Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

An economist says there's a risk the Reserve Bank won't cut the OCR until next year. It's kept the Official Cash Rate at 5.5 percent today, unchanged over a year with seven consecutive holds. Kiwibank's, Jarrod Kerr says there is worry it won't be cut until February. However, his bank's outlook remains the same. "Our forecast has inflation dropping below 3 percent by the end of the year, and I thi...

The New Zealand Rugby Players' Association have outlined a plan to replace the governing body if the vote at next week's special general meeting goes against them. Last year's independent review formed the basis of a proposal to overhaul the governance structure. Canterbury Rugby chair Pete Winchester says this eleventh-hour update is likely to galvanize people. "We've been dealing with this for m...

It's been predicted over £10 billion could be given to the victims impacted by Britain's infected blood scandal. More than 30,000 people received infected blood and products in the 1970s and 80s, from the state-funded National Health Service. 3,000 people died, and thousands more contracted hepatitis or HIV. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Prime Minister Sunak has pledged financial compensation f...

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has applied for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hamas leaders. Prosecutor Karim Khan says these warrants have been put forward for alleged crimes committed during the Hamas-led October 7 attack and the subsequent war on Gaza. Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says it's extremely likely that these...

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says his phone's been 'running hot' following last week’s announcement. Fonterra plans to divest its consumer businesses, including Anchor and Mainland - overseas operations Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka. The Country's Jamie Mackay reveals which investors have been expressing interest. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the Reserve Bank, ahead of tomorrow's OCR update.  The RBNZ is predicted to hold the cash rate steady at 5.5 percent - potentially marking a full year since the last rate change. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen predicts the new forecast hasn't moved since February. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's David MacLeod has admitted to making a high-profile slip-up. Macleod has lost his select committee roles for failing to declare 19 candidate donations, worth $168,000. He says he mistakenly believed those 2022 donations were already logged. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this could set MacLeod's political career back. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Over in Australia, Northern Territory police could soon enact more snap curfews under new legislation.  The 'Police Administration Bill' gives the Police Commissioner the ability to implement three-day curfews in the region.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this comes off the back of a 'successful' three week curfew for minors in Alice Springs.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener f...

The Warriors have welcomed back some injured players ahead of their clash against the Dolphins at Mt Smart this weekend. Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Freddy Lussick and Te Maire Martin and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad are some of the names confirmed to play on Sunday's match. 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 Tuesday, 21 May 2024, the Defence Force has begun its rescue mission of Kiwis stuck in New Caledonia. Foreign Minister Winston Peters tells Heather why French authorities have been so reluctant to let them in. Can you smoke a spliff on the weekend and drive the next day? Transport Minister Simeon Brown what's on and what's not under his n...

Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and government relations consultant Kaine Thompson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has confirmed they plan to roll out roadside drug testing later this year, allowing police to randomly screen drivers to crack down on drug-driving. Is this a good idea?  National's David MacLeo...

SkyCity will pay more than $4 million for breaching obligations to prevent money laundering and terrorism. A Department of Internal Affairs review found multiple breaches over five years, including failures in risk assessment, compliance and account monitoring to counter money laundering and terrorism financing.  Forsyth Barr Head of Research Andy Bowley says the company never undertook money laun...

The Government says it'll roll out randomised roadside drug testing later this year. Legislation's being introduced to allow Police to randomly screen drivers for drugs, similarly to testing for drink-driving. Doing two roadside tests would make false positives less likely. Transport Minister Simeon Brown says it's one of the biggest killers on our road. "In the last 10 years, it's been, I think a...

According to Newsroom, Prime Minister Luxon's unexpected appearance at the Ockham national book awards was met with disapproval from the crowds. The piece claims Luxon was mocked and dismissed by attendees, with MC Jack Tame and two authors getting some digs in. The Trust disputes this version of events, saying that author Steve Braunias "rather overegged it".  New Zealand Book Awards Trust chair...

National's MP for New Plymouth has been apologising after failing to declare 19 candidate donations.  David MacLeod claimed $168,000 of donations from 2022 weren't filed last year because he believed they already had been, an error the Party picked up last week.  He's been stripped of his roles on the Environment and Finance Select Committees - and been admonished by Prime Minister Luxon. MacLeod...

Winston Peters says multiple Defence Force flights will collect Kiwis from New Caledonia in the coming days. The first C-130 Hercules has touched down at Noumea's Magenta Aerodrome, the island's domestic airport. It will bring about 50 people back to Auckland tonight. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says French authorities are confident people can now traverse the roads to get to the airport. "Tha...

There's changes coming for social housing in New Zealand, off the back of a damning review of Kāinga Ora. Prime Minister Chris Luxon has expressed interest in diversifying social housing - and whether these options come from Kāinga Ora or community providers is yet to be determined. Former Monte Cecelia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith says it's likely the Government will put more fundin...

Judging by the list of the most popular reads on any particular website, it seems quite a few of us have now read the account of how rude the audience at the Ockham Book Awards were to the Prime Minister. According to Steve Braunias, when Luxon was welcomed onto the stage, the "applause basically sounded like one hand clapping" - and after his speech was done, the applause was even less than befor...

The public inquiry into the infected blood scandal, known as the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history, is due to publish its findings soon. Over 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from 1970 to 1991 by contaminated blood products and transfusions, with 3,000 having died since. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says thousands of people have been waiting for justice for years. LISTEN...

Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong has issued a warning to New Zealand over the prospect of joining AUKUS. In a speech delivered to the China Business Summit in Auckland, Xiaolong said China's relationship with New Zealand had reached a critical juncture - and joining AUKUS could impact that. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says this stance is in line with earlier comments made by ambassad...

There's been questions raised about the purpose of tikanga - and the role it should play in the rule of law. Senior King’s Counsel Gary Judd has filed a complaint to the Government’s Regulations Review Committee over incoming compulsory tikanga Māori studies for law students. Judd claims he filed this complaint because up until now, the curriculum for lawyers has been made up of what he described...

Housing agency Kāinga Ora has been found to be in a questionable state, according to new report. A high-level review of the agency has found the Department is under-performing and isn't financially viable without significant reform. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this review follows accounts of unpaid rent, abandoned state houses and abusive tenants.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 20 May 2024, an inquiry into Kainga Ora has found the social housing system is not socially or financially sustainable. Housing Minister Chris Bishop tells Heather there will be immediate changes. Heather asks the Warehouse Group chair Joan Withers whether she sacked the CEO or if he quit by himself. The Huddle debates whether cel...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! A new review has revealed Kāinga Ora has been left in a poor state, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop placing the blame on the previous Government. How can this be addressed? The investigation into Darleen Tana has so far cost $43,000 -...

The Finance Minster says credit agencies are still looking favourably on New Zealand, despite high debt levels. Treasury told the Government it was running a structural deficit the day it was sworn in; the Labour Government was never told. It comes as Nicola Willis gears up to deliver her first Budget next Thursday. Willis says it's important to show New Zealand won't be in perpetual deficit. "We...