Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Labour's staying tight-lipped on its tax policy- despite the Opposition claiming they've figured it out. National's Nicola Willis claims Labour's planning to dump GST from fruit and vegetables. Hipkins hit back, saying Willis will have to wait for Labour's tax proposals like everybody else. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says he remembers this issue being discussed 12 years ago- and...

There's been nothing to separate the USA and the Netherlands, with their Football World Cup group game in Wellington ending in a 1-all draw. In what was a rematch of the 2019 final, the Dutch took a surprising 1-nil lead into halftime- until the US levelled off a corner kick in the 62nd minute. Both teams remain tied atop group E. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Se...

Cautious optimism prevails throughout small and medium businesses, a new report finds. My HR data reveals almost two thirds of companies expect revenue to improve in next year and 60 percent of businesses expect to raise salaries in the coming months. My HR chief executive Jason Ennor says many of these businesses feel that they've reached rock bottom- and it's all up from here. "We have seen an a...

Te Pāti Māori has unveiled their 'radical' new tax policy ahead of the upcoming election. These reforms include a net wealth tax, the removal of GST from food prices, a levy on empty homes and a $30,000 tax-free threshold. Glenn Barclay from the Fair Tax Coalition says this plan is comprehensive and bold with 'innovative' taxes. "Having said, these are really good ideas, they need to be fully expl...

Aucklanders hit by extreme weather events are in for some financial relief. The Council has voted to completely remove rates for property owners whose homes are 'uninhabitable' after this year's flooding events. West Auckland is Flooding chairman Lyall Carter says this is something that several community groups and residents throughout the region have been advocating for. "Real victory for common...

Oranga Tamariki have sought legal resolution over a dispute about who should care for a 3-year-old girl. The organisation believes the child should be placed with Māori caregivers within her wider family, but the girl's father identifies her as NZ European and Aboriginal- not Māori. ACT spokesperson for Children and Social Development Karen Chhour says children deserve stable loving homes, and ide...

Tears rolled down Hollywood actor Kevin Spacey's face as he was handed a NOT guilty verdict. The 64-year-old was acquitted of charges against four men in London. KTLA entertainment reporter, Sam Rubin, says the big question is- can Spacey go back to work? "I think it is an open question. And I don't know, I think it's less likely in America than it might be elsewhere." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio....

National is picking apart a policy it's predicting Labour is about to announce. The Opposition claims Labour will remove GST from fruit and vegetables. Deputy Leader Nicola Willis says Labour is good at promising things that sound good on the tin. But she says it's terrible at delivering, especially anything complicated. "Inevitably, the problem is if you don't do it right, none of the money actua...

Could your FIFA office sweepstake be illegal? The Department of Internal Affairs says prize money can't exceed $500 and sweepstake organisers shouldn't profit from entries. Illegal gambling operations could land a person an up-to-$20,000 fine. Regulatory Services Manager, John Sneyd says it's taken seriously. "Office sweepstakes can be fun, but we've just got to make sure we keep it within the bou...

It’s hard to believe it’s possible, but Labour’s week just got even worse- because their tax policy just got leaked. National's Nicola Willis says she’s got a source who told her Labour is planning to announce it’ll take the GST off fresh fruit and veges, which immediately got headlines because her sources have proved pretty solid. Remember, she got the tip-off that Labour was working on a wealth...

The resumption of train services between Auckland and Hamilton is being marked as an 'excellent outcome'. Waka Kotahi has lifted its ban on Te Huia trains entering metro Auckland, accepting Kiwirail's alternative safety proposals. Trains will again be able to continue into The Strand in Parnell from August 7. Waikato Regional Councillor Angela Strange says there'll be free fares for a week when it...

Over 40 people have been killed in the wildfires threatening villages and holiday resorts across the Mediterranean. Greece is preparing for more evacuation flights from Rhodes, as fires also rage on the islands of Corfu and Evia. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says temperatures are expected to rise above 44C in parts of Greece and the heatwave shows no signs of letting up. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio...

Tonight on The Huddle, STILL Director of Projects Sam Johnson and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The Post is reporting one first-term MP allegedly told colleagues they had been bullied and yelled at by Kiri Allan. Meanwhile, David Parker says he didn't want to be Revenue Minister anymore because he didn't...

Chris Hipkins and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will explore ways to simplify travel across the ditch. The two leaders met in Wellington today, and they agreed to put together a joint expert group to make the journey across the Tasman more seamless. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says his concern is that New Zealand isn't taking their connection with Australia seriously an...

Former Reserve Bank governor Don Brash believes the RBNZ should be empowered to lift fuel taxes to fight inflation. He stated in a blog post that increased fuel taxes would encourage people to to reduce their spending elsewhere- meaning inflation would fall. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says Don Brash's proposed solution is 'messy', and it would impact people differently....

New research shows consumers are gravitating towards home brand products due to the rising cost of living. EY data indicates that 65 percent of people believe these home brand products satisfy their needs as much as branded products. The data also shows Gen Z are less willing to buy private label products than Baby Boomers, Gen Xers and Millennials. Massey University marketing professor Bodo Lang...

The Government has boosted the Emissions Trading Scheme’s auction reserve price- and increased the overall price of carbon by 44 percent. It's also raising trigger prices for the cost containment reserve in the scheme, meaning there will be 17.6 million fewer units to be auctioned. ACT Environment spokesperson Simon Court says this change is a sign James Shaw is failing to take what's important to...

Lauren Dickason’s mother has taken the stand to give evidence at her triple murder trial. She's accused of murdering her three young daughters in Timaru in 2021. Her defence opened its case today - painting Dickason as a mentally disturbed woman in the depths of postpartum depression. The Herald's Anna Leask says her mother Wendy Fawkes told the court Dickason loved her kids, but she was concerned...

A combination of factors are being blamed for increasing rents. Trade Me data for June shows the median weekly rent has increased by $50 since last year. That means the average renter is paying is paying $2600 more. Economist Cameron Bagrie says landlord costs including interest rates and insurance are rising. He says there are other factors contributing-  an inflow of migrants, foreign students a...

Searchers have been scouring areas of interest for missing Christchurch woman Yanfei Bao. The real estate agent was last seen in Wigram last Wednesday, and police are now treating the disappearance as a homicide investigation. Efforts are focused on the Halswell River, Greenpark, Lake Terrace Road and near New Brighton and Palmers Road intersection. NZ Herald senior crime reporter Sam Sherwood say...

University course completion rates are at their lowest since 2014. Ministry of Education figures show completion rates dropped from a high of 89 percent in 2020, to 86 percent last year. Universities New Zealand Chief Executive Chris Whelan says it's been a difficult period with Covid-19. "There are student who have spent- in some cases- three years at university with their studies disrupted, and...

Signs of a divided Labour Caucus, with confidential information leaked to the media. The Post reports remarks made by a first-term MP in a caucus discussion, in the wake of Kiri Allan's arrest and resignation. They allegedly told colleagues they'd been aware of allegations against Allan for years and they themselves had been bullied. Newstalk ZB Political Editor Jason Walls says this is a sign of...

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has touched down for his first official visit to New Zealand. He's one of several foreign politicians travelling to New Zealand as part of the Fifa Women’s World Cup 2023. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson suspects Blinken plans to use this visit to shore up international relations between the regions following Hipkins' relations with China. "The US has its own a...

The Football Ferns are desperate to keep their World Cup future in their own hands. The surprise 1-0 loss to the Philippines leaves them needing to beat Switzerland in their final Group match on Sunday to progress into the play-off stage. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave says the Football Ferns have a slim chance of making it through. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...

Big changes could be on the cards for New Zealand's weather forecasting system. The Government's commissioned a review to begin in September, with a final report due in February. It follows increased bad blood between the two agencies- most recently, MetService alleging NIWA's forecasts may be harmful to public safety when used by DOC. State Owned Enterprises Minister, Duncan Webb says they have d...