The Government's under pressure to act to ensure airlines can continue operating.

Air New Zealand's raised fares due to rising jet fuel costs, increasing domestic fares by $10, short-haul fares by $20, and long-haul fares by $90.

Air Chathams has also raised its standard fare by $20.

Chief Executive Duane Emeny told Ryan Bridge the Government could be playing a role in helping the industry out.

He says they could focus on aviation and start working on things to support airlines should the conflict continue.

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A lawyer who represented opponents of vaccine mandates says the real test of the Covid inquiry is whether the country learns from its mistakes.

The second phase of the inquiry has found New Zealand's overall response was effective.

But it's found some mandates lasted too long, and the Government didn’t always communicate well with Kiwis.

Lawyer Matthew Hague told Ryan Bridge people don’t expect perfection if another pandemic hits, but decisions need careful reflection.

He says one of the report's recommendations is the introduction of legislation to better protect human rights, and he thinks that's a good idea.

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Movement in housing affordability could spell good news for first home buyers.

Cotality NZ's Housing Affordability report for Quarter 4 2025 shows the national value-to-income ratio fell to 7.2.

This is the lowest level since a brief period in 2019 and before that 2016

The Property Investors Federation's Matt Ball told Ryan Bridge it is still higher than the long-term national average of 6.8.

He says the decrease is great for young people - but it would be better for it to come down even more.

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You've got the feel a bit for the Air New Zealand boss.

If ever there was a poisoned chalice, he's drinking from it. He's glugging it back. Drowning in it.

They've suspended their guidance after the gas price went nuts. Doubled on Iran.

That's after announcing a loss of $60 million for the half year.

And now they're hiking prices - up to $90 on international fares - and, reportedly, looking at cutting some routes.

On top of all that you've got David Seymour barking loudly about selling half of you off.

His problems are financial, but the implications are very political. As they always are for the boss of our national carrier.

It's up there with the PM and Rennie's job at NZR in terms of profile and criticism.

But when the going gets tough, you've got to front.

If an NZX update of the kind we saw yesterday was put out by the CEO of a company not half owned by voters, then you'd get away with no public interviews.

But that is not the case for Air NZ.

I spoke to Greg Foran the other day - another Air NZ boss who timed his landing into the job terribly (COVID) - and thanked him for always fronting to the public when the going got tough.

Over the years, he made himself very available. Didn't really matter whether the news was good or bad. There was plenty of bad, engine issues, prices, Covid travel refunds etc.

Which begs the question, as the airline faces new headwinds, where in the world is Nikhil Ravishankar?

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New research highlights a need to send more public health procedures to the private system.

Westpac's latest healthcare report shows New Zealand currently spends about 10% of GDP on healthcare, split between 7% on public care and just 3% on private.

It argues the private sector is nimbler, with extra capacity that can help cut wait times and improve outcomes.

Private Surgical Hospitals Association Chief Executive Chris Roberts told Ryan Bridge its hospitals are investing in new facilities and operating theatres.

He says they don't tend to have the staffing issues some public hospitals do, so are looking to provide a bigger service.

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“Enormous” swings in the price of oil are making it very difficult to gauge the severity of the shock to markets from the Iran war, ANZ chief economist Sharon Zollner says.

Oil hit $120 per barrel yesterday but dropped back below $100 after the G7 nations signalled they could release strategic oil reserves.

Zollner told Ryan Bridge she agreed with Finance Minister Nicola Willis' assertion that the duration of the shock was just as important as its size.

Market volatility would continue, with “headlines all over the place”, and that uncertainty could lead to people spending less money.

But central banks would be keen not to do anything rash by rushing to raise interest rates, Zollner said.

For New Zealand’s Reserve Bank, “as long as inflation expectations remain well anchored then they can tolerate a bit of noise in the near term, rather than feel they need to deliberately head the recovery off in order to make sure inflation's back at 2% quickly”.

But if the shock was long and sustained “it will be more difficult to look through those inflationary impacts - and then it could get a bit ugly”.

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Iran's new Supreme Leader will likely be a prime target for the US and Israel.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's son - 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei will succeed his father - slain over a week ago.

Israel has launched a "wide-scale wave" of strikes against Iran - while it's retaliated with more Gulf nations under attack.

Turkey say NATO air defences have shot down another Iranian missile, entering its airspace.

Financial Times Middle East Editor Andrew England told Ryan Bridge Khamenei's appointment is a sign the regime is doubling down.

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