Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Greens co-leader Marama Davidson has refused to publicly apologise for her controversial 'white cis men' remarks. Appearing before media and Parliament on Tuesday, Davidson stated that she felt it appropriate to clarify her comments, but has yet to apologise. National's Chris Luxon has called for a public apology from Davidson to 'all the people she caused offence to'.  ZB's senior political corre...

Enrolments are well down in all the North Island's five universities. They say it's about the tight job market and fewer school leavers having University Entrance qualifications. University NZ CEO Chris Whelan says some students are finding the South Island more appealing. "In cities like Auckland and Wellington, cost of living is getting very high and student allowances are not really keeping up....

Germany's transport network has ground to a halt during today's strike. Staff at airports, railways, buses, ports and subways have walked out of their jobs shortly after midnight for a 24-hour stoppage. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the strike has crippled several networks already, according to recent reports. Gavin Grey explained the unions are striking to get their workers higher wages to cop...

Labor MP Chris Minns is set to be the party's first NSW MP in 12 years after Saturday's election. While counting wrapped up on Saturday night, eight seats in Government are still hanging in the balance. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Labor is still expected to form a majority Government, and it won't make a difference who gets the remaining seats. Oliver Peterson says Chris Minn's e...

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former Labour Press Secretary Kaine Thompson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day: Posie Parker's rally inspired fights and heckling, and Posie Parker was pelted by tomato juice and escorted out by police before she got to say anything- which side came out looking worse? Greens co-leader Marama Davidson has...

There are growing concerns ChatGPT is coming for white-collar jobs.  A global equity analyst has warned ChatGPT will take up one third of office roles and upend finance and law professions by 2030. Jarden Global Equity Analyst Ben Stewart says the finance and law professions in particular require training to process data, something ChatGPT has already been taught to do. Ben Stewart notes that tech...

Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta has returned from her visit to China. Nanaia Mahuta used her meeting with China's foreign minister to raise concerns about China’s human rights abuses, developments South China Sea, and China's ties to Russia. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says the machinery of Government on both sides needs to work these discussions through and more information will come...

Finance Minister Grant Robertson was revealed to have sought advice from the Reserve Bank about a bank 'tax', but decided not to pursue it. The Finance Minister explored whether the Reserve Bank could pay banks less interest on the settlement cash kept at New Zealand's Central Bank. Grant Robertson explained that he asked the Reserve Bank for advice about this proposal, and determined that it wasn...

Marama Davidson has been required to explain her controversial outburst at the Posie Parker protest. After Davidson blamed 'white cis men' as the leading cause of violence, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins was forced to come to her defence at today's post-Cabinet briefing. Hipkins said her comments were inappropriate, but it was important to consider context, as Davidson had been hit by a motorcycle a...

The skirmish at Posie Parker's weekend rally has opened up a debate about the limits of free speech. Controversial anti-trans activist Posie Parker was forced to abort her attempted event after counter-protestors clashed and Posie Parker was doused in tomato juice and escorted out. The Free Speech union has written to the Police Commissioner about Saturday's events, as they believe the actions of...

The ongoing backlog in surgical procedures may have already had fatal consequences. An investigation is underway after it was revealed that a Waikato hospital patient died while on the cardiac surgical waitlist in October last year. The surgery should have taken place within 90 days, but the patient had waited for 115 days before the unexpected death. Health commentator Ian Powell says these event...

Annoyance about ferry cancellations and breakdowns have spilled over for Waiheke Island residents. Frustrated locals are taking their concerns about Fullers to the Commerce Commission. Waiheke Local Board Chair Cath Handley says people need ferries to get to work and medical appointments. She says it's about more than just the cancellations. "Communication has been dreadful, letting people know th...

The protester who doused an anti-transgender activist with tomato juice says she'd do it again - and again, and again. After the drenching, British campaigner Posie Parker left her rally in Auckland's Albert Park on Saturday, cancelling her speaking event. Eli Rubashkyn says if it means she has to go to prison, so be it. "This is my country that gave me safety, that gave me the right to be the per...

The Warriors are off to a solid start to the 2023 NRL league season. The team are four games in with three wins and one loss, and they currently occupy fourth after yesterday's 16-14 win over the Bulldogs at Mt Smart. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine says the team's successful run this season is down to the coaching abilities of Andrew Webster. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

No clear date for when the Interislander's Kaitaki will be back on the sea, after being out of order since March 6. Interislander passengers with trips planned in early April have been told their sailing is off. It'll be at least April 10 before the Kaitaki's crossing Cook Strait again. Executive General Manager Walter Rushbrook says meanwhile, they're doing all they can. That includes adding some...

Tell you what surprises me today; it's the apparent lack of self-awareness from key members of that protest against Posie Parker at the weekend.  Max Tweedie from Pride Auckland – who wasn’t one of the organisers I believe, but did support the protest – had it put to him in an interview this morning that it was an ugly scene. And he said, no it wasn’t ugly- there was a lot of joy, a lot of celebra...

Hamilton's Mayor says Auckland's withdrawal has left a big gap in Local Government New Zealand. Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown has cast the deciding vote to pull the council out of the national lobby group. Timaru District recently left the organisation, Manawatu District Council has reduced the membership fees it’s paying, and Christchurch City Council has also reconsidered its membership in recent y...

Winston Peters has reaffirmed he definitely won't be working with Labour, even after the change of leadership.  The New Zealand First Leader's delivered his State of the Nation address to supporters in Auckland this afternoon. Peters told Heather du-Plessis Allan that Labour betrayed his party and "went down a pathway of division and racism," and they will not be dealing with them in any future Go...

A rainbow charity has denied that advocates are drawing too much attention to Posie Parker. A coalition of groups filed to have the anti-transgender activist barred from the country, but it was thrown out by the High Court in Wellington. Parker will speak in Auckland tomorrow and in Wellington on Sunday, where protestors are planning to meet her. InsideOUT managing director Tabby Besley says that...

Let's Get Wellington Moving is expecting outside experts’ fees will soar to $60 million in the coming year. LGWM has already spent $38.5m on external consultants in the past three years and $35m this year, all going towards their forecast price tag of $7.4 billion. The plan features tunnels, light rail, bike and bus lanes, footpath changes, and speed limit alterations. Wellington regional councill...

So Posie Parker is on her way to NZ, due to land in about an hour’s time. The court case to try to ban her failed this morning.  The Judge said he had sympathy for the rainbow community, but courts are reluctant to weigh into whether a Minister like the Immigration Minister should or should not have used discretion to ban her , and so for technical reasons he dismissed the application . Let me tel...

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has published his long-awaited personal tax returns. According to these published tax details, Rishi Sunak made nearly £5 million pounds ($9.8 million NZD) over the past three years. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Sunak released these tax details during the heavily publicised Boris Johnson hearing, drawing criticism. Enda Brady explained that most of Rishi Sunak's e...

Tonight on The Huddle, Sam Johnson, Projects Director at Still and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day:  Auckland Council has just decided to resign from Local Government NZ - is LGNZ dead now? Was it worth the extra costs? National has just released their proposed education policy- how helpful is this? Can Labour argue with these curriculum change...

10 soldiers on board an army helicopter were lucky enough to be rescued after an unexpected crash.  The army helicopter crashed into the ocean off the coast of New South Wales during a routine training exercise, submerging the Defence Force personnel onboard. Two crew members only sustained minor injuries.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the chief of army praised the ADF personnel and e...

Former All Black Tu Wyllie has won a landmark case after a five-year campaign.  Tu Wyllie has gotten his CTE condition recognised and compensated for by the ACC after a long legal battle. Less than four other athletes have successfully gone through this compensation process. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explained how this verdict may set a precedent going forward. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....