Grocery costs and competition: The Greens have unveiled “Affordable Kai”, promising to nationalise 120 Woolworths and Foodstuffs supermarkets into a government-owned chain, KiwiMart, to break the duopoly and cut prices, with a stated $2.8b price tag over the policy’s rollout. Housing affordability: National says it will widen access to the First Home Loan by lifting the income cap to $300,000 so more buyers can use a 5% deposit, arguing current thresholds exclude many earners. Monetary policy pass-through: Reserve Bank assistant governor Karen Silk says higher OCR rates are not feeding through to term deposit rates as fast as mortgage rates, pointing to bank liquidity and “depositor inertia”. Banking job cuts: ANZ has proposed closing its Dunedin contact centre and reducing 15 roles to two, shifting work to larger hubs in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. FASD warning signs: Parliament’s petitions committee recommends changing alcohol regulations so warning signs about fetal alcohol spectrum disorder must be displayed in licensed liquor premises. Earthquake repairs court fight: A Court of Appeal ruling has fed into a class action seeking about $80m over EQC quake repairs shortfalls. Security law rollout: Security staff have been advised not to use new citizen’s arrest powers until training is in place, as uncertainty remains after the laws took effect. Trade and investment: New Zealand is named as an exclusive importer/distributor partner for Philippine Saba bananas entering new markets via Asia Fruit Logistica Hong Kong. Disaster update: Rescuers in Nepal have pulled two men alive from a hydropower tunnel after floods, as the country continues large-scale recovery.