Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Post-Brexit controls on food, plant and animal imports to Britain from the EU have recently come into force. Health certificates will now be required on goods ranging from produce, to meat, to even cut flowers. Industry experts warn these changes could create delays and push up costs- but some hope it will encourage UK farmers to be more competitive. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains what these...

Tonight on The Huddle, former NZ First Press Secretary Georgina Stylianou and Capital director Ben Thomas joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Mark Mitchell was forced to stand up and pretend he made a mistake by telling everyone it's going to take longer than promised to get the 500 new police officers. Did he make a good point? Who will be proven right in tw...

ANZ has released their latest Business Confidence survey, creating a complicated picture for the economy. Business confidence rose 4 points to +37 in January, while expected own activity fell 3 points to +26. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says businesses are forecasting a clearer economic pathway following a tough couple of years- but we're not out of the woods yet. LISTEN ABOVE See o...

The Government has decided against scrapping a new regime aimed at preventing banks, insurers and non-bank deposit takers from mistreating customers. This Code of Conduct was established following a 2018 Royal Commission exposing questionable behaviour by Australian banks. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains why institutions were surprised by this 'inevitable' announceme...

The holidays have wound down and central banks are back in action- what can people expect for the new year? 2023 was dominated by rate hikes to curb rampant inflation generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and now the focus has turned to the prospect of cuts. Milford Asset Management's Katlyn Parker says there's a risk the market is expecting too much too soon, as inflation is still sticky. LISTEN AB...

The Government are denying there's confusion around the proposed target to get 500 more police officers within two years. Police Minister Mark Mitchell has had to correct the record in the House, after saying the Government had extended its deadline to deliver 500 more cops. National and New Zealand First agreed to meet the goal in two years - but Mitchell previously stated they needed three, due...

Air New Zealand has recently released a report designed to prove the company's economic significance to Aotearoa. The company claims it directly contributed $2.7 billion to New Zealand's economy- including $1.4 billion in wages. The report also states Air New Zealand facilitated as much as $26 billion in economic activity across tourism, exports and imports. Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Mat Bol...

A new documentary series explores an infamous set of disappearances around one of New Zealand's most dangerous beaches. As well as the six missing people who vanished in Piha, Black Coast Vanishings reveals others have had 'near misses'- fuelling speculation there's a serial killer in the area. Co-director Candida Beveridge says the series was designed to give a voice to concerns about the safety...

A push to host more women's sport and big music artists has seen Eden Park have a record breaking year. In the 12 months to the end of October, the Auckland stadium recorded a net operating profit of $8.2 million- a $4.6 million increase on the previous year. Large-scale events like the FIFA Women's World Cup and Ed Sheeran concerts were big draw cards for patrons. CEO Nick Sautner says it's been...

The Health Minister says Covid-19 tests still play a big role. The Government's buying another five million RATs, to keep them free for the public through to the end of June. It'll cost more than $5 million, funded from the existing Covid budget. Shane Reti says hundreds of people are still using them. "It's for those who might be at an increased risk, where the option of further treatment would m...

Warnings the Government's police recruitment goal will mean splashing some cash. The Police Minister has confirmed in the House 500 new officers will be delivered over two years, as promised in the coalition deal with New Zealand First. Mark Mitchell had to U-turn on saying recruiting and attrition issues mean it'll take three years. Police Association President Chris Cahill says they haven't had...

US President Joe Biden has announced he's decided on his next steps after a drone attack killed three soldiers in Jordan over the weekend. But Biden is not saying what these steps will be. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Republicans have criticised the administration for not acting strongly enough against the attacks. "He's going to have to be careful, because you want to have a show of force...

The Athletes’ Cooperative have scored a significant victory over High Performance Sport in a landmark employment case. The Employment Relations Authority on Tuesday released their verdict, determining that the Government agency is obligated to engage in collective bargaining with the athletes involved. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what happens next. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/...

Items that once were recycled are no longer welcome in your household collection bins. Rules are changing from February 1 in a bid to standardise across the country. Paper, glass, and plastic types One, Two and Five can be put out at the gate for recycling. Auckland Council's Waste Solutions General Manager, Parul Sood, says people should no longer put out lids. "So unless the lid is attached - li...

I feel sorry for Mark Mitchell. He's been thrown under the bus and made to look silly today. But I think he was just telling the truth, and I suspect we’re all going to find that out in about two years time. So what’s happened is that the coalition agreement between National and NZ First promised that we would get another 500 police officers in the first two years of this Government. Recently, Pol...

King Charles has been discharged from hospital after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. The 75-year-old monarch was seen smiling and waving to the public, as he left the London Clinic with Queen Camilla. Daughter-in-law Princess Catherine has also been discharged following abdominal surgery, and is recovering at home in Windsor. UK correspondent Enda Brady says people are still clamour...

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! James Shaw stepped down as co-leader of the Green Party. Was this expected? What will Shaw's legacy be? The Government changes their minds on the status of the country's UNRWA funding, with contributions pausing until Foreign Minister W...

The Reserve Bank has poured cold water over growing speculation for an early rates cut this year. In a webinar delivered to the public, RBNZ chief economist Paul Conway said non-tradeable inflation came in higher than predicted, at 5.9 percent. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says it's likely the RBNZ won't cut the OCR until the fourth quarter of 2024. "The economy has slowed a lot and inflation...

One leading accountant and agri-business advisor fears the current downturn in the rural sector may be the worst recorded in recent memory. Pita Alexander says there's been 11 financial downcycles impacting the sector since 1948, but this one is the worst. The Country's Jamie Mackay says the dairy sector may have bottomed out- and the worst is yet to come for sheep farmers. LISTEN ABOVE See omnyst...

One expert is predicting James Shaw's next career move following his departure from the Greens. Shaw announced he'll step back as party co-leader- but stay on in Parliament for the first reading of his Right to a Sustainable Environment Bill. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie suspects James Shaw could eventually replace Rod Carr as Climate Change Commission chair. LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

The House roared back to life this week, as MPs settled in their seats for this year's first Question Time. Smokefree legislation, the Treaty Principles Bill and the Red Sea New Zealand Defence Force deployment were all key issues discussed in the first session of 2024. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon led a very restrained session in the debating chambers. "We had people i...

The NZSAS are reportedly offering experienced personnel significant retention payments to prevent them from quitting. Military leaders have been told the unit is 'near collapse', with at least one third of the uniformed workforce leaving since 2021, most citing poor pay. NZ Herald investigative reporter David Fisher says NZSAS needs a significant funding boost before mid-2025. "The capabilities th...

There's accusations the Midwifery Council is ignoring midwives, over proposed changes to its 'Scope of Practice'. Almost 3000 people have signed a petition against the revision - and replacing the words 'women and baby' with 'whanau'. Petition organiser Deb Hayes says the council hasn't listened to feedback. "I think midwives might not have even bothered replying, because the Midwifery Council doe...

It's believed more Gloriavale leavers will join a bid for compensation after a lifetime of lost opportunities. Nine leavers found to be employees, not volunteers, in landmark Employment Court cases are jointly seeking $5.2 million. It's for lost wages, entitlement breaches, penalties and compensation. Gloriavale Leavers Support Trust general manager Liz Gregory says she's met with other leavers wh...

A former Green MP says it's no surprise James Shaw has stepped aside as co-leader. He's announced he'll stand down in March, but remain an MP to back his Sustainable Environment Bill's first reading. Gareth Hughes says Shaw got the Party into Government for six years, so he can say mission accomplished. "It makes sense, I think, for him- and also for the Party to refresh itself and look to the fut...