Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The All Blacks are one win away from their fifth Rugby World Cup final – but they’ll have to get past Argentina. Los Pumas have beaten the All Blacks twice in their history – both of those coming in the past four years during Ian Foster’s tenure. Their first win came in 2020 with a 25-15 win in Sydney, before following it up with a 25-18 win in Christchurch last year. Argentina rugby journalist Fr...

A Wellington day care centre says its frustrated parents will have to park 50 meters away to drop off their kids while a cycleway is installed. CoKids Daycare Centre on Thorndon Quay claims they've been given less than a week's notice to prepare for a year of disruption. The centre looks after around 100 children and is concerned they may have to close. CoKids' Steve Piper told Jason Pine the lack...

The Transport Accident Investigation Commission wants good safety assurance processes in the stevedoring industry. The watchdog has identified serious safety concerns in the sector after investigating two fatal accidents at ports in April 2022. It recommends Maritime NZ work with the sector on minimum training standards and a code of practice. Chief Accidents Investigator Naveen Kozhuppakalam told...

The All Blacks are eyeing up a fifth Rugby World Cup final, as they look to take on Argentina tomorrow morning. Coach Ian Foster says they aren’t looking past Los Pumas in any way, shape, or form to get there though. Since the 2019 Rugby World Cup, the All Blacks have lost twice to Argentina. Former All Black and 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina joined Jason Pine. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystu...

Candidates for the Port Waikato by-election have closed, but Labour has chosen to sit this one out. Labour Party President Jill Day says it's an "unwinnable" contest for them, and the party is focusing on its transition to opposition. The by-election was triggered by the death of ACT candidate Neil Christensen just before the election. Meanwhile, negotiations continue between Prime Minister-elect...

The All Blacks have a chance to make their fifth Rugby World Cup final, but they have to get past Argentina first. However, with two wins over the All Blacks in the past World Cup cycle, the All Blacks certainly won’t be taking this one lightly. The Black Caps remain unbeaten at the Cricket World Cup, but their win streak could be under threat. They have a top of the group clash against hosts Indi...

Lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to reduced charges on Thursday over efforts to overturn former US President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, becoming the second defendant in the sprawling case to reach a deal with prosecutors. Powell, who was charged alongside Trump and 17 others with violating the state’s anti-racketeering law, entered the plea just a day before jury selec...

A White House correspondent says US President Joe Biden will likely ask for roughly $100 billion dollars to boost aid to Israel and Ukraine. Biden spoke from the Oval Office, outlining why the US should provide further aid and why they can't sit by and watch the violence inflicted by Putin and Hamas. Reuters' Jeff Mason told Jason Pine the main objective of the speech was to rally Americans' suppo...

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has touched down to meet with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and other leaders. Sunak is also expected to visit other regional capitals, which have not been released for security reasons, as the situation intensifies. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Rishi Sunak's visit will re-iterate Britain's commitment to standing with Israel. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystud...

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Ben Thomas from Capital joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Is it outrageous that Wellington Council wants to buy the land below Reading Cinema, so that the company can use it to renovate the cinema? Couldn't this listed company pay its own costs, especially as plenty of other Wellington issues need the funding...

The US has surprised economists by reporting more rapid economic growth. The net worth of the typical US household grew at the fastest pace in more than three decades from 2020 through 2022, and interest rates have stayed low. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains why the US economy has managed to stay so resilient. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 160th annual Hawke's Bay A & P Show is underway at the Tomoana Showgrounds in Hastings. The event has undergone several key changes, including a recent focus on the horticulture sector and active rural sports. The Country's Rowena Duncum says Great Raihania Shears shearing and woolhandling is expected to happen tomorrow. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Speculation hints that the post-pandemic imbalances in the economy could be working themselves out. Since mid-September, the economic numbers have started to beat the expectations of economists and markets. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says inflation is still running rampant- but unless something bad happens, the economy is moving in a positive direction. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Chris Luxon has confirmed his National-led government isn't keen on Auckland's Light Rail project. The incoming Prime Minister labelled the project a 'white elephant' and said the billions spent could be better put towards other transport priorities. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon has been consistent about scrapping Light Rail from the beginning of the campaign. "If he had turned aroun...

Australia's High Court has struck down Victoria's tax on electric vehicles, in a move labelled 'contentious'. Victoria had previously established a distance-based charge for electric and hydrogen vehicle owners for each kilometre they travel. Two EV drivers filed a challenge in the High Court, arguing that it was 'unconstitutional' for individual states to impose these taxes. Australian correspond...

The All Blacks have welcomed protocol-breacher Mark Telea back into the fold ahead of their World Cup semi-final. Coach Ian Foster unveiled two key changes to his starting line-up, and record-breaking Sam Whitelock will be part of the new first fifteen. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A word of caution from the Five Eyes leaders, as they detail fears of cyber espionage. The head of MI5 revealed more than 20,000 Brits have been approached covertly online by Chinese spies. Australia also recently deported a Chinese national recruited to spy on a research institution. Massey University security expert John Battersby says New Zealand has reason to be concerned, as the nation can be...

A Wellington City Councillor is defending his comments on a commercially-sensitive Council deal. The Post reports Council is looking to buy the site where Reading Cinema stands, for $32 million dollars. The boarded up Courtenay Place complex has been closed for years. Councillor Ray Chung is one of five people under a code of conduct investigation, around alleged breaches of confidentiality. He's...

Controversy over a proposal to restrict residential fence heights in Napier. The City Council's proposed District Plan includes suggesting limits as low as 1.2 metres - for fencing new properties. Fences would be allowed up to 1.8 metres if at least half is visually open, or half of it is only 1.2 metres tall. Mayor Kirsten Wise says there's evidence shorter fences make people feel safer. "People...

An international relations expert warns 20 trucks of humanitarian aid won't be much help for stricken Palestinians. The US President has helped secure an agreement from Egypt to open a humanitarian corridor to Gaza. More will follow - if Hamas doesn't confiscate the food and medical supplies from civilians. Auckland University's Stephen Hoadley says the aid's going to help more than two million pe...

The father of one of five teens killed in a crash near Timaru, at Washdyke, has spoken about the driver responsible. Tyreese Fleming, now 21, was on a restricted licence and had been drinking. Although sentenced in June last year to two-and-a-half years in prison, he walked free yesterday. He'll live in Christchurch, with conditions including not entering Timaru and Temuka. Stephen Drummond, whose...

Could National's approach to gangs bring needed change? A Mongrel Mob president has claimed the party's gang policy would breach human rights. It includes banning patches in public spaces, and making membership an aggravating factor in sentencing. Black Power member Denis O'Reilly says he welcomes potential benefits of the harsher regime. "As long as stuff is done within the law and within the Bil...

You want an example of bizarre stuff happening at council level? Take a look at the Reading Cinema deal Wellington City Council is trying to stitch together  The context here is that Reading Cinema is on Wellington’s Courtenay Place party strip, but it is closed and has been since 2019 because it is a quake risk- and now it’s becoming an eyesore. But apparently, the council is trying to help the o...

The head of MI5 has warned Chinese espionage is on an 'epic scale' in the UK. Director General Ken McCallum has claimed over 20,000 people have been approached covertly online by Chinese spies. This warning comes amid a new warning to thousands of British businesses of the risk of having their innovation stolen. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says more Chinese companies are working to get access to s...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! A hospital in Gaza is the latest to have been hit by bombs, with about 500 feared dead. The humanitarian situation in Gaza has turned from bad to catastrophic - has Israel gone too far now, is the situation in Gaza...