Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

New Zealand's new Police Commissioner is keeping an open mind about arming front line staff.  Deputy Commissioner Richard Chambers is replacing Andrew Coster - and has just returned from secondment with Interpol in France.  He says he's worked with many jurisdictions over the years, and hopes New Zealand doesn't get the point of arming cops.  But Chambers says policing is complex an...

The nation's new top cop is prepared to step into the role. Richard Chambers has been appointed the new Police Commissioner by Minister Mark Mitchell - and he's ready to get stuck in on the eve of the Government's new patch ban. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Chambers has been rising through the ranks for decades - and he's a good fit for the job. LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

SpaceX's sixth Starship test flight splashed down in the Indian Ocean following today's highly-anticipated test mission.  The booster earlier plunged into the Gulf of Mexico soon after the launch. President-elect Donald Trump joined Elon Musk to watch the test - and wrote a supportive post about Musk and the team on his Truth Social network. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says the pair have...

There's hope a women's trans-Tasman Super Rugby final is a sign of things to come. The Super Rugby Aupiki champions will face the Australian Super W winners in a crossover finale to be hosted in New Zealand next year. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this news further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Agency has spent nearly $800 million on traffic management in the past three years, according to new reports. The Government has revealed the spend went to road cones, temporary traffic management, state highway maintenance and capital works.  Transport Minister Simeon Brown says this is an 'exorbitant' sum and the spending needs to come down.  "We need to see a much more e...

Sir Keir Starmer is hopeful the UK's relationship with China will be strengthened off the back of his meeting with Xi Jinping.  The pair met at the G20 summit - the first time a UK Prime Minister has met with the Chinese President since 2018. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Starmer's a pragmatist - and will be hoping to strengthen the business relationship between both nations. LISTEN ABOVE...

The pressure on New Zealand's labour market continues to tighten, with job ads falling for the third consecutive month. Despite these grim figures, one expert has noticed there's light at the end of the tunnel for the economy Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! After nine days, the hīkoi made it to Wellington, with 55,000 people marching on Parliament to protest the Treaty Principles Bill. The protest was peaceful - but will it be a success? Shane Jones and David Seymour have called for harsher punis...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 19 November 2024, tens of thousands of protesters have turned up at Parliament to protest the Treaty Principles Bill. Senior political correspondent Barry Soper was there and tells Heather how he saw the day play out. Shane Jones and David Seymour reckon there should be harsher penalties for MPs who misbehave in Parliament, after...

There's growing concerns that a lack of water infrastructure will slow down housing developments planned for parts of Auckland. On the Hibiscus Coast anyone without resource consent may have to wait until 2031 for a wastewater connection. The Army Bay treatment plant upgrade is not expected to be completed until 2031. Andrew Crosby of Xpect Property Limited says it's 'shocking' how much of Aucklan...

Councils and waste industry experts are calling for increased regulations for the disposal of used batteries following an escalation in fires. WasteMINZ, the Waste & Recycling Industry Forum, Auckland Council and Christchurch City Council have come together to request direct action to prevent batteries from being thrown out or included in kerbside recycling.  WasteMINZ chief executive Nic...

There's disappointment among some as State Highway 1 in the Central North Island will be closed for repairs for two months. The Desert Road is closing between Turangi and Waiouru from January 6 until the end of February. The detour will add half an hour and an extra 50 kilometres to journeys. NZTA's Roger Brady says the approach is well-planned - and the closure lets them squeeze in four months' w...

Dawn Aerospace's Mk-II Aurora flew at supersonic speeds for the first time, clearing the way to begin commercial operations in a few months. The aircraft is the first  Kiwi-designed-and-made rocket to break the sound barrier since the Concorde- opening the doors for expanded space travel possibilities. CEO Stefan Powell says this proves the technology works - and sets the stage for further op...

A competition lawyer says it'll be very unlikely Foodstuff's appeal will succeed. The Commerce Commission declined its merger of its North and South Island arms- saying it would lessen grocery competition and hurt suppliers.  Foodstuffs North Islands chief executive, Chris Quin, says the change would actually make it easier for suppliers.  Lawyer Neil Anderson says it's unlikely a case l...

A ground-breaking hīkoi of 42,000 people descended on Parliament today, telling lawmakers to kill ACT's Treaty Principles Bill.  It passed its first reading last week in a session punctuated by Te Pāti Māori's Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke leading a fiery haka and being suspended.  Bill author, David Seymour, says Parliament Speaker Gerry Brownlee should tighten the rules. Former Speaker Dav...

Authorities are urging Hīkoi mō te Tiriti attendees to travel safely as their journey home begins. It's estimated at least 42,000 people gathered at the Parliamentary precinct and in the surrounding streets to protest the contentious Treaty Principles Bill. Newstalk ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the protestors were polite and restrained at today's event. LISTEN ABOVE See omnys...

Former broadcaster and Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been charged with two further offences against a ninth victim, bringing the total up to 26. Jones was arrested and charged on Monday in relation to alleged indecent assaults spanning over two decades. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Jones has denied the allegations and will likely assert his innocence in court. LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

One-test All Black Harry Plummer is poised to leave New Zealand after next year's Super Rugby season. The Blues pivot, who played his so-far only test to date against Australia in Sydney in September, has reportedly signed with French outfit ASM Clermont.  Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wayne Brown is proposing major reforms to Auckland's council controlled organisations in his draft budget proposal. Brown wants to scrap the council's urban regeneration and property management arm Eke Panuku, and return its functions to the council. Tataki Auckland Unlimited could lose its economic development, events and tourism marketing roles, becoming solely focused on managing stadiums, thea...

Police in Essex have defended investigating a social media post written by a Daily Telegraph columnist amid growing backlash. Allison Pearson received a visit from officers on Remembrance Sunday over a long-deleted social media post - and was left 'dumbstruck'. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says people have questioned why the police have time to go after this woman while violent crime and burglaries...

Donald Trump's return to the White House continues to have implications on the US economy. The US Federal Reserve has indicated it won't be cutting rates again anytime soon. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, broadcaster Mark Sainsbury and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Thousands are expected to join the hīkoi protesting the Treaty Principles Bill arriving in Wellington tomorrow. This follows a war of the words between David Seymour and Jenny Shipley, as well as Chris Finlayson. Has this whole thing...

A return to London could be on the cards for Air New Zealand. Reportedly, the national carrier's bid to fly into Heathrow has been turned down - but it's succeeded in getting daily slots at Gatwick. It's been five years since Air New Zealand ditched its London route after decades flying there. Aviation commentator Geoff Thomas says the airline could look at pairing up with Virgin Australia for a P...

The Media and Communications Minister says he's working his way through the process when it comes a new law that would force tech giants to pay for news content. The Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill was set to have its second reading in Parliament last week, but it wasn't ready. Paul Goldsmith says it's a difficult issue. "The broader issue of how you corral one of the biggest companies in the wo...

Australian authorities believe a nine-month investigation into former broadcaster Alan Jones is not over yet. The 83-year-old will appear in court next month, facing 24 charges. He's accused of indecently assaulting eight victims over nearly two decades. Sydney Morning Herald reporter Kate McClymont says Alan Jones was a powerful figure in Australian media - and it took victims years to come forwa...