/on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/rss 九一星空无限 Tune into Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive, 4pm-7pm weekdays. Keep up with the latest news and developments from New Zealand and the world on 九一星空无限talk ZB Tue, 06 May 2025 02:47:42 Z en /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-the-string-of-arrests-following-two-suspected-terror-plots-in-england/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-the-string-of-arrests-following-two-suspected-terror-plots-in-england/ Eight men, including seven Iranians, have been arrested over two suspected terror plots in England. Five were arrested at various locations around the UK as part of an alleged plot to 'target a specific premises'.  Meanwhile, three men were arrested in London as part of a investigation led by the Met's Counter Terrorism Command. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the suspects have been held overnight for questioning. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:45:05 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/greg-smith-devon-funds-expert-on-the-factors-driving-the-nz-markets-up/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/greg-smith-devon-funds-expert-on-the-factors-driving-the-nz-markets-up/ New Zealand's financial markets have taken a positive turn - following months of financial uncertainty.  Greg Smith from Devon Funds unpacked the factors behind these changes. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:39:46 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-we-be-concerned-about-erica-stanford/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-we-be-concerned-about-erica-stanford/ Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and Thomas Scrimgeour from the Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  Minister Erica Stanford is in a spot of trouble after it was revealed she sent pre-Budget announcements to her personal email before they were announced last year - one of tens of examples since she's been a Minister. Is this a good look? Should we be concerned?  Mark Mitchell has expressed interest in extending prison sentences to reduce recidivism - do we think this is the right call? Is the Trump effect impacting elections? Speculation claims Australia and Canada voted left in response to Trump's policies. What do we make of this?  A wedding planner says the typical wedding is $87,000 these days - how much is too much? LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:29:48 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/catherine-mcgrath-westpac-ceo-on-the-banks-profit-growing-by-10-percent/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/catherine-mcgrath-westpac-ceo-on-the-banks-profit-growing-by-10-percent/ Westpac New Zealand’s profits are continuing to rise, as it makes more money from existing customers, rather than materially growing its business. The Australian-owned bank’s New Zealand division reported a net profit of $525 million in the six months to March - a 10 percent rise from the same period last year. Westpac CEO Catherine McGrath explains why New Zealand's margins have gone up - despite Australia taking a dip.  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:16:56 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-05-may-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-05-may-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 5 May 2025, FTA negotiations with India start this week and the Trade Minister is on the show to call for calm as Donald Trump announces 100% tariffs on foreign movies.   40% of retail crime goes unreported and Auckland butcher Reuben Sharples tells Heather the brazen thefts he's experienced in the past couple of days. The eye-watering cost of having a wedding in New Zealand is leading to people inviting fewer people - or even having nobody there at all. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Education Minister is really in trouble for sending hundreds of official documents to her private email - or whether printer problems are sort of relatable. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 07:11:49 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-reveals-why-she-steers-clear-of-sending-emails/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/nicola-willis-finance-minister-reveals-why-she-steers-clear-of-sending-emails/ The Finance Minister says she steers clear of emails - following a recent ministerial scandal.  This follows 1九一星空无限 reports that Erica Stanford sent pre-Budget announcements to her personal email before they were announced last year - one of tens of examples since she's been a Minister.  Her use of personal email could be a breach of the Cabinet manual - which all ministers are obliged to follow. Nicola Willis says she's never really sending emails. "I'm meeting with people face to face or I'm talking to my team and saying - look, could you just make sure that that minister's aware of this. Sometimes we do formal correspondence, letters and the like, but very rarely am I sitting at my keyboard." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:54:20 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-explains-why-he-wants-longer-sentences-to-reduce-recidivism/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/mark-mitchell-police-minister-explains-why-he-wants-longer-sentences-to-reduce-recidivism/ The Police Minister has expressed interest in locking up criminals for longer in a bid to cut down on reoffending. Criminals that serve five years or more in jail are generally less likely to reoffend, according to new reports. Mark Mitchell says he's asked Corrections to examine whether shorter sentences can be extended. "Longer sentences normally mean the people commit to their rehabilitation better, engage in more rehabilitation, and are therefore less risk to the community when they come out."  LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:42:12 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/suzanne-carson-wedding-professional-director-on-people-favouring-smaller-weddings-as-costs-go-up/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/suzanne-carson-wedding-professional-director-on-people-favouring-smaller-weddings-as-costs-go-up/ People are prioritising smaller guest lists as fewer couples marry - according to new reports. Wedding Professional has revealed its average client spend this year is more than $87,000, anchored by an international wedding with a $160,000 dollar budget. Director Suzanne Carson says Kiwis want the great experience, without the price tag for lots of guests. "Personalisation is a great big thing - I think they want the experience and they want the experience for everybody, so I do believe that the numbers have come down." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:22:13 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-dunne-political-commentator-unpacks-anthony-albaneses-sweeping-victory-in-the-federal-election/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/peter-dunne-political-commentator-unpacks-anthony-albaneses-sweeping-victory-in-the-federal-election/ A focus on 'Australian values' during geopolitical uncertainty could explain the vast gap between the two parties at Saturday's federal election, according to one expert. Labor swept to a majority victory - securing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese a historic second term.  It's widely thought US President Donald Trump's volatility has influenced the outcome.  But political commentator Peter Dunne says Albanese's messages about what Australia wants and needs left an impact.  "That's the kernel of the truth here - talk about the real things and in that environment, people will opt for the thing they know, the certainty and the stability rather than the fear of the unknown." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 06:08:03 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-india-and-new-zealand-starting-the-first-round-of-free-trade-agreement-negotiations/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/todd-mcclay-trade-minister-on-india-and-new-zealand-starting-the-first-round-of-free-trade-agreement-negotiations/ A Kiwi negotiation team is in India this week, holding our first in-person Free Trade Agreement talks. Trade Minister Todd McClay says it's an important step in our relationship with one of the world's fastest growing economies. He says this will be the first of many meetings with New Zealand. McClay explained India is also holding talks with the US, UK, EU and others over this week and the next. "That's why I thought to send our people up - rather than either drag them down here or miss the opportunity to have the very first in-person negotiations." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:57:19 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-walls-newstalk-zb-political-editor-on-prime-minister-luxon-responding-to-donald-trumps-film-production-statement/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-walls-newstalk-zb-political-editor-on-prime-minister-luxon-responding-to-donald-trumps-film-production-statement/ The Prime Minister says it's too early to understand the potential impact of tariffs on New Zealand films.  Donald Trump has most recently written he'd like100 percent tariffs on all movies produced outside the US.  Chris Luxon says he's seen the social media post, but we'll need to know a lot more. 九一星空无限talk ZB political editor Jason Walls says Chris Luxon has expressed interest in getting more Bollywood productions to come to New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:45:06 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/oliver-peterson-australian-correspondent-on-what-albaneses-election-win-means-for-the-oppostion/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/oliver-peterson-australian-correspondent-on-what-albaneses-election-win-means-for-the-oppostion/ The sweeping loss for Peter Dutton's Liberal National coalition in the Australian election likely has long-term implications for the party going forward. Anthony Albanese has become the first Prime Minister since 2004 to win back-to-back elections, with an even larger majority than his last.  Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says nobody saw this political 'blood-bath' coming for the opposition. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:35:04 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-pine-sportstalk-host-on-the-warriors-beating-out-the-cowboys-in-brisbane/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jason-pine-sportstalk-host-on-the-warriors-beating-out-the-cowboys-in-brisbane/ The Warriors have gone up the NRL ladder after a heart-stopping 30-26 NRL victory over the Cowboys in the Magic Round in Brisbane. The first five first half tries had the Kiwi side up 28-12 at the break before the Cowboys surged back with three tries in eight minutes. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recapped the action. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:24:23 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/reuben-sharples-west-auckland-butcher-says-most-shoplifting-cases-are-too-small-to-report-on/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/reuben-sharples-west-auckland-butcher-says-most-shoplifting-cases-are-too-small-to-report-on/ A West Auckland butcher says a lot of shoplifting is too small to bother reporting.  A Retail NZ survey has found 40 percent of retail crime goes unreported.  Butcher Reuben Sharples says for small amounts it's not worth the hassle to get CCTV footage together to send police.  He says they only report on bigger robberies, which get a bigger police response.  "We've had break-ins, we've had thousands...around Christmas time, I had 4,000 turkeys stolen." LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:10:57 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-i-dont-think-voters-are-rejecting-trumpism/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-i-dont-think-voters-are-rejecting-trumpism/ After Albo’s massive win across the ditch on Saturday, I can see a lot of commentators are tempted to blame it on Trumpism - in the same way they blamed the Canadian election upset on Trumpism. But I'm not convinced they’re right - at least not in the way they think they are.  What these commentators are saying is that Trump has given Canadians and Australians the ick so badly that they voting against anything that looks like him: Dutton in Australia, Poilievre in Canada or just right-wing-ism in general. I don't think that’s what happened here. Look at what’s happening in New Zealand at the moment  - the two parties in our parliamentary system that would probably share the greatest number of policy positions with Donald Trump are NZ First and ACT - and both are polling much higher than they historically have. But also, those commentators seem to be conveniently forgetting what just happened in the UK on Friday night - which is that the Reform Party absolutely swept the local elections in a shock result. Reform, led by Nigel Farage, is probably the closest thing to Trump in the English-speaking world. So as much as the left would like to believe what happened in Australia and Canada is a Trump ick factor that they can pin on the rest of the right - I don’t think it is. I think what’s happened is the same thing that happened with Covid: safe voting. I think Trump and his tariff talk - and the possibility of a massive global slowdown - has freaked out voters in a similar way to how Covid freaked out people. And when people freak out, it favours the incumbent, because it’s better the devil you know to protect you. That's why the Canadians returned their incumbent Government and that’s why the Australians returned their incumbent Government. The same doesn't apply to the UK, because that was a local body election which is about rubbish and roads - not central Government which is about tariffs and healthcare.  So I suspect we shouldn't over egg how much voters hate Trump as much as understand how much he might be frightening them. LISTEN ABOVE Mon, 05 May 2025 05:03:29 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-02-may-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-02-may-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday, 2 May 2025, Heather and Deborah Coddington pay tribute to their good friend, Sir Bob Jones. Jones passed away today after decades as one of the great characters of NZ politics and business for many decades.  There's speculation that Shortland Street might not be coming back next year with TVNZ refusing to confirm that its future.  Former Minister for Women Jan Tinetti goes head-to-head with Heather to convince her that the job of Women's Minister shouldn't be done away with.  Plus, the Sports Huddle debates why Auckland Council isn't just saying "yes please" to a new stadium paid for by billionaires at Western Springs.  Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 07:11:41 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jan-tinetti-former-minister-for-women-and-child-poverty-reduction-on-david-seymours-call-to-cull-ministries/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jan-tinetti-former-minister-for-women-and-child-poverty-reduction-on-david-seymours-call-to-cull-ministries/ David Seymour is calling for culling of the government.  He’s floated a policy that would reduce the number of ministers and government departments, calling into question the necessity of some.  Racing, Hunting and Fishing, Hospitality, Space, and Child Poverty Reduction were a few he named.  Jan Tinetti is the former Minister for Women and Child Poverty Reduction, and she told Heather du Plessis-Allan the reason these ministries exist is to take a specialised look at issues.  She says that while they are often covered under other portfolios, they would simplify the issues far too much, and we wouldn’t get anywhere in solving them.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 06:28:07 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/brooke-grebert-craig-herald-sun-reporter-gives-an-update-from-erin-pattersons-trial/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/brooke-grebert-craig-herald-sun-reporter-gives-an-update-from-erin-pattersons-trial/ Court's adjourned for the weekend after day four of the accused mushroom killer trial in Melbourne.  Erin Patterson's estranged husband took the stand once again, presenting a series of texts demonstrating a strained relationship between the accused and his late parents.  Herald Sun reporter Brooke Grebert-Craig told Heather du Plessis-Allan the messages also highlighted the pair's on and off dynamic.  She says they had a friendship going until 2022, when it turned sour over tax returns and child support.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 06:03:50 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dan-mitchinson-us-correspondent-on-mike-waltz-losing-his-job-as-national-security-advisor-being-nominated-for-ambassador-to-the-un/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dan-mitchinson-us-correspondent-on-mike-waltz-losing-his-job-as-national-security-advisor-being-nominated-for-ambassador-to-the-un/ A short term as US National Security Advisor for Mike Waltz, who's been removed from the role by Donald Trump.  Current Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take over the job in the interim, as Waltz has been nominated for Ambassador to the UN.  This comes after he says he inadvertently added a journalist to a Signal group chat, where officials planned military strikes in Yemen.  US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis-Allan that no one really believes this is a promotion for Waltz.  He believes Trump wanted to avoid the criticism that would come if he fired him altogether, and this has been coming for some time.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 05:57:13 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/deborah-coddington-former-act-mp-and-friend-of-sir-bob-jones-on-his-legacy-passing/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/deborah-coddington-former-act-mp-and-friend-of-sir-bob-jones-on-his-legacy-passing/ A passionate author and a man with a sharp wit and unapologetically colourful personality who shaped New Zealand politics.  Sir Bob Jones is being remembered by friends, former MPs, and current political leaders.  The property investor, ex politician, and boxing aficionado died at his Wellington home today at 85, surrounded by family.  Sir Bob grew up in a state house and made his riches in the world of property.   Former Act MP and friend of his, Deborah Coddington told Heather du Plessis-Allan his actions were different from his words, which you shouldn't take too seriously.  She says he was very generous with his money, offering a scholarship for refugees to go to university.  Coddington says he was a realist, who always found the funny side of life.  She describes him as very well read, clued-in about world affairs and politics, and a good writer.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 05:47:23 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/john-barnett-former-south-pacific-pictures-managing-director-on-the-uncertain-future-of-shortland-street/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/john-barnett-former-south-pacific-pictures-managing-director-on-the-uncertain-future-of-shortland-street/ Speculation's flying around about the future of Shortland Street.   The prime-time soap opera's lost its head writer to the UK and other staff have reportedly been told to find new jobs.   TVNZ hasn't confirmed the show will return next year.   Former South Pacific Pictures managing director John Barnett says the show scaled back its set and storylines when it transitioned from five days to three days a week.  He told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's also been tough to attract audiences with changes in viewing habits.  Barnett says in the meantime, going to three days a week hasn't been nearly as profitable.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 05:31:56 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-sir-bob-jones-passing-politicians-responses/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-sir-bob-jones-passing-politicians-responses/ Politicians are among those paying tribute to prominent businessman, author, and former politician Sir Bob Jones.   The 85-year-old, who launched the New Zealand Party in the 1980s, has died peacefully at his Wellington home.   Labour Leader Chris Hipkins described him as a colourful character, saying there’s no doubt he impacted the political landscape, while Christopher Luxon described him as a legend, and paid tribute to him as a businessman.  NZ Herald Political Editor Thomas Coughlan joined Heather du Plessis-Allan to break down the responses to Jones’ death.  LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 05:13:41 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/richard-mcgrath-napier-city-councillor-on-the-rejected-proposal-to-close-bars-an-hour-earlier/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/richard-mcgrath-napier-city-councillor-on-the-rejected-proposal-to-close-bars-an-hour-earlier/ Napier residents will still be able to dance the night away.  The City Council has rejected a proposal that would force bars to close an hour earlier – at 2am instead of 3.  It was part of the city’s draft Local Alcohol Policy.  Councillor Richard McGrath told Heather du Plessis-Allan that though they had evidence that connected alcohol and trouble, there didn’t seem to be a correlation between that and age.  He says that in the same time period, there was roughly an equivalent amount of harm in a suburb with two alcohol licenses as there was in the suburb with the nightclub – an area that has up to 30 licenses.   McGrath says that in his view, there’s no evidence its the clubs and pubs causing the problems as opposed to off-licenses and house parties.   LISTEN ABOVE  Fri, 02 May 2025 05:06:39 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-new-zealand-is-duller-without-sir-bob-jones/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-new-zealand-is-duller-without-sir-bob-jones/ Very sad news this afternoon that Bob Jones has passed away.  It's not altogether a surprise – he was getting on in age, and he had been feeling unwell and slowing down for at least a couple of years.  But still, it is the passing of a great, colourful, larger than life character.  I can’t remember when I first met Bob, but I've known him for close to twenty years.  He was actually the first person I saw at my wedding on my wedding day... because he was leaving.  I was late —which frankly is a bride’s prerogative— but he was so cross at how late I was that he stormed out of the wedding, bumped into me outside, fortunately turned around and went back in.  And then afterwards, he gave me a rundown of the things he enjoyed and didn't enjoy about the wedding, inducing: could’ve kept the champagne and canapes going for longer and could've skipped the dinner.  He gave some pretty unusual life advice.  When I was pregnant with my son, we had dinner with Bob one night and he spent a long time telling me that my son would wear me out because boys are energetic, and that if I had a girl next I would probably think there was something wrong with her, and might want to take her to the doctor but there would be nothing wrong with her – boys are just more energetic than girls.   He was right of course.  Not everyone loves Bob. I know that. He was a polarising character, but he had something that many of us could learn from, and that was a wicked sense of humour.  He laughed a lot. He played pranks. He enjoyed mocking things he didn’t like.  He was incredibly wealthy, but not pretentious – e grew up in a state house in Naenae after all.  And he was very clever. Read anything he’s written – you’ll wish you could write like him.   I count myself lucky to have known Bob Jones.  He's one of those characters we seemed to have had a lot of in the 70s and 80s but don't seem to make nowadays.  As someone else said today: New Zealand is duller without him.  Fri, 02 May 2025 04:32:00 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-ahead-of-the-uk-council-elections/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/enda-brady-uk-correspondent-ahead-of-the-uk-council-elections/ Voters across the UK are set to vote for a new lawmaker, councillors and mayors in the coming days in the local elections. This local election is predicted to favour the right-wing populist Reform UK party - led by Nigel Farage. UK correspondent Enda Brady says people are divided about Starmer's performance as Prime Minister - and Farage has managed to attract plenty of coverage in the lead-up. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 08:13:51 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/euan-macdonald-new-voice-of-ukraine-editor-on-the-us-and-ukraine-working-out-a-minerals-deal/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/euan-macdonald-new-voice-of-ukraine-editor-on-the-us-and-ukraine-working-out-a-minerals-deal/ The US has signed a deal with Kyiv to share profits from the future sale of Ukraine's mineral reserves - after months of tense negotiations and an infamous meeting in the White House. The two countries have agreed to establish a reconstruction investment fund to spur Ukraine's economic recovery from its war with Russia. New Voice of Ukraine editor says this is a better deal than the previous one on offer - but there's been criticism coming out of Ukraine about it. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 07:55:38 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/liam-dann-nz-herald-business-editor-at-large-speculates-about-unemployment-numbers-ahead-of-next-weeks-data/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/liam-dann-nz-herald-business-editor-at-large-speculates-about-unemployment-numbers-ahead-of-next-weeks-data/ The next set of unemployment figures are due to be released next week - and speculation indicates they'll go up even higher. Unemployment was sitting at 5.1 percent at the end of last year, according to the data. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann speculates ahead of next week's release. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 07:47:43 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-do-we-agree-that-some-ministries-need-to-be-scrapped/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-do-we-agree-that-some-ministries-need-to-be-scrapped/ Tonight on The Huddle, CTU economist Craig Renney and journalist Clare de Lore joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  David Seymour has made some suggestions about the ministries he would cut down or scrap altogether. What do we think? Do we agree with this idea? The Greens have unveiled a plan to create 40,000 new 'green jobs' as part of their alternative budget due out in a couple of weeks. Do we support this concept? LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 07:36:27 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-we-have-bigger-concerns-than-prisoners-not-voting/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-we-have-bigger-concerns-than-prisoners-not-voting/ Now, I've done a bit of an exercise today. I started reading the news this morning, and I was really quickly struck by how many opinion pieces and comments of outrage there were over the Government removing the voting rights from prisoners. There was, just by my account, two full opinion pieces by academics, a newsletter that landed in my inbox, a left-wing blog post, outrage from Labour, and outrage from the Greens. So when I saw that, I thought, jeez, there's quite a lot coming from these guys. It might be interesting to compare this to how many opinion pieces and comments of outrage there are about the four killings currently in the news that have all been committed by people either previously in jail or previously in mental health care. And if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's the man who has now murdered twice and been found insane twice. It's the two murders by Hill Morton mental health patients, and it's the murder by the parole rapist in Christchurch. All of them have been in the news just in the last few days. I didn't find one piece - not one opinion piece - by an academic about this, not one comment of outrage from the Greens, and the only relevant comment that I could find from Labour was the Labour MP saying that it was inappropriate to comment on it. Now, doesn't that tell you a lot about where we're putting our energy at the moment? We are, it would seem, angsting more about protecting the right that a prisoner has to vote - a right which, by the way, we were just told yesterday that most prisoners don't even want. But we are angsting ourselves over protecting that. And we are more angsting more about protecting that than we are about protecting the rights of innocent people not to be hurt by high-risk people who we know are high-risk. Now, we should be interrogating the agencies responsible here. We should be finding out what went wrong, and we should be angsting over it so it doesn't happen again. And I would venture that our priorities are way out of whack if we are more stressed in the news media about whether the bad guys can vote than where authorities are keeping innocent people safe. Thu, 01 May 2025 07:19:40 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-01-may-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-01-may-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 1 May 2025, the Health Minister has called striking doctors back to negotiating table. Doctors union boss Sarah Dalton speaks to Heather. ACT leader David Seymour wants to cut a significant number of Ministries to save more money but he won't say which ones he would cut. The ComCom explains why it won't do a market study into the price of air travel in New Zealand. Plus, a groundbreaking new study has for the first time linked vaping with irreversible lung disease. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 07:11:46 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/kiri-hannifin-air-new-zealand-chief-sustainability-officer-on-the-companys-new-strategy-to-meet-net-zero-emissions-by-2050/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/kiri-hannifin-air-new-zealand-chief-sustainability-officer-on-the-companys-new-strategy-to-meet-net-zero-emissions-by-2050/ Air New Zealand wants to tap into more sustainable aviation fuel - to meet net zero emissions by 2050.  It's aiming to cut well-to-wake jet fuel greenhouse gas emissions by 20-to-25-percent in five years, compared to pre-Covid.  Air New Zealand's Kiri Hannifin says this is the main way airlines can de-carbonise.  She says sustainable fuel is costly, but there's ongoing work looking at keeping airfare prices fair - especially for domestic travel.  "Why it's so expensive at the moment is because there's hardly any available, so the more demand there is, the more supply there'll be available - and that will help get the prices down." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 07:06:01 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dr-stuart-jones-respiratory-physician-on-the-new-study-showing-vaping-causes-incurable-lung-disease/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dr-stuart-jones-respiratory-physician-on-the-new-study-showing-vaping-causes-incurable-lung-disease/ New research has confirmed there is an unmistakeable link between vaping and irreversible lung disease. The study published by Johns Hopkins University tracked 250,000 people - and discovered that e-cigarette use is associated with increased new diagnoses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. COPD is the fourth leading cause of death in New Zealand. Respiratory physician and Asthma and Respiratory Foundation adviser, Dr Stuart Jones, says it's been known that vaping comes with harmful side effects - but this study provides more concrete evidence about the damage.  "The respiratory community aren't surprised at all that this result has come out - I guess it's what we've been warning about all along with the vaping that's been going on." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 06:45:46 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chloee-swarbrick-green-party-co-leader-on-the-partys-plan-to-create-thousands-of-green-jobs/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/chloee-swarbrick-green-party-co-leader-on-the-partys-plan-to-create-thousands-of-green-jobs/ The Greens are revealing parts of their alternative budget - set to cost about $8 billion over four years. It's calling for a Ministry of Green Works, a Government agency supporting sustainable infrastructure - including regional forestry. The party estimates it would create 40,000 jobs. Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick won't release more details - but says their costed independent budget will be released in about two weeks. "In about a fortnight's time, we'll be unveiling our Green budget, which will show people how we can have an economy that reduces the cost of living, improves quality of life and also reduces climate-changing emissions." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 06:13:04 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/david-seymour-act-party-leader-proposes-cutting-minister-numbers-and-abolishing-some-portfolios/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/david-seymour-act-party-leader-proposes-cutting-minister-numbers-and-abolishing-some-portfolios/ ACT's leader says now is a good time for the Government to think about its organisation. David Seymour wants a limit on Cabinet Minister numbers - with none outside Cabinet, and only one associate minister for finance. Seymour says there are currently ministers with seven different departments, and departments answering to 19 ministers.  He says he doesn't expect change pre-election - but believes Chris Luxon gets his viewpoint. "Chris cut his teeth as a manager - and I'm sure that it's something that, without speaking for him, he will intuitively get." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 05:59:12 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sarah-dalton-association-of-salaried-medical-specialists-executive-director-on-the-health-minister-urging-union-members-to-negotiate/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sarah-dalton-association-of-salaried-medical-specialists-executive-director-on-the-health-minister-urging-union-members-to-negotiate/ The senior doctor's union says a pay increase offered in negotiations with Health New Zealand doesn't seem to have changed.  About 5,000 senior doctors have been striking today, after eight months of failed bargaining.  Health Minister Simeon Brown is urging members to resume talks. Salaried Medical Specialists Association executive director, Sarah Dalton, says what's being offered won't attract or retain talent.  "What would be really helpful would be for the Minister to think about what funds they make available to Te Whatu Ora to help them sort this out." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 05:41:53 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-simeon-brown-urging-the-striking-doctors-to-come-back-to-the-negotiating-table/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/thomas-coughlan-nz-herald-political-editor-on-simeon-brown-urging-the-striking-doctors-to-come-back-to-the-negotiating-table/ The Health Minister is making it clear he's not criticising doctors over pay - but their union.  More than $5,000 senior doctors in the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists union have been striking today.  Simeon Brown's urging them back to the negotiating table, saying thousands of surgeries - such as hip operations and knee replacements - have had to be delayed.  NZ Herald political editor Thomas Coughlan questions if the doctors will accept a new offer. LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 05:17:06 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-erin-pattersons-estranged-husband-taking-the-stand-in-mushroom-poisoning-trial/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/murray-olds-australian-correspondent-on-erin-pattersons-estranged-husband-taking-the-stand-in-mushroom-poisoning-trial/ The estranged husband of killer-accused, Erin Patterson, has taken the stand today - revealing a series of texts. Patterson's charged with murdering his parents and aunt with a beef wellington lunch laced with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the ex-husband, Simon Patterson, was invited to the lunch - but declined.  LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 05:12:01 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-the-indian-panthers-getting-suspended-for-the-rest-of-the-nbl-season/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/darcy-waldegrave-sportstalk-host-on-the-indian-panthers-getting-suspended-for-the-rest-of-the-nbl-season/ The Indian Panthers are out of the NBL basketball competition for the foreseeable future. The NBL commission has suspended the overseas first-year entrant amid claims of payment issues and poor treatment of players. The club will be indefinitely suspended until certain conditions laid out by the Commission are met. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE  Thu, 01 May 2025 05:04:23 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dr-john-small-commerce-commission-chair-explains-why-they-wont-be-investigating-the-cost-of-flying/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dr-john-small-commerce-commission-chair-explains-why-they-wont-be-investigating-the-cost-of-flying/ The Commerce Commission has confirmed it will not be formally putting the cost of flying under the microscope. Rangitata MP James Meager has suggested the Government could help keep fares competitive by supporting regional airlines. It's been revealed some flights to Pacific Island nations are cheaper than certain trips within New Zealand. Commission Chair Dr John Small says flying short routes with low demand is very expensive. "There's no law against charging high prices - that's the reality of things in New Zealand. If it's a monopoly - on a monopoly route - it's potentially able to be regulated." LISTEN ABOVE Thu, 01 May 2025 04:55:16 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-meghan-markle-using-her-hrh-title-when-she-wasnt-supposed-to/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/gavin-grey-uk-correspondent-on-meghan-markle-using-her-hrh-title-when-she-wasnt-supposed-to/ Meghan Markle has copped some backlash after new reports claim she was using her HRH title when she wasn't supposed to. Sources close to the Duchess of Sussex say that when she used the title HRH on a card, it was sent with a personal gift and not for any public purpose. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the controversy further.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:29:20 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-trethewey-milford-asset-management-portfolio-manager-on-the-trump-tariffs-starting-to-impact-corporate-earnings/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/sam-trethewey-milford-asset-management-portfolio-manager-on-the-trump-tariffs-starting-to-impact-corporate-earnings/ US earnings season has started up again - and new reports indicate Donald Trump's tariffs are starting to bite. Companies across the US have reported shipping from China has taken a significant dip - the biggest reported since the Covid-19 pandemic. Milford Asset Management's Sam Trethewey explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:21:08 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jenee-tibshraeny-nz-herald-wellington-business-editor-on-the-reserve-bank-buying-up-foreign-currency-assets/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/jenee-tibshraeny-nz-herald-wellington-business-editor-on-the-reserve-bank-buying-up-foreign-currency-assets/ The Reserve Bank of New Zealand is continuing to buy foreign currency assets to give it more firepower, should it need to intervene in the market during a crisis. The central bank sold a whopping $259 million of New Zealand dollars in March to buy assets, such as government bonds, linked to other currencies. The sale marked the second-largest foreign exchange-related transaction (or series of transactions) the Reserve Bank (RBNZ) has engaged in during a month in just over a decade.  NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains further. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:11:53 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-financial-literacy-be-taught-in-schools/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/the-huddle-should-financial-literacy-be-taught-in-schools/ Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog writer and Curia pollster David Farrar 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!  Wellington City Council has voted in favour of supporting lowering the voting age to 16 in local body elections. This is never going to go anywhere - is it? The Government's latest curriculum update involves teaching students about financial literacy. Do we think schools should be teaching this - or should it be taught at home?  What do we make of Nicola's almost zero-budget one day on? Do we agree with Nicola's plan - or should she be going further? LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:07:26 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-will-nicola-willis-tight-budget-go-far-enough/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/opinion/perspective-with-heather-du-plessis-allan-will-nicola-willis-tight-budget-go-far-enough/ I want to talk a little bit more about Nicola Willis’ tight budget - I haven’t changed my position from yesterday and I'm impressed at how little she’s giving herself to play with. But the truth is, it doesn’t go far enough - at all. Because understand this - that $1.3 billion that she’s given herself in her operating allowance is new spending. As in, take last year’s budget and now increase it by $1.3 billion. For context, Nicola Willis spent more money last year than Grant Robertson ever did in any of his budgets - and now she’s adding another $1.3 billion to it. Now I understand that this is conventional politics - budgets increase every year.   The last time it didn't, the last time we had a zero budget where we didn’t add any more money was Bill English's 2011 budget - because we’d had the earthquake. But what that tells you is it’s possible to not increase the spending - and I would argue that is exactly what we should be doing at the moment. Because we are in big financial trouble as a country. We are running structural deficits - that means we are spending more every year than we make. If it was a household, we’d be talking about a family spending more than they earn and running up the difference on credit cards every year - but still deciding every year to spend more. That’s what we’re doing. I think we need to cut big things. Now, I don’t want to be accused of being a racist, so I'm reluctant to say publicly that we should cut the Ministry for Māori Development or the Ministry for Pacific Peoples - but I am a woman, so I'm very happy to say we should cut the Ministry for Women. Why do we need it? Why do we need a Ministry for the Environment and also a Department of Conservation? I could go on. But if we don't get real and start running smaller budgets where we spend within our means, something will have to give. And the thing every commentator out there seems to want to cut is your pension - because it's very expensive to the country. Now if I had a choice, I'd keep the pension and cut out nonsense like ministries we don't need and stop spending more every year than we did the last. Like I said, I'm impressed. Nicola Willis is going further than I thought she would - but not far enough if we're actually going to fix the country's books. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:50:23 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dave-mazey-whakapapa-holdings-chief-executive-on-the-doc-granting-whakapapa-skifield-a-10-year-concession/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/dave-mazey-whakapapa-holdings-chief-executive-on-the-doc-granting-whakapapa-skifield-a-10-year-concession/ The future has been secured for Whakapapa skifield after DoC today granted a 10-year concession. Whakapapa Holdings has signed up to run the Whakapapa skifield on the iconic North Island mountain for the next decade. It's taken multiple Government bail-outs and years of talks to reach this point - since Ruapehu Alpine Lifts folded in 2022.  Whakapapa Holdings Chief Executive Dave Mazey says an environment with less time pressure will help with developing a long-term future for the skifield.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:13:45 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-30-april-2025/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/full-show-podcast-30-april-2025/ On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 30 April 2025, KiwiRail's announced the Aratere will be retired this year, leaving us with just two Interislander ferries for the next four years.   Education Minister Erica Stanford explains why she's going to introduce financial literacy courses to schools. Heather explains why she's impressed with Nicola Willis' budget announcement - but thinks we need to cut whole ministries to free up more money. Plus, the Huddle debates Wellington City Council voting in favour of allowing 16-year olds to vote in local body elections. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:11:46 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/eric-crampton-nz-initiative-economist-on-nicola-willis-plan-to-rein-in-government-spending-in-the-budget/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/eric-crampton-nz-initiative-economist-on-nicola-willis-plan-to-rein-in-government-spending-in-the-budget/ Nicola Willis is looking to further rein in Government spending in next month's Budget - but one expert has warned it won't go far enough. The Finance Minister is slashing the operating allowance from $2.4 billion to $1.3 billion. She's targeting a return to surplus in 2029. NZ Initiative economist Eric Crampton says Government spending has been running too high for years - and cuts need to be made to save the situation. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 06:56:00 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/ruth-money-chief-victims-advisor-calls-for-urgent-action-after-mental-health-patient-commits-second-killing/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/ruth-money-chief-victims-advisor-calls-for-urgent-action-after-mental-health-patient-commits-second-killing/ There's belief a man who killed a second time after being found insane after a killing more than two decades ago shouldn't have been released.  RNZ has revealed the man was recently found not guilty of murder by way of insanity again - as he'd believed the victim was possessed.  He'd been a special patient under the Mental Health Act, but was freed more than 10 years ago.  The Government's Chief Victims Advisor, Ruth Money, say she'd like a Royal Commission inquiry of how people are assessed to ensure they won't reoffend.  "People are going on to kill - and it is not good enough. It's too dangerous for the community and there needs to be a level of inquiry that has teeth." LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 06:34:39 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/ben-mcnulty-wellington-city-councillor-says-the-government-will-ignore-calls-to-give-16-year-olds-the-vote/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/ben-mcnulty-wellington-city-councillor-says-the-government-will-ignore-calls-to-give-16-year-olds-the-vote/ A Wellington City Councillor says he's not holding his breath on 16-year-olds getting the vote.  The Council has reaffirmed its support for letting them participate in local body elections, with only four councillors opposed.  Councillor Ben McNulty says it was a quick vote - and he was in favour. But he says this Government's likely to ignore the call.  "Whether LGNZ listens to Wellington, whether the Government then listens to LGNZ - who knows? It's purely symbolic." McNulty says symbolism is sometimes important in politics.  LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 06:22:36 Z /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/erica-stanford-education-minister-on-the-governments-new-curriculum-update-designed-to-teach-kids-about-money/ /on-air/heather-du-plessis-allan-drive/audio/erica-stanford-education-minister-on-the-governments-new-curriculum-update-designed-to-teach-kids-about-money/ Another Government curriculum refresh is aiming to give school kids more grasp of money management. The Education Minister's making financial literacy a compulsory topic for years one to ten. The Government is teaming up with financial organisations, banks, and charities for lessons on investment and taxes. Erica Stanford says kids will learn a small dose each year, increasing in complexity as they get older - in order to build up financial skills over their time at school. LISTEN ABOVE Wed, 30 Apr 2025 05:58:19 Z