Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Over in the US, universities are trying to clamp down on student protests as the new academic year starts up. University leaders are expecting a new wave of protests as the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on in Gaza. US correspondent Logan Church says security has tightened up at New York universities - with police guarding the campuses. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

A new touring proposal between New Zealand and South Africa has been reached, according to new reports. New Zealand will tour South Africa in 2026 with eight-games proposed - including three tests between the   All Blacks and Springboks, before New Zealand hosts South Africa in 2030. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this announcement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Finders keepers may not apply, as a young Christchurch couple fight to keep $230,000 they found in their roof. Open Justice reported that an electrician found five sealed plastic bags of cash, which the couple reported to authorities. Police took out a civil court case under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act, believing the cash is the product of crime - from previous gang links to the property. A...

The UK Government is committed to cracking down on mobile phone thefts, after a significant spike in incidents. New data shows at least 80,000 people have had their phones snatched out of their hands - with only one percent of these cases resulting in arrest. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the police can't arrest their way out of this epidemic, so manufacturers have been enlisted to build on ant...

Australia's GDP data is set to be released tomorrow - and experts are outlining their predictions. This follows last week's inflation data, which is currently at 3.8 percent for the year to July. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham is predicting weak economic growth, but rate cuts aren't looking very likely. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing global demand for dairy products and a flat milk supply could be setting the stage for a near-record farm gate milk price this season. With nine months left in the 2024-2025 season, Jarden and ANZ have outlined their predictions ahead of the latest GDT austion. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's chief financial officers have revealed their thoughts in a first of its kind survey. Hunter Campbell's report reveals 42 percent expect challenging conditions with positive opportunities over the next year. The survey also revealed 41 percent of CFOs met or exceeded their revenue growth target in 2024. Infometrics Brad Olsen says they provided a range of concerns including costs, reg...

Fonterra is set to invest $150 million to build a new plant at its Edendale site in Southland to meet growing demand from Asia. The plant will produce UHT cream - a product that expected to experience growing demand over the next decade. Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says this venture will open up at least 70 new jobs in the area. "We've got a strong pipeline of people coming through right across the...

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New Zealand's spy agency has issued a warning about potential foreign interference in the country. Are we too relaxed about potential threats?  The Government has pushed up the tourism levy - it'll go up from $35 to $100 b...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 3 September 2024, the Government is hiking the tourism levy to $100 - against advice from the industry. But Tourism Minister Matt Doocey tells Heather it's not going to lead to fewer visitors. The boss of NZ's spy agency tells Heather there's a "realistic possibility" of a terrorist attack in New Zealand... and who's the most lik...

There's pleas from the Security Intelligence Service to report threats to national security. Their annual Insights report warns a small number of people subscribe to a range of violent extremist ideologies. The report reveals it's increasingly assessing individuals supporting violence as having a mixed, unstable or unclear ideological outlook. Director-General of Security Andrew Hampton says peopl...

Inland Revenue is being asked not to seesaw on its stance, with rising liquidations across the country. Centrix's July figures reveal business liquidations are up 19 percent overall year-on-year. They sparked spiked sharply in Auckland in the second quarter, up 33 percent annually. Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges says he thinks IR's hard-line approach is behind a majority of closure...

Today, the Government has done the thing that the tourism industry was hoping they wouldn't do and increased the visitor levy - the amount that tourists pay to come here - from $35 bucks to $100. That is the high end of what they were considering. The Government could have gone with $50, or $70, or just left it at $35. But they went full noise to $100. Now in principle, I'm on board with this. I'v...

A New Zealand entrepreneur and former Waitakere City Mayor are getting behind a waka-shaped museum on Auckland's waterfront. Sirs Ian Taylor and Bob Harvey say a mega attraction on Wynyard Point could be Auckland's answer to the Sydney Opera House. Sir Ian says he wants to explore its commercial viability. He says he wouldn't want the Government to have to fork out for it. "It could be an iwi, it...

The Tourism Minister says the extra money from increased overseas visitor fees will be funnelled back into the industry. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy rises next month from $35 to $100 next month. Matt Doocey says $100 is less than three percent of a visitor's total spend. "Ultimately, this levy will be reinvested into both tourism pressures - but also, the conservation e...

The Government's pushing ahead with plans to triple the tourism tax in a bid to make overseas visitors pay for regional infrastructure upkeep. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will go from the current $35 to $100 per visit from next month. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper theorises why the Government has implemented these changes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

The Australian Government is looking to ban gambling advertising under new reforms set to hit Cabinet. Online advertising would be banned immediately - and TV promotions would be banned within two years. Australian correspondent Sam Emery isn't sure if a blanket ban is the way to go - given how many sectors rely on the money generated by the gambling industry.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

South Africa Rugby has offered a mea culpa for the haka being drowned out by music, fireworks and a plane on Sunday morning. They have conceded the cacophony shouldn’t have happened, writing an apology and explaining the gaffe was a result of human error and a failure to observe scheduling. Sportstalk's D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the statement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

New data has revealed a number of Kiwi couples are ending their marriages later in life. Stats NZ shows the amount of divorces that involved people aged 50+ last year was 39.9 percent - up 7.1 percent in 10 years. Bastion Chambers lawyer Jeremy Sutton says children growing up and leaving home can put stressors on a marriage. "Once the last child has left home, that's often the catalyst to see if t...

Germany's far-right has secured its first state parliament win since the second World War. The anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany won a third of the vote in the eastern state of Thuringia - but may not be able to form a Government. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this news has sent shockwaves across the EU. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare is raising prices and slowing down construction efforts to repair its financial holes.  The company has raised its deferred management fee (DMF) and made three senior executives redundant in order to get profits back up. Ryman Healthcare executive chair Dean Hamilton says people are living longer and staying longer - and they need to restructure to addr...

Markets around the world are pricing in potential cuts to interest rates. Last Friday saw PCE inflation in the US rise 0.2 percent over the month to be up 2.6 percent on a year ago, bolstering federal rate cut expectations. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains why this has been happening. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayer's Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we need tighter regulations around 'dynamic pricing'? The UK Government has announced investigation after Oasis tickets went on sale. Do we agree with this move? The Government's new transport plan cuts funding for speed bu...

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she's determined to ensure the health system is as efficient and effective as possible. A survey by the General Practice Owners Association says 83 percent of respondents are worried about their long-term viability - with 89 percent of them planning to increase patient fees Willis has promised the health system will look significantly different by the end of thi...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 2 September, the College of Midwives defended giving new mothers tea and toast after one Wellington hospital stopped offering it. Transport Minister Simeon Brown unveiled the National Land Transport Plan - and explained why funding for speed bumps had to be cut. More GPs have voiced concerns about their long-term viability, accordi...