If you’re a gamer, your morning was definitely brightened by the announcements from Nintendo and Sony this morning, as both of gaming’s largest companies held livestreams detailing what games are coming out the next year and beyond.

The biggest news from Nintendo is, without a doubt, the confirmed release date for the much awaited sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. The game is now titled The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and will be hitting Nintendo Switch on May 12, 2023. Other big announcements include the new Fire Emblem game (Engage, out Jan 20), a whole host of classic Nintendo 64 games coming in 2022 and 2023 (Mario Party, Pokemon Stadium, and yes, Goldeneye) and Fae Farm, a cuter version of Animal Crossing, if that was possible. You can read a full list here.

Meanwhile, Sony dropped a trailer for Tekken 8, another trailer for Ragnarok: God of War, a release date for the much anticipated Resident Evil 4 remake (March 24), a strange sounding loyalty scheme (Playstation Stars) and most excitedly for me personally, a new RPG from Team Ninja. More details on those can be found here.

This news follows a week of big announcements from gaming companies, including more details about the upcoming Pokemon Scarlet and Violet and the confirmation of three new Assassin’s Creed games.

Following Monday’s theme of handsome Māori crooners, our image of day is the Modern Māori Quartet.

Their new show “Ngā 80s” starts tonight as part of the Auckland Live Cabaret season. The smooth operator in the top middle there is our talented friend and Spinoff colleague Te Aihe Butler, so we’re excited for it. Tickets and info here.

I’m heading to Invercargill for some local elections coverage and have just landed in Christchurch for a brief stopover (who knew that domestic flights had layovers).

It’s only been 36-ish hours since Covid-19 protections were ditched, meaning mask use is now optional on all transport including flights.

Yesterday, it was observed by many that public transport users across Auckland and Wellington was largely still masked up despite the end of restrictions. That may be the case, but Auckland Airport today – and the flight – were almost entirely unmasked. I spotted maybe five or six people who kept their masks on for the packed flight, and that included one member of the air crew.

I’m certainly not casting any judgement (I was unmasked, too) but it was quite bizarre seeing a plane full of faces after months of Covid regulations being in place. I’m also surprised at how quickly people reverted back to their old ways. Tangentially related observation: It’s nice being able to use Face ID again to unlock my phone/use Apple Pay.

How have you found the end of restrictions? What have you observed over the past day-and-a-half? Email me stewart@thespinoff.co.nz

I’ve always dreamed of being an awards correspondent so I was thrilled to join Lately with Karyn Hay last night to talk all about the Emmys.

We canvassed the winners, the losers, the snubs and the most bizarre moments. Have a listen.

Members of the Pulp and Paper Workers Union voted this morning to accept a revised offer from their employer, Purex manufacturer Essity. In doing so, they have called an end to the Kawerau mill lockout, which will cease on Monday, September 19.

The 145 workers were locked out on August 9 after the company refused to offer a pay deal which would meet the rising cost of living. The union and employer were in ongoing negotiation and conducted several days of facilitated bargaining. Yesterday it was reported that the Employment Relations Authority had recommended pay increases for Essity’s workers in order to reach an agreement. Essity said in a statement it had accepted the recommendations. It has also withdrawn all legal action against the union for damages plus costs, which kicked off on August 31.

The new deal keeps workers’ incomes ahead of forecast inflation for the next three years, with a 5% increase and a $4,000 lump sum in 2022, a 4.5% increase and a $3,000 lump sum in 2023 and a 4% increase in 2024.

Union secretary Tane Phillips says workers are relieved to have secured a fair deal and see the end of the lockout.

“This has been the most brutal behaviour from a company I have seen in years. They just threw everything at our members.

“Essity locked out our members for nearly six weeks without pay to try to starve them out. The company blocked them from accessing their own retirement savings. And when that wasn’t enough they targeted individual workers with more than half a million dollars in legal threats.”

Phillips said the revised offer was “a big improvement” on the company’s original offer, and members were satisfied the union had achieved what it set out to do.

“We have decided to return to work on Monday. First we are going to have a celebration for all the union members and our supporters. We will then hold a karakia at the gates on Monday morning before heading back to work with our heads held high.”

Here’s a good outline (paywalled) from the Herald’s John Weekes about why food prices rose at the fastest rate in 13 years last month. Now that I’ve sold it as a good read, and there are some short term factors that may resolve themselves or we’ll blame the government for that not happening, there are also some long term ones which have a far greater influence and are fairly grim.

ANZ’s Sharon Zollner points to the war in Ukraine driving grain prices higher, which lines up with an equally grim briefing from Treasury last week (paywalled) on the long term consequences of the war. Zollner also mentions extreme weather, labour shortages and fuel costs. Perhaps the most confronting of all was the issue of global population which will hit eight billion soon. “The world is going to face challenges feeding itself,” Zollner said.

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Manufacturing company Essity has accepted a recommended pay offer for 145 locked out paper mill workers – but a deal hasn’t been confirmed just yet.

It’s been more than a month since the workers were forced off the job over a protracted dispute over pay. That eventually culminated in a legal threat from the company to its own staff.

Negotiations started two weeks ago and were initially expected to last just three days.

In a statement, secretary of the Pulp and Paper Workers Union Kawerau Tane Phillips said the pay offer will be discussed by union members today.

“We received the recommendation from the Employment Relations Authority this afternoon,” he said in a statement. “Members will vote on the offer [this] morning and we will make a further statement following that meeting.”

On the ground in Kawerau last week, one local told The Spinoff that the lockout at the mill had impacted many people in the town, with some having to seek emergency accommodation.

National’s leader still doesn’t know when a review into one of his own MPs will be finalised.

Sam Uffindell, the MP for Tauranga, was stood down more than a month ago after allegations were levelled at him from a former Otago University flat mate. While Uffindell disputed those claims, they followed earlier reporting that revealed had been a violent bully while a student at King’s College.

A review, to be carried out by Maria Dew KC, was ordered by the National Party into Uffindell’s conduct and was initially expected to be completed within a fortnight.

It was subsequently delayed and Christopher Luxon told TVNZ’s Breakfast today he didn’t know when it would be finished.

“There’s no further update,” he said. “It’s really important that the process is followed properly, they were serious allegations. Maria Dew is a qualified King’s Counsel… I want that process to be robust.”

Luxon admitted that it was “frustrating” and said he would have liked the report to be completed by now. The people of Tauranga deserved to know whether their MP would be reinstated, he said.

Asked whether he’d been given a new finish date, Luxon said he had not been in contact with Maria Dew so as to ensure the process was “truly independent”.

The Queen has made her final journey from Scotland back to England, with her coffin arriving at Buckingham Palace.

As with the entirety of the Queen’s royal tour, crowds lined the street to farewell the monarch and pay their respects. The BBC has reported loud cheers as the hearse, lit from the inside, travelled down the dark streets of London.

Princess Anne, the Queen’s only daughter, has travelled the entirety of the journey from Balmoral and was there for the final leg too. Waiting at Buckingham Palace were King Charles III and Princes William and Harry.

From later this week, mourners will be able to pay respects as the Queen lies in state until her funeral on Monday. According to Today FM’s Tova O’Brien, who is in London, people were already waiting in line to see the Queen’s coffin – meaning they’ll be queueing for more than an entire day.