Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Another Global Dairy Trade auction is expected to take place tonight - and experts are predicting more good news this time round. There was a substantial life off the back of the previous auction - with a 0.8 percent increase across the board. The Country's Jamie Mackay outlined his predictions ahead of tonight's results. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZIER's latest Quarterly Survey of Business Opinion (QSBO) shows a marked improvement in business confidence in the September quarter. A net 5 percent of firms expect a deterioration in general economic conditions over the coming months - a significant drop from the net 40 percent that expected a downturn three months ago. NZIER deputy chief executive Christina Leung says demand was quite weak ove...

If you were in a bit of a rush yesterday morning, I dunno - perhaps somehow you were caught out by daylight saving and you scrambling to get to an appointment - and you forgot to put money in the meter before rushing off, you'd have been fined $40. If you did it today, exactly the same offence, you'd be fined $70. Almost double. Parking fines are up for the first time in twenty years and errant pa...

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New research shows more young men are feeling pressured to start using steroids and other illegal enhancers to keep up with body image pressures. How concerning is this?  Prime Minister Chris Luxon is on the defensive after selling...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 1 October 2024, the Israeli Military says it has begun a "limited, localised" ground offensive against Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon. International relations expert Robert Patman tells Jack Israel has the upper hand against  the Houthis, Hamas and Hezbollah with the backing of the United States. New Zea...

Fuelled by fitness and gym content online, more young men say they are turning to risky and illegal measures to enhance their appearances. According to new reports, men in their 20s - or younger - have been encouraged to use steroids and other banned performance-enhancing substances in order to keep up with pressure to look a certain way. Otago University Emeritus Professor David Gerrard says youn...

Foodstuffs has argued a merger blocked by the Commerce Commission would benefit consumers and suppliers.  The competition watchdog has decided merging the chain's North and South Island co-ops would substantially lessen competition.  Foodstuffs North Island CEO Chris Quin says they're likely to appeal the decision - based on the evidence they have at this point. He says the move wou...

A popular - and divisive - shoe is making a significant showing in more ACC claims. ACC has received 128 claims for fall-related injuries from Croc wearers so far this year, costing nearly $64,000. There were 109 claims last year. But injury prevention spokesperson, James Whittaker, says although Crocs and jandals feature in some trips, slips and falls - the problem is much bigger than that. "Arou...

Hostilities are running high - and fear's rising for the future - as Israel launches a ground offensive into southern Lebanon.  Lebanon says Israeli attacks in the past two weeks have already killed more than a thousand people.  Otago University international relations professor Robert Patman says the recent pummelling of Hezbollah has severely degraded the militant group. He says backin...

The Prime Minister seems to have narrowly avoided a large tax bill for selling his Wellington apartment. He paid $795,000 for it in 2020, and 1News reports it's been sold for $975,000. When it was purchased, a five-year bright-line test applied - under which Luxon would have owed $70,000 in tax. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon seems proud to defend this apartment sale. LIS...

Australian police have launched a probe related to the appearance of Hezbollah flags at pro-Palestine rallies that took place over the weekend. Victorian police reported that flags representing Hezbollah were seen being carried by a small group who weren't affiliated with the protest organisers. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says police are looking for calls to incite violence from these of...

The World Athletics Indoor Championships could be coming to New Zealand for 2028. Athletics New Zealand and the Government are working on a bid to host the biennial event, typically held in the third week of March. The current criteria permits an outdoor venue to be used - and with only a 200-metre track needed, Eden Park or the new Christchurch stadium could be feasible options. Sportstalk host D...

Kiwis struggling to stay afloat have turned to credit cards to bridge the cap amid an ongoing cost-of-living crisis. New credit card application enquiries have reached their highest level since 2021- and card arrears have jumped 4.4 percent in August. Sorted Personal Finance Lead Tom Hartmann says living costs have increased and bills have piled up - and people feel the need to borrow their way th...

Austria's far-right Freedom Party has secured a historic political victory following the recent election. The party finished first with 29.2 percent of the vote, beating out the OVP's 26.2 percent, and the centre-left Social Democrats' 20.4 percent. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it doesn't have the support to form a majority Government - and the other parties are apprehensive about forming...

Over in China, regulators recently announced a range of monetary and fiscal stimulus policy changes aimed at fostering economic stabilisation and improving consumer confidence. Official interest rates were cut and the Government announced a number of central bank spending programmes aimed at stabilising housing and supporting consumption. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly unpacked these new p...

Synlait Milk has reported a net loss of $182.1 million and stumped up with a one-off payment to try to keep supplying South Island farmers.  The embattled dairy processor reported its full-year results to July 31 on Monday with revenue up 2 percent to $1.64 billion.  It took a total non-cash impairment of $114.6 million during the year against its long-term assets.  CEO Grant Watson...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and NZME editor-at-large Shayne Currie joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The Government's copped some backlash after it warned the new Dunedin Hospital could face some downgrades after costs blew out over $1 billion higher than expected. Are people right to be outraged? The Government has un...

The Finance Minister says the Government is still committed to funding Dunedin's new hospital.  It's asked Health NZ for two options to deliver the project within budget after it claimed costs ballooned by over $1 billion. About 35,000 protesters took to the streets in Dunedin on Saturday. Nicola Willis says she understands the frustration, but argues the hospital has never been kept to a bud...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast with Jack Tame for Monday 30th September 2024, the Government has released its latest quarterly action plan and it's largely focussed on infrastructure. Chris Bishop talks Jack through the details. There are calls that "tough conversations" are needed around the future of small town New Zealand - Jack asks Regional Development Minister Shane...

Dunedin's mayor isn't backing down on fighting for the city's new hospital ahead of potential cuts. The Government has asked Health NZ for two options to deliver the project - within budget - after costs escalated to an estimated $3 billion from an original estimate of between $1.2b-$1.4b. About 35,000 people took to the streets in Dunedin on Saturday to protest the proposed downgrades. Mayor Jule...

The wine industry is hoping a new programme will help double production.  The Government is investing $5.6 million over seven years into the programme, Next Generation Viticulture. It aims to grow vines more efficiently, turning sunlight into grapes. NZ Winegrowers Research Centre CEO Dr Juliet Ansell says it will redesign canopy management. "It enables the vines to capture as much sunlight a...

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown aims to disestablish the city's tourism and economic development agency. The mayor is progressing plans to fold Tātaki Auckland Unlimited back into council control and reduce its functions. He says the agency spent more than $700,000 on a campaign promoting Auckland to Aucklanders. He says these things need to stop happening with ratepayer money. Hospitality New Zealand...

New toll roads could be on the horizon as the Government moves into its next quarterly plans. It says it's achieved 39 of its 40 third-quarter goals, largely targeting law and order.  The 43 actions up next focus on infrastructure and economic growth.   They include passing the fast-track approvals bill - but also look into introducing more road tolls.  Infrastructure Minister Chris...

Energy and Resources Minister Shane Jones has been caught up in a climate protest, while on a walk - over policy he's spearheading. A small group of protestors marched down Wellington's Lambton Quay opposing the Government's bill reversing Labour's ban on oil and gas exploration. They told Jones he should be ashamed of himself, a claim he loudly rebutted, saying they were being hyperbolic and extr...

Qantas engineers across Australia walked off the job for two hours this morning - and they've warned more industrial action will come if their requests aren't heard. Staff throughout Brisbane, Sydney, and Perth airports have requested a 15 percent payrise with further rises in subsequent years. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says these strikes haven't impacted anyone's ability to travel...