Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Foreign Minister is standing by refusing to commit further funding for the UN's aid agency in Gaza. A number of countries have hit pause after Israel alleged a dozen staff took part in the October 7 Hamas attack. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says New Zealand won't contribute until Winston Peters has okayed it. Peters says our next payment tranche isn't until the middle of the year. "We've got ti...

Over in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's proposed tax reforms have inspired some backlash from the Opposition. Members of the Liberal Party and minor party The Nationals have come out against these tax cuts and voiced their disapproval. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Opposition leader Peter Dutton is accusing Albanese of changing course ahead of the upcoming by-election. LIS...

No long-term guarantees around the Melbourne Rebels' future, despite confirmation the franchise's men's and women's teams will feature in their respective 2024 Super Rugby competitions. Reported debt of almost $10 million has seen the Rebels placed into voluntary administration. Rugby Australia is committing to getting both teams through their 2024 campaigns - with the franchises future beyond tha...

Wellington mayor Tory Whanau wants Government help to fund the city's water do-over. The Council is doing a finances workshop this week. Wellington Water is asking it for $2.5 billion over 10 years to fix its leaky pipes - which spill about 40 percent of the city's treated water. Whanau says they're proposing meters to see where water's going - and they'll also need to spend more. "Not in the bill...

It's not altogether a surprise that James Shaw has quit as co-leader of the Green Party. It's pretty well known that there are factions in the Green Party that have wanted him to move on for a while now. There was a public attempt to remove him about a year and a half ago, and it while he won that- it always felt like it was only a temporary reprieve to get them through the election and safely out...

Over in the UK, disposable vapes are set to be banned in order to curb a nation-wide uptick in younger users. Data shows at least 7.6 percent of 11 to 17-year olds vape regularly or occasionally, up from 4.1 percent in 2020. The UK Government also plans to restrict sweeter flavours, introduce plain packaging and ensure store displays are hidden by 2025. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this is the...

Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Leggett from Infrastructure NZ and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Wellington mayor Tory Whanau met with Minister Simeon Brown over the region's ongoing water issues. She says they had a good discussion but it will take a long time to fix these problems- who is to blame here? Can Wellin...

One expert is claiming David Seymour's State of the Nation speech covered issues that needed to be addressed. The ACT leader discussed Government failings from the past two decades and laid out his infamous Treaty Principles Bill. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says Seymour has the capacity to excite and challenge voters and attack the status quo. "He's looking at the philosophy of whet...

David Seymour hopes everyone will be able to express their opinions on the Treaty amid debate over a controversial bill. During yesterday's State of the Nation speech, he warned opponents against automatically labelling the bill racist, and criticised any hints of violence. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Seymour will likely use his new role as Associate Justice Minister to sell...

Australia has had its deadliest roll toll these past six months, since 2010. Deaths rose seven percent from 2022 to 2023. Australian correspondent Oliver Petersen says the problem is infrastructure, and funding is heavily politicised. He says states are only voluntarily required to report the details of a crash to federal authorities, and not all play ball. "It needs to be data-driven, because the...

Woolworths is slashing the value of its New Zealand supermarkets by $2.3 billion to $700 million in a 70 percent decrease. The company blames a 'weaker medium-term outlook' and higher interest rates for this decision. MonopolyWatch spokesperson Tex Edwards says this announcement is a PR stunt to push back against a wave of inquiries. "You publish bad news before the Commerce Commission and the boa...

The Finance Minister plans to reassess New Zealand's contribution to the UN Relief and Works Agency, following recent allegations. Several nations have paused financial air to a significant UN agency in Gaza after it was alleged staff members were involved in the October 7th attack against Israel. Nicola Willis expects the investigations to be carried out quickly- and the results will determine th...

Upper Hutt's mayor wants answers from Wellington Water - on productivity - and how funding turns into fixed pipes. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has spoken with the mayors of Wellington and Upper Hutt today over the region's dire water situation. Recent modelling shows the region's likely to shift from level two restrictions - banning residential sprinklers - to level three. Wayne Guppy s...

A push for the Government to continue funding the UN's aid agency in Gaza, because of its work feeding people. Many countries have paused funding after allegations some agency staff were involved in the October 7 attacks on Israel. MFAT says we will be assessing the situation before further payments. Alternative Jewish Voices co-founder Marilyn Garson says the UN has reacted responsibly. "There ar...

The Police Minister says plans to bolster the force by 500 officers will be enough to get more cops out on the beat. In the past week, a security guard was stabbed at an Auckland supermarket, two Michael Hill jewellery stores were robbed and a gang fight broke out at Christchurch Hospital. Resident's in Auckland's Point Chevalier say they're being terrorised by criminals in the town's square. Mini...

It's thought law changes are needed to protect everyday Kiwis from the harm of deepfake images. Artificial AI-generated pornographic images of Taylor Swift have gone viral online. There are concerns similar fakes could victimise everybody using artificial intelligence. Digital Harm Expert, Mandy Henk says it's not clear whether people spreading such fakes, could face legal repercussions. "The Harm...

Newly crowned Australian Men's Open winner Jannik Sinner has got the taste for Grand Slams. Sinner outlasted Daniil Medvedev in five sets to become Italy's first men's grand slam winner since the 1970s. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tax expert says the priority should be looking at lower tax brackets, as ACT calls for a flatter tax system. The Party's approach would remove the the highest and lowest income brackets. Leader David Seymour mentioned the idea in his State of the Nation speech yesterday, saying it would be fairer. But expert Robin Oliver says changing the upper bracket shouldn't be a focus. "I think the issue th...

A bill in Florida is being put forward to crack down on teenage use of social media. It would restrict anyone under 16 from using social medias that use addictive design features. Dr Anna Martin is a family therapist and told Heather Du-Plessis Allan that social media addiction is a "parenting problem not a regulation problem".   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government has scrapped a bill to lower the voting age in local body elections to 16. The bill was introduced last year after the Supreme Court ruled that the current voting age of 18 is discriminatory and breaches the human rights of young people. Jim Palmer who chaired the recommendation for lowering the voting age told Heather Du-Plessis Allan that the he is not disappointed by the outcome....

Protests have started in the Far North against tomorrow's annual Doubtless Bay fishing competition. Ngāti Kahu members, leading the protest, say it's to stop overfishing - and they're blocking Tāipa boat ramp. They aren't being supported by all from the iwi - and police are keeping a watching brief. Competition organiser, Nick Ryan told Heather du-Plessis Allan that he doesn't want anyone getting...

The Housing Minister says he's not happy to hear housing consents have been granted on flood plans. More than 1400 consents granted in Auckland in the year since devastating flooding last Anniversary weekend, were in areas at risk of flooding. Chris Bishop told Heather du Plessis Allan that the Government will be advancing a national directive through the Resource Management Act. He says it'll pro...

Two cancer research scientists in Australia have called for people to stop glamourising tanning in their acceptance speech for Australian of the year. They said that the bronzed Aussie culture is actually killing us and called on influencers and advertisers to stop promoting it. Trustee of Melanoma New Zealand Doctor Sonya Bodley told Heather Du-Plesis Allan that "young people are being influenced...

A small group of several Tory MPs are determined to oust Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of the UK election. Sunak's approval rating puts him 21 percentage points behind his main opponent, Labour Leader Keir Starmer. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Sunak's odds of winning the election are slim- and it's not a good look that members of his own party are turning on him. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

Tonight on The Huddle, Business Mentors NZ CEO Sarah Trotman and Phil O'Reilly from Iron Duke Partners joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Wellington is experiencing a water shortage, and councils are being blamed for underfunding Wellington Water to the point where water is running down the streets from the leaks. Given the urgency of the situation, is it t...