Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Vegan activist Tash Peterson has launched allegations of assault following an altercation outside Perth's Fyre restaurant. Peterson and several other protestors played audio of squealing pigs, leading to an aggressive physical confrontation with chef and owner John Mountain. She says the ongoing protests at the restaurant have nothing to do with the establishment's ban on vegans. LISTEN ABOVE See...

The family of a teenager paid thousands to send explicit photos to a BBC presenter have voiced disapproval with the company's response. The BBC claim they first became aware of a complaint in May before these recent allegations, but the family says the BBC never followed up after the initial complaint.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey says viewers are trying to work out which BBC presenter is absent t...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The ACT Party wants to see 17-year-olds charged as adults, with the aim for them to face harsher consequences for committing crimes. Should 17-year-olds go before the adult court? What message does this send? All Blacks...

This Matariki weekend, New Zealand will host the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Commission. Set to be the biggest biggest international trade event held in the region recently, trade ministers from 11 nations will review and update the terms of this pact. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says this meeting will establish the next phase of CPTPP Commis...

The New Zealand-European Union free trade agreement includes 'unprecedented' climate commitments in the deal. New Zealand will be required to follow conditions set out in the Paris climate agreement or potentially face punishment. NZ International Business Forum executive director Stephen Jacobi says it's most unlikely that the climate requirements within the agreement will be enforced. "The cost...

The Finance Minister is defending the climate change component of New Zealand's free trade agreement with the European Union. The free trade agreement will see tariffs eventually removed on 97 percent of our exports to the EU, including kiwifruit, Mānuka honey, fish, onions and wine. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says the EU wanted climate change provisions in the agreement, and this will be go...

The Salvation Army have voiced disapproval with ACT's proposed youth justice policy, labelling it a 'backwards step'. The ACT Party wants 17-year-olds to be charged as adults so they can face tougher consequences for committing crimes. The Salvation Army's Ian Hutson says this reaction is over the top, as it's known incarceration doesn't work to curb crime. "It doesn't deal with the intense kind o...

SANZAAR is set to undertake a review into All Blacks captain Sam Cane for kicking out at a pitch invader in Argentina. Cane has since said he was 'disappointed' in himself following the incident, and has since apologised on social media. Sky Sport rugby commentator Tony Johnson says Sam Cane made the smart decision by apologising. "There will be an investigation by SANZAAR, and I can tell you SANZ...

Immigration officials aren't committing to an all-out ban on out-of-hours compliance visits to suspected overstayers. Authors of an independent review of Dawn Raids-style visits say the Government should consider banning or restricting the practice. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's chief executive says such visits are very rare. But Carolyn Tremain says they're looking at the...

Australian farmers say their Government should walk away from trade negotiations with the EU - if it's offered conditions similar to New Zealand's deal. Our free trade agreement signed overnight will remove tariffs for 97 percent of our EU exports over time - but only small amounts of meat and dairy, before they kick in. Australian agriculture scientist Chris Russell says it wouldn't suit Australi...

Several Australian public servants were the subject of criticism over adverse findings in the robodebt royal commission report. Commissioner Catherine Holmes found that public servants had mislead cabinet that legislation was not required for the scheme. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says that the public sector is one of Australia's largest organisations, meaning public servants should...

A review is suggesting the Government consider outlawing dawn raids. The investigation led by lawyer Michael Heron, KC was prompted by revelations that after-hours visits continued. Recommendations include ensuring the raids are a last resort - and considering those impacted, like children and the elderly. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says these dawn raid tactics are inhumane and...

All Blacks captain Sam Cane could face disciplinary consequences for tripping a pitch invader. Footage emerged of the flanker flicking his leg out which resulted in the rogue fan hitting the turf before continuing to elude security. Cane has since apologised on social media. Sportstalk host Adam Cooper explains further- and why he doesn't think Cane needed to apologise. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

Auckland Transport has explained why it delayed telling commuters about this morning's bus driver strike. It had been informed on Friday evening. Metro Optimisation Manager Richard Harrison says they knew general details from Friday - but only found out on Sunday morning which services would be affected. "Over the last year through the disruptions caused by the driver shortage, people have been gr...

The country's law students want fewer exams. The NZ Law Student Association has released a survey which shows that 90% of students believe there is too much emphasis on external examinations. The associations President Manraj Singh Rahi told Heather du Plessis Allan that law students are looking for a change. Rahi says they want their assessment to more closely reflect the skills and expertise req...

More than one thousand houses might have been signed off by a fake engineer. It's been revealed that an engineering technologist has been signing off documents such as building codes by using his colleagues identities without their permission. Engineering New Zealand says it's been going on for about six years and affects over 40 councils. Chief Executive Dr Richard Templer told Heather Du Plessis...

Senior Political Correspondent Barry Soper says questions should be asked about Peeni Henare's conflicts of interest. National claims contracts around Covid and Smokefree New Zealand went to Henare's partner's ad agency. Soper told Heather du-Plessis Allan that because Henare is Associate Health Minister, it's a clear conflict. He says former Health Minister Andrew Little was asked if any conflict...

Little surprise that Donald Trump's aide Walt Nauta has professed his innocence over the handling of official White House documents. He's pleaded not guilty to six charges relating to concealing secret government documents at the former US President’s south Florida resort at Mar-a-Lago. This comes as Trump has multiple legal cases looming over him. US Correspondent Katherine Firkin told Heather du...

The owner of a vape store left atleast $150,000 out-of-pocket after a five-car ram-raid is calling on tougher consequences for offenders. Vape Vice Co in Thames's Goldfields Shopping Centre was targeted early yesterday morning. Owner, Kevin Carroll, says, it's the fourth time in four months one of his stores has been hit. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that if he was in Government, he'd declare...

There has been so much money wasted by the Government in the last six years  t hat it really takes something quite profligate to warrant a mention nowadays . And man alive does the money wasted on those expiring Covid RAT kits   warrant a mention . That wastage is out the gate  a nd completely unnecessary. Last week we thought it was just $160m worth of kits due to expire without being used , toda...

National's asking questions about another Cabinet Minister's conflict of interest just two weeks after Michael Wood resigned from Cabinet over un-declared shares. Simeon Brown claims that it involves Associate Health Minister Peeni Henare and his partner Skye Kimura, the CEO of ad agency Tatou. He claimed to Heather du Plessis-Allan there have been several contracts between the Ministry of Health...

The Bank of England may have to keep interest rates at 7 percent to counter inflation, economists warn. US-based investment bank JP Morgan says there's a risk that persistent inflationary pressures could force the central bank to raise interest rates. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the region experienced years of people buying huge houses and spending while credit was cheap- and the chickens are...

Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Projects Director at Still Sam Johnson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Scam victims have been coming to the media to expose how easy it is to fall victim to fake text scams claiming to be from banks. Should banks pay back money if you've fallen victim to a scam? Is crime out of control is this country? Five...

A man has opened up about losing thousands in a text message scam. Aucklander Peter Willyams was in Australia when he clicked on a link in a text pretending to be from his bank. He filled out details on the convincing website, and within minutes more than $35,000 disappeared from his account. Willyams says given he was overseas, it seemed plausible his account had been frozen. "And that's why I ju...

A Fisher Funds expert says the mid-year state of the global financial markets has taken a different turn than predicted. Senior portfolio manager Sam Dickie says tech shares have risen, with Nvidia and Meta shares doubling in 2023 and the crypto industry recovering. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.