Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

How many minutes in an hour? Apparently, our teens can't solve the most basic numeracy and literacy questions. How have we got to this?  Māori Co-Governance was put back on the radar by Willie Jackson on Friday – and at the same time Attorney General David Parker has labelled a bill by Rotorua City Council as "discriminatory". Are we seeing some tensions in Cabinet playing out here?   Donald Trump...

Fears many students could fail new NCEA literacy and numeracy standards – which become a co-requisite next year.  Assessments have found many teens struggled with aspects of literacy and numeracy.  Some didn't know there were 60 minutes in an hour.   New Zealand Initiative senior fellow, Michael Johnston, told Heather du Plessis Allan many students leave school without basic skills.  “Also, we’ve...

Waka Kotahi is planning to spend at least a million dollars on temporary fences along the Harbour Bridge to keep cyclists safe.  They put the fences up every time cyclists and walkers use the bridge during events next summer.  A report in 2019 recommended permanent barriers for suicide prevention... At an estimated cost of about 13 million dollars.  Chair of Bike Auckland Tony Mitchell joined Heat...

Shootings in Wellington over the weekend have left two people in hospital and seven people have been arrested.  It's believed the shootings are gang-related.  Chris Wilkinson, Managing Director of First Retail Group, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's richest man stunned everyone this morning when he announced he's taking over Twitter for 66 billion NZ dollars.   Elon Musk says he's taking control of "the digital town square".  He's promising new features to protect freedom of speech and disclosing algorithms to increase trust.  Katie Harbath, a former director of public policy at Facebook, joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN A...

David Parker's speech on tax fairness.  Government stomping up $27 million for two electric ferries in Auckland.  Peacekeeping missions extended.  Political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labor spells out its plan for the South Pacific – they're still ahead in the polls despite Albanese's stuff-ups.  Inflation numbers are out tomorrow and economists are already picking it'll be bad enough that interest rates will be hiked in June.  Chinese Covid troubles causing problems for the ASX.  Australian correspondent Murray Olds joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

The Warriors performed abysmally against the Storm.  What's next for Tyson Fury?  D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Heather du Plessis-Allan.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The produce industry is blaming rising costs for peak vegetable prices.   Citizen initiative The Facts has analysed the highest and lowest 15 Food Price Index changes over the past 15 years.   A kilo of cabbage rose 262 percent from March 2007 to this March – and lettuce went up 229 percent.   Vegetable NZ Chair John Murphy told Heather du Plessis Allan many things are more expensive.  “We’ve seen...

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Thursday he is seeking to deepen trade and defense ties during his visit to India, and will also bring up the situation in Ukraine during talks with his Indian counterpart. Johnson landed in the western state of Gujarat on Thursday, kicking off a two-day visit that will see him meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Friday. The two countries are...

Hong Kong relaxed pandemic restrictions on Thursday, with Disneyland and museums reopening and nighttime restaurant dining resuming as the city's worst COVID-19 outbreak appears to be fading. Enthusiastic visitors ran into Disneyland the moment the gates opened after a three-month closure. Popular theme parks were ordered to close in January as Hong Kong's fifth wave of the coronavirus took hold....

Yesterday saw inflation figures rise to 6.9 percent. It comes after predictions of as high as 7.4 percent, which is seemingly better than the actual result. While the figures don’t look good, there may actually be some good news with inflation. Business commentator Rod Oram joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Cruise Association has been putting big pressure on the Government to open our maritime borders. Meanwhile, a tourism lecturer reckons we shouldn’t rush to get cruise ships back. He says we need to take a look at the industry’s environmental and economic records and the costs and the benefits. Otago University tourism lecturer James Higham joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See om...

Jacinda Ardern has met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida overnight. Both countries have agreed on a security sharing deal, which ranges from standard information sharing to exchanging top secret information. China so far have been publicly quiet on this new agreement. Newstalk ZB Chief Political Reporter Jason Walls joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for priva...

Dame Patsy Reddy is set to join the NZ Rugby board. The former Governor-General is one of three new members who will be joining at next week’s AGM. The appointment comes after the Black Ferns coaching saga. Wayne Smith has been appointed as Glenn Moore's replacement after his resignation following a review into the culture of Black Ferns' environment. Super Rugby goes to Melbourne this weekend. Th...

Former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy has a new role lined up. Reddy has just been appointed as a new member to the NZR board. She'll be officially on-board from next week's AGM, serving as one of three female members joining next week. Dame Patsy Reddy joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite inflation reaching the highest it's been in 30 years, one economist says it's unlikely wages will increase to match it. Businesses are just trying to survive the on-going impact of Covid-19, so what can employees ask for instead? Massey University associate economics professor Matt Roskruge joined Andrew Dickens. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transmission Gully is proving a hit for a small coastal town. Paekakariki, north of Wellington, used to be a thoroughfare for State Highway 1, but that changed three weeks ago when the new motorway opened. Mauricio Torrealba owns the Fishermans Table restaurant in the town.  He told Andrew Dickens they're getting more business now. “We did about 1800 people during the weekend just past. There’s no...

It's about sharing. That's how Willie Jackson's describing co-governance as he urges Kiwis to embrace an indigenous people’s rights declaration. A draft plan is one step closer after consultation alongside Maori, including workshops with iwi, hapu, and health groups. Maori Development Minister Jackson told Andrew Dickens the declaration is not the controversial He Puapua report. He's defending the...

A potential breakthrough in the Madeline McCann disappearance. Portuguese prosecutors have named convicted German rapist Christian Brueckner as a formal suspect. The statue of limitations for the crime is set to expire next month. Nine News journalist Mark Saunokonoko told Andrew Dickens his formal suspect status means authorities can make moves against Brueckner. “He could potentially be extradit...

Cross-examination of Johnny Depp is underway in his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard. The Hollywood star is accusing Heard of making false allegations of abuse, which he says damaged his career. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Andrew Dickens on the stand today Depp sounded like he'd been up for 72 hours straight. He says there court is taking a break for the weekend, and the cross-...

As I noted yesterday, the biggest single contributor to our ginormous inflation rate was housing. House ownership alone contributed 18.5 percent to inflation. But it's interesting to note that a large part of the housing inflation and indeed all inflation can be sheeted home to legislative changes. Some estimate the effect is up to 50 percent. It's easy to see this in housing. A new property tax r...

Consternation over Harry's interview on NBC as the Queen turns 96.  What is Boris Johnson offering India?  The footy race that has gripped England.  UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By 2025 a new boat-plane hybrid could take you between Lyttelton and Wellington harbours in just 60 minutes.   New Zealand company Ocean Flyer has invested 700 million dollars into 25 electric sea-gliders, with plans to have them jetting people around the country's harbours in just three years.   Ocean Flyer CEO Shah Aslam joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

What is Federated Farmers saying about today's inflation number?  Fonterra's boss Miles Hurrell has finally spoken out in support of efforts to tax emissions from agriculture, what's taken him so long?  Host of the Country Jamie Mackay joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.