Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 6 May 2025, a dicey call from the Government... today scrapping all current pay equity claims and overhauling the system. Workplace Relations Brooke van Velden tells Heather the move will save billions. The former boss of Facebook New Zealand Stephen Scheeler reacts to National's plan to ban social media for under 16s. Victoria U...

That decision today to stop all those pay equity claims is ballsy - I mean, you know, ballsy is good - and I think I lean towards thinking this is the right thing to do. Those pay equity claims have been a bit random. I don't know if you know how this works, but basically, if people can prove that they're underpaid because they work in women-dominated jobs, then they can get a pay rise. And how th...

NZME’s likely new chairman Steven Joyce says he hopes to unify the media company’s shareholders as much as possible, following two months of heated debate over the company’s performance and editorial endeavour. Joyce, a National Party Cabinet minister for three terms from 2008 and an experienced commercial media businessman, was today confirmed as a board nominee for NZME. Spinoff founder Duncan G...

The Government is planning a massive overhaul of New Zealand’s pay equity regime - and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation doesn't approve. The reforms will overhaul a 2020 law establishing a regime to allow people in sectors with a large female workforce to argue that they were underpaid relative to similar work done in male-dominated sectors. NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter says these proposed...

Education Minister Erica Stanford is not alone in forwarding Parliament and ministerial emails to her personal account - with Nicola Willis and Chris Bishop revealing they're guilty of similar acts. The Cabinet Manual says ministers should avoid using personal mobile and email accounts wherever possible.  CISO Lens Country Manager Nadia Yousef says Webmail services like Gmail can be safe if y...

A Middle East expert says there's little hope displaced Palestinians can go back to Gaza in future under Israel's latest plan.  Its Security Cabinet is planning to expand military action, move Gazans south - and pressure Hamas to release hostages. Otago University's Dr Leon Goldsmith says Israel says it's waiting for the US President's okay. But he says this is already an 'apocalyptic catastr...

Victoria University's upcoming law exams will be laptop-free - in a defence against using AI to cheat. Law dean professor Geoff McClay told pupils yesterday they'll be hand-writing their three-hour exams in June. One student has told The Post their grade will suffer, because they're out of practise at writing and can type faster. AI education expert Danny Bedingfield agrees written tests are the b...

The Government is urgently pushing through new legislation - lifting the threshold for pay-equity claims based on gender discrimination.  The Bill has already passed its first reading supported by all coalition parties and Parliament's moved swiftly onto the second.  These changes have prompted plenty of backlash, but Workplace Minister Brooke van Velden says there was an appetite for th...

Te Pāti Māori has been granted a stay of execution from the Privileges Committee - at least until tomorrow. Te Pāti Māori was referred to the Privileges Committee following a haka performed during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill in November of last year. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Committee Chair Judith Collins confirmed the decision on Te Pāti Māori's fate has b...

Australia's Liberal Party is weighing up their options after Peter Dutton's recent defeat in the election. Peter Dutton lost his Queensland seat following Anthony Albanese's landslide victory - and the opposition is looking to bring in a replacement. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Dutton is among over a dozen Liberals set to lose their seats after the election - and the party's been red...

New Zealand's motorcycle racing community is remembering Shane Richardson as a fierce and passionate competitor. The 29-year-old father of two has died in an 11-bike crash in the first lap of the British Supersport Championship. An English 21-year-old also died and another rider was badly injured. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighed in on the collision. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listen...

The Prime Minister is hoping to get bipartisan support for banning under-16s from social media. MP Catherine Wedd is putting the Member's Bill proposal in to Parliament's Biscuit Tin - the repository for such bills that are then randomly selected. It follows similar to moves in Australia, and puts more responsibility on social media companies. Former Facebook CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Ste...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 5 May 2025, FTA negotiations with India start this week and the Trade Minister is on the show to call for calm as Donald Trump announces 100% tariffs on foreign movies.   40% of retail crime goes unreported and Auckland butcher Reuben Sharples tells Heather the brazen thefts he's experienced in the past couple of days. The ey...

Eight men, including seven Iranians, have been arrested over two suspected terror plots in England. Five were arrested at various locations around the UK as part of an alleged plot to 'target a specific premises'.  Meanwhile, three men were arrested in London as part of a investigation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the suspects have been held ove...

New Zealand's financial markets have taken a positive turn - following months of financial uncertainty.  Greg Smith from Devon Funds unpacked the factors behind these changes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Minister Erica Stanford is in a spot of trouble after it was revealed she  sent pre-Budget announcements to her personal email before they were announced last year - one of tens of examples since she's been a Minis...

Westpac New Zealand’s profits are continuing to rise, as it makes more money from existing customers, rather than materially growing its business. The Australian-owned bank’s New Zealand division reported a net profit of $525 million in the six months to March - a 10 percent rise from the same period last year. Westpac CEO Catherine McGrath explains why New Zealand's margins have gone up - despite...

The Finance Minister says she steers clear of emails - following a recent ministerial scandal.  This follows 1News reports that Erica Stanford sent pre-Budget announcements to her personal email before they were announced last year - one of tens of examples since she's been a Minister.  Her use of personal email could be a breach of the Cabinet manual - which all ministers are obliged to...

The Police Minister has expressed interest in locking up criminals for longer in a bid to cut down on reoffending. Criminals that serve five years or more in jail are generally less likely to reoffend, according to new reports. Mark Mitchell says he's asked Corrections to examine whether shorter sentences can be extended. "Longer sentences normally mean the people commit to their rehabilitation be...

People are prioritising smaller guest lists as fewer couples marry - according to new reports. Wedding Professional has revealed its average client spend this year is more than $87,000, anchored by an international wedding with a $160,000 dollar budget. Director Suzanne Carson says Kiwis want the great experience, without the price tag for lots of guests. "Personalisation is a great big thing - I...

A focus on 'Australian values' during geopolitical uncertainty could explain the vast gap between the two parties at Saturday's federal election, according to one expert. Labor swept to a majority victory - securing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a historic second term.  It's widely thought US President Donald Trump's volatility has influenced the outcome.  But political commentator Pet...

A Kiwi negotiation team is in India this week, holding our first in-person Free Trade Agreement talks. Trade Minister Todd McClay says it's an important step in our relationship with one of the world's fastest growing economies. He says this will be the first of many meetings with New Zealand. McClay explained India is also holding talks with the US, UK, EU and others over this week and the next....

The Prime Minister says it's too early to understand the potential impact of tariffs on New Zealand films.  Donald Trump has most recently written he'd like100 percent tariffs on all movies produced outside the US.  Chris Luxon says he's seen the social media post, but we'll need to know a lot more. Newstalk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has expressed interest in getti...

The sweeping loss for Peter Dutton's Liberal National coalition in the Australian election likely has long-term implications for the party going forward. Anthony Albanese has become the first Prime Minister since 2004 to win back-to-back elections, with an even larger majority than his last.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says nobody saw this political 'blood-bath' coming for the o...

The Warriors have gone up the NRL ladder after a heart-stopping 30-26 NRL victory over the Cowboys in the Magic Round in Brisbane. The first five first half tries had the Kiwi side up 28-12 at the break before the Cowboys surged back with three tries in eight minutes. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recapped the action. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.