Auckland-based café Coffee on Queen is pushing back against a ban on advertising flags, and one expert says it's a sign of a bigger problem.

Café owner Matt Redwood says removing the flags from the footpath would lose $200-300 a day in lost sales - which would impact jobs.

Auckland Business Chamber CEO Simon Bridges joined the Afternoons team to discuss further.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Waterloo-based pub has raised eyebrows among Londoners after it introduced an extra service charge for all purchases.

Drinkers at the pub will be expected to pay an extra 4 percent on their purchases going forward.

UK correspondent Enda Brady outlined the terms further.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is widely expected to cut the OCR tomorrow, according to new reports.

The OCR is currently sitting at 3.25 percent and the major banks have already been dropping their mortgage interest rates in anticipation.

HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham outlined his predictions.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the cogs of Cabinet.

The Labour government banned the trade two years ago, but National and ACT campaigned on bringing it back.

The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercury Energy's earnings have fallen on the back of weaker renewable electricity generation, and its bottom-line profit has taken a hit.

The company's profit has plunged from $290 million to just $1 million, due to tough power generation conditions.

Despite this, Mercury Energy CEO Stew Hamilton is hopeful ahead of another financial year.

"We're investing heavily in new power plants - we're investing about $1 billion in new power plants at the moment. That's from the top of the north to the bottom of the south."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former economist and investment manager Gareth Morgan was caught off-guard by an AI deepfake using his voice and likeness, and he's warned people to be careful.

The investment scam made the rounds on Facebook and Instagram and encouraged Kiwis to invest in a vaguely-defined US-based scheme.

Gareth Morgan says his daughter showed him the scam - and it almost had him fooled.

"The only giveaway is the backdrop, I don't recognise the house behind me. But everything else - the face, the lip movements, the voice, obviously - I can't tell."

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The building sector has raised some questions over the Government's recent changes.

Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk has introduced shared liability for defects - and allowing councils to consolidate their Building Consent Authorities.

Building Industry Federation chief executive Julien Leys joined the Afternoons team to discuss.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the country’s major electricity companies is defending their increased profits amid rising energy prices.

Contact Energy’s full year net profit is up 41%, with revenue up 20%.

Their underlying profit also climbed 17%, bolstered by a strong lift in geothermal generation as well as improved sales and customer numbers.

CEO Mike Fuge told Mike Hosking the profits are the result of their investment in major projects that benefit the country, such as geothermal.

He says they’re actually investing more than what they earned in profit last year.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.