Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

The British House of Lords today voted to delay the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to 'stop the boats,' referring to migrant ships illegally crossing the English Channel. 214 out of 385 Lords agreed to delay ratification of the Rwanda treaty. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this scheme has cost a substantial amount- and experts believe it's dead in the water. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, current affairs commentator Josie Pagani and Tim Wilson from Maxim Institute joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Prime Minister Chris Luxon revealed that a six-member Defence Force team will be deployed to the Middle East region to uphold maritime security. Is this the right move? Does New Zealand need to keep funding the Christchurch Call role? Prime Minister Chris Luxon spoke with Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern before Christmas to discuss her special envoy role. It costs $500,000 per year- is it useful? Several people were the victims of a parking scam at the Foo Fighters concert and had to pay hundreds of dollars to get their care back after they were towed. Do we think the towing company should reimburse them? Do we trust anyone in a hi-vis vest? Surf Lifesaving is largely funded by donations and corporate sponsoring- does the Government need to step in and change this? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian-owned company Santana Minerals has informed investors swathes of gold may be hidden under farmland in Central Otago. The 'Rise and Shine' site had been marked in a recent report as “the most significant single gold discovery in New Zealand in four decades”. The site has an estimated value of $325 million a year and could yield between 100,000 to 150,000 ounces of gold per year. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zespri chief executive Dan Mathieson is stepping down from New Zealand's biggest kiwifruit exporter to pursue overseas opportunities. Mathieson has led Zespri for over seven years, and will stay on until the end of the 2024 harvest, before joining up with American-based berry company Driscoll’s. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A potential silver lining for first home buyers in possible changes to lending rules. The Reserve Bank is proposing introducing debt to income ratios from the middle of the year. Owner occupiers could borrow six times their income, while for investors it would be seven times. Independent economist Tony Alexander says the central bank plans to ease up on loan-to-value ratios at the same time. He says that will allow more lending where deposits are less than 20 percent. "So actually, given that getting a deposit together is pretty hard for first home buyers, it could be a small net positive for them." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big spends on the Mt Messenger bypass roading project, despite no road actually being built. The Transport Agency has already spent 60 percent of the $280 million dollar budget of the Taranaki project. New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom says there's no way the project will get done within the projected budget. He blames frivolous court cases for the hold up, and says it is time to get on with the job. "Yep, it's going to be expensive, but I can assure you that if we didn't build it and the mountain slipped down, it would be a hell of a lot more expensive for NZ inc." NZTA have confirmed they will be conducting a cost review, which is set to be completed in the first half of 2024. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some Ngāti Kahu iwi members in the Far North are threatening to block boat ramps in protest at the annual Doubtless Bay fishing contest this weekend. A post to social media says fish numbers have decreased dramatically due to over-fishing in the area. But other iwi leaders have responded saying discussions on the matter have not yet taken place. Competition organiser Nick Ryan says the event is a community fundraiser and will still go ahead. "They have no right to block boat ramps, they have no powers to do so, it would appear that people might be speaking just above their positions. But it's not to say that they cannot protest." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amateur golfer Nick Dunlap stunned the sports world with his unexpected victory. The 20-year-old university student has become the first amateur to win on Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991, taking out the American Express tournament in California. However, as an amateur, he can't collect his $2.46 million first-place prize. NZ Open tournament director Michael Glading says golfers with amateur status cannot accept prize money exceeding a certain amount. "If a player of that class wants to turn professional, they can turn professional, but they have to turn professional before they enter the tournament- not at the end of it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether Jacinda Ardern will continue as New Zealand's special envoy for the Christchurch Call - is still up in the air. The multilateral body brings together tech companies and countries to fight online extremism. Ardern's already met up with Prime Minister Chris Luxon in Auckland, and he says they'll discuss the matter in coming months. Tech commentator Paul Spain says it's likely tech companies would filter out extremist content on their own accord, regardless of the Call. "That's open to some debate- what we've seen is some improvement in the algorithms from the social media platforms over this time, but that's hard to measure." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Defence Minister Judith Collins says our personnel will support coalition forces with targeting for precision attacks on identified targets. Foreign Minister Winston Peters is giving little away on what that will look like. "Well, it's finding people who are threatening lives with piracy, mayhem and murder- and stopping them." Asked if it was drone operation, Peters says he can't answer that question. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Chris Luxon recently announced a Defence Force team will be sent to the Red Sea to help protect maritime security. ZB senior political reporter Barry Soper says Luxon denies this has anything to do with Israel and Gaza. "According to Christopher Luxon, it'll contribute to the collective defence of the Middle East- and ships are certainly being hindered in their progress through there." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Morrison is drawing his 16 year political career to a close. The former Australian Prime Minister will leave federal parliament at the end of next month for a new career opportunity in the US. It will trigger a by-election in the typically liberal Sydney seat of Cook. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says between Covid and AUKUS, Morrison's left a mixed legacy. "He's joining a number of strategic advisory firms around the world, and he will be very busy and gainfully employed- and also have more time for his family." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alexander Zverev has denied Kiwi-raised Brit Cam Norrie a spot in the quarter-finals at the Australian tennis Open, winning a tense five-set battle. The German sixth seed won 10-3 in the fifth set tie-break to end Norrie's run. The fourth-round encounter was briefly halted during the third set on Monday afternoon after a woman threw a raft of leaflets saying 'Free Palestine' onto the court. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Foreign Affairs Minister is reiterating New Zealand's support for a two-state solution to the decades-long Israel-Palestine conflict. Winston Peters says recent comments made by members of the Israeli Government fuel tensions and put chances of a solution at risk. Waikato University law professor Al Gillespie says it's unlikely Israel will accept the proposed provisional measures being discussed. "It's unlikely that Israel will respect that if it goes against them. The only way you could get some kind of action is if it was forced through the security council, and it's unlikely the Americans would let that happen." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the other side of the world, there's very rough weather in the UK- with gales and downpours as Storm Isha blows in. UK correspondent Kay Oliver says there's major disruption, including 170,000 homes and businesses waking up to no power. "We've got train services suspended, we've got trees falling down on cars, and flights being cancelled." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Muriwai community advocates and locals are calling for cars to be banned from the beach after a teenager was killed over the weekend. Is this the best course of action? The Government is under pressure over Māori issues following last weekend's hui. National also says it won't support ACT's Treaty Principles Bill past the first reading- what do we think? How will Luxon and the Government handle the extra pressure ahead of Ratana and Waitangi Day? Ron DeSantis has dropped out of the Republican presidential race- does this mean Donald Trump is headed for the White House again? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first Cabinet meeting of 2024 is set to take place tomorrow, as the Government reaches the halfway point of its first 100 days. This meeting takes place days after the National Unity Hui in Turangawaewae- and event which has cast a shadow over the Government. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan outlines her predictions here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand exports could profit from the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea. Freight continues to be redirected around Africa's Cape of Good Hope while violence continues to escalate. The new route means the products this country sends to the Asian market won't take as long as those from Europe or Eastern USA. Rabobank researcher Stefan Vogel says exporters may want to keep an eye on container availability. "If we're struggling to find the containers, we may actually have an issue on that side that costs us as much as it may cost the Europeans and the Americans that have to go along the route over to Asia." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cricket Australia has raised a few eyebrows over their decision to sidestep Australia Day celebrations at an upcoming test match. The holiday coincides with Friday's Gabba Test match against the West Indies in Brisbane. Prime Minister Albanese has urged people to stop 'looking for outrage', as this announcement has prompted some backlash. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson explains the divided reactions to the news. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ZB's Barry Soper predicts the Government is in for a difficult year following last weekend's events. The Māori King organised a National Unity Hui attended by thousands, and commentators are divided on the Prime Minister's decision to skip the event. Senior political correspondent Barry Soper says the 'Māori issue' will dominate the headlines over the next few weeks, and the Government may need to draw attention to the economy. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has put the blame on inadequate funding for Wellington's water issues. Since 2022, 40 percent of the region's drinking water has been lost to leaks. Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has written a letter requesting information from local councils on how they're addressing the problem. Willis says Wellington City Council only gave Wellington Water a fraction of the $10 million they needed for maintenance. "They always seemed to find the money for a new cycleway, they always seemed to find the money for the things they like, like buying back Reading Cinema- why can't they find the money for the pipes?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belief vehicles need to be totally banned on Auckland's Muriwai Beach. A teen died yesterday after a ute rolled on the beach, and two others have serious injuries. Vehicles are now banned at the beach until Thursday - with people allowed on foot. Muriwai Community Association co-chair, Clare Bradley, says how vehicle access is currently managed isn't working. "There is a growing sense that the only way to really manage the safety of the beach, both for pedestrians and for the wildlife that make that part of the beach their home, is to close it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Outrage from Wellington parents as a school changes uniform requirements. Year Nine pupils at Wellington College must now wear blazers and ties, which come with a price tag of almost $300. Some parents aren't happy about the change during a cost of living crisis. Vaughan Couillault of the Secondary Principals' Association says uniform changes usually aren't cheap. "You can't put a cheap blazer onto a student these days, it's usually $250 to start with." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's belief stricter penalties will help against a surge in people fleeing police. Police data from the Bay Of Plenty shows 883 drivers in the region didn't stop when signalled, from January to October last year. That figure was 902 for all of 2022 - and 521 for 2021. Police Association President Chris Cahill says countrywide in the first nine months of last year, drivers kept going 8900 times. "If you're drunk driving, currently to go to court- you'll get penalised for that, but you won't get anything extra for failing to stop. We say there has to be a mandatory aggravating factor put on top." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A war of words over ACT's plans to re-define the principles of the Treaty. Prime Minister Chris Luxon has said National would support the Bill to the select committee stage. But ACT Party Leader David Seymour says National hasn't ruled out supporting it further. "We've got no commitment any further either way, and I suspect that first of all- this is a debate we need to have, and I suspect they'll recognise that. Second of all, it's a lot more popular than people are giving it credit for." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwi golfing superstar Lydia Ko is embracing that winning feeling again on the LPGA Tour. After a winless 2023 on the Tour, the 26 year old has won the opening event of 2024 in Florida by two shots. Sportstalk host Jason Pine recaps today's victory. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has abandoned his bid to be a Republican presidential candidate. He's thrown his support behind Donald Trump. Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh says DeSantis lost by 30 points to Trump in Iowa - so pulling out is the right move. "It made no sense for him to stay in, he was going to get killed in New Hampshire. And as he said, he really had no pathway. Get out, endorse Trump, and fight another day." Nikki Haley is Trump's only remaining contender. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looks to me like it’s a tough old start to the year for the new Government. This is basically day one of the news year, the TV news shows were back this morning, most of the big radio shows are back today- and what are we all talking about? The big hui at Turangawaewae at the weekend, and the unexpectedly big Māori opposition to the Government's Māori related policies. And it's not a one-off, there is more to come. We've got Ratana on Wednesday, Waitangi Day in a couple of weeks, that's a run of stories about how grumpy the coalition Government is making some Māori. And that is not how the Government will be wanting to kick off this year. Generally, Governments like to start the year giving the impression they’re winning, they're doing things for you, they're announcing some stuff they're gonna get stuck into this year, gloating over a good bounce in the polls over summer and capitalising on us still feeling good. Basically, they want to be able to set the tone and have it be a positive one, rather than have it set for them on day one with a negative tone. I suspect - I could be wrong - but I suspect this is not a blip. I suspect this is how it’s going to be for the next few months on and off. David Seymour is planning to introduce that Treaty Principles bill by May this year, that's gonna get hairy. The media are quite hostile to the new Government, and apparently so is the Wellington Public Service, judging by yet another leak of a justice paper about the Treaty Principles bill. Perfect timing- the day before the big hui. The question is- how much do you and I, the voters, care about it? If National can show they’re cracking the cost of living crisis, well that’s more important to most voters. But getting that message out when everyone’s talking about grumpy huis? Well, that’s gonna be tough Tough old start to the year, I'd say. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ZB host Tim Beveridge and Ali Jones from Red PR joined the Huddle back in June for a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Michael Wood remains on stand-down as Transport Minister, after it was revealed he was asked to sell his Auckland Airport shares 12 times. Can he keep his job- and should he? The PGA Tour and LIV Golf surprised the sports world by announcing an unexpected merger- what do we think of this? Should players have been warned? Heather wants to buy a toddler leash for Iggy- is this a good idea? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Black Caps have pulled off one of the all-time great test cricket victories, beating England by one run on the final day of the second match at the Basin Reserve. Neil Wagner finished with four wickets for the innings and took the final scalp of James Anderson, caught behind by Tom Blundell. New Zealand have become only the fourth team to win a test after following on. Neil Wagner says today's victory will stay with him for a very long time after the fact, especially with the challenging conditions in the lead up to the match. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Job ads continue to plummet in New Zealand of the back of a slowing economy. The latest data from Seek show that jobs ads in November are down 28% compared to this time last year. Infometrics Principle Economist Brad Olsen told Heather Du Plessis Allan that "there are fewer businesses that are looking for the same numbers of staff as before." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are now serious concerns for the future of the professional netball in New Zealand. Sky TV's bid for broadcasting rights beyond 2024, covering the ANZ Premiership and Silver Ferns tests, is reportedly less than half the current agreement. Players' wages could also take a hit, with broadcasting revenue accounting for the majority of their pay. Auckland University sports marketing lecturer Marilyn Giroux told Heather du Plessis-Allan it's possible TVNZ could come in, albeit for less money. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The NZTA is set to Quadruple the amount of speed cameras across New Zealand. There are currently 200 speed cameras on the road which they want to be pushed up to 800. However, road safety spokesperson Dylan Thomsen told Heather Du Plessis Allan that he is not sure "that number is actually going to end up being being correct or accurate." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US national security advisor Jake Sullivan has gone to Israel this week to talk about the war with the Israeli war cabinet. He's passed on a message essentially asking the Israelis to begin pulling back from the relentless bombardment of Gaza. US Correspondent Mitch McCann told Heather Du Plessis Allan that "the language from US officials would indicate they are growing tired of how long this war is going on". LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ardie Savea has been named the Kelvin R. Tremain Memorial player of the year at this evening’s ASB Rugby Awards. This comes a month after being named world rugby player of the year. Newstalk ZB's Sports Contributor Jason Pine told Heather Du Plessis-Allan that he just "couldn't see who else could have won." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The annual New Zealand health survey has found that less than half of adults exercise the recommended two and a half hours a week. South Auckland Community advocate Dave Letele runs the Brown Butterbean Fitness Group. He told Heather du Plessis-Allan that many have other things on their mind.Letele says families struggling to put food on the table don't have the time to eat healthily and exercise. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rishi Sunak's approval rating continues to take a hit in the polls ahead of the election. His approval rating has reached -49, according to new data from YouGov- a lower rating than Boris Johnson scored after his resignation. Only 21 percent of British voters hold a favourable view of Sunak, and 70 percent of voters disapprove. UK correspondent Enda Brady says it's looking likely that the Tories will oust him before next year's election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Infrastructure NZ Chief Executive Nick Leggett joined in on discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Finance Minister Nicola Willis remains firm in her decision to scrap cost increases to the Cook Strait mega-ferries project. Does this serve as a warning to the public service around budgets for big projects? What happens next? GDP fell 0.3 percent in the three months to September - a much worse result than forecast by most economists. Does this mean New Zealand is in recession? Buller District Council has placed a limit on how many cats residents can own- only two cats are permitted per household. What do we think of this? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More local councils are turning to asset sales in order to balance their books. The Bay of Plenty Regional Council aims to sell off several majority shares in the Port of Tauranga, and Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington are also investigating potential asset sales. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains what these sales might mean for investors. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

'The Big Feed', a famed rural telethon set to support farmer-driven charity Meat the Need, is heading into its final moments. The telethon kicked off at 6am today and will wrap up at 8pm- giving hosts 14 hours to raise as many meat and milk meals as possible for over 110 food banks. The Country's Jamie Mackay says this year's telethon aims to break last year's record of 1.2 million meals. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's Q3 GDP report caught several economists by surprise. GDP fell 0.3 per cent in the September quarter, lower than the predicted 0.2 or 0.3 percent growth forecasts had predicted. Across the whole year, GDP fell 0.6 percent overall, sparking more grim predictions. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann says Luxon's inherited a long-running recession to address. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand's former Finance Minister has stepped up to justify today's disappointing GDP results. GDP fell 0.3 percent in the three months to September- with political voices blaming the previous Government's decisions for the decline. Grant Robertson says it doesn't tarnish Labour's economic credibility, as other economies are in the same boat. ZB political editor Jason Walls says there's a silver lining here, because interest rates could come down sooner than predicted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Kathleen Folbigg's convictions have been officially quashed, after spending 20 years in prison. The 56-year-old was released after new medical evidence revealed she didn't murder her four children. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's likely Folbigg will be awarded compensation after her release. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Usman Khawaja feels unfairly targeted by the International Cricket Council following their demand he refrain from writing statements in support of Palestine on his shoes. The ICC have ruled the opening batter will be fined or banned if he uses the test against Pakistan as a platform to make what they've deemed a political statement. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Picton is concerned about what's ahead - with the Government refusing to fund cost increases to the Cook Strait mega-ferries project. KiwiRail says the plan to have two new ferries and bigger, better ports can't go ahead without Government funding. Marlborough Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive, Pete Coldwell, says a number of people moved to the region for ferry-related jobs. "There are obviously just questions over what the situation is, jobs-wise, for the next week, next month and the next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost 200 countries have agreed to begin reducing the consumption of fossil fuels at COP28. The Dubai conference came close to being a failure, because some nations wanted to phase them out. The deal specifically calls for transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems. Australian National University climate change professor Mark Howden says that's weak and undefined language. "What does that mean? There's lots of wriggle room here and it's probably not clear enough in terms of its goals." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Buller District Council is on paw patrol for the number of cats allowed in homes. From next Wednesday, only two feline friends are allowed in homes from Carters Beach, Reefton and Westport. It was initially proposed to increase the maximum to four, but the council U-turned after public feedback. Buller mayor Jamie Cleine says they're not anticipating a lot of complainants over how it'll be policed for other animals. "And when you think about an urban area, under this bylaw, people could have 2 cats, 12 chickens and 2 pigs and still be within constricts of the bylaws, so there'll be plenty of livestock in the urban area." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weak economic growth is expected to continue a while. GDP fell 0.3 percent in the three months to September - a much worse result than forecast by most economists. BNZ Economist Stephen Toplis says it will take time to get a sunnier situation. "Market conditions ease, and that gives the economy a bit of a boost. But I think, realistically speaking, we're talking until the middle of next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police could be apologising to some Parliament protesters following a report from the police watchdog. The Independent Police Conduct Authority found excessive force was six times during the weeks-long occupation. That included knocking a woman's phone from her hand and pushing her to the ground - or spraying people with fire extinguishers. Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming says they'll work through whether they'll need say sorry. "And in probably a couple of those cases, an apology would be appropriate." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wellington Water believes a Council top-up could help with a feared water shortage this summer. The City Council is giving the water entity up to $2 million dollars. The Wellington region loses about 45 percent of its supply in leaks. Wellington Water Chief Executive Tonia Haskell says they are asking the regional council to let it also take more water from rivers. "We're going to try as hard as we can so we never have to put our rest homes and our hospitals at risk this summer." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.