Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Shortland Street is turning 30 today.   At 7462 episodes ... if you were to watch every single episode back-to-back without a break, it would take you about 124 days.  The longest-serving cast member is Michael Galvin, aka Dr Chris Warner.  Michael joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has just wrapped up and Jacinda Ardern was the special guest.  Although Jacinda Ardern was in New York – a lot of her focus today was overseas. What did she talk to the UN Secretary-General about?  And tomorrow's a big day – Ardern's off to the Capitol.   Newstalk ZB chief political reporter Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudi...

There has been a school shooting in Texas.  Joe Biden wraps up his Asia tour.  Jacinda Ardern is in the US... And she turned Dan down for an interview.   US correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Dixon is looking down the barrel of a lot of records this Indy 500 – and he's joining D’Arcy on Sportstalk after 7!  Golden State Warriors coach weighs in on the Texas shooting.  Host of Sportstalk D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Official Cash Rate has reached a six-year high at two percent.  It rose 50 basis points today.  NZIER principal economist Christina Leung told Heather du Plessis-Allan another double hike's likely in July.  She says the Reserve Bank has a tricky balancing act as it tries to quell inflation, which is sitting at 6.9 percent.   “There is a risk of a wage-price spiral developing, so that’s when wo...

An Auckland Councillor says people should feel safe in their own city, after shootings in seven suburbs last night.  The shootings are being attributed to rising gang tensions between the Killer Beez and Tribesmen.  Josephine Bartley told Heather du Plessis-Allan people have every right to be worried – and it's deeply concerning for everyone.  “And we already knew that there were going to be issue...

School uniforms are back on the agenda.  The Human Rights Commission has put out a set of guidelines for schools and boards of trustees urging them to make sure uniforms are consistent with the Bill of Rights and the Treaty of Waitangi.   The commission says affordability of uniforms should be top of mind for schools and schools should consider non-gendered uniform options that are suitable for al...

Boris Johnson thought he was clear but then those pictures appeared of him drinking red wine at a party. Now there are fresh calls for him to resign.  The Queen uses a buggy to visit the Chelsea Flower Show.  A prankster fools passengers landing at London’s Gatwick Airport with fake sign.  UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

New research shows that businesses are losing faith in the Commerce Commission.  The New Zealand Initiative has surveyed a number of businesses and found that fewer than thirty per cent of them thought the Commission was meeting the required standard.  New Zealand Initiative chair Roger Partridge conducted the study.  He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

Is Gloriavale the new Russia of the NZ Ag Sector? Silver Fern Farms has announced it will no longer be working with the Gloriavale Christian community after the Employment Court found they were making kids work.  It's National Lamb Day! Lamb NZ is celebrating 140 years since the first shipment of frozen New Zealand lamb and mutton landed in London, 98 days after embarking from Port Chalmers on 15...

We're seeing a bit of a bidding war for Pushpay... The NZ-invented digital collection plate service that's taken off in Evangelical churches in the US.  Shares shot up 17 cents ... 13.7 percent after a trading halt was lifted this afternoon.  Pattrick Smellie from Businessdesk joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden has warned China is "flirting with danger" when it comes to Taiwan.  The US President has warned his country will intervene with military force if China attacks Taiwan.   Biden was speaking from Tokyo at the Quad Summit with the leaders of Australia, Japan and India.   Robert Ayson, professor for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LI...

How refreshing was Ron Mark this morning?  He’s been over in Ukraine with a Christian organisation called the Great Commission Society to see the war for himself and try to convince us back home to do more.  He thinks we’ve taken too long to start sending military help and it’s not gone down well internationally.  First of all, we only wanted to send humanitarian help like blankets.  Then we sent...

Joe Biden says the US would intervene if China made a move on Taiwan. Can we trust him despite the White House rowing back?  Nanaia Mahuta has decided that China can be trusted when it comes to not torturing a man they want extradited for murder... Kris Faafoi now has to decide whether to extradite him. What do you reckon?  Spark is starting to remove phone booths – Is anybody seriously still usin...

Fining commercial landlords over empty shop fronts could be a way to boost life in the city.   38 shops are empty in Auckland's Queen Street.  The Herald’s Simon Wilson told Heather du-Plessis Allen a penalty could help.   He says revitalising the city starts with the shops ... which bring people in.  “You then have a light in the place, you have less crime you have more commerce, you know, you ha...

The country is to stay at orange.  Monkeypox... What does our resident epidemiologist minister Ayesha Verrall say about the risk of this?  And the Government has appointed a panel for its Electoral Law Reform.  Newstalk ZB political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor may well get the 76 seats they need to govern alone.  Barnaby Joyce is under pressure as leader of the Nationals, and there's talk the coalition may split.  Rising petrol prices could reach record levels soon.  Australia correspondent Murray Olds joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When was the last time you used a public phone booth?  Spark has just announced it's starting to remove 10 percent of its phone booths across Auckland and Wellington... And looking to futureproof the rest.   Tessa Tierney is Spark's product director, she joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A meeting between the Prime Minister and US President could be on the cards.   Ardern is in the United States meeting politicians and executives – and slated to give Harvard University's commencement speech ... and appear on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert.   Chief political reporter Jason Walls is with the delegation.  He told Heather du Plessis Allan Ardern has signalled she's keen to discuss...

New Zealanders will be keeping masks on for a while yet.   The Government's announced the country will stay at the Orange level of the Traffic Light Setting, at least another month.   Gathering limits are long gone – but masks must still be worn in most indoor locations.   Our Covid Response Minister says new cold and flu strains will add to the workloads of already strained hospitals.   College o...

Neighbourhoods around the country are pushing against Kainga Ora developments.  Forty-five-unit apartment blocks being developed in New Plymouth have neighbours worried.   Mayor, Neil Holdom, told Heather du Plessis-Allan that people are raising legitimate concerns – but more social housing is needed.   “We’ve got a waiting list with 770 families, that’s not 770 people that’s 770 families in Taran...

The UK is telling anyone with monkeypox to isolate for 21 days.  A nurse at a children’s hospital in England has been arrested after the death of a youngster she is alleged to have poisoned.  Manchester City have launched an investigation after Aston Villa keeper Robin Olsen was assaulted during a pitch invasion.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnys...

The Australian election didn't just bring a new Prime Minister and governing party.  The rise of the Teal independents – meaning blue-green – has become the main storyline in Aussie's election.  Former chief of staff to Kevin Rudd Simon Banks joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a war going on. A war between the streaming giants.   Netflix' recent results gave a bit of a warning shot for tougher times to come. The company is losing subscribers for the first time.  Other big streaming companies have reported since and as everything in life gets more expensive people might just think twice about how many streaming services they really need.  Jeremy Ward is Jarden's...

The Prime Minister is jetting off to the states tonight ready to meet with the UN Secretary-General, US Senators and heads of big tech companies in California.  But there's still a question mark over the really, really big meeting ... and that's with US President Joe Biden at the White House.   NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....