Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Depending on where you sit this is either unbelievable or entirely believable but it looks like the Government has gone soft on its big shake-up of the supermarket sector.   You know how the Government was blaming the supermarkets for the cost-of-living crisis, for your veges going up in price because they’re making $1m in excess profits each day?  You know how it’s all their fault?  And you know...

UK government minister joins Liverpool Football Club to demand an investigation into the "unacceptable issues" faced by fans which led to their Champions League final against Real Madrid being delayed.   An English council that declared bankruptcy last year spent £28,000 on indoor plants which a councillor said are now "dying".   More than 16,000 street parties are expected to be held in the UK ov...

New research has found that there isn't enough water in Canterbury to handle the pollution created by the region's dairy farms.  The study found that harmful nitrates are flowing from farms into drinking water sources, faster than rain or river water can dilute them.  Greenpeace says the research shows that herd sizes need to come down and synthetic nitrogen fertilizers need to be phased out.  Dr...

China and Fiji have today signed a partnership agreement the latest in a row of deals done over the past few days.  Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced that the two sides agreed to "further synergize our strategies and expand cooperation in the economy, trade, agriculture, fisheries, tourism, civil aviation, education law enforcement, emergency management"  Journalist Lice Movono joined Hea...

There are concerns the Foreign Minister isn't engaged enough.   China's foreign minister is offering deals to 10 Pacific nations – and has already struck one with Samoa.   National has called for Nanaia Mahuta to head to the Pacific to better understand China's intentions.   NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan told Heather du Plessis Allan the portfolio requires a Minister who is on the road...

Fiji and Samoa are the latest Pacific nations to sign trade and security deals with China. And even Niue is reportedly considering an agreement.   Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta is yet to respond to the news. She's stayed very quiet on the Chinese Foreign Minister's tour of the Pacific.   Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Grant Robertson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See...

Fiji is the latest country expected to sign an agreement with China this afternoon. The Chinese Foreign Minister is on a marathon tour around the region, showing up NZ's and Australia's lack of attention. How concerned are you about these developments? While the Australian foreign minister flew out to Fiji immediately, our Foreign Minister isn't even speaking publicly. Would you expect more?  The...

The US Justice Department is to review the police response to the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.   Authorities have so far struggled to give a clear timeline on how the events unfolded, to much public anger.   Officials have admitted police delayed entering the school for over 40 minutes as they did not believe it was still an active shooter situation.   Steven Monacelli, a journalist out of Te...

A Kiwi business consultant wants the classic 9 to 5 workday scrapped in favour of a 9 to 3 day to match with school times.   Ellen Nelson has launched a campaign called Work School Hours, saying ending work at 5 results in too much of a juggle to fit in the school pick up, or pay for after school care.  Ellen Nelson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

The Government says it's put supermarkets "on notice" warning them to become more competitive or face regulation.   It's introducing an industry regulator, a mandatory code of conduct and compulsory unit pricing.  But any radical moves like breaking up the duopoly or making the big two sell-off stores have been shelved.   Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LIST...

What was the response to the Government’s announcement around the Supermarket duopoly?  The latest on the PM’s US trip.   There’s a bit of drama around the departure of Breakfast TV's host... What is the Government saying about this?  Political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The opposition confirms new leadership.  Thousands of paramedics go on strike over exhaustion.  An Aussie company is sending millions of tubs of baby formula to the US after a rival recalls their product.  6PR Perth Live Presenter Oliver Peterson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leaked report finds that NZ Rugby may struggle to get the Silver Lake genie back in the bottle.  Heartbreak for Scott Dixon at the Indy500.  Sports commentator Phil Gifford joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has announced major legislative changes designed to reduce the power of the supermarket duopoly.  The changes include an industry regulator, a mandatory code of conduct and tighter regulations around wholesale access.  Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister David Clark says he's putting the supermarket giants on notice.  Sarah Balle, founder of Supie, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan...

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and a 20-strong delegation arrived in the Solomon Islands Thursday at the start of an eight-nation tour that comes amid growing concerns about Beijing’s military and financial ambitions in the South Pacific region. China says the trip builds on a long history of friendly relations between Beijing and the island nations. But Australia scrambled to counter the move b...

Oil companies are making a killing at the moment. The price of Brent crude is back to levels not seen since early March. But there are a few developments this week that are starting to put pressure on the oil and gas companies. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The former president of the Louvre museum has received preliminary charges for alleged antiquities trafficking during his tenure as head of the famous Paris museum. Police in the French capital charged Jean-Luc Martinez on Wednesday with “complicity in organized fraud” and money laundering, according to the Paris prosecutors’ office. The prosecutor’s office said that two of Martinez’ former collea...

The reaction on our text machine took me by surprise earlier this week. It was during The Huddle and we were talking about the Australian election I think and the number of successful independent female candidates and one of our guests used the phrase ‘pale, stale, male’. And boy did the text machine go nuts. Fair enough. Because it is an unfair generalisation. What really interested me though was...

It’s been three years since Julie Anne Genter’s secret letter over Wellington’s transport plan. Today, the NZ Herald was able to get their hands on it. Genter sent the letter in 2019 to then Transport Minister Phil Twyford when she was Associate Minister of Transport during pre-consultation on the Let's Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) indicative package draft Cabinet paper. She wrote that she was con...

Amy Satterthwaite is one of five White Ferns going without a contract renewal for next year. The decision was controversial given Satterthwaite’s accomplishments in her long international career, with Amelia Kerr hitting out at NZC on social media. Matt Lodge has addressed his messy exit from the Warriors. Lodge said “there was no argument” between himself and club owner Mark Robinson. It was late...

Five long time White Fern players have not have their contracts renewed including Lea Tahuhu, Frankie MacKay and of couse, Amy Satterthwaite. Satterthwaite was particularly controversial, with Frankie MacKay and Amelia Kerr hitting out at NZC. Instead of renewing their contracts, NZC opted to sign six new players. NZC General Manager of High Performance Bryan Stronach joined Heather du Plessis-All...

Apart from Kiwibank, no other bank appears to have changed their mortgage rates. Kiwibank has changed theirs as a result of the OCR going up on Wednesday. But why haven’t the other banks followed suit? Independent economist Tony Alexander joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brutal stabbing on a quiet central Auckland walkway has shaken the Mount Albert community. Police have launched a manhunt for a 22-year-old after a man was found dead in Roy Clements Treeway on Tuesday night. The wanted man is known to frequent Sandringham and West Auckland, is considered dangerous and should not be approached. National list-MP based in Mount Albert Melissa Lee told Heather du P...

Jacinda Ardern is meeting US President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday in the US. It's only the third-such formal invitation a New Zealand Prime Minister has had from the White House in the past 20 years. Former Prime Minister Sir John Key visited the White House twice in his time. He told Heather du Plessis Allan it's great Ardern will get the opportunity. “They’re always im...

The Prime Minister's spoken about gun reform during her trip to the United States. Jacinda Ardern has appeared on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, made the Harvard commencement speech and has a meeting planned with President Joe Biden. Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls told Heather du Plessis Allan Ardern got a standing ovation when she made comments about New Zealand banning semi-automatic...