Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Government's released its long-awaited plan on how to reduce emissions – but many big decisions have been put in the "for later" basket.   570 million dollars will go towards funding low- and middle-income households to swap their old gas guzzlers for EVs.  The Government wants 30% of our cars to be zero emissions by 2035... But hasn't gone as far as banning the import of petrol cars.   A deci...

The much-anticipated emission reduction plan's been released – what are the highlights and what has been the reaction?  There's been a spate of ram-raids again overnight... what's the Government doing about it?  NZ on Air's given a $220,000 grant for a film about Chloe Swarbrick – how have they justified that?  Chief political reporter Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See...

It’s the final week of the election campaign and it's looking like Anthony Albanese will be the next PM.  Andrew Symonds's death continues to rock the cricketing world as the police investigation continues.  The North Sydney Bears set to re-enter the NRL – but not in North Sydney.  6PR Perth Live Presenter Oliver Peterson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener f...

The Podmore report finds that cyclists should be treated as people before athletes.  Who's going to be in the Super Rugby final?  Sports commentator Phil Gifford joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ramraiders have stepped it up a notch.  They used a digger to break into the Wainuiomata BP in Lower Hutt overnight.  The seven-tonne digger owned by K & D Contracting was taken from a nearby building site.  The company's director Debbie Randall joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’m not entirely sure what James Shaw has been doing with his time.  But whatever it is, it certainly wasn’t spent nailing down a climate plan.  What he’s released today is very short on detail. Very short.  This is supposed to be a big day for the Government by the way.  The PM’s called climate change the nuclear-free moment of our generation.  Her government had copped it for doing very little a...

The number of fines issued over breaches of coronavirus regulations at British government offices, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s official residence, has expanded to more than 100, London’s Metropolitan Police force said Thursday. Johnson admitted last month that he was among dozens of people who paid a police fine for attending lockdown-breaching parties and gatherings, making him the f...

A 90-year-old Roman Catholic cardinal, a singer and at least two others have been arrested in Hong Kong on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger China’s national security, in an action widely condemned as a further sign of Beijing's erosion of rights in the city. The arrests further expand a blanket crackdown on all forms of dissent in the city that appears increasingly vindictive...

Climate Change Minister James Shaw revealed his emissions budget this week and has been backed by both Labour and National. The budgets will see New Zealand have to reduce emissions quite significantly this decade. The Emissions Reduction Plan will be released on Monday which will outline how we get there. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.c...

Russia has threatened to retaliated against Finland after the country’s president and prime minister said they wanted to join NATO without delay. Finland and Sweden are expected to make their NATO applications official on Sunday. NATO’s general secretary Jens Stoltenberg expects the process to membership to be quite quick. Russia has responded by saying it will be forced to take retaliatory steps...

Brendon McCullum has been named test coach for England. The former Black Caps captain will take up the role ahead of the Black Caps test series against England in June. In other cricketing news, the Black Caps have announced their 20-man contract list. The most notable omission was fan favourite Jimmy Neesham, while Michael Bracewell was offered a contract for the first time. The Blues CEO has tak...

Brendon McCullum has been named the new England test cricket coach. The former Black Cap captain will take the reins for the test side ahead of the series against the Black Caps in June in a deal worth $3.9 million over four years. McCullum currently coaches the Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. Former Black Cap Craig Cumming joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listene...

Here’s a tip for the Maori Party: if you’re going to go out and suggest an entire electorate is racist, you need to get your facts straight. The Party’s announced today it is not standing a candidate in next month’s Tauranga’s by-election because doing so would mean “consciously sending out people into an unsafe environment”. You might wonder why is Tauranga so unsafe for the Maori Party? Apparent...

Move over Bird of the Year. We’ve now got an inaugural Tree of the Year competition and already it’s upsetting people. Kaipara Mayor Jason Smith is upset over Tane Mahuta not being among the nominees. Jason Smith joined Heather du Plessis-Allan. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One vaccine expert isn't too concerned about Covid-19 heading into winter. Ashley Bloomfield today warned there could be another peak - when flu and RSV will also hit. Immunologist Graham Le Gros told Heather du Plessis Allan the latest variants haven't been very nasty and we are well-immunised. “I think what the Government should be worried about and are worried about is the flu season. And they’...

Warnings white supremacist material is a blight on Tauranga. The Maori Authority's chairman has offered sympathy for Te Pati Maori's decision not to stand a candidate in the seat over fears it would be unsafe, pointing to an Internal Affairs report that labelled Tauranga a hot-spot for white supremact hate speech. Matthew Tukaki told Heather du Plessis-Allan hate groups are dropping ruthless lette...

The Maori Party have had to retract an inflammatory statement. This morning, Maori Party president Che Wilson announced they would not be entering a candidate for the Tauranga by-election over a claim that a Department of Internal Affairs report stating Tauranga is a hotspot for hate speech and white supremacy. But the report did not mention the report didn’t mention Tauranga. Meanwhile, the Human...

Finland's president and prime minister announced their support for joining NATO on Thursday, moving the Nordic nation which shares an 800-mile border with Russia one step closer to membership of the US-led military alliance. The Kremlin has responded by saying the move would be a threat to Russia and warned of possible retaliation. The statement of support for NATO from President Sauli Niinisto an...

A consumer advocate says he'd like to see The Warehouse enter the grocery game. The retailer says it is considering getting into groceries, amid price concerns with our two biggest supermarkets. The Warehouse already stocks some grocery items. Former Head of the Food and Grocery Council Ernie Newman told Heather du Plessis-Allan they have tried before but got into trouble. He says Woolworths and F...

Finland will announce in the next couple of hours whether it will join NATO.  Ukraine is halting some gas supplies to Europe.  Kate used royal inside knowledge to solve a student's crossword.  UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Federated Farmers president Katie Milne has put her name in the ring to become the Head of the World Farmer's Organisation.  It's an advocacy group based in Rome that brings together farming groups and agriculture co-ops from around the world. Relied on by the likes of the UN to give advice on food security.   Katie Milne joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/lis...

Time's almost up for farmers trying to prevent being lumped into the ETS.  Do you know the farmer who was involved in this court case for injuring a home intruder at their Piopio home?  Did the government ignore evidence and just push through the ban on live animal shipments for ideological reasons?  Host of the Country Jamie Mackay joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...

Whispers about the r-word are getting louder.  BNZ is the latest to pipe up... Saying the chances of the economy moving into recession are rising by the day.  Liam Dann, the Herald's business editor at large, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand has launched a first of its kind trade dispute against longtime friend Canada. Over an alleged breach of trade rules.   Canada has implemented dairy quotas which New Zealand says break free trade rules of the CPTPP deal.  Trade Minister Damien O'Connor says the lost market access will cost New Zealand about 68-million dollars in the first two years.   Catherine Beard from Export NZ joi...

I feel no sympathy whatsoever for the teenage burglar who had a bit of his finger cut off. But I do feel something: I feel sad for him.  If you read his ex-girlfriend’s account of what happened you realise it was probably always going to take something drastic like this for that 17-year-old to realise there are consequences.  This was the fourth time he broke into the farmer’s house in Piopio. The...