Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Ria Bond is a Member of Council in Invercargill. Bond spoke to Heather regarding another city councillor, Nobby Clark, and his recent offensive comments. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brooke Grebert-Craig hosts The Mushroom Cook podcast, looking into the infamous Mushroom Murders. She joined Heather to discuss the latest updates in the case. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Labour MP Camilla Belich had her bill pulled out of the biscuit tin at Parliament today. If passed, it would allow employees to discuss their wages with colleagues. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week the government announced hundreds of layoffs within the public sector. Public service association solicitor Fleur Fitzsimons spoke to Heather on what impact this may have. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A MediaWorks data breach saw the personal details of 400,000 kiwis end up on the dark web. Cyber security expert Nadia Yousef spoke to Heather du Plessis-Allan about how you can protect yourself from leaks like this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has stepped down from the position and as the leader of the governing Fine Gael party. He’ll be replaced as prime minister in April after a party leadership contest- meaning he could be replaced by a new Fine Gael leader. Varadkar explained earlier today that he'd chosen to stand down for personal and political reasons. UK correspondent Enda Brady says people who worked with Varadkar had noticed he'd seemed 'exhausted' before the resignation announcement. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Newstalk ZB host Tim Beveridge 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 research from HelloFresh shows half of Kiwis are throwing away food after the best before date, despite the use by date being a better indicator. They think New Zealand needs a better system to reduce food waste- what do we think? Stats NZ has confirmed New Zealand is officially in a technical recession, following a 0.3 point drop in the September quarter. What happens next? How quickly can the country bounce back? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US economy is stunning experts as it goes from strength to strength. The US Federal Reserve is predicting GDP will grow by 2.1 percent in 2024- an upgrade from December's forecasted 1.4 percent. Fisher Funds senior portfolio manager Sam Dickie explains why America continues to flourish economically. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The first Rabobank Rural Confidence Survey for 2024 shows farmer confidence has risen from a record slump- but remains low overall. This latest survey found farmer confidence in the agri-economy was up to a net reading of -16 per cent from -47 per cent. The Country's Jamie Mackay explains why the mood in New Zealand's rural community has lifted, citing a change in leadership and overseas markets. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One economic expert believes there are 'bright pockets' to be found in today's newly-released GDP figures. Data from Stats NZ shows the economy contracted 0.1 percentage points in the final quarter of 2023- putting New Zealand in a technical recession. NZ Herald business editor Liam Dann says this means the economy is turning faster than expected, which will hopefully mean rates could come down. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's GDP data has confirmed New Zealand has entered a technical recession. A new report from Stat NZ shows the economy contracted 0.1 percentage points in the final quarter of last year, following a 0.3 point drop in the September quarter. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says there's no doubt the books are in a poor state, and the current Government inherited it from their Labour predecessors. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The boss of Fonterra is playing down concerns about the Chinese market. Fonterra's half year profit is up 23 percent, and its interim dividend is up 50 percent, as it sells more processed product at a higher profit margin. But it's keeping the forecast milk payout midpoint unchanged at $7.80, following a recent drop in global raw product prices. Fonterra Chief Executive Miles Hurrell says China is still a growth opportunity, but it's only part of their diversified global strategy. "It's less than 30 percent of our book. Their geopolitics at large are something we all need to be concerned about- but there's still growth in that middle class, we're riding that wave." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meal kit delivery service HelloFresh are calling for a new food labelling system, in order to minimise waste. New research has found over half of Kiwis throw away food after it passes the best-before date- despite these dates not reflecting the use by terms. HelloFresh Australasia CEO Tom Rutledge says a time-temperature indicator (TTI) will give people a better idea of when food is safe to eat. "Which means that you're not beholden to a fixed best-before date or use by date, and therefore causing a lot of food to get thrown out before it's actually impaired." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mental health experts and addition specialists will begin working in emergency departments as part of a trial, as confirmed by the Government. They'll start out in four large hospitals in July and the scheme will be rolled out across the country, if proven successful. The Minister for Mental Health, Matt Doocey, says it's clear that the Peer Support workforce needs to be scaled up. "What we want to do is roll out this new service. It is untested, we want to build the evidence in it." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Banking customers are losing out, according to a draft report that finds a lack of competition. The Commerce Commission's found ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac also have sustained high profits compared with global peers. The report says Kiwibank also lacks the capital to disrupt the big four in a meaningful way. Commerce Commission chair John Small says these banks aren't interested in competing with each other. "They're not really going after each other, they're matching each other's prices, they've got really high visibility into what each other's doing- they're typically aiming to maintain market share, rather than take market share off each other." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tough economic choices are on the horizon for the Government. GDP slipped 0.1 percent in 2023's last quarter, the second of negative growth in a row. Associate Finance Minister David Seymour says the previous Government left plenty of fiscal cliffs. He says it's unfortunate there isn't more money to go around. "I don't think there's a single person around the Cabinet Table who doesn't want to pay New Zealand police officers a lot more money. I know I do, they're some of the greatest New Zealanders." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia's unemployment rate dropped to 3.7 percent in February, down from 4.1 percent. This decrease comes off the back of an ongoing economic slowdown, as Australia aims to tamp down inflation. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says it's likely employers are feeling more confident, amid the promises of rate cuts later this year. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Whitelock's final act in an All Blacks jersey may not be last year's World Cup final. The New Zealand Herald reports the 153-test lock has been approached by coach Scott Robertson to return from France This is despite his former franchise, the Crusaders, says as far as they know he's on a two year deal at Pau. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One anti-youth vaping group thinks the Government's plan to crack down on youth vaping will miss the mark. The Government has promised a complete ban on disposable vapes and tougher fines for retailers caught selling to under-18s. Vape Free Kids co-founder Charyl Robinson says the only way to really tackle this problem is to reduce the number of available retailers. "There's been no indication that promises are set to be kept. There was murmurs, I suppose, of some further restrictions on retailers- but I don't hear anything promising." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I don't think many of us are surprised to hear that we’re back in a technical recession for the second time in a year, it's pretty rough out there. Personally, I know people involved in retail. They're behind on rent, they can’t pay it because they aren’t making enough money any more. I know an architecture business that hasn't had any business for months now, I've heard of contractors like draftsmen, builders, and so on cold calling other businesses looking for work. I’ve heard of a person selling their house because they can’t afford the mortgage payments unless they take on a third job. And the bummer is, they might sell their house for less than they paid for it. So if you're hearing that kind of thing, or if you are experiencing it yourself - it is not news to you that we’re in a recession. And actually, the number out today actually doesn’t do it justice, cause it says the economy's shrunk by 0.1 percent- which is really not a lot. The truth is, that number isn’t telling the full story. Because that number has been pumped up by record levels of immigration. The real number is the GDP per capita, this is the economic number when you count every single person in the country. And that's come back by 0.7 percent in the last three months. And here's a real brutal number- since September 2022, which means just slightly over a year's worth of data on a per capita basis, the economy has shrunk 4 percent. That is massive, and that is what you’re feeling. That is the price of our Covid response, it's the price of the lockdowns and the spending and printing of the money and the resulting interest rate hikes to settle it back down again. I was thinking yesterday about Grant Robertson's legacy and how most commentators are quite rightly saying it’ll be years before we really can say what his legacy is. But I think the clue is in the numbers today. What happens to us all over time is that we forget detail. We forget what is said, we forget what is done, but the thing that we are left with is how it made us feel. So, how is this recession making you feel? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has reportedly been targeted by a security breach of medical records. The London Clinic has launched an investigation into hospital staff allegedly attempting to view Kate's medical data from her stay in January. UK correspondent Kay Oliver recaps the ongoing saga. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! New research has linked intermittent fasting to an increased risk of cardiovascular death. Should we be concerned? Have we tried this diet? Is anyone actually convinced by the Government's proposed crackdown on youth vaping? The Government impose more hefty fines for selling vapes to under-18 year olds and ban single-use vapes by the end of the year. Will these measures have an impact? The Department of Conservation recently announced they plan to hike up the prices for New Zealand's Great Walks- is this fair? Grant Robertson delivered his valedictory speech in the House this evening. How will he be remembered as a Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another social media giant is gearing up to hit the stock market. Forum-based social network Reddit plans to make an initial public offering, making it the first social media company to go public in years. Stake executive director Matt Leibowitz says it'll be interesting to see what a company with Reddit's reputation can attract. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many local retailers, including Kathmandu and The Warehouse, have reported less-than-stellar earnings this week. KMD Brands has posted a $10 million loss, and The Warehouse Group today announced a $23.7 million net loss. Milford Asset Management's Sam Trethewey says it's clear economic conditions and interest rates are having an impact on consumer spending. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody's looking forward to extra tax cuts- but some people will have to take a hit to pay for them. The Government has confirmed new changes to the income tax system are coming from April 1, and commercial and industrial building owners are uniquely affected for the worse. NZ Herald Wellington business editor explains why they won't be able to deduct depreciation as an expense under these rules. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister has delivered his final speech in the House. Grant Robertson resigned from politics last month, after a long career impacted by a a shifting economy, disasters and a global pandemic. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Robertson will be remembered for his humour over his years in Parliament. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warehouse Group has revealed it plans to sell or close its online shopping website TheMarket.com by the end of the financial year. It comes just weeks after the company sold off its outdoor chain Torpedo7 for just a dollar. Today's announcement also comes as The Warehouse Group announces a $23.7 million net loss in the six months to January 28, amid grim retail conditions. Chief Product Officer Tania Benyon says this is a sign the market is changing as we enter tough times. "There's no doubt it's a tough retail environment. I think we're seeing that with other results in the market." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recent study shows intermittent fasting is linked to a high risk of cardiovascular death. The American study analysed 20,000 adults and found 91 percent were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease. Auckland University head of nutrition and dietetics, Clare Wall, says it's hard to tell how accurate the study is. "But what we don't know is actually how long these people have been on these diets for. The first thing I think about is- what was the quality of these people's diets? We don't really have enough information." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rugby is set to introduce some new rules and changes in the hope of increasing the speed and overall entertainment of the game. Some of these measures - 20 minute timeouts for red cards and reduced TMO decisions - have been implemented in Super Rugby. NZ Rugby's high performance referee manager Chris Pollock says there's been an increased appetite for rugby following last year's World Cup. "We've got a law book that's very complex, we also have a law book that's been around for a long time- and our game has evolved." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A supermarket action group is questioning the Commerce Commission's decision making. The Commission's decided not to investigate Sanitarium's move to pause the Warehouse's Weet-Bix supply, finding no evidence of anti-competitiveness. Sanitarium paused supply after the Warehouse began selling the cereal more cheaply than major supermarkets. Grocery Action Group's Ernie Newman says the Warehouse has had one issue after another, since it began selling groceries. "People really did say- hey, we know when something is not fair play. But it seems that the Commerce Commission doesn't know when something is not fair play, and has simply fumbled this one." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Government says it's trying to strike the right balance between helping smokers quit and stopping youth vaping. Single-use vapes will be banned by the end of the year, and fines for selling vapes to under-18s will rise massively. The Associate Health Minister has been asked whether the Coalition will enforce minimum prices to put people off buying vapes. Casey Costello says she's not a fan of that- and she says vapes are still a great smoking cessation tool. "The alternate risk is that we get the prices back up- and they're equitable to smoking, so we end up with people taking up smoking." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to new reports, a record-shattering number of wealthy Americans are looking to make the move overseas. The political turmoil and social instability are inspiring investors, entrepreneurs and similar rich-listers to relocate. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Portugal, Malta, Spain, Greece and Italy are among the most popular locations people want to immigrate to. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Rugby is considering a global trial of a 20-minute red card as part of plans to broaden the sport's appeal. The proposal, where the player sent off is eventually replaced by a substitute, will potentially go before the governing body's council at Dublin in May. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Wellington Muslim leader says he wants community consultation during the ongoing debate on whether mosques can play the call to prayer over loud speakers. The City Council is investigating a proposal to change noise control rules, to let mosques play calls at prayer times. Some Councillors are citing noise concerns. Leader Tariq Saeed says they'd be played quietly, to not disrupt neighbours. "We want to explore the possibility, if the community is okay with it. Still, we want to be very respectful and mindful, so we don't cause any discomfort to the people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I'm completely puzzled about something, I'm really stumped by this. And that is- why two Governments in a row now are pussy-footing around the vaping problem instead of just going hard and properly putting them out of the reach of kids. The associate Health Minister, Casey Costello, has today announced a so-called crackdown on vaping, which includes banning disposal vapes. Yes, that does sound familiar. And that would be because Ayesha Verrall already banned them last year. But she stuffed up her definition of a disposable vape, so they're basically still on the market for about $8 bucks. Go and look at the Vapo sign out front if you don’t believe me. And mark my words, Casey Costello is about to do exactly the same thing. Because what's happening is these guys are getting hung up on banning certain types of vapes and whether their batteries are removable or not, thereby defining them as disposable or not. When the solution to stopping 14 and 15-year-olds getting hooked on vapes is simple, because it's the same solution we used for the ciggies. Force the price up. The problem with vapes is that they're cheap. As I said, go to Vapo. They're selling a fully compliant vape with a removable battery for $8 right now. That's the kind of thing kids are buying, cause they can afford it. If you force the price up, the kids won’t be able to. And at some point- like where we're at with the ciggies where a pack costs $45 bucks or whatever, only the hard-core addicts will be left. We need to take this seriously. This is what I don't understand about these Governments- why aren't they taking this seriously? As many as 10 percent of our 14 to 15-year-olds vape daily. Nearly 2000 primary and intermediate school students were stood down for vaping or smoking last year. We don't really know the impact this will have on these kids, or their lungs, but getting hooked on anything at 14 is surely not a good idea. And I just do not understand why, when the solution is staring consecutive ministers in the face and parents and teachers and principals and health experts are begging them to do something, they dick around with banning this thing or that thing and failing at it instead of just going hard. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barack Obama has recently arrived in the UK, on a visit to 10 Downing Street. The former US President reportedly paid a 'courtesy visit' to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for an hour-long private discussion. UK correspondent Enda Brady says this high-profile meeting gave Rishi Sunak an extra boost- but it's unclear what this means for Sunak's chances. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Toby Manhire from the Spinoff joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Winston Peters has defended his use of Chumbawamba's hit 'Tubthumping', saying there's nothing wrong with using the song- despite what the band says. Who's in the right here? Does Peters has bigger things to worry about? Will the Government's proposed tax cuts come through? Did Luxon's comments this morning inspire any confidence? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has held interest rates steady at 4.35 percent. Australia's OCR has stayed in place since November 2023 off the back of 13 rate hikes- but governor Michele Bullock says the fight isn't over. HSBC Chief Economist Paul Bloxham explains further- and predicts when Aussie homeowners can expect cuts. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lower tomato prices might be great news for consumers- less so for the country's growers. Farmers still can't export their product over to Australia, due to a pepino mosaic virus, or PepMV, outbreak impacting business The Country's Jamie Mackay says the cost of production outweighs sale prices- and Kiwi farmers have been hit hard. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Property developers Du Val Group have found themselves in another patch of controversy. The company has reportedly taken hundreds of millions from investors- and have since tried to convince investors to turn their loans into shares. BusinessDesk's Pattrick Smellie recaps the whole saga here. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick came out swinging during her first Question Time in the role, She asked Prime Minister Luxon to commit to resigning if his moves to regulate unruly Kāinga Ora tenants lead to more children becoming homeless. This request inspired laughter from other politicians in the House. ZB senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Chloe was determined to make an impression- but she picked the wrong target. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over in Australia, rideshare giant Uber has been forced to pay over $270 million to compensate taxi drivers and operators. Taxi companies across the nation took legal action after they claimed they lost years worth of income when Uber moved into the country. Australian correspondent Oliver Peterson says this is the fifth largest settlement in Australian history. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The White Ferns have dropped the opening cricket T20 against England, losing by 27 runs in Dunedin. The visitors were sent in to bat first, reaching 160 for 4, thanks to a captain's knock of 63 by Heather Knight. In reply, New Zealand fell short in their chase at 133 for 5, despite skipper Suzie Bates' 65. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave recaps the loss. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uber drivers have continued their employment fight, now at the Court of Appeal. Two years ago, the court ruled four Wellington Uber drivers should be considered employees, not contractors, giving them more entitlements. Now, Uber's appealing the decision, and drivers and unions rallied outside the court today. First Union strategic project coordinator Anita Rosentreter says the protesting drivers showed 'bravery' in standing up against Uber's pushback. "It was a combination of a whole bunch of drivers, and also their whanau and supporters- and the unions came out to show support. We had politicians there, it was a wide range of Wellingtonians." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Debate in Wellington over the Council's proposal to allow broadcasting of religious calls over mosque loud-speakers. Local Mosques reportedly asked the council to change noise control regulations, so they can play calls to prayer over outdoor speakers, as is done in Muslim countries. Some have taken issue with the proposal. Councillor Nicola Young says such issues aren't what they need to think about. "The City Council should stick to its municipal role. It's got big issues, like water and sewage infrastructure- why are we not focusing on that, instead of having these distractions?" LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Complaints from Wellington bus drivers who've been resorting to tampering with excessively loud on-board speakers. One city bus company is threatening to turn security cameras onto drivers to stop them reducing the volume. Tramways Union National President Gary Froggatt says the noisy announcements keep giving drivers a fright. "The driver is concentrating at the front of the bus and the traffic. Then all of a sudden, a noise comes - abruptly in some cases - advertising material." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you needed proof that the Government is doing the right thing by cracking down on unruly state house tenants- here it is. Even Chris Hipkins is endorsing it now. He's admitted today his Government should've done more to crack down on state house tenants terrorising their neighbourhoods. And he’s said- “I have some sympathy for some of the changes that they’re making, there should be further consequences”. If even the guy who led the Government that stopped the evictions now admits he’s on board with starting up the evictions again, then that tells you it’s the right thing to do. Look, I admit it's a tough policy, because people are gonna get punished. If they tear up a house, if they terrorise their neighbours, or don’t pay their rent repeatedly- they will be punished by being kicked out of the house. But this isn't introducing punishment, it's just changing who gets punished. Because people are being punished already. The neighbours are being punished, the taxpayers are being punished by constantly having to fix up houses that are being ripped up, and the families waiting in motels for homes while those homes are filled with people who aren’t respecting the privilege are being punished too. But the neighbours and the taxpayers and people waiting in motels shouldn't be the ones being punished by this behaviour, because they aren't the bad guys here- the guys tearing up the houses are the bad guys. And it is only right that if someone is being punished, it should the people doing the bad stuff, not everyone around them. I think yesterday's crackdown was well overdue, because we need to start looking after the right people in this country. We've spent too long now bending over backwards for the delinquents. The unruly tenants, the gang members demanding rights to wear a patch, the criminals demanding discounts because of tough childhoods. We have to change who we look after here, including the neighbours, the citizens who don’t want to be intimidated by gangs, and the victims who want the offenders locked up. This looks after the right people instead of punishing them- and it’s about time. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health officials are warning a shortage of anti-psychotic drug - olanzapine - could cause relapses for people with schizophrenia symptoms. Supply of the injected medication is already low, and a shipment didn't arrive last month. Royal College of Psychiatrists New Zealand chair, Hiran Thabrew, says it's critical for people to get their regular medication, or a substitute. "What might happen is that people might experience a deterioration in their mental state, they might notice symptoms of psychosis start to occur and people around them might notice their behaviour changing." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Transport Minister says changes to road user charges for plug-in hybrids are about finding a balance. Owners will pay $38 per 1000 kilometres- down from a proposed 53. The amendment put forward by Labour was accidentally agreed to by governing MPs in a mix-up during the select committee stage. Minister Simeon Brown says this change recognises that hybrids can run on a battery, or on petrol. "The reality is, this is a tricky issue. There are a range of particularly older plug-in hybrids, which do consume a lot of petrol- and so they would be paying even more." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Peters says there is nothing wrong with him using a song by a UK punk band during his State of the Nation speech. The Spinoff reports Chumbawamba has requested their record label issue a cease and desist order to the New Zealand First leader for playing 'Tubthumping'. The band says it's odd the refrain 'I get knocked down, but I get up again' is being used by Peters as he barks his bigoted policies during his recent speeches. Peters says the Spinoff are leftist shills. "It's a public meeting, we're not using it for any beneficial purpose in terms of making money for ourselves. And so I'm afraid we've got a media outlet that doesn't know what the law is." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.