Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Today I went to my little Japanese cafe in the suburbs for a Teppanyaki Beef Rice Bowl.  I've been going once a week ever since I started this gig 2 months ago.  When I first went, I was the only customer. I wore my mask, showed my vax passport and ate outside. It was delicious.  Today the place was buzzing. The street it was on was buzzing. Masks were sporadic. It was still delicious and still th...

Russia parades two captured Brits on state TV.  The PM's mobile phone analysed after cyber-attack on no. 10 Downing Street.  What did the Queen do after Philip's funeral?  UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interest rates are on the rise – here and across the ditch.   The Reserve Bank hiked the official cash rate by half a percent to 1.5% last week causing most retail banks to increase mortgage rates too.   In Australia, the Reserve Bank hasn't moved yet but warned the cash rate will increase earlier than thought because of inflation pressures.  Paul Bloxham, HSBC's chief economist in Sydney, joined...

A group of restaurants and bars on Waiheke Island have joined forces to help each other survive the pandemic.  Through a WhatsApp group, the venues are sharing staff, patrons and they are alternating their opening hours so as not to compete with each other.  One of the restaurants in the group is The Heke, home of Waiheke Craft Beer and the award-winning Waiheke Whisky.    Owner of The Heke, Ro Iz...

Fonterra used the eve of the long weekend to share some quite important information.  Host of the Country, Jamie Mackay joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are you seeing signs that things might be on the improve when it comes to power prices?  Adrian Orr issued a warning to the government. Pattrick Smellie from Businessdesk joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Grant Robertson has rejected any suggestion the governments to blame for high inflation.   He was standing in for the Prime Minister at post-cab today and said Covid, supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine have been the big drivers.  But in an interview yesterday, Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr did point out the need for the government to tighten the fiscal belt.   National’...

Auckland Council reckons 3/4 of heritage homes will lose that status as a result of a new Government law that will allow for much more property development.  Should the Government have acted sooner and ditched MIQ – given that even health officials didn't think it was needed?  Adrian Orr has warned that the Government needs to do its bit to help fight inflation.  The Arise Church revelations raise...

Disappointment over Auckland Council's proposals for housing intensification.   It's released plans for implementing Government requirements for higher-density housing.   It could see up to 5000 houses currently in Auckland's special character areas ... rezoned for intensification.   Character Homes Trust chair Sally Hughes told Andrew Dickens it's not necessary.    “We already have an extensive a...

It's the first full day of diplomatic meetings for the prime minister in Singapore.   Jacinda Ardern has just wrapped up her first bilateral meeting with her Singaporean counterpart.  Newstalk ZB’s chief political reporter Jason Walls joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second phase of Russia's invasion of Ukraine has begun.   Ukraine has reported that the Russian army has launched its long-expected offensive in the country's east.  Civilian casualties have already been reported, and people living in the region have told international media their homes have been destroyed.  ReliefAid executive director, Mike Seawright joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See...

Calls for a national inquiry into port safety, after another death at Ports of Auckland.  A worker died this morning after falling from a height while working on the Singapore flagged container ship, Capitaine Tasman.  The Maritime Union's Craig Harrison told Andrew Dickens there should be a countrywide audit into deaths and injuries in New Zealand ports in recent years.  “And it’s not a big indus...

Grant Robertson was grilled on inflation at the post-cabinet presser.  There are reports that health officials told the government back in November that MIQ is no longer needed.  Political reporter Aaron Dahmen joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest polling shows record numbers of voters peeling away from the main parties.  Scott Morrison promises hydrogen hubs in Western Australia.  More friction between the NSW and Federal liberal parties over a controversial candidate.  Australia correspondent Murray Olds joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ash Barty is switching to golf.  More red cards and suspensions in Super Rugby Pacific  Nathan Brown will be on Sportstalk tonight to discuss the Warriors' debacle over the weekend.  Sportstalk host, D’Arcy Waldegrave joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New teachers have been underpaid by hundreds of dollars per week since the start of the year because of bureaucratic delays.   The teachers have to prove they're qualified before they get paid at the correct rate and get paid at a lower rate until the Ministry of Education has processed their paperwork.   This means possibly thousands of teachers have been underpaid by two to three hundred dollars...

Inflation to the left of us and inflation to the right.  For months it seemed like the only story in town was Covid but then along comes Ukraine and, of course, inflation.  For the past 12 months, inflation has been on the rise and has become a highly politicised issue around the world.  We need someone to blame and we need someone to fix it.  The problem with politicisation of inflation economics...

Boris Johnson is planning on sending asylum seekers to Rwanda!  Johnson's facing more fines and the justice minister has quit.  Travel disruption everywhere for Easter Weekend.  UK correspondent Enda Brady joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIFA is launching its own streaming service.  It's called FIFA plus, and the plan is it will stream over 40,000 football games per year.  Currently, it's free to sign up.   So, what does this mean for New Zealand sport broadcasters?  Tech commentator, Paul Spain joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fish & Game says the latest stocktake of the New Zealand environment points to significantly more work being required to improve water quality and reverse wetland loss.   Meat processors are losing millions in value-added co-products as they attempt to get ahead of a backlog in cattle processing in Southland.  Host of the Country, Jamie Mackay joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.co...

The latest real estate data shows the housing market is in "full retreat" according to ASB.  Tighter credit lending and higher mortgage rates have been hobbling the demand. So how much of a dive could we see?  NZ Herald business editor at large, Liam Dann joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cruise ship industry is looking across the ditch with envy as the first cruise ships sail into Sydney Harbour this weekend.   But here, the maritime border is still well and truly shut. Covid minister Chris Hipkins says the industry still has to be a bit more patient.  Kevin O'Sullivan, chief executive of the NZ Cruise Association, joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listen...

Should we pay men more parental leave than women to encourage them to take the time off?  Louisa Wall has torched the Parliament building on the way out in her valedictory speech she called the process to deselect her corrupt and called Labour Ministers, time wasters.  We're in orange, so, is it time to tell public servants to return to their offices to inject our cities with life again? The Welli...

Fewer than one per cent of New Zealand men take paid parental leave.  So, should we start offering men more money than women to take paid parental leave as a way of making it more attractive for men?  Claire Breen, law professor at the University of Waikato, joined Andrew Dickens.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One hundred cyclists are set to get together on Saturday in Greytown. But there shall be no lycra anywhere!  Instead, The National Tweed Ride will see people celebrate the art of casual cycling, by dressing up and rewarding themselves with a gin martini at the end.  Think cycling meets Downton Abbey.  Adam Blackwell is the co-founder of Blackwell & Sons and the organiser of this ride. He joined An...