Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A member of the Defence Strategic Review  is offering his resignation to the new minister, and thinks all political appointees should do the same. Judith Collins became Defence Minister this morning, and Sir Don McKinnon has already written to her. He says he was appointed by a Labour Minister, and every minister should be entitled to appoint someone different if they choose. "One, it's the right...

Egypt, Qatar and the US are calling for Gaza's ceasefire to be extended. The four-day pause in fighting is due to end tomorrow night, our time. Hamas has so far released three groups of hostages and a number of Palestinians have been freed from Israeli prisons. Israeli Defence Force spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus says Hamas is signalling it's willing to hand over 10 more civilia...

Health experts are raising the alarm over the potential cost of repealing smoke-free laws. The new Government is dumping legislation that aims to have five percent of people smoking - or less - by 2025. That includes laws to lower nicotine in cigarettes, reduce retailers and ban the next generation taking up smoking. Health Coalition co-chair Lisa Te Morenga says modelling shows it'll be a huge mi...

Terminally ill people located in New South Wales will be able to be legally permitted to end their own lives from tomorrow. This new legislation makes NSW the last Australian state to introduce voluntary assisted dying (VAD) to eligible patients.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says there is a pre-existing list of conditions that determines one's eligibility for VAD. LISTEN ABOVE See omn...

New Zealand Rugby's provincial unions are preparing to give the governing body's executive leadership a corporate rucking at a meeting on December 8. They've signed a document acknowledging the results of an independent review which found the sport's governance structure unfit for purpose. Sportstalk host Jason Pine reveals what NZ Rugby plans to address in this review. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

Secondary school teachers warn that the ongoing teacher shortage is set to worsen as recruitment declines. A recent survey revealed 16 percent of principals had to cancel classes due to dwindling staff, and the sector is relying on foreign-trained teachers and teachers over the age of 65. Reports also show the number of secondary teaching students has halved since 2010. Secondary Principals' Assoc...

New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters has got his wish when it comes to a broader Covid inquiry. National's coalition deal with the party has agreed to look into the use of lockdowns, vaccine efficacy and whether decisions were justified. Peters told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he wants to have it finished by the end of next year.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Police are confirming threatening emails sent to numerous organisations were bomb threats. Police say the emails went to more than 70 schools, hospitals and worship sites, but they appear to be the same emails, from the same source, and don't pose any actual threat. They were sent from overseas but the Cybercrime unit is yet to determine an exact location. Assistant Police Commissioner Naila Hassa...

Chris Luxon is adamant his tax cuts will be delivered as promised, when promised. A coalition deal's now been signed and Luxon becomes the Prime Minister on Monday. National's promised plan for tax cuts now has a hole of 740-million-dollars a year, after New Zealand First vetoed a foreign buyers' tax. Luxon told Heather du Plessis Allan that 100-million dollars will be raised by changing fees free...

Promised tax cuts proposed by National are to go ahead following the coalition deal signed earlier today.   Newstalk ZB’s Political Editor Jason Walls spoke to Heather du-Plessis Allan as questions arise on how it will be funded following the scrapping of the foreign home buyers tax.   He said "It seems at this stage we don’t have an answer” on how the government will find the money to fund the in...

Veteran anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election. Wilders has proven to be a controversial presence, having called for mosques and the Koran to be banned and speaking out against migration  UK correspondent Enda Brady says Wilders had previously been considered a joke candidate- but he manged to bring down his polarising views ahead of the e...

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Government relations firm Capital and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! After 40 days, we're finally on the verge of reaching a coalition deal. ACT, National and NZ First have agreed on policies, ministerial positions, processes and the new Deputy PM. Will it all be worth the wait? O...

OpenAI recently reached an agreement for Sam Altman to return as CEO days after his ousting. It caps frenzied discussions about the future of the start-up at the centre of the artificial intelligence boom. As well as Altman's return, the ChatGPT maker has agreed in principle to partly reconstitute the board of directors that had dismissed him. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains what this means...

Good news for Kiwi bakers out there- egg prices are on their way down. Eggs have been in short supply - and expensive - since the start of the year when a ban on battery-caged hens came into effect, sparking shortages across the country. The Country's Rowena Duncum says thing brings a positive conclusion to a turbulent year. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Westpac is cutting some of its longer-term fixed special home loan rates- making it the first major bank to do so. The bank's two- and three-year fixed home loan rates will drop 10 basis points to 6.99 percent and 6.75 percent, and the four-year and five-year rates will drop to 6.69 percent and 6.49 percent. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what this means for the wider market...

Wildfires ravaging through Perth are expected to continue for several days, as firefighters work to contain the blaze.  At least 10 homes have been lost, while over 500 people are without electricity and 100 transmission lines have been impacted by the extreme conditions. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says over 125 firefighters are out on the ground, with several injuries reported. LISTEN A...

A stop clock will be introduced on a trial basis in men’s white-ball games from December to April to regulate the amount of time taken between overs. If the bowling team is not ready within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a five-run penalty will be imposed the third time this occurs in an innings. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the practical applications of this rule c...

New Zealanders can soon expect to see a clear picture of what the new Government will do. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon has confirmed coalition negotiations between National, ACT and New Zealand First have wrapped up. Luxon says the agreements are before the respective parties for sign off- and he'll reveal his Cabinet and their policies tomorrow. ZB political editor Jason Walls says all eyes w...

Meal kit delivery service My Food Bag's latest profits have more than halved as customers seek to cut costs. The company's half year profit shows a significant decline, and a planned dividend has been axed.   Devon Funds Head of Retail Greg Smith says customers have been forced to cut back amid increased interest rates and inflation. "Their average value has gone down- meanwhile, obviously costs h...

One Auckland man is stepping up his Movember activism beyond growing facial hair. Robbie Wearing has run a marathon every day of this month - rain or shine - to raise awareness for the cause. He says he's only completed a handful of marathons in his lifetime before November of this year- making this the biggest challenge he's taken on. "I get up and just think- yeah, I'm really lucky to be able to...

A Gisborne woman's died in a police cell overnight- a day after being convicted of her father's murder. 63-year-old Lynne Maree Martin was yesterday found guilty of killing 88-year-old Ronald Allison by burning down his house. After what was thought to be forever a cold case, his daughter was arrested and charged with murder just last year. ZB reporter Chelsea Daniels says it was revealed a police...

All three parties in the incoming Government have agreed on a coalition deal- which will be signed tomorrow. A joint statement from Chris Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters has announced negotiations to form a government that will deliver for all New Zealanders have concluded. ACT party leader David Seymour says the new Government will be ready to tackle the 'substantial' challenges impacting...

A controversial sex education book for teenagers that was pulled from shelves in Australia has been given an unrestricted rating by our chief censor. The classification means parents can decide for themselves if the book is right for their teenagers. Family First spokesperson Sue Reid says they've got concerns around the age appropriateness. She says the book is pitched at 14 year olds, but looks...

Gang members from around the country are expected to descend upon Auckland for a tangi. William 'Bird' Hines' farewell is expected to be the largest gang funeral in New Zealand history. He had years of poor health from type two diabetes and was released from prison on compassionate grounds. The Herald's Jared Savage says he had a ferocious reputation and younger gang members looked up to him. "He...

I think David Seymour has reason to be pretty salty if he isn't given the Deputy Prime Minister’s job. This is not really about whether the job is really a job or whether it's just ceremonial. The fact is- it is a title. And that title implies seniority, it means whoever gets the Deputy Prime Minister role is the second most senior person in the Government. And it would be pretty bizarre if Nation...