The Labour Party says building more houses requires support from all sides.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop will today announce the plan to flood the largest cities with land for housing development.

Councils won't be able to set fixed rural-urban boundaries or mandate minimum floor area and balconies.

Instead, the market will decide.

Labour Housing Spokesperson, Kieran McAnulty told Mike Hosking not all government decisions will be dumb.

He's backing it, to give the construction sector some certainty.

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A housing expert is backing the move to overhaul Kainga Ora leadership.

The Housing Minister's announced a refreshed board and new expectations to reduce operating losses.

It follows a review by former Prime Minister Bill English saying the ministry's been financially unsustainable.

Former CEO of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust Bernie Smith says private community housing providers can be better at supporting tenants.

He told Mike Hosking that Kainga Ora's previous board made unilateral decisions which negatively affected the market.

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American President Joe Biden continues to face pressure from his own party.

A new Reuters Ipsos poll shows Biden and former president Donald Trump neck and neck on 40% support among registered voters.

Biden's recent debate performance against Trump has prompted calls for him to step aside.

US Correspondent Katherine Firkin told Mike Hosking there have been persistent rumours of panic between the Democrats.

She says part of the renewed effort to calm the public is Biden agreeing to an interview with ABC news tomorrow night.

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The primary teachers union says the Government's new school tests won't make a difference.

The Government's introducing phonics checks done after 20 weeks of schooling and repeated at 40 weeks.

Progression monitoring on reading, writing, and maths will also be introduced for children in Years 3 through 8, and done twice a year.

NZEI president Mark Potter told Mike Hosking teachers already assess, analyse, and use that to inform their teaching.

He says there's not that many that don't use these tests, but if they don't, they'll have other assessments that give similar information.

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Former UK nurse Lucy Letby has been found guilty of trying to murder another newborn baby.

It adds to convictions last year that made her the United Kingdom's most prolific serial killer of modern times.

The 34-year-old was found guilty last August of murdering seven babies and trying to kill six more while working at a Chester Hospital.

She went on trial last month for a second time for the attempted murder of a baby girl after the original jury failed to reach a verdict.

UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Mike Hosking that when the verdict was read the parents gasped while Letby showed no emotion in the dock.

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A principal says the number of students going on holidays during the school term has dropped.

Flight Centre data shows a 30% reduction in family bookings during the school term compared to last year.

But the bookings during winter school holidays are up 10%.

General Manager Heidi Walker says it's likely due to the Government's focus on truancy.

Avonside Girls High principal Catherine Law told Mike Hosking that they've seen some significant pattern changes.

She says they're seeing an upward trend in improved overall attendance.

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A media commentator says a Bill to make tech platforms pay for news has a decent shot at bringing change.

The Government's progressing an amended version of the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill to make digital platforms like Facebook pay for using news content.

National and NZ First are supporting it, while ACT's invoking its right to 'agree to disagree' and will oppose the Bill.

The Spinoff founder Duncan Greive told Mike Hosking Australia was the poster boy for such a scheme, but Meta has signalled that it won't renew.

He says there's a change from the consumer side, but from a revenue perspective there's money flowing that wasn't before.

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Federated Farmers is urging the Government to pick up the pace with replacing the RMA system.

The percentage of applications processed within statutory time frames is falling, from 89% in 2020-2021, to a record low of 76% the next year.

Federated Farmers RMA reform spokesperson Mark Hooper told Mike Hosking that the Government is taking it seriously, but the window is narrowing.

He says the data highlights the urgency and replacing the RMA is the most meaningful long term economic reform the government could deliver for them.

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