Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Finance Minister turned up to readjust expectations ahead of this year's Budget. Addressing the Employers and Manufacturers Association in Auckland this afternoon, Nicola Willis has warned the Government faces a structural deficit. That's the fact Government spending has way exceeded tax revenue, and it's projected to continue without significant spending reforms. ZB senior political correspon...

There's concerns from epidemiologists as the threat of bird flu rears its head.  Australia has recorded its first human case of the H5N1 strain, in a child returning to Victoria from India. Another case was later found in an egg farm within the region. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says both of these cases have been dealt with - but it's still a concern. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

Crusaders coach Rob Penney has found himself caught in a storm of backlash over a hot-mic comment. Penney was picked up using a derogatory term to describe a reporter after responding to questions about his performance and future with the side losing 10 out of 12 games this season. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the controversy further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 May 2024, the Government's unveiled its mining strategy and it sounds very much like "drill, baby, drill". Patrick Phelps from Minerals West Coast tells Heather about the opportunities that lie in the ground. Former defence advisor for French President Emmanuel Macron, General Dominique Trinquand, explains how the French Pres...

Tonight on The Huddle, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills and TV3 broadcaster Paddy Gower joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! More experts and advocates have voiced support for Minister Shane Jones' plan to boost mining efforts and remove red tape. Is this a good idea - or is it giving people false hope? Crusaders coach Rob Penney is under fire for using dero...

Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr has called out the nation's biggest banks over their profit margins and lack of competition The banks have since claimed their margins in New Zealand are bigger than they are overseas - thanks to certain capital requirements. KPMG partner John Kensington says Orr's comments were a little harsh - but more competition is needed for the sector. "Think back five years...

Tensions are high in New Caledonia, as France's President meets officials in the region. The violence is over voting reforms that indigenous Kanaks say would dilute their vote - and undermine their struggle for independence. Six people have died and new barricades have been appearing across the capital. Emmanuel Macron's former Defence Advisor, Dominique Trinquand says things are still very tense....

Advocates and experts are supporting the resource minister's plan to cut barriers to mining. Shane Jones has outlined a draft strategy for the industry. He wants a stock-take of available minerals and to double export value in 10 years. Minerals West Coast manager Patrick Phelps says you could get a feel for New Zealand's resources within a year or two. "There's quite substantial gold mines being...

Crusader chief executive Colin Mansbridge has offered a defence after their coach was scrutinised after their ten-loss Super Rugby season. Coach Rob Penney is in hot water after getting caught referring to a journalist in a derogatory manner after facing questions over his future in the role. Penney's apologised to Mansbridge - who in turn apologised to the reporter. Mansbridge says Penney's apolo...

Concern over a quarter of new primary teachers not passing NCEA Level 1 maths. The Institute of Economic Research has analysed NCEA achievement of those starting between 2017 and 2022. It found more than half didn't pass Level 1 science. Deputy chief executive and principal economist, Sarah Hogan, says this confirms what other studies have claimed - that primary teachers are not equipped to teach...

There's concerns over possible abuse and neglect at Tauranga Hospital. Associate Health Minister Casey Castello is asking for a report on the hospital - after a video's showed an elderly patient lying on the ground. It shows a patient in the mental health services for older people unit crying for help - as people walk past him. Ken Coull, the husband of one of the impacted patients, says he's comp...

Over in the UK, inflation has dropped to 2.3 percent, the lowest in 3 years. It heaps pressure on the Bank of England to cut high interest rates - and gives the Government a welcome boost. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this drop is significant - but it's not as low as predicted. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore 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! Te Pati Māori managed to raise a few eyebrows over their comments about Children's Minister Karen Chhour, with the party accusing her of having disdain for her own people. Was this out of line? What can we do about Te Pati...

Experts say Gentrack is well placed to capture the opportunities created by changes to the utilities and airport sectors. A surging Gentrack gave the New Zealand sharemarket and the company reporting season a positive tone with strong revenue growth and an earnings upgrade. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains Gentrack's financial growth. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for p...

The Reserve Bank left the OCR unchanged today - but people may have to hold out for rate cuts. RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr revealed the bank considered hiking rates past 5.5 percent, and there's still scope for a potential hike this year. The committee also pushed out its projected timeframe for its first OCR cut from mid-2025 to around September 2025. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibsh...

Te Pati Māori managed to raise a few eyebrows over their comments about the Children's Minister. Karen Chhour's bill to remove section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act passed its first reading yesterday. Responding to the Bill, Te Pati Māori has said since Chhour was raised by Pakeha, she has a disconnection and a disdain for her own people. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Te Pa...

Fireworks as the defence wraps up in Donald Trump's hush money case. The former president is facing charges of falsifying business documents after allegedly paying off porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump's decided not to take the stand, and jurors will now prepare for deliberations. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says unless any significant news breaks, the jury will deliberate the verdict for a week...

New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol has lambasted the provincial unions' proposal for governance reform, which will be voted on at next week's special general meeting. The body have threatened to divorce New Zealand Rugby if that option is selected. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 22 May 2024, the Reserve Bank has delivered a "hawkish shock" today. Kiwibank Chief Economist tells Heather the RBNZ even considered hiking the Official Cash Rate, with cuts now further into the distance. Children's Minister Karen Chhour is hitting back at Te Pati Maori which questioned her whakapapa. After another shocking inc...

One expert has warned flights with severe turbulence could become more common, due to climate change. Overnight, one person was killed and several were injured after a Singapore Airlines flight hit turbulence and descended 1,800 meters in three minutes. Former airline pilot and safety consultant Doug Moss says clear air turbulence is difficult to detect - and it often catches pilots by surprise. "...

One former International Criminal Court prosecutor says the US was 'out of line' by attacking the court for seeking arrest warrants for Israel's PM.  The ICC's is looking to get an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Sir Geoffrey Nice says the US is 'very unwise' to oppose the actions of the Court. "The US has been hostile to international crimin...

The Government says scrapping the First Home Grant scheme is another example of tough decisions it has to make this Budget. It has also announced $140 million in new funding for 1500 new social housing places. Housing Minister Chris Bishop says everyone sympathises with first home buyers, but they have to focus on a more vulnerable group of people. "We are doing the right thing, but I'm not preten...

The Children's Minister says the word racism is chucked around too much in Parliament. A Bill by Karen Chhour that removes some Treaty obligations from the Oranga Tamariki Act passed its first reading yesterday. It's prompted fiery and emotional speeches in the House, and Labour's Children's Spokesperson called Chhour a 'sell out'. On social media, Te Pati Māori's said Chhour's Pakeha upbringing h...

The founder of I Am Hope says every cent of a funding boost will go into mental health counsellors. The Government has announced the Budget will include $24 million going into Mike King's Gumboot Friday initiative over four years. It gives under-25s free counselling. King says kids often take on the stress of adults around them. "It's huge for the mental health of the kids in New Zealand - they ca...

Now, on this decision by the Government to cut the First Home Buyers Grant in order to put the money into social housing instead-  I've got to be honest, on principle, it's not the kind of thing I love. Because I'd personally much rather the Government give a helping hand to Kiwis trying to do the right thing rather than constantly bailing out the delinquents. But in this one respect, I think they...