Kiwi squash champion Joelle King won't be adding to her collection of medals in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The stripped-down Glasgow event will only feature 10 sports - with rugby sevens, hockey, cricket, road cycling and squash among the sports that got axed. 

King says she can't change this decision - but she's got the 2028 Olympics to soften the blow.

"It's been bad news for all of us - but you've just got to crack on, you can't change the decision now." 

LISTEN ABOVE

Kiwi squash champion Joelle King won't be adding to her collection of medals in the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The stripped-down Glasgow event will only feature 10 sports - with rugby sevens, hockey, cricket, road cycling and squash among the sports that got axed.&nbsp;
King says she can't change this decision - but she's got the 2028 Olympics to soften the blow.
"It's been bad news for all of us - but you've just got to crack on, you can't change the decision now."&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Joelle King: Kiwi squash champion on being ruled out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/c46a2e70-c21d-4d6a-b5cd-b212006224b5/transcript

The Education Minister denies ever considering banning Virtual Private Networks as part of the social media ban for under-16s, but says the tool was talked about.

The Post reported this morning Erica Stanford was looking at prohibiting VPNs, which lets internet users mask their location and online address.

The Prime Minister and Stanford rejected the claim.

She says they discussed VPNs in a different context. 

"They can be used for children to get around social media bans, and we also talked about the fact that big tech firms have the ability to know when children are doing that."

LISTEN ABOVE

The Education Minister denies ever considering banning Virtual Private Networks as part of the social media ban for under-16s, but says the tool was talked about.
The Post reported this morning Erica Stanford was looking at prohibiting VPNs, which lets internet users mask their location and online address.
The Prime Minister and Stanford rejected the claim.
She says they discussed VPNs in a different context.&nbsp;
"They can be used for children to get around social media bans, and we also talked about the fact that big tech firms have the ability to know when children are doing that."
LISTEN ABOVE

Erica Stanford: Education Minister explains why Government not looking to ban VPNs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/bf16282a-2fd6-492b-a1fb-b4800064e395/transcript

The Government's celebrating the new diesel storage tanks opening at Marsden Point.

The Northland site will store 93 million litres emergency reserve, ordered at the peak of the fuel crisis, in April. 

It paid Channel Infrastructure to upgrade its tanks. 

Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's looking to boost up emergency supplies following the uncertainty of the Middle East conflict. 

LISTEN ABOVE

The Government's celebrating the new diesel storage tanks opening at Marsden Point.
The Northland site will store 93 million litres emergency reserve, ordered at the peak of the fuel crisis, in April.&nbsp;
It paid Channel Infrastructure to upgrade its tanks.&nbsp;
Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the Government's looking to boost up emergency supplies following the uncertainty of the Middle East conflict.&nbsp;
LISTEN ABOVE

Barry Soper: Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent on the Government opening new diesel storage at Marsden Point

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/57d3613d-0c0a-41a1-96c0-b4800060cffb/transcript

The Australian Government has raised concerns over China's decision to test their ballistic missile in the Pacific.

The missile was fired from a Chinese submarine, landing between Kiribati and Tuvalu.

China says it complied with international law - and didn't target any nation.

Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this follows Australia inking the Vuvale Union Treaty with Fiji.

LISTEN ABOVE

The Australian Government has raised concerns over China's decision to test their ballistic missile in the Pacific.
The missile was fired from a Chinese submarine, landing between Kiribati and Tuvalu.
China says it complied with international law - and didn't target any nation.
Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this follows Australia inking the Vuvale Union Treaty with Fiji.
LISTEN ABOVE

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on Australia's reaction to China's ballistic missile test

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/1c4ae67a-90e5-45b6-896e-b480005c527c/transcript

Joelle King: Kiwi squash champion on being ruled out of the 2026 Commonwealth Games

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