Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

ACT's Health spokesperson says it's 'shady' that the Government hasn't divulged the storage costs of expiring RATs. Health Minister Ayesha Verrall says Te Whatu Ora needs to 'get on with' finding options for the use of these leftover RAT tests- but no solution has been found. ACT's Brooke van Velden says the Government either doesn't know the warehousing costs of all these tests- or they don't wan...

Waka Kotahi's pulling out all the stops to reconnect Coromandel Peninsula's State Highway 25A by March next year. Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the region, and wiped out parts of the highway between Kopu and Hikuai. Now up to 100 workers will work extended hours, seven days a week on a new bridge. But Waka Kotahi's Jo Wilton says they can't account for all factors. "We don't have a crystal ball, so...

Warnings New Zealand still needs a strong mailing system. NZ Post is proposing cutting 750 jobs over the next five years, from its workforce of 4500. It expects volumes of post to almost halve by 2028. Postal Workers Union National President John Maynard says physical mail is alive and well in rural areas. "They've got 16,000 people that they regularly mail out to, and they want to continue doing...

It goes without saying that Ben O'Keeffe did not deserve the abuse he copped on his Instagram account. And it goes without saying that the keyboard warriors who attacked him should be ashamed of themselves.  But...   I think it’s time that we moved on from simply complaining about trolling, and instead find a better way to protect ourselves from it . The fact is, this is what life is like now that...

The Government's cash injection to tertiary providers isn't a get-out-of jail-free card for struggling universities - but very welcome. It's promising $128 million over the next two years to lift tuition subsidies an extra four percent, at degree-level and above. The package follows both Otago and Victoria universities proposing job and subject cuts to plug funding holes. Universities NZ Chief Exe...

Thames-Coromandel District Council aims to get a skatepark built in Tairua, and Aucklanders have voiced disapproval. The Auckland Marist Brothers Rugby Club have urged members to write in opposing it to help out their holiday home-owning benefactor. Tairua Sport and Recreation Trust chair Jacqui Gage-Brown is 'unsurprised', as the community has faced pressure over construction of the skate park fo...

Dozens of detainees at an immigration detention centre near Heathrow are protesting their living conditions. These detainees are unsatisfied with their limited access to healthcare, the rising temperatures in their cells and lack of access to food and water. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says detainees are reportedly breaking down doors, smashing windows and ransacking the kitchen. LISTEN ABOVE See...

Tonight on The Huddle, current affairs commentator Josie Pagani and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR weighed in on the following issues of the day- and more! Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is under fire for taking two Defence Force Boeing 757s to China- in case the first plane broke down. How does this look from the party encouraging others to reduce emissions? Is the second plane necessary- or...

The situation in Russia is expected to colour the background of the Prime Minister's trip to China. Chris Hipkins is currently leading a delegation there and is expected to meet with President Xi Jinping NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan is with the delegation and says there's concern about what's happened in Russia. "My sense in talking to people here is- there has been behind-the-scenes...

An international relations expert says Yevgeny Prigozhin will be in danger after his attempted coup against Vladimir Putin. The US Secretary of State says the mutiny by Prigozhin's Wagner fighters forced the Russian president into an amnesty agreement. The deal halted Wagner's march on Moscow after two major cities had been seized. Otago University international relations expert Robert Patman says...

PwC agreed to sell their Government consultancy practice for $1 following a scandal over the misuse of confidential tax plans. The accounting company has also appointed a new chief executive to lead the firm through the fallout. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says even after Allegro Funds buys the consultancy practice, it's unlikely any Government will want to to business with PwC. "The...

The Government's offering up $5 million to keep Ruapehu running this ski season. The money will go the liquidators of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts to keep things going over the winter. Carmel Sepuloni admits it's not an ideal situation, so they're helping provide job security in the the meantime. ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the official advice given to ministers in 2022 was to not...

Referee Ben O'Keeffe says rugby audiences have 'crossed a line' on social media following Saturday night's Super Rugby final. O'Keeffe has shared images of around 50 abusive messages he's been sent since the final, where the Chiefs were on the end of a 15-8 penalty count.  Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it is under no illusions Defence Force aircraft need upgrading. It has been revealed two Air Force Boeing 757s were on the runway during a stopover in Manila, Philippines as the Prime Minister made his way to China. It's drawn criticism from National and ACT over emissions and the cost. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says they Defence Force are looking at upgrading the 757s....

A group of North Canterbury animal activists experienced a 'disturbing' confrontation during the region's hunting competition. 100 children reportedly showed off their kill while chanting 'meat' and yelling abuse at the group of protestors. Christchurch Animal Save organiser Sarah Jackson says the scene of children carrying dead animals was 'heartbreaking to see'. "These children are being raised...

The use of cultural reports in court may be under the chopping block in the coming months. National has promised to scrap funding for the reports, which help judges understand an offenders' background before sentencing. Lifetime Black Power Member Denis O'Reilly has contributed to several cultural reports and says they can give the sentencing judge insight into an offender.  "I'm talking with the...

The Regional Development Minister is hitting out at MBIE over its dealings with iwi on the Mount Ruapehu saga. The government's providing a loan of up to $5 million to the liquidators of Ruapehu Alpine Lifts, to ensure a ski season can go ahead this year. Meanwhile, iwi have joined the table to bid to take over skifield operations against a joint bid from two companies, that was previously backed...

Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says the importance of the China-New Zealand relationship is enough to justify a back-up plane. A second aircraft was sent ahead of Chris Hipkins' flight- positioned on standby in the Philippines, just in case the first broke down. Miller says it might seem expensive, but we send $20 billion worth of exports to China every year. "The relationship is on slightly...

Look, I’m not upset about the cost of taking those two planes on that diplomatic trip to China. Of course, $150,000 on fuel for the backup plane is a lot of money, it’s not a great spend. But the alternative is spending up to $6 million on buying a new plane. Which is what we actually need to do, but until we do that, we’re probably going to have a bunch of these costs. No, my problem is the clima...

One New Zealand city may have beaten out Auckland in terms of traffic congestion. Tauranga commuters are increasingly frustrated by traffic jams, with 77 percent of residents acknowledging the problem. Tauranga Chamber of Commerce CEO Matt Cowley says based on the regional GDP, investment hasn't kept up with population growth. "It's just really connecting the Golden Triangle up that has half of Ne...

A man accused of killing Kaikohe Grandmother Linda Woods has had his trial date set for two years from now. Terrence Kiro pleaded not guilty to a manslaughter charge. Criminal Defence Lawyer Marie Dyhrberg says the delays relate to Covid-19 and the workloads of expert witnesses and lawyers. She told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the delays aren't due to a lack of effort. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Debris from the submersible has been found 500 meters off the bow of the Titanic in the Atlantic Ocean. The US Coastguard says that the debris indicate that a catastrophic event occurred, and it’s likely that the five people on board have perished. Director of the Shipbuilding Hub at Adelaide University Eric Fusil told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it's unknown if a proper level of safety was impl...

Gisborne's Mayor says the region is shattered after constant extreme weather events. Welfare centres have been opened as the region remains in a State of Local Emergency, with a Red Heavy Rain Warning in place until midday Sunday. An Orange Heavy Rain Warning is in place for much of Hawke's Bay. State Highway 35 from Gisborne to Ruatoria is now closed overnight, while State Highway 2 is closed bet...

Tomorrow night will crown the winners of Super Rugby Pacific, with the Crusaders versing the Chiefs on their home turf. Crusaders coach Scott Robertson is confident in his team's ability, but says it feels like the end of an era. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that they've had some amazing moments along the way, and that tomorrow is going to be a hell of a match. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/...

Once again, the Pike River families have been utterly vindicated in  t heir battle to get a proper police investigation into what happened inside that mine on the 19 th of November, 2010.  Police have today again revealed that they’ve spotted more bodies using the boreholes they’ve been drilling . This time it was two or three bodies in a crib room area, which they describe as a breakout communal...