Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Justice Minister Kiri Allan is giving communities more say in how the sale of alcohol is regulated in their neighbourhood. The Government's removing the ability for alcohol companies and retailers to challenge what the community's local alcohol policies are. Director of Hoff Hospitality Group, Matt McLaughlin, says that this will disproportionately impact small family run businesses, and that regu...

Both the mayors of Auckland and Christchurch have come together to discuss an alternative solution to Three Waters.  This new plan is similar to the current one the Government has formed, with an exception being that the regional water organisations would be governed by local councils as opposed to a co-governance body. Fran O'Sullivan, NZME business commentator weighed in on the mayors challenge...

Today on The Huddle: We had David Farrar, Kiwiblog and Curia pollster and Kaine Thompson, former Labour Press secretary talking about the following topics- Ruapehu life pass holders may have to save the skiing range- is now a good time to get one?  Big move from the councils today regarding Three Waters - saying they'll keep most of the existing plan but the key difference being they want ownershi...

The new mayors of Auckland and Christchurch have teamed up to create a new Three Waters proposal. The main difference is the regional water organisations would be owned and governed by councils, not a co-governance body. Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson explained his thoughts on the plan. "From what I have read, it does sound like it might not quite reach what we need in...

Saving Ruapehu's ski fields could come down to lifetime pass holders. They might need to cough up more cash to help the business survive the next few months of voluntary administration. Tony Gavigan, who's on the creditors' committee, says with 14 thousand pass holders, they could each pay $250 dollars annually, for the next four to five years. Mr Gavigan says some would put that up front, and if...

A game of wait and see for protesters hoping to get the ear of the Transport Minister. Michael Wood's written to Restore Passenger Rail advocates - saying he'd consider meeting them, if they agree to stop disrupting Wellington highways. Group spokesperson James Cockle says they'll hold off demonstrations for a little while. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A law professor says throwing young criminals into jail is not the answer. Canterbury Police have arrested a 14-year-old, and he faces 81 charges, including intent to injure, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, aggravated robbery and theft. He's the fourth youth arrested over recent events. Massey University adjunct law professor, Chris Gallavin, says we need to think differently for dealing with y...

Christchurch mayor Phil Mauger and Auckland mayor Wayne Brown have discussed an alternative solution to the Government's Three Waters Reform. They opposed the Government's current plan and have revealed a different solution that kept the idea of having a water regulator, but has ownership, control and accountability staying in local hands. Christchurch Phil Mauger explained the pragmatic solution...

The mayors of Auckland and Christchurch, two major New Zealand cities, have recently suggested an alternative solution to the Three Waters Reform. Three Waters Reform was a topical issue in the local body elections, and Wayne Brown and Phil Mauger have recently proposed a new plan that focuses more on local ownership, accountability and control. Waimakariri Mayor Dan Gordon agreed with this discus...

Over in Australia, there has been plenty of public concern as the first set of 'Isis brides' return to the region. Four women and thirteen children who travelled from Australia with partners who were aligned with Isis recently got repatriated back as they were still citizens. Their repatriation has been viewed as a security risk, with plenty of Australians being concerned about these people posing...

The All Blacks played against Japan last Saturday and won the match, but the score was close. The final result ended up being a 38-31 victory for the All Blacks, but New Zealand still came very close to losing the game. According to Weekend Sport host Jason Pine, the lineup wasn't the best, and the team could have been stronger. It's still undetermined as to whether or not the close score can also...

Plans are underway to slow motorists down, as Whaka Kotahi reveals the roads they've identified with unsafe speed limits. These include a lot of roads within the State Highway network outside of Auckland, with Transmission Gully and the Waikato expressway being exceptions. Glen Koorey, a senior transport engineer at Viastrada who was involved with the project, argued in defence of the lowered spee...

A prediction is Prince Harry's memoir will be very revealing. Harry is releasing a tell-all called Spare which he's promised has raw unflinching honesty. The 400 page book will be released in January next year in 16 languages and will have an audio edition read by Harry himself. Royal Correspondent Juliet Rieden says that it could have the palace worried. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener...

One of the seven helicopter pilots honoured this week for his work on Whakaari/White Island has been left gutted. Tim Barrow's Rotorua business Volcanic Air was put into liquidation, just days before four of its staff received bravery awards for their rescue efforts in 2019. He's put it down to the pandemic, a Worksafe prosecution relating to the eruption, and the millions it would cost to rebuild...

Cancer patients and people with chronic illnesses are being prioritised, in New Zealand's new nationwide health plan. Te Pae Tata is the first nationwide plan made jointly by Te Whatu Ora, and Te Aka Whai Ora - the Maori Health Authority. Health Minister Andrew Little says having the agencies working as equal partners is a "game-changer". It puts into action funding from this year's Budget, increa...

Rishi Sunak had his first full day as Prime Minister earlier, and he started off by overturning some of Liz Truss's policies. He reinstated the ban on fracking, and reinstated his commitment to the 2019 Tory Manifesto, after Liz Truss went against their stance on fracking. UK correspondent Josella Waldron broke down the public's reaction to this, as well as highlighted why fracking regulations wer...

If you’re interested in the emerging co-governance debate, here’s a tip: Keep an eye on what’s going on with Tuhoe and the DOC huts and the area formerly known as Te Urewera National Park. I think this is becoming the most of obvious example of why co-governance doesn’t work.  Quick recap: back in 2014 Chris Finlayson reached a treaty settlement with Tuhoe, and part of that allowed the iwi to gove...

Some of the biggest U.S companies are reporting their third quarter earnings this week, and Meta's value is dropping. A notable observation from these reports shows that Meta's value has plunged a further $65 billion dollars after they reported a second quarter of declining revenues. Senior Portfolio Manager at Fisher Funds, Sam Dickie, explained how Meta could bounce back from this, especially co...

A leading Southland farmer has recently stated that she won't be getting winter grazing consents and hundreds of other farmers are set to join her. Their motivations for this come as a form of protest surrounding the Government’s controversial farming emissions' proposal and winter grazing regulations. According to The Country host Jamie Mackay, Federated Farmers Southland vice president Bernadett...

Today on the Huddle- freelance journalist Clare de Lore and Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR joined us to talk about the following topics:  The Te Urewera Huts being demolished - does it sound like hikers and hunters have been listened to? Is this an example of co-governance not working? There seems to be a trend of youths knocking people off their bikes - why would anyone want to do this? How...

Reserve Bank governor Adrian Orr says a full review of how the bank responded to the pandemic will be released next month. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann talked us through the review and gave us an idea of what it might cover. The Reserve Bank has come under fire for their pandemic stimulus delivery, which may have contributed to present inflation levels. Liam Dann warned us this may have unf...

After reporting a profit surge this morning, ANZ's share price has dropped more than 4 percent. The New Zealand arm's net profit for the year to September was almost 2.3 billion dollars - a rise of 20 percent on the previous year. And during the cost of living crisis, it's made a cash profit of more than two billion - up 8 percent on the previous financial year. Chief executive, Antonia Watson, sa...

The Conservation Minister says she didn't sign off on removing 44 back country huts in Bay of Plenty's Te Urewera. Hundreds of locals are protesting the huts being pulled down and replaced, and Poto Williams has come under fire for the decision. But she says she's had no role in this process - which was initiated by Te Urewera board. She wouldn't answer whether DOC's sign off was needed. LISTEN AB...

Egg-lovers will soon have to shell-out more for their favourite breakfast. You can't make a omelette without breaking eggs - and the Poultry Industry Association's Michael Brooks, says the banning of battery farming from the end of this year has associated costs. And he says Covid, and war in in Ukraine have helped ramp up the cost of chicken feed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Three cyclists say they've been deliberately knocked off their bikes by cars in Christchurch in recent days. One woman says she was sworn at, told to get off the road, and then knocked from her bike from the car following closely behind. Patrick Morgan from the Cycling Action Network put these events into context and explained the mentality behind these illegal actions. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...