Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Advertising Standards Authority released its latest annual report today - celebrating 50 years of complaints from the public. The medium has grown and changed over the past several decades, and so have the standards from audiences. ASA Chief Executive Hilary Souter says the areas that used to push buttons have changed, and certain topics have become less acceptable. "The things we don't see an...

One Labour MP says Wilson Parking is abusing its rights - and wants the company's access to the personal information of customers revoked. Duncan Webb has written a letter to the Transport Minister urging NZTA to remove the ability for Wilson Parking to access the personal data they use to issue infringements. Webb says Wilson's ability to utilise the home address and number plate details of their...

The Regional Cancer Treatment Service, caring for patients across the middle of the North Island, hasn't been allowed to recruit needed doctors. An internal report 18 months ago recommended hiring four senior doctors, one part time, but none have been. The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Executive Director, Sarah Dalton says the report was never officially signed off. "Not only have th...

The murder of a mother and daughter in Western Australia has pushed the region's Government to strengthen gun laws.  On Friday afternoon, a man shot a 59-year-old woman and her 18-year-old daughter in their Floreat home while allegedly searching for his ex-wife. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the new laws will ensure limits are in place on the number of registered guns owned. LISTEN...

The Warriors have once again overcome a plethora of missing players to beat the Dolphins 24-20 in their NRL contest. Trailing 16-12 at the break, two second-half tries gave the hosts a 24-16 lead ultimately holding on for the win.  Sportstalk host Jason Pine unpacks this weekend's victory here today.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has embraced a report revealing the industry contributes over a billion dollars to the economy. In last year's season, almost 10,000 people worked in the industry - and race attendance was at under half a million. Chief executive Bruce Sharrock says the company has been experiencing rapid growth over the last 6 to 8 months. "There's certainly some green shoots appea...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 24 May 2024, Dunedin is reeling after a 16 year old was stabbed to death at a bus stop and a 13 year old charged with his murder. Mayor Jules Radich tells Heather security guards don't have enough powers to intervene.     Where'd the $51 million go? Wellington Water's CEO Tonya Haskell says a "spreadsheet error" led to a massive b...

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s law to ban smoking for future generations could be dropped, after it was not fast-tracked in the lead up to the general election.   The UK Labour Party has promised to bring in the ban if it wins the election in July.   UK Correspondent Gavin Grey told Heather du Plessis Allan “Both sides of the house are debating what they’ll managed to get done, before Parliament...

China is encircling Taiwan in a series of military drills - just days after Taiwan’s president was elected.   The Chinese military says the onslaught of planes, war ships and coast guard vessels is punishment for what it's calling "separatist actions".   Asia Business Correspondent Peter Lewis told Heather du Plessis Allan “This is a step up from what we've seen before.”   Lewis said “For the firs...

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper wraps the political week.   National’s New Plymouth MP David MacLeod has been stood down from his select committee roles after failing to declare 19 candidate donations.   MacLeod received $168,335 in donations in 2022 when he first became the National Party candidate.   Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis Allan “To forget that is incredible. It’s pretty...

Resource Minister Shane Jones has come under pressure from Labour and the Greens, over the Government's new plans for mining.   Jones wants to bolster gold and coal mining across the country, and to have a renewed focus on value-add refining.   Greenpeace NZ executive director Russell Norman told Heather du Plessis Allan “He’s getting rid of all environmental constraints expect one - mining in nat...

Former All Blacks captains Richie McCaw and Ian Kirkpatrick have urged New Zealand Rugby to change their governance structure.   Meanwhile, nearly 1.59 million New Zealanders have watched NRL matches on Sky Sport and free to air on Sky Open, a lift of 14 per cent from last season.   Sports Journalist Lavina Good told Heather du Plessis Allan “The Warriors don’t even have to win for people to love...

Richie McCaw is urging New Zealand Rugby to change the way they’re governed based on an independent review - emphasising long-term benefits over short-term interests.   McCaw has warned that New Zealand rugby may lose the unity that has historically strengthened the sport from grassroots, to the professional level.   Former All Blacks Captain Ian Kirkpatrick told Heather du Plessis Allan “It’s tim...

Another Defence Force evacuation flight from Noumea has landed in Auckland today - with 49 passengers.   It's our third group to return - and it's understood 160 New Zealanders are still in the French Territory.   Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters told Heather du Plessis Allan “We think we might have it resolved by the end of the week.”   Peters said “We’ve got security issues, that those on...

A 13-year-old's been charged with murder over the death of another teen in Dunedin yesterday.   Police say they've been aware for some time of anti-social behaviour at the city's Great King Street bus hub - and they arrived at the scene within one minute of the 16-year-old being stabbed.   Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich told Heather du Plessis Allan “We instigated private security patrols, which have...

Auckland Council is removing almost a third of rubbish bins around the region to save $9.5 million over the next eight financial years.    Meanwhile, the council spent almost $147,000 dollars on a sculpture at the Pakuranga Rotary Walkway in November last year, two months before removing a bin.   Auckland Council chair of revenue expenditure Maurice Williamson told Heather du Plessis Allan “This h...

The Foreign Affairs Ministry's budget appears to have increased under Winston Peters - despite its savings announcement today.   Peters has revealed MFAT is cutting 60-million-dollars over four years. That's less than one percent, well below the Government's 6.5 percent savings target for most ministries.   Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis Allan “Winston is the sa...

A top competition lawyer says the anti-trust lawsuit against music promoter Live Nation, is long overdue.   The US Department of Justice is suing the Ticketmaster parent company - alleging it's holding a monopoly - as it's putting on the concerts, selling the tickets and owning the venues.   US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis Allan “This isn’t a surprise... I think they’ll be...

Warriors’ prop Addin Fonua-Blake has been stood down for breaching team standards.   Fonua-Blake left the dressing room before the team address and song – and as a result will miss Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.   Weekend Sport Host Jason Pine told Heather du Plessis Allan “In terms of breaching protocol, it’s very low-end. In fact, I can’t think of anything lower.”   Pine said “But, it’s a l...

Wellington Water has made a $51 million dollar mistake, and is asking councils for a funding top-up.   Wellington Water board members fronted up at a committee meeting this morning, saying there will be an independent investigation.   Wellington Water CEO Tonya Haskell told Heather du Plessis Allan “In the process of coming up with those numbers, we missed our corporate overhead, which is six perc...

Man alive. There is a family in Dunedin doing it tough today. I mean, these guys sent their 16-year-old boy to school yesterday and he didn't come home. He was stabbed at a notoriously dangerous bus stop by a 13-year-old. What the hell, by the way, as a 13-year-old doing with a knife?   Now, that stabbing at the bus stop will have sent chills through parents up and down this country. Because the t...

Prime Rishi Sunak has recently announced the UK will have a general election on July 4. Sunak has promised to earn voters' trust and prove to them only a Conservative government led by him will not put economic stability at risk. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains the collective outlook following Sunak's announcement. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Copper prices have surged this year by 25 percent, according to new data. Copper has a broad level of demand, with plenty of industries relying on this commodity. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains how copper can be a barometer of the human economy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwifruit producer Zespri’s profit has dropped 27 per cent but growers have been paid record prices for their output. Zespri reported a net profit after tax of $173.3 million for the 2023-24 financial year - down from $238.7m the year prior. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the sector. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week ahead of this year's Budget day, the Finance Minister has warned Kiwis shouldn't expect too much. Minister Nicola Willis warned the Government faces a significant structural deficit of $6 billion a year - and changes will need to be made to fix that. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains how this warning could potentially impact the upcoming budget reveal.  LISTEN ABOVE Se...