Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

National MP Gerry Brownlee asked a parliamentary question of Michael Wood – and got a reply entirely in te reo Māori. He asked for a translation from Wood but this was declined – and the Speaker Trevor Mallard says there are enough te reo speakers around Parliament, and Brownlee can get his own translation. What do you make of this?  A jury has found a father and son not guilty after they admitted...

Labour answered a written question from National entirely in te reo Māori, even though the question was in English.  National asked whether a translation should be made available but Speaker Trevor Mallard wasn't keen.  Gerry Brownlee, Shadow Leader of the House, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christchurch City Council has begun work to put an end to a foul smell that has hung over the suburb of Bromley for months.  A salvage firm has been contracted to remove rotten material from the damaged wastewater treatment plant that has been emitting the smell.  This comes two weeks after a meeting where Bromley residents told the Council the smell had got so bad, that some of them were experien...

What a story this has been.  There were gasps, hugs and tears as the father and son who beat a teenage burglar and cut off one of us fingers were found not guilty on all charges.  It took six hours of jury deliberations to decide that the two farmers, William and Shaun Burr, were acting in reasonable self-defence.  It was the fourth time the burglar had got into their home, stealing a car on all p...

Nurses and midwives are dismayed that the Government's treating their professions as second best in its immigration reset.   Doctors and engineers among others will get a right to direct citizenship through the new green list.  But despite suffering desperate skills shortages, the Government is refusing to give nurses and midwives the same rights.  They'll have to wait two years instead until they...

Another pre-budget speech from Grant Robertson. This one came with a warning.  David Seymour caused a stir in the house yesterday suggesting the Labour caucus is dropping the co-governance elements of the Three Waters Reform.  One of New Zealand's most famous race car drivers is calling out the Government – what's the story?  Chief political reporter Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  L...

Scott Morrison and Anthony Albanese have their third and final leaders' debate.  Racism controversy at Collingwood is back in the news after new audio comes to light.  Arrest made in connection with the diver who was found dead with a large cocaine haul.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK media outlets are reporting that Brendon McCullum has agreed to become England's test coach.  LeBron James has been named the world's highest-paid athlete.  Host of Sportstalk D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Restaurants say they have no other option but to increase the price of a meal out.  The cost rose 5.3 percent in the year to April.   It's alongside fruit and vegetables rising almost 10 percent – and meat, poultry and fish going up more than 8 percent.   Auckland restaurateur Chand Sahrawat told Heather du Plessis Allan they have to pass on some of the wage inflation in the supply chain – and pri...

Joe Biden is facing backlash over inflation and cost-of-living costs and we'll find out just how bad it is when the new inflation number comes out tomorrow.  Elon Musk wants Donald Trump back on Twitter.  And don't you wish you were Tom Brady? He's been offered a 10-year contract by Fox.  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Prince Charles is having a bit of a tough time on social media after his speech last night.  Neighbours are to be given significant veto powers over planning applications in their areas.  Looks like it's going to become a norm to have a fourth Covid shot for older people.  UK correspondent Peter Anderson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

A city the size of Napier could soon be popping up south of Auckland.  Independent commissioners have given the green light for 330 hectares of land in the semi-rural community of Drury to be developed.  This approval goes against the wishes of Auckland Council – which is concerned about the bill they'll be stuck with to build the infrastructure for this new development.  Brent Catchpole is chair...

US inflation data out overnight tonight, last time it was an eyewatering 8.5% annual rate, this time it’s expected to moderate to a ‘mere’ 8.1% annual rate. Why is this number so important?  What is driving inflation in the US?  What does high inflation mean for investors?  Deborah Lambie, Milford Asset Management, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Foodstuffs will cut prices by 10% on some 100 products for the winter. Last week we had Countdown freeze prices. Do these moves make a tangible difference for consumers in your mind?  Today's immigration changes... What do you make of them?  Brad Olsen, Infometrics principal economist, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foodstuffs has announced it will cut prices to some 100 products for the next three months to ease the cost of living. Is this marginally better than Countdown's price freeze announced last week?  The Government's immigration reset – doesn't look like it's going to get much easier or faster to get workers in. Is now the time to make it hard to employ foreign workers?  Nadia Lim got an "apology" fr...

The Government has finally announced its long-awaited immigration reset in the last 3 hours.  So, here’s a first take on what it looks like:  Depending on what industry you’re in and what job you're trying to fill you are either stoked or gutted with today’s announcement.  Because that is really the theme here: picking winners.  So, if you’re stoked it’s because the job you’re trying to fill is on...

Potential cut to the price of 100 supermarket goods at Foodstuffs stores may be extended.   The discount – about ten per cent on average – begins in New World, PAK'nSAVE and Four Square stores from Monday.  Foodstuffs CEO Chris Quin told Heather du Plessis-Allan they've committed to this for three months – and they'll see what they can do beyond that.  Last week, Countdown announced it would freez...

Simon Henry has finally issued an apology to Nadia Lim over his 'Eurasian fluff' comments.  Simon is claiming to have called Nadia several times last week trying to apologise, however, Nadia's phone records confirm she never received nor missed a call from him.  So, instead, he sent a simple two-line apology via email.  And as expected it's' gone down poorly.  Deborah Pead runs public relations fo...

The Government says changed immigration settings will make life easier for employers who are facing labour shortages.  Speaking to us earlier, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi promised faster visa processing and fast-tracked visas for so-called "green list" workers who are urgently needed.  But some are questioning who has made it onto the green list engineers, doctors, nurses and the like and who...

The Government says changed immigration settings will make life easier for employers who are facing labour shortages.  Speaking to us earlier, Immigration Minister Kris Faafoi promised faster visa processing and fast-tracked visas for so-called "green list" workers who are urgently needed.  But some are questioning who has made it onto the green list engineers, doctors, nurses and the like and who...

The Prime Minister has moved the date of the full border opening forward.  The semi-regular Pecuniary interests of MP's assets and gifts have been released.  The Mark Mitchell vs Greg O'Connor saga's taken another turn.  Chief political reporter Jason Walls joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Brady signs a broadcast deal with Fox worth almost 600 million NZ dollars.  Key Silver Lake vote to happen on the second of June.  Sportstalk host D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Immigration Minister is talking up shorter visa processing times.  The Government's announced a raft of immigration changes – including speedy pathways to residency for highly skilled workers, and the border fully re-opening from August.  Kris Faafoi says the system is moving from paper-based to online.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan the Accredited Employer Work Visa should only take about...

Should we be doing more to shut down Gloriavale?   That's the question being thrown around after the court confirmed the 'use of child labour' within the compound.  Former member Aaron Courage reiterated that point this morning.  But how do you actually shut down a community that's home to over 500 people, a huge exporter of goods and all the residents have ever known?  James Harrison is another f...

The Queen will miss the parliament opening later today. This has led to loads of speculation over how much we'll see her at the Jubilee celebrations.  The Russian Ambassador in Poland was hit in his face by paint.  Embarrassment for Cambridge University as prized painting could have been looted by Nazis.  UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com...