
Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
12,438 episodes — Page 150 of 249

David McDonald: Being AI co-founder on being the first AI company to appear on the NZX
Emerging AI company Being AI is set to become the first artificial intelligence-based business to appear on the NZX. Listed investors Ascension Capital have today entered into a conditional agreement to acquire several businesses, with a vote set for March. Co-founder David McDonald says the venture aims to help other companies make sense of the AI space. "We've got three branches, if you will. There's AI consulting, the AI ventures arm for the investments and then Being labs, which is the incubator." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Walls: ZB political editor on the Government's plan to scrap fair pay agreements by Christmas
The Prime Minister says scrapping Fair Pay Agreements and bringing in 90 day trials means more workers can be hired. FPAs - which triggers collective bargaining if it's called for by 10 percent of a workforce - will be scrapped by Christmas. Meanwhile, a new bill will mean every business will be allowed to dismiss a worker in their first 90 days. ZB political editor Jason Walls says this update isn't particularly surprising. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oliver Peterson: Australian correspondent on the Government creating a new visa pathway to ease skilled worker crisis
A new visa that would take one week to approve is being introduced to lure skilled workers over to Australia. Applicants from pre-approved fields will be fast-tracked over as part of an initiative to return overseas migration to a sustainable level. Australia's net migration level is believed to have peaked last financial year at 510,000 and forecast to fall to more normal levels, down to 375,000 next year and 250,000 in 2025. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the Government plans to revise their migration strategy to let less people in overall. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis: Finance Minister confident sensitive Government information leaks will dry up
The Finance Minister says she has faith leaks of sensitive Government information will dry up. The new Government has faced two in the past five days. The latest shows the Government has suspended Regulatory Impact Analyses for some proposals within the first 100 days. It means legislation will undergo less scrutiny. Nicola Willis says she believes the public service will want to keep its reputation intact. "Those who release information in this way are letting down the vast majority of them who just want to get on and do their work in a politically neutral way." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russel Norman: Greenpeace executive director on the organisation's campaign against the Government's plan for oil and gas
Greenpeace have labelled the Government 'climate extremists' over their plan to repeal the oil and gas exploration ban. The organisation erected a billboard near Parliament in Wellington featuring Chris Luxon, Winston Peters and David Seymour. Executive director Russel Norman says New Zealand is transitioning away from fossil fuels- and the Government should help that transition along. "You can see the electrification of transport starting, and that's where we need to go. Turning the clock back to the 1950s- as if we're going to do that- is ridiculous." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Jones: Living Streets Aotearoa President says better rules need to be in place amid e-scooter concerns
Major worry about pedestrian safety as 'over-powered' e-scooters hit the streets. RNZ reports scooters under 300 watts with a top speed of 35 kilometres an hour qualify as low-powered vehicles, and don’t have to be registered or licensed. Higher-wattage versions that go nearly 100km an hour require registration, but it isn't happening. Living Streets Aotearoa President Tim Jones says better rules are needed. "It's bad enough that a pedestrian is hit by an existing e-scooter. If a pedestrian is hit by one of these things, we're talking death or serious injury." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Craig Little: Wairoa mayor on the council's investigation into unusual flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle
Wairoa District Council is looking for answers to explain the unusual flooding during Cyclone Gabrielle. It's launched an independent investigation to understand whether the flooding was linked to heavy amounts of slash. Mayor Craig Little has suggested there was a theory Genesis opened the Waikaremoana Dam floodgates - which Genesis denies. He says the river was uncharacteristically different from its normal flooding. "Bridges were blocked up like beaver dams, rivers went different ways out in different places. One part of the town was flooding, another part hadn't quite started flooding, which was very unusual." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour: ACT leader says the Government isn't prepared to respond to the Waitangi Tribunal's report
ACT's leader says the Government isn't prepared to return all Crown-owned land in Northland to its iwi. Over the weekend, the Waitangi Tribunal provided a report on extensive Te Tiriti breaches against Ngapuhi. It recommends the Crown apologise, return land, offer compensation and enter talks to rework our constitutional framework. David Seymour says there've been claims on land in almost every part of the country. "But I'm not aware of any region in New Zealand where all Crown-owned land has been returned." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Pollock: former Wellington public transport boss set to outline new transport plan to replace Let's Get Wellington Moving
A bold new transport plan pitched as a cheaper, faster replacement for Let's Get Wellington Moving has attracted the interest of city leaders. It features a mega-tunnel, demolition of heritage buildings, ditching Light Rail and a host of other changes. Greg Pollock, the capital’s former public transport boss, will pitch his plan this week. He says it's clear Wellington needs a better transport system that suits the needs of the people. "I think for a billion dollars, we could do a huge amount improving bus lanes, electrifying the bus fleet and just doing the basics really well to work for the people in Wellington." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: These leaked Cabinet papers are a snorefest
Let's talk about the public service leaks against the new Government. There's been a couple of leaks of Cabinet papers in just the first two weeks of the Government. Obviously, they're designed to hurt the new Government- and they're probably coming from within the public service. Bless- that's got to be your first thought about this. Because obviously, whoever's doing the leaking is going out of their way to snaffle these Cabinet documents and get them leaked to the media cause they think they're on to dynamite here. They're obviously not, these Cabinet papers are a snorefest. The first one from Monday last week shows that the people most negatively impacted by the rollback of the fair pay agreements are women, Māori, Pasifika and young people. Which maybe I would care about if those people were helped by the fair pay agreement. But they haven't, because there are no fair pay agreements actually in place. And the second is that the Government has suspended the regulatory impact statements on all of the polices in the 100-day plan. Which again, I don't really care about because many of the things in the 100-play are repeals. You don't need any paperwork to tell you the pros and cons of going back to the way it was only a few months and years ago, do you? It's not really dynamite, either of these things. I'm going to tell you who comes out of this badly- it's backfiring on the public service. Not the Government, the public service. Because these are the people who will go to great lengths to tell you that they are politically neutral and they can work for any Government. The boss of the public servants once took me to task in a column, arguing they could be very politically neutral all the time- they're that amazing at working in the service of the country. And yet here we are, leaking against the new Government that hasn't even had a chance yet because they've only been in for a couple of weeks. If you don't want to take my word for it, take the word of Catherine Delore, Head of Communications at Health NZ. She wrote on her LinkedIn page that she was 'deeply disappointed and frustrated' to read about leaks of Cabinet papers- and the suggestion that this is happening within the public service. She also claimed leaking by public servants is a gross betrayal of trust, because they're here to serve the Government of the day and people who cannot do that should 'opt out or be cut out'. She's bang on. Of course, public servants have got a problem with this Government because this Government wants to cut a bunch of them out. And of course, people in the public service are going to have their own opinions, we all do. They're entitled to hold them. And of course, importantly, there is a place for whistle-blowers. But the stuff whistle-blowers leak is momentous. The things that they expose are serious. The impact of rolling back FPAs and not doing RIS? Bless.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Pine: Sportstalk host on Eddie Jones potentially signing on as Japan's rugby coach
Reports suggest Eddie Jones is set for a second stint as Japan's rugby coach, six weeks after his resignation as Wallabies mentor. Jones previously led Japan between 2012 and 2015. Any final sign-off must come from the Japanese board, who meet on Wednesday. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuart Nash: Businesses Can't Afford To Keep Pay Up With Inflation
There is a warning that most pay rises next year are not going to keep up with the cost of living. Global consultancy Robert Walters salary survey shows that while most bosses are planning to give pay rises, the vast majority of them will only give between one and 5% despite inflation reaching 7.5%. Robert Walters Commercial Director Stuart Nash told Heather du Plessis Allan that businesses "simply can't afford" to pay their staff more. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Councillor Ray Chung: Bemused By Council Code Breach Investigation
A Wellington City Councillor is bemused to have been under investigation for breaching council code. Five City Councillors have been ordered to take lessons on the code of conduct - over leaks of a closed-door briefing on the future of the closed CBD Reading Cinemas. They're accused of failing to keep things confidential when responding to media. Councillor Ray Chung told Heather du Plessis Allan that he doesn't understand how he's done that. He says all he said was Council shouldn't be going into negotiations when it has no money .. and he never mentioned the name of the cinema or where it was. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Auckland Transport CEO: 'We're Determined To Get The Roads Back To Where They Need To Be'
Auckland Transport has given itself the ambitious target of fixing 550 kilometres of road this summer to try to get to the potholes before they become much worse. Auckland Transport CEO Dean Kimpton told Heather du Plessis Allan that they are 1400 kilometres behind due to "lack of investment and wet weather but we're determined to get the roads to where they need to be". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicola Willis: Previous Govt "Sloppy" When Considering Cook Straight Funding
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has raised concerns over the escalating cost of KiwiRail's Cook Straight ferry project. She revealed yesterday that the potential cost to the taxpayer is now many times what the Government initially signed up to and said the situation was “deeply troubling”. Willis told Heather du Plessis Allan that she doesn't think "the proper work was done to thoroughly understand the options and the costs". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angela Blackmoore Verdict Finds Two More Guilty Of Murder
Two people have been found guilty of murdering Christchurch mother Angela Blackmoore 28 years ago. Former debt collector David Hawken, 50, and ex-stripper Rebecca Wright-Meldrum, 51, were on trial in the High Court at Christchurch after denying murdering Angela Blackmoore on August 17, 1995. In 2019, police issued a $100,000 reward for information regarding the death of Angela Blackmore which led to the confession of Jeremy Powell who was sentenced for at least 10 years in 2020 for Blackmoore's murder. Crime Reporter Sam Sherwood told Heather Du Plessis Allan that the confession was "crucial to the crown case". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Goldsmith: We Need A Human Rights Commissioner Focused On The Fundamentals
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has said he won't re-appoint Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt. Goldsmith told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he wants to see a Human Rights Commissioner "who's really focused on fundamental human rights such as free speech, freedom of expression and equal voting. All these sorts of issues that I haven't heard quite as much as I would have liked to over the past five years." Paul Hunt's warrant for the role currently ends in January 2024 LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on protestors disrupting Boris Johnson's appearance at the Covid inquiry
Boris Johnson attempted to apologise for his Covid-19 response- an apology that quickly got hijacked. Protesters swarmed the former Prime Minister and interrupted him as he began his apology for his handling of the deadly pandemic. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Johnson's apology seemed 'rehearsed', as it was more serious than expected. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle: Can Police Commissioner Andrew Coster meet expectations?
Tonight on The Huddle, Ali Jones from Red PR and Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Police Minister Mark Mitchell has released a letter of expectations for Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. The pair seem to be unified about these expectations- can Coster meet these standards? Foreign Minister Winston Peters has today put forward a motion calling for those involved in the conflict to take urgent steps towards a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. What did we think of Luxon's response? Treasury has criticised Labour's 'underfunded' plan for transport. Does this cement the previous Government's legacy of non-delivery? Taylor Swift has been named Time magazine's Person of the Year- did she deserve it? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay: The Country host on Fonterra increasing their farmgate milk price forecast following strong opening result
Fonterra has upgraded its milk price forecast and raised their full-year earnings forecast following an 85 percent lift in their first-quarter profit. The forecast farmgate milk price midpoint for the 2023/24 season is up 25 cents to $7.50 per kgMS, and the forecast range has moved to $7.00-$8.00 per kgMS. The Country's Jamie Mackay says these predictions were boosted by a strong GDT result. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Dann: NZ Herald business editor at large on the gap between the market and the Reserve Bank's views on the future of interest rates
A big gap has opened up between the market and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s views of where interest rates are heading. The two-year swap rate - which can have a bearing on home mortgage rates - is now sitting on 5.21 percent, down from 5.78 percent earlier this year. This goes against last week's hawkish vision regarding higher rates. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains why this is happening. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Viv Beck: Heart of the City CEO on the 'Together for Tamaki Makaurau' initiative designed to enhance safety in the central city
Auckland Council has teamed up with NZ Police in a new initiative to enhance safety in the city centre. The 'Together for Tamaki Makaurau' partnership is designed to establish a more visible safety presence on Auckland streets from Karangahape Road to the waterfront. Auckland Council CityWatch and Compliance teams, police, Māori Wardens and Community Patrols NZ (CPNZ) will run co-ordinated efforts to address anti-social behaviour and crime in the CBD. Heart of the City CEO Viv Beck says these efforts will address the social issues and deterioration that's impacted the area over the last three years. "It's about the crime, the social issues and also some of the anti-social types of behaviour. One of the things we have said is that it doesn't replace the need for more police." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Smith: ASB senior economist estimates Kiwi households will need to find an extra $70 per week to cover living costs in 2024
Kiwi households will had to find an extra $70 per week to cover their living costs, according to ASB economists. It's a smaller increase than the $115 a week lift in 2023- and and is expected to be below the increase in incomes. ASB senior economist Mark Smith says these estimates are influenced by several key factors. "Living costs really reflect what's happening with inflation, that's probably the key factor there. Also things like debt servicing have gone up significantly." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Phil Twyford: Labour immigration spokesperson disappointed the Government didn't agree to immediate Gaza ceasefire
Disappointment the Government hasn't gone further in its call for arms to be laid to rest in war-torn Gaza. Foreign minister Winston Peters put forward a motion calling on all parties involved in the conflict to take urgent steps towards establishing a ceasefire. It was supported by all parties. But Labour's immigration spokesman Phil Twyford says they urged the Government to agree to an immediate and permanent ceasefire. "I mean for God's sake, 16,000 people have died, the incredible human suffering that's going on right now in Gaza- we got weasel words from the Prime Minster." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Rubin: KTLA entertainment correspondent on Taylor Swift becoming Time magazine's Person of the Year
This year truly belongs to Taylor Swift. The 33-year-old's been named Time magazine's person of the year, a week after becoming Spotify's most most-played artist. Swift beat finalists including Barbie, King Charles and OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman. KTLA entertainment correspondent Sam Rubin says she's had an 'extraordinary' 2023- full of accomplishments. "The criteria is who has influenced the world for better or worse the most, and in what many described as a very dark year, Taylor Swift has been a source of light for many." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glyn Lewers: Queenstown Lakes mayor on the town waiting for final approval to lift boil water notice
Queenstown is waiting on a final signoff before lifting the town's boil water notice. Businesses and residents have been required to boil tap water for almost three months, after a breakout of cryptosporidium. UV treatment equipment has been installed at the Two Mile water supply. Mayor Glyn Lewers says all they need now is water regulator Taumata Arowai to give the green light. "We've done our bit by putting in the UV disinfection area, we've flushed the system, we've cleaned the tanks- so yeah, we're just waiting." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Coster: Police Commissioner says he agrees with Police Minister Mark Mitchell's expectations for the role
The Police Commissioner says he's aligned with the new Police Minister on the changes needed for law and order. Minister Mark Mitchell has publicly released a letter, outlining his expectations for Commissioner Andrew Coster. That includes refocusing efforts on strengthening policing in communities, removing gang patches and cracking down on youth crime. Coster says officers essentially need to spend less time doing the business of others. "Which we do substantially in the social arena, particularly family harm where there's no violence, mental health- we need to be able to increase our visibility." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Walls: ZB political editor on Chris Luxon's first Question Time as Prime Minister
Unanimous support for a Government motion calling on all parties involved in the Israel and Palestine conflict to take urgent steps towards a ceasefire. It came after the adoption of an amendment from Labour's Phil Twyford that a two-state solution must be maintained. Foreign Minister Winston Peters defended his motion, and hit out at fellow MPs. ZB political editor Jason Walls recapped the standout moments from this first session. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on former Wallabies coach Alan Jones being accused of indecent assault
Former controversial radio personality and Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been accused of inappropriate behaviour. Jones is being accused of preying on multiple young men, engaging in indecent assaults and inappropriate behaviour without their consent while working at the radio station. The 82-year-old broadcaster firmly denies the allegations. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says there'll likely be more stories about Jones' actions coming to light. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Woodward and Robbie Drew: Potters Kitchen managers on Foodbank Canterbury closing days before Christmas
Christchurch's largest food bank is set to close just days before Christmas. Foodbank Canterbury has been forced to introduce a service fee to meet rising costs, meaning it's become ineligible for council funding. It says they'd be putting their ability to pay staff at risk if they operated past December 22. The foodbank supports 160 charities across Christchurch. Potters Kitchen manager Robbie Drew says they're now going to lose most of their food. "The funds have run out and it's right on Christmas, so there's going to be hundreds of families that are going to miss out." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D'Arcy Waldegrave: Sportstalk host on the second day of the Black Caps v Bangladesh cricket test
The Black Caps know they've got a battle on their hands heading into day two of the second cricket test against Bangladesh. New Zealand will resume under pressure at 55 for 5 in Dhaka, but only trail by 117 runs after skittling the hosts for 172 on day one. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gavin Grey: UK correspondent addresses rumours that Boris Johnson could apologise at Covid inquiry appearance
Former UK PM Boris Johnson will have a chance to defend his handling of the pandemic in two days of questioning at the Covid inquiry. He is expected to apologise to the inquiry and admit his Government made mistakes during the pandemic. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says sources close to Mr Johnson say he will argue he got big calls right that saved lives. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle: Do the PISA results indicate a bigger problem with education?
Tonight on The Huddle, current affairs commentator Josie Pagani and former National staffer Ben Thomas joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! This year's PISA results left a lot to be desired. National's Erica Stanford has since laid out plans to change these results for the better. Are they something we need to be worried about? Kiingi Tuheitia is inviting iwi to meet at Turangawaewae Marae on January 20 to form a unified voice in holding the Crown to account. National MPs have pushed back- will this achieve anything? Sky Television is putting up the price of its Neon streaming platform next year- and include advertising. Is this a good idea? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Olsen: Infometrics principal economist on the pre-Christmas fall in the cost of petrol
Good news for Kiwi motorists, with a pre-Christmas fall in petrol prices. Brent Crude has fallen from $81 US dollars on Friday to $77 this morning. The average price for unleaded 91 petrol has already fallen about five percent since the start of the month. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen explains this sudden shift. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frances Sweetman: Milford Asset Management Portfolio Manager on the fourth consecutive carbon auction of the year failing
The fourth consecutive carbon auction of 2023 failed to clear, leaving millions of units unsold. This means the Government missed out on anther $900 million worth of revenue. Milford Asset Management's Frances Sweetman says all the units built up from this year will be cancelled- but predicts an improved balance for 2024. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on the Reserve Bank hinting new mortgage lending rules will be less restrictive
The Reserve Bank is downplaying the impact of new mortgage lending rules they might impose on banks. It's given the banks until April 2024 to prepare for debt-to-income ratio restrictions to be imposed- but has indicated new changes will be too restrictive. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says DTI restrictions are unlikely to have too much of an impact on prospective borrowers. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Mitchell: Police Minister outlines ministerial expectations for Police Commissioner Andrew Coster
The new Government has set out its expectations for how the Commissioner of Police should do his job. The publicly-released letter calls for frontline officers to be considered the priority when investment decisions are made. It also reminds Coster of his responsibility to deliver on the Government's law and order commitments. That includes plans to ban gang patches, give police greater powers to search gang members and begin cracking down on youth offending. Police Minister Mark Mitchell says he thinks it's the first time a letter like this has been made public. "There's been a loss of confidence around the Labour Government and their failure to take public safety seriously or put public safety at the heart of what they're doing, I thought it was important to have a reset." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Wagstaff: CTU President accuses Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden of sharing false information
The Council of Trade Unions has fired back against Brooke van Velden, claiming she shared false information. This dispute is centred around the Government's proposed repeal of Fair Pay Agreements, a promise they campaigned on during the election. CTU President Richard Wagstaff says van Velden never had a proper consultation on repealing Fair Pay Agreements. "We had no idea she had a Cabinet paper, she'd had official advice, there was a hold of issues- she never raised anything." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiri Hannifin: Air New Zealand chief sustainability officer on the company's new battery-powered cargo plane
Air New Zealand's new battery-powered plane won't carry any passengers. The airline's bought an electric Alia aircraft, which is expected to join the fleet from 2026. The aircraft weighs three tonnes and its battery takes about an hour to charge. Chief sustainability officer Kiri Hannifin says they'll fly Alia on routes of about 150km and it'll be cargo only. "We just want to do smaller routes- this is all a big learning exercise for us, so we're going to keep it small to start with." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Mackie: professional engineer responds to food waste survey results
New data shows Kiwi households aren't drawn to their food scrap bins. A food waste survey of 3,000 New Zealanders revealed that two thirds of respondents found them unappealing- citing cost and smell as the key reasons. The professional engineer behind the survey, John Mackie, says he's shared this data with the new Government to find a solution. "Putting the food waste down the insinkerator, like I do, is equally as good a solution- in fact, it was argued that it was more carbon-efficient." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ngira Simmonds: Kiingitanga chief of staff on Kiingi Tuheitia calling a national hui to hold the new Government to account
The Māori King has called for a national hui between iwi to unify their voices in holding the new Government to account. Kiingi Tuheitia has announced he will host the meeting at Turangawaewae Marae in Waikato's Ngāruawāhia, on January 20. His chief of staff, Ngira Simmonds, says the Māori community has had grievances with every Government and unity is essential. "Some of the plans the Government have released are of significant concern. I think it's fair to say I don't want to pre-determine any outcomes from the hui, but what I'm hearing is the primary concern." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Potter: NZEI president says New Zealand's low PISA scores are due to high child poverty statistics
Belief our poor PISA results stem from our high child poverty. Scores from 2022 in the international OECD test of student achievement show a big fall in Kiwi maths ability since 2018 - a continuing trend. Average reading and science scores aren't significantly different, but have also declined over time. NZEI President Mark Potter says what goes on at home has a huge impact on children's learning. "We've got a higher than OECD average number of children who don't eat on a regular basis at home, and there's a direct correlation with maths achievement. And that's found around the globe." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Walls: ZB political editor on Luxon and Hipkins clashing in first Parliament debate
Nearly two months on from polling day, Chris Luxon and Chris Hipkins went head-to-head in their first Parliament debate. Hipkins had strong words for the Prime Minister, and labelled the new Government 'pathetic' and a 'disgrace' that lacked a vision for the country. He also accused Luxon of being beholden to Winston Peters and criticised National's decision to roll back Labour's smokefree policy. ZB political editor Jason Walls says Luxon and Hipkins both got some licks in, but Rangitata MP James Meager's speech won the day. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Mitchinson: US correspondent on Liz Cheney potentially starting a third-party run to stop Donald Trump
Ex-Republican congresswoman and vocal Trump critic Liz Cheney is contemplating a third-party presidential run. She's said she plans to do 'whatever it takes' to thwart Trump from taking office for another term. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Cheney runs the risk of dividing her party's loyalties ahead of the 2024 election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D'Arcy Waldegrave: Sportstalk host on the Blacks Caps going up against Bangladesh
New Zealand have lost the toss and will bowl first in the second cricket test against Bangladesh. Coming in the wake of the Black Caps 150-run loss in test number one - the second game is getting set to start in Dhaka. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains what can be expected. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Spain: Gorilla Technology commentator on Sky TV increasing the prices on entertainment content
Sky Television is putting up the price of its Neon streaming platform next year. From January 11, a standard monthly plan will go up $2 - to $20 - and ads will now show during pauses. Sky Sport Now prices will also rise for the second time this year. Gorilla Technology commentator Paul Spain says it's not a sweet deal. "Any time you mount these sorts of changes, there will be some people that will exit, particularly when you've got so many streaming options now- is it worth paying multiple subscriptions?" LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on Rishi Sunak's popularity sinking to an all-time low
Rishi Sunak's popularity amongst his party has sunk to an all time low, according to new data. The Prime Minister's approval rating from his fellow Tories has dropped to -25.4, according to Conservative Home. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this score is among the lowest on record, and he's faring worse than Liz Truss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle: Did Te Pati Māori's protest achieve anything?
Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! The National Māori Action Day Protest happened today- did it achieve anything of note? Will Luxon and National feel the pressure? What comes next? The MBIE has begun an investigation into how a confidential Cabinet paper made it into the public domain- is this a bad look for the Government? A number of councils are staring down the barrel of potential double-digit rate rises as part of their long-term plan discussions. Does the system need an overhaul? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay: The Country host on the farmgate price of lamb being expected to remain under pressure for the foreseeable future
Kiwi lamb prices are expected to remain under pressure, as Australia's output floods through overseas markets. Over the past few years, Australian farmers have been able to build up their flocks and take advantage of favourable conditions. Sheep numbers across the Tasman are at the highest they've been since 2007. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains the additional factors impacting the current market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tony Alexander: independent economist on fewer real estate agents seeing an increase in house prices
A recent real estate survey has revealed fewer agents have observed a notable increase in house prices. Of the 324 respondents, a net 28 percent of agents said prices were rising in their locations in November- down from 34 percent in October. Independent economist Tony Alexander says this indicates a lack of 'frenzy' in the current housing market. "I get the feeling for over summer, a lot of people have had enough- they're just going to turn the brain off for maybe one or two months and come back in February." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.