Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

National have backtracked from a bipartisan agreement with Labour to address the housing shortage on their own terms. Under a National-led government, councils will be able to opt out of the Medium Density Residential Standards and have the option to either increase density or develop farmland. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says National have used this backtrack to 'sandbag' Labour at...

The Finance Minister won't divulge any potential changes to Labour's tax policy. The latest 1News Kantar Public poll revealed more than half of voters think the time is right to introduce tax cuts, and National promised to implement them if elected. Finance Minister Grant Robertson says it's not the right time to introduce tax cuts and add to inflationary pressures. "We just don't think that's the...

There's growing calls for fines and increased consequences after a dozen pitch invaders disrupted Saturday's Warriors' match. Police decided to trespass and release the 12 offenders who dashed out onto Napier's McLean Park during the final quarter of the Warriors- Broncos match. Sportstalk host Jason Pine says there's a simple answer to this- throw the book at rule-breakers. LISTEN ABOVE   See omn...

Auckland Council and the Government are working on a plan designed to lessen the impact of extreme weather events on roads. They're working on a plan which would see roads that are commonly hit moved to safer ground. Auckland Deputy Mayor Desley Simpson says there aren't a list of roads yet. She explained that the $6 billion pledged to the idea isn't a waste. "Because it sounds a lot of money, but...

Melbourne residents felt the impact of a 3.8 magnitude earthquake last night. The tremor hit the region's north-west at 11:41pm, and over 22,750 people reported they felt shaking. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says reports and photos have since surfaced of light damage, but no injuries. "It's just something that Melbournians don't experience very often, if at all." LISTEN ABOVE See omny...

If the cost-of-living crisis has you wanting a stiff drink, think again. The alcohol excise tax will increase 6.65 percent in July- the second largest increase in 30 years. Brewers Association Executive Director, Dylan Firth says  the Government can opt to not raise the excise by CPI, but never has. "They've said no in the past, and we've tried different angles in how we could potentially introduc...

Waka Kotahi is asking people to have their say on bilingual road signs. It's opening consultation on whether signs should include Te Reo Maori. National Party Transport spokesperson Simeon Brown has made his thoughts clear, claiming it'll be confusing. Waka Kotahi Land Transport Director Kane Patena says they wouldn't pop up all at once. "The approach that we're taking within Waka Kotahi is that a...

Belief Labour could have to revise its housing density plans in line with National, after the opposition's U-turn on a bipartisan housing deal. National says it'll let councils opt out of the high density policy, even though it helped design the legislation. Megan Woods wrote to National on Saturday- just before it abandoned the 2021 agreement. Christchurch City Councillor Sam MacDonald says Labou...

National can call it what they like, they can say it’s a refinement, they can say it’s a sensible change; they can say it’s more ambitious. But it’s a back down . They’ve backed down on their support of the housing density law . Good. They should never have signed up to that idea in the first place. It was stupid   Just think about what it actually meant for you . Your neighbour could knock down t...

A new fleeing driver policy lets police pursue vehicles when there's a serious offence and likely continued risk. Since policy restrictions in 2020, numbers of scarpering drivers have risen significantly, with proportionally fewer offenders IDed. The new Fleeing Driver Framework tool factors in the threat from the driver, their suspected offence - and the chance they'll offend more. Police Commiss...

The Labour Party came out swinging against the opposition at this weekend's election year congress. Grant Robertson, Kelvin Davis and Carmel Sepuloni all took multiple digs at National and ACT as they confirmed no changes would be made to Superannuation or the winter energy payment. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Labour drew attention to the opposition by taking swipes at them....

Napier City Council are calling for legislative action to stop pitch invaders at sporting events. Warriors CEO Cameron George warns Napier may lose out on future NRL games after 12 pitch invaders ran onto the field during the final 10 minutes of Saturday's Warriors- Broncos match. Napier City Council events manager Kevin Murphy says something has to be done about pitch invaders to make them less b...

I'm surprised that voters don’t really seem to like Chris Hipkins that much .  We've spent quite a bit of time discussing Chris Luxon’s poor popularity , but take a look at last night’s poll : Hipkins’ is really poor as well . His personal popularity in last night’s TVNZ poll: 25% . Last week in the Newshub poll, only 23% . That means three-quarters of us don’t want him as PM.  That’s bad for an i...

Commuters are frustrated with heavy congestion on State Highway 2 between Ōmokoroa and Tauranga. The stretch of highway is used by more than 25-thousand vehicles a day and in recent weeks commuters have complained about huge delays. The Western Bay of Plenty District Council has been counting vehicles using side roads to skip the congestion. Councillor Don Thwaites told Heather du Plessis Allan th...

Elon Musk's Neuralink says it has approval to put brain-chips in humans. The firm has been testing on monkeys up until now, with the ultimate aim to help people's mobility. Futurist at Gorilla Technology Paul Spain says that it would be pretty exciting if they can pull this off. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Green Party MP Elizabeth Kerekere doesn't believe she's entirely to blame for the Party's four percent point slump in the polls. The now Independent MP quit the Greens two weeks ago amid an investigation into bullying accusations against her. Kerekere says that she takes responsibility for sending a message to the wrong chat, but the investigation could have been better handled. She says if...

Two 13-year-old boys are assisting Sydney Police with inquiries into a former factory fire that's being described as a once-in-a-decade inferno. The Surrey Hills blaze tore through the seven-storey heritage-listed building late yesterday. Australia Correspondent, Emma Cropper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the boys handed themselves in at separate stations. She said that while Police are still...

There is a push for the men involved in a group chat with the Mama Hooch rapists to be put under scrutiny. Siblings Danny and Roberto Jaz have been named as the men that drugged and sexually assaulted women at the Christchurch central city bar and a nearby restaurant. The court heard the brothers shared pictures and joked with other men about what they were doing. Stop Demand founder Denise Ritchi...

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is facing pressure to delay or cancel Boris Johnson’s resignation honours list after new allegations surfaced. Opposition parties say Sunak should pull the list set to reward 50 of Johnson's allies as at least two police forces investigate more potential breaches during Covid-19. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Johnson's allies want Rishi Sunak to call off this 'witc...

Tonight on The Huddle, Cas Carter from Cas Carter Communications and Ben Thomas from Ben Thomas PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more!  Rock 'n roll icon Tina Turner died in Switzerland aged 83, and tributes are flowing in. What are our best memories of her? Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr is denying that Budget 2023 will prove inflationary, at least in the...

There's a clear divergence between loose fiscal policy and tight monetary policy. Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr says a restrictive monetary policy will be in place for some time following the latest OCR hike, but denied Budget 2023 would contribute to inflation. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds says this issue is a problem worldwide, as Governments have relied on expansionary fiscal policy since th...

Fonterra has announced an opening 2023/24 season farmgate milk price forecast of $7.25 to $8.75 per kg. The co-op also reported an increase in its third quarter net profit to $1.326 billion, up $854 million on the same period last year. The Country's Jamie Mackay says the $8.00 per kg midpoint price will be 'disappointing' for dairy farmers. LISTEN ABOVE   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr warns restrictive monetary policy will be in place to fight inflation. The OCR has been raised by 25 basis points to 5.5 percent, but the RBA says it's unlikely to to higher. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann says we may have gotten used to lower rates during the post-GFC timeframe and older generations will remember cash rates being 6- 7 percent. "The other big...

95-year-old dementia patient Clare Nowland passed away, a week after being tasered by an NSW police officer. The woman was shocked after allegedly failing to drop a steak knife at a care home. Senior Constable Kristian White has been suspended with pay and will face court on charges including assault and recklessly inflicting grievous bodily harm. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Senior C...

Billionaire and 'human bulldozer' Clive Palmer seeks to expand mining in New Zealand- including conservation land.  Palmer's company Mineralogy already has 10 permits to prospect and explore for minerals, with another 8 under consideration. DOC granted Mineralogy access to work in 5 areas on conservation land, including Lake Brunner on the West Coast. Development West Coast CEO Heath Milne approve...