Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

A real estate agent who's refused to take a compulsory Māori culture training believes she has support from the public. Janet Dickson is facing a five-year ban for not completing a short course on te ao Māori and tikanga -- and she's now seeking a judicial review. Dickson told Heather du Plessis-Allan the course has nothing to do with her real estate work, and contradicts her religion. She says she's been told by her employer Harcourts to go. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chief Operating officer for Air Chatams is concerned by the potential for rising costs for airfares. This comes as the cost of Auckland Airport’s $8 billion 10-year redevelopment plan is being passed on in airport fees and passenger levies. COO of Air Chathams told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that the they had already seen a 20% drop in domestic flights and that number is likely to rise if things get more expensive. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The case of the real estate agent being forced to do a Māori culture and tikanga course or lose her job is a case of bad judgment by the Real Estate Authority. Estate agents have to do courses to retain their licenses. 10 hours of training a year... mostly they can pick which topics they do But a couple are compulsory for everyone. And one of them – there's only two compulsory - and one of them was the Māori culture and tikanga course. Now an estate agent called Janet Dickson who works for Harcourt's objected to doing it because she says it's a “subject that is only peripherally connected” to her job. And she's right isn’t she? I mean a compulsory course on money laundering? Fair enough. Compulsory course on how to appropriately deal with issues and complaints? Fair enough. Sale and purchase agreements? Fair enough. But Māori tikanga and culture? Hmmm... not convinced. Now look... I think your life is enriched by learning about different cultures and different ways of thinking about things... personally... I find this one of the most fascinating things in the world. But that’s a personal choice. it’s shouldn't’ be a job requirement for an estate agent And certainly not one that might leave Janet Dickson banned for five years from the job The Real Estate Authority probably has its heart in the right place but has made a massive error in judgment. For all the good they might’ve done in introducing some estate agents to diverse ways of thinking... they’ll have done as much harm in creating resentment amongst others by forcing them to do something largely irrelevant to their work. Secondly.. By being heavy handed and threatening her with her job, they look like bullies. This is the kind of red tape nonsense this country doesn’t need if we want to make doing business easier . If it’s not related to the job, leave it out, no matter how worthy you think it is. And for the record... It says a lot that that course was compulsory last year... this year... when it’s getting attention... It's now only voluntary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, research shows more drug-drivers have been arrested than drunk drivers by some forces. Data shows over 48 percent of roadside arrests were for drug-diving, with drink-driving figures reduced. UK correspondent Enda Brady says younger generations were more likely to consume cocaine and cannabis than drink before getting behind the wheel. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! It's been revealed that fees-free uni isn't getting more low-decile students into tertiary education. Should we scrap it if it doesn't make a difference? Health NZ has removed the person that leaked the documents that led to Casey Costello's tobacco excise tax controversy. Will this be the last leak? Was removing them the right course of action? More rats were found in a Dunedin Countdown again- should the building just be burned down? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Researchers have today welcomed a clarification by the Environmental Protection Authority that allows them to enhance their research. The EPA has ruled organisms known as null segregants are not considered GMOs- meaning they aren't subject to the same restrictions. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains the impact of this announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NZ Herald's Liam Dann has been won over by a new set of AI developments. Spark has rolled out some new technology designed to improve the world of construction and identify areas that need fixing- speeding up the process. The Herald's business editor at large was impressed by the practical applications of this technology. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Ginny Andersen has so far avoided a formal reprimand over her comments about Police Minister Mark Mitchell. The Labour MP accused him of of being paid to kill people in his role as a military contractor overseas in the 2000s. ZB senior political correspondent says Andersen needs to issue an in-person apology for her 'defamatory' remarks. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google maps have led a pair of German tourists stuck Queensland bush for a week. The pair rented a four-wheel drive vehicle to drive through wilderness in Cape-York - but the map app sent them into a bog. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says Google Maps work differently in such isolated places. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Controversial cricket player David Warner was booed by a Wellington crowd ahead of his T20 match. The Australian opener's no stranger to a hostile New Zealand crowd given his brash on-field chatter and 2018 cheating scandal against South Africa in the test format. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sky TV has made a strong start to the financial year, with a 10 percent rise in net profit for the half-year to December. The broadcaster experienced a 3 percent dip in customers to 1.02 million- but a 4 percent rise in revenue to $393 million. Chief executive Sophie Moloney says she's excited about these results, despite the 2023 entertainment strikes impacting content. "We haven't had those key titles, but they are coming back. White Lotus, Handmaid's Tale will be coming out next financial year, we've still got good content." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Air New Zealand's half-year earnings have taken a dive, according to today's report. The airline has announced earnings before taxation of $185 million for the first half of the 2024 financial year- down 39 percent on the same period last year. CEO Greg Foran says these earnings reflect a 'normalisation' following a huge surge in demand. "Last year, we made, based on the amount of kilometres we flew, more money than we've ever made. So what you're seeing now is more of a normalisation, it's heavier going." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Auckland parents have been left outraged after a visit to the New Lynn community centre. A 36-page booklet detailing graphic sex acts featuring male dolls caught the attention of several children- and Auckland Council has since apologised and pulled it. Body Positive Executive Director Mark Fisher has labelled the removal an 'overreaction'. "I know they have a lot of rainbow groups at the community centre, and for teenagers, I think it's an important resource that's been taken away from them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps will look to make a mindset shift in the field after a messy display contributed to going down 1-nil in their T20 series against Australia. Several dropped catches and uncharacteristic mis-fields in Wellington helped the Aussie batters reel in New Zealand's large total with the bat. Top-scoring batsman Rachin Ravindra says he's been doing what he can for the team. "You take it, you do what you can for the team, and I've been lucky enough to have a good few situations to be in." Game two takes place tomorrow night at Eden Park LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACT's Tertiary Education and Skills spokesperson says the last Government's first-year fees-free university policy failed by every measure. The Tertiary Education Commission has acknowledged there's no discernible evidence it changed the distribution of low-decile school students going to university. It was one of the policy's key goals. But Parmjeet Parmar says it didn't improve other issues. "It has failed to increase enrolment overall as well, and it has also not changed the completion rate- which sits at 67 percent. Which, in my view, is quite embarrassing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A political commentator says it's telling only one person's been held accountable after multiple leaks from the public service. Casey Costello had to apologise in the House this week, after claiming she hadn't sought advice on freezing tobacco excise tax, despite notes leaked to RNZ showing she did. The Health Ministry's confirmed the person responsible for the leak is no longer employed. Former MP Peter Dunne says this isn't the only leak there's since the Government's formed. "It just makes me wonder whether they found someone who's being a bit of a scapegoat for all of the leaks, even if they're not responsible for them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation and the rising cost of living are contributing to worsening child poverty. Stats NZ data shows more than 140,000 children were living in material hardship for the year to June 2023. Save the Children Advocacy Director Jacqui Southey says the cost of living is significantly challenging families on the lowest incomes. She says measures - like free school lunches and period products - need to continue being funded. "The other things we want to see is- commit to income adequacy. Make sure children on the lowest incomes are not losing any of their income during this term of Government." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If National is looking for an excuse to get out of paying for Labour’s dumb free year of university, they may have just got it. The Tertiary Education Commission has admitted that the first year free of tertiary study has led to no discernible evidence that it increased the number of students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Which basically means it hasn’t worked, because that was the point of doing it. That was why Jacinda said- "next year’s on us!". Because she wanted to help poorer and disadvantaged kids get into uni. Obviously, it wasn't going to work, because it wasn’t needed. Because cost is not a barrier. It is easy to go to uni and pay for it. You take a loan, there is no interest on that loan- and what you're borrowing is only a fraction of the actual cost, the rest is subsidised. Kids who don’t go to uni have other - valid, in my opinion- reasons, maybe they want to work or they want to travel or they want to start a business or whatever. All up, Labour’s vanity spend or student bribe - you decide - cost us $350 million in the year to June last year. Now, Christopher Luxon said before the election that he was keeping it and instead switching it to the last year. But he also said on Sunday this week that the economy is in a fragile state and there are tough decisions that we need to make together. Let this be one of those tough decisions. Cut the spend. It's a lot of money, which could be spent elsewhere to help people that actually need it- and it actually doesn’t help the people it's supposed to. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prince William has called for an end to the ongoing Israel-Gaza war. In a statement, he spoke of the 'terrible human cost' of the conflict in the Middle East. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says these comments will spark discussion on whether the royals can comment on crises of this scale. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, Ben Thomas from Capital PR 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! Green Party MP Efeso Collins unexpectedly died this morning at a charity event, surprising the nation. How will he be remembered, both politically and personally? Labour's Ginny Andersen and Police Minister Mark Mitchell had it out this morning when Andersen accused him of being paid to kill people as a security contractor. Was Andersen out of line? Auckland Airport vs Air New Zealand- the airline is convinced redevelopments for the airport will push airfares up. Auckland Airport has disputed this claim- what do we think? ASB has launched a multi-layered scam awareness campaign to remind people to be more vigilant. Is this an excuse for the bank to avoid creating more protections? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More operations could be done by robotic surgeons in the not-so-distant future. California-based company Intuitive Surgical has been leading the charge in robot-assisted surgery, beginning in the late 2000s. Milford Asset Management explains the surge in popularity- and shares - surrounding this technology. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shock across the country, as Green MP Efeso Collins unexpectedly died days after delivering his maiden speech in Parliament. Collins collapsed at an Auckland charity event and was pronounced dead. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says it shows a great deal of respect for Parliament to adjourn until Tuesday. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Transport Agency is warning some proposed transport projects could cost more than the Government bargained for. NZTA has estimated the roads and public transport schemes National campaigned on could leave a fiscal hole of $24 billion. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says the transport agency recognises several factors will drive up the cost of these projects. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia will soon face a new wave of sanctions from the US after the death of Opposition politician Alexei Navalny. The security council announced today its decision to take a stronger stand to deter any further aggressive action. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says these sanctions could target various revenue sources, potentially including grain and fuel supplies. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stacey Jones is the new Kiwis head coach, beating Wayne Bennett to the job. The Warriors halfback replaces Michael Maguire, who stood down to take on opportunities in New South Wales. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Media giant NZME has reported a drop in net after-tax profit of $12.2 million dollars. The company behind the New Zealand Herald and Newstalk ZB has blamed declining business confidence, inflation, and increased interest rates on their reduced earnings. CEO Michael Boggs says they're hoping for a better financial year in 2024. "We're seeing really good green shoots so far in January and February, we're seeing our revenue up year on year- in fact, the property market's obviously significantly high right at the moment." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Airport is disputing Air New Zealand's concerns the redevelopment will push fares up. Air New Zealand has requested Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly look into concerns about the Airport spending up to $8 million on redevelopment. The airline says the airport's regulated charges are expected to add $46 to a ticket price by 2032, a five-fold increase. Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihunganui says Air New Zealand's estimates aren't accurate. "Unfortunately, before issuing their release today, they didn't share those numbers or the workings behind them- so we're not sure where those have come from." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, ASB launched the first steps of a multi-layered campaign designed to protect consumers from scammers. The bank hopes to raise awareness around the issue to prevent their customers from being targeted by fraudulent schemes. ASB CEO Vittoria Shortt says they aim to highlight the most popular scams consumers have to be vigilant for. "Most scams don't start with the bank, they start with people clicking on links, they start with phone calls and they start with being duped on marketplaces." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smart mouthguard tech is expected to be rolled out this Super Rugby season- but there's safety concerns. Players are required to wear them to be eligible for the H1A1 protocol, meaning players will be taken off the field if there's a suspected concussion. However, Australian rugby players have voiced unease regarding the technology, and some have claimed they've had trouble breathing. Former NZ Rugby CEO David Moffett says it's concerning the players didn't get the chance to try them out in the off-season to identify potential issues. "I still would like to see World Rugby doing a lot more in the area of collisions." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A council colleague described Efeso Collins as a strong advocate and a family man. The former Auckland councillor and mayoral candidate died this morning after collapsing at a charity event. He entered Parliament at last year's election and delivered his maiden speech last week. Alf Filipaina says Collins was a supporter for South Auckland and wanted a better future for his daughters. "I know that he wanted to make a humongous difference in Parliament for our community, and for our people...and he passes this morning." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turbulence in Air New Zealand's relationship with Auckland Airport. The airline is asking Commerce Minister Andrew Bayly to look into the Airport's development spending, concerned it will drive up airfares. CEO Greg Foran says its plan doesn't deliver a new runway, or improve capacity. He says Air New Zealand wants investment going into the airport, but they also want costs kept down. "There hasn't bee a lot of capital invested at the airport, we can all see that we've sweated the asset for a long time. But that doesn't mean you want to go from the lowest prices to one of the highest prices." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Mitchell has mounted a defence against attacks levelled by a political rival. On Mike Hosking's show this morning, Labour's Ginny Andersen accused the Police Minister of being paid to kill people, when he was a defence contractor in East Africa and the Middle East. Mitchell later claimed he doesn't know if he was personally responsible for any casualties, as his team defended a compound in Nasiriyah in the early 2000s. Asked outright later in the interview, Mitchell denied knowingly killing anyone. "I have been very clear- no, I have not killed anyone. Yes, I was involved in a siege in Nasiriyah, yes there were casualties on both sides- that's as much as I know." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outrage in the UK as a London-based cleaner was fired for eating a leftover tuna sandwich. Gabriela Rodriguez regularly cleaned the offices of law firm Devonshires Solicitors, and she was let go following an investigation. UK correspondent Enda Brady says the UK is still struggling with a food insecurity problem, hence the backlash. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute and Toby Manhire from The Spinoff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Grant Robertson is stepping away from politics for a new role at Otago University- how will he be remembered? Was he among the best Finance Ministers the country's ever had, or the worst? Pseudoephedrine will soon be available to purchase from pharmacies again. What did we think of the initial ban- was it an overreaction? According to new research, one in three Kiwis have a BMI of 30 or over. Is this a sign of long-standing health problems in this country? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Several leading economists are at odds over next week's OCR call from the Reserve Bank. ANZ has claimed the Bank will hike rates up twice before April, BNZ thinks an increase is unlikely, and ASB today predicted the OCR will hold until November before rates are cut. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham says the economy has slowed down- but high rates still linger. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Country's Jamie Mackay doesn't think history will remember Grant Robertson well as a Finance Minister. Robertson announced today that he would retire from politics- and take over as Otago University's new Vice Chancellor in July. Mackay says Grant Robertson deserves a pass for his role in the Covid-19 response, but the 2023 Ardern-Hipkins Government was a 'failure'. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Infant formula maker A2 Milk has lifted its first-half net profit by 15.6 percent. That's despite a double-digit decline in China’s infant formula market. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains this 'surprising' turnaround for the company. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grant Robertson's newly announced departure has sparked plenty of debate about his political legacy. The former Finance Minister has retired from Parliament- and will become Otago University's new Vice Chancellor in July. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Robertson left the Government books in an 'appalling' state. "You only have to look at the figures to know just how badly this economy has been managed. Too much money has been scattered around." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's fresh concerns about our alcohol consumption. Health New Zealand's released a report on the population's health, the first of its kind since the agency was established. It highlights continued alcohol-related harm as one of our key challenges, noting consumption contributes to road traffic injuries, drownings, suicide and relationship disruptions. Report author Gary Jackson says we saturate our society with alcohol- and there's some worries there. "About 7 percent of the cancers that we have are due to alcohol, so breast cancer, bowel cancer... it has consequences." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite ongoing staffing struggles, the Defence Force has continued to discharge personnel for failing to get the Covid vaccine. The case of Bonnie, a medic at Burnham Army Camp who was dismissed for not getting vaccinated, has caught media attention. This comes after the Court of Appeal ruled that the Defence Force's 'mandatory retention reviews' were unlawful. Lawyer Matthew Hague says these 'rigid' mandates are costing people their careers and jobs. "To impose a blanket requirement across the entire Defence Force of 10,000 people and rigidly subject people to mandatory retention reviews is completely unjustified." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man who's advocated for bringing back pseudoephedrine wants official recognition it was a bad idea. John Key's Government removed the cold and flu medication, hoping to stall meth manufacture. Associate Health Minister David Seymour is introducing a bill this to reclassify the drug, so it's available in pharmacies without a prescription. Blackland PR director, Mark Blackham says a moral panic about meth forced the rushed ban, despite evidence showing it wouldn't work. "I think the only way of stopping bad decisions in the future is to get Governments to apologise for the role they had." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Hipkins says he's excited for Grant Robertson about his opportunity to change tack. The former Deputy Prime Minister today announced he's retiring from politics, and will become Otago University's Vice-Chancellor from July. He says he's most proud of getting New Zealand economically through Covid. The Labour leader says it's all only come together for Robertson in recent weeks. "He's kept me informed- the appointment itself was only finalised first thing this morning, so it's been announced as soon as it was finalised." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, a taskforce are planning a crackdown on alcohol in Parliament. This comes days after Senator Perin Davey was filmed slurring her way through a budget hearing. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says he can't see this legislation getting through- but politicians need to be held to a higher standard. "If it's good enough for everyone else in the community not to be on the turns when you're at work, why is it okay for politicians?" LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps are set to square off against Australia in a three-game series starting tomorrow. This will be the last T20 series for both teams before the upcoming T20 World Cup in June. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

St John says it anticipates pulling some ambulances off the road when staff are sick or on leave will continue until the start of winter. It's limiting calling in extra staff to save money. Ambulance Services Deputy Chief Executive Dan Ohs says they expect the workload to rise from late May. "Doing this now enables us to make sure we've got the financial depth in order to ensure we can stand additional resources up for winter." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the small Italian town of Monfalcone, mayor Anna Maria Cisint has enacted strict measures targeting Muslims. The far-right leader has banned prayers at Muslim cultural centres- the latest in a string of contentious measures UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the mayor has been working to clamp down the town's expanding Muslim population, after a recent influx in migrants. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and former NZ First press secretary Georgina Stylianou joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! New Zealand's birth rate has dropped to the lowest level since World War II. What's behind this decline? Is there a solution to this issue? Chris Luxon has unveiled some tougher measures to get more people off the benefit. What do we think of this? Will this appeal to National's base? Chris Hipkins' popularity is declining, according to the latest 1News-Verian poll. Does Labour need a new strategy? Is Chippy on his way out? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contact Energy has reported an increase in net profit and says it expects to finalise a more generous electricity deal with Tiwai Point aluminium smelter. It's recorded a net profit of $153 million for the six months to December. CEO Mike Fuge says he's optimistic about a better long-term agreement with Rio Tinto. "We've been really clear, there are three things- and like any negotiation, it's a two-way street." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One expert has noticed a subset of voters hasn't reacted positively to the Government's plan to reduce the number of beneficiaries. Prime Minister Chris Luxon today revealed a planned return to a more strict regime of sanctions for those on the unemployment benefit. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan observed the younger members of the press gallery seemed shocked by these changes. She says it's been a while since conservative ideas held power- it's been decades since sanctions were in place. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon has promised the 'free ride' is over for beneficiaries, as the Government plans to implement sanctions. Luxon and Social Development Minister Upston confirmed that from June, MSD will hold work check-ins for people who have been on the benefit for over 6 months. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the number of people relying on the Jobseeker benefit has gotten 'ridiculous'. "I know we've got a welfare economy in this country- but really, something has to be done about this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.