Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

WARNING: This interview discusses suicide. Helplines can be found at the bottom of the page Currently New Zealand does not have any alcohol related interventions in our national suicide prevention strategy. International evidence suggests that taking action of alcohol, reducing alcohol availability and  strengthening alcohol regulations results in a reduced suicide rate for a population. Universit...

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge said Thursday that the criminal contempt trial of Steve Bannon can start as scheduled next week and that the extensive media coverage of the onetime adviser to former President Donald Trump should not be a barrier to selecting an unbiased jury to hear the case. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols had earlier in the week rejected a bid by Bannon's lawyers to delay his...

99% of education professionals say funding for disabled students does not deliver what students need.  Disability advocacy group IHC is taking the case to the Human Rights Tribunal on the grounds that the complicated funding system is discriminatory against disabled students.  IHC Inclusive Education Consultant, Trish Grant joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the action their taking.  LISTEN ABOVE Se...

The Euro has lost ground against the united states dollar for the first time in twenty years. Executive Director of the New Zealand Initiative Oliver Hartwich joined Andrew Dickens to explain how this happened.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the stuff of fast food nightmares, but for one country, running out of McDonald's has become a reality. McDonald's restaurants across Fiji have announced on social media that due to global shipping issues, some of the fan favourites will be off the menu. From the Big Mac to the cheeseburger, Quarter Pounder and even McFeast — "valued customers" may be forced to dine on a Filet-O-Fish instead...

So the big Covid story today is that the NZ Radio Awards have been cancelled. Now this isn't because I'm a broadcaster full of self-importance but because of what it says about the current environment. Organisers say the severity of the second wave and the risk of infection means it will now be a virtual event. The awards were to be held next Thursday at the Sky City Theatre with NZ’s top broadcas...

Ayesha Verrall said earlier on in the show that only a small number of people have an objection to masks.  Retail NZ CEO Greg Harford disagrees and believes the government needs to make a rule so there are no loopholes for those not wanting to wear masks.  Greg Harford joined Andrew Dickens to discuss  the problem of customers not wearing masks in store. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

New figures from Stats NZ show that as a country New Zealanders had $54 billion of disposable income from January to March this year, yet only saved 0.004%. Financial Advice NZ CEO Katrina Shanks Joined Andrew Dickens to discuss Kiwis financial habits.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle tackles vaping in schools, New Zealanders savings, the Christchurch Stadium, and the All Blacks game this weekend.  Cas Carter of Cas Carter Communications and CEO of Transporting New Zealand Nick Leggett join Andrew Dickens to debate the issues of today.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch's Mayor is welcoming the decision to continue its city stadium project. Councillors today voted to sign a fixed-price $683 million contract to build the multi-use Te Kaha arena. Thirteen voted for, and three against. Mayor Lianne Dalziel joined Andrew Dickens to discuss the background behind the decision.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unemployment dropped to the lowest level since 1974, 3.5% last month as job vacancies  hit 480,000 in may.  This works out to be one job for every unemployed person in Australia, however Australian's don't want the jobs on offer.  Australian Correspondent Murray Olds joined Andrew Dickens to talk on employment, inflation and all things occurring over the ditch.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

Students at Westlake Boys High School have said teachers have hid in the toilets to catch students vaping.  Full details around these events are not clear.  Youth Law General Manager, Neil Shaw joined Andrew Dickens to discuss this.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The All Blacks team has been named ahead of the final match against Ireland in Wellington this weekend.  D'Arcy Waldegrave debriefs the announcement with Andrew Dickens. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Kiwi recruiter says she hopes to get 100 new nurses into New Zealand within the next year, reversing some of the Covid shortages hammering the workforce. Accent Health recruitment director Prudence Thomson is in Singapore enticing young nurses to work in New Zealand.  She joined Andrew Dickens to talk about recruiting new talent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's opted not to move the country into the red setting, despite increasing daily cases, hospitalisations and deaths. Instead, Covid Minister Ayesha Verrall is making more free masks and RATs available, in an attempt to slow the spread. She's also calling on people to keep wearing masks when possible, and to get boosted. Covid-19 response minister Ayesha Verrall joined Andrew Dickens....

Ngāi Te Rangi is threatening to blockade Tauranga Port in protest over dredging and expansion plans. The Port says the 14.4ha extension involves dredging up to nearly two million cubic metres of sand from the seabed. Iwi chief executive, Paora Stanley told Andrew Dickens when the port took out two million cubic tonnes in 2015, it drastically changed the harbour. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

The US nosing its way into the Pacific Islands Forum has raised eyebrows. Vice President Kamala Harris addressed forum leaders virtually today, promising to deepen America's ties with the region. The US plans to increase its funding to 600-million dollars over ten years, assign an envoy to the forum and set up embassies in Tonga and Kiribati. Victoria University international relations Dr Iati Iat...

Newstalk ZB sports journalist Kate Wells joined Andrew Dickens for a wrap of today's sporting news and look ahead to the Silver Ferns clash with the New Zealand A side. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Tai Tokerau's Principal's Association is having to tell schools to not reduce staff levels, despite a drop in attendance numbers, saying that the kids will return to the classroom. Pat Newman, president of Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association, joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's talk about crime, because all the politicians are as they often do as election time approaches. Nothing unnerves an electorate like a crime wave and the party that seems the toughest to fight a crime threat gets a boost in the polls. Right now National and ACT are running the line that Labour is soft on crime. Yesterday, Chris Hipkins the Police Minister reiterated that the tough on crime rh...

By RNZ The number of leaders attending the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) summit has dropped further, with both the President of the Marshall Islands and the Cook Islands prime minister pulling out. It was revealed at the weekend that the Kiribati president Taneti Maamau was not attending the gathering, and his nation had formally withdrawn from the Forum. Nauru's Lionel Aingimea was also understood...

Police Minister Chris Hipkins said the Government wants to hit gangs "where it hurts:by taking their guns, cars and motorbikes and making it harder to launder money – while also responding to increasing incidents of intimidation and violence on our roads and streets and in our homes". Chris Hipkins joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A damning report has come out this week, revealing what can only be described as financial meltdown at the new polytech mega-merger. Pattrick Smellie from Business Desk who has been looking into this joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A movement to lower the voting age has its day Supreme Court. Make It 16 claims preventing 16 and 17-year-olds from voting is age discrimination and a breach of human rights. The group's efforts previously failed in the High Court in 2020 and Court of Appeal last year. Co-director Cate Tipler says they hope the Supreme Court will issue a formal declaration of inconsistency - something the Court of...

Newstalk ZB's Chief Political Reporter is travelling with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to the Pacific Islands Forum in Suva and he joined Andrew Dickens to debrief the day. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.