Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

FENZ have issued a warning regarding the dangers of lithium-ion batteries days after a harmful explosion. On Saturday, an e-scooter charging in a central Wellington apartment exploded- leaving a person critically injured. Fire and Emergency NZ risk reduction and investigations manager Pete Gallagher says it's important to be careful when charging lithium-ion batteries- and avoid doing it overnight...

The secondary schools union says a proposed pay rise would be satisfactory - but not everything they'd wanted. An arbitration panel has recommended a 14.5 percent pay rise, over three instalments. It would shift most secondary teachers' starting rates from $55,000 to about $64,000 by the start of 2025. The Post Primary Teachers Association's Chris Abercrombie says it's more than the Education Mini...

National are defending the cost of their newly announced $24 billion transport policy. Labour's already poked holes in it, saying the four-lane highways between Whangarei and Tauranga plan alone is out by billions. But Opposition transport spokesperson Simeon Brown says this funding covers the first four stages - of what will be a multi-generational project. "This is just like the Waikato Expressw...

Four missing Australian Defence Force members have been confirmed dead. Significant wreckage has been found from a helicopter that crashed in Queensland. It was conducting joint Australian and US military training off Lindeman Island on Friday night. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the search continues for the bodies. He says the type of helicopter used in the exercise has been groun...

National’s transport policy is my favourite policy of this election campaign so far . Because we are taking the mickey with the state of our roads, and we need to get smart about this fast . We have a $210 billion dollar infrastructure deficit in this country , and if we want to keep our young people here, we need to get back to looking and feeling like a first world country , and no first world c...

The Football Ferns are out of the World Cup after drawing nil-all with round-of-16-bound Switzerland in Group A. Norway's 6-nil victory over the Philippines boosted goal difference in their favour after they finished level on 4 points with New Zealand. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains the factors behind the loss here. L ISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tāmati Coffey says he's ready to fight for the East Coast. He's taken back his political resignation, and has been selected to contest the electorate seat, replacing Kiri Allan. She's not standing, after her mental health struggles culminated in a car crash last Sunday. Coffey says he previously thought he didn't have enough gas in the tank, but that's changed. "The people of the East Coast want s...

An online supermarket says removing GST from fruit and vegetables wouldn't be reflected at the checkout. National says Labour is poised to announce that as policy, and it's been leaked the information. The Prime Minister and his MP's will neither confirm nor deny the idea. Supie Founder Sarah Balle told Heather du Plessis-Allan that if it were to go ahead, consumers would see a one-time sugar hit....

A suggestion that long workouts aren't essential for those looking to improve their health.  Australian researchers have discovered three or four minutes of incidental high intensity movement a day is enough to reduce cancer risk. Sydney University Physical Activity Professor Emmanuel Stamatakis told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it can be small every day activities that will help. He says that ca...

A psychiatric expert has told a jury Lauren Dickason was "out of touch with reality" when she killed her three daughters. Dickason is on trial at the High Court in Christchurch accused of murdering her three young children in Timaru. Doctor Susan Hatters-Friedman who focuses on why parents kill, has given evidence in support of Dickason's defence of insanity and infanticide. The Herald's Anna Leas...

A climate change professor says we should focus more on physics than on feelings. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the era of global boiling has arrived, after scientists confirmed July was on track to be the hottest month ever. New Zealand Climate Change Research Institute's Adrian Macey told Heather du Plessis-Allan that these statements stoke fear and guilt but often not action. He sa...

First thing I thought when I saw the ad that Scott Robertson took out in the paper today thanking fans was that Razor is a bigger asset to the All Blacks next year than I think the rugby bosses realise . Simply because he understands something they don’t seem to , which is the importance of talking directly to the fans . When was the last time you can recall a departing coach doing that when he di...

Acclaimed Irish singer and activist Sinéad O'Connor has died at the age of 56. She released 10 studio albums across her career, but she's best known for her 1990 cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U. UK correspondent Enda Brady says tributes have been flooding in, with Irish President Michael D Higgins praising O'Connor's 'authenticity' and 'unique voice'. LISTEN ABOVE       See omnystudio.com/l...

Tonight on The Huddle, Ben Thomas from Ben Thomas PR and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National's Nicola Willis revealed Labour may be planning to take GST off fruit and vegetables and Te Pati Maori plans to create a tax-free threshold of $30,000. Will these new policies make it even harder for Labour to win? New developments surro...

Ruapehu-based attraction Blue Duck Station is begging people to take their wool- free of charge. The company took to social media to explain their 'wool woes', claiming production was no longer sustainable. The Country's Jamie Mackay says wool was once the driving force behind the biggest economic boom in New Zealand's history. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Mathieson, ex-partner of former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, has plead guilty to sexual assault charges. Mathieson was charged with sexual assault by Victoria Police earlier this year, and is scheduled to face court again in August. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Mathieson agreed to plead guilty in exchange for two other charges being dropped- and details are still comin...

Labour's staying tight-lipped on its tax policy- despite the Opposition claiming they've figured it out. National's Nicola Willis claims Labour's planning to dump GST from fruit and vegetables. Hipkins hit back, saying Willis will have to wait for Labour's tax proposals like everybody else. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says he remembers this issue being discussed 12 years ago- and...

There's been nothing to separate the USA and the Netherlands, with their Football World Cup group game in Wellington ending in a 1-all draw. In what was a rematch of the 2019 final, the Dutch took a surprising 1-nil lead into halftime- until the US levelled off a corner kick in the 62nd minute. Both teams remain tied atop group E. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

Cautious optimism prevails throughout small and medium businesses, a new report finds. My HR data reveals almost two thirds of companies expect revenue to improve in next year and 60 percent of businesses expect to raise salaries in the coming months. My HR chief executive Jason Ennor says many of these businesses feel that they've reached rock bottom- and it's all up from here. "We have seen an a...

Te Pāti Māori has unveiled their 'radical' new tax policy ahead of the upcoming election. These reforms include a net wealth tax, the removal of GST from food prices, a levy on empty homes and a $30,000 tax-free threshold. Glenn Barclay from the Fair Tax Coalition says this plan is comprehensive and bold with 'innovative' taxes. "Having said, these are really good ideas, they need to be fully expl...

Aucklanders hit by extreme weather events are in for some financial relief. The Council has voted to completely remove rates for property owners whose homes are 'uninhabitable' after this year's flooding events. West Auckland is Flooding chairman Lyall Carter says this is something that several community groups and residents throughout the region have been advocating for. "Real victory for common...

Oranga Tamariki have sought legal resolution over a dispute about who should care for a 3-year-old girl. The organisation believes the child should be placed with Māori caregivers within her wider family, but the girl's father identifies her as NZ European and Aboriginal- not Māori. ACT spokesperson for Children and Social Development Karen Chhour says children deserve stable loving homes, and ide...

Tears rolled down Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey's face as he was handed a NOT guilty verdict. The 64-year-old was acquitted of charges against four men in London. KTLA entertainment reporter, Sam Rubin, says the big question is- can Spacey go back to work? "I think it is an open question. And I don't know, I think it's less likely in America than it might be elsewhere." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....

National is picking apart a policy it's predicting Labour is about to announce. The Opposition claims Labour will remove GST from fruit and vegetables. Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says Labour is good at promising things that sound good on the tin. But she says it's terrible at delivering, especially anything complicated. "Inevitably, the problem is if you don't do it right, none of the money actua...

Could your FIFA office sweepstake be illegal? The Department of Internal Affairs says prize money can't exceed $500 and sweepstake organisers shouldn't profit from entries. Illegal gambling operations could land a person an up-to-$20,000 fine. Regulatory Services Manager, John Sneyd says it's taken seriously. "Office sweepstakes can be fun, but we've just got to make sure we keep it within the bou...