
Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive
13,956 episodes — Page 183 of 280

Naila Hassan: Bomb Threats Sent To Organisations Are Not Targeted At Individuals
Police are confirming threatening emails sent to numerous organisations were bomb threats. Police say the emails went to more than 70 schools, hospitals and worship sites, but they appear to be the same emails, from the same source, and don't pose any actual threat. They were sent from overseas but the Cybercrime unit is yet to determine an exact location. Assistant Police Commissioner Naila Hassan told Heather du Plessis-Allan the threats were not targeted at individuals within organisations. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Luxon: Tax Cuts Will Be Delivered As Promised
Chris Luxon is adamant his tax cuts will be delivered as promised, when promised. A coalition deal's now been signed and Luxon becomes the Prime Minister on Monday. National's promised plan for tax cuts now has a hole of 740-million-dollars a year, after New Zealand First vetoed a foreign buyers' tax. Luxon told Heather du Plessis Allan that 100-million dollars will be raised by changing fees free to the final year of university. He says a series of other things will add up, like repealing the app tax and not progressing the 2026 changes to Working for Families. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Walls: How Will National Fund Tax Cuts?
Promised tax cuts proposed by National are to go ahead following the coalition deal signed earlier today. Newstalk ZB’s Political Editor Jason Walls spoke to Heather du-Plessis Allan as questions arise on how it will be funded following the scrapping of the foreign home buyers tax. He said "It seems at this stage we don’t have an answer” on how the government will find the money to fund the initiative but plans are in place to release more details soon. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on controversial far-right leader Geert Wilders winning the election
Veteran anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election. Wilders has proven to be a controversial presence, having called for mosques and the Koran to be banned and speaking out against migration UK correspondent Enda Brady says Wilders had previously been considered a joke candidate- but he manged to bring down his polarising views ahead of the election. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle: Will we remember the long wait for our new Government?
Tonight on The Huddle, Neale Jones from Government relations firm Capital and Infrastructure NZ CEO Nick Leggett joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! After 40 days, we're finally on the verge of reaching a coalition deal. ACT, National and NZ First have agreed on policies, ministerial positions, processes and the new Deputy PM. Will it all be worth the wait? Our chief censor's given an unrestricted rating to a controversial sex education book for teens that was pulled in Australia. Parents have expressed their alarm with this decision- does this seem to0 extreme? Wellington Council has put up a Christmas tree of road cones. Some people are terribly upset about this- isn't it just funny? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Dickie: Fisher Funds senior portfolio manager on Sam Altman returning as OpenAI's CEO
OpenAI recently reached an agreement for Sam Altman to return as CEO days after his ousting. It caps frenzied discussions about the future of the start-up at the centre of the artificial intelligence boom. As well as Altman's return, the ChatGPT maker has agreed in principle to partly reconstitute the board of directors that had dismissed him. Sam Dickie from Fisher Funds explains what this means for the wider world of AI. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rowena Duncum: The Country producer on egg prices coming down
Good news for Kiwi bakers out there- egg prices are on their way down. Eggs have been in short supply - and expensive - since the start of the year when a ban on battery-caged hens came into effect, sparking shortages across the country. The Country's Rowena Duncum says thing brings a positive conclusion to a turbulent year. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Liam Dann: NZ Herald business editor at large on Westpac's interest rates dropping
Westpac is cutting some of its longer-term fixed special home loan rates- making it the first major bank to do so. The bank's two- and three-year fixed home loan rates will drop 10 basis points to 6.99 percent and 6.75 percent, and the four-year and five-year rates will drop to 6.69 percent and 6.49 percent. NZ Herald business editor at large Liam Dann explains what this means for the wider market. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murray Olds: Australian correspondent on the bushfires tearing through Perth and destroying property
Wildfires ravaging through Perth are expected to continue for several days, as firefighters work to contain the blaze. At least 10 homes have been lost, while over 500 people are without electricity and 100 transmission lines have been impacted by the extreme conditions. Australian correspondent Murray Olds says over 125 firefighters are out on the ground, with several injuries reported. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D'Arcy Waldegrave: Sportstalk host on the ICC introducing a stop clock to regulate play speed
A stop clock will be introduced on a trial basis in men’s white-ball games from December to April to regulate the amount of time taken between overs. If the bowling team is not ready within 60 seconds of the previous over being completed, a five-run penalty will be imposed the third time this occurs in an innings. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains the practical applications of this rule change. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Walls: ZB political editor on coalition talks concluding after weeks of anticipation
New Zealanders can soon expect to see a clear picture of what the new Government will do. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon has confirmed coalition negotiations between National, ACT and New Zealand First have wrapped up. Luxon says the agreements are before the respective parties for sign off- and he'll reveal his Cabinet and their policies tomorrow. ZB political editor Jason Walls says all eyes will be on tomorrow's signing ceremony, where we'll find out the identity of the new Deputy Prime Minister. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greg Smith: Devon Funds Head of Retail on My Food Bag profits halving amid cost of living crisis
Meal kit delivery service My Food Bag's latest profits have more than halved as customers seek to cut costs. The company's half year profit shows a significant decline, and a planned dividend has been axed. Devon Funds Head of Retail Greg Smith says customers have been forced to cut back amid increased interest rates and inflation. "Their average value has gone down- meanwhile, obviously costs have gone up for them, so that's pressurising their profitability." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robbie Wearing: Auckland man runs a marathon every day this month to raise Movember awareness
One Auckland man is stepping up his Movember activism beyond growing facial hair. Robbie Wearing has run a marathon every day of this month - rain or shine - to raise awareness for the cause. He says he's only completed a handful of marathons in his lifetime before November of this year- making this the biggest challenge he's taken on. "I get up and just think- yeah, I'm really lucky to be able to do what I'm doing. I'm trying to keep a positive mindset." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chelsea Daniels: ZB reporter on a 63-year-old woman dying in a cell a day after being convicted for murder
A Gisborne woman's died in a police cell overnight- a day after being convicted of her father's murder. 63-year-old Lynne Maree Martin was yesterday found guilty of killing 88-year-old Ronald Allison by burning down his house. After what was thought to be forever a cold case, his daughter was arrested and charged with murder just last year. ZB reporter Chelsea Daniels says it was revealed a police officer went undercover to gain Martin's trust during the investigation. "The officer, who called herself Millie, slowly befriended Martin and her husband Graham in about 2020. She was wearing a wire and the jury heard a raft of conversations between the pair." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Seymour: ACT party leader on all three parties agreeing to a final coalition deal
All three parties in the incoming Government have agreed on a coalition deal- which will be signed tomorrow. A joint statement from Chris Luxon, David Seymour and Winston Peters has announced negotiations to form a government that will deliver for all New Zealanders have concluded. ACT party leader David Seymour says the new Government will be ready to tackle the 'substantial' challenges impacting New Zealanders. "I think ACT has got a very strong policy agenda as part of what will be our shared Government policy- together with New Zealand First and National, I think we'll be able to start tackling those problems." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sue Reid: Family First spokesperson voices concern with controversial sex education book
A controversial sex education book for teenagers that was pulled from shelves in Australia has been given an unrestricted rating by our chief censor. The classification means parents can decide for themselves if the book is right for their teenagers. Family First spokesperson Sue Reid says they've got concerns around the age appropriateness. She says the book is pitched at 14 year olds, but looks like a handbook and has juvenile animations. "We don't think it is clearly targeted at the 14-year-old market- it's definitely aimed at a younger market and that's what we're concerned about." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jared Savage: NZ Herald reporter ahead of significant funeral for former Head Hunter
Gang members from around the country are expected to descend upon Auckland for a tangi. William 'Bird' Hines' farewell is expected to be the largest gang funeral in New Zealand history. He had years of poor health from type two diabetes and was released from prison on compassionate grounds. The Herald's Jared Savage says he had a ferocious reputation and younger gang members looked up to him. "He did a lot of very bad things, he had a very staunch obsession with violence and kidnapping- those sort of violent stand overs. He was pretty much the first meth trial in New Zealand's history back in 2000." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: It would be insulting to David Seymour if he isn't given the Deputy PM role
I think David Seymour has reason to be pretty salty if he isn't given the Deputy Prime Minister’s job. This is not really about whether the job is really a job or whether it's just ceremonial. The fact is- it is a title. And that title implies seniority, it means whoever gets the Deputy Prime Minister role is the second most senior person in the Government. And it would be pretty bizarre if National gave that to Winston Peters over David Seymour, given how many times National told us before the election they really didn’t want to have to work with Winston. Chris Luxon said it, Chris Bishop said it, Nicola Willis said it- and they weren't subtle. Nicola Willis said: “I don’t want to go into Government with NZ First" Now we understand they didn’t have a choice about going into Government in the end, but that is very different to making Winston the second most senior person in Government when he doesn't even have the second biggest party in the Government. It would be pretty insulting to David Seymour, especially given how close Seymour and Luxon worked together in the lead up to the election. The best argument for Winston to get the job is experience, but I'm not super convinced by that argument. There is a long list of people who’ve gone straight into the Deputy Prime Minister's job without having done a single day in Cabinet before. Don McKinnon under Jim Bolger, Geoffrey Palmer under David Lange- you can go back through history and find more. Probably the thing that counts most against David for the job is that he’s plugged so hard for it when he’s previously made is sound like he's not interested in the baubles of office. But then again, that’s something he and Winston now have in common isn’t it? Probably the easiest solution to this problem is to not pick between the two of them, but split the job instead. Whether with a time share- one does 18 months then hands it over to the other to do 18 months, or we just have two Deputy Prime Ministers. But it still doesn't solve that awkward problem, does it? The guy who the Nats really did want to work with is now sharing the job of equal seniority with the guy they really didn't want to work with. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on the dispute over Falkland Islands sovereignty
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made it clear that the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands is not up for discussion. Argentina's new Prime Minister Javier Milei recently claimed it was time to 'get them back' and his Government would work to get sovereignty. In a 2013 referendum, the people of the Falkland Islands voted 99.8 percent in favour of remaining a UK overseas territory. UK Prime Minister Gavin Grey says several other ministers have chimed in and claimed the Falkland Islands are UK territory. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle: Was Nicola Willis never in the running for Deputy PM?
Tonight on The Huddle, Jordan Williams from the Taxpayers' Union and Ali Jones from Red PR joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! Nicola Willis has confirmed she won't be the Deputy Prime Minister, and Luxon said she was never in the running. Is this true? Who are our picks for the role? The incoming Government will have to find a quarter of a billion dollar to give ECE educators pay parity- because their predecessors didn't budget for it properly. What other harmful surprises are waiting in the wings? SailGP has made the decision to not stage the event in Auckland in March 2024. Is this a loss for the region? Are we excited for Black Friday this year? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenee Tibshraeny: NZ Herald Wellington business editor on mortgage rates being expected to decline
There's early signs that mortgage rates could be on the downswing again. New Zealand's wholesale interest rates have fallen sharply over the last month- and both the two-year and ten-year swap rates have dropped. NZ Herald Wellington business editor Jenee Tibshraeny says banks still have yet to move their rates down, despite these early signs. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Felix Fok: Milford Asset Management Portfolio Manager on Nvidia's revenue tripling and surpassing expectations
Nvidia's latest quarterly results have surpassed expectations amid increased demand for AI. Demand for Nvidia’s graphics processing units has been exceeding supply, and the company has tripled its year on year revenue. Milford Asset Management's Felix Fok explains why the company is thriving amongst the AI wave. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Walls: ZB political editor on Nicola Willis confirming she wasn't in the race for Deputy Prime Minister
Chris Luxon says he didn't lobby for his party deputy, Nicola Willis, to be Deputy Prime Minister. The role remains one of the last sticking points of Coalition negotiations, with policies and other ministerial positions largely agreed. Willis today said she wasn't in the race and Winston Peters or David Seymour are likely to get the job. ZB political editor Jason Walls says it's looking likely that Winston's the new favourite to take up the role as Deputy Prime Minister. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dan Mitchinson: US correspondent on Elon Musk promising to donate X ad revenue to Gaza and Israeli hospitals
Elon Musk has confirmed that advertising revenue from X, formerly Twitter, will be donated to war-torn Gaza and the hospitals in Israel. The move comes amid increased backlash against Musk, after he posted support for anti-Semitic content on the site. US correspondent Dan Mitchinson says Apple, Disney and IBM have already paused advertising on X. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Fox: Zespri Head of Global Public Affairs on the company's strong November forecast
A fruitful season's in the wind for Kiwifruit growers this year. Zespri's seasonal November forecast projects record returns for all its fruit crops. The fruit company is putting it down to growers' efforts to improve quality, despite harsh conditions in recent years. Zespri Head of Global Public Affairs Michael Fox says strong market demand, respect for the brand and strong supply chain partnerships will boost Zespri's returns. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todd Hunter: Tuners Chief Executive on the company's successful half-year profit
Used car distributor Turners Automotive has gone from strength to strength in recent months. The company saw revenue increase 16 percent to $213.9 million, while its after-tax profit rose by 8 percent. Chief Executive Todd Hunter says the combination of a shifting market and a successful ad campaign is helping the company sell more cars. "It's the Tina effect, it's been very good for our lead generation. We're buying a lot more cars off people, we've opened more branches so we're in more places, it's a combination." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MacLean Fraser: Beef + Lamb Chef rebukes claim that steaks can be cooked in the microwave
Experts are firing back at the assertion that the perfect steak can be cooked in the microwave. One scientist recently made the bold claim that the best way to prepare a steak is to skip traditional cooking methods- and heat it with a microwave. Beef + Lamb Chef MacLean Fraser says it's unlikely that microwaving a defrosted steak will produce the best result. "There's a few things you should never do- never swim in a calm spot at a surf beach, don't drink and drive, don't count on Winston Peters and don't microwave your steak." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephanie Mills: NZEI National Secretary on the outgoing Government underestimating the cost of ECE pay parity arrangement
The new Government needs to find a quarter of a billion dollars to settle a pay parity deal with early childhood teachers. A previous cost estimate for the settlement was found to be vastly too low. NZEI says the outgoing Government committed to paying teachers. National Secretary Stephanie Mills says problems in the sector must be sorted - or things will only get worse. "If we want to stop the real churn in the sector, people going to Australia and the loss of morale, the Government really does need to address this." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Hill: Tātaki Auckland Unlimited Chief Executive on SailGP deciding not to stage their March 2024 event in Auckland
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited today confirmed that SailGP has chosen not to stage their March 2024 event in Auckland. The unavailability of Wynyard Point land as a spectator facility proved to be a barrier, as the land had been contaminated by oil tanks from the old tank farm. Chief Executive Nick Hill says it was always going to be a long complicated process to get that land back. "You need to get to a point where the land could be handed back, and they had no obligations back to the council. If you start using that land- they'll turn around and say you caused the problem." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jacob Magid: Times of Israel US Bureau Chief on Israel agreeing to a hostage swap with Hamas
Israel has agreed to a hostage swap with Hamas, but it's unclear where all the people kidnapped from Israel are. The assault on Gaza will be paused four days, in exchange for 50 women and children kept by the Palestinian military group. Israel says it will return three Palestinians for every hostage - and each 10 hostages released will extend the pause on hostilities another day. Times of Israel US Bureau Chief Jacob Magid says some hostages are being kept in underground tunnels. "And not all of them are even with Hamas, there are roughly 30 hostages that are also being held alive in post-Islamic Jihad." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D'Arcy Waldegrave: Sportstalk host on SailGP pulling their 2024 Auckland event
Auckland's hosting of a SailGP event next March on Waitemata Harbour has come off the foils. The unavailability of Wynyard Point land as a spectator facility proved an insurmountable barrier for the event owners. No alternative option has been offered yet after Lyttleton hosted this year. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explores some possible solutions. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tim Provise: Tech commentator warns shoppers to be careful of fake 'sales' ahead of Black Friday
A tech commentator is warning people to apply due diligence to Black Friday shopping. Price comparison service PriceSpy found last year, about 15 percent of goods were on 'fake sale'. It found some retailers increased product prices in the weeks before the sale, then discounted them back to normal levels. Commentator Tim Provise says the tech sector is the main culprit. "Especially more niche stuff like camera lenses- and little things, like toothbrushes and stuff like that. I think the technology sector is the one where you've got to be really careful." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Enda Brady: UK correspondent on Rishi Sunak claiming the Government should have 'let people die', according to Covid inquiry
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was quoted as saying the Government should have 'let people die' rather than impose a second lockdown, the Covid national inquiry heard. Former chief scientific adviser Patrick Vallance noted on October 25, 2020 that Sunak, who was finance minister at the time, was against further lockdowns and dismissed the impact Covid had on the elderly. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Boris Johnson agreed the UK's elderly population had had 'a few good innings' anyway. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle: Who's the best pick for Deputy Prime Minister?
Tonight on the Huddle, former National staffer Ben Thomas 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! Waka Kotahi is under fire for spending thousands on pies for construction workers working on the Mt Messenger bypass project in Taranaki. Is this worth the outrage? The post-election talks have turned to delegating ministerial roles, and Nicola Willis, David Seymour and Winston Peters are all vying for the role of Deputy Prime Minister. Who would we pick? Does Luxon have to pick one candidate? National MP Cameron Brewer has copped backlash for his joke about the return of 'pale, stale males'. Is this a rookie error- or grave mistake? LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jamie Mackay: The Country host on Federated Farmers calling for the incoming Government to repeal David Parker's freshwater reforms
Federated Farmers are calling on the incoming Government to repeal David Parker's controversial freshwater reforms. The advocacy group believes repealing the current freshwater regulations will be the quickest way to restore farmer confidence- which is at a historic low. The Country's Jamie Mackay says farmers are waiting with bated breath for these reforms to be scrapped. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pattrick Smellie: BusinessDesk managing editor on TradeMe posting an increased net profit for the year to June
Online auction site TradeMe posted a $4.7 million net profit after tax for the year to June, turning around earlier losses. Experts believe the return to profit came from the site raising their prices- especially in its property arm. BusinessDesk managing editor Pattrick Smellie explains how this increased net profit impacts TradeMe's overall earnings. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabrina Delgado: Kiwibank economist on New Zealand's trade deficit getting smaller
New Zealand's trade deficit appears to be getting smaller, according to the latest data. A new report from Stats NZ says imports were down, falling $1.2b to $7.1b compared to October last year. Kiwibank economist Sabrina Delgado says increased interest rates are restraining demand and causing imports to fall. "We actually saw that our imports surged during the post-Covid period when we had quite a lot of loose monetary policy and expanded fiscal policy- we saw imports rose off the back of that, now we've got really high interest rates." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Stenhouse: Tech commentator explains the theories behind OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's ousting
Belief opposing views could be behind the ousting of former OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. At least 700 of 770 staff at the company famous for creating Chat GPT have penned an open letter calling for the board's resignation after it fired Altman. Tech commentator Paul Stenhouse says no one knows for sure why Altman was shown the door in the first place. "This comes from CNN tech contributor Kara Swisher- he wanted to move super fast, he wanted to monetise everything, he wanted to go to market more quickly and the board wanted to be a lot more cautious." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Peter Richardson: Aotearoa Water Action chair on New Zealand's Supreme Court rejecting the use of repurposed consents for water bottling
The country's top court has turned down appeals from two water bottling companies in Canterbury. Cloud Ocean Water and Rapaki Natural Resources had extracted billions of litres from Christchurch's aquifers each year under a decades-old consent granted for industrial use. The Supreme Court sat in Christchurch for the first time earlier this year, and yesterday released its decision dismissing their appeal. Aotearoa Water Action chair Peter Richardson says he's thrilled with the decision - but it might not be over just yet. "It's perhaps not the end of the matter, it depends on what Cloud Ocean decides to do. They may surrender their existing consent and apply pressure for a new consent. But it would have problems." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neil Holdom: New Plymouth mayor labels Mount Messenger bypass project criticism 'storm in a teacup'
New Plymouth's mayor is hitting out at those opposing the Mount Messenger bypass project. A decision by Waka Kotahi to give construction workers pies has been under the spotlight and deemed wasteful by the Taxpayers Union. Waka Kotahi prices the pies at $400 a month. But mayor Neil Holdom says the pie criticism is a storm in a teacup. "And it's a reflection of the desperation, because most New Zealanders have moved on and realised- actually it's happening, it's a good thing and we should look after the workers that are on site." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebekah Armstrong: Head of Advocacy and Justice on Kiwi households reportedly spending $77 per week on goods linked to modern slavery
Electronics have been found to be the most likely product to come from modern slavery. World Vision has found New Zealand households spend $77 per week on average on products implicated in modern slavery. This includes clothing, toys, coffee, bananas, furniture, phones and laptops. Head of Advocacy and Justice Rebekah Armstrong says EVs, e-bikes and solar panels are also impacted. "It's really interesting that in the transition to cleaner energy, we're actually potentially using products that harm children and people in forced labour." LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sir Don McKinnon: former Deputy Prime Minister disagrees that the role is 'largely ceremonial' amid coalition talks
A former Deputy Prime Minister disagrees the role's largely ceremonial. Prime Minister-elect Chris Luxon has confirmed policies have been settled in Coalition talks - and negotiations have turned to ministerial roles. ACT's David Seymour made a public pitch for Deputy, but Luxon has downplayed the role's importance. Sir Don McKinnon was the deputy to Jim Bolger in his National Government, under the single-party system. He says under MMP it can be someone from a different party, but the duties are real. "You're there to do things that your leader, your Prime Minister, doesn't want to do, meet the people he doesn't want to meet, go to the places he doesn't get time to go to." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Krukziener: property developer doubles down on threat to sue Auckland Council if it votes to sell Downtown Carpark building
A prominent Auckland businessman has threatened legal action against Auckland Council if it votes to sell the Downtown Carpark building. Precinct Property was selected as the preferred buyer in September last year- and it plans to use the space to build apartments and office towers. Andrew Krukziener says the Downtown Carpark is a crucial asset to the city centre. "To take it away will diminish business in the city, it'll be terrible for Aucklanders and people who live on Waiheke who use that carpark as a connection point." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

D'Arcy Waldegrave: Sportstalk host on the next steps of Hamish McLennan's career following Rugby Australia ousting
Punted Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan has spoken of deep-rooted issues in the sport across the Tasman. It comes less than 48 hours after he was given his marching orders from the organisation's board, as the World Cup failure, appointment of Eddie Jones and a centralisation push came to a head. Sportstalk host D'Arcy Waldegrave explains further. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heather du Plessis-Allan: Prepare for a political battle of the egos
Again, it's looking pretty positive on the formation of Government today. Here's the update for the day- The policy work is now actually done, all three parties have now reached agreement on the policy agenda for the next three years. This seems like a minor step forward from yesterday, because yesterday ACT and NZ First had reached agreement with National. Today, ACT and NZ First have signed off on each others’ agreements. So minor- but significant. Because that is the hardest and most complex part of the negotiations. The next bit is basically doling out the fancy jobs, and Deputy PM is fast becoming the one we’re all going to watch. Because this is also obviously a battle of the egos. David Seymour is making a big play publicly of wanting it, he said to the waiting media today that he deserves the job because the job should go to the second biggest party - and the second biggest party is ACT. It's kind of weird that he's putting up such a big fight publicly, given that he’s previously indicated he’s not so worried about portfolios and more interested in policy wins, but here we are. But David, as he said, thinks he deserves it because his party is the biggest of the minor parties. Winston Peters will likely think he deserves it because of seniority and because he’s done the job twice already. Nicola Willis reportedly wants it too, and you can make an argument for her getting it given National is miles bigger than both the little parties and she will be Finance Minister - Deputy PM will signal her seniority in Government. What none of them will say out loud but all of them will surely be thinking is that the Deputy is the one who gets to be acting PM when the actual PM is out of the country, which is why they all want it. I don’t envy Luxon having to pick between them- but maybe he doesn’t have to. He could break with convention and have not one but two deputies. One job for David, one for Winston and none for Nicola because she will probably have a more manageable ego than the other two. It's not an unprecedented idea, Fiji has three. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on police interviewing disgraced comedian Russell Brand about alleged sexual offences
Reports British police have interviewed comedian Russell Brand about alleged sexual offences. The Sunday Times and BBC claim the 48 year old was grilled at a London police station last week. Metropolitan Police say a man in his 40s attended a south London police station, under caution, in relation to three non-recent sexual offences. UK correspondent Gavin Grey says it's likely authorities will press further with investigations into Brand's alleged offences. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Huddle: Have we gotten any closer to getting a new Government?
Tonight on The Huddle, Trish Sherson from Sherson Willis PR and current affairs commentator Josie Pagani joined in on a discussion about the following issues of the day- and more! National's Chris Luxon says his coalition partners have made a breakthrough in post-election negotiations, but Winston Peters isn't on the same page. Who is trying to strongarm who in these discussions? Labour leader Chris Hipkins called for a ceasefire in Gaza yesterday- what do we think of this? How does this reflect on National? LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fran O'Sullivan: NZME business commentator weighs in on APEC 2023
APEC leaders agreed on a reform of the World Trade Organisation- but many were divided on several other key issues. The ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Russia-Ukraine war divided leaders across the Pacific Rim during the two-day summit. NZME business commentator Fran O'Sullivan recapped the highlights of the event. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jason Walls: ZB political editor on Luxon and his coalition partners making significant headway in post-election talks
Chris Luxon says he and his soon-to-be coalition partners have achieved a milestone in Government-forming negotiations. The incoming Prime Minister says the policy element of talks with ACT and New Zealand First concluded last night. Luxon says the last remaining step is formalising Cabinet positions - but the end is in sight. ZB political editor Jason Walls says NZ First and ACT still need to approve the final arrangements with National- and Winston Peters won't budge. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clive Fernandes: National Capital Director and KiwiSaver expert reveals the benefits of paying attention to your KiwiSaver fund
Kiwisaver advisors are urging New Zealanders to care about where they put their retirement funds. National Capital's latest Value for Money report finds the difference between top and bottom-performing funds can be as much as 2.55 percent, or $88,000 by the time of retirement. Director and KiwiSaver advisor Clive Fernandes says it's import for Kiwis to consider several key factors before they determine where their retirement funds go. "You've got to take into consideration past performance- but also look at things like fees, capability, the stability of these companies, the processes they undertake to make a decision." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.