Black Fern's player Portia Woodham Wickliffe has become an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to rugby.

She entered the record books last week as the Black Fern's all-time leading try scorer when she scored seven try's in a row against the United States.

She joins the show to discuss her latest achievement.

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Known for her bright smile, catchy songs, and helping Kiwi kids socialise, speak and count, TV host Suzy Cato is now an officer of the New Zealand order of Merit.

She has been a central figure in children's programming for more than 35 years.

Cato talks to Andrew Dickens about the honour.

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Comedian Dai Henwood has been honoured as an officer of the New Zealand order of merit.

It comes as he's battling stage-four bowel cancer.

He talks to Andrew Dickens about what the honour means to him.

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New Zealand has a new Deputy Prime Minister.

ACT Leader David Seymour has officially been sworn in, taking over from New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.

He is the first ACT Party member to take on the role.

David Seymour joins the show for his first official interview with Newstalk ZB as Deputy Prime Minister.

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The founder of plastics storage container business Sistema Plastics Brendan Lindsay has been appointed a knight companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s King’s Birthday Honours.

Lindsay received the honour for his services to business and philanthropy, noting his work at Sistema and his efforts as part of the Lindsay Foundation.

He founded the plastic business in 1982.

He was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2012, and was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame in 2020 in recognition of his contributions to business.

Brendan Lindsay joins the show to discuss his appointment.

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The Government's celebrating Kāinga Ora seeing a 600 percent rise in warnings under a new tenant crackdown.

Sixty-three Kāinga Ora tenancies have been terminated in the past 10 months.

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says it's a result of tenants exhibiting abusive, threatening, or persistently disruptive behaviour.

Former Monte Cecilia Housing Trust CEO Bernie Smith joins the show to discuss the crackdown.

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The United States is battling a measles outbreak as the disease surges across the country.

Experts are saying a post-covid anti-vaccine movement is contributing to the rising numbers.

So far the disease has been confirmed in 30 states.

US Correspondent Richard Arnold joins the show to discuss how the country's tackling the outbreak.

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The US is trying to convince Australia to lift its defence spending “as soon as possible.”

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is pushing for a rise of 3.5 percent.

He says it's a protection measure against the threat of China.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says his country will determineits own defence policy.

Australian Correspondent Murray Olds joins the show to discuss this and Trump’s new steel tariff.

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