Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 13 February 2025, the Government's teasing a potential third player in the supermarket sector that wants to come to New Zealand. Why are lawyers saying a pharma company has been ripping you off for two decades with their cold and flu meds? Plus, the Huddle debates if we need to make third party car insurance compulsory. Get the...

Managers of Auckland's City Rail Link are still shying away from naming a specific opening date, following last night's successful tests.  A train made five trips through the new tunnels overnight - between Waitematā and Maungawhau Station.  It started at a gruelling five kilometres an hour, but picked up the pace as technicians made their checks.  CRL Chief Executive Patrick Brocki...

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar and former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has announced some new measures designed to create more competition in the supermarket sector. Do we think this problem can be solved? Does New Zealand need a third operator?  The cost...

Netsafe say it's encouraging tech giant Meta to prevent scams in the country. Across the ditch, social media companies are detecting and preventing such behaviour. No such protections currently apply in New Zealand - but tech giant Meta is working to introduce defences against finance and celebrity based scam ads. Netsafe Chief Online Safety Officer Sean Lyons says Meta still needs to be pushed to...

There's hopes a fresh call for reform to break our supermarket duopoly brings meaningful action. Economic Growth and Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced a new strategy for creating more competition. The Government is receptive to cracking down on pricing - and helping new entrants access land and properties. MonopolyWatch research director Tex Edwards says the devil will be in the details...

US moves to end the war in Ukraine could work in Russia's favour, according to one expert. President Donald Trump says talks will start immediately - and he's had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Commentators say it's highly unlikely Ukraine will get back its pre-war borders - a bottom line for leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Canberra law professor Sascha Dov Bachmann says Putin wil...

A class action lawsuit launched in Auckland today questioning Johnson and Johnson cold and flu products follows similar suits worldwide. JGA Saddler has filed a suit in the High Court, claiming the producer knowingly sold an ineffective product. The US Food and Drug Administration has ruled a key ingredient in Codral, Sudafed, and Benadryl cold and flu products is ineffective when taken orally. JG...

Not everyone's happy about an apology from Takuta Ferris last night, delivered in Māori. In September, Te Pati Maori MP said describing MPs as 'masters of obscuring the truth' wasn't calling them liars. The Parliamentary Privileges Committee called that a contempt - and recommended he apologise. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Shane Jones called for a second apology in a languag...

Members of the medical community have voiced their disapproval with the two nurses who bragged about refusing to treat Israeli patients.  Ahmad Rashad Nadir and Sarah Abu Lebdeh, two nurses based out of Bankstown Hospital in Sydney's south-west have been stood down - and reports claim the police have spoken to the pair.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says investigations are still...

It appears boxer Joseph Parker is one win away from a shot at becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. The New Zealander challenges British fighter Daniel Dubois for the IBF title in Saudi Arabia next weekend. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising premiums are pushing more people into considering third party car insurance. The average quote for comprehensive car insurance on comparison website Quashed has increased 41 percent in the past two years. Insurance Council CEO Kris Faafoi says newer cars have more technology attached to them - which contributes to the rising insurance costs. "It depends on the individual situation - the cos...

The UK’s Labour Party has suspended 11 councillors in Greater Manchester as part of an investigation into a WhatsApp group where offensive messages were shared.  These investigations have already resulted in the suspension of two other Labour MPs in the region - with Minister Andrew Gwynne losing his health portfolio. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says investigations are still ongoing - and it'...

It's looking more likely that NZ First is on board with the new rules for foreign investors - including a shake-up for overseas buyers of property. New reports claim NZ First is set to agree to allow wealthy people to purchase homes over a certain threshold - it's rumoured to be $5 million. BusinessDesk's Pattrick Smellie explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

The upcoming reporting season looks likely to reflect the tough times seen in the economy in the second half of last year, yet company 'outlook' statements may provide some optimism for the year ahead. The season – comprising mostly second-half 2024 results – gets under way this week, and it's widely expected most major companies won't do too well. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains...

The Government is running the ruler over the way the Accident Compensation Corporation manages its $50 billion investment portfolio. The newly appointed minister responsible for the state injury insurer, Andrew Bayly, has commissioned consultants at Willis Towers Watson to review the performance of the Accident Compensation Corporation’s investments, its governance, and the approach it takes to ma...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 12 February 2025, our fishing industry is in for a shake-up with catch regulations set to be loosened and cameras on boats no longer accessible to the general public. Broadcasting Minister Paul Goldsmith is considering forcing streaming giants Netflix and Co. to produce local content. ASB CEO Vittoria Shortt reveals where she's...

Tonight on The Huddle, Sarah Trotman from Business Mentors and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  What do we make of Judith Collins' latest warning to the public service? She told industry leaders to show respect to taxpayers and not use so much bloated language. What do we make of this?  Plans to...

ASB is reporting a one percent increase in net profit, for last year's second half. Profit margins remained flat, but home lending grew five percent and business and rural lending increased two percent. CEO Vittoria Short says this is a sign the economy is turning a corner for the better after a lengthy downturn. "Inflation's back in target range, we know that the OCR or interest rates are moving...

There's some agreement with a plea from the Public Service Minister for sector bosses to be more genuine - but questions have also been raised.  Judith Collins has advised public service leaders to show respect for taxpayers in their communications - and to treat the money as their own.    She asks them to be sure they're not speaking 'gobbledygook', or sounding superior.  PSA...

A McFlurry of controversy is over in Wānaka - with a proposal for the region's first-ever McDonald's declined. The District Council has turned the fast food giant's resource application down after strong pushback from locals concerned about food waste and pollution. It planned a 450-metre site by the Mount Iron Roundabout. Deputy mayor Quentin Smith says in the proposed setting - McDonald's wasn't...

Two Sydney nurses may not yet know they've been stood down over anti-Semitic comments. A video has been posted to social media of the pair in uniform, saying they'd rather kill Israeli people than treat them. The Australian Government has launched an investigation. Australian correspondent Andrew MacFarlane says the nurses work night shifts, so may still be asleep. "So while the health department...

Seafood New Zealand says new fishery proposals will keep workers safer. Public consultation is open on loosening up on extending or reducing catch limits. The reform would also restrict access to fishing vessel camera video - to officials and the courts. Seafood NZ CEO, Lisa Futschek says the public has no need to access the footage. "Unfortunately, we see some pretty bad behaviour and attitudes t...

A report's been tabled in Parliament, recommending a Te Pati Maori MP apologise for deliberately misleading the House.  In a debate in September last year,Takuta Ferris described MPs as being masters of obscuring the truth.  Ferris denied an accusation he'd called MPs liars - language considered un-parliamentary -  and it was referred to the Privileges Committee. ZB senior political...

Donald Trump met Jordan's King Abdullah today, amid ongoing discussions about redeveloping Gaza and potentially reducing aid for the US-allied Arab country if it refuses to resettle Palestinians. Trump's proposal, floated one week ago, for the US to take over Gaza, move residents over and turn the war-ravaged territory into the 'Riviera of the Middle East' has been met with disapproval from variou...

Warren Gatland has left his role as Wales head coach by 'mutual agreement' after a record run of 14 straight Test defeats, the Welsh Rugby Union announced today. Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt will take temporary charge for the side’s remaining three Six Nations games against title favourites Ireland, Scotland and England. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further.  LISTEN ABOVE Se...