Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

BNZ and KiwiBank are the latest banks to announce cuts to mortgage rates.   ANZ and Westpac had already dropped rates earlier in the week, leaving ASB as the last remaining big bank to hold back cuts at this state.   Finance and Mortgage Advisors Association country manager Leigh Hodgetts joined Jack Tame.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB Sport news director Clay Wilson and Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Paul Ellison joined Jack Tame for the Sports Huddle. The Warriors are entering do-or-die territory, with their efforts hampered by a season-ending injury to skipper Tohu Harris. The All Blacks have headed stateside to San Diego - where coach Scott Robertson named a team full of debutants in tomorrow's clash with Fiji. An...

An Auckland University doctoral student says our high-performance athletes shouldn't have to choose between their sporting careers and their education. Steve Roberts has been conducting this research by speaking to up-and-coming university athletes here and in the US - and says our athletes are missing out on educational opportunities because our universities and high-level sporting organisations...

A party bus - or the sound of silence.    The Horizons Regional Council, which covers an area including Whanganui and Palmerston North, is seeking feedback on whether bus users prefer to ride with background music.   Its released a three-question survey asking what genres, playlists or radio stations should be played.   Transport Services Manager Mark Read told Jack Tame after talking to bus users...

The Tauranga Business Chamber says it wants unity from those successful in tomorrow's election.   A mayor and nine councillors will be elected for the first time since commissioners were introduced in 2021.   Chamber Chief Executive Matt Cowley says so far turnout has been lower than in 2019.   He told Jack Tame there needs to be collaboration.   “Good indication is whether they can have good disc...

The Republican National Convention's come to a close - with Donald Trump emerging as the party's pick for US President.   Trump officially accepted his nomination - and delivered his first public address since he was shot in the ear on Sunday.   His convention speech has gone down as the longest in modern American history.   If elected, Trump says he'll swiftly implement a range of bold promises -...

Pharmac director Dr Anthony Jordan has announced he’s resigning from the board over the Government’s Treaty of Waitangi directive.   Associate Health Minister David Seymour told the drug buying agency earlier this week it was inappropriate for them to keep considering the Treaty’s place in the health sector.   Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says Jordan was due to end his tenure in Decemb...

Donald Trump has spoken at the Republican National Convention after accepting the party’s nomination for November’s Presidential election.   The former President spoke for 90 minutes, covering a range of topics including his assassination attempt and jibes at his Democratic opponents, including former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and incumbent President Joe Biden.   US correspondent Dan Mitchinso...

A shock move could be on the cards for All Blacks vice-captain Ardie Savea.   Ahead of the All Blacks’ clash with Fiji in San Diego tomorrow – the number 8’s been linked with a potential move to Moana Pasifika from the Hurricances.   Meanwhile, the Warriors are in must-win mode if they hope to secure a top eight spot, as they face the Raiders in Canberra tonight.   Weekend Sport host Jason Pine jo...

Auckland restauranter Mandy Lusk has penned an open letter calling on people and businesses to help the hospitality sector survive.   It comes after Ponsonby restaurant SPQR’s closure last week, and the Vivace owner says she’s heard of three other restaurants closing in the next week.   And her restaurant could be heading in the same direction.   Vivace owner Mandy Lusk joined Jack Tame.   LISTEN...

Two missing Britons have been found dead in a burned-out car in Sweden Investigations are still ongoing, but the case is being treated as a double murder. UK correspondent Enda Brady says a motive has yet to be found. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The AI boom is continuing to hype up investors, as new developments keep occurring. The rise of AI in art, literature, media and even medicine has experts speculating about future developments. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie unpacks the phenomenon - and the long-term implications of the technology. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first liquidators' report on Auckland's SPQR shows it owes creditors $2.24 million. The Ponsonby eatery was placed into liquidation last Thursday by special resolution of the shareholders and is no longer trading. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says this is a sign of the times, as several iconic Auckland eateries have yet to recover from Covid and the economic downturn.  LISTEN A...

Regional Development Minister Shane Jones is set to begin a 15-stop tour next month to promote the Government's $1.2 billion fund for regional infrastructure. The Regional Infrastructure Fund will be spent over a three-year period and aims to fund projects designed around boosting growth, productivity and resilience. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday 18 July 2024, benefit sanctions have jumped by more than 50 percent. Green MP Ricardo Menendez March is not happy about it. 1News US correspondent Logan Church speaks to Jack after news that Joe Biden has been forced into isolation by Covid. Worst timing ever! SkyCity's Callum Mallett tells Jack he deeply regrets his company let...

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Ministry of Social Development has confirmed benefit sanctions rose 53 percent in the June quarter, compared to the year before. Is the tougher approach the way to go to reduce unemployment? On top of a rocky ca...

Northland's MP says a business lost almost half a million dollars thanks to the recent major power cut. Grant McCullum is calling on Transpower to compensate Northlanders with discounted transmission fees for a year. Nearly 100,000 people lost power last month when a tower toppled after maintenance crews unbolted three legs of a pylon at once. McCullum says a big timber mill had to shut for five d...

SkyCity is apologising for failing to intervene with a repeat player in Auckland. A customer complained to Internal Affairs after gambling went continuously unnoticed on 23 occasions. SkyCity says a system failure meant they went undetected - and it's committed to improving its harm minimisation technology. Chief Operating Officer Callum Mallett says they'll close the casino for five days to work...

There's belief an increased police presence in Christchurch's CBD is a win for all. Police have launched their Community Beat Teams, which will have up to 18 new and experienced officers patrolling the garden city's commercial areas. Business Canterbury Chief Executive Leeann Watson says it acts as a deterrent for trouble-makers and helps those coming into the city feel secure. "For tourists, it p...

President Biden has pulled out of a significant campaign event after testing positive for Covid-19. The White House says Joe Biden has mild symptoms - and will continue to carry out his duties from self-isolation in Delaware. US correspondent Logan Church says this comes at a terrible time, as Biden needs to prove he's fit and ready for a second term. "You've got to wonder at this stage how long J...

One member of the Greens says the caucus hasn't met for discussion on whether to invoke waka-jumping laws against Darleen Tana. Tana has left the party, but if she won't quit Parliament, the Greens can only replace her in their MP count if the Speaker removes her, an action the Party has historically opposed. Its report found Tana likely knew about alleged exploitation at her husband's business -...

The PSA has won a case against the Ministry of Education, calling it a victory for the dignity and fair treatment of workers. The union filed proceedings at the Employment Relations Authority, claiming the collective agreement wasn't met relating to the Government's spending cuts - putting hundreds of roles on the line. ZB political editor Jason Walls says the Ministry has 28 days to file an appea...

Over in Australia, the unemployment rate rose to 4.1 percent in June. This is a higher figure than economists had predicted - and surpassed the previous figure of 4 percent. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this has prompted concern regarding interest rates, as the Reserve Bank might have to factor this in for their next announcement.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

The All Blacks have named six debutants in their 23 to face Fiji at San Diego on the weekend. Billy Proctor starts at centre with five more uncapped players on the bench - George Bell, Pasilio Tosi, Sam Darry, Wallace Sititi and Noah Hotham. Only captain Scott Barrett, number eight Ardie Savea, first-five Damian McKenzie and right wing Sevu Reece start in the same jerseys from last week. Sportstal...

Three unknown New Zealand high schools are refusing to enrol students expelled from their prior schools in defiance of legal orders sent by the Ministry of Education. New reports confirm the Ministry has sent 261 letters to unwilling schools, requiring them to enrol students excluded or expelled from elsewhere. While 251 schools have accepted the Ministry’s orders, two schools in Auckland and one...