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The Super Rugby Pacific quarterfinals are kicking off this weekend. 

The Hurricanes are still sitting at the top of the table, just ahead of the Blues on a points differential. 

The Chiefs are starting the action, facing off against the Reds tonight at 7pm. 

Sports Commentator Tony Johnson told Mike Hosking that the season is heading towards a pretty good climax. 

He said that they’ve seen some good footie, and the game has grown as its gone on as well as the crowds getting better. 

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It's a much-needed record funding boost in pothole prevention. 

The Transport Agency's confirmed it'll put just over $2 billion into prevention on state highways, and nearly $2 billion for local roads. 

It'll cover resealing, rehabilitation, and drainage maintenance, with more than 62,000 holes recorded last year. 

Infrastructure New Zealand chief executive Nick Leggett told Mike Hosking that the funding won't cover as much as it would've a few years ago because costs have risen. 

He says larger investments and more consistency will result in better efficiency. 

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A concerning healthcare trend finds more Kiwis unable to access specialist care, leaving GPs to manage cases without extra resources. 

Otago University has found between 2018 and 2022, the risk of being declined referred specialist services increased significantly, by 5.2%.  

General Practice New Zealand chair Bryan Betty told Mike Hosking that the threshold seems to be changing. 

He says the bar to get in to see a specialist seems to be rising, based on the fact there's not enough capacity in the hospital to see patients. 

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Third time’s a charm for Boeing as its first manned ship takes off to space. 

Previous launch attempts had been called off due to system and machinery failures.  

Two veteran NASA astronauts are riding aboard the Starliner capsule, on a journey to the International Space Station. 

US correspondent Katherine Firkin told Mike Hosking that it's a much-needed win for Boeing. 

She says the manufacturer had lots of bad press recently including a door blowing out of an Alaskan airlines plane. 

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The Early Childhood Sector is welcoming the Ministry of Regulation review. 

Regulation Minister David Seymour's saying affordability, access, and regulation will be tackled in the review. 

In six months, a report will be sent back with recommendations for Cabinet on rules that could be removed or changed.  

Early Childhood New Zealand Chief Executive Kathy Wolfe told Mike Hosking that the amount of regulation is a big problem in the sector. 

She says new rules were brought in to fix issues and it's morphed out of control. 

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The allegations against Te Pāti Māori need to be handled with sensitivity.  

It's been alleged information collected at Auckland's Manurewa Marae was used to help the party's election campaign, something Te Pāti Māori denies. 

Stats NZ has appointed an investigator, Police have received a complaint, and the Privacy Commissioner's considering what to do next. 

Political commentator Peter Dunne told Mike Hosking that it will turn into Te Pāti Māori tikanga versus the tikanga of the rest of the country.  

He says it needs to be dealt with in a way that can't be spun as colonisers attacking the party. 

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