Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

In April last year, it was announced New Zealanders living in Australia were suddenly afforded similar rights to Australians who live in New Zealand when it comes to having a pathway to citizenship. The change meant that from 1 July 2023, New Zealanders who have lived in Australia for four years on temporary or special category visas and met the standard Australian citizenship criteria could apply for citizenship. So Kiwis who've been living in Australia since 2001 could apply directly for citizenship without gaining permanent residency first. Kiwi children born in Australia will become citizens at birth rather than waiting til they turn 10. It was a game changer for Kiwis already living in Australia. But the question of whether it would contribute to a brain drain, like the one we saw in 2011 and 2012 was yet to be seen. Today Stats NZ released their provisional data for annual migration figures for the year ending in August. Migrant arrivals were down 17 percent to 188,100. But the surprising figure in all this was the number of migrant departures which was up 37 percent to 134,000. Out of those 134,000 departures, 81,200 of them were Kiwi citizens. That figure - I think it was 134,300 migrant departures - is provisionally the highest on record for an annual period. This is not good news. So yeah, those new regulations in Australia probably did have an impact or at least act as a tipping point that has sent some Kiwis on their way. In the year ending March 2024, 53 percent of New Zealand's citizen migrant departures were to Australia. But of course, they're not just heading off to Australia, they're going everywhere. Post-Covid, the pressure has been on the government of the day to convince people New Zealand is a great place to live and work, not just to keep talented Kiwis at home or encourage them to return, but to attract the many skilled workers we currently need at a time when the rest of the world is in pursuit of those same workers. This has not been achieved. The net migration gain in the last year to the end of August was 53,800. It was down sharply on the gain of around just over 67,000 for the July year. Economists are concerned this may lead to zero net migration next year, which could impact the economy's action and potential growth rates, the balance of our labour market pressures, expected tax take, and of course the housing market. I don't know how to convince someone who sees a better job, a better income, a better lifestyle somewhere else to stay providing them with the same or close opportunity. Here in New Zealand is most likely the only solution to the discontent that has settled over the country. But how likely is that? The Government is working hard to get this country back on track and it could hardly work faster, but it is going to take time. I tell you what though, the Government will be hoping this is as bad as these figures get and a turnaround is on the horizon. For those of us still here. I certainly hope so.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand’s America’s Cup defence is set to get underway. Last week Team Britannia confirmed their challenger status after beating Italy’s Luna Rossa in the preliminary Louis Vuitton Cup. NPC quarterfinals are also set to get underway, with Wellington taking on Counties Manukau in Wellington tonight, which will see TJ Perenara play his final game on New Zealand soil before jetting off to Japan. Other fixtures over the weekend are Bay of Plenty vs Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki vs Waikato and Tasman vs Canterbury. Weekend Sport host Jason Pine joined Francesca Rudkin. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Less than two months ago, Auckland appeared ready to change its rubbish collection to a fortnightly service. But now councillors have voted to trial the change instead of implementing it or retaining the weekly service. It will start two-weekly collections in up to three areas for up to 4000 households, before deciding on region-wide rollout. Manurewa-Papakura Ward councillor Angela Dalton joined Francesca Rudkin. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a crucial step towards reducing scams, banks will introduce a Confirmation of Payee system next month to be fully in place by Easter of next year.  The system notifies a customer if the name and account they are transferring money into don't match up.  Similar schemes have been successful in Australia and the United Kingdom.  New Zealand Banking Association Chief Executive Roger Beaumont joins Francesca Rudkin with more on how it works.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Thursday 10 October 2024, Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm. Channel Nine reporter Alison Piotrowski joins Francesca out of Tampa with an update on the latest conditions. Finance Minister Nicola Willis discusses the deepening deficit on the Crown books, after Treasury revealed the Government's operating balance was $1.8 billion worse than forecast at the Budget in May. Francesca considers the ethical obligation of production companies developing projects on the high profile murder trial of Philip Polkinghorne. Professor of Media and Communications at University of Canterbury Donald Matheson says the projects are coming "way too soon". And, Wellington councillor Ben McNulty reacts to the decision not to sell Wellington airport shares. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington City Councillors have voted against selling it's airport shares.  Council currently owns a 34% stake in Wellington Airport, and the shares needed to be sold in order to make it's recently adopted long-term plan viable.  Wellington City Councillor Ben McNulty joins Francesca Rudkin to discuss what this means for the council. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, former Labour Chief of Staff Mike Munro and KiwiBlog & Curia Pollster David Farrar joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Mysterious Death of Pauline Hanna is a TV drama announced by South Pacific Pictures, centred around the Polkinghorne trial. The Government deficit widens by more than expected, mostly due to Health NZ and higher costs relating to ACC claims.  Community advocate Dave Letele is being forced to shut down his South Auckland foodbank due to lack of funding.  Hurricane Milton makes landfall in Florida, devastating the state in the early stages.  Wellington City Council is set to vote on what it will do with it's share in Wellington Airport.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The high profile murder trial in which Philip Polkinghorne was found not guilty of murdering his wife Pauline Hanna is set to be turned into a drama series.  Development of the dramatised storytelling was announced today by South Pacific Pictures.  Professor of Media and Communications at Canterbury University Donald Matheson joins Francesca Rudkin with more.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government's financial books have sunk further into debt in the year to June, with Treasury revealing the deficit on the Crown books deepened by $3.4 billion. It was also $1.8 billion worse than Treasury forecast in the May budget.  Minister of Finance Nicola Willis joins Francesca Rudkin to explain why.  LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday 9 October. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday 8 October. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 7 October. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Listen to the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Friday 4 October. Get the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast every weekday evening on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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