Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

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.

Over in Australia, former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has give up alcohol for Lent. Joyce says he's also quit talking about other people in regards to the issue- days after he was filmed intoxicated on a street in Canberra. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this comes after Nationals deputy leader Perin Davey admitted to drinking before a budget hearing. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swimmer Lewis Clareburt has claimed a maiden world championship title, winning the 400-metre individual medley in Doha. His time of 4 minutes and 9.72 seconds was 1.02 seconds off his personal best. Before the meet, New Zealand had never had a world champion - now they have two after Erika Fairweather's triumph in the 400 metres freestyle. Sportstalk host Jason Pine explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most political parties have held their support in the latest political poll. A new 1News-Verian poll shows National the Greens, and NZ First are all holding steady. Labour's support has increased one percent and Te Pati Maori by 0.7 percent, while ACT has dropped by 1 percent. Prime Minister Chris Luxon is the preferred PM on 25 percent support, while Labour's Chris Hipkins has dropped 10 points to 15 percent support. Finance Minister Nicola Willis says they're more focused on their plans than the poll. "I think what that poll really just reflects is that people are supporting the party that they supported in the election, and that means that we are continuing to do well." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New data shows the nation saw the lowest number of births in over 80 years. Stats NZ revealed there were 19,071 more births than deaths in 2023 in the lowest annual natural increase since World War II. Massey University Sociologist Paul Spoonley says New Zealand's not alone- fertility and birth rates are declining across high-earning countries. "When you look at countries like Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Poland... they're all down at about 1, 1.2. What's interesting is- has anyone been able to reverse it? The answer's no." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Traffic cameras could become more common as NZTA takes over the responsibility from police. It will increase the number of cameras from 150 to 800 operating within the next 10 years, manned by as many as 400 staff. It estimates they could process three million speeding infringements a year. Road safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson says extra traffic cameras are unlikely to make much of a difference. "I don't think it's going to solve the problem. There's international studies that make it quite clear- a high police presence has a profound effect on the way that we drive." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cost-saving changes at St John Ambulance are sparking concern among staff and paramedics. The service has limited recalls of backup staff when employees are sick or taking leave, meaning some ambulances are left parked up. Ambulance Association National Secretary Mark Quin says this is proof the company is putting their budget over people's lives. "We're restricting the number of ambulances being available anywhere in the country on a daily basis due to the fact that we're not recalling staff." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Social Development Minister says check-ins with beneficiaries are about accountability, but also giving them support in finding work. A welfare reset announced by the Government involves sanctions for job-seekers not meeting their obligations to find work. Louise Upston also says from June, MSD will regularly check in with those on the benefit for six months. "What we want to make sure is that people are going into Work and Income providing evidence of the fact that they've been doing their bit to look for work- some of them may need assistance." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An education training provider is offering school principals a taxpayer-funded course in Fiji. The course is among the latest to hit the market since principals were offered a $6000 salary boost to pay for professional development. Education training company Growth Culture is offering the Fiji conference, for $5700. Secondary Principals' Association President Vaughan Couillault says there's been a noticeable increase in courses and programmes costing under $6000 since this pay bump. "There certainly has been a bit of the private sector looking at ways to generate themselves some income." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand, Australia and New Zealand have released a joint statement urging Israel not to continue its assault there. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is adamant he will launch the attack. Winston Peters told Heather du Plessis-Allan that people in Rafah are already vulnerable. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eden Park's chief executive is pinning Taylor Swift's New Zealand snub on the consent process to hold concerts at the stadium. The Australian leg of the world-renowned pop singer's Eras Tour is kicking off, with many New Zealanders heading across the ditch for the shows. Swiftie fans raised questioned about why the star wasn't performing in Auckland and the CEO of the city's biggest venue is now weighing in. Nick Sautner told Heather du Plessis-Allan they're limited on how many shows they can hold in any 12-month period. He says we've missed out on concert content, because the stadium was unable to provide multiple dates for shows - which needs to change. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank is expected to keep holding New Zealand's lofty interest rates on high. Governor Adrian Orr has warned against expectations, inflation might drop below three percent anytime soon, during a speech at Waikato University. The central bank's been keeping the Official Cash Rate - a factor which determines interest rates, at 5.5 percent, as it fights inflation - at 4.7 percent. Independent economist Cameron Bagrie told Heather du Plessis-Allan that it seems OCR rates aren't going to come down in the near future. He says the Reserve Bank's patience appears to be wearing thin, as inflation is coming down, but it's taking an awful long time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new report from the Child Action Poverty Group says 15,000 teenagers are working to put food on the table and attending school at the same time. The report suggests that minimum wage should be raised to $26 an hour to equal the living wage in order to stop this from happening. Alan Johnson from the child action poverty group told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that the work comes "potentially at the expense of what they could achieve at school." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woolworths has apologised for the pest problems revealed at some of its supermarkets. Four Woolworths supermarkets have been in the news for rodent and bird problems. Woolworth's commercial director of fresh and own brand Peter De Wit told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that "it's not a standard that we want to have in our stores." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The UK is experiencing an uptick in antisemitic abuse following the October 7 attacks. According to new data released by the Community Security Trust, 2023 has been the worst year for antisemitic abuse in over 40 years. UK correspondent Enda Brady says 4,103 incidents have been reported, and a majority of the abuse occurred in London. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Capital and David Farrar from Kiwiblog and Curia joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Wellington Council is working on developing their draft budget. A congestion charge and new rates for accommodation providers are on the cards and libraries and public pools have been spared. Do they have their priorities in order? David Seymour has unveiled a new strategy to reduce truancy figures and boost school attendance. Will extra fines be enough to keep kids in school? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The key interest rate market in the US is pricing several rates cuts later this year. Meanwhile, economic growth is getting stronger and equity markets are at an all-time high. Can these concepts co-exist? Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains further. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One business expert says a change in leadership isn't enough to save Fletcher Building. Yesterday, Chief Executive Ross Taylor and Chair Bruce Hassall both announced their resignation following some lower-than-anticipated half-year results. Auckland University economics professor Robert MacCulloch says the entire company should be broken up altogether. "The company should be nationalised, the Government should buy the company and break it up into little bits and sell those bits beck to private operators." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.