Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Restaurant Brands New Zealand is enjoying a strong first quarter for the 2024 financial year. The restaurant operator reported $302.6 million in sales, a 7.9 percent increase from the same period last year. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains Restaurant Brands' financial recovery. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government plans to tax commercial property owners an extra $575 million a year in order to fund residential property and income tax cuts. Finance Minister Nicola Willis is standing by her decision to remove ability for commercial and industrial owners to deduct depreciation as an expense going forward. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny explains the impact of these changes. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Question marks over the Christchurch Call, as Budget Day approaches. Newstalk ZB's revealed the organisation led by Dame Jacinda Ardern has been accused of pressuring its advisory network to not publicise critical reports. Prime Minister Chris Luxon says it's done good things - but now there's a conversation to be had, on how the organisation evolves now, five years on. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper wonders if the Christchurch Call can serve a purpose. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Insurance Council is backing calls for Kiwis to lift their understanding of the risks of natural hazards. The Reserve Bank has released an excerpt on insurance in its upcoming Financial Stability Report. It says insurers, Government, home buyers and lenders all need to up their knowledge, so that future insurance affordability challenges, can be better managed. Insurance Council chief executive Kris Faafoi says it's likely more places will become harder to insure as more risks are identified. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters has delivered a speech to the Institute of International Affairs at Parliament. Peters laid out the the challenges and opportunities facing New Zealand's foreign policy - touching on the war in both Ukraine and Gaza. He outlined our position in AUKUS, saying we must first be invited to join in the first place. ZB political reporter Sophie Trigger says Peters says the Government will need to weigh up the economic and security benefits and costs of any decision either way. A woman interrupted Peters, holding up a sign protesting AUKUS before being thrown out. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Wednesday, 1 May 2024, the unemployment rate has risen to 4.3% - the highest it's been in three years. BNZ's Stephen Toplis tells Heather whether this means we'll see interest rates drop soon. The Real Estate Institute is disappointed the Government doesn't want to regulate property managers anymore. Former National MP Simon O'Connor reveals how he found out he was targeted by Chinese hackers - but the Government didn't tell him. The Huddle gets into a rowdy debate over whether the Hamilton-Auckland train is worth our money, and whether we should keep testing the elderly before reissuing their drivers licences. Plus the best bits from James Shaw's final speech in Parliament. 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, Matt Heath from Radio Hauraki 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! New reports show the Hamilton-Auckland Te Huia train service is meeting all its targets. Does this mean the Government should keep funding it? How long can the service last? The Government has scrapped a Bill designed to regulate property managers, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop blaming the added costs to property managers and marginal benefits. Do residential property managers need more regulations? Advocacy group Grey Power is calling for changes to elderly driver assessments, claiming the current process penalises licence holders in most need. Is this fair? What do we think? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hope that the Te Huia train service from Hamilton to Auckland is on track for more funding after July. An interim performance assessment of the past two years shows increased demand with targets for 250 passengers a day on weekdays and 100 on the weekend being achieved. It's also meeting its net emissions goal 80 percent of the time. Waikato regional councillor Angela Strange says the service has been exceeding established targets. "What the report doesn't show is that since we've added new services, we're smashing those targets out of the room." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grey Power is calling for a change in elderly driver assessments, claiming the current process penalises licence holders in most need. The SIMARD-MD and Mini-ACE are cognitive tests designed to identify drivers at risk, but these tests have faced criticism for not accounting for driving ability. Grey Power vice president David Marshall says people have labelled these tests 'demeaning'. "A vast majority of the patients aren't at that stage, so they go through the stress of these tests - and then they can forget and fail and then have to be sent on for additional testing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former National MP has revealed details of being targeted by Chinese state-sponsored hackers in 2021. Simon O'Connor and former Labour MP Louisa Wall claim they were specifically hit in the cyber-attack, revealed last month. Both say they weren't informed by the current or previous Government - and want an investigation. Both represented New Zealand on the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China. O'Connor says the hackers sent a dodgy pixel in an emailed image. "If we'd opened it, it would have sent information such as what browser we'd been using, what's our IP address - and that's then sort of the first steps for a further attempt to be made to extricate more information from our systems." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economists forecast unemployment will climb higher. New data shows it reached 4.3 percent in March, up from 4 percent in the December quarter. This comes at a time where higher interest rates are biting, as the Reserve Bank tries to rein in inflation. BNZ Head of Research Stephen Toplis says it could go as high as 5.5 percent. "We're really sort of experiencing, I think, the worst of things at the moment. But before the labour market turns around, you're probably looking at another six to nine months after that. So I think the unemployment rate keeps rising until the middle of next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the US, police are still out in full force at New York's Columbia University. Hundreds of officers have cleared a campus building occupied by students holding a pro-Palestinian protest. US correspondent, Dan Mitchinson, says police have been asked to stay through the middle of the month. He says it's sparked activism on dozens of campuses. "I don't think we've had demonstrations like these probably since the 60's - not since the Vietnam war protests." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirk Penney has become just the second New Zealander to earn selection in international basketball's Hall of Fame. The Tall Blacks icon will join Pero Cameron - selected in 2017 - as a FIBA Hall of Famer. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's disappointment a Bill that would have regulated property managers more has been withdrawn. Housing Minister Chris Bishop has scrapped the Property Managers bill, saying the cost-benefit was marginal at best. He says it would have cost tenants and landlords. Real Estate Institute CEO Jen Baird says the figures involved were small. "Some of the numbers that I've seen have been 43 cents per property per week, up to about $2.50 per property per week." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince Harry is set to visit the UK for the Invictus Games's 10-year anniversary - but he won't be meeting with his father. Reports suggest King Charles' diary is full and the monarch will be 'too busy' to see Prince Harry this time. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this shows tensions are still high between the rest of the royals and Harry. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest ANZ Business Outlook survey shows confidence is declining. Business confidence dropped 8 points to +15 in April, expected own activity fell 9 points to +14, and past own activity dropped 13 points to -20. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen explains what this means for the state of the economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian financial markets appear to be bracing themselves for bad news. They've made a sudden shift from pricing in rate cuts to pricing in potential rate hikes, and economists fear increases to the OCR are coming. HSBC chief economist Paul Bloxham says interest rates aren't likely to be dropping any time this year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's farmers have been struggling under ongoing droughts and low rainfall. The unfavourable weather conditions have led to farmers de-stocking or selling their stock at a significant loss. The Country's Rowena Duncum warns it'll take more than one rainstorm to address this. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A newly-released report from the entity tasked with setting MPs' pay has recommended multiple pay rises over the coming three years. The Remuneration Authority's recommendation would see the Prime Minister's salary incrementally go from $471,000 a year now, to $520,000 a year in July 2026. ZB political correspondent Barry Soper says the perception is this is concerning, in light of recent cuts to the pay of medical workers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 17-year-old girl has shocked NSW authorities by stabbing her younger sister to death. Emergency services were called to a Boolaroo address to address a stabbing that occurred at 3:45pm on Monday. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says police were mystified by this case - and haven't uncovered a motive. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Tuesday, 30 April 2024, the Prime Minister and all MPs are in for a significant pay rise. Remuneration Authority Chair Geoff Summers tells Heather how he determined how much more they should be paid. Exclusive revelations about the Christchurch Call. Whistleblower Milton Mueller from the Georgia Institute of Technology reveals how the Christchurch Call's independent advisory network was pressured to bury reports that were critical of how call members were implementing their commitments. The Huddle debates whether Air NZ is an embarrassment given that Jetstar is now more reliable than our national airline. And Qatar wants to host Rugby's Nations Championship. Heather argues we can't ignore $1.68 billion on offer despite Qatar's questionable human rights record. 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.

New anti-scam measures are on the way for online banking. The New Zealand Banking Association has today announced our banks will roll out a 'confirmation of payee' service by the end of the year. It will make direct cash transfers more secure, by cross checking names registered to accounts when transfers are made. Chief executive Roger Beaumont says this project has been in the works since September 2023. "This is something that takes time, it has been progressed since we announced that in September - and we're moving at that pace." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Kaine Thompson and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Do we really need to keep funding the Christchurch Call? It's been revealed the Christchurch Call Secretariat pressured an independent advisory network not to publish critical reports into members of the Call. Should we scrap it? Despite the tough economic climate, it's been confirmed MPs are getting a pay rise. Do they deserve this? New reports have revealed Jetstar is now more reliable than Air New Zealand. Is this surprising? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Newstalk ZB can reveal allegations the Christchurch Call has silenced members of its Advisory Network - and pressured them to not release critical reports of member countries. Because of that, a group called the Internet Governance Project, has quit. Project founder and Network reviewer, Milton Mueller says India wasn't honouring its commitments. "They really didn't seem to have much of an official commitment to go along with the Christchurch Call at all, so we simply wrote that up." Meanwhile, the Government says it will soon reveal whether it will keep paying Dame Jacinda Ardern to work on the Christchurch Call. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby could be headed to the Middle East for the new Nations Championship, according to new reports. Qatar has reportedly made a bid to host the three-day finals event - a bid that promises commercial returns of $1.68 billion (NZD). Former All Black Sir John Kirwan is hopeful the power of sport can create a platform to address the outside issues in Qatar. "You'd be hoping that our leadership across rugby - World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby - are putting some pressure on. They want the rugby to come there, they have oil money, but we also need to use that platform to ask serious questions." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's reliability has fallen - and it's trailing Jetstar in figures for last month as it grapples with engine problems. Only 77 percent of its domestic flights arrived within 15 minutes of scheduled times last month, down from 88 percent in January. Jetstar reported no domestic cancellations last month and almost 79 percent of flights were on time. Consumer NZ CEO Jon Duffy says it's good opportunity for Jetstar to boost their reputation. "It's a great opportunity for them to show that they're lifting their game - and become more of competitive threat to Air New Zealand." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Remuneration Authority says the Prime Minister's pay increase is fair. Chris Luxon's turned down the $50,000 salary boost over three years, and promises to donate it to charity. Chair Geoff Summers says a lot of work's gone into determining the figure - including job comparisons. He says our MP pay is relatively low internationally. "It's behind most other Westminster democracies - we had a good look at that, the tables are in the report. They're even behind most of the state MPs in Australia, except for Tasmania." Chris Luxon's salary would riss from $471,000 to $520,000 in 2026. Normal MPs' 163-thousand-dollar pay packets would rise to $181,000. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby has shouldered arms to reports Qatar has offered up more than a billion-and-a-half dollars to host the finals of rugby's new Nations Championship from 2026. A new report claims the gulf state wants the rights to 'finals weekend' of the tournament across four editions spanning eight years. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the situation further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brace yourself, because it looks like we’re about to have another debate about whether sport should be taking money from Qatar. And this time, we’re probably going to care more about this as a nation, because this time - the sport is rugby. It's being reported that Qatar has made an offer to host the new upcoming Nations Championship, which is the tournament that basically combines the Six Nations up in Europe and the Rugby Championship down in the Southern Hemisphere - and then possibly adds in Fiji and Japan just to get to 12 nations. It’s supposed to happen every couple of years, played across the winter rugby window and then culminating in a finals weekend in November. This is what Qatar has offered to host, that finals weekend. They will bill it as a sort of 'Super Bowl of rugby' and they've promised commercial returns of $1.7 billion (NZD). Come on, the rugby bosses would be idiots to turn this down, wouldn't they? Unless they know that they can get better money elsewhere - and where are they going to get better money? Because they are short on cash. NZR is losing money fast, it's burning through its Silver Lake money, and Rugby Australia just posted a deficit yesterday. They've got seven days to decide if they’ll start exclusive negotiations with Qatar, and if they go ahead - you know what will happen. There will be years of angsting over whether they’re selling their souls to a state known for the abuse of migrants and the mistreatment of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people will rage about it and threaten to boycott. And it will carry on until the first whistle, but then it'll go quiet and we will love the tournament. We'll love the the seven world-class stadia within 55 km of Doha, the public transport and the luxurious six-star hotels - and we will declare it a success. Because that is what happened with the Football World Cup 2 years ago, it's probably what will happen with the World Aquatics Championships, the Basketball World Cup in three years time, the 2036 Olympics if Qatar wins the bid - and maybe even the rugby. As I say, unless rugby can get better money elsewhere, they’d be idiots to turn this one up. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two out of three job applicants have admitted to 'rage-applying' to new roles out of frustration with their employers, according to new research. A survey carried out by recruitment specialist Robert Walters indicates over half of the 2000 respondents were motivated to leave a toxic work environment. Robert Walters commercial director Stuart Nash says this is proof workplace culture matters to employees - and leadership should pay attention. "Culture is so important - and good leaders create great culture. Culture is one of those things that's difficult to quantify, but we do know it makes a difference." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the UK's biggest retail groups has confirmed it plans to give job applicants their interview questions beforehand in an attempt to make the process fairer. John Lewis and Waitrose applicants across all skill levels will have access to these questions from the company's websites. UK correspondent Gavin Grey unpacks the mass reactions to this idea. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes will be on Foreign Minister Winston Peters ahead of his hotly-anticipated foreign policy speech. Peters is expected to deliver a notable, forward-looking address in Parliament this Wednesday to the Institute of International Affairs. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan suspects AUKUS will be a part of it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a big day for the Education Minister, as she's released more education priorities - and promised extra incentive for teachers. The Government's hotly-anticipated ban on cell phones also kicked in today, as students returned for Term Two. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Minister Erica Stanford still has plenty of obstacles ahead. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was heckled and dubbed a 'liar' at a weekend rally held outside Parliament House. Thousands of people attended the 'No More! National Rally Against Violence' march in protest of the multiple violent deaths of Australian women this year. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says Albanese was asked not speak - and the optics of this aren't good. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmac has received a funding boost - but the Government says it's to cover a 'fiscal cliff' left by Labour. Associate Health Minister David Seymour revealed the drug-buying agency will be bolstered by more than $1.7 billion over four years, as part of the Budget. Medicines New Zealand CEO Graeme Jarvis says he was aware of this gap in funding. He says the Covid-19 pandemic created more fiscal cliffs to be dealt with than even Treasury considered. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday 29 April 2024, Associate Health Minister David Seymour tells Heather why an extra $1.7 billion for Pharmac is merely keeping the lights on at our drug buying agency - but won't buy us more medicines. It's bad news for the coalition in the latest political poll as Labour closes the gap with National and NZ First slips below the 5% threshold. Finance Minister and Deputy National leader Nicola Willis tells Heather why she's not fazed. Police Minister Mark Mitchell responds to a wave of violent daylight burglaries in shopping malls. Mobile phones are officially off limits in NZ schools from today, Principals Association president Vaughan Couillault reveals how many phones he's confiscated so far. The Huddle debates whether Victoria University should have cancelled a free speech debate, and if handing out jobs to former MPs is "jobs for the boys". Plus would Heather drink breast milk like the Kardashians? 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, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Infrastructure New Zealand CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Victoria University has copped plenty of backlash over their decision to postpone a free speech event after pushback from the students. Should they have left the event alone? Paula Bennett is the latest former National MP to get appointed into a Government role - she's the new chair for Pharmac. Is she the latest case of the Government handing out jobs to mates? Was the opposition just as guilty of this? Today marks the first day of the Government's cell phone ban in schools. It seems to have gone off without a hitch- what do we think of this? Should we bring back the fees to resit a drivers licence test? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister has brushed off a tough new poll result for the coalition. The latest 1News Verian poll shows a two percent fall for National to have them on 36 percent. Act is down one to 7 percent and New Zealand First is on 4 percent. Those numbers mean the left block of Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori could govern. Minister Nicola Willis says she isn't losing her head over it. "Oh well. We've had this conversation before - polls move up and down, and there is not an election tomorrow. So our job as a Government is to focus on getting on with business." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's Victoria University has hit pause on a controversial debate, after student backlash. A panel discussion around the role of universities in free speech has been pushed back to the end of May, following the opposition from students. The Free Speech Union's Jonathan Ayling, who was expected to attend, has expressed confusion at being included as part of the backlash. "I challenge anyone to find references to me spouting hate speech of any kind. It is simply the fact -and my opponents will admit this - that I have defended speech rights of those who they claim have expressed hate speech." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kāinga Ora has been fined $6,000 for being too slow to evict unruly tenants. Stuff reports Kāinga Ora was forced to pay a woman terrorised by neighbours and fellow social housing tenants. The antisocial tenants defecated outside her door, and it's alleged they threw a woman off a balcony. Lawyer Adina Thorn says any other landlord would've kicked them out much sooner. "It takes people a lot of time hassling Kāinga Ora - and they've got to basically be at a wits end before Kāinga Ora will step up." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi kids have endured their first day of no cell phones at school. Students can no longer use or access their phone at school under new Government legislation. Many schools started phasing the rule in from Term One, before the ban came into force this term. Secondary Principals' Association president Vaughan Couillault says not many students were found breaking the rules at his school today. "Well, I've got three cell phones that have been confiscated in the front office, so you'd have to say out of 1800 students, it looks like three of them got busted." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour says the Prime Minister would have a tougher job sacking a minister from ACT than from National. Luxon stood down Melissa Lee and Penny Simmonds from portfolios last week. Seymour says it would take a bigger process if Luxon wanted to give the boot to one of his party's ministers. "What I did say is- if we were going to have that sort of action, then the coalition agreement requires good faith, it requires conversation - and it ultimately requires agreement on these sorts of things." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps squad for the T20 cricket World Cup in the West Indies and United States has been named. The 15-strong squad features just two players - Matt Henry and Rachin Ravindra - who've never played at the tournament. Sportstalk host Jason Pine unpacks today's reveal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Minister says he's deeply concerned about the ages of robbers plundering Auckland jewellery stores. In the past two weeks, at least five aggravated robberies have spanned Auckland - at Westgate, Newmarket, Onehunga and Manurewa. Minister Mark Mitchell says in the most recent incident, the robbers were aged between nine and fourteen. He says plans for youth military academies are a big part of their response. "That's going to be targeted at those worst recidivist violent youth offenders, because at the end of the day, we want to invest in these young people and try to get them back on the right track." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As you know, today is the official first day of the ban on cell phones in schools. For most parents and teachers and kids it's actually not a particularly special milestone, given that most schools started bringing in these bans at the start of the year. But today is the first day that it's actually in force. And you know what? The thing that I found most surprising about this is how overwhelmingly popular it is. One high school's principal even says they wished they'd done it five years ago, because the kids are interacting more in the playground. Waitara High's principal says the academic outcomes are improving, because they did it already at the start of last year. He says the change is the most important thing he has done in at least 20 years of teaching. Stratford High School's principal says the kids are talking more. He describes it as an 'overwhelming success'. Now, what makes this even better is that it has cost us nothing. We don't have to spend any money buying things or hiring people, we just changed a rule. How good is that? There's an outcome for absolutely no cost. I'm going to take a lesson from this- it's to ignore the naysayers. Because if you cast your mind back, you'll remember there were heaps of critics who were poo-pooing this idea when it was first mooted before the election. Even principals were saying - you can't ban the phones, kids need the phones for some projects in school, it's going to be a logistical nightmare, who's going to stand at the front gate collecting all the phones, etc. Even the Ministry of Education said there was only marginal evidence it would improve student achievement. Have a look at it now - now everybody loves it. Of course they were going to love it, it was always a smart idea. Because it's common sense, isn't it? Because phones are distracting. The fundamentals of this idea work, right? Phones are distracting, we all know this because we've all got one. And if they're distracting to adults, who have some degree of self-discipline, they're going to be much more distracting to kids. And distraction is bad for grades and it's bad for behaviour, so if we follow it through - obviously it's common sense to take the phones out of schools. There are too many naysayers on every suggestion nowadays, so the lesson I'm taking is - in the future, ignore them. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealanders are staying in paid work longer in an effort to transition into retirement, according to a new study. The average age Kiwi’s are choosing to retire has risen to 67 from 61, since the mandatory retirement age was eliminated in 2000. Co-director of the Retirement Policy and Research Centre Michael Littlewood tells Jack Tame that New Zealand’s state pension is generous, but not enough to live on for some. But, the real reason people choose to transition from full-time work to full-time retirement is not known. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park is reportedly set to win the battle of Auckland’s stadiums. The Sports Huddle discuss whether the stadium remains fit for purpose. Plus, are the Crusaders underperforming or were expectations too high? Is it time to panic for Warriors fans? And, could NZ hold a second Supercars round? Newshub Sport Presenter Andrew Gourdie and Newstalk ZB Deputy Sport News Director Elliott Smith join Jack Tame. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park is reportedly about to win the battle of Auckland’s stadiums. On Monday, a working committee will make a recommendation to Auckland Council on whether to invest in Eden Park or one of the rival waterfront stadium bids. NZ Herald Sports Columnist Trevor Mckewen tells Jack Tame as an existing location, Eden Park could be a cheaper option than others starting from scratch. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A unique re-homing program has been set up for actual lab rats across New Zealand. The New Zealand Anti-Vivisection Society (NZAVS) are working with the scientific community to find former lab rats their forever homes, while pushing the Government to stop animal testing. Executive Director of NZAVS Tara Jackson tells Jack Tame NZ has nearly half a million animals who are bred for science, not used, and subsequently killed. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has had his 2020 rape conviction overturned. The New York Court of Appeal found that Weinstein did not receive a fair trial, due to witness testimony including accusations that were not part of the case. Los Angeles KNX News Presenter Charles Feldman tells Jack Tame the next step will be for the New York District Attorney to decide whether to retry the case. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.