Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Man alive. There is a family in Dunedin doing it tough today. I mean, these guys sent their 16-year-old boy to school yesterday and he didn't come home. He was stabbed at a notoriously dangerous bus stop by a 13-year-old. What the hell, by the way, as a 13-year-old doing with a knife? Now, that stabbing at the bus stop will have sent chills through parents up and down this country. Because the thing is: that is not just a Dunedin problem, it’s an every part of the country problem. And we have for a few years now been warning that kids are beating each other up at bus stops at places like Rotorua, Tauranga, New Lynn, Pukekohe, Albany, Dunedin....And now the worst thing that could possibly happen has happened. The warnings have clearly just not been taken seriously enough by authorities. Even that bus stop, by the way, there have been assaults on kids by kids since at least 2021, right? That's the last three years and we've been aware of that. And there have been calls for police to do something about it. And according to locals, they haven't. But today, the area commanders said that they were there within a minute, apparently, and now they've further increased our patrolling in the area. Well, it’s too late. I mean, the thing is, the kid is dead. The patrols are not going to help him now, are they? Now, I'm not blaming police for what happened here. They do have their hands full, but they are the solution. And this is why they need to step up and help us here. Every place in this country that is struggling with crime at the moment is calling for the same thing: more police on the beat. Auckland CBD, with a handbags getting nicked from people who are just sitting down for something to eat. Malls, where masked men are breaking into Michael Hill Jewellers. Point Chev in Auckland, where they're dealing with some really bad behaviour from people. Every single place that’s got a problem at the moment is saying that the solution is more police patrols. They need greater visibility. The Police Minister actually already knows this. I mean, just yesterday in an interview, he said that he wants more cops on the beat as well. Then he needs to make it happen. He needs to sit down with his mate Andy Coster and say: “I don't care what you do to sort this out, but your priority is the boys in blue hitting the streets.” People need to see them. They need to be there when some ruckus breaks out at a bus stop. They need to be sorting it out. In fact, they need to be there so the kids know that they are there, and no ruckus breaks out. I hate to make something like this political, but National has got the goodwill of this country at the moment, because they have told us time and time again, they're gonna sort out the crime. And at least, good for them, they acknowledge that there is this kind of crime. But they will run out of time. They need to get on to it, or they're gonna go exactly the same way as Labour in our estimations on this particular subject. A kid is dead. There is brazen crime all over the show. It's not my job, it's not your job to try to figure out how to get more police on the beat. It's their job and they need to get on with it. LISTEN ABOVE. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Rishi Sunak has recently announced the UK will have a general election on July 4. Sunak has promised to earn voters' trust and prove to them only a Conservative government led by him will not put economic stability at risk. UK correspondent Enda Brady explains the collective outlook following Sunak's announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Copper prices have surged this year by 25 percent, according to new data. Copper has a broad level of demand, with plenty of industries relying on this commodity. Fisher Funds expert Sam Dickie explains how copper can be a barometer of the human economy. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kiwifruit producer Zespri’s profit has dropped 27 per cent but growers have been paid record prices for their output. Zespri reported a net profit after tax of $173.3 million for the 2023-24 financial year - down from $238.7m the year prior. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains what this means for the sector. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One week ahead of this year's Budget day, the Finance Minister has warned Kiwis shouldn't expect too much. Minister Nicola Willis warned the Government faces a significant structural deficit of $6 billion a year - and changes will need to be made to fix that. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains how this warning could potentially impact the upcoming budget reveal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Finance Minister turned up to readjust expectations ahead of this year's Budget. Addressing the Employers and Manufacturers Association in Auckland this afternoon, Nicola Willis has warned the Government faces a structural deficit. That's the fact Government spending has way exceeded tax revenue, and it's projected to continue without significant spending reforms. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper explains how this update will impact next week's Budget reveal. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns from epidemiologists as the threat of bird flu rears its head. Australia has recorded its first human case of the H5N1 strain, in a child returning to Victoria from India. Another case was later found in an egg farm within the region. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says both of these cases have been dealt with - but it's still a concern. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney has found himself caught in a storm of backlash over a hot-mic comment. Penney was picked up using a derogatory term to describe a reporter after responding to questions about his performance and future with the side losing 10 out of 12 games this season. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave unpacks the controversy further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive Full Show Podcast for Thursday, 23 May 2024, the Government's unveiled its mining strategy and it sounds very much like "drill, baby, drill". Patrick Phelps from Minerals West Coast tells Heather about the opportunities that lie in the ground. Former defence advisor for French President Emmanuel Macron, General Dominique Trinquand, explains how the French President is trying to smooth the situation in New Caledonia. Crusaders CEO Colin Mansbridge apologises after his coach called a reporter the c-word. Plus the Huddle debates why teachers are so useless at math and science - and whether we should liberate the c-word? 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, Auckland Councillor Richard Hills and TV3 broadcaster Paddy Gower joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! More experts and advocates have voiced support for Minister Shane Jones' plan to boost mining efforts and remove red tape. Is this a good idea - or is it giving people false hope? Crusaders coach Rob Penney is under fire for using derogatory language to describe a sports reporter - what do we make of this? New data has revealed a quarter of primary teachers didn't achieve NCEA level one maths and over half failed level one science. How alarming are these statistics? What can we do to alleviate this? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reserve Bank Governor Adrian Orr has called out the nation's biggest banks over their profit margins and lack of competition The banks have since claimed their margins in New Zealand are bigger than they are overseas - thanks to certain capital requirements. KPMG partner John Kensington says Orr's comments were a little harsh - but more competition is needed for the sector. "Think back five years ago - it was hard to change your telco or your power company. Now that's easy. So open banking, if people adopt it and people can be bothered changing their banks, will lead to more people changing their banks." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tensions are high in New Caledonia, as France's President meets officials in the region. The violence is over voting reforms that indigenous Kanaks say would dilute their vote - and undermine their struggle for independence. Six people have died and new barricades have been appearing across the capital. Emmanuel Macron's former Defence Advisor, Dominique Trinquand says things are still very tense. "The French President will spend 24 hours there, to try to sort out and calm down the situation. But until then, it will be very difficult to move from Noumea to the airport." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advocates and experts are supporting the resource minister's plan to cut barriers to mining. Shane Jones has outlined a draft strategy for the industry. He wants a stock-take of available minerals and to double export value in 10 years. Minerals West Coast manager Patrick Phelps says you could get a feel for New Zealand's resources within a year or two. "There's quite substantial gold mines being talked about in Otago, West Coast and Coromandel - which, if they're all up online within five or ten years, could double, if not triple New Zealand's gold production." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crusader chief executive Colin Mansbridge has offered a defence after their coach was scrutinised after their ten-loss Super Rugby season. Coach Rob Penney is in hot water after getting caught referring to a journalist in a derogatory manner after facing questions over his future in the role. Penney's apologised to Mansbridge - who in turn apologised to the reporter. Mansbridge says Penney's apology for his actions was satisfactory. "I'm not sure what Rob could say now - he's got a job and he's preparing athletes for a game, another one of those exciting clashes on Saturday." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concern over a quarter of new primary teachers not passing NCEA Level 1 maths. The Institute of Economic Research has analysed NCEA achievement of those starting between 2017 and 2022. It found more than half didn't pass Level 1 science. Deputy chief executive and principal economist, Sarah Hogan, says this confirms what other studies have claimed - that primary teachers are not equipped to teach maths. "I guess what's new about here is that it's even worse for science." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's concerns over possible abuse and neglect at Tauranga Hospital. Associate Health Minister Casey Castello is asking for a report on the hospital - after a video's showed an elderly patient lying on the ground. It shows a patient in the mental health services for older people unit crying for help - as people walk past him. Ken Coull, the husband of one of the impacted patients, says he's complained multiple times about women in his wife's ward only being showered every five days. "We're not a third world country, the only thing I expect from this hospital is for my wife and these women to be kept clean, fed, and given their medication." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in the UK, inflation has dropped to 2.3 percent, the lowest in 3 years. It heaps pressure on the Bank of England to cut high interest rates - and gives the Government a welcome boost. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says this drop is significant - but it's not as low as predicted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on the Huddle, journalist Clare de Lore 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! Te Pati Māori managed to raise a few eyebrows over their comments about Children's Minister Karen Chhour, with the party accusing her of having disdain for her own people. Was this out of line? What can we do about Te Pati Māori's comments? The Government has announced the Budget will include $24 million going into Mike King's I Am Hope foundation over the next four years. What do we think of this? Kiri Allan has plead guilty on the day her court case was supposed to start. Is this bad form for a former Justice Minister to tie up all these resources? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experts say Gentrack is well placed to capture the opportunities created by changes to the utilities and airport sectors. A surging Gentrack gave the New Zealand sharemarket and the company reporting season a positive tone with strong revenue growth and an earnings upgrade. Milford Asset Management's Jeremy Hutton explains Gentrack's financial growth. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank left the OCR unchanged today - but people may have to hold out for rate cuts. RBNZ Governor Adrian Orr revealed the bank considered hiking rates past 5.5 percent, and there's still scope for a potential hike this year. The committee also pushed out its projected timeframe for its first OCR cut from mid-2025 to around September 2025. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says today's update marked a change of tone from the bank. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Te Pati Māori managed to raise a few eyebrows over their comments about the Children's Minister. Karen Chhour's bill to remove section 7AA from the Oranga Tamariki Act passed its first reading yesterday. Responding to the Bill, Te Pati Māori has said since Chhour was raised by Pakeha, she has a disconnection and a disdain for her own people. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Te Pati Māori's behaviour towards Minister Chhour was 'out of hand'. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fireworks as the defence wraps up in Donald Trump's hush money case. The former president is facing charges of falsifying business documents after allegedly paying off porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump's decided not to take the stand, and jurors will now prepare for deliberations. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says unless any significant news breaks, the jury will deliberate the verdict for a week. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand Rugby Players' Association boss Rob Nichol has lambasted the provincial unions' proposal for governance reform, which will be voted on at next week's special general meeting. The body have threatened to divorce New Zealand Rugby if that option is selected. 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 Wednesday, 22 May 2024, the Reserve Bank has delivered a "hawkish shock" today. Kiwibank Chief Economist tells Heather the RBNZ even considered hiking the Official Cash Rate, with cuts now further into the distance. Children's Minister Karen Chhour is hitting back at Te Pati Maori which questioned her whakapapa. After another shocking incident of mid-flight turbulence, we're being told turbulence could in fact become much more common. Plus former International Criminal Court prosecutor Sir Geoffrey Nice tells Heather the United States are out of line attacking the ICC for seeking arrest warrants for Israel's PM Israel Netanyahu. 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.

One expert has warned flights with severe turbulence could become more common, due to climate change. Overnight, one person was killed and several were injured after a Singapore Airlines flight hit turbulence and descended 1,800 meters in three minutes. Former airline pilot and safety consultant Doug Moss says clear air turbulence is difficult to detect - and it often catches pilots by surprise. "For the passengers, it'll feel like hitting a speed bump on the road." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One former International Criminal Court prosecutor says the US was 'out of line' by attacking the court for seeking arrest warrants for Israel's PM. The ICC's is looking to get an arrest warrant for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Sir Geoffrey Nice says the US is 'very unwise' to oppose the actions of the Court. "The US has been hostile to international criminal justice, for fear of it ultimately being used it as its own troops commit crimes anywhere in the world." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says scrapping the First Home Grant scheme is another example of tough decisions it has to make this Budget. It has also announced $140 million in new funding for 1500 new social housing places. Housing Minister Chris Bishop says everyone sympathises with first home buyers, but they have to focus on a more vulnerable group of people. "We are doing the right thing, but I'm not pretending to you it's going to be a popular decision. But this is a Budget in which we're having to make tough decisions - because we were left with a massive mess by Labour." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Children's Minister says the word racism is chucked around too much in Parliament. A Bill by Karen Chhour that removes some Treaty obligations from the Oranga Tamariki Act passed its first reading yesterday. It's prompted fiery and emotional speeches in the House, and Labour's Children's Spokesperson called Chhour a 'sell out'. On social media, Te Pati Māori's said Chhour's Pakeha upbringing has given her disdain for her own people. Chhour says it's a lazy argument. "Where it actually disrespects people who are the victims of racism - we need to get back to debating the policies and not the person." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The founder of I Am Hope says every cent of a funding boost will go into mental health counsellors. The Government has announced the Budget will include $24 million going into Mike King's Gumboot Friday initiative over four years. It gives under-25s free counselling. King says kids often take on the stress of adults around them. "It's huge for the mental health of the kids in New Zealand - they can get timely and quick service." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Now, on this decision by the Government to cut the First Home Buyers Grant in order to put the money into social housing instead- I've got to be honest, on principle, it's not the kind of thing I love. Because I'd personally much rather the Government give a helping hand to Kiwis trying to do the right thing rather than constantly bailing out the delinquents.But in this one respect, I think they’re prioritising the right thing.Because we have got a massive social housing crisis. And we cannot ignore this. We have 25,000 on the waiting list to get into a house, that's why we have people crammed into emergency housing in the middle of our biggest cities, it's why we had huge numbers of Rotorua's motels converted into emergency housing. We've got to fix that, as a priority. Because if we don't, it's only going to create a ripple effect of bigger and bigger social problems that come from people living in motels with other delinquents rather than houses.And also, the First Home Grant is actually a low value scheme. All it gives a person is $5,000. In the scheme of how big a deposit has to be, that's pretty small. I'm sure it helps, every little bit helps, but it’s not significant. Back in 2010, when it was first brought in, it was significant. According to Government figures, the lower quartile house price was $255,000. That same house is worth $580,000. What that means is, the grant has gone from nearly 10 percent of a standard deposit to just over 4 percent. That's pretty small.If we want this scheme to actually be significant, we’d have to at least double what we’re handing out, which means finding a lot of money we don't have. As it stands, first home buyers actually have the bets shot at buying a house right now - they have the least competition they’ve had in ages. And so right now, they probably need this money less than they have before.On the other hand, social housing is the worst it's been in ages, if not ever. So it's got to be the priority. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An economist says there's a risk the Reserve Bank won't cut the OCR until next year. It's kept the Official Cash Rate at 5.5 percent today, unchanged over a year with seven consecutive holds. Kiwibank's, Jarrod Kerr says there is worry it won't be cut until February. However, his bank's outlook remains the same. "Our forecast has inflation dropping below 3 percent by the end of the year, and I think that could still push them to cutting in November. But the risk is clearly that it's sometime next year." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Zealand Rugby Players' Association have outlined a plan to replace the governing body if the vote at next week's special general meeting goes against them. Last year's independent review formed the basis of a proposal to overhaul the governance structure. Canterbury Rugby chair Pete Winchester says this eleventh-hour update is likely to galvanize people. "We've been dealing with this for months and months, and it's the first time - just to turn up to a Zoom meeting and get told this threat of what might happen, it caught people by surprise." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been predicted over £10 billion could be given to the victims impacted by Britain's infected blood scandal. More than 30,000 people received infected blood and products in the 1970s and 80s, from the state-funded National Health Service. 3,000 people died, and thousands more contracted hepatitis or HIV. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Prime Minister Sunak has pledged financial compensation for those impacted. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has applied for arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and top Hamas leaders. Prosecutor Karim Khan says these warrants have been put forward for alleged crimes committed during the Hamas-led October 7 attack and the subsequent war on Gaza. Geopolitical analyst Geoffrey Miller says it's extremely likely that these warrants will be issued. "The bar isn't that high for simply granting the arrest warrants. So I think they're probably likely to do that." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fonterra CEO Miles Hurrell says his phone's been 'running hot' following last week’s announcement. Fonterra plans to divest its consumer businesses, including Anchor and Mainland - overseas operations Fonterra Oceania and Fonterra Sri Lanka. The Country's Jamie Mackay reveals which investors have been expressing interest. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes are on the Reserve Bank, ahead of tomorrow's OCR update. The RBNZ is predicted to hold the cash rate steady at 5.5 percent - potentially marking a full year since the last rate change. Infometrics principal economist Brad Olsen predicts the new forecast hasn't moved since February. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's David MacLeod has admitted to making a high-profile slip-up. Macleod has lost his select committee roles for failing to declare 19 candidate donations, worth $168,000. He says he mistakenly believed those 2022 donations were already logged. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says this could set MacLeod's political career back. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, Northern Territory police could soon enact more snap curfews under new legislation. The 'Police Administration Bill' gives the Police Commissioner the ability to implement three-day curfews in the region. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says this comes off the back of a 'successful' three week curfew for minors in Alice Springs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warriors have welcomed back some injured players ahead of their clash against the Dolphins at Mt Smart this weekend. Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Freddy Lussick and Te Maire Martin and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad are some of the names confirmed to play on Sunday's match. 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 Tuesday, 21 May 2024, the Defence Force has begun its rescue mission of Kiwis stuck in New Caledonia. Foreign Minister Winston Peters tells Heather why French authorities have been so reluctant to let them in. Can you smoke a spliff on the weekend and drive the next day? Transport Minister Simeon Brown what's on and what's not under his new roadside drug testing regime. The Huddle debates whether the crowd at the Ockham book awards had every right to be rude to PM Chris Luxon. Plus what's in a voice? Scarlett Johannsen takes aim at Open AI for copying her voice. 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, Nick Mills from ZB's Wellington Mornings and government relations consultant Kaine Thompson joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day - and more! The Government has confirmed they plan to roll out roadside drug testing later this year, allowing police to randomly screen drivers to crack down on drug-driving. Is this a good idea? National's David MacLeod has been admonished and stood down for failing to declare 19 candidate donations worth $168,000. Was this fair on Luxon's part? Prime Minister Chris Luxon was reportedly met with a cold reception at the recent Ockham book awards. Were the limited applause and jokes a step too far? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SkyCity will pay more than $4 million for breaching obligations to prevent money laundering and terrorism. A Department of Internal Affairs review found multiple breaches over five years, including failures in risk assessment, compliance and account monitoring to counter money laundering and terrorism financing. Forsyth Barr Head of Research Andy Bowley says the company never undertook money laundering themselves, but they helped facilitate it. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it'll roll out randomised roadside drug testing later this year. Legislation's being introduced to allow Police to randomly screen drivers for drugs, similarly to testing for drink-driving. Doing two roadside tests would make false positives less likely. Transport Minister Simeon Brown says it's one of the biggest killers on our road. "In the last 10 years, it's been, I think a third of deaths on our roads have been because of people who've taken drugs and driven. So that is something that we need to do everything we can to reduce." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to Newsroom, Prime Minister Luxon's unexpected appearance at the Ockham national book awards was met with disapproval from the crowds. The piece claims Luxon was mocked and dismissed by attendees, with MC Jack Tame and two authors getting some digs in. The Trust disputes this version of events, saying that author Steve Braunias "rather overegged it". New Zealand Book Awards Trust chair Nicola Legat says the literature community is waiting to hear if the 2024 Budget will have any good news. "Everyone's keen to hear whether the arts might get a little bit more funding - but sceptical that it will." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National's MP for New Plymouth has been apologising after failing to declare 19 candidate donations. David MacLeod claimed $168,000 of donations from 2022 weren't filed last year because he believed they already had been, an error the Party picked up last week. He's been stripped of his roles on the Environment and Finance Select Committees - and been admonished by Prime Minister Luxon. MacLeod says he's 'disappointed' and 'embarrassed' in himself. "The Prime Minister expects his MPs to act in the highest standard. I've let him down, I've let the party down - as I've said, I'm absolutely gutted." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says multiple Defence Force flights will collect Kiwis from New Caledonia in the coming days. The first C-130 Hercules has touched down at Noumea's Magenta Aerodrome, the island's domestic airport. It will bring about 50 people back to Auckland tonight. Foreign Minister Winston Peters says French authorities are confident people can now traverse the roads to get to the airport. "That was the reason for the delay. I mean, the moment we heard about this issue, we started preparing for a circumstance like this - and awaiting developments." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's changes coming for social housing in New Zealand, off the back of a damning review of Kāinga Ora. Prime Minister Chris Luxon has expressed interest in diversifying social housing - and whether these options come from Kāinga Ora or community providers is yet to be determined. Former Monte Cecelia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith says it's likely the Government will put more funding into community housing providers. "Hopefully, there'll be some funding in the form of $50 percent loans up front for community housing providers to start developing and building new homes again." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Judging by the list of the most popular reads on any particular website, it seems quite a few of us have now read the account of how rude the audience at the Ockham Book Awards were to the Prime Minister.According to Steve Braunias, when Luxon was welcomed onto the stage, the "applause basically sounded like one hand clapping" - and after his speech was done, the applause was even less than before. And he was apparently gently mocked in comments by the MC, our very own Jack Tame, and two authors thereafter. I'm predicting that there are going to be split opinions on this, and that the opinions will probably largely be split along voting lines. But I'm going to come to the defence of that audience, because I think it is perfectly acceptable for an audience not to applaud a politician.You don’t have to. You don't have to give a round of applause to a politician if you do not agree with what they stand for. Jacinda Ardern had to live with that kind of treatment, and I'm sure many of us thought it was completely deserved. She got yelled at by farmers at Fieldays, she and a bunch of Labour politicians were bugged by protestors at pre-arranged events after the lockdowns. And that’s not even to mention the stuff that apparently used to get said to her just on the street.It is bad manners, you’ll have no argument from me on that one. But as long as it’s not going too far, like that kid who spat at David Seymour, and it's just words or deliberate silence - I can accept some bad manners in politics. Because the decisions that are made by these people in power are actually material - they affect our lives. Sometimes really badly, think of what Jacinda's Government was doing to farmers. You could hardly expect farmers to give her a round of applause. It's the same with the Ockham's audience. The kind of people who go to book awards evenings are generally going to be the kind of people who go to dinner parties in Grey Lynn, and while drinking a bottle of $200 pinot noir, they moan about child poverty - and they can't even see the irony in that. They're hardly going to love Luxon, and they don’t have to love Luxon. And they don’t have to pretend to, just like you don't have to pretend to like your least favourite politician either. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The public inquiry into the infected blood scandal, known as the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history, is due to publish its findings soon. Over 30,000 people were infected with HIV and hepatitis C from 1970 to 1991 by contaminated blood products and transfusions, with 3,000 having died since. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says thousands of people have been waiting for justice for years. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chinese ambassador Wang Xiaolong has issued a warning to New Zealand over the prospect of joining AUKUS. In a speech delivered to the China Business Summit in Auckland, Xiaolong said China's relationship with New Zealand had reached a critical juncture - and joining AUKUS could impact that. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan says this stance is in line with earlier comments made by ambassador Xiaolong. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.