Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Child Fund's Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour has ruled out joining AUKUS during their next term in Government. Is this a valid statement? What made Labour change its mind?  Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden. Is this a mistake? UK Masterchef host Gregg Wallace has hit...

The Finance Minister has been quick to unpack some of Labour's announcements from over the weekend. At the party's annual conference, leader Chris Hipkins ruled out joining AUKUS - the security pact between Australia, the UK and the US. Finance Minister Nicola Willis has said this rejection of AUKUS feels 'premature'. "Let's remember it was Labour who started the discussions about Pillar Two of AU...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 2 December 2024, Jack Tame speaks to Social Development Minister Louise Upston as the number of jobseekers continues to increase. US president Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter Biden. Labour's David Parker tells Jack a future Labour Government would pull out of AUKUS. Plus, the Huddle reacts to Gregg Wallace blaming allegatio...

Mortgage holders have been hoping the banks will pass on the latest 50 basis point cut to the OCR - but many will have to wait. New Zealand's major banks have all cut their floating rates, but only ASB's fixed-term mortgage rate has moved down so far. Mortgage advisor Bruce Patton says the banks had largely predicted the OCR would drop by 50 basis points - and priced their earlier cuts accordingly...

Merchandise sales have kicked off for new football club Auckland FC. The introduction of the A-league football club to the city has seen more merchandise sold in four weeks than it was expecting to sell all season. More is being shipped in before Christmas. CEO Nick Becker says interest has been overwhelming. "Auckland was ready for some professional football, I think. Like, the passion that's in...

Labour's foreign affairs spokesperson has called AUKUS a 'China containment strategy' - which Labour wants no part of.  At the party conference, leader Chris Hipkins announced no future Labour Government would be involved in the tri-lateral security deal.  David Parker says New Zealand should plot a path between the superpowers.  He's confirmed Labour would withdraw from the deal if...

The Government's introducing individual job plans to get people off the Jobseeker benefit.  The 70,000 people on the Jobseeker benefit with employment case managers will be eligible for the work-readiness needs assessment.  It will look at any issues with education, transport, addiction, health and childcare. Social Development Minister Louise Upston says they want to address people's in...

The Supreme Court has ruled the majority of the Court of Appeal “erred” in a major decision that ultimately eased the test for Māori to gain customary rights for use of the foreshore and seabed. Its just-issued ruling allows an appeal by the Attorney-General against the Court of Appeal’s decision last October, at a time the Government is pushing through contentious legislation to overturn it. News...

An Australian hospitality giant has banned Australia Day celebrations in its venues - sparking calls for a boycott. Australian Venue Co, owner of over 200 pubs and bars across the nation, has directed managers and staff to shut down celebrations of the holiday in 2025. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this debate takes place every year - with no signs of change in sight. LISTEN ABOVE...

Auckland FC's Steve Corica has praised his side's resilience in their 2-0 A-League win over the Newcastle Jets at Mt Smart. Late second half goals from Neyder Moreno and Francis de Vries powered the home side to their fifth straight win to begin their inaugural campaign. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden has signed a pardon for his son - Hunter Biden - due to be sentenced this month on gun crime and tax convictions. The US President previously said he wouldn't pardon him, but now says his son was selectively and unfairly prosecuted. US correspondent Logan Church says this news comes as a shock to everyone - given how Biden was originally opposed to the pardon.  "For all of Joe Biden...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 29 November 2024, the Government inquiry revealing that 'human error' was behind the Manawanui sinking when crews failed to turn off autopilot - Defence Minister Judith Collins explains the findings. Eden Park's Nick Saunter talks about the park announcing 12 concerts a year but with only six artists. Plus the Sports Huddle debate...

The British Government intends to overhaul the country’s immigration system after new data shows arrivals had hit a record high. New figures show net migration is at 900,000 in the year to June 2023, which Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer blames on the previous Conservative government — 22 percent higher than the original numbers. He says they had pledged to get the numbers down multiple times and...

China has been preparing for Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs. The US President-elect is pledging to add another 10 percent on top of existing tariffs on Chinese exports, where he also slapped tariffs on Mexico and Canada. In a post on Truth Social, Trump has made more about curtailing the supply of drugs and reducing illegal immigration.  But Asia business correspondent Peter Lewis told Heat...

A new 'confirmation of payee' service is being rolled out by the banks. Now when making a bank transfer to someone new, when entering in the name and account number, users will now get a warning if the two don’t match. The idea is to make it easier to spot being scammed. GetVerified chief executive Duncan Robertson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

All Sport Breakfast Wellington host Adam Cooper and NZB Kiwi head of communications Andrew Gourdie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan on the Sports Huddle. The Black Caps have work to do after England’s fightback at Hagley Oval, with the visitors buoyed by Harry Brook’s century. Damian McKenzie has been given a spot in World Rugby’s best XV for 2024, but there are some questions over it. And question...

The Government's plans to do away with high-earning workers rights to claim unjustified dismissal is copping flack from an employment lawyer. Under the proposal, anyone making more than $180,000 a year will lose out on that current legal avenue if they lose their jobs. Employment law expert Max Whitehead told Heather du Plessis-Allan this is an unfair winding back of employees' legal pro...

The Black Caps still have some work to do in Day 2 of their opening test against England at Hagley Oval. The hosts were bowled out for 348 at the start of the day, but England continue to chase down their target, buoyed by a century for Harry Brook. The high point for the Black Caps’ bowling efforts has been Nathan Smith, who bagged two wickets in the opening session. Newstalk ZB Sport reader Andr...

Some action's already been taken to try and prevent a repeat of the HMNZS Manawanui sinking. The navy vessel went down nearly two months ago after hitting a reef during a survey of the Samoan coast. The interim Court of Inquiry report's found it was caused by a series of human errors - with the crew failing to turn off the ship's auto-pilot when they were supposed too. As they tried to slow it dow...

Eden Park has been granted consent to host double the number of concerts in a year. The Auckland stadium will now be able to host 12 concerts a year from six different artists. CEO Nick Sautner told Heather du Plessis-Allan promoters are delighted with the announcement. But he says they're limited to six artists under the conditions of the consent. “Over time we wanted to build a level of comfort...

An interim Court of Inquiry report has found the HMSNZ Manawanui’s sinking was caused by a series of human errors. The navy vessel went down nearly two months ago after hitting a reef during a survey of the Samoan coast. The report found the crew had failed to turn off the ship’s auto-pilot when supposed too, but as they tried to slow it down, they accelerated into the reef, and wasn’t until 10 mi...

Vladimir Putin has praised US President-elect Donald Trump as an “intelligent and experienced” politician capable of finding “solutions”, as tensions ramp up between Russia and the West. The Russian President has also blamed current President Joe Biden for “creating additional difficulties” for the incoming administration, after Biden gave Ukraine permission to fire longer-range American missiles...

England continue to make inroads on the Black Caps in the first test match in Christchurch. New Zealand set a total of 348 early on day 2, but despite getting the top order out, Harry Brook and Ollie Pope’s partnership has frustrated the hosts. Meanwhile, five-time tennis grand slam winner Iga Swiatek has accepted a one month suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, caused by cont...

Questions over how Australia's ban on under 16's using social media will be enforced. Social media sites will be slapped with fines, if they fail to take reasonable steps to follow the law — which kicks in at the end of the year. But a Professor of Internet Studies says there is no instruction on how to check for age. Curtin University's Tama Leaver told Heather du Plessis-Allan the easiest way wo...

The report from the first phase of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Covid-19 response has been released. It claimed the vaccine requirements were 'applied too broadly and remained in place for too long'. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks the findings in the report. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.