Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

It's less than a week until voters in the US will cast their ballots and determine a new president - and experts are wondering about the economic impacts. No matter who wins, both Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have policies that could have implications regarding the future of international business. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what the candidates could do for New Zealand...

Gumboot Friday founder Mike King has come under fire following his recent comments about alcohol. In an interview with Newstalk ZB yesterday, King said alcohol can stop negative thoughts - and could be a solution to mental health.  ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says these comments missed the mark, but Labour is wrong to call for Gumboot Friday's funding to be pulled. LISTEN AB...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has continued to deny he called former head Alan Joyce up to seek free flight upgrades. Albanese has been engaging in a days-long back-and-fourth denial after allegations surfaced in a new book - and the opposition has been running with this ahead of the election. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this is still a bad look for the Prime Minister. L...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 31 October 2024, Interislander boss Duncan Roy speaks to Heather after an investigation found the people in charge of the Aratere ferry had no idea how to stop the autopilot when the ferry grounded in June.   Labour is calling for funding to Gumboot Friday to be paused after Mike King suggested on the show yesterday that al...

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour has called for funding to be pulled from Mike King's Gumboot Friday charity following King's comments that alcohol can be a solution for people struggling with depression. Is this a step too far? Consumer NZ is calling on the Commerce Commissi...

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has launched a bid to establish a direct flight from Auckland Airport to Brazil's Sao Paulo. He believes this could boost trade between New Zealand and Brazil by up to $1.5 billion a year. NZIER Principal Economist Chris Nixon says this is a good idea - and could open up new opportunities for New Zealand. "Given the mayhem which is happening in the United States at the m...

A professor of psychological medicine says mental health advocates shouldn't spout misinformation about alcohol.  I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday campaigner Mike King yesterday told Newstalk ZB alcohol could be a solution for people with mental health issues.  Labour has called on the Government to review its $24 million funding for his charity, which delivers youth counselling.  Otago...

Horowhenua District Council is re-examining its decision to stop mowing roadside berms. It trimmed back the service in July in a decision that saved ratepayers nearly $250,00 annually - but prompted outcry. Councillors have now voted to compile a report on options for reinstating it. Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden says they want to look more closely at the impacts. "It does not mean that we are go...

I'm not altogether surprised that Mike King’s comments on this show yesterday have sparked a debate. The reason I'm not surprised is because some of what he said is factually wrong. King claimed alcohol wasn't a problem for people with mental health issues - but rather, a solution. Remember, we are talking about suicide. For people with suicidal ideation, alcohol is a problem because it lowers inh...

Optimism is rising among businesses - largely driven by construction.  ANZ's October business outlook has business confidence up five points on 66, in a 10-year high.  Meanwhile, the proportion of businesses feeling they're faring well, has climbed to -11 in the highest point since March.  Chief economist Sharon Zollner says it boils down to interest rates.  She says fewer cons...

Kiwirail says Aratere's auto-pilot button should never have been pressed. The ferry ran aground  in June as it headed out from Picton. An interim report from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission details how the crew didn't know how to turn off the auto-pilot as it steered the ferry towards land. InterIslander Executive General Manager Duncan Roy says it was pressed in error, then n...

The Los Angeles Dodgers are Major League Baseball's 2024 champions. The team beat out the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to win the World Series four games to one. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A probe of aviation competition could bring New Zealanders better prices.  Consumer NZ has asked the Government to direct the Commerce Commission to investigate aviation in its next market study.  It says Air New Zealand has a virtual monopoly on many domestic routes - and it's affecting regional airfares.  Consumer CEO Jon Duffy says a probe would reveal why prices are so high, and...

Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver her first Budget in the role, following weeks of speculation. Predictions indicate people can expect tax rises, a higher capital gains tax and a minimum wage increase. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this will hit business owners and a subset of working people hard.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spark has reduced its earnings and dividend guidance for the 2025 year, saying its financial performance 'falls short of what is acceptable'. The company said its operating earnings (Ebitdai) were expected to fall to around $1.12-$1.18 billion in 2025, down 4% from a previous forecast of $1.165-$1.22b. The company has reduced its dividend forecast from 27.5 cents to 25c, 75% imputed. Milford Asset...

The Selwyn District Council welcomes proposed Government reforms to speed up building consents. The nation's fastest-growing region says any changes that could speed up progress are helpful, as building consents have always been a focus for the Selwyn District Council. Selwyn District Council Head of Building, Vanessa Mitchell, says this move will free up inspectors to focus on other areas. "We've...

BNZ is set to head back to court tomorrow as part of their ongoing legal dispute with Gloriavale. If the hearing goes well, the bank could get approval to close the accounts Gloriavale has with BNZ. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny reveals what could come out of tomorrow's case. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett and former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Health NZ is under fire again for their spending - on top of the recent $60,000 catering bill, it's been revealed they spent $100,000 on catering costs last year. Can they really justify this? Jeff  Bezos has defended sto...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 30 October 2024, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have delivered their closing arguments ahead of next week's US election. Jack Tame was at Kamala Harris' rally in Washington. Associate Education Minister David Seymour reveals what we need to do to improve chronic absenteeism for our school kids. Former All Blacks coach Laurie Ma...

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says the Government is open to discussing whether to ban language and symbols related to the Nazis. It comes after individuals involved in a Mongrel Mob tangi procession in Lower Hutt on Tuesday openly used the term ‘sieg heil’, commonly known as a Nazi chant meaning ‘hail victory’. Sociologist Paul Spoonley isn't sure a full ban would be enforceable.  "I think bann...

The Associate Education Minister says the key to fixing truancy is banding agencies together.  In Term 2 this year, one in 10 students was chronically absent - with more than 80,000 missing more than three weeks of the term.  Since 2015, chronic absence has doubled in secondary schools and almost tripled in primary schools.  David Seymour says his proposed solution ties in all the k...

There's renewed debate about the haka's purpose after Joe Marler suggested it should be banned. The English prop labelled it 'ridiculous' in a post on social media ahead of this week's rugby test at Twickenham. Former All Blacks head coach Laurie Mains says the haka is a long-standing rugby tradition within the team - and Marler wouldn't understand its significance.  "Who would want to take a...

Survivors of Lake Alice hospital, who battled the Crown in court, are now being urged to contact the Government for compensation.  A Royal Commission of Inquiry has acknowledged children at the Manawatu hospital endured torture in the 1970s.  The Government is offering to reimburse survivors who fought for redress in 2001, but lost a significant amount on legal costs.  Minister-in-C...

Kamala Harris has delivered her closing arguments to propel her presidential campaign over the line, with one week until Election Day.  The US Vice President's spoken from Washington DC - where she's painted a strong contrast between herself and rival Donald Trump.  Harris says Trump would open a floodgate of vengeance against his political rivals, while she would work for the American p...

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris gave her final pre-election speech to voters this afternoon. She delivered the address at the Ellipse in Washington DC - the site where Trump rallied supporters ahead of the January 6 Capitol riot. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this served as an effective reminder for voters ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/li...