Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Reluctantly, I think saving Shortland Street was the right thing for now.   The news on Shorty today is that it’s been saved, but it will go down to three episodes a week.   What's saved it is taxpayer money: $3 million from NZ On Air and then be eligible for a rebate from the Screen Production Grant which must be about $6 or $7 million.   Which means we’re pumping in around about $10 million in t...

Voting booths are opening in the UK, where it's predicted the 14-year Tory rule will come to an end. Keir Starmer's Labour party is expected to cruise to an easy victory over Rishi Sunak's Conservatives. UK correspondent Enda Brady says data predicts Labour will win in the biggest victory since 1836. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Equity markets around the world are experiencing lifetime highs - but one expert has warned of the possible risks involved. The US, Japan, Europe and Australia are all thriving, amid a collective battle with inflation. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains the situation further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The golden era of   trade is over and New Zealand needs to push hard to diversify its trading partners, according to a warning from the Deputy Secretary of Trade.  During the Primary Industries Conference, Vangelis Vitalis said primary industry exports went through a boom between 1995 and 2017 but since then, things have become much harder. The Country's Jamie Mackay unpack the issue further. LIST...

Housing Minister Chris Bishop says six major changes to housing reflect the needs of a modern population. They'll let cities expand at the fringes by stopping councils setting fixed rural-urban boundaries, and requiring them to plan for growth 30 years ahead. Minimum floor area and balcony requirements are being abolished for apartments. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains the b...

Consumer NZ says the nation's tanning salons are putting vulnerable customers at risk of permanent damage. The watchdog has accused some operators of letting under-18s and fair-skinned users to book sessions - and is calling for an overall ban. Consumer NZ writer Belinda Castles says other countries have made the move to ban sunbeds amid concern surrounding skin cancer. "We've got these voluntary...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 4 July 2024, Property Developer David Whitburn responds to the Government's announcement to 'flood' cities with housing - will it lead to slum areas? Pollster Henry Olsen gives us an update on the Biden situation in the US and why he's refusing to stand down. The Huddle debates whether we should ban sunbeds for good. And who act...

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog head and Curia pollster David Farrar and former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Housing Minister has announced a raft of changes designed to fill urban areas with development land and remove council powers to mandate boundaries and standards. Do we agree with these changes? How will we cove...

The IRD has confirmed it plans to target cryptocurrency users who haven't declared it as taxable income. The department has identified 227,000 users in New Zealand who had made about 7 million transactions with a value of $7.8 billion in the last tax year. Dentons Kensington Swan tax expert Bruce Bernacchi suspects there's tens of millions of dollars to potentially examine. "We only have to look a...

There's shock among Kiwi rugby fans, as Stephen Perofeta has been given the nod to start at fullback for the All Blacks in the first match of the year against England. He's pipped fellow Taranaki and Blues playmaker Beauden Barrett to the starting role at 15 for Saturday's test in Dunedin, with the veteran of 119 tests on the bench. Former All Black Sir John Kirwan says this is a wise choice ahead...

The Government has been warned it needs to build more schools and classrooms to meet a bulge in class rolls. An April Ministry of Education paper shows 139 schools were over capacity. Migration last year brought almost 21,000 extra school children. Ormiston Senior College principal Tim Botting says his school has had to adapt. "We've had to use some of the café space, our library space now has stu...

A property expert says housing changes announced today will increase supply - with a massive infrastructure bill attached. Housing Minister Chris Bishop says they'll let cities expand by stopping councils setting fixed rural-urban boundaries and requiring them to plan for growth 30 years ahead. Apartment floor area minimums and balcony requirements are being abolished. Property developer and inves...

Pro-Palestine protesters climbed the roof of Australia's Parliament House in Canberra to voice opposition with the ongoing conflict. Australian lawmakers have condemned the security breach, and authorities have planned a review into the building's security. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says a group of climate protestors also made it to the foyer inside the building - and police are expecti...

No sign of Crusaders bias in Scott Robertson's maiden All Blacks team to tackle England in Dunedin on Saturday. Despite taking the Crusaders to seven consecutive Super Rugby titles, Razor has included just three Crusaders in the starting line-up and one on the bench. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the announcement further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...

There's growing calls from prospective voters for Joe Biden to step down from the ongoing presidential race. Biden has stayed adamant that he's not dropping out, and he's told campaign staff he's in to the end. American pollster Henry Olsen says public support for Biden is decreasing fast. "Because of the electoral college balance towards Trump, Biden has to win by 2 points or more to have any cha...

It looks like we are finally giving in and allowing shoebox apartments in New Zealand. This morning, Housing Minister Chris Bishop announced a whole raft of changes designed to make houses more affordable, and one of those changes is that he will remove any requirements for how big an apartment must be and how big the balcony must be. He reckons that back in 2015 when Auckland Council changed balc...

UK citizens are less than a day away from being able to head to the polls - and it's been predicted the opposition will dominate. Another respected pollster has predicted Labour will win a 318 seat majority, with the Conservatives only just holding on to second place. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Labour leader Keir Starmer will beat Tony Blair's historic 1997 landslide. LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

New developments in the world of AI could make the discovery of medicines faster and cheaper for consumers. It's been found generative AI can be taught to process and examine new molecules - with the potential to unveil new treatments. Milford Asset Management's Deborah Lambie explains the benefits of these new developments. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis isn’t receptive to calls for the establishment of an independent unit to check Treasury’s forecasts and ensure Government spending is sustainable. The International Budget Partnership and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are among the organisations that believe New Zealand needs an institution that both costs policies and keeps tabs on th...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 3 July 2024, Hawke's Bay Regional Council Chief Executive Dr Nic Peet responds to calls for an apology for the council's role in Wairoa's devastating flooding last week. The Education Minister Erica Stanford tells Heather why she's introducing tests for primary school kids. The Huddle debates whether David Seymour should have b...

Tonight on the Huddle, Matt Heath from Radio Hauraki and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!   David Seymour has raised some eyebrows after he was caught Snapchatting school-aged students back in 2016. Has the outrage been blown out of proportion? The Government has introduced more standardised tests for prim...

Experts are reminding people that employers can see when staff are venting or sharing insults on workplace communication tools. Two Ministry of Justice staffers who used inappropriate language on Teams to describe academic Barbara Sumner have been made public after she asked for all correspondence mentioning her name. Employment lawyer Joe Williams explained that anything sent on a work device or...

The Government is hoping the Kāinga Ora board refresh will turn around its financial losses around. A new chair and deputy and six board members have been appointed to oversee the housing agency. It follows a damning review from Sir Bill English that concluded Kāinga Ora is not financially sustainable. Housing Minister Chris Bishop has also issued a Letter of Expectations demanding better performa...

There's increased efforts to position New Zealand on the world stage and make connections with the US. Prime Minister Chris Luxon is jetting off to the NATO summit and meeting with officials in Washington next week. He says he looks forward to forging stronger links with businesses and investors to help rebuild our economy. Former US Ambassador Tim Groser says the timing couldn't be more tense or...

A new type of e-scooter has hit Auckland's streets, with remote-control capabilities. Ario's three-wheeled variety can be moved off the street, after being left by users. General Manager, Adam Muirson says the three-wheelers are designed to help people who struggle with balance. "Pedestrian and disability advocacy groups were really impressed with how these adjustments are going to improve safety...