Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Auckland Council has proposed moving from weekly to fortnightly rubbish collection times. This concept is among a selection of other suggestions to move the city closer to a zero-waste target by 2040. Auckland councillor Daniel Newman is 'sceptical' about the practical applications of this idea. "Some people will cope marvellously, but there are thousands of families, bigger households, particular...

First it was Newshub, now it's TVNZ. We are still waiting on the details- staff have been told there will be 68 job losses, but the rest they’ll find out tomorrow. The speculation in the media is that half of those job cuts will be in the newsroom. Fair Go and Sunday reportedly will be merged, Breakfast and Seven sharp are affected, as is the late bulletin. Shortland Street will be cut down to thr...

The UK Government is expected to announce a 2 percent cut to National Insurance tax when ministers reveal their annual economic snapshot. The current Government is yet to call a general election date, and experts say they need to boost public favour within a stagnant economy. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the Government is 'diving for support' amid declining public opinion. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Speculation says TVNZ could be looking to cut jobs ahead of their all-hands business meeting tomorrow. What do we think? Is the industry going through a rough patch? The director of a taxpayer funned anti-extre...

Non-residential building work has shot up in the December 2023 quarter, according to the latest data. Commercial buildings have outpaced residential homes, with residential building activity dropping 2 percent in the December quarter. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen explains what this means for economic growth ahead of the upcoming GDP results. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener...

BNZ is following other banks in cutting some mortgage rates, following ANZ and ASB. This comes off the back of last week's Reserve Bank decision to keep the Official Cash Rate unchanged at 5.5 percent. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says higher interest rates are driving prospective home buyers away- and the banks need to win people back. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/list...

The Government is set to place greater scrutiny on New Zealanders trying to access emergency housing. The Minister for Social Development has announced the verification process, eligibility settings and obligations will be strengthened. It includes checking whether someone has 'unreasonably contributed to their need for housing'. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says more case workers...

A new survey has revealed a majority of people think contributing to KiwiSaver should be compulsory. Data from financial advice firm National Capital shows 62 percent of Kiwis are in favour of mandatory KiwiSaver contributions. Director Clive Fernandes says younger people in particular are getting more financially savvy and learning the importance of saving. "We've done quite well in the last few...

There's growing evidence Kiwis are embracing US-style tipping culture. New data from financial information site, Banked, says 47 Kiwis approve of tipping- and at least 60 percent of Kiwis sometimes leave tips. Restaurant Association President and Monsoon Poon owner Mike Egan says customers like to show appreciation for enthusiastic or knowledgeable workers.  "When you give good service, you sort o...

Australian researchers are calling for a new approach to addressing menopause, amid concerns about 'over-medicalisation'. New research published by the Lancet Series argues for a broader model to support women through this life stage, instead of treating individual symptoms. Nutritional biochemist and author Dr Libby Weaver says women process menopause differently, and not all of them suffer debil...

The Broadcasting Minister is staying tight-lipped about the future of TVNZ. It is understood TVNZ newsroom staff are bracing for a meeting tomorrow about the future of news operations - which will include job cuts. Minister Melissa Lee says she spoke with TVNZ bosses on Friday about how they plan to remain financially viable. "They did not tell me that they were cutting staff on news- they were ta...

An increase in international cocaine production has spiked use of the drug on New Zealand shores. The Drug Use in Aotearoa report shows use grew by 93 percent over 2022 and 2023, compared to the previous three years’ average. Its use is still relatively uncommon compared to other countries, with 1.3 percent of adults here using it in the past year. Drug Foundation Executive Director Sarah Helm say...

Over in the US, the biggest day of this year's primary campaign is under way as 16 states cast their votes. Strong performances from Donald Trump and Joe Biden indicate that the two front-runners for president have been determined. American pollster Henry Olsen says Nikki Haley has no hope left of becoming the Republican nominee. "This was actually a collection of states that she could have done w...

Former president Donald Trump has dominated Super Tuesday in the US, as voters pick their preferred presidential candidate. Reports are projecting he's won the Republican Primary in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Maine, Arkansas, Alabama and Texas - beating rival Nikki Haley in each. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says support is still running high among Trump's base- there's noth...

Kane Williamson is shouldering arms to suggestions of unrest in the Black Caps camp ahead of the second cricket test against Australia. Former skipper Ross Taylor has caused a stir with comments concerning now-retired seamer Neil Wagner and his international retirement. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spark customers with Xtra Mail accounts will have to pay $5.95 a month to use them from mid-May. It's citing rising maintenance costs as the reason. Spark product director Tessa Tierney says the company considered scrapping the service altogether. She says it's hard to say what its future will be. "So it'll be interesting to see over the next few weeks - and months - what decisions customers make....

Just listening to the commentary on the women’s 'redneck' haka in the last day, I don't think people quite understand what this debate is really about. This isn’t a debate about whether politicians just need to suck the criticism up, it isn’t about whether haka are supposed to be challenging. This is a debate about money. Super Rugby is financially stuffed, and even more so the women’s side of it....

The estate of deceased Irish singer Sinéad O'Connor has ordered Donald Trump to stop playing her music at his political rallies. Trump has been playing O'Connor's biggest hit, Nothing Compares 2 U, at campaign events in the lead-up to the November election. UK correspondent Enda Brady says O'Connor lived by a fierce moral code- and would have been 'disgusted' to hear Trump use her music.  LISTEN A...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  The Hurricanes' women's side called the Government 'rednecks' in a controversial pre-match cheer. Is it wrong for sports teams to take political stances? Will this impact sponsorships?  The Air Force Boeing 757 was meant...

Disappointment in the provinces as Sky TV axes Grassroots Rugby and Mainfreight Rugby. The broadcaster has committed to airing one lower-level Heartland provincial game a week from now on. The Country's Jamie Mackay unpacks the loss of the 'Country Calendar' of rugby. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's decision to hold the OCR in place at 5.5 percent has inspired some banks to lower their rates. This is despite some economists warning inflation is still running too high at this point. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says New Zealand's Reserve Bank is one of the only central banks in the world saying rates might need to go up again. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

There's a comprehensive list of challenges impacting the wider world- but fixing them poses a costly challenge. World hunger, health, war, education, poverty and climate change are among the problems that need addressing, but fixing them remains elusive. Author and Copenhagen Consensus Center president Bjorn Lomborg says he's working with economists to identify cost-efficient solutions to these pr...

The Children's Minister says new military academies for youth offenders will be different from bootcamps which have been tried in the past. Karen Chhour says the Government plans to have a pilot programme operating by mid-year, led by Oranga Tamariki. Chhour says a group of experts and several community organisations have been brought in to put a well-rounded program together. "It focuses on rehab...

Former US president Donald Trump will remain on the Republican primary ballot in all states after today's historic Supreme Court ruling. State courts in Colorado, Maine and Illinois moved to take Trump off the ballots, claiming he's ineligible for office after the 2021 Capitol riots. But the Supreme Court has unanimously decided it's not within State power to ban him from the ballot. Former George...

There's upset over a court ruling of a man who punched a pensioner at the Posie Parker protest last year. The man was granted permanent name suppression and discharged without conviction. Police say it's an offence to share a name that's suppressed and they have the ability to charge anyone for breaching a court order. Free Speech Union CEO Jonathan Ayling says it would be a part of natural justic...