Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida, with over 5.5 million residents told to evacuate and officials calling the conditions 'unsurvivable'. Alison Piotrowski is Channel Nine's U.S. correspondent and she joins Francesca Rudkin live from Florida.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Community advocate David Letele has announced he will be shutting down his South Auckland foodbank which was supplying up to 1000 families a week.  The operation received $87,000 worth of Government support but was distributing more than $500,000 worth of food.  David Letele says he can no longer sustain the costs of running the foodbank as Government funding is no longer enough.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just how much Polkinghorne is enough Polkinghorne? Today it was announced that South Pacific Pictures, together with UK based production companies, are developing an original limited drama series "The Mysterious Death of Pauline Hanna". I wonder what Pauline would say if she could see the outcome of her death.  Firstly, her life was laid bare, her personal life forensically picked apart, discussed and judged in an eight-week court trial. A court case that was thoroughly covered by the media.  Since then, it was announced there would be a three-part documentary series, funded by New Zealand On Air to screen at some point on ThreeNow, then we had the Tui billboards, and now we have the dramatization.  That's a lot of people making money off the tragic story of the death of a woman.  I totally understand why this is happening and get the appeal... you only have to look at how much this case captivated the nation. It's a universally appealing story filled with intriguing characters, scandals, sex, and drugs - let's be honest, you couldn't have come up with this story if you tried.  But there needs to be more to it than capitalising on a scandalous story.  As I aid after the documentary was made public, there is a fine line between examining the facts and revealing something meaningful, and preying on a victim's tragedy for entertainment's sake. The line in the press release that caught my attention was this: "By presenting the facts of the case in a responsible, forensic, and non-judgmental way, The Mysterious Death of Pauline Hanna will let the audience decide." Is that not what a court case is for? Okay - quite a bit of judgement was passed in that court case. But if you followed the court case, and remember Mr Polkinghorne was found not guilty, you have already probably made up your own mind on what happened.  Do we need dramatization? Haven't we had enough? There is a place for true crime documentaries, podcasts, and dramatizations - they can be a powerful way to tell cautionary tales, and question our justice system and treatment of victims.  Just look at the Grace Millane documentary streaming on Netflix - The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane.  This is a documentary that adds context to the story, reveals new information and footage, was delivered at a respectful time after Grace's death and most importantly, respected the victim and her family.  At a time when the local production industry is hurting, it's good to hear about new productions with international funding.  But if South Pacific Pictures goes ahead with this ratings winner, there is still an ethical obligation to do it with care and consideration for the victim, their family and friends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9 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.

Today's OCR announcement has got everyone thinking about what impact it will have on the housing market.  The Reserve Bank cut for a second time from 5.25% to 4.75%. CoreLogic's Chief Property Economist Kelvin Davidson joins Jack Tame to discuss when it will flow on to home loans.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Official Cash Rate is on its way down.  The Reserve Bank has cut the OCR by 50-basis points, from 5.25 to 4.75%.  It says inflation is within its 1-3% target range and this cut will help maintain that while avoiding unnecessary instability in parts of the economy.  Katlyn Parker of Milford Asset Management joined Jack Tame to unpack the cut and the impact it will have on the market.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers Union and NZ Herald Senior Writer Simon Wilson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Reserve Bank cut the OCR by 50 basis points this afternoon.  The Government has called for Sport NZ to update transgender inclusive community sport guidelines.  University of Auckland and Otago University both drop in just-released world rankings.  Another popular American store is opening their first New Zealand shop.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government have today asked Sport New Zealand to review and update their principles for the inclusion of transgender people in community sport.  It outlined that the current guidelines do not reflect expectations that sport be about fairness and safety as wekk as diversity, inclusion, and equity.  Chris Bishop is the minister of sport and recreation and he joins Jack Tame to discuss further.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pop quiz! What of these causes the highest number of premature New Zealand deaths?  Bowel cancer? Diabetes? Road crashes? Melanoma? Air pollution? This will seem unbelievable to many Kiwis, but according to the Ministry of the Environment and Statistics New Zealand, here in good old clean-and-green New Zealand, air pollution kills more people than all of those other causes, combined.  Think about that! Diabetes, bowel cancer, road crashes and melanoma... Put them in a blender and add them all together, and air pollution still comes out at the top of the macabre pops.  According to the study released today, even though air pollution standards have improved, in 2019, air pollution was associated with 3200 deaths!  In a country our size, with our wealth, and our regulatory framework, that's a disgraceful figure. According to the triennial study, one in ten deaths in 2019 was attributable to air pollution. The social costs are in the billions of dollars, and that doesn't include the increasingly-well-documented impact on brain function and intelligence that comes from the prolonged exposure to air pollution.  Like all health stats, of course, poor people in poor communities are the most negatively affected.  The biggest cause is no big surprise: Traffic pollution. But as the science improves, the impact of traffic on air pollution only gets worse. The report suggests roughly seventy percent of those air pollution deaths and seventy percent of more-than-13,000 hospitalisations from air pollution are caused by traffic pollution. And where you take cars off the road, lo and behold... The air quality improves. If ever you needed a greater reason for better investment in public transport services, for massively speeding up the EV rollout and for congestion charging in our cities... This report is it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cinnabon is coming to New Zealand! The popular American bakery will open it's first store in Westfield New Market next month.  It will start off selling many of it's classic cinnamon scrolls and blended frozen drinks, which come in flavours like mango, strawberry, and cookies and cream.  Kathan Parikh is the director of Cinnabon New Zealand who acquired the franchise rights, he joins Jack Tame with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida is bracing for 'the storm of the century' with Hurricane Milton now upgraded to a category five, with wind speeds of 270km/h.  Residents are evacuating by the millions, with officials saying it's a 'matter of life and death'.  Alison Piotrowski is Channel Nine's U.S. correspondent on the ground in Florida.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A bold move from the Reserve Bank as it has decided to cut the Official Cash Rate (OCR) by 50-basis points, from 5.25% to 4.75%. It's the second cut in a row, after the OCR was lowered in August - which was the first drop since May 2023.  All of the larger banks predicted the rise, but a 25-point drop was thought to be just as likely.  Co-operative Bank Chief Executive Mark Wilshire joins Jack Tame to discuss how this will impact homeowners.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene hit the east coast of the United States, Floridians are gearing up for a new storm.  Hurricane Milton is currently a Category 5 storm, and locals are expecting it to be much more catastrophic than Helene.  Katherine Firkin is a U.S correspondent and joins Jack Tame with the latest.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two former members of a committee tasked with checking over assisted deaths to ensure the law worked as it should say the system is so broken they wouldn't have known if someone had wrongly died.  Doctors Jane Greville and Dana Wensley repeatedly raised concerns about incomplete information about a patient's health and the risk of coercion.  In one case, a patient with suspected dementia who could not speak English was approved for assisted dying without a translator in the room.  ACT Leader David Seymour was behind the End of Life Choice Act and joins Jack Tame to discuss how this happened.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I fix my entire mortgage in three weeks' time, and find myself with the curious kind of conundrum that most of us with bog-standard family home mortgages couldn't have imagined at any point the last few years.  I waited for the email to land from the Monetary Policy Committee... Speed-read the Reserve Bank's statement and found myself with a simple question: Instead of fixing my mortgage at the end of this month, am I better to roll the dice, float for four weeks and hold out for another cut in November?  50 basis points is a meaningful cut. If you've got a $400,000 mortgage, and you're coming off a 7.2% to the market-leading 5.7% being advertised today... That's a difference of $500 a month.  What's clear from the Reserve Bank's comments though is that, like it was on the way up, the cutting cycle is likely to have disproportionate impacts depending on different personal circumstances as the OCR comes down.  Our economy is groaning. International growth is slowing, and the Middle East conflict has the potential to cause a global oil shock. And with an unemployment rate that lags the cash rate cycle, we could still add the best part of 100 basis points to our unemployment rate.  The Reserve Bank might be cutting faster than they anticipated just a few months ago, but it won't come nearly fast enough for many thousands of New Zealanders who are likely going to lose their jobs over the next few months.  The MPS in November is the last cash rate decision for 2024... And the last for the best part of three months.  My pick for the period between now and then is that the calls for more significant cuts, maybe even to something akin to the neutral cash rate, will only continue to intensify.  Our economy might have a taste of relief but it's crying out for so much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 8 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.

Tonight on the Huddle, CEO of the Maxim Institute Tim Wilson and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! A sea turtle was filmed struggling in an oil spill near the HMNZS Manawanui wreck site. How much money should we be putting into fixing this disaster? Auckland dog shelters are forced to euthanise more dogs than at any point in the past decade - 11 per day.  Sophia Crestani coronial findings and calls for improved safety at student parties. How feasible is this? Tui's 'Yeah right' billboard referencing Philip Polkinghorne falls flat with social media users.  Bluebridge ferry Connemara damages a wharf on Picton in a berthing mishap.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Retirement Commissioner is calling for action on the size of houses being built, with downsizing issues causing a headache for retirees and older people.  Two-bedrooms are fewer than 20% of the new stock and one-bedroom homes are less than 10%, with new terraced housing being unsuitable.  Jane Wrightson is the Retirement Commissioner and joins Jack Tame to discuss the urgent need for smaller homes.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I went for a walk along K Road the other night and saw something I hadn't seen in the longest time: A new restaurant.  I didn't even step inside but it felt like a drink of cold water for a parched man in the desert. When was the last time I saw one of those?  It is, of course, a rarity. And hardly a sign that the entire economy is ready to take off. The number of new restaurants in that part of town is still comfortably outnumbered by the number of 'For Lease' signs. But as the Reserve Bank prepares for tomorrow's call on the OCR, two things give me optimism that they'll be leaning more towards 50 basis points than 25.  The first is if the economists are right, inflation is already back down within the target band or maybe even closer to 2% than we dare to hope.  It occurs to me that migration inflows have really significantly slowed over recent months. That in turn is reducing pressure on rents, which was one of the stickier parts of the inflation picture over the previous few quarters.  The next CPI data is released in a week, so we get the OCR call before we get inflation data. But if that's the case and we are within the target band - and especially if we're closer to 2% then 3% - there's a pretty decent argument the Reserve Bank should be moving quickly to get us somewhere closer to a neutral cash rate.  The second point that gives me a bit of optimism is timing. If this were April, I might feel a bit more meh. But after tomorrow there's only one OCR call before the summer break, and then it's a looong wait until February's next decision. While waiting to see what comes of the U.S. election, the Reserve Bank might rightly be concerned about being left behind by other central banks over the three month break between innings.  The markets say yes to 50 basis points. The banks are saying yes to 50. As someone refixing his mortgage in a month... I say yes, please.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tui Beer are under fire after referencing Philip Polkinghorne in their latest 'Yeah right' campaign. The new billboard reads: "Back to being a respectable meth smoking, sex worker loving doctor then. Yeah right." Polkinghorne was acquitted last month of murdering his wife, Pauline Hanna, after an eight week long trial in the High Court at Auckland.  Marketing expert Mike Hutcheson joins Jack Tame to discuss whether this was a bad move.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Coroner says the death of 19 year old Otago University student Sophia Crestani was a preventable tragedy. She died at an overcrowded flat party on Dundas Street five years ago.  Coroner Heather Mackenzie is recommending students take better safety measures at large parties.  Otago University Students' Association president, Keegan Wells, joins Jack Tame with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fears continue to grow surrounding the impact the Manawanui Defence Force ship sinking will have on Samoan sea life.  The Navy says the ship - which sunk after hitting a reef on Saturday - had 950 tonnes of diesel fuel onboard.  Samoan locals say turtles have perished and oil can be smelt on Samoan beaches, while officials are scrambling to assess the damage.  Waikato University marine scientist Chris Battershill join Jack Tame with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New South Wales government clashes with pro-Palestine group over the future of demonstrations in Sydney, the former leader of the Opposition in South Australia leaves Parliament amid a drug scandal, and Australians are being flown home on emergency flights from Lebanon.  Murray Olds is an Australian correspondent and he joins Jack Tame with all the latest.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than half of all dogs impounded in Auckland last year made it out alive, with an average of 11 euthanised each day.  Auckland Council euthanised just over 4000 dogs in the last financial year, up 50% from the year prior.  It marks the first time in a decade that more dogs were euthanised than rehomed and returned to their owners, and the council is pleading to potential owners to properly consider if they can commit to caring for a dog.  Auckland Council's manager of animal management, Elly Waitoa, has more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newsflash: Tui 'Yeah Right' billboard accused of being bad taste.  Whoa, for a moment there I thought I'd been transported back to 2006. Is it in good taste? No. Of Course not. It's a billboard for a beer company, for goodness' sake. Of course it's in bad taste. I don't think anyone has ever accused Tui of good taste. Given the extent to which the sensational details in the Polkinghorne case have scandalised the nation, it's hardly a surprise to see the billboards pop up. I'll be honest with you: It doesn't upset me. But if I were Pauline Hanna's family I might, quite reasonably, feel a bit miffed at a company trying to cash in on something related to my death.  And here's the thing: Even if it did upset me, sometimes the most effective strategy to oppose something is to contain your outrage.  I actually feel the same way about aspects of the Treaty Principles Bill. I wonder if the most extreme opposition to ACT's proposal might not ultimately help ACT's cause. And perhaps a more considered opposition might be calmer, quieter, and ultimately starve the issue from the attention upon which it'll thrive.  Tui is banking on controversy. It has literally set up a feedback line so people can voice their outrage. But if you really have a problem with their billboards... Don't give them the attention. And don't buy Tui. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 7 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.

TVNZ has today announced plans to axe its 1News website as part of a bid to save $30m.  It will invest in news for TVNZ plus as well as creating a new centre for data and AI.  Former Head of News at Newshub Mark Jennings joins Jack Tame.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have confirmed that a sighting of missing man Tom Philips and his three children was credible.  Philips and his children Ember, Maverick, and Jayda have been missing since December 2021, and this is the first time all four of them have been seen together.  Chris Budge is a private investigator looking for the missing family and he spoke with Jack Tame about the latest updates.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is still unknown as to how exactly the Manawanui ended up sinking, but Defence Minister Judith Collins is suggesting a power outage may have caused the ship to run aground.  Local authorities are conducting environmental assessments amid concerns of potential oil or chemical spills.  John Battersby from the Massey University Centre for Defence and Security Studies joins Jack Tame to discuss whether this incident will damage New Zealand's reputation.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian correspondent Oliver Petersen joins Jack Tame to discuss today's repatriation flight from Lebanon, work from home days becoming a thing of the past, and NRL expansion plans.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over one hundred projects have been selected for fast tracking through the recently announced Fast Track Approvals Bill. Housing, energy, and major infrastructure projects will take priority.  Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett and Environmental Defence Society Chief Executive Gary Taylor join Jack Tame to debate whether it's as good as it immediately seems. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I went out to Devonport for a picnic with some friends and remember pointing out the Manawanui to our kids as we crossed the harbour on the ferry.  "Look guys, that's our Navy!" Obviously, it's a great relief that everyone is okay and was able to disembark in time, and I accept it'll be some time before we learn everything about what happened. But it's hard to look past what is - from the outside - a profoundly embarrassing accident for New Zealand's Defence Force, and our country at large.  Shit happens, but the time and place really couldn't be much worse. Just 24 hours before the ship hit the reef, Defence Ministers from across the Pacific were meeting in Auckland to establish a new Pacific Response Group, a multilateral force that will respond to future disasters.  With AUKUS and tensions over China's ambitions in the region, the Australian Defence Minister was plain when I asked him about New Zealand's military assets.  "A more capable New Zealand is very much in Australia's interests" he told me, at the end of last week.  Oof. What's more, in just two weeks, leaders from across the Commonwealth's 56 member nations will be meeting for the bi-ennial CHOGM meeting in - you guessed it - Samoa. You hate to think what sightseeing they'll do with a couple of hours' free time.  So what now? It's absolutely critical, vitally important, that we do everything humanly possible to reduce the environmental impact of this incident. Everything. Every bit of kit we have available needs to be used. Every resource. And most importantly, there cannot be any quibbling over the cost of this response and recovery. We have to sincerely do the right thing by Samoa, and that's not going to come cheap.  As much of the World pours resources into defence assets, time and again, ours are proving unfit for purpose. Whether it's the woeful state of defence force housing, the perennially stranded 757s, or the Manawanui... The credibility of our Defence Force has taken an almighty battering in the last few years.  But as we respond to this crisis, the credibility of our nation is on the line, too. We had better step up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 4 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.

NZ Herald Deputy Political Editor Thomas Coughlan speaks to Jack Tame about the recent week in politics, regarding Casey Costello and release of her independent advice, no more free Covid tests, Keytruda, Parking penalties increasing, and more... LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ryanair has caused quite a stir in the UK - from May next year, passengers will need to check in by smart phone only, meaning they will no longer be able to physically check in at a counter at the airport. Currently 60 percent of their customers do check in online, but those who don't face a charge of $97 nzd. For those without smartphones, they will have to find someone who has one. Ryanair does have a policy which lets passengers check-in online 60 days before their flights. Aviation Commentator Irene King told Jack Tame that it's more convenient to check in online. He says that it is the future and as a customer himself, the only focus is to get on that aircraft therefore, it is “very sensible” for that company. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been inevitable for months now that the Ministry of Education would lose responsibility for building and maintaining schools and at first glance the government's onto a winner with its alternative plan.  The review into the state of school facilities shows only a third of the almost-500 building projects in the Ministry of education queue have been fully funded and concludes the average cost of a new classroom could rise to $1.8m over the next few years.  "That is unsustainable," it says. If indeed that price is accurate, you'd be hard pressed to find someone who disagrees. Obviously not every school is the same, there are different environmental, geological and topographical challenges that distinguish different locations, and no one is expecting a 100% standardized building model for every single classroom across the country. But a greater degree of standardization makes sense and more than anything, a new system might allow for that most important quality: transparency. At the moment, it's not always clear why some school builds are prioritized over others. Schools are pushed up and down the list at the mercy of political whims. That can't continue. Schools and school communities need clarity and certainty and any system that can provide that while improving our classroom stock and improving the learning environments for our kids has to be a good thing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up to 1,000 active-duty soldiers will join the North Carolina National Guard in delivering supplies, food and water to isolated communities. President Joe Biden consoled victims whose lives were upended by the devastation of Hurricane Helene during a Thursday visit to Florida and Georgia. At least 215 people are known to have died because of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Helene. US Correspondent Mitch Mccann told Jack Tame that Helene is the second deadliest hurricane to hit the US mainland in 50 years after hurricane Katrina. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dunedin remains in a state of emergency after seeing it's wettest day in over a century - with twice the usual October rainfall falling in just 40 hours. The red warning for North Otago, Dunedin and Coastal Clutha is in place until 11pm tonight. More than 80 people were evacuated from their homes overnight and nearly 40 roads are currently closed. Emergency Management Minister Mark Mitchell told Jack Tame that he was at Saint Clair’s golf club and witnessed them set up the evacuation centre. Mitchell says that volunteers have helped turn out stretches and look after families as they came in. "As Kiwis we always seem to stand up and respond strongly when there's a need, and that's exactly what is happening," he said. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've had a bit of time now to look at the so-called 'independent advice' released by Casey Costello on the efficacy of heated tobacco products which she's so curiously and steadfastly supported. To remind you, there is one company that has been providing these heated tobacco products in New Zealand: Philip Morris.  That company's external relations manager is the former chief of staff for New Zealand First and while Casey Costello says she has no links to the tobacco industry and that the tobacco industry has nothing to do with the policies she supports, she insists the heated tobacco products have a 'similar risk profile to vapes,' and so she wanted to see the excise tax on these products halved.  What did the official advice say? First of all, the tax side - Philip Morris had a monopoly on the market, so it was hardly surprising that Treasury pointed out there was nothing that would make Philip Morris pass on excise tax cuts to consumers. And then, the health side. The Ministry of Health could find "no compelling evidence of the devices helping to stop smoking" So then to justify such a move, halving the tax, you'd think Casey Costello would have to have some compelling evidence that Heated Tobacco Products were really effective as a smoking cessation tool, for people who weren't simply vaping instead. Except, she didn't. Her evidence included an opinion piece, an article which says heated tobacco products *might* help smokers quit but could also attract non-smokers, an outdated study that doesn't mention heated tobacco products, a study of snus (which isn't a heated a tobacco product), an article talking about Japan, which doesn't have vaping and relied on data from Philip Morris International and the Tobacco Institute of Japan, one of whose founding members was Philip Morris International.  I mean, come on - I can't recall a time when such a poor standard of evidence has been cited by a Minister advocating for this kind of legislative change. This isn't some rando backbencher, this is a Cabinet Minister. We all deserve better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid back over £6,000 ($12,000 NZD) in gifts and hospitality received since taking up the role after a controversy over donations.  Starmer is covering the cost of six Taylor Swift tickets, four tickets to the races, and a designer clothing rental agreement favoured by his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer. UK correspondent says Starmer is under pressure to improve transparency after he and some other MPs faced criticism over accepting freebies from wealthy donors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nuclear energy is experiencing a resurgence in interest amid concern surrounding shortages. Its greenhouse gas emissions are smaller than most - and  reactors produce reliable baseline electricity cheaply and efficiently. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie unpacks whether nuclear energy can have a future in New Zealand. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dunedin residents are preparing for a deluge of rain. A red heavy rain warning is in force for North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha today and tomorrow. Otago Civil Defence says people should only travel tonight if absolutely necessary - to avoid getting caught up in rising rivers or streams. The Country's Jamie Mackay says people are getting the sandbags ready ahead of the weather changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Business leaders have given their verdict on the Government in the Herald’s Mood of the Boardroom survey. Some experts have noted that as the country enters an interest-rate cutting phase, now is the time to have a discussion about the make-up of ongoing retirement savings. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says there's a clear mood for change as the economy enters a new phase. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more!  New data from the 2023 Census reveals over half the country isn't religious? Is this surprising? What do we think changed? The Mood of the Boardroom Survey results came out today, revealing Kiwi business leaders are feeling more optimistic about the economy. What do we make of this? A teenager has been arrested for running a  'smishing' scam - where fraudulent text messages are sent out en masse to get people to give up sensitive information. Should we be concerned about this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive with Jack Tame Full Show Podcast for Thursday 3 October 2024, the highest possible weather warning has been issued for Dunedin. Otago Civil Defence Group Controller Matt Alley updates Jack on the extreme rainfall and likelihood of evacuation for the region. Police are delighted at the number of new recruit applicants and to keep up with the influx, Assistant Commissioner for Leadership, Talent and Development Jill Rogers discusses the potential of a new Police College in Auckland. The Huddle reflects on the latest Census data and Nicola Willis inviting her opposition counterpart to talk on superannuation. And Nicola Willis reacts to the latest Mood of the Boardroom survey. 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.

The Finance Minister is pleased the nation's business heavyweights share her values and priorities. The Herald's annual Mood of the Boardroom survey has found CEOs and board members are more optimistic than pessimistic about the economy. But they still have concerns about things like energy, living costs, interest rates, cyber security threats and insurance costs. Nicola Willis says it's good to see New Zealand's business community agrees with the Government's optimism about the economy. "They're focused on the same things we are, which is - let's get growth happening. Investments, new jobs, more innovation, more exporting. We're on the same page." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More than half of Kiwis have no religion, new data shows. Census figures released today shows the proportion of people without religion is now at 51.6 percent. Massey University Emeritus Professor of Religion, Peter Lineham says Christianity has been declining since the 1960s. "It speeded up a tremendous amount in the period from 2006 to 2018 - and it's still going on." Lineham says the speed of people choosing no religion is reducing, suggesting other religions may be replacing Christianity. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Defence Minister says China featured in round-table talks with South Pacific partners this week.  Auckland hosted the annual meeting for ministers from Australia, Fiji, France, Chile, Tonga and Papua New Guinea. Judith Collins says everybody was very disappointed by China's recent intercontinental ballistic missile test over the Pacific Ocean.  She says New Zealand was told a few hours beforehand.  "But most of the countries over whose territory it would have flown did not know about it - and people felt that that was unwelcomed, unexpected and unnecessary  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A police college based in Auckland could be on the cards.  New intakes at the Porirua college will be bolstered next year by 20 recruits each wing to reach 100 trainees.  By late August, applications had overtaken 5,500 - more than double the number for the same period last year. But Assistant Commissioner Jill Rogers says the Porirua facility is already groaning at the seams.  "It makes sense for us to look in that Tāmaki Makaurau environment, because that's where the bulk of our people will come from. I think it's a good, sensible decision for us to start looking around there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The message is clear as heavy rain pelts the lower South - be prepared. A red-level heavy rain warning is in force for North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha. NIWA reports Dunedin has already had 75 percent of its normal monthly rainfall for October. Otago Civil Defence group controller Matt Alley said they were continuing to monitor rain as it was falling. "We have our emergency operation centre in Dunedin city and Clutha and a coordination centre in Dunedin as well, fully activated." Residents and visitors to Central Otago's Omakau and Ophir are under a Boil Water Notice for the time being and drinking water tankers are at the Omakau Domain and Swindon Street. Conserve water notices remain in place for Ranfurly, Naseby and Patearoa. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.