Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Noted historian and former Former UK Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption is adamant free speech is under threat in liberal democracies. The Free Speech Union has brought Lord Sumption to New Zealand as the keynote speaker for their AGM and conference- and as part of a wider speaking tour. Lord Sumption says people are no longer inclined to accept dissent or opposing opinions on various issues. "Th...

Seven rising female-led New Zealand businesses are set to receive funding, resources and mentorship from Coralus. Coralus, formerly known as SheEO, has announced its 2023 Ventures today- expanding their outreach by two more businesses than in previous years. Among this selection is Kiwi Launch Pad, an employer-funded digital platform for new migrants designed to help them successfully settle in Ao...

National's deputy leader won't put a timeframe on how quickly a new Government will form after the final results are in. The party holds the slimmest of majorities if it partners with ACT - but there's still some half-a-million-special ballots to be counted. The official election figures are due out on Friday, and could see the pair needing New Zealand First. Nicola Willis says she knows New Zeala...

A World Cup final full of controversial calls ended in disappointment for New Zealand and elation for South Africa. The game saw four yellow cards during the contest - two to each team - with the most prominent being All Blacks captain Sam Cane's card being upgraded to red for direct contact to the head when making a tackle. Newstalk ZB rugby commentator Paul Allison says fans were quick to unload...

A senior architecture lecturer says the future of Wellington's Town Hall should be considered - along with its heritage. Mayor Tory Whanau wants to consider changing heritage laws, now the building's earthquake rebuild has blown out to a potential cost of $330 million. Dr Elizabeth Aitken-Rose says sometimes buildings are saved that shouldn't be. But she says New Zealand also tends to knock everyt...

Friends cast-mates haven't yet spoken publicly about the death of Matthew Perry, known to millions as Chandler Bing. The 54 year old was found dead yesterday in the hot tub at his LA home. LA entertainment correspondent Sean Mandell says the only reactions reported so far come from sources close to Lisa Kudrow. "Sources close to Kudrow have expressed that Kudrow is allegedly confused and baffled,...

A promising challenger to the supermarket duopoly has dropped out of the race. Online grocer Supie has entered voluntary administration- owing an estimated $3 million. Analyst Nick Hogendijk says the start-up battled from day one. "The big pressure point will be the significant amount of investment in resources she was going to need to have from day one- it was always going to be difficult against...

Australia's free trade deal with the EU has collapsed. Australian correspondent Oliver Petersen says negotiations had been going on for five years, but the final deal wasn't good enough for either side. He says it's to do with access - or lack thereof - that Australian beef producers can get to the EU. "They didn't even get to the table to say- let's sign this off. What's going to happen here- we'...

Winston Peters has accused the media of having warped priorities. Speaking to The Platform this morning, he took aim at the coverage New Zealand First received on the campaign trail. He says it seemed sausage rolls were more important than public meetings, and standing on the side of the road waving banners was a substitute for policies. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Winston Peters is conce...

A hotly-anticipated final ended in disappointment for New Zealand, after the Springboks won the World Cup. The Springboks went scoreless in the second half but managed to hold out a 14-man New Zealand 12-11. Sportstalk host Jason Pine weighs in on the nation's reaction- as some fans are taking the loss out on referee Wayne Barnes. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lucrative pay and enticing housing packages are luring a number of Kiwi police officers across the ditch. Australian police figures show 77 officers are leaving to work in Queensland, and close to 20 are heading off to the Northern Territory. Constables starting out in the region start out on $100,000 a year, and experienced officers could expect a $118,000 base salary- with $20,000 on offer to co...

Sixty years after the onset of Beatlemania and with two of the quartet now dead, artificial intelligence has enabled the release next week of what is promised to be the last “new” Beatles song. The track, called “Now And Then,” will be available Thursday, Nov. 2, as part of a single paired with “Love Me Do,” the very first Beatles single that came out in 1962 in England, it was announced Thursday....

Former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, once seen as a reform-minded contender to the country’s top leadership role, died of a sudden heart attack early Friday in Shanghai, state media reported. He was 68 years old. Li, who was nominally China’s No. 2 leader until late last year, served as the country’s premier – traditionally in charge of the economy – for a decade from 2013 to March this year under s...

All eyes were on Fletcher Building and how shareholders would react at their AGM. Among the issues it’s dealt with recently include the Iplex pipes, directors’ fees and the poor annual results. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Council officials knew about the Town Hall budget blowout six months before councillors did. This week, the council voted to increase funding to earthquake strengthen the Hall, which could reach up to $329 million. But the council’s project team realised the costs were fast increasing at the start of the year, told the Council chief executive in June and told Tory Whanau in Septemb...

The All Blacks are just one win away from sporting immortality. After being largely written off after the opening defeat to France, all that stands in the way of them and the Webb Ellis Cup is the Springboks with their bomb squad bench. Both teams are on three titles, and are vying to stand above the other with a fourth win. But the game could be overshadowed by World Rugby’s new tournament. World...

Former All Blacks coach John Hart thinks the Springboks have made a massive gamble with their 7-1 stacking of forwards on the bench. It was a tactic that worked during when they beat the All Blacks 35-7 at Twickenham before the Rugby World Cup. Meanwhile, the All Blacks have made one change from the team that beat Argentina 44-6 in last week’s semifinal. All Blacks legend Sir Michael Jones joined...

Sport Canterbury has described Christchurch's new sport centre price blow-out as gob smacking. Contractor CPB has increased its claim by more than $200 million to $439 million, sparking a legal dispute with government delivery agency Rau Paenga — formerly Otakaro Limited. Sport Canterbury chief executive Julyan Falloon told Jack Tame the prospect of further delays is heartbreaking. “But to questio...

Pharmac’s board is backing the CEO and bringing in external contractors to help implement a plan to fix the organisation’s internal culture. I get it, people make mistakes, we all understand that, but in my eyes, Pharma’s leadership has made a couple of massive errors in recent months. The first — if you cast your minds back was the rollout of the Trikafta funding announcement. I personally just t...

The Council of Licensed Firearms Owners is hoping ACT can score them a win in coalition negotiations. Party leader David Seymour says he wants to get rid of the Firearms Registry, but will have to convince their coalition partner National. Hugh Devereux-Mack told Jack Tame registering their firearms is burdensome and makes them a target. He claims the register potentially puts them at risk by sayi...

The All Blacks have named a largely unchanged team for the Rugby World Cup final on Sunday. Brodie Retallick has been named to the starting XV in place of Sam Whitelock — the only change from the 44-6 win over Argentina. Meanwhile, the Springboks have named two changes from their 16-15 win over England, and a 7-1 forward split on the bench. Former All Blacks captain Sean Fitzpatrick joined Jack Ta...

Christopher Luxon may just be getting closer to a deal with Winston Peters. The Prime Minister-elect and wife Amanda have been over to Peters’ house for dinner, but it’s unclear what the two discussed — particularly as the special vote count looms. However, Peters’ social media posts about the Christchurch mosque attack inquiry just before the two met at his home could be throw a spanner in the wo...

More than 24 hours on from the mass shooting in Maine, and the man allegedly responsible remains on the run. The shootings at a bowling alley and bar in Lewiston left 18 people dead and 13 injured. The FBI searched Robert Card's last known address earlier today, but didn't find him. US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Jack Tame they were looking for any evidence they could find — including weapon...

The Springboks have taken a hefty gamble ahead of the Rugby World Cup final against the All Blacks. They've named a 7-1 split on the bench with more forwards - which they did when they beat the All Blacks 35-7 at Twickenham before the World Cup. But prior to that, the Black Caps have a huge clash of their own in the Cricket World Cup. They'll be looking to get back on track after their first defea...

Pharmac's board has agreed to an action plan to improve the organisation's culture after inappropriate emails were sent about journalist Rachel Smalley. Chief Executive Sarah Fitt has also publicly apologised — saying she deeply regrets her actions. Patient Voice Aotearoa had called for the resignation ahead of the Board and Fitt ahead of today's meeting. Chair Malcolm Mulholland told Jack Tame he...