Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Black Caps have suffered a fourth consecutive test loss, after an innings and 154-run defeat by Sri Lanka in their second match in Galle. Resuming their second innings at 199 for five on day four, the visitors were dismissed for 360, which included half centuries by Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains what this loss means for their future chan...

There's growing concerns about the future of small town New Zealand - with one expert warning 'tough conversations' are needed. The closure of Winstone Pulp International's Ruapehu mills have cost the region 230 jobs, and the proposed shutdown of Alliance Group’s Smithfield meat processing plant in Timaru could cost over 600 more. Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says the need to achieve...

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 27 September. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Dunedin Mayor says he is expecting thousands of people to protest tomorrow over a proposed downgrade for the city's new hospital.  The Government has asked Health New Zealand to cut costs - after an independent review found it's hurtling toward an overspend.  Mayor Jules Radich says he is urging the community to march against what amounts to clinical cuts for the critically needed fa...

The Alliance Group says a drop in our livestock numbers is behind a proposal shut a Timaru meatworks.  It's called an all-staff meeting today to announce a proposal to close its Smithfield freezing works. It would stop sheep meat, calf, and night shift venison processing after this season, and remaining venison at the end of the year, at the latest. Group chair Mark Wynne told Heather du Ples...

A view that puberty blocker use for trans youth in New Zealand needs tighter supervision.  New Zealand's use of puberty blockers is seven times higher than comparable countries.  Paediatric Endocrinologist, Paul Hofman says they shouldn't be banned as they can be effective in some cases.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's not settled science.  Hofman says the evidence for p...

What about Liam Lawson? A kid from Pukekohe from potato country, has just been given a Formula One seat for the rest of the season. What an absolutely amazing achievement that is. There are only 20 seats available each season in F1. 20 seats.   And the absolute best drivers around the world compete for those twenty seats.   And a 22-year-old kid from New Zealand, population just slightly...

Former industry giant Intel used to dominate the computer chip market - with significant presence in the world of PCs and servers. However, the company's market share has plummeted and it runs the risk of being bought out by rivals. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains what went wrong for the business. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi dairy farmers can breathe a sigh of relief following Fonterra's successful results. The dairy giant posted a $1.1 billion dollar net profit and confirmed a 55 cent total dividend for the past financial year. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this news means for the wider dairy sector. LISTEN ABOVE     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leading Kiwi retailer The Warehouse Group has posted a significant net loss off the back of a tough trading environment. The company today posted it announced a net loss of $54.2 million - a contract to last year's $29.8 million net profit. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says it's unclear if the Warehouse can recover from this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

Tonight on The Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  The Warehouse has posted a record-setting net loss today - what's it going to take to bring consumers back? The Government has announced another crackdown on student attendance - with teacher only days barred from happeni...

​On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 26 September 2024, fines for parents of truant kids and no more teacher-only days during school time. Northland principal Pat Newman reacts to the Government's plan to boost school attendance. Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop defends changes to the new Dunedin Hospital because of cost blowouts. The Warehouse has delivered a...

The Trade Minister has revealed how he managed to get the trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates over the line so quickly. Todd McClay and counterpart Minister Al Zeyoudi signed the deal this morning to remove 98.5 percent of export duties on goods. McClay says he'd been working negotiators hard for four months following an exchange earlier in the year. "We made a commitment together then t...

One former All Blacks captain claims Scott Robertson will want to try out new combinations in future matches. The side set to play against the Wallabies in Wellington has been revealed - with Beauden Barrett taking on the No 10 jersey, Anton Lienert-Brown replacing Jordie Barrett and TJ Perenara starting his final match in the No 9 jersey. Sir Wayne 'Buck' Shelford says Damian McKenzie - who got d...

The Government has been forced to go back to the drawing board with the plans for the new Dunedin Hospital. An independent review has found the project as currently planned is 'probably not achievable' within the budget of $1.88 billion. Ministers Shane Reti and Chris Bishop have asked Health NZ for solutions and warned that upgrades to other hospitals are at risk if costs don't come down.  Chris...

There's harsh criticism of Associate Education Minister David Seymour's push for prosecution of parents of continued truants. Seymour says parents could be fined in the most extreme cases as part of Government requirements for Stepped Attendance Response plans in schools by 2026. He's also insisting term-time teacher-only days need authorisation from the Education Minister. Northland Principal Pat...

The Warehouse Group says this year's unacceptable earnings have two parts. It's posting a $54.2 million net loss after tax. Last year it made a $29.9 million profit. Sales at The Warehouse and Noel Leeming are down 5.3 percent and Warehouse Stationery is down 6.7 percent. Interim CEO, John Journee says they get it right most of the time, but it needs to be all the time. "Part of it is strategy and...

Te Pāti Māori has warning the Government of the 'wrath of the million Māori' after a $30 million cut to a programme for teachers to learn te reo Māori. It follows a South Auckland principal teacher’s union slamming the Government’s decision to cut funding to a programme for teachers to learn te reo Māori. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Te Pāti Māori co-leader Rawiri Waititi has...

Over in Australia, negative gearing and capital gains tax changes are on the political agenda in a bid to reduce problems in the housing market.  The Labour Government has confirmed that the current tax concessions are set to undergo a review. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged the complaints of younger voters hoping to get a spot on the prop...

Two veterans get starting farewells in the All Blacks for the dead-rubber second Bledisloe Cup test against the Wallabies in Wellington on Saturday. TJ Perenara is into the number nine jersey - dropping Cortez Ratima to the bench - while Sam Cane retains his spot at openside flanker for his 100th test match. Beauden Barrett's replacing Damian McKenzie in the ten jumper, with the latter relegated t...

Hastings District Council has voted in favour of allowing non-elected members of its Youth Council to vote in council decisions. Youth Council members will be able to vote in council committees and sub-committees - and they'll also be paid. The Council was divided on this move - but mayor Sandra Hazlehurst had the deciding vote and the issue was passed. Youth Council chair Chris Proctor says this...

That's quite the crackdown on truancy from David Seymour today - don't expect this to go down well with the teacher unions. So the first thing David Seymour's announced is that he's coming for the parents. He's bringing in the possibility of enforcing fines on parents who don't send their kids to school. Now, it's 100 percent that the excuse-makers of this country are gonna have a problem with thi...

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a warning for Britons in Lebanon amid escalating conflict. The Ministry of Defence is sending 700 troops to Cyprus to prepare for the possible evacuation of British nationals from Lebanon and the Government has advised against travel to the region. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's a clear indication the Government believes this situation will get wors...

Sales at Kathmandu owner KMD Brands slumped by 11 percent, with all three of its brands feeling the effect of weak consumer confidence in its latest financial year. The company had a statutory net profit after tax decline of $48.3 million for FY24, including a one-off non-cash impairment on the goodwill of its shoe brand Oboz of $40.3 million. Milford Asset Management's Sam Trethewey says investor...

Things are looking on the up for the dairy sector. Fonterra is returning a total dividend of 55 cents a share for the past financial year, off the back of a strong $1.1 billion net profit. It's also raising its forecast milk payout midpoint this season, from $8.50 to $9.00. CEO Miles Hurrell says demand from China's picking up, and data received overnight suggests that trend is continuing. LISTEN...