedback on how the package should be paid for over the next 10 days.
DEATH TOLL CLIMBING
The scale of the disaster in Libya remains unclear, days after two catastrophic dam collapses.
The death toll has now exceeded 5300, with the Red Cross saying at least 10,000 people are missing after catastrophic flooding in the port city of Derna.
Local officials are warning that many of those yet to be found, are likely to have died.