Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

US President Joe Biden recently unveiled a halt to asylum-processing at the U.S. border with Mexico when illegal entries reach a certain threshold. About 4,000 people already are entering the U.S. each day. Biden has received Republican criticism over an unprecedented surge in new arrivals in an election year. US Correspondent Dan Mitchinson told Heather du Plessis-Allan the cartels are offering ‘VIP packages’ for trafficking illegal immigrants across the border. He said “Experts say the return on investment for trafficking humans has overtaken drugs.” LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Super Rugby finals clash is tomorrow night at Eden Park – selling out hours after tickets went on sale. A crowd of more than 44,000 is expected – with many coming up from Hamilton for the event. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine told Heather du Plessis-Allan “I think Blues will win – they've got a lot stacked in their favour – it's a home game, they’ve had an extra day of rest.” Pine said “They’ve got their inspirational skipper back – after a fortnight.” He said “Having said all of that – The Chiefs are a good team, with more genuine gamebreakers – it could come down to moments.” LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Well, Transpower has given us a master class in how to look guilty, hasn't it? I mean, come on. Who doesn't now think that the crew took the bolts out of the leg, which caused the thing to fall over, which caused the entire region of Northland to lose power? And why do we think that? Because Allison Andrew, the Chief Executive, sounded guilty as all hell in her media interviews this morning. “I didn't want to talk about it, it's really unhelpful to speculate at the moment, we have to focus on the power restoration.” - I mean, come on. In 2024, when modern communication is in your pocket – no one believes that Allison Andrew doesn't already know what happened. Of course she does. If she doesn't, then she sucks at her job. Because in any decent organisation, the first thing that happens when there is a major snafu is the boss calls the points person who's on the ground and gets a preliminary idea of what happened. And they do that because if there’s a bigger problem, they need to know what happened. You cannot tell me that Allison Andrew, the chief executive, was like, “Oh, did you call them? No, don't tell me. It's not helpful. I'll wait for the investigation.” No one can tell me Allison Andrew did not want to know what happened. If she's or any good at her job, she already knows. So why didn't she just fess up this morning? She had multiple interviews, pulled the same lines and looked so guilty. The reason, I would guess, is that Transpower is trying to bury the details until we've moved on and lost interest. Because right now we are at peak interest. Not everyone's got their power back yet. And we've all seen the pictures on Reddit, haven't we? So we're all super interested right now, but fast-forward two weeks, two months... God only knows how long their investigation is going to take. Now, all of a sudden, it's not so interesting, right? And that is what they're banking on. But it's backfired on them. Because instead of burying the info this morning, Allison Andrew just left us with the with the impression that, “Yep. It was them.” They just don't want to say it. And look, there is always the chance that the investigations will find that it wasn't them. Maybe. You never know. But we all think it was them now, don't we? LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rocket Lab is entering a league of its own --reaching 50 space launches in the shortest space of time. Its latest electron rocket launched this morning from the Mahia Peninsula, is taking a French satellite into orbit. Rocket Lab’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Morgan Connaughton, told Heather du Plessis-Allan “A lot of rockets don’t get past ten – and we're talking globally here – it's a massive deal.” Connaughton said “To get there faster than anyone else... it puts us up there with the best rocket companies in the world – it's us, and Space X.” LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pair of Just Stop Oil protestors painted two jets orange at a London airport, hours after Taylor Swift touched down for her next tour stop. The climate activists carried out the vandalism with fire extinguishers, in an act reminiscent of their previous protest at Stonehenge. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this will likely spark an investigation into the group. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert says investors have had to pay more attention to their long-term goals this year. Ongoing inflation and changing economies have led investors to chop and change their short-term predictions as 2024 went on. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister Shane Jones is still keen to bring back live animal exports sooner rather than later. In an interview on The Country, Jones made it clear in no uncertain terms that live animal exports would be good for the economy. The Country's Jamie Mackay explained further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's GDP grew 0.2 percent in March, according to new data. This officially takes the country out of a technical recession, but on a per-capita basis, it went backwards 0.3 percent. Experts predict a weak economy for the latter half of this year. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says the economy isn't likely to bounce back just yet. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has launched a new review designed to ensure earthquake-prone buildings are up to standard. The current NBS system has run into controversy, with the inadequate review of a Wellington hospital unit sparking concerns. Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says the current standards are very complicated - and he aims to make it easier for people. "In a lot of cases, people simply can't afford to remediate, they're not necessarily allowed to do that in the way that they want or need, sometimes they can't even demolish it because of heritage status." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 20 June 2024, Finance Minister Nicola Willis reacts to news that our economy grew 0.2% in the first quarter, lifting NZ out of recession. The power is out across large parts of Northland - Energy Minister Simeon Brown says it could take a few days to bring everybody back on line. Are police closing in on finding Marokopa dad Tom Phillips and his missing kids? The Huddle debates whether Wellington Council's Chief Executive is entitled to withhold information from elected councillors. Plus, Blues coach Vern Cotter talks to Heather ahead of the Super Rugby Final against the Chiefs. 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, David Farrar and Mark Sainsbury joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Wellington Council's CEO is under fire for trying to hide information from councillors. Is this a bad move? GDP rose 0.2 percent, bring New Zealand out of technical recession. Is this good news for the economy - or is the worst yet to come? The Just Stop Oil protestors were caught vandalising Stonehenge, with two arrested. Is throwing paint on a historical landmark a step too far?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's nerves in the air as the Blues gear up for their Super Rugby final this weekend. It's been 21 years since the franchise lifted a full Super Rugby title - something they can end against the Chiefs at a sold-out Eden Park on Saturday. Blues head coach Vern Cotter says the team are hoping to play well, but they've seen what the Chiefs can do on the field. "We know it's a final and finals are played with utmost intensity... we've locked that in and the boys are trained well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ministers are keeping a close eye on Wellington City Council, over a stoush between councillors and officials. Some around the council table claim CEO Barbara McKerrow is withholding information from them. She'd devised new protocols limiting information councillors could request from officials. The proposal's been withdrawn after Local Government Minister Simeon Brown labelled it 'appalling'. Brown says it should never have happened. "The CEO of the council needs to realise that she is not elected, and that the councillors and the mayor is." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police don't think a letter from Tom Phillips is recent, or relevant to their search for him and his three children. Their mother, Cat, posted the letter on social media, while begging the public to help. Searches around Marokopa continue, with the $80,000 reward for information expiring in five days. Newshub reporter Karen Rutherford is in Marokopa - and she says there are strong indicators an end to the search is near. "They know who they're looking for and they know who they're targeting with this $80,000 reward. They are hoping that someone in that wider circle will cave." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says there's still better days to come for the economy as New Zealand exits a technical recession. Stats NZ figures show GDP rose 0.2 percent in the three months to March, and the same amount for the year. Minister Nicola Willis says it's still tough out there for Kiwi workers - and the Government still has work to do. "Good news is - the Government is doing everything right, we are forecasting inflation to come back under band. That means interest rates can drop and growth will recover." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New GDP data shows New Zealand's out of a technical recession - but the nation's not out of the woods just yet. Stats NZ figures show GDP rose 0.2 percent in the three months to March, and the same amount for the year. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it's a good result for the new Government, but there's room for a bigger victory. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are on the hunt as details about a deadly road rage accident in NSW continue to emerge. Authorities have revealed a 27-year-old was killed after he got out of his vehicle to respond to threats from the driver following him. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says witnesses have claimed the alleged killer was driving a ute - and an appeal has been made for dashcam footage. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A leaked letter has revealed NZ Football plans to start a 'restorative process' to repair rifts within the Football Ferns weeks out from the Olympics. The moves were outlined in a letter NZ Football chief executive Andrew Pragnell sent to players after an employment investigation into coach Jitka Klimkova. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave speculates about what might come next. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Just Stop Oil protestors have been arrested after the vandalisation of Stonehenge. Activists from the group were caught spraying the monument with orange powder paint - and Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer have condemned the incident. Extinction Rebellion Auckland member Caril Cowan is defending Just Stop Oil, claiming the paint they used did no permanent damage. "It's making a point that we've got a climate crisis. 80 percent of our population is concerned about the climate... and yet we've got Governments not only here in New Zealand, but around the world, who are just stalling." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, inflation has hit the Reserve Bank's target for the first time in nearly three years. Prices rose by 2 percent in the year to May, down from the previous 2.3 percent. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says these stats will likely come into play ahead of July's general election. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Luxon's managed to find himself in hot water after some off-colour comments about previous business delegations. Ahead of his trip to Japan, the Prime Minister said the calibre was lacking in earlier delegations, labelling prior groups 'C-list'. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains why Luxon's comments seemed particularly awkward. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The second carbon auction of the year failed with no bids made. 4,075,700 New Zealand Units were on offer at the June auction - prompting zero interest from potential buyers. ANZ agricultural economist Susan Kilsby explains why the market didn't feel the need to turn up for this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former market darling Lululemon's been having a rough year, with shares plummeting 40 percent in 2024. The famed athleisure brand is experiencing a drop in popularity after five years of steady growth. Milford Asset Management's Stephanie Batchelor says this is down to inventory missteps and people turning away from discretionary spending. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 19 June 2024, Cricket boss Scott Weelink speaks to Heather after Kane Williamson relinquished his Black Caps captaincy. The PM is in hot water after saying some business delegations on past overseas trips were "C-list". But Barry Soper reckons he might have a point. The Huddle debates whether the Greens are a bunch of hypocrites after asking to use private carparks of some Wellington businesses. Plus, should you wear your boxers as shorts next summer? Vogue reckons you should. 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, Jack Tame from ZB's Saturday Mornings and Q&A and Newshub journalist Paddy Gower joined in on a discussion about the following issue of the day - and more! Prime Minister Luxon's found himself in hot water after calling previous business delegations 'C-list' before heading off to Japan. Is this a bad look for him? Kane Williamson is relinquishing the Black Caps captaincy in order to make more money playing in overseas tournaments. Is this the right move for him? The Greens have been caught asking local Wellington businesses to borrow their parking spaces for a party event after scrapping on-street parking for their cycleway. How hypocritical is this? More people are wearing boxer shorts as shorts - are we into this fashion trend? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in North Korea for his first visit to the country since 2000. The US and South Korea are accusing North Korea of agreeing to supply Russia with weapons, possibly in exchange for food and military aid. Otago University International Relations Professor Robert Patman says Putin's visit is likely for consolidating military support from North Korea. "In return, I think North Korea will want Mr Putin to provide advanced technologies, particularly for their space program - but also would want a substantial flow of Russian oil and food products." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several Greens members have been caught asking to use the private carparks belonging to Wellington retailers for a party event. These retailers were impacted by Green-led cycleway project, which took away on-street parking in the area. Independent Business and Residential Group chairwoman Urmila Bhana says this cycleway has negatively impacted several businesses. "Businesses are down 60, 80, 100 percent, they're either moving, closing, or heading into liquidation. And that's nothing to do with the recession, it's the carpark removal." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Computer chip producer Nvidia is now the world's most valuable company - overtaking Apple and Microsoft. Shares climbed 3.5 percent on Tuesday, making it worth $3.35 trillion (USD). The surge is driven by optimism about its AI technology. Sharesies co-founder, Leighton Roberts, says he can't predict whether it will fall as quickly as it's risen. He says it's hard to judge, but believes a lot of excitement is still to come. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink is calling for dedicated windows for international and domestic cricket. Black Cap Kane Williamson has turned down a central contract to pursue an overseas T20 league opportunity in January - but will still be available for most international fixtures. Williamson follows Trent Boult in doing so, and with Lockie Ferguson to do the same, Weenink says it's vital to achieve a universal approach to the calendar. "That's where I'd like to see us go. I think it's really important for the future of cricket that we get some windows agreed - which prioritise international cricket with domestic cricket playing around international cricket." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A North Shore Hospital is opening - without the staff or money to care for extra surgery patients. The two-storey Tōtara Haumaru has eight surgical theatres, an endoscopy suite and 150 beds. But Health New Zealand delayed its opening in April, saying it hadn't determined an operating budget, nor staff to run it. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists Chief Executive, Sarah Dalton, says problems won't ease anytime soon. "They'll say it's not a freeze, but it's as close as you can get without seeing ice. So recruitment has really slowed down and money is very tight." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Prime Minister concedes he could have used better words to describe past business delegations. Before setting off to Japan, Chris Luxon told Newstalk ZB the calibre of contingents had been lacking in recent years describing them as watered down to the 'C-list'. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it was a mistake for Luxon to insult his own voting base ahead of his own business delegation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boeing's chief executive Dave Calhoun was questioned by members of the US Senate over the various safety issues and incidents impacting the company. Calhoun was quick to apologise to the impacted victims and their families, following a turbulent year for the business. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says this won't be the last of the high-profile investigations against Boeing. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Blues have dropped a selection bombshell for the Super Rugby final - with Patrick Tuipulotu named to start two weeks into what was expected to be a six-to-seven week recovery for a medial ligament tear in his right knee. Tuipulotu - who limped off in the quarter-final against the Drua - starts in the second row against the Chiefs on Saturday night, with Josh Beehre dropping to the reserves. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this news. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tough day for Christchurch sailing fans, who've watched SailGP in Lyttelton for the past two years. It's been confirmed the event is leaving the city. ChristchurchNZ Destination and Attraction General Manager, Loren Aberhart, says the main issue was the Marine Protection Act. "It has restricted the ability to race in Lyttelton, because it's a marine mammal sanctuary." SailGP says it's working to finalise next year's destinations through discussions with New Zealand and international partners. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You can hardly begrudge Kane Williamson, can you, for finally deciding he wants to prioritise making money over wearing the black shirt?The guy has more than put in his time with the Black Caps. He's been in the squad since 2010, he's been the captain since 2016, you can’t fault his effort. The same actually is true for Lockie Ferguson, he's been in the squad since 2016 himself.And we’ve got used to this idea through rugby, haven't we? Where the players do their time in the black and then head off and make their money around the world. That is simply what these guys are doing.But- this isn't to say there isn't something bigger going on here, it's just another example of what’s coming for us. We've been talking about this on the show for basically two years, this is the footballisation of cricket. Where basically, you get super tournaments like the IPL and the South African T20 tournament which become more important - and better spectacles - than the international fixtures. Because it’s where the money is, which draws in the superstars.And the first real sign that it’s happening is that you have your star players prioritise those competitions over representing their countries. We're seeing it happen - Trent Boult did it, Kane Williamson is doing it, and Lockie Ferguson is doing it.And let me remind you, the whole team basically did it just a few days ago. Because the IPL players apparently wanted to rest rather than play warm up matches before the T20 World Cup - and we were knocked out after basically 2 matches. I think the only way to fix this is for the cricket bosses to set aside very clear windows to say: this is the part of the year where the money-making tournaments can be played, and this is the part of the year where the international fixtures can be played. That way, they don't overlap and you get the players that you need for both of them. That's probably the only way to keep the Black Caps from becoming essentially a B-squad.As I say, you can’t begrudge these two guys, they've put the time in. But don’t overlook what’s happening here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has announced his intention to become Prime Minister within the next five years. Farage has set his sights on the 2029 election, as he launched a manifesto set to appeal to Tory voters. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this doesn't seem impossible, with Farage polling higher than Sunak in some areas. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Reserve Bank has left the OCR unchanged at 4.35 percent after a lengthy deliberation process. The Bank has been waging a long-term battle against inflation, as residents grapple with the ongoing cost of living crisis. HSBC CEO Paul Bloxham warns the RBA could resort to another rate hike in the coming months - depending on how things shake out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leading kiwifruit producer Zespri has launched a global campaign encouraging people to eat better in order to tackle health challenges around the world. The campaign has a focus of improving global health outcomes by encouraging people to swap out one unhealthy food for a serving of fresh fruit or vegetables everyday. The Country's Jamie Mackay is hopeful this scheme will work. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand has made moves to boost their travel capacity into Japan and added an additional 30,000 seats to its Tokyo route between November and March. CEO Greg Foran explained that Japan represents an important visitor market for New Zealand's tourism sector. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen says Japan is a top destination among Kiwi travellers, with 66 percent of people wanting to visit. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government has softened some restrictions impacting trans people in community sports. As part of National's coalition agreement with New Zealand First, there was a threat to withhold public funding if sports bodies didn't keep trans athletes out of grassroots competitions. Sport and Recreation Minister Chris Bishop will now take a watching brief, after feedback from Sport NZ. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this sort of thing will be difficult to enforce a blanket ban on. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has softened their hard-line ban on transgender athletes in community sport to be more inclusive - do we agree with this move? Over 80 Kiwi principals are spending the week at a taxpayer-funded professional development course in Fiji. Is this good value for money - or are we just funding an overpriced holiday for them? Kiwi women are struggling under an ongoing HRT shortage, according to new data. Pharmac expects this to continue on until 2025 - is this acceptable? Nicola Willis hopes to introduce financial incentives for public sector chief executives - will this work? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 18 June 2024, Auckland councillor Alf Filipaina speaks to Heather after five incidents of homes being shot at in Auckland over the past few weeks. The mother of the missing Marokopa children has broken her silence. She wants her babies home and calls what her ex-partner Tom Philipps is doing "child abuse". 80 principals are poolside this week in Fiji - thanks to the taxpayer. It's all in the name of professional development but the Taxpayer's Union says it's just a glorified holiday. The Huddle debates transgender athletes in community sports and how Ali is dealing with the shortage of HRT patches. Plus, the six things to make you mentally stronger - according to some rubbish list from America. 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.

Racing Minister Winston Peters has confirmed he's in no hurry to make a call whether or not to ban greyhound racing. Appearing before a select committee, Peters claimed he wanted to wait at least a year to make a decision - and had no interest in making a 'careless' choice. Peters says he ran the risk of being called to account if he rushed the process of a potential ban. "I've got people surveying the scene on a weekly basis, finding out what is happening and whether there are improvements - and in a time, very soon, in the next few months, we'll have a very clear picture." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi women have been forced to shop around or ration their existing HRT supply amid an ongoing shortage. A new survey has revealed insights from the women affected by the dwindling supply, and Pharmac has warned the situation is likely to continue into 2025. Hawke’s Bay GP Dr Samantha Newman says pharmacies are unable to keep a steady supply going, as much of the medication is unfunded. "The really big issue here in New Zealand is - there's no other option. So it's either patches or nothing that's funded." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The end of buy now, pay later provider Laybuy is being described as sad by experts. The company has been put into receivership and services have been suspended. Retail NZ Chief Executive Carolyn Young says the sector has been impacted by decreased spending and reduced consumer confidence. "We are in a really difficult environment in terms of retail... people just don't have the money in their wallets, and they're not prepared, cause they're buying on credit." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

School principals have taken togs and snorkels along for a five-day leadership trip in Fiji. It's one of many to hit the market since principals got a $6,000 salary boost for professional development and wellbeing. It's prompted debate on whether they're valuable for leadership - or an opportunity to have a taxpayer-funded overseas holiday. The Taxpayers Union's Jordan Williams says it's not a good look. "It's two easy mornings of actual professional development, and the rest is sitting next to your private pool." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On principle, I like Nicola Willis' idea of performance pay for the chief executives in the public sector. It's actually not a new idea, we were doing it until Jacinda's lot got in and Chris Hipkins, the then-relevant minister, cancelled it. And it was pretty generous, up 15 percent on top of base pay. Since some of those guys in the public sector get paid close to $700,00 a year, that's another $100,000 if they strike their targets.We'll just have to see if it works or not, but a cursory look at performance would say it might have an impact. Because the public sector was running a lot better before Jacinda when they had performance pay, than it was under Jacinda without it.But generally, it’s a smart idea to try to get the public sector to run a bit more like the private sector. And this is pretty standard for a private sector CEO. The reason I say that is because the private sector is simply better at what it does than the public sector. Take a business that makes widgets, for example - its job is to make the best widgets at the best price in order to make the most money. That widget business knows that's its job and everything else is just noise. The public sector though - it gets distracted by everything. Take the Reserve Bank, its primary job is to keep inflation between 1 and 3 percent. But then what did it do? It started identifying as a tree and hiring diversity advisers and getting itself distracted by any number of fashionable issues, and inflation went up over 7 percent. The Ministry of Education - its primary job is to teach our kids and get as many of them to achieve as high a grade as possible. And what did they end up doing? They got distracted by running experiments like barn-style open classrooms and letting children decide how they learn. And what happened? Our kids grades, comparative to others in the world, slipped. So, how about we focus those public sector bosses back onto what they’re actually employed to do? Because I'll tell you what - nothing focuses the mind like some extra money. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police are investigating several residential Auckland homes following five shootings in recent weeks. Two were last night in South Auckland, and the others happened within the last couple of weeks. South Auckland Councillor and former police officer Alf Filipaina says this shouldn't be the new normal. "It's just disgusting what's happening... whether it's gang related or not, people just realise that one of their relatives could well be shot." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's no reprieve for Australian borrowers just yet, as the Reserve Bank decided to leave rates on hold. Australia's Official Cash Rate was held steady at 4.35 percent, in line with expectations from economists. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says people are screaming for relief - but the Bank is determined to bring inflation down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been confirmed Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will return to the centres for the Warriors' NRL visit to the Titans on the Gold Coast.He's been out with a hamstring injury for over a month. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks this update. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.