Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Uber Eats will be expanding into 12 new locations across the country, focusing on regional towns. From next month, its food delivery will be available in smaller towns like Taupō, Levin, Whakatāne, Timaru and Wānaka.  Restaurant Association President and Monsoon Poon Owner Mike Egan says it's perfect timing - just before summer.  "I can see the campgrounds, people who will be sick of hav...

The chair of Parliament's Finance Committee is perplexed ANZ's head wasn't across the details of her pay packet.  Chief executive Antonia Watson was among the banking heads grilled by MPs this morning, under pressure to justify a $2 billion profit during tough times for Kiwis. She says she's paid $2.5 million, but would need to give her total remuneration including share options and bonuses,...

There's claims the Government needs to show its justification for intervening in Wellington City Council. It's appointing a Crown observer - claiming it is financial mis-management for the Council to plan to fund water infrastructure from rates revenue - rather than debt, using a Government tool. Lower Hutt Mayor Campbell Barry notes the Government only made its funding tool available in August, n...

Over in the US, Election Day is less than two weeks out - so Trump and Harris are hitting the campaign trail to get all the votes they can. The pair are still in a tight race for the White House, meaning they're going hard to appeal to key swing states ahead of the November deadline. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Kamala Harris will be trying to sell herself as the more conventionally 'presi...

Former Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan is urging the governing body to sign league star Nathan Cleary ahead of the next World Cup. McLennan explained the Wallabies need to invest in 'top-tier' players to improve their performance in high profile events, including the Rugby World Cup and the  Bledisloe Cup. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

There's some good news for the nation's largest ambulance service. Associate Health Minister Casey Costello has announced Hato Hone St John will receive $21 million in additional Government funding. She says St John has also settled its pay dispute with unions, with no further industrial action planned. Costello explained that New Zealand First has a coalition agreement to meet a greater portion o...

A British jury has cleared a police officer of murder, after he fatally shot an unarmed black man in the head in south London two years ago. Martyn Blake shot 24-year-old Chris Kaba in September 2022. The 40-year-old says he feared lives were in danger, and the shots weren't intended to kill Kaba. UK correspondent Enda Brady unpacks the controversy further.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/li...

Republic NZ’s Peter Hamilton has long believed New Zealand is ready to have a Kiwi as the head of state. King Charles is set to leave Australia and head to the 27th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa - bypassing New Zealand in his first tour since taking the throne. Hamilton says it makes more sense for New Zealand's head of state to live among New Zealanders.  "The whole busin...

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Early Edition host Ryan Bridge joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Wellington City Council will get a Crown observer to address the 'dysfunction' impacting the council. Is this a good move? What do we think will come next? Darleen Tana has finally officially been booted out of Parliament. What do we...

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 22 October 2024, Wellington City Council is getting a Crown Observer as a first step of Government intervention. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown explains why he was concerned enough to make the move - and Wellington City Councillor Tim Brown admits he's lost his bet with Heather. Ex-Green MP Darleen Tana has been kicked o...

The Local Government Minister is determined to fix the 'dysfunction' and uncertain financial conditions impacting Wellington City Council. Simeon Brown today confirmed he will appoint a Crown observer to help the council develop a new Long-Term Plan. He says he informed mayor Tory Whanau of his reasons before confirming this decision. "It was a professional conversation, I informed her of the deci...

Sky TV's struck a deal with Warner Bros Discovery - ensuring it continues to be the home of HBO content in New Zealand. The company has stopped HBO’s Max app launching on our shores and confirmed Neon will keep streaming its original content - and several WBD franchises, such as Friends , Rick and Morty and The Big Bang Theory. Chief executive Sophie Moloney says it's good that viewers will be abl...

The Government has been accused of 'jumping the gun' and changing the Three Strikes bill before receiving advice from the select committee. The qualifying threshold for a first strike will be lowered from 24 months imprisonment to 12 months in order to catch out more offenders. Labour has claimed this is the 'latest instance' of the Government making amendments to controversial legislation, pointi...

The High Court in Christchurch has heard the first evidence in the murder trial of Tingjun Cao. He's accused of killing estate agent Yanfei Bao. Newstalk ZB's Emily Ansell says Bao's partner, Paul Gooch, realised something was wrong when Bao hadn't picked up her daughter from after-school care. "He said when he got home, he checked the dishwasher to see if Bao's lunch dishes were there - as usuall...

There's scepticism from some as to whether a Crown observer will help Wellington City Council. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown is appointing an observer over concerns for the council's financial management. But councillor Tim Brown says many councillors think it will provide advice and help them work together better, but he's not convinced. Tim Brown says he thinks Simeon Brown's putting th...

The Children's Minister says the 13 young people who scaled an Auckland justice facility will face consequences for their actions. The group sat on the roof of the Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice Facility in Wiri yesterday evening - with seven staying overnight and causing damage to the roof. Karen Chhour says the youths will be criminally liable for damage done to the facility. "The ones that we ha...

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau says she'll stick to her priorities - even as central Government intervenes.  Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has appointed a Crown Observer to help council develop its Long Term Plan.  Spending cuts are needed since the council's U-turn on selling its airport shares.  ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Tory has taken this well - b...

One Australian senator's high-profile outburst has sparked discussions about the injustices that impacted the nation's Aboriginal population. Lidia Thorpe was removed from Parliament House after yelling at King Charles and accusing him of committing genocide yesterday. Thorpe's actions were criticised by MPs, including Tony Abbott and Amanda Rishworth, for being disrespectful. Australian correspon...

Rugby sevens, hockey and T20 cricket have been axed from the Commonwealth Games, but netball has survived. 15 sports have been binned off for the slimmed-down 2026 event in Glasgow. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Greens are looking forward to moving ahead - as Darleen Tana's days in Parliament come to an end. The party today confirmed Speaker Gerry Brownlee has officially ousted Tana after delegates unanimously voted to put the issue to him. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says she is grateful to draw a line under this.  "It's been a several months-long process that has obviously ensued the likes of leg...

New evidence suggests more babies in the care of killer nurse Lucy Letby were harmed - and in one case poisoned with insulin. Letby was was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more, including trying to kill two with insulin at the Countess of Chester Hospital neonatal unit between June 2015 and June 2016. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says one of these babies was fo...

The US election is heating up and it's still unclear whether or not Harris or Trump will emerge victorious in November. Based on recent polling data, financial markets are pricing in a Trump-led Government - a pivot from the projected Harris Government. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly says investors are increasingly expecting a divided Government, as it's unlikely one party will control the...

Kiwi start-up Nature Baby is looking to expand into the US market again. What started as a small business operating out of an Auckland flat has grown into a multi-million dollar business - and co-owners Jacob and Georgia Faull are looking to re-launch the brand overseas. Jacob says the brand's not immune to the effects of the current economic downturn - but the 'green shoots' in the economy are gi...

Chris Luxon is defending his Small Business Minister for not alerting him sooner over a complaint from a member of the public.  Andrew Bayly's apologised, after a worker claimed he'd told him to - 'Go home, take some wine, and F off'  and later made the  'L' sign on his forehead.  The Prime Minister says he received the complainant's letter on Thursday, but isn't necessarily su...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we think the America's Cup will be hosted in New Zealand? Following Team New Zealand's win, there's been more discussion about the nation hosting the next Cup. Can we afford this?  Andrew Bayly's under fire following some o...