Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

There's been a growing uptick in corporations ditching their green ambitions. Volvo Cars has abandoned its ambitious target to sell only electric cars by 2030 amid a global slowdown in growth for battery-powered vehicles. Sweden has recently scrapped their aviation tax on airline tickets in a bid to reduce prices and boost availability. Griffith Business School associate professor Dr Rob Hales says more businesses have decided to keep their targets quiet amid accusations of green-washing. "Green-hushing is keeping your targets and keeping the mechanisms to try and get there a bit quiet. There's been some industry studies to show that up to 25 percent of businesses are actually disclosing, in public, what their targets are." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 5 September 2024, Stacey Morrison speaks to Heather from Tūrangawaewae after a new Māori Queen was crowned. What do we know about the 27-year old and what will she bring to the role? Watercare boss Dave Chambers fronts up after it was revealed that Watercare agreed to a secret deal to pay a Waikato iwi $20m. Prime Minister Chris Luxon calls in from South Korea where he saw North Korean rubbish balloons sent over the border. Plus, the Huddle debates whether Wellington Council was out of its mind to spend $136,000 on a new bike rack. 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.

Watercare is under fire for keeping a $20 million deal with Waikato-Tainui under wraps. It's been revealed the Auckland Council-controlled water provider last year signed up to paying $1 million a year, for two decades. The money will go into research and environmental projects in the Waikato River and catchment. It's on top of $40 million paid for clean-up projects under Watercare's river-consent agreement. Watercare chief executive Dave Chambers says they could've been more open. "As things have unfolded today - certainly if we had our time again, we would have done things in a different way." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has made a few changes ahead of Saturday’s Rugby Championship rematch against the Springboks. Beauden Barrett and TJ Perenara have been benched, Sevu Reece and Cortez Ratima will be starting and Wallace Sititi will take the number 6 jersey. ZB sports commentator Elliott Smith says Razor is focused on getting the last 20 minutes of the match right - an error that cost the All Blacks last week's game. "Very much about getting the experience in the last 20-25 minutes of the test match to try and close it out - this is what the Springboks have done very well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PwC has identified accounting irregularities, complexities and a lack of auditing at failed Auckland property development group, Du Val. This first receiver's report says one area of concern is related-party transactions. BusinessDesk reporter Maria Slade says PwC has identified a $15 million intellectual property transaction between a trust belonging to founders Kenyon and Charlotte Clarke - and another entity. "It was a loan, and apparently there's no accounting records or anything to show where the funds came from. The loan is now $5 million - where did that other $10 million go and what was it for? Nobody knows." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kīngi Tuheitia's youngest child has ascended the throne to become the new Māori Queen. 27-year-old Ngā Wai hono i te pō has been anointed, and her father laid to rest alongside his ancestors on Maungataupiri. Broadcaster Stacey Morrison says the young Queen is well-known. She says she stands out when she performs kapa haka. "That's when she is really firing and you go - wow, this is someone who has very strong will and character. I see in her a quiet and humble strength." Tamaki Makaurau's Sky Tower is turning off all except aircraft warning lights tonight, to mark Tuheitia's burial. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington ratepayers have reportedly paid more than $550,000 on the upgrade of a 32m laneway to accommodate a new designer bike rack and two extra motorbike parks. Work to install the bike rack in Wellington's Shell Lane, off The Terrace was carried out earlier this year - in addition to extra upgrades around the area, new security cameras and new motorbike parks. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper unpacks the 'wasteful' spending on part of the council. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian breakdancer Raygun is speaking out about the negative global reaction to her Olympic performance. Rachael Gunn says many people didn't understand her performance - and she was saddened to see how much hate it evoked. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson voiced his disapproval with her rise to fame. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby's embracing the support in Cape Town - as it remains a stronghold of All Blacks fandom. The All Blacks are set to play their second match against the Springboks this weekend, with New Zealand hoping to turn their luck around. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave weighs up the odds ahead of the big clash. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister's welcoming support from a billionaire admirer. Elon Musk replied to a tweet by Chris Luxon this week - about being in Malaysia. The founder of SpaceX and Tesla wrote he likes the new New Zealand PM, adding he has good energy and talks directly to the public. Speaking from South Korea, Luxon was pleased to hear of the boost. "That's great, I'll take support from anyone. But more importantly, I'm just focused on the job and getting things done." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having watched Raygun the Aussie breakdancer’s first big interview, which aired on The Project in Australia last night - I think it's pretty clear that you should not waste your emotions feeling sorry for her because she is making the most out of this. The natural inclination, obviously, is to feel sorry for her, because she completely embarrassed herself jumping around like a kangaroo on the Olympic stage and she's since been the subject of a global pile-on, countless jokes at her expense and even some accusations about her rigging her entry into the Olympics, which seem to be unfounded. But Raygun does not appear to be particularly ground down by this situation at all. On the contrary - in that interview, she seems to be kind of enjoying the ride. She says there have been some tough times, but on the other hand - she's quite enjoying getting messages from Richard Branson telling her her performance was 'plucky' and that he'd like to have her on some cruises with Boy George sometime. As she says - what is life? And that, by the way, is the least of what’s going on for Raygun. She's already signed with a talent management agency, she is apparently the subject of a fierce bidding war between TV networks who want to sign her - including Dancing with the Stars, who are desperate to have her on. She's been the subject of a skit on Jimmy Fallon's show, Adele mentioned her on stage, she's been in so many international newspapers, I completely lost count. She is now one of the most famous athletes to emerge from the Paris Olympics, if not the most famous. I actually admire her, if I'm honest with you. She is delivering a masterclass in how to handle online abuse and attention. Take the lemons, make some lemonade. All too often, people read the trolls and let it grind them down and then they go to the media and whinge about it. Raygun's not doing that, she's milking this for all it's worth. Good on her. So don’t feel sorry for her - Raygun might've lost at the Olympics but she is winning at life after the Olympics. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The final report on the Grenfell disaster is set to be published - six years after the inquiry began hearing evidence about what caused the incident. The fire caused the deaths of 72 people in a London tower block fire in 2017. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the report will examine how the tower block came to be in a condition that allowed the fire to spread. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new survey by ASB indicates Kiwis aren't expecting house prices to pick up again anytime soon. According to ASB's Housing Confidence survey, a net 13 percent of respondents believe house prices will go up - down more than 30 percent compared with last quarter. A net 20 percent of respondents now expect lower interest rates and only a net 8 percent think now is a good time to buy. ASB chief economist Nick Tuffley says falling interest rates haven't inspired confidence in sellers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US market is up almost 16 percent on the year - but big names like Starbucks, Nike, and Lululemon have been struggling. The consumer discretionary sector has jumped 4 percent, with a number of companies being dubbed 'fallen angels'. Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor explains how investors can proceed. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Savers have rushed to lock in high interest rates ahead of the Reserve Bank cutting the OCR for the first time in more than four years. New RBNZ data shows households put an extra $2.1 billion in term deposits in July - which saw the amount of money held in term deposits rise to a record $136 billion. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains why people have been making these choices. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Commerce Minister says a third big player in our supermarket sector is unlikely to come from overseas. A first annual Commerce Commission report on the grocery market has found no meaningful improvement in competition. It wants New Zealand's two major operators - Foodstuffs and Woolworths - pressured more and for it to be made it easier for a third to enter. Minister Andrew Bayly says overseas giants like Aldi aren't interested in moving over to New Zealand. "I've been talking to one or two other players who could possibly come to New Zealand - but right now, I couldn't put my hand on my heart and say there are lots of people lining up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and podcaster Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we appreciate trigger warnings in our media - or have they gone too far and ruined things? The Commerce Commission's first Annual Grocery Report found retail margins are increasing and profitability is still high for the big supermarket chains. Can we find a solution to this? A young Christchurch couple found $230,000 in their new home - and are fighting to keep it. Do they have a case, or do they need to hand it over to the police? AUT is offering Australasia's first paper on Taylor Swift. Is this all that is wrong with universities nowadays - or a valuable subject? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 4 September 2024, the Grocery Commissioner tells Heather Kiwis are still being ripped off at the supermarket checkout. A lawyer weighs in on the question of whether you should have to give up cash you find after a couple found $230,000 stashed away in the roof of their new house. Police want the cash forfeited because it might be linked to crime. Hollywood actor Matt Smith has weighed in on the debate of trigger warnings, saying they "dumb down" TV shows and movies. Psychologist Dougal Sutherland reckons they're actually counterproductive. Plus the Huddle debates whether AUT's new course on Taylor Swift is cool or everything that's wrong with education these days. 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.

'Trigger warnings' on sensitive content have been thrust into the spotlight after Hollywood actor Matt Smith criticised their use. The House of the Dragon star claimed giving viewers 'trigger warnings' has left TV shows 'dumbed-down'. Clinical psychologist Dougal Sutherland says these warnings aren't particularly useful - and can create problems in their own right. "What they do do is they increase people's anxiety in advance of something coming up, and that people don't end up avoiding looking up at or watching the thing you're supposed to be not looking at." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early childhood education providers are hopeful ending pay parity for relievers will allow more permanent roles. From October, only permanent part-time or full-time certified teachers will be paid according to the pay parity policy. The Early Childhood Council says 74 percent of its members support the exclusion. Chief executive Simon Laube approves of removing this educational 'red tape'. "You just create an inducement for them to leave teaching and become relievers if you do - so there's some real common sense today." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's new insights into New Zealand's ancient fauna from a 20-year dig. An international team of palaeontologists researching the St Bathans fossil site in Central Otago have concluded kakapo, small wrens, bats and freshwater limpets arrived well before other well known species - like kiwi and moa. Canterbury Museum Senior Natural History Curator Paul Scofield says they also uncovered signs of other surprising animals living here. "We had two species of crocodile - and we believe that they most likely became extinct at the beginning of the ice age about two or three years ago." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a very big call on the supermarkets today - the Grocery Commissioner has accused them of ripping us off. Now, a lot of people will probably agree with that and think - what of it? But there's a difference between you or I feeling ripped off when you’re standing in front of the olive oil looking at a price of $30 and someone like the Grocery Commissioner saying it out loud on the radio. It's a very big call - and for someone like him to do that, he's got to have the proof. And he reckons he does. It's been two years since the last Government starting cracking down on supermarkets, but instead of things getting better, they're getting worse. The margins that supermarkets are making off of us are going up, they're not paying their suppliers a hell of a lot more, but they're charging you and I a hell of a lot more. That's the opposite of what's supposed to happen. Which is to say - that crackdown didn't work. And that is no surprise to anyone with half a brain who was watching what the last Government did. The minister was David Clark - yes, the mountain-biker himself - and what he did to fix the grocery system was to set up the Grocery Commissioner, bring in a mandatory code of conduct, put in compulsory unit pricing and forced more transparent loyalty schemes. Who thought that was going to make a difference? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to tell you that wasn't going to change anything. We said on this very show that that ain't gonna change nothing. And here we are - it didn't work. Now I'm not pessimistic about this. Because out of all the things that David the bike rider did that might make a difference - he did set up the Grocery Commissioner. And there is nothing like personal ambition and reputation to motivate someone. And I get the feeling Pierre van Heerden might realise he needs to get this right for his own sake and his own reputation. So I suspect that what comes next might be a bit more promising. And I'm taking heart from the strong language he’s used today. But as always... time will tell. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Grocery Commissioner says the returns our big supermarkets get on assets is about double what overseas equivalents make. The Commerce Commission's first annual report into the grocery market shows competition hasn't meaningfully improved. It flags increasing margins and high profitability. Pierre van Heerden says overseas grocers make less because they have more competition. "The return on assets is about 11 percent vs 5.5-6 percent overseas." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for August 2024 shows support for the coalition Government has gone up in August. National's approval rating has jumped 3.5 points to 36 percent and support for NZ First increased 1 point to 7.5 percent - but support for ACT dropped 1.5 points to 9.5 percent. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the poll shows the coalition has generated more support by male voters than female voters. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the US, universities are trying to clamp down on student protests as the new academic year starts up. University leaders are expecting a new wave of protests as the conflict between Israel and Hamas rages on in Gaza. US correspondent Logan Church says security has tightened up at New York universities - with police guarding the campuses. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new touring proposal between New Zealand and South Africa has been reached, according to new reports. New Zealand will tour South Africa in 2026 with eight-games proposed - including three tests between the All Blacks and Springboks, before New Zealand hosts South Africa in 2030. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finders keepers may not apply, as a young Christchurch couple fight to keep $230,000 they found in their roof. Open Justice reported that an electrician found five sealed plastic bags of cash, which the couple reported to authorities. Police took out a civil court case under the Criminal Proceeds Recovery Act, believing the cash is the product of crime - from previous gang links to the property. AUT law expert Warren Brookbanks says normally in these kind of cases, the couple would be the rightful owners. "But this is in a different league, because this is a significant sum of money - which is clearly up there for no good purpose." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK Government is committed to cracking down on mobile phone thefts, after a significant spike in incidents. New data shows at least 80,000 people have had their phones snatched out of their hands - with only one percent of these cases resulting in arrest. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the police can't arrest their way out of this epidemic, so manufacturers have been enlisted to build on anti-theft technology. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's GDP data is set to be released tomorrow - and experts are outlining their predictions. This follows last week's inflation data, which is currently at 3.8 percent for the year to July. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham is predicting weak economic growth, but rate cuts aren't looking very likely. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Growing global demand for dairy products and a flat milk supply could be setting the stage for a near-record farm gate milk price this season. With nine months left in the 2024-2025 season, Jarden and ANZ have outlined their predictions ahead of the latest GDT austion. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's chief financial officers have revealed their thoughts in a first of its kind survey. Hunter Campbell's report reveals 42 percent expect challenging conditions with positive opportunities over the next year. The survey also revealed 41 percent of CFOs met or exceeded their revenue growth target in 2024. Infometrics Brad Olsen says they provided a range of concerns including costs, regulation, infrastructure and crime. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra is set to invest $150 million to build a new plant at its Edendale site in Southland to meet growing demand from Asia. The plant will produce UHT cream - a product that expected to experience growing demand over the next decade. Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says this venture will open up at least 70 new jobs in the area. "We've got a strong pipeline of people coming through right across the country." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kiwiblog contributor and Curia pollster David Farrar and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! New Zealand's spy agency has issued a warning about potential foreign interference in the country. Are we too relaxed about potential threats? The Government has pushed up the tourism levy - it'll go up from $35 to $100 by October. Is this a good call - or will it hurt the economy? New data shows that more couples over 50 are getting divorced - why do we think this is? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 3 September 2024, the Government is hiking the tourism levy to $100 - against advice from the industry. But Tourism Minister Matt Doocey tells Heather it's not going to lead to fewer visitors. The boss of NZ's spy agency tells Heather there's a "realistic possibility" of a terrorist attack in New Zealand... and who's the most likely person to attempt such an attack. The number of liquidations is up almost 20% year on year. Auckland Chamber of Business boss Simon Bridges says an IRD crackdown might be to blame. Plus, the Huddle debates why more and more people in their 50s are getting divorced ... is menopause to blame or men not emptying the dishwasher? 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 pleas from the Security Intelligence Service to report threats to national security. Their annual Insights report warns a small number of people subscribe to a range of violent extremist ideologies. The report reveals it's increasingly assessing individuals supporting violence as having a mixed, unstable or unclear ideological outlook. Director-General of Security Andrew Hampton says people mostly don't act. But he warns sometimes they might. "The key message we want to get across is - if, within your community or your family, you're concerned about someone because they may be engaging in extremist material, that you do raise that with us of the police." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inland Revenue is being asked not to seesaw on its stance, with rising liquidations across the country. Centrix's July figures reveal business liquidations are up 19 percent overall year-on-year. They sparked spiked sharply in Auckland in the second quarter, up 33 percent annually. Auckland Chamber of Commerce CEO Simon Bridges says he thinks IR's hard-line approach is behind a majority of closures. "I think it's probably a movement from Covid settings, where, like the RBNZ, they realised they overdid it one way and they came back in hard on the other way." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, the Government has done the thing that the tourism industry was hoping they wouldn't do and increased the visitor levy - the amount that tourists pay to come here - from $35 bucks to $100.That is the high end of what they were considering. The Government could have gone with $50, or $70, or just left it at $35. But they went full noise to $100. Now in principle, I'm on board with this. I've long thought tourists need to pay more for what they use here, because if they're not paying for it, we're subsidising them. How long have we talked about the poor punters in Queenstown who have to pay for the roads the tourists jam up, the water infrastructure that tourists get to use to have a nice time, the public toilets the tourists use - it's not fair for ratepayers to have to subsidise an industry.But I don't think now is the time to be doing this. For some reason, tourists just aren't coming back here like we thought they would. Five years on from Covid really starting, our tourism numbers are only back to about 80 percent, and we don't know when they'll get back to 100 percent. Meanwhile over in Australia, they reckon they’ll be back to 100 percent in three months. But for some reason, we're still lagging.Our attractiveness as a tourism destination has deteriorated, and it's perplexing. Even the experts can't work this out. Part of the problem is that China isn't flying like it used to - and another reason is that this isn't the only extra cost the Government has lumped on tourists. Just last month, it increased the cost of tourists getting a visa to come here. Now people in places like China, if they were to bring a family of five - it would now cost them $2200 just for the paperwork before they arrive. I don't think making New Zealand more expensive right now, while we’re struggling to recover, is a smart idea. Especially because we need to recover - we’re in our third recession in two years, we need the money. Frankly, this feels like a short-sighted money grab to try to balance the Government's books. It's short-sighted because it will help make the books look better today - but won’t help bring in the tourists tomorrow.So yes on principle, but the timing is way off. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A New Zealand entrepreneur and former Waitakere City Mayor are getting behind a waka-shaped museum on Auckland's waterfront. Sirs Ian Taylor and Bob Harvey say a mega attraction on Wynyard Point could be Auckland's answer to the Sydney Opera House. Sir Ian says he wants to explore its commercial viability. He says he wouldn't want the Government to have to fork out for it. "It could be an iwi, it could be a fully commercial operation - there are examples all over the place where that works." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Tourism Minister says the extra money from increased overseas visitor fees will be funnelled back into the industry. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy rises next month from $35 to $100 next month. Matt Doocey says $100 is less than three percent of a visitor's total spend. "Ultimately, this levy will be reinvested into both tourism pressures - but also, the conservation estates, which a large part of people travel to New Zealand for. So we'll be delivering a better product." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's pushing ahead with plans to triple the tourism tax in a bid to make overseas visitors pay for regional infrastructure upkeep. The International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy will go from the current $35 to $100 per visit from next month. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper theorises why the Government has implemented these changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian Government is looking to ban gambling advertising under new reforms set to hit Cabinet. Online advertising would be banned immediately - and TV promotions would be banned within two years. Australian correspondent Sam Emery isn't sure if a blanket ban is the way to go - given how many sectors rely on the money generated by the gambling industry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa Rugby has offered a mea culpa for the haka being drowned out by music, fireworks and a plane on Sunday morning. They have conceded the cacophony shouldn’t have happened, writing an apology and explaining the gaffe was a result of human error and a failure to observe scheduling. Sportstalk's D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the statement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data has revealed a number of Kiwi couples are ending their marriages later in life. Stats NZ shows the amount of divorces that involved people aged 50+ last year was 39.9 percent - up 7.1 percent in 10 years. Bastion Chambers lawyer Jeremy Sutton says children growing up and leaving home can put stressors on a marriage. "Once the last child has left home, that's often the catalyst to see if they've got the same interests or not. One party is often wanting to continue working in some way, while the other party is happy to do other things - maybe travel, maybe spend time with family." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Germany's far-right has secured its first state parliament win since the second World War. The anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany won a third of the vote in the eastern state of Thuringia - but may not be able to form a Government. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this news has sent shockwaves across the EU. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement village operator Ryman Healthcare is raising prices and slowing down construction efforts to repair its financial holes. The company has raised its deferred management fee (DMF) and made three senior executives redundant in order to get profits back up. Ryman Healthcare executive chair Dean Hamilton says people are living longer and staying longer - and they need to restructure to address that. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Markets around the world are pricing in potential cuts to interest rates. Last Friday saw PCE inflation in the US rise 0.2 percent over the month to be up 2.6 percent on a year ago, bolstering federal rate cut expectations. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly explains why this has been happening. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayer's Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we need tighter regulations around 'dynamic pricing'? The UK Government has announced investigation after Oasis tickets went on sale. Do we agree with this move? The Government's new transport plan cuts funding for speed bumps - do we need to cut corners here? There's outrage as one Wellington hospital stops offering new mothers toast after they've given birth. How bad does this look? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says she's determined to ensure the health system is as efficient and effective as possible. A survey by the General Practice Owners Association says 83 percent of respondents are worried about their long-term viability - with 89 percent of them planning to increase patient fees Willis has promised the health system will look significantly different by the end of this year. "I think it's going to be a big turnaround job.. but I think by the end of this term of Parliament, you will be seeing significant improvements." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 2 September, the College of Midwives defended giving new mothers tea and toast after one Wellington hospital stopped offering it. Transport Minister Simeon Brown unveiled the National Land Transport Plan - and explained why funding for speed bumps had to be cut. More GPs have voiced concerns about their long-term viability, according to new data. The All Blacks' clash against South Africa was marred by noises above the stadium disruprting the haka. Former All Black Steve Gordon explained why this was 'disrespectful' to the team. Later, the Huddle debates whether 'dynamic pricing' needs to be regulated. 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.

I'm going to be fascinated to see what comes of the Oasis ticketing fiasco in the UK - but I imagine it would be nothing. What's happened is that Oasis tickets went on sale this weekend for as low as $280, but after spending hours in the online queues to get the tickets, they were $710 by the time people got to buy them - plus fees on top of that. And people are furious. Because what a lot of people don’t realise is that Ticketmaster uses what's called 'dynamic pricing'. It works like Uber's surge pricing - when no one wants to buy the tickets, they're cheap. When everyone wants to buy them from around the world, they jack up the price.It's just basic supply and demand.The Government over in the UK heard how upset people got and have now promised a review of it - and this is where I think it’ll get interesting.What are they going to find, that Ticketmaster's done something wrong here?Plenty of businesses do this. I just named Uber, the price for hotels goes up on the weekends, prices for resorts in Fiji go up in the school holidays, airlines raise their prices the fewer and fewer seats they have left on a flight - the more people want, the fewer things are available, so they jack up the prices.So you probably can’t argue they’re doing anything wrong in jacking up the Oasis ticket pricesThere may be an argument that they're doing something wrong by not being transparent about it. They're not telling you they’re doing it, they're not telling you how they're doing it - and maybe you can argue there. But is forcing them to be transparent going to bring the price down? Probably not.The fact is, people from around the world tried to buy Oasis tickets on Saturday night - it was in demand.As much as I hate being ripped off, can we really argue Ticketmaster did anything wrong here? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.