Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Government has promised to install 10,000 EV chargers by 2030... and EV charging company Jolt has suggested lines companies should pay for the investment. CEO of Vector, Simon Mackenzie, spoke with Heather du Plessis-Allan about who is responsible for covering the costs.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedian Arj Barker has hit back at criticism after he asked a breastfeeding mother to leave his show in Melbourne over the weekend.  Arj said the seven month old's sounds were distracting him and "ruined his train of thought." The NZ International Comedy Festival is about to kick off and the Chief Executive, Lauren Whitney, joined Heather to discuss what happened.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.c...

This morning I was listening to the radio, and I was quite shocked when I heard Labour’s Justice Spokesperson, Duncan Webb, talking about the Three Strikes Law.   He said judges and lawyers hate it so much, they will find ways around it so they don’t have to implement it.   He said because the law will now only apply to crimes with sentences over two years – 24 months, “we will see a lot of senten...

The Justice Select Committee heard submissions on Tuesday on the Government's proposed ban on gang patches.  Chris Macklin, Convener of the Law Society's Criminal Law Committee spoke to Heather du Plessis-Allan about why he critiqued the proposal.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been an eventful day in New York as the prosecution and defence laid out their cases in Donald Trump's hush money trial.  The former president is accused of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Heather spoke with criminal defence attorney Joseph Tully.   LISTE ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and journalist Patrick Gower joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  The government is bringing back the Three Strikes law - but will it work?  Air New Zealand is hiking domestic airfares - should people be getting angry on how expensive it is to travel within New Zealand?  And is Woolworths making the...

Air New Zealand is warning travel agents that it's about to put domestic airfares up. It comes at the same time as the national carrier has downgrades its full-year earnings guidance by 10 million dollars. The fare structure for flights to Australia and the Pacific is also getting a revamp. Aviation Commentator Peter Clark told Heather du Plessis-Allan the airline doesn't have a choice - as it's o...

The Finance Minister admits there's still a way to go get inflation under control.  Statistics NZ data showed headline inflation has dropped to 4 percent - the lowest number in nearly three years.  But domestic inflation, otherwise known as non-tradeable inflation, is remaining sticky.  She told Heather du Plessis-Allan the country isn't out of the woods yet.  Willis says non-tradeable inflation i...

Labour's calling for the Government to recognise Palestinian independence. Opposition spokesperson David Parker's written to Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters, noting Israel's attacks have killed 32 thousand people in the past six months. He says the country's ignored two UN resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire, and is in breach of international law. Parker told Heather du Plessis...

The world's warming - but concern about it may be cooling. An Ipsos survey's found numbers are falling of New Zealanders saying we're failing future generations by not acting on climate change - down nine percent since 2022. It also found fewer Kiwis believe businesses not combating global warming, are failing staff and customers. Managing Director Carin Hercock told Heather du Plessis-Allan it se...

Body cameras are being rolled out across all Woolworths' New Zealand stores. It's introducing a suite of new security measures to de-escalate violent customer confrontations. Physical assaults on staff have risen 75-percent over the past three years - and serious reportable events are up 148-percent. Head of Safety, Health and Wellbeing Denva Wren says a lot of work's gone into meeting privacy req...

The Minister-in-charge of bringing back Three Strikes Laws is hitting back at claims will worsen inequality in the justice system. The Government is preparing legislation to bring back mandated prison sentences for violent and sexual criminals for their third offence. Labour ended the law in 2022 and says it will result in unfairly long sentence, while the Greens say it will disproportionately imp...

Children's Minister Karen Chhour is facing the Waitangi Tribunal in the High Court today,  in a challenge to her summons. The tribunal summonsed the ninister to respond to their concerns over plans to repeal section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act. It ensures the ministry has regard to a child's whakapapa, and the whanaungatanga responsibilities of whanau. Commonts on the unfolding situation from S...

Health New Zealand appears to be making cuts to frontline services despite a government promise this wouldn't happen. The agency is telling hospital management to encourage staff to take leave, ban double shifts and to not cover sick staff. It's also asking managers to wipe unfilled roles as part of the budget process. Chief Executive of Health New Zealand Margie Apa told Heather du Plessis-Allan...

As promised the government's bringing back the Three Strikes law. The Prime Minister and the Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee announced today it’ll be in Cabinet by mid-year. And they’re changing it just a wee bit.  One of the criticisms of the law is that it sent a guy to jail for kissing a woman on a street in Wellington without consent, but because it was his third strike, he was sent aw...

Google has dominated the search market for almost 20 years, but with the new introduction of generative AI, does the company face an existential crisis? Fund Manager Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to discuss his thoughts.    LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has met the President of the Philippines, and promised to be more engaged on the defence front and on trade.   Plus, two ministers questioning the value of the Waitangi Tribunal continuing are rebuked by Luxon. And, Wellington feels the pinch of public servants being laid off.   ZB Senior Political correspondent Barry Soper wraps the political week.   LISTEN ABOVE...

Meta has begun incorporating new versions of its AI-powered smart assistant software across its apps, which include Instagram, Whatsapp, Messenger and Facebook.   Users can ask the software to create images, write love letters, write a cover letter and more...   Tech commentator Paul Spain of Gorilla Tech tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that the software being used inside apps by Meta makes AI more...

Sport journalist Jim Kayes and Newstalk ZB sport news director Clay Wilson join Heather du Plessis-Allan for the Sports Huddle. Is James Fisher-Harris the best signing in Warriors history?  Do women need a smaller rugby ball? And, will NZ have enough netball players to make up three teams? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Law Society has penned an editorial saying we should be less critical of judges to protect democracy. The editorial warns being overly critical of judges could cause the public to lose confidence in the judiciary system.   President of the Law Society Frazer Barton tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that it is okay to analyse, discuss and debate decisions but it is not okay to personalise it.   LI...

Taylor Swift’s much hyped new album has dropped. The Tortured Poets Department features 16 songs, at one hour and five minutes duration.   Newstalk ZB intern Ava Whitworth gave it a listen and tells Heather du Plessis-Allan just what the lyrics reveal.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angela Blackmoore’s murderers have been sentenced to life in prison.   David Hawken and Rebecca Wright-Meldrum were found guilty of her murder last year and had their sentences handed down today, almost 30 years since the slaying in Christchurch.   Angela’s former partner Laurie Anderson read a victim impact statement at the sentencing. He tells Heather du Plessis-Allan the family feel relief and...

A US official has reported Israel has bombed Iran. Damage is being assessed as the world watches on at how Iran is going to react.   Meanwhile, a complete jury has been selected in the criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson tells Heather du Plessis-Allan that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has not let the defense know who the first witness is...

New Zealand’s track and field team has been named for the Olympics.   Sportstalk host Jason Pine gives Heather du Plessis-Allan the lowdown on the 15-strong squad.   Plus, Supercars are in Taupo this weekend, with five kiwis on the grid.   LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Israeli missiles have reportedly hit a site in Iran, beginning a counter-attack after Iran fired dozen of missiles.   A senior United States official has reportedly said missiles have hit a site in the Iranian city Isfahan. However, Iran is downplaying the attack saying the strike was not successful.   Professor for International Relations at Otago University, Robert Patman tells Heather du Plessi...