Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Government will spend $4 billion over the next three years fixing and preventing potholes on state highways and local roads nationwide.    Auckland will get a $478 million boost in pothole funding; Waikato will get $214m and Canterbury has been allocated $187m in funding.   Transport Minister Simeon Brown told Jack Tame “The real focus here is preventing them.”   Brown said “The NZTA board all...

The Government is putting $30 million towards free and timely access to radiology services including X-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds across the country.    Health Minister Shane Reti made the announcement this morning during a visit to Waikanae Health Centre.   Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Jack Tame “The biggest problem has been in the provinces.”   Soper said “At the moment, y...

Australia's cyber safety regulator has dropped a case against Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) over the removal of videos of the stabbing of an Assyrian church bishop in Sydney.   Australia Correspondent Murray Olds told Jack Tame “It was seen as a test of Australia’s ability to enforce online safety rules against these giant companies.”   Olds said “The video was removed in Australia – but X...

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has insisted his knockout tackle on Reece Walsh was an accident.   Suaalii apologised to the whole of New South Wales, after being sent off at the beginning of his State of Origin debut.   D'Arcy Waldegrave SportsTalk host told Jack Tame “Seven minutes into the game - the oxygen goes out of the place.”   Waldegrave says “He just turned around in the tackle. Reece slipped a bi...

It’s the fifth straight month of slow new car sales, and it’s likely for more dealers to close.   This comes after the Government removed the Clean Car Discount – stating the Clean Car Standard will achieve results.   Motor Industry Association CEO Aimee Whiley told Jack Tame “It feels harder right now, than it did during the GFC.”   Wiley said “Consumer demand has shifted too – the kind of vehicl...

A fascinating interview on the Mike Hosking breakfast this morning, with the lawyer acting on behalf of former workers at Auckland's Manurewa marae, where it is alleged that private information was improperly accessed to help with election campaigning.   Now these are really, really serious allegations and it is just so important to note that Te Pāti Māori and John Tamihere have denied all allegat...

Several major hospitals in London have been impacted by a cyber attack - which led to operations being cancelled and emergency patients being diverted. The incident has had an impact on the delivery of key services, including blood transfusions and test results. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains the widespread damage being caused by the attack. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

A 20-year deal with Southland's Tiwai Aluminium Smelter could be good news for everyday New Zealanders. The agreement signed by Meridian, Mercury, Contact Energy and New Zealand Aluminium Smelters will guarantee supply until 2044. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton says this is positive news for the electricity sector.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's tax take has surpassed Treasury’s expectations for the first time in a while. This positive result was found to have come from efforts to minimise the amount of tax trustees pay.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says this shows how hard companies worked to flush out their retained earnings.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parts of the new Cook Strait mega ferries had already been built and tested, before the contract for the ships was canned. The Government announced last year that it would not give Kiwirail more money for the new ferries, but a written question to Paul Goldsmith revealed some engine parts had been built. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains that this will likely cost Kiwis. LISTE...

Another historic criminal prosecution in the US begins as Hunter Biden faces federal gun charges. The jury's been sworn in for the trial of Joe Biden's 54-year-old son. He's accused of lying about illegal drug use when buying a Colt Cobra revolver in 2018, and illegally possessing it for 11 days. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Hunter Biden could be facing a fine, community service or house a...

Former Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulsen is set to move to English Premier League side Bournemouth. The 21-year-old has been offloaded from the Wellington Phoenix in the biggest transfer in the club's history, estimated at $4 million. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains this update further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 5 June 2024, political commentator Bryce Edwards is calling for a coordinated investigation after allegations the Maori Party misused private information for election campaigning. How much time are people willing to give the Government to fix crime issues in our central cities? Workplace Relations Minister Brooke Van Velden on...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Police Minister Mark Mitchell held a public meeting to attempt to address the crime in Auckland's CBD currently impacting residents and businesses. Can the Government fix the rampant crime in our cities? How much...

Precinct Properties plans to funnel over $300 million into housing in Auckland CBD. The company has announced it'll build student accommodation of 500 units on Queen Street, to boost housing in the city centre. CEO Scott Pritchard says moving toward residential property is a natural next step. "For a long time now, we've been developing commercial office - and in the last few years, we've sort of...

The Government's drafting legislation to change the Holidays Act 2003, and will put it out for consultation in September. It'll include proposals to pro-rata sick leave and move annual leave from an entitlement system, to one using accrual. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden says she aims to simplify the Act so businesses can spend less time on workplace admin. "It hasn't re...

There’s a view the investigation of allegations against Te Pāti Māori should be more co-ordinated.   It's been alleged that information collected at Manurewa Marae was used to help the party's election campaign, which it denies.   Stats NZ has appointed an investigator, a complaint's been laid with Police, and the Privacy Commissioner says he's talking to agencies on next moves.   Commentator Bryc...

A business owner in Auckland's CBD says locals need to back the police. Police Minister Mark Mitchell led a public meeting to address increased crime rates last night, which grew strained at points. Queens Arcade property manager Ian Wright says crime has been on the rise across the nation - but he's confident things are headed in the right direction. "The whole system's gone too soft, the justice...

The country's most stolen car - the Toyota Aqua - is now costing some as much as $3,000 a year to insure. Motor Trade Association spokesperson, Larry Fallowfield, says in the past couple of years, they've also become the most registered used car here. He says their lack of modern features means they're easier to steal - but owners can give them an upgrade. "Insurance companies are saying - if you...

Auckland's largest real estate agency experienced a significant boost last month. Barfoot & Thompson's property sales for May were up 30 percent on April and up 27 percent compared to May 2023. The agency's managing director, Peter Thompson, says the company's experiencing a small boom in demand, which has been lessened by the current interest rates.  "I think we're in for a quite a good littl...

The new Ministry for Regulation has announced a review of the early childhood education sector. The minister in charge, David Seymour, says affordability, access and regulation currently weigh down the industry. Seymour says workers in the sector are burdened by constant rules and regulations as they try to educate the nation's youngest learners. "Fundamentally, we want people to spend less time e...

I was very interested in that Auckland Central crime meeting with the Police Minister last night. If it wasn’t that the thing was scheduled for 6:30, when this show was still on air, I would've gone along. I actually got Mark Mitchell's flyer in the letterbox inviting me to come along, cause I live in Auckland Central. And because I work in Auckland Central, I care very deeply about the crime in m...

Brexit champion Nigel Farage is making a comeback, dealing another blow to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Farage is standing as an MP, and will lead the right-wing populist Reform Party. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this comes off the back of some disappointing poll numbers for Rishi Sunak. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country's Jamie Mackay is celebrating a royal honour. Mackay was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to broadcasting and the rural community. Listen to him outline this accomplishment here today. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Struggling dairy processor Synlait has confirmed a significant majority of its farmer suppliers want to leave. The Canterbury-based organisation told yesterday's Australian securities exchange the exodus of most of its 280 suppliers was expected. Dairy insights consultant Stuart Davison says this comes off the back of a 'concerning' 18 months for the business. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/liste...