Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Calls to bring paramedics under the ACC structure. Under a system called Prime, rural health clinics provide a 24/7 emergency response when an ambulance is too far away. But paramedics aren't allowed to be responders, so aren't on ACC's approved treatment providers list. Prime Chair Mark Eager told Heather du Plessis-Allan changes could be up to two years away due legislation amendments being requ...

The Government’s paid $2.1 billion to buy Kiwibank.  For all intents and purposes, this doesn’t really change much. Kiwis own Kiwibank now but Kiwis owned Kiwibank before. We just own it in a different way. Now it’s through the Government directly. Beforehand it was through ACC, the Super Fund and NZ Post which owned it.  But what this has doesn’t is stopped the possibility of selling part of Kiwi...

Auckland Harbour Bridge won't have trial lanes for walking and cycling, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Board confirmed today. In a statement today, Waka Kotahi said it is "strongly committed to providing a safe network for walking and cycling" in the Auckland region, integrated with public transport, to "support a shift to active and shared modes with better climate outcomes". However, it says it...

A forensic anthropologist believes answers could come from the DNA of the remains of two children, whose bodies were found in suitcases in Auckland. The remains were found in the contents of a storage unit, won in an online auction and taken to a Manurewa home last Thursday. New Zealand Police are working with Interpol and overseas agencies as part of the investigation, and it's believed some fami...

A former longtime MP says an investigation's needed into the claims made by Gaurav Sharma. Peter Dunne says as soon as the rogue MP levelled accusations against Labour, its whips and the Prime Minister's office Jacinda Ardern should have commissioned a probe. Sharma was expelled from the caucus on Tuesday and faces expulsion when caucus meets again in four days. But Dunne says told Heather du Ples...

Defensive attitudes in the health system may risk slowing down reforms. The chair of the nation's new centralised service - Health New Zealand - has described the sector has being more dysfunctional than expected. Rob Campbell says all of the now former District Health Board operated differently with varied outcomes, making it hard to compile information. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener f...

One of Labour’s biggest problems right now is that Dr Gaurav Sharma seems like a nice man. I’ve watched his TV interview from last night.  I listened to two radio interviews he gave today.  He’s calm, confident and warm.    That makes this battle against him harder for Labour because this might ultimately all come down to who you trust the most. And that's because both sides are firing shots but n...

Auckland International Airport said Covid-19 travel restrictions were responsible for an 80.9 per cent decline in its net profit to $28.1 million for the six months to December 31. The company, in its earnings outlook for the full year to June 30, said it expects to report a net loss of between $35m and $55m. Revenue for the six months fell by 64.9 per cent to $131.5m and its operating profit drop...

A 200 thousand dollar boost for storm-ravaged Nelson region. The Government's pumping cash into the Nelson Tasman and Marlborough area - for immediate help after prolonged heavy rain, flooding and high winds. Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty says the weather's caused considerable damage and been extremely disruptive. He says it's still too early to know the full cost but this first contributio...

Have I got my hands on something good for you. Now, you know how we're constantly told by the authorities that there's all this public support for cycleways? And you sit there thinking, well, nobody I know likes the cycleways, so what's going? Where can this possibly go? What? Well, here's the answer: Looks like they're fudging the numbers. There isn't majority support for cycleways at all. Today,...

The Electricity Authority says it's made urgent changes today, to make sure consumers aren't disadvantaged by big deals. The amendment to the Electricity Industry Participation Code means that deals for more than 150 megawatts, can only go ahead if they meet specific criteria. It impacts powercos' ability to strike a deal with Tiwai Point aluminium smelter, as it works on plans to stay operating b...

A major blow to Upper Hutt. St Joseph’s Home of Compassion elder care facility will shut down because it can't get enough nurses. The 87 bed facility will start moving residents to new home in the coming months. Aged Care Association Chief Executive Simon Wallace said it reflects the wider health worker crisis. Co-Executive director of the Sisters of Compassion group Dr Chris Gallivan joined Heath...

By  RNZ National polytechnic Te Pūkenga's chief executive, Stephen Town, has resigned with effect from yesterday. Te Pūkenga has been beset with difficulties as it works to bring polytechnics, institutes of technology and Industry Training Organisations together by January 1. The new mega polytechnic is facing a $100 million deficit this year and criticism that it has not done enough to prepare fo...

Four doubles in a row, he OCR has risen another 50 basis points today. We're now sitting at 3 percent, as expected by most commentators. The Reserve Bank thinks we'll peak at 4.1 percent. Gareth Kiernan, Infometrics Chief Forecaster joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After weeks of speculation Ian foster has been given the full backing of the NZR board to continue as the All Blacks head coach through to the World Cup in 2023. Former Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has also been elevated and will now lead as the All Blacks' attack coach. Former All Black Justin Marshall joined Heather du Plessis-Allan LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank has lifted the Official Cash Rate by 50 basis points to 3 per cent - its highest level since 2015. The RBNZ now sees the OCR peaking at 4.1 per cent as it fights inflation pressure. Previously it had forecast a peak of 3.95 per cent. Labour has overtaken National again in the latest Curia-Taxpayers Union poll which saw National and its leader Christopher Luxon take a dive in popul...

Questions have been asked as to whether the criteria for being on a school board of trustees need tightening. White supremacist Philip Arps is currently standing for the board of Linwood College, who spent six months in jail for sharing footage of the March 15 terror attacks. Vaughan Couillault, Secondary Principals Association President, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

Heather du Plessis-Allan has talked this week on being worried about three of Auckland mayoral candidate Efeso Collins' policies. They were that he supports giving a lane on the Auckland Harbour Bridge to cyclists, that he supports a second harbour crossing that doesn't allow cars, and that he supports light rail. His team have reached and Efeso would like a right of reply. Efeso Collins joined He...

Why won’t Labour order an investigation into the bullying Dr Gaurav Sharma claims has happened?  Clearly, on the balance of probability, he is not an innocent here. He has three staff members complaining to the media about him  But just because he might have behavioural issues, it doesn’t absolve the Labour Party of the allegations he’s laying.  He claims to have been bullied by former senior whip...

Labour MP Gaurav Sharma has been suspended from caucus effective immediately, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced. It is the "most appropriate" response to "repeated breaches of trust" committed by the MP, Ardern said after a special party caucus meeting today. Sharma, who did not attend the meeting, was phoned, texted and emailed to join today's meeting but did not join, Ardern said. News...

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed Scott Morrison secretly held five additional portfolios between March 2020 and May 2021 during his time as prime minister – in some cases without the existing ministers' knowledge. Between March 2020 and May 2021, Morrison took control of the Departments of Health, Finance, Resources, Home Affairs and Treasury. The bombshell revelation has sp...

Dame Lynda Topp says her bid to become an Ashburton District councillor - is about giving back to her supportive community. She's one half of the Topp Twins musical comedy duo - and will run in the western ward against incumbent Rodger Letham and deputy mayor, Liz McMillan. Dame Lynda told Heather Du Plessis-Allan she's just gone through months of chemo, but she's ready for a challenge. LISTEN ABO...

Salman Rushdie's son gives a positive update on his condition after his horrific stabbing in New York. The UK's Labour Party is proposing an extension of a tax on oil and gas firms. A town in Germany is allowed to let its cats back outside after three months to protect an endangered bird. UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

I sort of hate saying this because I actually really like Viv Beck, but I do think she needs to think very seriously about throwing in the towel in the Auckland mayoral race for the sake of the city. John Banks has got a point in what he was saying in the Herald this morning. At this rate, she can’t win. Her polls are slipping, her campaign is not good enough to lift those polls. All she’s doing r...

Messy is an appropriate word to describe the bullying accusations within the Labour Party. Gaurav Sharma potentially made it worse for Jacinda Ardern by putting screenshots on Facebook of bullying just as she was about to speak to media. A caucus meeting will be held to resolve the issue. NZME Business Commentator Fran O’Sullivan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...