Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The Green Party leadership says it's been made clear to Julie Anne Genter she can never repeat last week's behaviour in the House. Genter hasn't spoken publicly, since crossing the chamber and confronting Minister Matt Doocey during a transport debate. It's been confirmed today she'll face the Privileges Committee and a party disciplinary process is under way - but she won't lose her transport portfolio. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this update isn't surprising. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's Reserve Bank has made the decision to leave the OCR in place at 4.35 percent. This decision is in line with predictions from economists, amid an uncertain financial outlook. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says the Reserve Bank hasn't ruled out more increases in order to tackle inflation. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Security has become a focal point for the men's T20 cricket World Cup and the Black Caps next month in the Caribbean. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley has confirmed a terrorism threat. ZB Wellington sports reader Adam Cooper explains the impact of this update. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The country's largest bank has increased its cash profit, despite falling interest margins. ANZ New Zealand's cash profit rose to $1.15 billion dollars in the six months to March. That's stable on the previous six months, and up four percent on the same period the previous year. Chief Executive Antonia Watson says the bank has taken on less provision for 'doubtful' debts this half. "Revenue is under pressure, costs are under pressure - just like every other business is seeing. But we have had an advantage from that credit provision." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's being reported the UK Government considered using Iraq to process asylum seekers - similar to the Rwanda scheme. This move could have seen people sent from the UK to a country the Government advises against travel to. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says Iraq was willing to move forward without a formal or public agreement, according to leaked documents. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand universities are urging Immigration to figure out a quick solution to approving student visas. 18 percent of student visas remained unconfirmed by the time universities started for the 2024 year. Immigration NZ visa director Celia Coombes says a number of student visa applications were sent in too late to process. "We provided advice recommending people apply 3 or 4 months ahead of travel, but we were quite clear over the summer period to please allow for at least 8 weeks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's hopes Auckland's water deal with the Government can be replicated in the Wellington region. The Government and Auckland Council yesterday announced an agreement to help Aucklanders avoid a previously-signalled 25.8 percent water rates hike. Carterton mayor Ron Mark says they've agreed to working collaboratively to producing a regional water plan. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government is pumping $1.9 billion into bolstering prison capacity, staffing and criminal rehab programmes. The Budget investment will add more than 800 extra beds at Waikeria Prison and deliver 685 more frontline Corrections staff, including 470 prison officers. ZB political correspondent Barry Soper says it's unclear if the extra cash boost is all coming out of the Government's savings program. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Qantas has been slapped with a hefty fine over flight cancellations. Australia's consumer watchdog sued the airline, claiming in 2022 it sold thousands of tickets for 'ghost flights'. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says the airline will have to pay millions of dollars extra to the affected customers, beyond their $120 million dollar fine. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors have been left lamenting another sloppy performance after their winless run in league's NRL extended to four matches. A lack-lustre effort in Newcastle has ended in a 14 to 8 defeat to the hometown Knights. Sportstalk's Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Monday, 6 May 2024, Detective Inspector Chris Barry tells Heather a manhunt is underway for the "extremely dangerous" man accused of fatally shooting another man on Ponsonby Road on Sunday night. The Resident Doctors Association says they will push ahead with their 24-hour strike in solidarity with at least 300 doctors facing a pay cut. The OECD has delivered a warning to the Finance Minister three weeks out from Budget Day, Nicola Willis tells Heather what she makes of it. The Huddle debates whether snobby dog owners need to pick up their dog's poo rather than leave it behind in protest. Plus, Heather's new, very surprising, and very questionable favourite song. 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, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Auckland Councillor Richard Hills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Auckland mayor Wayne Brown has called out disgruntled residents of high-end Auckland suburbs who left poo bags scattered around local parks to protest the removal of the bins. Do we agree with this? Are we shocked by last night's fatal shooting in Ponsonby? Do we have to get used to more violent crime in the region? MP Jamie Arbuckle plans to also hang on to his role as a Marlborough councillor. Can a politician do two jobs at once? Can the Greens bounce back from the Julie Anne Genter controversy? The disgraced Green MP will be working from the Chatham Islands this week - will she get away with this? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister says today's OECD report reinforces what the nation needs ahead of the 2024 Budget. The OECD's biennial report has warned inflation is likely to be persistent - and the Government should set polices to reduce the deficit. Minister Nicola Willis says it's clear New Zealand needs to get spending under control and invest in crucial areas. "Get policies in place that will boost business, ensure that we sort out our education system, our planning system, our overseas investment regime so that we can grow our economy and go for wealth again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pay increases for corrections staff from a $1.9 billion Budget boost. The Government says the funding will go into more than 800 extra beds at Waikeria Prison - and 685 more frontline Corrections staff, including 470 prison officers. Millions will go into rehab for the 45 percent of prisoners on remand. Corrections Minister Mark Mitchell says this money will bolster frontline staff and keep Kiwis safe. "$442,000 of it is going to be transferred from back office and reprioritised to the front line. The other $1.5 billion is new money." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Award-winning Māori musician Ria Hall has announced she's running for the Tauranga mayoralty. She's up against former deputy mayor Tina Salisbury, who announced her interest last week. Ria Hall says the Tauranga region desperately needs change - and she's ready to step up. "There's some real excitement on the ground - there's lots of murmurs happening in the community. Everyone's getting ready for this election coming up in July, so we're ready for it. I'm ready for it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The OECD has released its detailed biennial report on New Zealand's economy, ahead of the 2024 Budget. It lays out suggestions to improve productivity - highlighting competition. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says the OECD thinks the Government could more aggressively break up monopolies and duopolies, like supermarkets. "It did recognise that, in a small country like New Zealand, we have some of these big players dominating key sectors. They have such control over the market - that does stymie the innovation." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police say there's no indication a deadly shooting on Auckland's Ponsonby Road last night is gang related. A man who was part of a group was killed after getting out of a car, shot by a man who'd reportedly been denied entry to a bar. He's described as dangerous, and is of a large build, with dark hair, a beard and moustache - and a large tattoo on his left forearm. Detective Inspector Chris Barry says it's difficult to explain the suspect's motivation behind the shooting. "At this stage, our priority is on locating this person - we believe he is dangerous, obviously he carried out this attack and our concern is to get him into custody." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2,500 resident doctors are striking across the country at 7am tomorrow, for 25 hours. Mediation with Health New Zealand did not result in a settlement last week. More than 2,000 doctors had been offered raises of up to 25 percent, but about 300 would have had a 12 percent pay cut. Resident Doctors Association President James Anderson says the offer would have reduced their hourly rates. "I think it's probably being used as a way to pay for the pay increases - I suspect they're trying to juggle the money around a little bit." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have a young producer working on this show called Jack, who’s recently moved over from London. He asked us today why we're all so worked up about this one shooting on Ponsonby Road - and why if you open any of the local newspapers' websites today, it’s right there at the top of the front page.As Jack says, this happens all the time in London, it's no big deal. He even watched a guy get knifed in a park in front of him while he was out having a durry not long before he moved here. He then went back inside to work at the radio station - and the knifing wasn’t even worth putting in the bulletin.I can answer that question for Jack - the reason we are so worked up about this is because this is still new to us. We can all remember a time when this kind of thing didn’t happen in nice places like Ponsonby. And it wasn’t that long ago - five years ago, maybe?But then in the last few years, there was the shooting in Dr Rudi's on the Viaduct in Auckland, and the shooting in the Sofitel lobby in Wynyard Quarter, and there was the guy on the scooter who shot the other guy on Queen Street, and then the guy who took a gun to work and shot his co-workers on the construction site in Auckland CBD.And it's still rare enough that the significant shootings in Auckland can still be recalled and counted on a hand - but I think we suspect that those, by contrast, innocent days are over. We now have guys going out for a drink on a Sunday night with a firearm in a Guess manbag draped over their shoulder.And I think we know why this has happened - because the Australians have deported hundreds, if not thousands of criminals, that are way harder and way more trigger happy than the ones we’ve gotten used to. And unfortunately for us, they like going to the bars we go to. Nice people go to those bars - and so do these guys with the guns in their manbags. It's a bit freaky, isn’t it? And the most honest amongst us will admit it’s probably only a matter of years before we have the same reaction as Jack - and don't find it scary or interesting anymore. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Political Correspondent Barry Soper wraps the political week. The Deputy Prime Minister's facing defamation accusations from former Australia Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr, following comments Peters made about Carr's relationship with China. Barry Soper told Heather du Plessis-Allan ‘Winston has been terribly diplomatic overseas, and maybe the diplomacy has gotten too much for him. Peters says he was simply defending NZ’s foreign policy. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington's Victoria University's controversial free speech debate is back on, with more speakers added. A panel discussion around the role of universities in free speech was meant to be held on Monday, but it was pushed to the end of May, after opposition from some students. Victoria University Vice Chancellor Nic Smith told Heather du Plessis-Allan they've added more people than anticipated. Smith said there’s now two debates - “People with a viewpoint, and people who are more interested in the principles and regulations of what speech is.” LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julie Anne Genter shouted at Wellington florist, Laura Newcombe about cycleways in Wellington. Newcombe told Heather du Plessis-Allan that she could tell Genter didn’t really want to buy flowers and came in with a big attitude. “It’s common knowledge that I was opposed every single car park removed from the shopping precinct.” Newcombe said “Perhaps she just wanted to come in, and sort me out.” LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I reckon Bob Carr might be wasting his time and money sueing Winston Peters for defamation. If he was hoping that he would scare Winston into silence... he hasn't. Winston just hit twitter today and doubled-down. Calling Bob Carr a shill. A shill is someone who is a bit of a hustler... who tries to convince other people to think something is great. Suggesting he’s either shilling for the NZ Labour party who invited him... Or shilling for China. Like in many examples of defamation cases... it often backfires. because bob got himself all worked up about Winston first said... which was basically to call him a pawn for China. How many of us hit the google to find out why Winston said that? And then found the AFR article “how Bob Carr became China's pawn” But... On the broader argument which is actually about AUKUS. Labour might need to just calm the farm a little bit. AUKUS is not quite the public flashpoint they seem to think it is... judging by the effort they’re putting in. I reckon most people don’t care or understand, and all they're seeing is the Labour Party getting hysterical. Like them accusing Winston of embarrassing the country with this spat with Bob Carr - that's just dumb. Winston hasn’t embarrassed the country. Bob Carr doesn't hold office. He's just a citizen who flew here from Australia to tell us what to do. So, if anything, Winston stands to win this argument simply because he’s our guy being pushed around by an Australian. And no one really likes being pushed around by their big brother, do they? Anyway... Ijust wonder if Bob Carr’s underestimated Winston Peters. He loves a fight, and clearly, he’s loving the fight with Bob. And Bob might be wise to give up while he's ahead. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK local elections are underway - and Rishi Sunak's fate is hanging in the balance. Polls indicate Sunak is losing, and his party stands to lose approximately 50 percent of their council seats. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this could open up a discussion about Sunak's standing ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China's economy has been experiencing a downturn- weak growth, increased debt, and unwanted Government intervention. Despite this, China's stock market is the second-best performing market in the world so far this year. Fisher Funds' Sam Dickie explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadine Tunley, Chief Executive of Horticulture New Zealand has resigned with her last day at HortNZ being Friday, 30 August. Tunley claimed this wasn't an easy decision - but she wants to focus on restoring work-life balance. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahead of Budget Day 2024, experts are predicting possible outcomes. Economists have warned this Budget will likely be very conservative, following on from earlier Government promises. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, One Nation's Pauline Hanson is copping backlash over telling another senator to 'go back to Pakistan'. Mehreen Faruqi claims Hanson breached the Racial Discrimination Act through her controversial tweet. Australian correspondent Murray Olds explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Wellington Phoenix are swiftly diverting their attention to the next piece of A-League silverware up for grabs. The club missed out on a maiden Premiers Plate last night after Central Coast won their final match of the regular season. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 2 May 2024, Green MP Julie Anne Genter is in hot water over her behaviour in Parliament last night. Former Speaker David Carter tells Heather what punishment she might face. Diplomatic trouble? The Foreign Minister Winston Peters is being threatened with legal action over comments against former Aussie Foreign Minister Bob Carr. All kids will be taught how to read using structured literacy starting from next year, the Education Minister Erica Stanford explains why the change is needed. The Huddle debates what to do about Julie-Anne Genter and whether canned food is good enough for a school lunch. And what's more important on a Rugby board? Boobs or rugby knowledge? 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.

The Government's about to go toe-to-toe with Canada again, over a trade dispute. Canada's refusing to comply in full with a ruling in our favour over dairy trade. New Zealand initiated the dispute in 2022, saying Canada's blocking dairy exporters’ access to its market, breached CPTPP rules. ACT Trade Spokesperson Parmjeet Parmar says Canada's refusal to comply is 'disappointing' and 'disrespectful.' LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Josie Pagani from Child Fund and ZB Wellington Mornings host Nick Mills joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! Julie Anne Genter raised a few eyebrows after losing her temper at Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey in Parliament yesterday. What can the Greens do about this? What should the punishment be? Winston Peters has taken aim at his Australian counterpart on AUKUS, and Bob Carr has used him of defamation. How does this make New Zealand look on the world stage? The Government is set to announce a new model to provide school lunches at a lower cost, which could involve the use of packaged foods such as tinned fruit, muesli bars, bread and canned beans. Is this a good solution? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesperson says critical comments from Winston Peters are distracting from real issues. Peters criticised former Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr in an interview - over his stance on the AUKUS pact. Carr's called those comments defamatory. Labour's David Parker says the comments are being used to obfuscate the Government shift on AUKUS. "Saying 'well, we should look at it' to saying, just a couple of weeks ago, there are powerful reasons for New Zealand to engage practically with AUKUS." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's optimism out of the provincial unions that they'll get what they want when New Zealand Rugby's governance saga likely comes to a head later this month. A Special General Meeting on May 30 will vote on a fully independent model backed by the national body - or another backed by the unions. The provinces want at least three future members to have served a minimum of two years on a provincial board. Mid-Canterbury Rugby chair Gerard Rushton says they have plenty of support. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An education union says there's more than one way to teach the basics in schools. The Government's committing $67 million in the Budget to roll-out structured literacy in state schools from 2025. It uses phonics to decode words - and teaches spelling skills and components like vocabulary, comprehension and writing. Educational Institute President Mark Potter says such methods are essential, but there are many. "Good, capable readers like yourself and myself - we use a variety of strategies. Phonics is only one of those strategies we do use." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Speaker of the House says Julie Anne Genter's behaviour yesterday was 'dreadful'. The Green MP crossed the debating chamber last night, confronting Associate Transport Minister Matt Doocey at his seat and waving a booklet in his face. David Carter says a 2007 scuffle between MPs Trevor Mallard and Tau Henare was outside the chambers. Carter says Genter could face a range of punishments. "They could actually expel her from Parliament - unlikely to do that - they could suspend her for a period of time, they could fine her, they could censure her and require her to come back into Parliament with a very fulsome apology." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Education Minister says teachers' stances on structured literacy are changing. The Government is putting $67 million from the Budget into bringing the learning method into state schools by the first term of 2025. The primary teachers' union, NZEI, says mandating a one-size-fits all approach does not work, and teachers know what is best for learners. But Minister Erica Stanford says she has evidence it works, citing figures from Maramarua School's principal. "His Māori students - 37 percent were at or above curriculum level for reading two years ago. Now he's got 67 percent using structured literacy." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

That was some outstanding rage from Julie Anne Genter, wasn't it? It probably won't surprise you to hear she's not at work today, she's working from home - I would be too, if that was me caught on that camera. The Greens have launched a disciplinary process, but I'm not expecting much from that, given how relaxed they seem to have been in the past about dealing with allegations against their MPs. Also, multiple parties in Parliament have now complained to the Speaker, and Gerry Brownlee will make a decision next week on whether he refers this to the Privileges Committee. Frankly, I think he's going to have to, don't you? Because that was pretty outrageous behaviour. I mean in most professional workplaces, if you went up to a colleague, got your face about 30cm from them, yelled at them while waving a document in their face and then waved your hands repeatedly, I reckon you'd get a written warning - or a verbal warning at the very least. But it would be on your record, wouldn't it? If you flipped the roles, if that was National's Matt Doocey marching over to Julie Anne Genter and yelling in her face instead of the other way around, there would be calls for all hell to rain down on him. Now obviously, let's deal with reality, let's not pretend women are held to the same standard as men when it comes to threatening behaviour. They aren't - and that's generally because women are not as much of a physical threat to men as the other way around. Rightly or wrongly, that's just how the world works. And I reckon that will colour the judgement of this particular case. But even for a woman, that was pretty wild, wasn't it? That was pretty cooked. Anyway, interestingly, Greens co-leader Marama Davidson was repeatedly asked today if she knows of other instances where Julie Anne Genter has lost her temper - and she didn't really answer the question, so draw your own conclusions from it. But she was probably asked because Julie Anne does have a bit of a short fuse. She's very passionate about her portfolio, she can get cross pretty easily about it. She walked out of a 1News interview three years ago - when you're with her one-on-one discussing transport, she gets quite shouty, even in public. To her credit, I like the fact that she's passionate about transport. It's good to have people who actually care about the things that they're in charge of. But unfortunately for her Parliament, like most workplaces now, has standards. And if we don't want blokes to be doing this to ladies in the House, we shouldn't have the ladies doing this to blokes in the House, should we? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parents, friends and partners of Taylor Swift fans will have the opportunity to take a college class on the pop star. Glasgow Clyde College aims to educate students on Swift's songs, 'evolving wardrobe and hairstyles' and crowd chants ahead of her tour's stop in Edinburgh. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says the course has been designed to get casual listeners up to speed on all things Taylor. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.