Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Canoe Racing New Zealand is defending a pragmatic decision in their Olympic qualification process. Kayakers Max Brown and Grant Clancy have been forced to compete in the kneel-down canoeing C2 500 - a boat which was qualified so they could compete in the sit-down K4 500 event. The pair have finished 45 seconds behind the winner of their Paris Games quarter-final, because they didn't want to expend...

The Chief Ombudsman is urging school boards to take accountability for decisions. Peter Boshier has made his case notes public relating to his recommendations not being followed - by the boards of Auckland's St Peter's College and Christchurch's Cashmere High School. St Peter's refused to apologise for excluding a student for buying and smoking marijuana - and Cashmere didn't apologise or take ste...

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has hit back at Elon Musk over claims that a 'civil war' may break out in the UK. On a video of rioters setting off fireworks at police, Musk commented that civil war was 'inevitable'. UK correspondent Vincent McAviney says Starmer and his team have been working to get a grip on the riots - and social media responses. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

Australia's Reserve Bank has taken on a grim tone with today's OCR update - and warned rate cuts aren't on the horizon. The Bank considered hiking rates today, but moved to keep them in place at 4.35 percent. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says inflation is still running too far above expectations. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three major New Zealand banks have slashed their rates ahead of next week's OCR review. Both Kiwibank and BNZ have urged the Reserve Bank to cut the cash rate down - months ahead of predicted forecasts. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains why there's a case for the Reserve Bank to move quicker. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 6 August 2024, Health NZ's Richard Sullivan explains the u-turn to give some cancer patients early access to Keytruda treatments after all. Smith & Caughey's chairman Tony Caughey explains the decision to keep the business going after he thought he would have to close just a few months ago (and his hot take on interest rates)...

There's another crucial Global Dairy Trade auction taking place tonight as a new season kicks into gear. Rabobank analyst Emma Higgins has predicted WMP and SMP will move lower overnight. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and Toby Manhire from The Spinoff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Prime Minister caught a bit of backlash after suggesting schools might have to defer arts and music to focus on teaching more maths. Do we agree with Luxon? Health NZ has done a u-turn on Keytruda - allowing some cancer...

Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones is calling the possibility two mills could close - 'hideous' - with the loss of 300 jobs. Winstone's says ballooning energy bills could force the Ohakune pulp and timber mills to shut. Jones is urging the energy companies to offer these industrial players a deal to keep them going.  "My problem is - if they don't start to engage and actually look after New Zea...

Historic Auckland department store Smith & Caughey’s is living to fight another day. The 144 year old business announced in May it would close next year - but today revealed measures to let it stay open. It will downsize physical trading to the ground floor of its Queen Street store, cut about 100 staff and close the Newmarket branch, and ramp up online operations. Chair Tony Caughey says the...

Business owners in Wellington’s Courtenay Place hope to boost the area's image with a New Year’s Eve street festival. 35 businesses have come together to pitch an outdoor event offering food, drinks and entertainment - and all they need is approval from the council. Courtenay Place business owner Greig Wilson says they're putting extra pressure on the council to ensure it gets approved on time. "I...

The Japanese market is clawing its way back, after an epic tumble overnight. Its Nikkei had a historic one-day drop - the first in a volatile chain of global financial markets. It's now starting to stabilise, sitting about nine percent up on yesterday. Matt Goodson from Salt Funds Management says Japan's weakness began a couple of days ago, when the central bank hiked up cash rates. "The Japanese...

Health New Zealand has explained a U-turn to give a small group of cancer patients early access to Keytruda treatment. It had earlier said it would wait to offer patients the drug, until Pharmac funding started in October. Chief Clinical Officer Richard Sullivan says up to 30 people can get the drug this month. "After reaching out to our clinical colleagues in our cancer centres, recognising the n...

Speaker Gerry Brownlee is warning MPs against bad behaviour after last week's drama in the House. ACT clashed with the Speaker over wearing party-logo pins, and the Children's Minister broke down in tears, feeling bullied - and her leader later criticised the Speaker. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says today's session was much more orderly. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listene...

The Australian Reserve Bank has moved to leave rates on hold at 4.35 percent. Figures from the June quarter showed inflation has stayed in line with market expectations - but the bank is holding on before making bigger moves. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Australians are still on edge, as a cut is unlikely to happen until early 2025. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Warriors star Shaun Johnson has announced his retirement after 14 years are the top level. The halfback will conclude his NRL and international career after the Warriors' final four games of the season. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One neuroscience expert claims Kiwi kids who spend too much time on their devices have developed behaviours that mimic ADHD.  This comes as teachers are forced to adapt their teaching methods as children display behavioural issues as a result of excess screentime. Educational psychologist and neuroscience trainer Kathryn Berkett says these kids are unable to concentrate or sit still - which are be...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 5 August 2024, terrorism expert Greg Barton speaks with Heather after Australia raised its threat level , saying an attack is "probable". Finance Minister Nicola Willis on her plans to make Kiwibank more competitive - will she sell parts of it to raise more capital? Cancer advocates are upset that Health NZ has declined a drug com...

Nicola Willis appears intent on making Kiwibank a bigger player in the banking sector The Finance Minister told the National Party's annual conference yesterday she wants to look into privatising the New Zealand-owned bank. It comes only a couple of years after the previous Government secured complete state ownership for 2.1 billion dollars. Willis told Heather du Plessis-Allan she's not proposing...

Act's leader's standing by his controversial Treaty Principles Bill, under criticism from Sir John Key. At National's conference in the weekend, the former Prime Minister said the temperature should be turned down on race relations. He suggested the Bill isn't workable, because the principles of Te Tiriti change over time. David Seymour told Heather du Plessis-Allan problems need open discussion....

The Government has come down in favour of dairy companies - opting out of an international infant formula proposal. Rules designed by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand restrict labelling - and only let pharmacies and healthcare providers sell specialist formula. Industry giant Danone threatened to withdraw from New Zealand if it went through - taking away 441 jobs. Food Safety Minister Andr...

Belief a controversial Health New Zealand decision on cancer drug funding - will shorten lives. Pharmac's giving free access to Keytruda for five types of cancer, but funding doesn't kick in for two months. Health NZ has scrapped a proposal to provide it the medication for people in need until then. Patient Voice Aotearoa's Malcolm Mulholland says he is gobsmacked. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 2 August 2024, Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins talks about the Government concluding their formal response into the March 15 Royal Commission. A trauma surgeon is warning the Government ahead of their speed limit increases - saying it could lead to further deaths and injuries. Former Olympian Barbara Kendall discusses ou...

A judge has allowed the identity of Axel Rudakubana to be reported as the  17-year-old was charged  with the murder of three young girls in a knife attack.   A 17-year-old boy has appeared in an English court charged with the murder of three young girls in a knife attack at a dance class that has shocked the  United Kingdom  and sparked two nights of violent protests.   Axel Rudakubana first appea...

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has offered herself up to be a mediator between the EU and China, after her visit to Beijing.   The relationship between the EU and China have decayed recently, over electric vehicles being dumped into the EU, and investigations on both sides and other trade disputes.   Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis says Meloni is confident of mending ties, but her r...