Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

One expert explains how Mastercard's market performance is impacted by the concerns global investors have raised. Recently, investors have been focused on slower economic growth expectations in the US, as well as regulatory risk and the impact this has on new technology like open banking. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s best young farmers are preparing to take over Waikato to battle it out at one of the country’s most prestigious farming contests. The FMG Young Farmer of the Year grand final kicks off in Hamilton on Thursday, July 11 and runs over three days. The Country's Rowena Duncum explains what to expect from the event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists say falling food prices are a certain sign inflation's going down - but we may have to wait to get the full picture. Annual food prices have decreased for the first time in six years - sliding 0.3 percent in the year ending June. Despite this, NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says more data in other industries is needed to confirm if inflation is reducing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 11 July 2024, Interislander boss Duncan Roy fronts up after a leaked memo into the Aratere grounding says an accidentally pushed button is to blame. Chris Luxon met with US president Joe Biden at the White House for dinner. Political correspondent Jason Walls has the inside word on what was talked about. BBC Rugby Commentator Chris Jones tells Heather why he thinks England can beat the All Blacks on Saturday. Plus the Huddle debates George Clooney weighing in on the Joe Biden-resignation calls. 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 Men's Health Week director Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! It's been confirmed the Interislander's Aratere ran aground after someone accidentally pushed the autopilot button and couldn't switch it off. How bad does this look? Should the company stop hiding behind inquiries? Does Joe Biden need to step down? George Clooney and Nancy Pelosi have recently added their voices to the growing list of people telling Biden he needs to drop out of the election. Do we agree? Was it an inappropriate use of taxpayer money to spend $110,000 on 15 bikes for Kainga Ora tenants? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synlait Milk will live to see another day after winning shareholder approval for a last-minute loan. The shareholders have approved the company taking out a $130 million loan from Bright Dairy, after a nail-biting waiting period. Synlait chairperson George Adams is 'relieved' the vote worked out. "It wasn't close at all, actually. We had 99.6 percent of our shareholders voting in favour. So it was a landslide." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert is weighing in on England's chances to turn their luck around against the All Blacks. Both nations have named their teams for the match, with Scott Robertson making one injury-enforced change to the starting lineup for Saturday's match. BBC rugby commentator Chris Jones says England's been on a good trajectory - and can identify what to do against the All Blacks this time. "They would have seen last weekend as a missed opportunity. The challenge now is to go - right, they can go toe-to-toe with the All Blacks, there are areas to work on. Can they fix those?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand entered the G-string debate and added 41,000 more seats to the Pacific this summer. The move comes after a New Plymouth swimming pool considered banning g-string bikinis following a petition from a concerned mum. Air New Zealand Chief Sales Officer Leanne Geraghty says they saw an opportunity and took it, claiming customers should have freedom of choice when it comes to swimwear. "We were just having a little bit of cheeky fun - we're not going to try and offend anyone, but we think it's a great way to highlight all the fabulous island destinations we have on the network." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon's enjoyed a variety of discussions with fellow leaders in Washington DC for the NATO Summit. President Joe Biden has hosted a White House dinner with NATO partners. ZB political editor Jason Walls is travelling with the Prime Minister. He says Luxon described meeting Biden, and some other interactions, in a statement to media. "He didn't go into detail in the statement as to what they talked about - but it did go on to say that he talked all things Hobbit with the Prime Minister of Italy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Interislander executives are waiting for results of full investigations into Aratere's grounding near Picton last month, and aren't being drawn on speculation. The Aratere has now arrived in Wellington, with its post grounding detention notice lifted. A leaked safety bulletin suggests the ship was accidentally put in auto-pilot before running aground. Interislander Executive General Manager Duncan Roy says he expects to hear back within the next couple of weeks. "We've had the black box which has told us the facts - and the fact is the button was pushed, that's what what we know. We'll wait for the rest of the investigation to go on, so that we know what occurred factually." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A good outcome for the Prime Minister at NATO, as he rubbed shoulders with several world leaders. Chris Luxon has met US President Joe Biden, while he hosted NATO partners at the White House. He's also spoken with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and new UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Luxon talking with Starmer has weight. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A father in Sydney has been charged with murder for allegedly setting the house fire that killed three of his children. Two boys, aged two and six, and a five-month-old baby girl died in their Lalor Park family home last Sunday. The man allegedly blocked the children from leaving the home as it burned, stopping them from running to safety. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the man was charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder after coming out of an induced coma. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has declared Cortez Ratima ready for a test debut on Saturday night. There's just one change to the side that pipped England by a point for the Eden Park rematch, with Ratima named in jersey 21 to back up Finlay Christie who replaces the crocked TJ Perenara. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what this means for the upcoming test match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has launched a new initiative designed to reduce the impact of retail crime. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed the Ministerial Advisory Group will speak with victims and business owners to form proposals on reducing offending. This will be led by Dairy and Business Owners Group chair Sunny Kaushal - who says he's grateful the Government is taking the issue seriously. "No one deserves to go to work and end up in hospital - or much worse - so we believe this is something that can be solved." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK has a 'cast iron commitment' to spending 2.5 percent of national income on defence - but won't attach a timeline to that promise. Starmer has travelled to Washington for NATO's annual summit days after he won the general election. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says there's concern a proposed review could delay these plans. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank's decision to leave the OCR in place was in line with expectations - but their tone caught markets by surprise. The Bank indicated inflation could return to the one-to-three percent threshold by the end of the year, and cuts could be coming sooner than predicted. Milford Asset Management's Katlyn Parker explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The light at the end of the tunnel could be in sight for mortgage holders after today's OCR update. The Reserve Bank left rates unchanged at 5.5 percent - but the bank has hinted cuts could be coming sooner than initially predicted. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains how the Reserve Bank's change in tone could impact borrowers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joe Biden's appearance at this week's NATO summit came with additional pressures ahead of the US election. Less than two weeks after Biden's shaky debate performance, Biden was under extra scrutiny on the world stage. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Biden sounded better during his first address - but he still has to contend with further global exposure. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Council has confirmed the venue for next year's SailGP. It's hosting the start of the Australasian leg in January after Christchurch proved too problematic and it was moved. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave addressed some concerns ahead of the event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Otago University is signalling it has the backs of staff and students when it comes to free speech. The University Council has confirmed its new Free Speech Statement, which aims to enable diverse idea exploration and encourage open exchanges. Otago University Emeritus Professor James Maclaurin says this statement was 'absolutely essential'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 10 July 2024, a lawyer acting for some of the Aratere crew is refuting the suggestion they were getting coffee when the Interislander ferry ran aground. Kiwibank chief economist Jarrod Kerr tells Heather why he's so upbeat about the Reserve Bank's OCR statement. Will we actually see interest rates drop this year? Darleen Tana breaks her silence - saying the leaks of the report against her were designed to "pressure" her. Plus the Huddle debates whether all universities should adopt a free speech approach like Otago University's. 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, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! NZ First has been making headlines over their claims the crew on the Interislander's Aratere ducked out to get coffee and didn't turn the auto-pilot off. Were these comments out of line? The University of Otago has been praised over their new Free Speech Statement, which aimed to enable diverse idea exploration and encourage open exchanges. Is this the right move? How ridiculous is the proposed closure of Manawatu's Country Kindy? Have regulations and red tape gone too far? How long do we think it will be until Darleen Tana quits Parliament for good? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has agreed New Zealand's dairy sector is 'capped out' - and investing in aquaculture is the way to go. In an interview with Newsroom, Jones claimed the aquaculture sector faced fewer barriers and offered more opportunities than other primary industries- including wool, dairy and meat. Mark Hopper from Federated Farmers says there's opportunity in aquaculture, but we shouldn't give up on the dairy sector. "We really want to get back into a position where we can see some positive growth happening across all the primary sub-sectors - they're critical for our economy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says early childhood centres are being held back by 'extraordinary' regulatory compliance standards. The Associate Education Minister issued a 'please explain' to the Ministry of Education, after Manawatu's Country Kindy faced closure. It has since been granted a 12-week continuation of operations from the Ministry. Seymour says children weren't at danger. "There's no question here that any student is in any danger, there's no health or safety issue. It all relates effectively to paperwork and compliance around the curriculum." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's promised an extra financial boost to help Coromandel’s closed Cathedral Cove track open up by summer. The popular beach has been inaccessible by land since February last year, after being damaged by landslides caused by Cyclone Gabrielle. DOC has been allocated $5 million to plan, build, reopen and maintain walking access to the cove. Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says they've done their due diligence to create the perfect short-term fix. "The first part is to get the short-term fix for Christmas this year, so we can be down there in December. The long-term fix might take a couple years to work through and figure out how to make it sustainable." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One legal expert is challenging Winston Peters' speculation about what happened to the Interislander's Aratere. The ferry ran aground near Picton in June, and its detention notice has officially lifted this afternoon. The Aratere has had inspections and tests and will make a graduated return to service - beginning with freight, then trucks, then passengers. This week, NZ First asked if someone left the ship on auto-pilot while getting a coffee - then couldn't turn it off. Maritime Union lawyer Troy Stade says the crew absolutely didn't duck out for a coffee. "And it astounds me that the acting Prime Minister would raise unsubstantiated rumour and conjecture in the middle of an active investigation." UPDATE- a leaked document revealed the autopilot button was mistakenly pressed by the crew. To learn more, click here. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's some potential light at the end of the tunnel for mortgage holders after today's Reserve Bank update. The OCR's been held in place at 5.5 percent - the eighth pause in a row. However, the Bank's tone has softened, with experts predicting inflation will make the one-to-three percent target by the end of this year. Kiwibank Chief Economist Jarrod Kerr says his bank's sticking to its November forecast for an OCR reduction. "The commentary that we saw out of the Reserve Bank today suggests they're opening the door to a rate cut earlier than they had expected." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woolworths is calling on the Government to implement tougher changes amid an increase in retail crime. The retailer says physical assaults on staff jumped 50 percent in the past year, with 329 incidents against 219 from the year before. Security Association Chief Executive Gary Morrison says the current trespass laws need updating to protect workers. "It's not just trespass rules, we're talking about citizen's arrest, we're talking about breach of the peace, etc. So there's other opportunities there... we're in discussion with Minister Mark Mitchell about the same issues." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thank goodness there is some common sense left in this country. Country Kindy has been given permission to stay open for another 12 weeks, at least. I’ve been fascinated by this story since we got wind of it at the end of last week. If you haven't been across it - last Thursday, it was announced that the Ministry of Education was going to close down Country Kindy from Monday. Then on Monday, it was announced that the kindy was taking court action to overturn the decision. And yesterday, it was announced that David Seymour had got involved in his capacity as an Education Minister, and the Ministry had agreed to allow it to stay open for the next 12 weeks while the court action takes place. Good. Because this situation is ridiculous. First of all, imagine the impact on the parents of those 22 kids who were told on a Thursday that from Monday - they need to find alternative care for their kids. Good luck trying to get kids into an early childhood centre with two days’ notice. Even in a place like Auckland with heaps of ECE’s on offer, it's hard. Never mind trying to find that in Manawatu, somewhere between Fielding and Hunterville - I don't think there's going to be a lot of kindies there. To give you an example, in Auckland I was on a waiting list for 18 months - until I cancelled it because I couldn't be bothered waiting anymore. Imagine what it's like somewhere between Fielding and Hunterville. Imagine the impact on those parents, imagine the impact on their workplaces because one of them won't be coming to work with a pre-schooler at home, and imagine the impact on those kids - who just want to go to kindy and see their friends. But worst of all of this is why the kindy was shut down. It was shut down because it failed to meet seven regulations. These include my personal favourite three: Condition 1- "a philosophy statement [that] guides the service's operation"; Condition 5- "demonstrate that adults providing education and care engage in meaningful, positive interactions to enhance children’s learning and nurture reciprocal relationships"; Condition 6 - "The practices of adults providing education and care demonstrate an understanding of children’s learning and development, and knowledge of relevant theories and practice in early childhood education". The teachers weren't beating the kids, they weren’t starving them or locking them outdoors all day, there wasn't a health and safety issue. They just didn’t write a philosophy statement, which means they need to get shut down. This is ridiculous. This is also a perfect example of A- why the early childhood sector desperately needs that red tape review that David Seymour's doing and B- what’s gone wrong with the Ministry of Education. Because apparently to them, paperwork and philosophy statements are more important than kids just being able to go to kindy. So thank goodness this place is still open, and here’s hoping the Ministry of Education gets a spanking in court. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is set to appear at this week's NATO summit, just days into his new role. It's widely expected the ongoing war in Ukraine will be top of the agenda, with growing calls for more aid coming from the region. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Starmer is expected to do well under these circumstances. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of South Island dairy company Synlait Milk is up in the air ahead of a crucial vote to ensure its survival. A special shareholders meeting will be held on Thursday to approve a $130 million loan from its biggest shareholder, China's Bright Dairy. The Country's Jamie Mackay speculates which direction the voters will go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is set to release their latest update regarding the OCR tomorrow afternoon. New Zealand's Official Cash Rate has been held at 5.5 percent for over a year, and economists don't expect that to change. Infometrics chief economist Gareth Kiernan outlined his predictions - and speculated when the Reserve Bank might introduce cuts. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and journalist Paddy Gower joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The new Three News bulletin has been out for a few days following Newshub's demise - what do we all think? What's our verdict? There's no word on whether or not Darleen Tana will resign from Parliament yet - do we think she should? Can the Greens justify letting her go with waka-jumping laws? There's speculation that Labour is considering an inheritance tax later down the line. Will people go for this? A Taranaki mother has launched a petition aimed at banning g-string bikinis at public pools. What do we make of this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 9 July 2024, Heather reveals parts of the Darleen Tana report after it was leaked to the show, and former Green MP Gareth Hughes makes a case why the Greens shouldn't force Darleen out of Parliament. Labour's considering advocating for an inheritance tax. Tax expert Geof Nightingale tells Heather who would have to pay and how much. Can you get cash out when you're with a digital bank? Dosh founder Shane Marsh tells Heather why they've applied to become NZ's first online-only bank. Plus, the Huddle debates whether G-string bikinis are acceptable at public pools after a mum started a petition to ban them. 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.

Award-winning finance app Dosh has launched a bid to become New Zealand's first locally-owned digital-only bank. The company has initiated an application to become a registered bank in New Zealand, with the goal of reducing costs for customers by cutting out physical branches. Dosh co-founder Shane Marsh says more and more users have switched over to using digital-only banking. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government aims to make virtual inspections the default for building consents across the country. Some councils have expressed reluctance around remote inspections, while others have embraced it. Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says there are mitigations in place to avoid complications. "For example, there's a geolocator function in the app that says you can pinpoint the property that's being inspected." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A legal expert says many employers struggle to deal with external threats and harassment risks. Auckland University microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles has been awarded $20,000 in damages over an employment dispute. She provided technical expertise as a commentator during the pandemic, and claims the university didn't protect her from resultant threats. Otago University Law Lecturer Dawn Duncan says the threats weren't coming from her employer, which hinders its ability to identify them and take action. "They needed to get better advice and they needed to implement it before the emergency situation happened." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert says there's a conversation to be had off the back of a proposed ban on g-string bikinis. A Taranaki mother is calling for the 'pornographic' swimwear to be barred from public pools and drew over 150 signatures in a petition. Sex and Relationship expert Jo Robertson says regardless of the outcome, it's a great conversation starter. "What do we do when our kids are seeing stuff that, maybe, we don't like? And we're all going to have different ideas about what we do and don't want our kids to see." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leaked report from the investigation into allegations former Green MP Darleen Tana was involved in migrant exploitation reveals the difficulties the investigator encountered and why it took more than 100 days to complete. The report also claims Tana’s husband, who is implicated in the allegations, gave evidence that “tended to obfuscate rather than elucidate”, which was one of the key difficulties holding up the investigation, and that Tana’s evidence “evidence shifted over the investigation”. It comes after Tana resigned from the party and Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick says she feels “utterly betrayed” and lied to by Tana, claiming the report proves the MP’s actions fell short of expectations. Tana denies the report shows she was involved in migrant exploitation and claims the party had already made its decision regardless of the report’s content. The allegations relate to Tana’s husband Christian Hoff-Nielsen’s bicycle company, in which claims of missing pay formed a complaint to the Employment Relations Authority (ERA). Hoff-Nielsen has denied the allegations. A section of investigator Rachel Burt’s report, leaked to Newstalk ZB’s Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive show, outlined the objective to ascertain whether Tana – who was reportedly involved in her husband’s business – was “operationally involved in E-Cycles NZ when the breaches of employment standards or conditions are alleged to have taken place”. Burt admitted the investigation had been “complicated” as she could not compel witnesses to speak to her or direct what documents she could receive. “Consequently, in this investigation, I was presented by some witnesses with seemingly selective or partial information, and by others with information that was voluminous and relevance unclear,” the leaked report said. She identified key difficulties being the two complainants not wanting to meet her “at the outset” and only providing certain documents and people she deemed relevant not wanting to be interviewed. Burt also found Hoff-Nielsen had not provided a “coherent or consistent verbal account” and his evidence “tended to obfuscate rather than elucidate”. Christian Hoff-Nielsen, husband of Darleen Tana. Photo / Jason Oxenham “[Tana’s] evidence shifted over the investigation with different explanations as to why that was so, requiring significant cross-referencing to earlier accounts and documentation to come to findings.” She added that a representative of a complainant also sent her 500 pages of “new and relevant” information just as she was finalising her draft report. “Consequently the investigation process took longer than anticipated, and coming to findings as required time-consuming and considered analysis.” Both Swarbrick and co-leader Marama Davidson had previously expressed frustration that the investigation had dragged on, lasting 114 days before Swarbrick spoke to media on Monday. Tana has been contacted for comment. In a statement, Green Party whip Ricardo Menéndez March said he would not provide comment on the report’s contents until “all named parties have been consulted with”. Adam Pearse is a political reporter in the NZ Herald Press Gallery team, based at Parliament. He has worked for NZME since 2018, covering sport and health for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei before moving to the NZ Herald in Auckland, covering Covid-19 and crime. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Motor Industry Association is praising changes to the Clean Car Importer Standards. The Government is softening back targets for reducing vehicle emissions, which were being enforced by fining importers of 'dirty' cars. The Association says the targets will still be tough - but easier than they were. Motor Industry Association Chief Executive Aimee Whiley says it will make it easier for importers to manage their costs. "We get our mix of zero-emissions vehicles, and we can offset the credits we earn from those to gain some of the debit penalties." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Green MP says he's baffled the party hasn't ruled out using waka-jumping laws against Darleen Tana. The party has Tana to resign as an MP, after receiving a report on her knowledge of alleged migrant exploitation at her husband's business. Tana has quit the Green Party, but says she doesn't accept the report findings. The Greens previously opposed laws that would now let them formally request Tana's removal from Parliament. Former MP Gareth Hughes says he'd be very surprised it they changed their stance. "It would be a huge departure for the Greens to use it, given their decades-long opposition to it under multiple leaders, multiple caucuses - they haven't used it in the past." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Green Party is doubling down on their calls to encourage Darleen Tana to exit Parliament. A new report from an investigation into alleged migrant exploitation at her husband's business has inspired Tana to quit the Greens. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's the right course of action for Tana should step down. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Australian outback town of Alice Springs has issued a three-night stay-at-home order after a weekend of violent incidents. These include a brawl involving 80 people and a knife attack on a 42-year-old woman. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the factors behind the crime wave are complicated - and it's unlikely the curfew will help. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NRL has ruled the Warriors should've received a penalty for a late tackle during their golden-point loss to the Bulldogs. Jaeman Salmon has received a two-match ban for dangerous contact on Te Maire Martin in an effort to pressure a field goal attempt. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the issue further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's speculation that Labour is examining the possible benefits of an inheritance tax ahead of its next party conference. The party has reportedly taken inspiration from Ireland, where people are required to pay a 33 percent tax on gifts or inheritances worth more than €335,000 ($558,00 NZD). Independent tax expert Geof Nightingale says there's good arguments for the tax - but it's not without drawbacks. "It can get very complex to administer, because it's based on valuation. It can drive some really unwelcome economic behaviours, because you've got to find cash to pay it - therefore you might sell the family business or realise some assets." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The winners of France's snap election may be certain, but deep political divisions means what'll happen next isn't clear. People are celebrating in the streets of France, after left-wing coalition - the New Popular Front - has fended off the far-right National Rally. It's a surprise result, reversing the National Rally's lead in votes last week. UK correspondent Gavin Grey explains the unprecedented final result. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synlait Milk's future is hanging in the balance ahead of an upcoming vote impacting the company. On Thursday, a shareholders meeting will take place to determine if a $130 million dollar loan from China's Bright Dairy will be approved. Synlait chair George Adams unpacks the significance of the upcoming vote. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is set to deliver its next Monetary Policy Statement regarding the OCR on Wednesday. It's expected the Bank will keep rates on hold for longer, but economists are divided on when the anticipated cuts will come. Harbour Asset Management's Shane Solly says markets are pricing in cuts, which could come between November to next February. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Housing Minister Chris Bishop is standing up for the Government's new housing policy changes, amid concerns it'll create more problems. Bishop plans to fill urban areas with development land and remove council powers to mandate boundaries and standards. He acknowledges shoebox apartments aren't ideal for everybody, but more housing is better for Kiwis. "It's about housing choice. We need smaller apartments, we need bigger apartments, we need suburban houses, we need duplexes, we need terraced houses, we need townhouses, we need big mansions - we need everything." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 8 July 2024, Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick speaks to Francesca Rudkin about THAT report into Darleen Tana, why the Greens wanted Darleen out of the Party and why they're calling on her to resign from Parliament. 40,000 Kiwis each year get their power cut off because they haven't paid their power bills, but Consumer NZ says that's not fair. NZ has a new tennis star! Lulu Sun, born in Te Anau, has made it to the quarter finals in Wimbledon - and the Te Anau Tennis Club is over the moon. Plus the Huddle debates Darleen Tana's future and how grocery producers are tricking shoppers by shrinking the size of your biscuits and increasing the air in your chippie bag. 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.