Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Chris Hipkins says he's excited for Grant Robertson about his opportunity to change tack. The former Deputy Prime Minister today announced he's retiring from politics, and will become Otago University's Vice-Chancellor from July. He says he's most proud of getting New Zealand economically through Covid. The Labour leader says it's all only come together for Robertson in recent weeks. "He's kept me...

Over in Australia, a taskforce are planning a crackdown on alcohol in Parliament. This comes days after Senator Perin Davey was filmed slurring her way through a budget hearing. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says he can't see this legislation getting through- but politicians need to be held to a higher standard. "If it's good enough for everyone else in the community not to be on the turns...

The Black Caps are set to square off against Australia in a three-game series starting tomorrow. This will be the last T20 series for both teams before the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St John says it anticipates pulling some ambulances off the road when staff are sick or on leave will continue until the start of winter. It's limiting calling in extra staff to save money. Ambulance Services Deputy Chief Executive Dan Ohs says they expect the workload to rise from late May. "Doing this now enables us to make sure we've got the financial depth in order to ensure we can stand addit...

In the small Italian town of Monfalcone, mayor Anna Maria Cisint has enacted strict measures targeting Muslims. The far-right leader has banned prayers at Muslim cultural centres- the latest in a string of contentious measures UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the mayor has been working to clamp down the town's expanding Muslim population, after a recent influx in migrants. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnys...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former NZ First press secretary Georgina Stylianou joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! New Zealand's birth rate has dropped to the lowest level since World War II. What's behind this decline? Is there a solution to this issue? Chris Luxon has unveiled some tougher measures to get more people off...

Contact Energy has reported an increase in net profit and says it expects to finalise a more generous electricity deal with Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. It's recorded a net profit of $153 million for the six months to December. CEO Mike Fuge says he's optimistic about a better long-term agreement with Rio Tinto. "We've been really clear, there are three things- and like any negotiation, it's a t...

One expert has noticed a subset of voters hasn't reacted positively to the Government's plan to reduce the number of beneficiaries. Prime Minister Chris Luxon today revealed a planned return to a more strict regime of sanctions for those on the unemployment benefit. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan observed the younger members of the press gallery seemed shocked by these changes. She says...

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has promised the 'free ride' is over for beneficiaries, as the Government plans to implement sanctions. Luxon and Social Development Minister Upston confirmed that from June, MSD will hold work check-ins for people who have been on the benefit for over 6 months. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the number of people relying on the Jobseeker benefit has g...

Over in Australia, former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has give up alcohol for Lent. Joyce says he's also quit talking about other people in regards to the issue- days after he was filmed intoxicated on a street in Canberra. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this comes after Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey admitted to drinking before a budget hearing.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnys...

Swimmer Lewis Clareburt has claimed a maiden world championship title, winning the 400-metre individual medley in Doha. His time of 4 minutes and 9.72 seconds was 1.02 seconds off his personal best. Before the meet, New Zealand had never had a world champion - now they have two after Erika Fairweather's triumph in the 400 metres freestyle. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE...

Most political parties have held their support in the latest political poll. A new 1News-Verian poll shows National the Greens, and NZ First are all holding steady. Labour's support has increased one percent and Te Pati Maori by 0.7 percent, while ACT has dropped by 1 percent. Prime Minister Chris Luxon is the preferred PM on 25 percent support, while Labour's Chris Hipkins has dropped 10 points t...

New data shows the nation saw the lowest number of births in over 80 years. Stats NZ revealed there were 19,071 more births than deaths in 2023 in the lowest annual natural increase since World War II. Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley says New Zealand's not alone- fertility and birth rates are declining across high-earning countries. "When you look at countries like Korea, Singapore, Ta...

Traffic cameras could become more common as NZTA takes over the responsibility from police. It will increase the number of cameras from 150 to 800 operating within the next 10 years, manned by as many as 400 staff. It estimates they could process three million speeding infringements a year. Road safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson says extra traffic cameras are unlikely to make much of a differ...

Cost-saving changes at St John Ambulance are sparking concern among staff and paramedics. The service has limited recalls of backup staff when employees are sick or taking leave, meaning some ambulances are left parked up. Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin says this is proof the company is putting their budget over people's lives. "We're restricting the number of ambulances being...

The Social Development Minister says check-ins with beneficiaries are about accountability, but also giving them support in finding work. A welfare reset announced by the Government involves sanctions for job-seekers not meeting their obligations to find work. Louise Upston also says from June, MSD will regularly check in with those on the benefit for six months. "What we want to make sure is that...

An education training provider is offering school principals a taxpayer-funded course in Fiji. The course is among the latest to hit the market since principals were offered a $6000 salary boost to pay for professional development. Education training company Growth Culture is offering the Fiji conference, for $5700. Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault says there's been a...

New Zealand, Australia and New Zealand have released a joint statement urging Israel not to continue its assault there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant he will launch the attack. Winston Peters told Heather du Plessis-Allan that people in Rafah are already vulnerable.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park's chief executive is pinning Taylor Swift's New Zealand snub on the consent process to hold concerts at the stadium. The Australian leg of the world-renowned pop singer's Eras Tour is kicking off, with many New Zealanders heading across the ditch for the shows. Swiftie fans raised questioned about why the star wasn't performing in Auckland and the CEO of the city's biggest venue is now w...

The Reserve Bank is expected to keep holding New Zealand's lofty interest rates on high. Governor Adrian Orr has warned against expectations, inflation might drop below three percent anytime soon, during a speech at Waikato University. The central bank's been keeping the Official Cash Rate - a factor which determines interest rates, at 5.5 percent, as it fights inflation - at 4.7 percent. Independ...

A new report from the Child Action Poverty Group says 15,000 teenagers are working to put food on the table and attending school at the same time. The report suggests that minimum wage should  be raised to $26 an hour to equal the living wage in order to stop this from happening. Alan Johnson from the child action poverty group told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that the work comes "potentially at the...

Woolworths has apologised for the pest problems revealed at some of its supermarkets. Four Woolworths supermarkets have been in the news for rodent and bird problems. Woolworth's commercial director of fresh and own brand Peter De Wit told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that "it's not a standard that we want to have in our stores."   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is experiencing an uptick in antisemitic abuse following the October 7 attacks. According to new data released by the Community Security Trust, 2023 has been the worst year for antisemitic abuse in over 40 years. UK correspondent Enda Brady says 4,103 incidents have been reported, and a majority of the abuse occurred in London. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital and David Farrar from Kiwiblog and Curia joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Wellington Council is working on developing their draft budget. A congestion charge and new rates for accommodation providers are on the cards and libraries and public pools have been spared. Do they have their priorities in order? Davi...

The key interest rate market in the US is pricing several rates cuts later this year. Meanwhile, economic growth is getting stronger and equity markets are at an all-time high. Can these concepts co-exist? Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.