Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Gumboot Friday founder Mike King has come under fire following his recent comments about alcohol. In an interview with Newstalk ZB yesterday, King said alcohol can stop negative thoughts - and could be a solution to mental health.  ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says these comments missed the mark, but Labour is wrong to call for Gumboot Friday's funding to be pulled. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has continued to deny he called former head Alan Joyce up to seek free flight upgrades. Albanese has been engaging in a days-long back-and-fourth denial after allegations surfaced in a new book - and the opposition has been running with this ahead of the election. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this is still a bad look for the Prime Minister. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 31 October 2024, Interislander boss Duncan Roy speaks to Heather after an investigation found the people in charge of the Aratere ferry had no idea how to stop the autopilot when the ferry grounded in June.   Labour is calling for funding to Gumboot Friday to be paused after Mike King suggested on the show yesterday that alcohol is the solution for people with mental health problems. Consumer NZ wants a Government inquiry into Air New Zealand's prices. Plus, the Huddle weighs in on brawling fans at the Travis Scott concert. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Labour has called for funding to be pulled from Mike King's Gumboot Friday charity following King's comments that alcohol can be a solution for people struggling with depression. Is this a step too far? Consumer NZ is calling on the Commerce Commission to investigate New Zealand's aviation industry. Do we agree with this? Last night's Travis Scott concert broke out in huge brawls while fans waited for him to appear on stage. Is this the promoter's fault for not lining up more entertainment - or are the fans in the wrong? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has launched a bid to establish a direct flight from Auckland Airport to Brazil's Sao Paulo. He believes this could boost trade between New Zealand and Brazil by up to $1.5 billion a year. NZIER Principal Economist Chris Nixon says this is a good idea - and could open up new opportunities for New Zealand. "Given the mayhem which is happening in the United States at the moment and their incoherent economic policies - we've got to be innovative."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A professor of psychological medicine says mental health advocates shouldn't spout misinformation about alcohol.  I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday campaigner Mike King yesterday told Newstalk ZB alcohol could be a solution for people with mental health issues.  Labour has called on the Government to review its $24 million funding for his charity, which delivers youth counselling.  Otago University's Joseph Boden says although alcohol can temporarily help people think about fewer problems, it's far from a fix.  "The difficulty is - it is actually a nervous system depressant. So when misused, it can increase suicide risk." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horowhenua District Council is re-examining its decision to stop mowing roadside berms. It trimmed back the service in July in a decision that saved ratepayers nearly $250,00 annually - but prompted outcry. Councillors have now voted to compile a report on options for reinstating it. Horowhenua mayor Bernie Wanden says they want to look more closely at the impacts. "It does not mean that we are going to flip-flop, all it means is that we want to understand what has happened since we stopped mowing berms." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm not altogether surprised that Mike King’s comments on this show yesterday have sparked a debate. The reason I'm not surprised is because some of what he said is factually wrong. King claimed alcohol wasn't a problem for people with mental health issues - but rather, a solution. Remember, we are talking about suicide. For people with suicidal ideation, alcohol is a problem because it lowers inhibitions, meaning people are more likely to act on their feelings. And it’s a depressant, it lowers your mood, it makes you more unhappy. But some of what he said - to be fair to him - is also his own lived experience in trying to cope with his mental health issues. He said he's a drug addict and alcoholic and his whole life, he used drugs and alcohol to stop that little voice inside his head. You can’t argue with that as much, because that is his experience. And there is actually evidence that alcohol does provide a mental escape in the moment. What I'm a little surprised by is the strength of the reaction to Mike King today. I was expecting the anti-alcohol people to get wound up - but I wasn't expecting the Labour Party to go quite as far as they have. Labour have today called for Government funding of Gumboot Friday to be reconsidered. Let's be clear about what’s going on here, this is political. There was a time when everyone loved Mike King and thought he was a good guy doing good work for mental health. But then he became a political figure, because he took on Jacinda Ardern and had a public scrap with her, because her Government pulled funding from his charity and handed back his Order of Merit medal The Nats then adopted him and funded his charity in a way that the Auditor-General isn't totally happy with, and now people are split on whether they love Mike King or not - probably, in some cases, depending on how they vote. Now, I'm not saying Mike King is above criticism or scrutiny or that this isn’t a debate worth having. I'm just saying, bear in mind that when we do have it, that this isn’t just about mental health and alcohol - it’s also about politics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Optimism is rising among businesses - largely driven by construction.  ANZ's October business outlook has business confidence up five points on 66, in a 10-year high.  Meanwhile, the proportion of businesses feeling they're faring well, has climbed to -11 in the highest point since March.  Chief economist Sharon Zollner says it boils down to interest rates.  She says fewer construction firms say they're not busy than a year ago - and she explained conditions are tough, but things are starting to look up a little. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwirail says Aratere's auto-pilot button should never have been pressed. The ferry ran aground  in June as it headed out from Picton. An interim report from the Transport Accident Investigation Commission details how the crew didn't know how to turn off the auto-pilot as it steered the ferry towards land. InterIslander Executive General Manager Duncan Roy says it was pressed in error, then no one could flick it off. "They didn't know on the bridge, we didn't know on Interislander - working with the people that provided us this service right now, as we speak, to work out why we didn't know." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are Major League Baseball's 2024 champions. The team beat out the New York Yankees 7-6 in Game 5 to win the World Series four games to one. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A probe of aviation competition could bring New Zealanders better prices.  Consumer NZ has asked the Government to direct the Commerce Commission to investigate aviation in its next market study.  It says Air New Zealand has a virtual monopoly on many domestic routes - and it's affecting regional airfares.  Consumer CEO Jon Duffy says a probe would reveal why prices are so high, and how to change things. "It allows for a reasoned and evidence-based debate on what the next best options are, and then you can hand it back to the Government and say - alright, you know what you could do to fix things. It's up to you whether you do it or not." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to deliver her first Budget in the role, following weeks of speculation. Predictions indicate people can expect tax rises, a higher capital gains tax and a minimum wage increase. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this will hit business owners and a subset of working people hard.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spark has reduced its earnings and dividend guidance for the 2025 year, saying its financial performance 'falls short of what is acceptable'. The company said its operating earnings (Ebitdai) were expected to fall to around $1.12-$1.18 billion in 2025, down 4% from a previous forecast of $1.165-$1.22b. The company has reduced its dividend forecast from 27.5 cents to 25c, 75% imputed. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton unpacks the downturn. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Selwyn District Council welcomes proposed Government reforms to speed up building consents. The nation's fastest-growing region says any changes that could speed up progress are helpful, as building consents have always been a focus for the Selwyn District Council. Selwyn District Council Head of Building, Vanessa Mitchell, says this move will free up inspectors to focus on other areas. "We've been under enormous pressure over the past few years - and we really see advantages in the proposals that have come out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNZ is set to head back to court tomorrow as part of their ongoing legal dispute with Gloriavale. If the hearing goes well, the bank could get approval to close the accounts Gloriavale has with BNZ. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny reveals what could come out of tomorrow's case. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett and former Health NZ chair Rob Campbell joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Health NZ is under fire again for their spending - on top of the recent $60,000 catering bill, it's been revealed they spent $100,000 on catering costs last year. Can they really justify this? Jeff  Bezos has defended stopping the Washington Post's endorsement of Kamala Harris, saying it creates the 'perception of bias'. Is this a good argument or bad excuse? Police are opposed to a suicide prevention fundraiser in Dunedin distributing alcohol. Do they have a point - or is this a step too far? Is it time to ditch the haka - or is Joe Marler wrong about it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 30 October 2024, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump have delivered their closing arguments ahead of next week's US election. Jack Tame was at Kamala Harris' rally in Washington. Associate Education Minister David Seymour reveals what we need to do to improve chronic absenteeism for our school kids. Former All Blacks coach Laurie Mains reacts to England prop Joe Marler calling for the haka to be binned. Plus the Huddle debates whether another $100,000 catering bill for a Health NZ conference is completely out of order. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon says the Government is open to discussing whether to ban language and symbols related to the Nazis. It comes after individuals involved in a Mongrel Mob tangi procession in Lower Hutt on Tuesday openly used the term ‘sieg heil’, commonly known as a Nazi chant meaning ‘hail victory’. Sociologist Paul Spoonley isn't sure a full ban would be enforceable.  "I think banning doesn't address underlying problems - and I would say the same about swastikas and Nazi salutes as I would about the gang patches." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Associate Education Minister says the key to fixing truancy is banding agencies together.  In Term 2 this year, one in 10 students was chronically absent - with more than 80,000 missing more than three weeks of the term.  Since 2015, chronic absence has doubled in secondary schools and almost tripled in primary schools.  David Seymour says his proposed solution ties in all the key players. "It has a role for everybody. Parents, critically, but also students and the school and the different Government agencies like the Attendance Service, Oranga Tamariki, police and so on."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's renewed debate about the haka's purpose after Joe Marler suggested it should be banned. The English prop labelled it 'ridiculous' in a post on social media ahead of this week's rugby test at Twickenham. Former All Blacks head coach Laurie Mains says the haka is a long-standing rugby tradition within the team - and Marler wouldn't understand its significance.  "Who would want to take any offence at what Joe Marler says? After all, he's a front-row prop and he wouldn't have a clue where the haka stands in New Zealand rugby." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Survivors of Lake Alice hospital, who battled the Crown in court, are now being urged to contact the Government for compensation.  A Royal Commission of Inquiry has acknowledged children at the Manawatu hospital endured torture in the 1970s.  The Government is offering to reimburse survivors who fought for redress in 2001, but lost a significant amount on legal costs.  Minister-in-Charge Erica Stanford says it's estimated about 70 people in this group are still alive.  "We don't have, unfortunately, all of their details. We've got many details - and some of them I've been in touch with myself - but we're relying on them to come forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kamala Harris has delivered her closing arguments to propel her presidential campaign over the line, with one week until Election Day.  The US Vice President's spoken from Washington DC - where she's painted a strong contrast between herself and rival Donald Trump.  Harris says Trump would open a floodgate of vengeance against his political rivals, while she would work for the American people.  Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame was there and says the symbolism of the setting was everything - and she looked presidential.  "Anyone tuning in on television would have seen Kamala Harris coming up beautifully lit with the White House directly behind her." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris gave her final pre-election speech to voters this afternoon. She delivered the address at the Ellipse in Washington DC - the site where Trump rallied supporters ahead of the January 6 Capitol riot. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this served as an effective reminder for voters ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder of Gumboot Friday has voiced his disapproval with authorities banning alcohol from a Dunedin event. Police are looking to stop a suicide prevention charity for applying for a temporary liquor license ahead of a fashion show designed to raise awareness. Mike King says this move is 'classic overreach'. "This is a bunch of young, polytech students who have a fashion show where they want to raise awareness and funds for a local suicide prevention trust. It has nothing to do with the trust - this is just an avenue for young people who care about the well-being of other people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US Vice President Kamala Harris has called Donald Trump a wannabe dictator in her final major pre-election address.  She's delivered her pitch to more than 50 thousand people at the Ellipse in Washington DC, the site of Trump's rally before the Capitol riots. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson said Harris needed to convince voters the economy was in good hands - and she delivered in her speech. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

England prop Joe Marler has labelled the haka 'ridiculous' and claimed it needs to be scrapped altogether in a post on social media. Marler's not involved in this weekend’s test, sparing him the glare of an on-field response come Sunday at Twickenham. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacked the controversy further. LISTEN ABOVE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turns out the people who want to shut other people up just do not learn from history, do they? I consider myself to be reasonably well informed, because I have to be for my job. I read the newspapers every day, I listen to the radio, I have a pretty good idea of what’s going on  - and yet even I had completely forgotten Candace Owens was coming to New Zealand. Until this week - mainly thanks to Young Labour, who are trying to stop her from coming to New Zealand. They published an open letting urging the Government to ban her, like Australia just did yesterday. Which only reminded me that I should probably go and read up on some of her controversial stuff so I know exactly what the problem is. So Young Labour can thank themselves for spreading her rhetoric even more widely. The reason they want to ban her is because we - 'have an obligation to be protecting our communities from that kind of rhetoric that empowers divisive movements.' Have they heard of the internet? Borders don't keep bad ideas out anymore. Young Labour then went on to say that if the Government doesn't listen and decides to let her in, then can they please at least make sure there's heaps of security at her events to - 'ensure that when those people do choose to counter protest her, they're also not met with violence'. The bloody cheek of it! Last time we had someone controversial here, being Posie Parker, it wasn't Parker's supporters in court for violence, was it? It was a young punk who turned up to protest her and punched a grandma in the face and another one who threw the tomato juice on Posie Parker. So let's at least be honest about who poses the greatest threat here. Here’s some simple advice for the next time someone controversial comes to New Zealand - just don't mention it. Because that way, the only people who will know and go to the event are the people who have already consumed the content. But now, a lot more people will go and read about Candace Owens. What an own goal. Again. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 29 October 2024, trusted builders will soon be able to sign off on their own work without a council inspector. Building Minister Chris Penk tells Heather what happens if something goes wrong (a la leaky homes). Jack Tame speaks to Heather after spending the evening at a Donald Trump rally in Georgia - and why he thinks Kamala Harris has lost the momentum. Heather is outraged at senior political correspondent Barry Soper's take on King Charles' suit choice. Plus, the Huddle debates whether anybody still sends and receives mail and whether we could scrap postal deliveries all together.   Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's shock in the UK as thieves made off with over $650,000 worth of cheese from a London shop. Neal’s Yard Dairy said a con artist posing as a distributor for a major French retailer managed to steal a fortune's worth of cheddar before the company realised it was a scam and reported the crime. UK correspondent Enda Brady says authorities are looking to solve the crime and find out where the cheese went.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country's Jamie Mackay has returned to New Zealand after a trip to the US - and he's seen the mood of voters first-hand ahead of the US election. After one of the most turbulent election years in America's history, voters will choose their next president one week from today. Jamie Mackay says it's a close race - but he's got a theory about who will win. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Josie Pagani from Child Fund joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  We've got a week to go until Election Day in the US - what do we think at this point? Between Trump and Harris, who's going to win? Labour's Ginny Andersen raised a few eyebrows after re-sharing a meme poking fun at King Charles over the weekend. What do we make of this? Is she a liability to Labour?  MBIE is proposing to cut back on services following a drop in mail volume? Is this the right move? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest employment numbers for September 2024 show the job market is still in a tough spot. Annual filled jobs were down 0.9 percent compared to this time last year. Infometrics Principal Economist Brad Olsen says this is a tricky point for the economy - and things aren't expected to get better until mid-2025. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has received early advice on how to better capitalise Kiwibank so it might compete better with the large Australian-owned banks. The advice is in response to the Commerce Commission market study on personal banking. Minister Nicola Willis says she hopes to bring more competition to the banking sector to improve things for Kiwi users. "If you look over to Australia, they had a similar cosy oligopoly situation happening - Macquarie Bank played quite a disruptive role in that market, and the result was a better deal for everyday bank users." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freedom campers are pushing back at a Rotorua holiday park manager's claims they're breaking the rules.  All Seasons Manager, Tracie Thornborough, is asking Rotorua Council to clamp down on freedom campers.  She says they're staying too long - and don't support local businesses.  But Motor Caravan Association CEO, Bruce Lochore, says Government research disputed such claims four years ago.  "They show substantially that they do contribute to that local economy when they come in." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The heat's being turned up in the US, with just over a week until Election Day.  Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are making their final pitches to voters on the campaign trail.  Both have been visiting battleground states, where voters could have a deciding voice. Newstalk ZB's Jack Tame at Trump's rally in Georgia. He says there's been a subtle lift in momentum at the Trump camp.  "It's nothing like the momentum shifts we saw earlier on when Trump survived that attempted assassination and then when Joe Biden pulled out and Kamala Harris got dropped into the campaign spot... nothing like that, but I reckon there's been a noticeable shift."  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Construction Minister says he is confident consenting reforms won't lead to a repeat of New Zealand's 'leaky homes' crisis.  The Government is planning to give tradespeople working on basic housing projects the power to consent their own work.  Businesses with a track record of mass house-building projects will be able to access a streamlined consent process.  Minister Chris Penk says this avoids the false sense of security in the system.  "We think, actually, it makes more sense to put the incentive with the building professional - or the whole company - to do the work and to be responsible for it, and their destiny's in their own hands. Ultimately, that'll be better for the consumer, of course." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are going back through Arthur Easton's case file - looking for the person who killed him nearly 40 years ago. Easton was stabbed in his Papakura home in 1985. Alan Hall's wrongful murder conviction was only overturned after he'd spent 19 years in jail. Police are now offering a $100,000 reward - until January 24 - for information leading to a conviction. Detective Inspector Warrick Adkin says interviews are under way. "As investigators, we have a responsibility to look at all options when solving crime, and today's announcement, we hope, will provide the financial incentive to those people who have not shared any information to come forward." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is partly removing councils from the building consent process.  It's announced an opt-in 'self certification scheme' will let qualified tradespeople forgo inspections.  It'll open to those with a proven track-record, such as companies building scores of near-identical homes.  ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper expects people will react positively to these new changes.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been on the receiving end of backlash over the travel perks he received from Qantas. The opposition has criticised Albanese for soliciting 'freebies' from the airline when he was Transport Minister. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this goes against the Prime Minister's 'working-man' image, especially following his purchase of a multi-million dollar NSW property. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi F1 driver Liam Lawson has apologised for flipping the bird at Sergio Perez during the Mexican Grand Prix. Lawson and Perez got into a wheel-to-wheel battle on the 19th lap - that quickly turned heated. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the controversy here today. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is asking for feedback on Kiwi postal services.  It's proposing changes to NZ Post - including fewer weekly deliveries and reduced postal outlets  People are sending 813 million fewer mail items than they were 20 years ago. MBIE Communications Infrastructure and Trade General Manager James Hartley says this is the right time to hear from the public on the best way to maintain services. "We know Kiwis are sending a lot fewer letters than they used to - 2002, for example, one billion letters went through the postal system. It's now down to $180 million. There's been a huge decline over that period... we think it's the right time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big names are launching a lobby group in the capital with local body elections less than a year away.  Dames Kerry Prendergast, Patsy Reddy, and Fran Wilde, along with Sir Bob Jones are some of the movers and shakers endorsing what's called Vision for Wellington.  The group, which claims to be bipartisan, wants the council to rein in its spending and put an end to in-fighting.  Dame Fran Wilde told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the slow slide into party politics has caused problems for the council.  She said this group was formed to provide a platform where Wellingtonians can be a part of the conversation about what they want the city to be.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Gourdie and Nick Bewley joined Heather du Plessis-Allan for this week's Sports Huddle, capping off the week's sporting news. On the agenda tonight: Cricket Australia has overturned David Warner's ban - does he deserve to come back? Has Washington Sundar torpedoed the Black Caps' hopes of taking home the win in India? And what's the deal with Sport NZ spending nearly $600 per email to volunteer coaches?  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 25 October. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Health is under fire for failing to declare a conflict of interest.   It recently came to light that one of the officials advising Minister Casey Costello on tobacco reforms was the sister-in-law of Labour’s health spokesperson, Ayesha Verrall.  Verrall is a vocal opponent of Costello’s policies.  Senior Political Reporter Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it’s a disgrace.  He says that even though the Director General of Health says the Ministry adhered strictly to the rules of conflict of interest, they failed to pass that particular conflict on to Costello.  Soper says they’ve fallen well short, as multiple people were well aware of the conflict and failed to report it.   LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This time last year Arepa found themselves in hot water after the government officials decided that made unsubstantial health claims of cognitive and physical boosting abilities, they are forced to amend these claims and now back launching a new brain drink – Uplift. Co-Founder of Arepa, Angus Brown told Heather Du Plessis – Allan that this time round he's proud to call the "brain drink” because of the fact him and his team committed a lot of time and effort towards conducting human clinical research and have that peer reviewed and published. Brown says that its a really tough market but they're on the journey. He says that they are certainly making some strides towards it and are still the one and only drink that anybody could pick up in the supermarketthat's got clinical research behind it. “Learning this toughness in New Zealand is teaching us about how we can become fitter for entering bigger markets like the US” LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government will be making an announcement on improving safety on Auckland's public transport network. A woman was fatally stabbed on a bus on Wednesday - and 37 year old Aucklander Kael Leona appeared in court today charged with murder. The ministers of Police and Auckland held talks with AT and Police this afternoon, and Simeon Brown will make an announcement tomorrow. Police Minister Mark Mitchell told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he has a different role to play. Mitchell says he's focusing on reassurance at the moment - and will meet the victim's family if asked. Mitchell says for the past few weeks he and Brown have been discussing with authorities how to improve transport safety. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has apologised to Samoa's Government, over the sinking of HMNZS Manawanui this month. Chris Luxon and Political Editor Jason Walls is at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa. Luxon says his meeting with the king went well and that he was “very knowledgeable” about several issues. Walls says that the king expressed his love for New Zealand by the amount of knowledge he had for it and that the Prime Minister said that he was “quite charming”. Walls said that Luxon was very clear yesterday that it has not been as bad as he imagined it was or any of the initial estimates in terms of environmental change. As there is verylimitedenvironmental damage, Walls says that people don't seem too overwhelmingly upset. Walls said that Luxon said that he's “chalking that up to a big, a good win and of course the fact that nobody died”. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

West Auckland MP, Simon Court has lodged a new members bill to abolish New Zealand's last remaining liquor monopolies. He says its frankly condescending to the nearly 300,000 people who live in West Auckland as well as the people who live in Invercargill and Gore - that they can't enjoy the same access to hospitalityand purchasing beer or wine than everywhere else in New Zealand. Court believes that they deserve the same rights as the rest of New Zealanders. He says that not only are they lacking choice but there's also a huge opportunity in terms of jobs and economy for West Auckland to participate that they don't currently have. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.