Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

National is crying foul over the country’s state housing wait list. New figures out today show more than 26,000 people are holding out for a home, up 500 from last month. White supremacism is the biggest source of online violent extremism. It comes from a new report from the Department of Internal Affairs in wake of the Christchurch Call – an agreement between New Zealand and France after the Marc...

The 'Bank of Mum and Dad' is now bigger than Kiwibank for handing out home loans. New Consumer NZ research reveals if parents were a bank, they'd be the fifth biggest lender to new homeowners in New Zealand. 14 percent of families surveyed offered financial aid for their kids to buy a house, with an average offering of $108,000. First Home Buyers Club director Lesley Harris told Heather du Plessis...

We had another retail raid overnight. This time at Sylvia Park Mall in Auckland at half past 3 this morning where the offenders smashed the glass door, got inside and tried to steal jewellery before taking off in a vehicle. This is after the Ormiston Mall ram raid on Tuesday morning, the ram raid at a gas station in west Auckland that same morning, aggravated robberies at west Auckland, dairies ye...

Russia is stopping gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria.  The Foreign Secretary will shortly call on western powers to provide warplanes to Ukraine.  A damning report into terrorism activity in UK prisons.  UK correspondent Gavin Grey joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economics commentator has pointed the finger at the Reserve Bank Governor and the Finance Minister for failing to keep inflation in the target range.   Auckland University economics professor Robert MacCulloch has detailed his prosecution of Adrian Orr and Grant Robertson in the Herald this morning.  Robert MacCulloch joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener fo...

We're seeing a lot of volatility in share markets at the moment... US first-quarter earnings season is underway, what are you seeing?  Large companies like Microsoft & Google likely feature prominently in local Kiwisaver funds. Both companies reported overnight, is IT demand holding up?    What are some of the key themes from the US earnings season so far?  Stephen Johnston, Milford Asset Manageme...

The Government has launched an independent investigation into health and safety at our ports after the deaths of port workers in both Auckland and Lyttleton over the last two weeks.  The Transport Accident Investigation Commission will be leading the investigation, and ports have been asked to review their own practices as well.  Michael Wood, Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety, joined Hea...

The long-awaited property market slowdown has finally arrived.   CoreLogic reports rising interest rates, worsening cost-of-living affordability and tighter credit rules are combining to cool the overheated market.   Infometrics’ principal economist, Brad Olsen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The High Court has ruled in favour of Grounded Kiwis, finding that the MIQ system was in parts unjustified and operated unfairly. What will this mean for the government... and to voters?  David Parker's tax "investigation" – can we all agree they can't fool anyone and clearly want to introduce more taxes for the rich? Is this wise right now?  The government is introducing a card for people who are...

The National Party say today's High Court ruling proves that MIQ was state-sponsored cruelty.   The Grounded Kiwis have successfully proven MIQ didn't sufficiently allow individual circumstances to be prioritised where necessary.  Chris Bishop, the National Party spokesperson for the Covid-19 response, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

A Kiwi mead-maker has been given a shout out by none other than chef and TV star Jamie Oliver.  He posted a bottle of Lone Bee sparkling mead to his nine million Instagram followers, telling them it's amazing and he's planning on getting more.  Oren Dalton, the founder of Lone Bee Mead, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Disability Minister says it's been worth the wait for personalised mask exemption cards.  The Government's rolling them out from May – as legal proof for people with genuine reasons for going maskless.  Minister Carmel Sepuloni told Heather du Plessis Allan the previous system was less than ideal – and the new cards will make a difference.  “There actually will be repercussions if people are f...

The floor may be open for Kiwis to seek compensation, after a High Court ruling on our MIQ system.  It's been found categories for emergency MIQ vouchers were too tightly set and sometimes too narrowly interpreted.  The Court also found the MIQ lottery system unfair.  Grounded Kiwis spokesperson Martin Newall told Heather du Plessis-Allan they now want Government recognition that it could've done...

The High Court rules in favour of the Grounded Kiwis.   James Shaw is consulting on a climate adaption plan.  Michael Wood has announced an investigation after two port deaths in the past week.  Political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fallout from Elon Musk's Twitter purchase.  Warning that China is a bigger threat to US cybersecurity than Russia is.  Investigators have released a video of Alec Baldwin's interview after the fatal shooting on the set of "Rust".  US correspondent Dan Mitchinson joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allan Bunting has been named as the Culture and Leadership Manager for the Black Ferns.  Should Super Rugby players be personally fined for poor discipline?  Does Novak Djokovic have a chance of winning Wimbledon?  Sportstalk host, D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Methamphetamine use has increased significantly since the August lockdown last year – and it's stayed at those high levels.   Police wastewater testing shows meth use more than doubled between July and September last year.  Chris Wilkins, a drug policy researcher at Massey University, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The news out this afternoon is that the Grounded Kiwis group has won its court battle against the Government over MIQ.  The thing to take away from this is that the Government’s MIQ story is falling apart.  It’s getting harder and harder to believe that MIQ was the right thing or the best thing for Kiwis.  The High Court today hasn’t ruled that MIQ itself was unfair.   It’s only ruled that in some...

A newspaper editor was summoned to parliament over "misogynistic" article about female politician.  There’s been a breakthrough in Scottish cold case murder.  How did Piers Morgan's first show go?  UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How is the situation in China impacting our primary exporters?  Interesting reading in the 2022 Farm Salaries Report from Fed Farmers and Rabobank  It's the 30th anniversary of The Country this year.  Producer of the Country Rowena Duncum joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I want to get a massive shout out to this country’s nurses.  Having a baby, I’ve had more interaction with the health system in the last few months than I’ve ever had in my life.  And to a person, the nurses have been amazing people.  Every one of them has been generous with their time, kind, caring and patient despite how stretched they are at the moment.  There was Angela, the nurse at Wellingto...

Well, it's day one back at work for me which means it's day one for Barry on fulltime daddy duty.  So, we thought we'd check in with him to see how he's going.  Barry Soper joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is ramping up plans to test 20 million people living in Beijing in an effort to stamp out the Covid outbreak.   There are worries of a looming lockdown... After 33 new covid cases were reported yesterday.   David Mahon is a kiwi living and working in private equity investing in Beijing. He joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The price of cooking oil is about to go through the roof.  Keep an eye out tomorrow for the government’s consultation document on climate change adaptation.  Businessdesk’s Pattrick Smellie joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Revenue Minister reckons the wealthiest New Zealanders are not paying their fair share of tax... And he wants a debate on whether that's fair.   David Parker said today the government is committed to last election's promise of no new taxes this term and would not introduce a capital gains tax while Jacinda Ardern is the Labour leader.  Minister of Revenue David Parker joined Heather du Plessis...